Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

TliF BFGirr . ti-: iiir . nthiy meelinfi-of the CnmniitUe f . f Management r . f Ihe Rcya Manonir nenevnlenl Inr . tiliition will lie held , il Frefm . 1 r . nn 5 ' Hall on VVedncn . liy , the i Ml inst ., at | p . m . THE WHITF . FI ELD CHALLENGE Cur of the Newquay Coif Club was recently woi by Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean . BRO . SIR BI . UNDELI . MAPLE , Bart , M . P ., has been elected a vice-president of tin Herts County Football Association .

BRO . PASSMORE EDWARDS has promised to erect a new wing to the Women : Hcspital at Redruth for the accommodation of sick children . THE ROYAL AMATEUR O RCHESTRAL SOCIETY will give a concert at the Queen '; Hall on the 19 th prox ., in aid of the Special Appeal Fund for Charing Cross Hospital . THE J APANESE MINISTER and Madame Kato visited Windsor Castle on Tuesday and were conducted through the State and private apartments by her Majesty's Inspector of the Palace .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT having been elected W . M . of the Army and Nav ] Ledge , No . 1971 , Aldershot , his Royal Highness has expressed his willingness to fulfi the post , and will be installed on the 2 Sth inst . THE 20 TH SEASON of the People ' s Conceit Society , will begin on Saturday , th ( iGth inst ., and the organisers hope to be able to give concerts in a systematic way during the approaching winter in the East-end of London .

THE ANNUAL CONVOCATION of the Prov . Grand Chapter of Essex was held at the County Court House , Romford , on Thursday , the 7 th instant , at 4 . 30 p . m ., and at 6 p . m . the usual banquet followed at the Golden Lion Hotel . WE REGRET that in our report of the September Communication of United Grand Lodge the name of the Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes was given as Bro . J . J . Thomas , it should have been Bro . William James Mason .

THE MAN ARRESTED in connection with the murders of Mr . Rand and Lieut . Ayerst at the lime of the Jubilee celebrations , has confessed to the crime and declares that he muicUred the former , while an accomplice , who is still at large , murdered the latter . THE NEW Royal County Theatre at Kingston-on-Thames was opened on Monday evening with a performance of " Under the Red Robe , " by Mr . Abud's company from the Haymarket Theatre . The house was filled in every part by an enthusiastic audience .

THE LADY MAYORESS presided at the Mansion House on Tuesday at the distribution of prizes awarded to the successful competitors at the recent exhibition of fans by the Fanmakers' Company , among the winners being the Marchioness of Bristol and Viscountess Duncannon . THE IST BATTALION GRENADIER GUARDS arrived at Gibraltar on board the transport Simla on Sunday , but remained the night on the ship and embarked and marched to their quarters on Monday . The Cameron Highlanders left the Rock the same day and embarked en the Simla for Egypt .

BRO . VISCOUNT WOLSELEY has issued a special army order announcing that the Queen has been pleased to institute a grant of awards to be called " Queen Victoria's Medals " to be issued to cadets who distinguish themselves during their course of study at the Royal Military Academy and the Royal Military College . BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF ATHOLL , have been entertaining a party of friends for deer-stalking at the shooting lodges of Fealar and Glentilt on the Blair Atholl Estate . Good sport has already been had , amongst the deer killed being many fine specimens , while many of the heads were remarkably well proportioned .

PREVIOUS to the opening of the Royal Courts of Justice for the despatch of business on Monday , the 25 th inst ., a service will be held in Westminster Abbey which will be attended by the Judges in State , according to their custom on holding assizes in other cities . This will be the first occasion on which the ordinary sittings of the Law Courts in London have been preceded by a S tate religious service .

ROYAL SAVOY MARK LODGE OF INSTRUCTION resumed their meetings for the season on Sunday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Falcon Hotel , Highbury . Bro . Thomson Lyon was in the chair , supported by many eminent Mark Masons . Brethren of the Mark Degree are cordially invited , and will receive a hearty welcome . Bro . T . E . Edmonds is Piecrptor , Bro . A . McDowall , Treasurer , and Bro . VV . Collins , Secretary .

IT APPEARS that the Town Council of Bournemouth spent close upon ^ . Gooo upon the Municipal Orchestra for the Winter Gardens and Pier during the year e nding May last . In this however , is not included the large sum paid to artistes engaged weekly to give performances . The first of Go symphony concerts arranged by the Corporat ion to take place under the direction of Bro . Dan Godfrey , jun ., during the winter months took place on Thursday .

ACCORDING TO Reuter | s agency a severe engagement took place between the British troops and the rebels in Uganda on the 20 th July , in which the King and his supporters made a brave stand , maintaining their position until charged by Major Ternan ' s force . Major Ternan was slightly wounded in the shoulder , while two Soudanese soldiers were killed and 11 wounded . The enemy's loss is reported to have been very heavy .

H . R . H . TUB PRINCE OF WALES will lay the foundation-stone , on behalf of her Majesty the Queen , of the new Bluecoat School , at Horsham , on Saturday , the 23 rd inst . His Royal Highness will be received by the Duke of Cambridge , President of the School , and the Reception Committee , and the boys of both the London and Hertford Schools will be present , and suitably entertained in honour of the event . The proceedings will commence about 1 . 15 . p . m .

PARKHURST THEATRE . —Mr . Edward Lockwood ' s clever company in that most charming musical production of modern time , * ' La Poupee , " by Ordonneau and Sturgess , music by Audran , appears at the Parkhurst Theatre next week . " La Poupee " contains every element necessary to a complete success in a high degree of perfectionbright , tuneful music , racy dialogue , magnificent dresses , lovely scenery , and above all a novel , ingenious , and interesting plot .

MR . FRANK B . RENDLE , brother-in-law of the late Bro . Sir Augustus Harris , has taken Covent Garden Theatre for the winter months , and when the Carl Rosa Opera Company ' s season is over , intends continuing the series ot fancy balls which prov ed so attractive under the management of Bro . Harris . Mr . Rendle was associated with his late brother-in-law in the management of these balls , and will therefore bring plenty of experience to bear in the management of the intended series .

LEADING STOKER HANNAFORD and Stoker Kennedy , who were killed last week by the explosion en the torpedo-boat destroyer Thrasher , were buried with full naval honours at Plymouth on Monday morning , in the presence of a large concourse of people . Admiral the Hon . Sir E . R . Fremantle and a large number of naval officers and most of the stokers and seamen gunners from the Royal Naval Barracks were present .

TO-MORROW ( SATURDAY ) the Lord Mayor will receive at the Guildhall , the Elcho Challenge Shield , which was won at Bisley this summer by the English Eight . His lordship will also be presented with the Mackinnon Challenge Trophy , and the Volunteer Medical Ambulance Shield , which were likewise won by the English represent ltines . These latter will be presented at the Mansion House wherc . after the ceremony is ovcr . the winning teams will be entertained at dinner by his lordship . The Elcho Shield will be hung , as usual , in the Guildhall .

THE SERVICES of Bro . Sheriff Dewar have quickly been enlisted in aid of charity . On Tuesday evening that most ides , rving of Institutions , known jas the City Waiters ' Provident and Pension Society , held its 30 th festival dinner at the Cannon-street Hotel under the presidency of Bro . Dewar , who proved himself an able advocate . Unfortunately , this year the Society was without the support of an old and good friend Bro . Col . Lambert , who , owing to ill-health , was unable to be present . A goodly list of subscriptions was announced , including 50 , ' guineas from the Chairman , and 50 guineas from Bro , Col . Lambert ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE CALEDONIAN CLUB , 30 , Charles-street , St . James's-square , has secured the services of Lord Walter Gordon Lennox as its Secretary . THE DUKE CF CONNAUGHT , who is on leave of absence , is expected to resume his command at Aldershot ahout the middle of the present month . TiiF Lour . CuAnririroR ( Rrn . Lord Halshury'l and Lady Ilatahury have arrived at ( ! ar . lle VVemyr . n on a visit to Lord and Lady Inverclyde . BRO . THE EAUI , . VNII CCUINTKSS OF VVHAUNCI . UTF . have been entertaining a large shooting party at Wortley Hall , near Sheffield , during the present week .

MR . THEODORE LUMLEY has been appointed by the Prince of Monaco to be Consul-General of that Principality , in succession to Mr . Piesse , who has resigned . THE EARL AND COUNTESS BATHURST have returned to Cirencester from Glenmuick , where they had been staying as the guests of Bro . Lord and Lady Glenesk . THE DUCHESS OF YORK and her children left town on Thursday for The Cotta ? e , Sandringham , where her Royal Highness will be joined by the Duke on the conclusion of his visit to Houghton Hall .

SIR J GILBERT , R . A ., President of the Royal Society of Painters ia Water Colours , died at his residence , Vanburgh Park , Blnckheath , on Tuesday evening , at the ripe age of So years . IT IS AMUSING to be told that a prophet who has announced the end of the world for 1900 has recently paid a high premium in order to secure the lease of certain business premises for a term of 15 years .

COL . DOUGLAS DAWSON , Military Attache at the British Embassy at Paris , was present , by her Majesty ' s command , at the ceremony of unveiling Marshal Canrobert ' s statue at Saint Cere , on Sunday last . THE ENTRIES for the National Cat Club's Show , which will be held shortly at the Crystal Palace , have closed , with a total of 650 , among which are some splendid specimens of all varieties .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF TECK arrived from Belford , Northumberland , on Monday afternoon at Appleby Castle , Westmorland , on a visit to Bro . Lord Hothfield , Lord Lieutenant of the county .

SIR FLEETWOOD EDWARDS has forwarded , on behalf of the Queen , a donation of £ 100 towards the funds of the Winchester Diocesan Society for promoting the Church work of various guilds in the diocese . ON _ SATURDAY last , as two detachments of Portland Artillery were practising at Verne citadel , the breech block of a 40-pounder gun was blown out , and of the 20 men engaged on the gun eight were injured . THE MOORE AND BURGESS MIN STRELS announce their 33 rd Anniversary Festival for Wednesday , the 20 th instant , when an entirely new programme is promised , accompanied with the gift of souvenirs to the audience .

THE 20-GUINEA silver cup given annually by the Queen for competition among the farmers at the Royal South Bucks Agricultural Show at Datchet , has been awarded to Mr . John Kinross for the best root crops generally . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN and Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein will arrive at Buckingham Palace to-morrow ( Saturday ) from Germany , while Prince Christian Victor has rejoined his regiment after visiting the Oueen at Balmoral .

THE DUKE OF YORK left town for Sandringham early on Monday morning , and later in the day proceeded to Houghton Hall on a visit to Viscount Grey de Wilton , who had invited a number of guests to meet his Royal Highness , for partridge shooting .

THE SECOND ANNUAL entertainment of the West Hampstead and Kilburn Swimming Club , which was to have been held on Wednesday evenin g , the 2 ( jth ult ., but had to be postponed on account of the building being flooded , will take placs on Mondiy , the 18 th inst . THE BATH CITY COUNCIL unanimously decided on Tuesday to confer the honorary freedom of the city upon the Duke of Cambridge on the occasion of his Royal Highness's approaching visit to open the new Pump-room and lay the foundition-stone of the Victoria Art Gallery .

THE CARL ROSA OPERA COMPANY having leased Covent Garden Theatre for a season of grand opera in England , the Queen has caused it to be made known to the management that she will be pleased to extend to them her patronage by subscribing for the Royal Box during the season . THE OUTIIKEAK of typhoid fever at Maidstone is still in full force , and in order to meet the additional expenses to which the suffer ers have been and will be put , the Mayor has opened a local fund for them which amounted on Wednesday to about £ 3000 . Contributions from other parts are invited .

THE LORD LIEUTENANT of Ireland and Countess Cadogan , who have been paying a round of visits in Scotland , will return to Chelsea House on Sunday next . Next week they will be at Rutland Cottage , Newmarket , for the Second Octdber meeting , and in November they will return to the Viceregal Lodge , Dublin . THE LORD MAYOR ELECT , Bro . Alderman Col . Davies , M . P ., has appointed the Right Rev . A . Earle , D . D ., Bishop of Marlborough and Rector of St . Botolph , Bishopsgate , to be his Chaplain , and Bro . W . J . Soulsby , C . B ., to be his Private Secretary . The latter has held the same office during the last 22 Mayoralties .

THE QUEEN has caused a telegram to be sent to the Mayor of Maidstone , expressive of her Majesty ' s sympathy with the inhabitants of that town in the severe visitation of typhoid from which they are suffering , and the Mayor has very gratefully acknowledged the message , which is fully appreciated by the townspeople . THE KING OF SIAM , accompanied by his two brothers , arrived in Brussels on Saturday last , and on Sunday proceeded to Baden Baden . On Saturday he is expected to arrive at the Siamese Legation in Paris and will remain there incognito for a week , after which he will visit Lisbon , Madrid , and Florence , returning to Siam in December .

H . roH . THE PRINCESS OF WALKS is expected to terminate her visit to the King and Queen of Denmark next week , and will then return to England , attended by Gen . Sir Dighton Probyn . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who has enjoyed excellent sport during his three days' visit . to Clarendon Park , returned to Marloorough House on Thursday .

THE ISATTLESHIP THUNDERER , which left Milford Haven for quarter-gun practice on Tuesday and returned to her moorings the same evening , has since been found to be in a leaky condition and the ship will have to be docked before the leak can be stopped . It is supposed that the shock caused by firing must have started some of the plates in the ship ' s bottom .

HER MAJESTY , for the third year in succession , has placed a suite of rooms in St . James ' s Palace at the disposal of the Duchess of Albany , President of the Middlesex Needlework Guild , for the exhibition of the work done by the members during the past 12 months . The display will take place on the 17 th and i 8 ih prox ., under the supervision of her Royal Highness .

THE FOOTBALL season at the Crystal Palace opens to-morrow ( Saturday ) with a match between the Old Carthusians and Old Foresters . A long list of fixtures has already been made for the ground , and other important matches are in process of negotiation . The season promises well , lovers of both the Rugby and Association games being well catered for at this popular place of resort .

THE COMMITTEE of the United Kingdom Beneficent Association have the pleasure to announce that at 3 . 15 p . m . on Monday , December 13 th , 18 97 , in aid of the f unds of the Association , Bro . Sir Squire Bancroft will give his reading , arran ged by himself from the author ' s text , of Charles Dickens ' s " Christmas Carol , " at Grosvenor House , kindly lent for the purpose by his Grace the Duke of Westminster , K . G . THE KINC OF SIAM before leaving , presented a handsome Siamese diamond and ruby pin of native workmanship forming the Royal monogram , to Mr . George T . White , Superintendent of the London and South Western Railway , in recognition of the great attention that was shown him when travelling on the line . Silver cigarette cases , engraved with the Royal autograph were also presented to Mr . J . H . Vickery , Assistant Superintendent , and Mr . H . Holmes , the Superintendent ' s chief clerk .