Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . THE DUKE OF M ARLROROUGH has arrived at Sysonby Lodge , Melton Mowbray , from London . BRO . VISCOUNT W OLSELKY , the Commander-in-Chief , who has " taken a house at Brighton , is to be presented with the Freedom of the Borough . No date has yet been fixed for the ceremony . LADY LUCY HICKS-BEACH has accepted an invitation to perform the ceremony of christening the Formidable , first-class battleship , on the occasion of her being launched from No . 5 slip at Portsmouth Dockyard on Thursday , the 17 th inst .

THE EMPRESS F REDERIC OK GERMANY arrived at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening on the conclusion of her Northern tour . It is expected that her Imperial Majesty will remain in London until the return of the Court from Balmoral , when she will go to Windsor . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN has consented to open and take a stall at a bazaar to be held in the Albert Institute , Windsor , on the 29 th and 30 th instant , in aid of the Windsor Cruche and the local branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children .

PRINCESS ARIDERT OF ANHALT and suite left Victoria Station on Monday evening for Germany , via Queenborough and Flushing . Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , accompanied by Princess Victoria , was present to see her Royal Highness off . Major Martin was in attendance . A FEW PERSONAL FRIENDS of T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales and family arrived at Sandringham on Monday evening , including Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , Prince Francis of Teck , the Earl of Rosebery , Capt . Ricardo , the Right . Hon . Henry Chaplin , M . P ., Bros . Montagu Guest andSassoon .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN , who was accompanied by Princess Aribert of Anhalt and Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , with Baroness von EglofTatein and Major Evan Martin in attendance , paid an opening visit on Monday afternoon to the exhibition organised by the Artists' Guild at the Imperial Institute . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK , who , with the young Princes and Princesses , are staying at York House . Sandringham , attended Divine service at Sandringham Chuich , attended by Lady Mary Lygon and Sir Francis de Winton . Their Royal Highnesses afterwards visited T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham House .

ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON the ceremony of swearing in the new Lord Mayor took place in Guildhall . After a "breakfast , " at one o ' cloek , at the Mansion House , Bro . Lord Mayor Davies , the Lord Mayor elect , the Aldermen , Sheriffs , and high officers , went in procession to Guildhall , where , both in the Court of Aldermen and in the Great Hall , the ancient ceremonials took place .

BRO . LORD KITCHENER was present at the peiformance in the Palace Theatre on Saturday morning last , and was soon recognised by the large audience , who gave the Sirdar a tremendous reception , singing . " See the Conquering Hero Comes " and loudly cheering him . The entertainment was stopped temporarily , and when , during the interval , the band struck up " Rule , Britannia , " the house rose , and joined in the chorus .

ON SATURDAY , Bro . Lord Mayor Davies , M . P ., and the Lady Mayoress gave an entertainment to the children of the Freemen ' s Orphan School , at the Mansion House . The institution , which is situated at Brixton , was erected by the Corporation and opened in 1 S 5 O for the maintenance and religious and ordinary education of orphans of freemen of the City . It has accommodation for 100 girls and 100 boys , and nearly iooochildren have passed through it since 1 S 50 .

THEIR ROYAI . HIGHNESSES the Prince and Princess of Wales , accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Victoria , attended by Miss Knollys , General Sir Dighton Probyn , Major-General Sir A . T . Ellis , and Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , attended divine service on Tuesday morning at the Church of St . Mary Magdalene , in the park at Sandringham . Owing to the Prince and Princess being in deep mourning for the late Queen of Denmark , his Royal Highness ' s birthday cekbration at Sandringham will not be held this year .

WE HEAR that Bro . Sir Henry Irving continues to improve . The Prince ' s Lid ; e —the most aristocratic in Glasgow—dining in the Windsor Hotel on the 7 th insta-it , on the motion of Bro . McLtod , R . W . M ., son of the famous Queen's Chaplain , Dr . Norman MacLeod , sent the following message , signed by the whole company , to Bro . Sir Henry , who was ill upstairs : " Brethren of Prince ' s Lodge now dining in this hotel salute Bro . Sir Henry Irving , with warmest wishes for his speedy recovery , and regret he cannot give them the honour and pleasure of his presence at their annual banquet . "

IT IUS become quite a custom to confer a K . C . M . G . on a retiring Lord Miyor , in place of the knighthcods which used to obtain in years when baronetcies were not awarded . It was Mr . Gladstone who created the precedent 13 years ago , at the termination of Bro . John Staples' year of ollice . Curiously enough , one of his Sheriffs was Bro . David Evans , who in his turn seven years later was himself created a K . C . M . G . Sir Walter Wilkin was another recipient . There is some appropriateness in conferring an honour which has always been associated with Greater Britain , seeing that one of the latest official acts of the late popular occupant of the Mansion House was to open a relief fund on behalf of distressed Colonies .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE , accompanied by Colonel FilzGeorge , went on Saturday to Balls Park , Hertford , on a visit to Sir George and Lady Faudel-Phillips . The party invited to meet his Royal Highness included the Duke of Manchester , Bro . the Marquis and Marchioness of Tweeddale and Lady Clementine Hav , Bro . Lord Claud Hamilton , Bro . Lord llothfield , Sir William Walrorid , Bro . H . McCalmont , M . P ., Mr .

H . Stuart Woitley , and Mr . Faudel-Philltps . The Duke of Cambridge and the hous : party attended Divine service in the chapel of Christ ' s Hospital , where a most impressive sermon was preached by the Rev . J . T . Bell , the headmaster . His Royal Highness subsequently visited the other portions of the institution , and attended the children's dinner . The Duke of Cambridge expressed himself greatly pleased at the high tone maintained in the school , of which he has been president for miny yeirs .

NATIONAL TOAST . — " Here ' s to John Bull , Pat and Sanly in Grant's Morella Cherry Brandy , " acknowledged by all to be delicious and comforting ; and well calculated by its soothing properties to make all parties work together for the benefit of the nation . Sold everywhere . Also Grant ' s Cherry Whisky anj SI 02 Gi- > . —Aiovr .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE EARL OF CLARENDON and his daughter , Lady Edith Villiers , have left London for Clumber , Notts , on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . SIR J . E . GORST . Q . C ., M . P ., Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education , has appointed Mr . William Loring , as his private secretary . THE COUNTESS OF CARNARVON has given birth to a son and heir at 13 , Berkeleysquare . Mother and child are progressing favourably .

THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND has arrived at Chelsea House from the Viceregal Lodge , Dublin . His Excellency will return to Ireland after the meeting of the Cabinet . THE DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH has gone to Brighton fora fortnight . Bro . the Duke of Marlborough is spending a few days at Sysonby Lodge , his hunting quarters , in Leicestershire .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT arrived on Tuesday night at Welbeck on a visit to Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Portland , who give a grand ball in their honout to-day ( Friday ) . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . W . C . GULLY , M . P ., Speaker of the House of Commons , has promised to preside at the 3 6 th anniversary dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund , which will be held at the Whitehall Rooms , on Saturday , May 13 th , 1 S 99 .

WE ARE GLAD to hear that Bro . J , L . Toole is still making excellent progress towards recovery at the Royal Eye Hospital , St . George ' s-circus , S . E . On Sunday last the surgeons permitted him to take exercise on the roof of the hospital . BRO . THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF DERBY have been entertaining a large houseparty at Knowsley Park for the Liverpool races . Bro . Lord Derby has just given a handsome cup to the Royal Botanical Society of Manchester for competition at the forthcoming chrysanthemum show .

THE MARQUIS OF HEADFORT and Lord and Lady Ribblesdale left King's Cross on Tuesday on a visit to Lord and Lady Savile at Rufford Abbey , who are this week entertaining a large party for shooting and for the balls at Clumber and Welbeck , which are to be honoured by the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught . "HOLLOWAY ' Almanac and Family Friend for iSrjg is a very useful little book . It is not all 'Pills and Ointment' as might be supposed , but contains a good deal of useful information , and a series of articles on the Pastimes of Many Nations . It may be obtained free on sending a halfpenny stamp for pojtage to 7 S , New Oxford-street . " —Modern Society .

THE GRAND DUKE AND DUCHESS SERGE OF RUSSIA , accompanied by their suite , will arrive at Windsor to-morrow ( Saturday ) evening , on a . visit to the Queen . General Godfrey Clerk , who has been appointed to attend upon the distinguished visitors by her Majesty , will meet the travellers at Dover , and accompany them on the final stage of their journey .

AT FARNHAM on Saturday night last the Aldershot district annual Inkerman and Crimean War banquet was held under the patronage of the Duke of Connaught , the Duke of Cambridge , Bro . Lord Wolseley , Bro . Lord Roberts , and many others . Besides veterans of Inkerman and the Crimean War , survivors of the Indian Mutiny were invited , and by permission of Lieut .-Col . Bro . the Earl of Airlie and the officer of the regiment the band of the 12 th ( Prince of Wales ' s ) Royal Lancers played a selection of music .

PRINCRSS CHRISTIAN , who was attended by Baroness von EglolTstein , opened at noon on Monday , in the Jerusilem Chamber , Westminster Abbey , a two days' sale on behalf of the Westminster Refuge for Women and its allied institution , the St . Helena Hospital . Among the ladies in attendance were Viscountess Emlyn , Lady Beatrice Kemp , Miss Bradley , Miss Beryl Thynne , Mrs . Hugh Spottiswoode , and Mrs . Seymour Corkran . The Princess was received at the Abbey entrance by the Dean and Mrs . Bradley , Mr . and Mrs . John Thynne , and Mr . Frank Thynne .

THE IMMEMORIAL dining customs of the Middle Temple have been rudely broken in upon by the Benchers . Up to this term the dinners have been split up into messes of four . To each mess has been assigned a separate joint , from which each diner has carved for himself . Has not Thackeray immortalised this custom in " Pendennis ? " But now , and hencefoith , the waiters are to carve from a few common joints . The innovation is generally disliked . While the waiters are carving , the vegetables grow cold , and there has been a torturing delay in uncorking the wine . As a solatium , the Benchers have offered coffee . This , however , has failed to pacify , and the diners are in a state of suppressed rebellion .

THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve the appointment of the retiring Lord Mayor ( Bro . Colonel Davi ; s , M . P . ) to be a Knight-Commander of the Order of St . Michael and St . George . Bro . Colonel Sir Horatio Davies was barn in 1 S 12 , educated at Dulwich College , and , after spending a year or two with an engraver , forsook art to enter into commerce , Subsequently he became associated with various industrial

enterprises in the City , which under his care prospered ' exceedingly . 11 J has been a member of the Common Council since 1 S 59 , served as Sheriff and Alderman , and has now left the Mansion House after a successful year of office , which has been marked by generous hospitality and unremitting efforts to promote the interests of the citizens of London .

£ 2950 FOR A Bim . F .. —At the first day ' s sale of the valuable library of the late Rev . William Makellar , at Sotheby's , on Tuesday last , one of the most precious printed copies of the Bible known to collectors was the chief object of competition . This was one _ of that first printed edition of the Sacred Book known as the " Gutenberg Bible , " having also the interest of being the first important issue from moveable metal types . The existing copies are calculated at 25 , but only five have have changed hands within the past 20 years , and these have come under Messrs . Sotheby ' s hammer . The date of

printing was from 1450-55 ; and as to its value , the sum of £ 2950 speaks for itself to some extent , though this treasure sold at a greater figure on a former occasion , before certain defects were discovered by the initiated . It is what is called the second issue , and measures 15 by 10 J inches . Mr . Quaritch , who , it will be remembered , paid a large sum for this " byston Park " copy before , has again become its possessor . After such an item running easily to four figures , a vellum manuscript at £ . 300 seems a modest

acquisition ; but it may be noted that this amount was given by Mr . Robson fora 13 th century Anglo-Norman transcript of the Bible in Gothic characters ornamented and historiated , the illuminations showing the distinctive dresses of the period and fashions of armour . Thea there was a copy , not perfect , bu rare for all that , of the first Polyglott Bible printed , comprising likewise the first printed Greek New Testament . This fell to Mr . Quaritch at £ SS .

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