Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will hold their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 14 th instant , at 4 p . m . BRO . ALDERMAN BELL recently celebrated his 54 th birthday . BRO . SIR J . BLUNDELL MAPLE , Bart ., M . P ., is sojourning at Harrogate . BRO . SIR HENRY HARBEN , J . P ., Chairman of the Hampstead Vestry , has attained his 75 th year .

THE DUCHESS OF YORK has consented to become a patroness of the New Victorian Convalescent Home for Surrey Women at Bognor . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . W . C . GULLY , Speaker of the House of Commons , who was accompanied by Mrs . and Miss Gully , left London on Wednesday morning for Nairn . THE ELECTION OF SHERIFFS . —The election of Bros . Alderman Alliston and Lieut .-Col . Probyn , V . D ., as Sheriffs of the City takes place at the Guildhall on Wednesday , the 28 th inst .

BRO . THE MARQUIS AND MARCHIONESS OF TWEEDDALE and Lady Clementine Hay left Yester House , East Lothian , for Doncaster , where they have this week been the guests of the Countess of Galloway for the races .

THE J OINERS' COMPANY . —The following have been elected officers of the Company for the ensuing year : Bro . Philip F . Saillard , Master ; Mr . Stephen Hotham Ponder , Upper Warden ; Mr . Benjamin Turner , C . C , Renter Warden ; and Mr . H . L . Bedford , Clerk ( re-elected ) . TINPLATE WORKERS' COMPANY . —A quarterly Court of Assistants will be held at Guildhall on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., when , amongst other business , the Master ( Bro . Baron de Bush ) will move— " That a Committee of this Court be formed to consider and report upon the best means to be adopted to further the interests of the crafts which it represents . "

BRO . SHERIFF DEWAR , who purchased King George III . ' s Jubilee handkerchief at the recent Press Bazaar , has presented the curiosity to the Guildhall Library . The engraving of the design , which is printed on white satin , cost , it is said , £ 1000 . The British Museum authorities were anxious to purchase the relic , but Bro . Sheriff Dewar thought the Guildhall should possess it .

THEIR SERENE HIGHNESSES THE HEREDITARY PRINCE AND PRINCESS LEININGEN arrived at Balmoral on Saturday morning last . Bro . Col . the Earl of * Strafford , Equerry to the Queen , was in attendance at Ballater . The Right Hon . G . Curzon , Viceroy-Designate of India , arrived at the Castle , and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal Family . Major-General Sir Henry Ewart has left .

MANSION HOUSE . —The Lady Mayoress having happily recovered from her recent severe indisposition , Bro . the Lord Mayor has started for a short cruise in the Mediterranean . Bro . Sir John Monckton , who has been in attendance at Guildhall during August , accompanied his lordship . The voyagers sailed in the P . and O . liner Peninsula , on Thursday , the ist instant , at noon , / and will return from Marseilles overland .

THE CHIEF COMMONER of the City ( Mr . J . J . Baddeley ) has forwarded to the Town Clerk notice that on the reassembling of the Court of Common Council , on Thursday , the 22 nd instant , he will move that the Freedom of the City , accompanied by a sword of honour , be presented to Bro . Sir Herbert Kitchener in recognition of his brilliant military services to this country , especially in connection with the re-capture of Khartoum and the overthrow of the Mahdist power in the Soudan .

IN DEFERENCE to a wish expressed by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , who is Honorary Colonel of the 2 nd Gordon Highlanders , the drafts of that regiment , the Royal Scots Fusiliers , and the Royal Irish Rifles , C 60 all told , which arrived at Soton on Tuesday for embarkation in the transport Nubia for India , did not leave until the following morning at S o ' clock , as his Royal Highness was anxious to view the men from his yacht in Cowes Roads .

ON WEDNESDAY the Queen of Denmark , mother of H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , celebrated her Sist birthday , and a large party of Royal personages assembled in Bern-Storff Castle in honour oi the event . Her Majesty ' s three daughters ate the Piincess of Wales , the Empress Dowager of Russia , and the Duchess of Cumberland . Her eldest son married Princess Louise of Sweden ; her second son became King of the Hellenes at the age of iS ; and the third is married to one of the daughters of the Due de Chartres .

THE LORD CHIEF J USTICE OF ENGLAND has been pleased to enlarge the Commission formerly granted to Bro . John Robertson Reep , P . M . and Sec . 1260 , Sec . 1139 , and P . Z . and S . E . 1200 . ( Messrs . Keep , Lane , and Co . ) ot 4 , Great St . Thomas Apostle , 8 ueen-street , London , E . C , and also of Bagshot , Surrey , solicitor , by granting him a ommission for taking- the Acknowledgments of Deeds executed by Married Women under 3 and 4 , William IV ., c . 74 , for the County of Surrey , in addition to the Commission heretofore held by him for Acknowledgments for London and Westminster .

SUBURBAN THEATRES are especially in evidence in South London , where quite a number of places of amusement are now in course of erection . The first to be opened will be the Crown Theatre , High-street , Peckham , which will be ready for occupation in about six weeks . It will be capable of accommodating 3000 persons , ar . d it is claimed that the stage will be the largest inthe suburbs , being 141 feet long by 40 feet deep .

Rapid progress is being made with the Kennington Theatre , the memorial stone of which was recently laid by Bro . Sir Henry Irving , and already the white stone walls form a prominent landmark . The opening is definitely fixed for Boxing Day . The Terriss Theatre , nearly opposite the Town Hall , Rotherhithe , and capable of seating 4000 persons , and the Royal Duchess Theatre , Balham , will both , it is hoped , be ready early in the sprir . g .

YORKSHIRE has again asserted herself as the home of the grouse , the bags made there having far overtopped those chronicled elsewhere . On the Bromhead Moors , Sheffield , Lord Powis , Lord Lovat , Sir Savile Crossley , Maj . F . Shuttleworth , and several other guns bagged 1 if > . }' brace on the 25 th ult ., and on the 27 th iS 3 brace came to hand , while on the intervening day iSS brace of grouse fell . A statistician has

estimated that about 45 , 000 brace of grouse were killed during the first week of the season , whilst he puts down the number of cartridges hred at 250 , 000 . On the moors in Scot-. land sport has varied greatly . In Morayshire Mr . C . P . Barn and his friends have killed 133 brace of grouse and S 3 hares ; in Caithnessshire Messrs . Bell , Hutchinson , Shorwood , and Faiibairn have , in 10 days , killed 312 brace of grouse , 5 GA couple of snipe , 47 hares and rabbits , and 55 ' brace of miscellaneous birds .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . AND MRS . CAVENDISH BENTINCK and family have sailed on the Campania for New York , to stay with Mr . and Mrs . Ogden Mills for the autumn . WHILE the Empress Frederick was out riding on Monday , at Cronberg , her horse reared , and the Empress slipped to the ground , but without taking any hurt . An hour later her Imperial Majesty went for a drive . A TRLEGRAM from Copenhagen announces that the Queen of Denmark , although her condition is giving cause for anxiety , is somewhat better . Her Majesty went for a drive in the park of Bernstorff Castle on Monday .

A TELEGRAM from New York was received in London on Saturday last stating that Mr . Bayard , formerly United States Ambassador to Great Britain , who has been ill for several weeks , has had a serious relapse , and grave fears are now entertained of his recovery .

BRO . THE RIGHT HON . GERALD BALFOUR , M . P ., Chief Secretary for Ireland , and Lady Betty Balfour will be guests of Professor and Mrs . Butcher , at Cahernane House , during their forthcoming tour through Kerry . They will also go to Derreen Castle , on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne . BRO . THE EARL OF HALSBURY , Lord Chancellor of England , accompanied by the

Countess of Halsbury , Viscount Tiverton , Lady Constance Giffard , and a numerous party , who are touring in Conneihara and the West of Ireland , arrived at Clare on Saturday last , where they visited several places of interest . His lordship expressed himself delighted with the Irish scenery , and with the great courtesy extended to tourists in Ireland .

BETWEEN two and three thousand people from the towns and villages in North Berkshire had the privilege of visiting the beautiful gardens and grounds of Lochinge House on Saturday , through the kindness of Bro . Lord and Lady Wantage , who personally gave them a hearty welcome . The principal reception rooms of the mansion were also thrown open , and the saloon and tapestry hall specially admired . Music was provided by the band of the ist Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment , of which Bro . Lord Wantage was commanding officer for a lengthened period .

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN drove from Balmoral on Monday afternoon in an open carriage drawn by a pair of greys and preceded bv an outrider , and went round the Queen ' s Drive , which passes under the well-known Lion ' s Face Rock . At the same time two other carriages , containing Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Duchess of Albany , Princess Leiningen , Princess Aribert of Anhalt , and the young Princes and Princesses , drove throueh Braemar on their way to Mar Lodge on a visit to Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Fife . On their way through they changed horses at the Fife Arms Hotel . Large numbers of visitors watched the movements of the Royal party , who were favoured with splendid weather for their outing .

SOME BIG PRICES have been obtained by Messrs . Rogers , Chapman , and Co . at the sale of thej effects of the late Mr . Edmund Coulthurst , Streatham Lodge , Lower Streatham . A complete set . an original subscriber ' s copy , of John Gould ' s works , the finest ornithological publication produced in this country , in 44 imperial folio volumes , with over 3000 coloured plates of marvellous accuracy , sold for £ 440 . A French walnut

wood and ormolu mountedand inlaid mnrqueterie escritoire commode , with black marble top , from the Strawberry Hill collection of Horace Walpole , 205 guineas ; a pair of elegant Sevres cabinet cups and saucers , bleu-de-roi , richly gilt , 60 guineas ; a bleu-deroi Sevres china bowl , cover , and stand , 42 guineas ; seven miniature portraits brought the very high total of ^ 244 .

BY COMMAND of the Queen , the gathering of the Braemar Roval Highland Society took place on Thursday , at Balmoral , and was of unusual interest . For half a century her Majesty , when opportunity afforded , has taken advantage of her visits to Balmoral to attend the games , the present being the 50 th anniversary of her first visit to the society ' s gatherings . The attendance of people was verv large . A special pavilion was erected for the accommodation of the Royal Family . By noon the completing clans , including

the Duff , Farquharson , and Forbes men , under their respective leaders , had assembled at Balmoral Bridge , where they were met by the Queen's Balmoral Highlanders , under the command of Mr . James Forbes of Craig Oman . The clansmen then marched in a body to the field where the sports were held . The clansmen were afterwards entertained at luncheon . On her arrival and also on her departure the Queen drove through an avenue lined by the clansmen . Her Majesty was accompanied by the Prince and Princesses now at Balmoral . Many presentations were nude to the Queen .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES left the Royal yacht Osborne in Cowes Roadstead on Thursday afternoon , and landing at East Cowes drove to Osborne . His Royal Highness was accompanied by the Princess Victoria of Wales and Prince Nicholas and Princess Marie of Greece , and attended by Dr . Fripp , Sir Francis Knollys , and Major-General Sir Stanley Cjarke . The Portuzuese Minister , Mr . Christopher Sykes , and Mr . Martino , who had been guests on the Osborne , also accompanied the Prince to the Palace . The Royal yacht Alberta went out to meet the Osborne in the roadstead , and ,

the two vessels being made fast , a gangway was run out between them . His Royal Highness was then wheeled in his chair to the bridge of the Alberta , where he shook hands warmly with her commander , Staff-Captain G . A . Broad . The Prince was then lifted in his chair from the bridge to the deck , and wheeled to his carriage , in which Princess Victoria was seated . His Royal Highness was then driven to Osborne , where he will probably stay for a week or 10 days . The Prince looked extremely well , anil was heartily cheered by the men of the Osborne and a considerable number of spectators at Cowes .

IN VIEW OF THE approaching departure of the Hon . John Hay , the America Ambassador , the Executive Committee of the Anglo-American League presented his Excellency with an address of congratulation upon his appointment as Secretary of State . The ceremony took place at Col . Hay's private residence , Carlton Hou **; - terrace , by a deputation representing the Executive Committee , and headed by the chairman , Mr . James Bryce , M . P . The document , which was signed by Mr . Bryor , the Duke of Sutherland , and others , contained the following : "You carry back with

you thc assurance of the depth and strength of the feelings of affection and sympathy towards the United States entertained by the British people . The principle that there might be permanent friendship and cordial co-operation between the British Empire anJ the American Republic is , we believe , one which all parties and all Statesmen here ajree in regarding as a fundamental principle of British foreign policy , and by it the while people desire that their Government should be guided . " The American Ambassador , in reply , said : " I can only say that my work has been made very easy by the

instructions I have received from home , and bv the frankness , fairness , and courtesy with whi : h 1 have been constantly met by all the Ministers of her Majesty—in fact , by all Englishmen—with whom I have come into contact . The relations between the two countries hr . ' * : never before been so intimate and so agreeable . On both sides ot the ocean the conviction is almost universal that a clear and cordial and friendly understanding between Great Britain and America is a necessity of civilisation . I shall hold myself signally fortunate if I am able—adopting your own words—to do anything to continue ini strengthen the relations of fraternal amity between our two nations . "

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