Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . THE DUKE OF ABERCORN has arrived at Hampden House , Green-street , St . James's , from Baron ' s Court , County Tyrone . THE DOKE AND DUCHESS OF TECK left the White Lodge , Richmond Park , for Sandringham , where they are now staying on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of York . . BRO . LORD AND LADY CHARLES BERESFORD , who had been staying at Park Gate He Use , Ham , Surrey , left London on Saturday last for Madrid , en route lor Egypt . BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF ST . ALBANS have been entertaining a numerous party of guests at Bestwood Lodge , Arnold , for the Nottingham Hospital Ball .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN , with Prince Albert and Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , left Cumberland Lodge , Windsor Park , on Monday on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury at Hatfield . THE BENCHERS of the Inner Temple have lent their hall to Lady Halsbury for the purposes of a ball , which she intends giving on the 13 th February , in aid of St . Michael ' s Convalescent Home , Westgate-on-Sea .

WE ARE ASKED TO STATE that interim interest on the paid capital of the Accident Insurance Company , Limited , 10 , St . Swithin's-line , at the rate of five per cent , per annum , for the half year ending the 31 st December , 1 S 95 , is now payable . . IT IS ANNOUNCED that Sir George Newnes has consented to preside at the 32 nd anniversary festival , which will be held in the Whitehall Rooms of the H 6 tel Metropole on Thursday , the 19 th March , in aid of the Homes for Little Boys at Farningham and Swinley .

THE LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY have decided to proceed at once with the erection of new naval barracks at Chatham . The scheme provides not only for utilising the old convict prison buildings as far as possible , but likewise for the erection of additional premises on a large scale . HER MAJESTY ' CONSUL at Stettin has been appealing to the public on behalf of the British Seamen ' s Institute in that port . In 1894 it was visited by over 4000 men , while last year the number was between 5000 and 6000 . Parcels ot old books , magazines , games , & c , are asked for as well as contributions .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES ' cutter Britannii his been launched fron the slips at Southampton , where she had been laid up , and towei over to Cowes , where she is completing her outfit for the Mediterranean , with a viev to taking part in the Riviera regattas . Her most formidable opponents will be the Ailsa and Sitanita . ON MONDAY , being the Feast of the Epiphany , the customary offerings on behalf of her Majesty the Queen of gold , frankincense , and myrrh , were made in the Chapel Royal , St , James ' s , at 11 a . m . Mr . E . H . Anson and the Hon . Aubrey Fitzclarence , Gentlemen Ushers-in-Waiting , presented the gifts , while the Dean ofthe Chapels Royal , the Sub-Dean , and the Priest-in-Waiting , officiated .

THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY concluded her visit to the Queen at Osborne on Monday , and having crossed from East Cowes to Portsmouth on the Royal Yacht Alberta , was received by Admiral Sir Nowell Salmon , V . C , who escorted her over the Majestic , the new flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Walter Kerr , commanding the Chinnel Squadron . After inspecting this powerful battleship , her Royal Highness left Portsmouth for Claremont .

BRO . THE DUKE OF PORTLAND , Master of the Horse , entertained the children of the men employed atthe Royal Mews , Buckingham Palace , on Monday evening . The young folk , with their mothers , to the number of about 200 , enjoyed a dissolving view entertainment after tea , each subsequently receiving from a huge Christmas tree some toy or useful article . Music followed , and at the conclusion the children gave hearty cheers for the Master of the Horse .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES left Sandringham for Lowther Castle on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Lonsdale on Monday . On his arrival at Penrith , the Piince was met by the Earl of Lonsdale , the town being illuminated in his honour and the reception accorded to his Royal Highness being most enthusiastic . The party invited to meet the Prince included the Dowager Countess of Lonsdale , Bro . the Earl of Dunraven , Viscount and Viscountess Curzon , Lord and Lidy A . Compton , the Right Hon . James Lowther , the Right Hon . Henry Chaplin , and others , while Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire , the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry , and Bro . Lord and Lady Muncaster were unable to accept the invitations they received .

THE MARRIAGE of Captain John R . Cottrell , ist Life Guards , with Lady Evelyn Gordon , eldest daughter of Bro . the Earl of March , was solemnised in St . Peter ' s , Eaton-square , on Saturday last . Troopers of A Squadron of the Regiment were ranged on each side of the nave , and the Archdeacon of Hereford and the Rev . E . Hill , of Boxgrove , Chichester , were the officiiting clergy . Among those piesent at the reception after the wedding , at the Duke of Richmond and Gordon's residence in Belgrave-square , were Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the Duke ot Richmond and Gordon , Bro . the Marquis and Marchioness of Hamilton , the Earl and Countess of Winterton , Bro . the Earl of Hardwicke , Lady Emily and Miss Hart Dyke , and others .

THREE CONSTABLES of the S . Division ot the Metrrpolitan Pclice greatly distinguished themselves by their courage at a fire which recently took place in George-street , Hampstead-road , by rescuing a woman from a room at the top of the house when the whole of the lower portion was completely gutted and the staircase had disappeared . The three mounted a ladder , and when it proved too short , Neale stood , supported by

the ethers , on the topmost rung , the woman stepped slowly out on to his shoulders , and the four then descended in safety . For this act , the three attended at the Marylebone Police Court , and were presented—Neale wilh a silver medil , Colley with a bronze medal , and Lewis with a certificate , and , in addition , a guinea each , which had been awarded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Lite from Fire .

OPENING OF THE NATIONAL SKATING PALACE . —The well-known house of entertainment—Hengler ' s Grand Cirque—has transformed itself into a new creation of wonderful and surpassing beauty , in the style and under the nam ; of the National Skating Palace . It is , in fact , a new and formidable competitor in the pleasure world of London . _ The whole building has been practically reconstructed , and decorated and furnished in such a manner as to command unqualified admiration . The arrangements at the Skating Palace are peifect . All the male and female attendants are at their posts , each knowing their duty and performing it with absolute precision . It is evident

that every point has Deen carefully thought out , and there need be no hesitation in saying that in every respect cur own National Skating Palace goes one bater thin the Paris and Brussels Palaces of a like character . That , at all events , is the opinion of the National Skating Association of Great Britain , which has selected the National Palace as its official hi adquarters , and its position in such a favoured spot as the corner of Regent and Cxford-streets , added to its own distinct attractions , would seem to justify our belief that Hengler ' s Grand Cirque , under the new regime , is about to become a most fashionable and popular resort .

Bro . J OSEPH TICKLE , C . C , one of whose sons died about a year ago , has sustained another bereavement by the death of a second son—Mr . Cecil Berriman Tickle—who , after a short illness , succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever at Libau , Russia , on Monday . The deceased was only 23 years of age , and was still serving his apprenticeship as an engineer . He left home about a month ago to join the ss . Varna , belonging to the Norwood Steamship Company , of Hull , on which boat he was qualifying for the certificate as second-class engineer . About a fortnight ago he wrote from Libau that he

was in the best of health , although feeling the effects of the stormy passage . This was followed by a telegram received Irom the Vice-Consul at Libau on Christmas Eve stating that Mr . Tickle had been stricken down with typhoid , and had been removed to hospital ^ Improvement was afterwards reported in his condition , and as late as Monday morning a letter was received stating that no doubt his friends would hear from him in a few days . But at 12 o ' clock on the same day a telegram wis received in the following

terms , " Condition dangerous , " and half an hour later a second telegram announced his death . The shock to his parents was vcry great , and Mrs . Tickle is dangerously ill in ccmeeruence . Bro . J . Tickle has g iven instructions for the body to be brought home foe inteiment in the family grave at Finchley Cemetery . We beg to offer our sincerest and most respectful sympathy to Bro . Tickle—who is P . P . G . Reg . of Middlesex—and his family in the terrible bereavement they have suffered .

Masonic And General Tidings.

A GRAND MASONIC BALL will be held in the Skating Rink , Ashton , on the 4 th proximo . BRO . LORD AND LADY PIRBRIGHT , who have been entertaining large shooting * parties at Henley Park during the present week , will arrive at their town residence , 42 , Grosvenor-place , on Monday next . THE MUSICAL NOVELTY of the week has been the lady orchestra now performing at the Cafe Monico . Organised by Miss Graves , it contains several talen ' ed mus i cians , including a delightful flutist in the person of Miss Mabel Hambleton .

WE HAVE MUCH pleasure in announcing that the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . Lord Ha ' sbury ) has placed Bro . Dr . H . J . Strong , P . A . G . D . C , Consulting Physician to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on the Commission of the Peace for the County of Sussex . THE ABSENCE of suspicion on the part of fish inhabiting waters which are seldom or never fished , was evidenced on Monday at the Piscatorial Society's re-union , when Mr . E . Foreman and a friend , fishing in a private water , brought up four beautiful pike , each scaling over iolbs .

THE BERKSHIRE MASONIC REGISTER AND CALENDAR FOR 1 S 96 . —We hear that this annual , which will shortly be published by Bro . Cosburn , of Newbury , will be embellished with a life-like portrait of Bro . J . T . Morland , M . A ., acting Prov . Grand Master , and Clerk to the Berks County Council .

ACCORDING TO the Registrar-General's Returns , the death-rate for London last week was 20 . 1 , as compared with 17 . 8 the week previous . There were no deaths recorded from smallpox , typhus , or other zymotic diseases , while influenzi appeirs to be abating , only five deaths being attributable to thit cause . THE DEATH is announced of the Right Hon . Sir Julian Goldsmith , Birt ., M . P . The deceased , who was 57 years of age , had been for the past 12 months a great sufferer from rheumatic gout , and for some time previous to his death hid been unible to leave the house . By this sad event the seat for South St . Pancras becomes vacant .

THE DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT , assisted by Colonel Kelly-Kenny , Colonel and Miss Miles , Colonel and Mrs . G . M . Fox , and other members of the Headmasters Staff , made a distribution of toys to the children of the District Staff in the Army Service Corps Theatre at Aldershot , on Tuesdiy . The distribution wai followed by a tea and acrobatic and other entertainments .

WHEN THE USUAL change of quarters takes place this year , the 1 st Battalion Grenadier Guards will move from Wellington Barracks to the Tower , the 2 nd from Chelsea to Windsor , and the 3 rd from the Tower to Chelsea The two battalions of the Coldstream Guards will remain at Wellington Barracks , while the 1 st Battalion Scots Guards will move from Windsor to Wellington Barracks , and the 2 nd remain in Dublin .

THE LORD MAYOR ( Bro . Sir Walter Wilkin ) and the Lady Miyoress gave a fancy dress ball at the Mansion House on Tuesday , when hundreds of children , accompanied by their parents , enjoyed themselves most heartily . There were also other entertainments given , among them being marionettes in the drawing-room , a troupe of performing dogs in a corner of the Egyptian Hall , and a Punch and Judy Show in the Saloon . The band of the Coldstream Guards also ministered to the pleasure of the guests .

THE 2 STH ANNUAL DINNF . R in aid of the funds of the Goldsmiths and Jewellers ' Annuity and Asylum Institution will take place at the Holborn Restaurant , Holborn , W . C , on Tuesday , the 4 'h proximo , when John Hill , Esq . ( Messrs . Hill and Sons , Bankers , West Smithfield ) , has kindly consented to preside . Bro . Lieut .-Col . George Lambert , F . S . A ., P . G . S . B ., President of the Institution j and Bros . Alderman Sir J . Savory , Batt ., M . P . ; the Hon . Massey Mainwaring , M . P . ; and George Kenning are among the Stewards for the occasion .

THE WIST BADDELKY CAKB and the bowl of punch were duly consumed after the performance of " Cinderella" by most of those who had taken part in the performance on Monday evening . Bro . James Fernandez presided , and , after referring to the happy idea of the deceased comedian in making a bequest by which his memory was certain to be kept green , proposed , in eulogistic terms , " The Health of Bro . Sir Augustus and Lady Harris . " Bro . Sir A . Harris returned thanks , and , in diing so , slid , after issuing so many tickets for this event for many years , and yet finding so many complaints from people who had not been invited , he had at length resolved on returning to the original simple form of celebration .

BRIGADE SERGEANT-MAJOR BRO . S . BIGWOOD ( Royal Artillery ) and Mrs . Bigwood , 6 , Prospect-buildings , vVells-roid , Bath , celebrated their _ silver wedding on Thursday , the 2 nd instant . The Bath and Somerset Athletic Association , in which Club Bro . Bigwood takes considerable interest , sent him a souvenir of the interesting occasion in the shape of a handsome dining-room striking clock , bearing a suitable inscription .

Bro . Samuel Bigwood was initiated in St . George ' s Lodge , No . 42 , London , Canadi West , 24 th August , 1 S 64 ; and was member of Zetland Lodge , No . 21 , Montreal , Canada East , until his depirture in June , 18 / 9 . Advanced Mark Master Mason , Eden Lodge , No . 73 , at Limeeick , 31 st May , 1 S 70 ; exalted Royal Arch Mason , 1 S 70 ; Knight Templar in the Antiquity Preceptory , Time Immemorial ; and Antiquity Chapter Rose Croix , i 8 ° , 1878 , at Bith .

ADDRESS BY BRO . SIR B . W . R ICHARDSON . —At a meeting of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association , held on Saturday evening last , at Carpenters' Hall , Throgmorton-avenue , E . C ., Bro . Sir Benjamin W . Richardson , the President , delivered his New Year ' s address . He said he would indicate several truths that he desired his hearers to impress upon the public . In the first place , he dwelt upon the value of cleanliness—cleanliness of a personal kind , as in dress ; cleanliness in food and drink ; cleanliness in the air breathed ; and cleanliness in the home . The laundry , as it now

existed , was one of the most fruitful sources of disease . Laundries ought to be under municipal control—no profit should be made out of the profit of washing clothes . Markets ought to be under thorough inspection , and of all things water should be pure . It was the only necessary drink for man and all animals , constituting 65 per cent , of our bodies . The eagles above , the whales below , and the lions on the level—all performed their feats of strength on water , yet some men thought they needed to be sustained by " something stronger . " The water supply ought to be in the hands of the

municipality . It was as easy to be habituilly clean and orderly as to be habitually unclean and disorderly . The tendency of man was towards gluttony rather than starvation . It was really difficult to starve , but exceedingly easy to gluttonise , and far more died of surplus than of want . He was not a vegetarian , but highly approved the vegetarian system , which , however , required modification to make it always suitable . Fruit , now so cheap , was among the best of foods . Apples were good , and in some sense the banana was one of the most

sustaining , as it was one of the most pleasant , of foods . The question of occupation was of considerable interest . Years ago he drew up a table showing the different rates of mortality of the 70 occupations followed by the people of England and Wales . Clergymen of the Established Church came out at the top of the tree , and persons who sold liquor in public-houses at the bottom . Independent gentlemen , gamekeepers , and sawyers were among those near the top . Catholic priests , bracketed with doctors , were below the mean , and hair-cutters were very low indeed . Grocers were right above the

line , and drapers ( who breathed fluff ) a good way below it . In each case there was a cause ; and he commended the subject to the stud y of sanitary inspectors . For one man who was killed byfalling from a scaffold , a million were injured by equally severe and removable causes . It was also very important to consider hours of work and hours of recreation . As a general rule , not without several exceptions , from eight to nine hours daily of one kind ot work was quite sufficient . Work done when body and mind

were tired was not good work . In recreation it was necessary to call into best play all the senses , cultivate the bestt muscular efforts , and enlarge and charge the mind with the best thoughts and deeds . Games of precision , cnoice reading , and travels from home were among the important means of recreation . The healthy man was the strongest man , and the healthy woman stood in even a better position , for she became the mother of health .

" Mlv THE QUEEN ' S COMMAND , ' I once performed at Windsor before her Majesty and several members of the Koyal Family ; and , ali , it was the most delightful experience 1 have ever had . " The speaker was an enthusiastic young actress , as popular as she is beautiful . " The honour was certainly a great one , " we murmured . " Yes , " she responded quickly ; "but it was not that—her Majesty was so kind , yon know . It really did you good the way she treated yon . " That is just it . Proper treatment is all we want . Nine-tenths of the sickness we stiller might be cured if we only had proper treatment . If you are ill or . feel out of sorts , seek relief from the true friends of the sick and sullering—Holloway ' s I'ills and Ointment .