Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE LORD MAYOR ' S Indian Famine Fund down to Thursday night amounted to £ 416 , 000 , including £ 1000 from York . THE CLOTHWORKERS' COMPANY have given a further donation of £ 250 towards the Re-endowment Fund of Guy's Hospital . INTERNATIONAL yacht racing * took place at Hyeres , when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s Britannia beat the Ailsa in the 24 miles race .

THE FOOTBALL contest , Ireland v . Wales , played at Belfast on Saturday last , resulted in favour of the Green Isle by four goals to three . THE DUKE OP CONNAUGHT will shortly visit Berlin , in order to be present at the unveiling of the Emperor William I . monument on Monday , the 23 rd instant . WE REGRET TO HEAR that the condition of the Earl of Hardwicke , Past Prov . G . Master of Cambridgeshire , is again the cause of very serious anxiety to his numerous friends and relations .

CHANG-YIN-HOON has been appointed Speciai Ambassador to the Queen to' convey to her Majesty the congratulations of the Emperor of China on the occasion of her Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee . WE ARE GLAD to hear that the Countess of Warwick , who quite recently met with an accident in the hunting field , by which she dislocated one of her elbows , is progressing very favourably towards recovery .

THE QUEEN has conferred the Honorary Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon his Excellency Count G . Seckendorff , Comptroller of the Household of her Imperial Majesty the Empress Frederick of Germany . HER MAJESTY ' S guests at Windsor Castle on Saturday last included the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , while the Duke d'AIencon arrived on Sunday evening and had the honour of being included in the Royal dinner party .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES , Princess Victoria of Wales , and the Duke and Duchess of York visited the Clifford Galleries , 21 , Haymarket , on Tuesday afternoon , in order to view Miss F . C . Fairman's Dog Show on canvas and paper . HER MAJESTY has consented [ to give her patronage to the Duchess of Albany's bazaar in aid of the fund for the relief of the distressed and poor in the parishes of Deptford , which will be held at the Imperial Institute on the ist and 2 nd June .

BRO . LORD AND LADY PIRBRIGHT , who have been wintering at Cimie-z , are not expected to return to their house in Grosvenor-place , until after Easter . Bro . Lord and Lady Wantage have left town for Lockinge , and purpose going . abroad shortly until after Easter . H . R . H . THE PRINCEOF WALES arrived off Cannes on board his yacht Britannia on Monday and lunched with the Grand Duke Mecklenburgh Schwerin on board the White Ladye . Subsequently the Prince visited the Archduke Rainer and Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES arrived at Men tone from Cannes shortly before noon on Wednesday , and lunched with the Emporor of Austria , at Cape St . Martin , subsequently visiting the Empress Eugenie at the Vii Ia Cyprus , and returning thence in the course of the afternoon .

THE EMPRESS FREDERICK OF GERMANY , who left Windsor Castle , on Tuesday , for Buckingham Palace , where she will remain till Monday next , dined with the Duke and Duchi ss of York , at York House , St . James ' s , the same evening , the Princess of Wales and her daughter Princess Victoria being of the party . BARON DE COURCEL , the French Ambassador , was to have visited Windsor Castle on Monday morning for the purpose of delivering his letters of recall to her Majesty , but it has been arranged that his Excellency shall continue at his post a little longer , and he will probably not leave until after the Queen ' s return from the Continent .

A LETTER WAS received at the Mansion House on Wednesday from the Queen , who , "having reason to believe that the distress attending the present famine in India , is likely to be more widespread than was at first anticipated , " sent a further donati on of £ 500 to the Relief Fund . Other sums contributed during the day raised the total to A 411 , 000 .

IN PREPARATION . —The Royal Diamond Jubilee Commemoration Number of the Freemason . Price is . ; illustrated . " Royalty and Freemasonry , " and other interesting matter by eminent writers . Presentation plate of Grand Officers . Orders now booked for the above at the offices—iC and IGA , Great Queen-street , London ; Manchester , Liverpool , and Glasgow .

ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN made by the Duke of Connaught in an Army Order , that the sum subscribed by the troops under his Royal Highness ' s command at Aidershot , towards the Indian Famine Relief Fund , is £ 512 lis . The Duke is of opinion that this evidence of the sympathy with India among the home forces will be highly appreciated in that country .

THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE , Bros , the Earl of Onslow . Lord Glenesk , and the Hon . Ivor Guest , Sir A . Scoble , M . P ., Bros . Sir Douglas Straight , Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., and Captain Chaloner , M . P ., and Mr . Jesse Collings , M . P ., were among the guests at the dinner party given by the Home Secretary , Bro . Sir M . Ridley White , at nis house in Carlton House-terrace on Wednesday . AT A SALE of pictures which was held at Christie ' s , on Saturday last , a very fine portrait of Miss Farren , afterwards Countess of Derby , by Sir Thomas Lawrence .

P . R . A ., which in 18 G 3 only fetched 79 guineas , realised 2300 guineas . A domestic scene by Palasquez entitled "The Back Door of a House , " from the collection of Cardinal Fisch , was knocked down for 1340 guineas . HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN has telegraphed to Colonel Forestier-Walker , of the King ' s Royal Rifle Corps , her admiration of the discipline and general conduct of the troops under his command at the time of the wreck of the troopship Warren Hastings . This evidence of the deep interest her Majesty takes in the welfare of her subjects has been greatly appreciated , and Colonel Walker has acknowledged with gratitude the gracious message .

H . R . H . THB PRINCESS OF WALES , accompanied by her daughter , the Princess Victoria , and attended by General Sir Dighton Probyn , returned to Marlborough House on Saturday last from visiting the Queen at Windsor Castle . In the afternoon , attended by Miss Knollys , their Royal Highnesses visited the Alexandra Hospital for Children suffering with Hip Diseases , situated in Queen-square , Bloomsbury , and in the evening they were present at the Princess ' s Theatre , and witnessed the performance of "Two Little Vagabonds . "

THEDUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK were present on Saturday afternoon last at the opening of the new and handsome baths and washhouses which have been erected in the Marylebone-road for the use of the parish , and dedicated them to the public use . Their Royal Highnesses were attended by General Sir F . de Winton , Captain the Hon . Derek Keppel , and Lady Mary Lygon , and were received by a Committee which included Sir Horace Farquhar , M . P ., Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , M . P ., Bro . Boulnois , M . P ., Viscount Royston , and the Parish Commissioners . Their Royal Highnesses were

received with hearty cheers both on entering and quitting the building . THE QUEEN , accompanied by Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Princes Leopold and Maurice of Battenberg , and the Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , attended by the ladies and gentlemen of her Court left Windsor Castle for the South-Western Railway Station , whence they were received by Bro . Wyndham Portal , Chairman of the Company , and other officials , by whom they were conducted to the train which was to

convey them to Portsmouth . Shortly before 1 p . m . her Majesty left Portsmouth Dockyard on board the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert , which was attended by the Trinity yacht Irene , escorted by the cruisers Australia and Galatea to Cherbourg , which was reached , after a favourable passage , about G . 30 p . m . The Queen remained on board for the night and on Thursday left by train for Paris , in the neighbourhood of which the French President , M . Faure , had a short interview with her in her saloon carriage , the train being stopped at Noisy-le-Sec for about a quarter of an hour to allow of this being done . She then continued her journey to Cimiez , where she will spend the next few weeks ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . THE DUKE OF ABERCORN has returned to town from visiting the Dowager Duchess of Abercorn at Coates Castle , Pulborough . THE WILL of Bro . George Lilley , of Balham , who died on January 24 th , was proved on February 24 th hy the executors , the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 33 . 973 12 s . sd . THE BELLS of Windsor were rung on Wednesday , and a Royal Salute fired in the Long Walk , in celebration of the thirty-fourth ahniverary of the Prince and Princess of Wales's wedding .

A BODY OF ZAPTICHS or Gendarmes , with their horses and equipment , will be sent from Cyprus to London to take part in the festivities connected with the celebration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee in June . THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR entertained at dinner , at 83 , Eaton-square , a number of guests , among them being the Lord Mayor , Bro . Lord Methuen , Lord James of Hereford , and Sir F . Lockwood , Q . C , M . P .

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ( Bro . Lord Halsbury ) , with Lady Halsbury , and the Hon . Evelyn Giffard left town on Tuesday evening , for Dublin , on a visit to their Excel , lencies the Lord-Lieutenant and Countess Cadogan .

THE ADVANCE bookings for " My Friend the Prince , " at the Ganck Theatre , are so heavy that notwithstanding there are is rows of stalls in this pretty theatre , the box olfice staff are quite unable to cope with the demand . BROS . VISCOUNT VALENTIA , Baron F . de Rothschild , Col . Waring , Orr-Ewing , and Abel H . Smith were among the guests at the fifth full dress Parliamentary dinner

given by the Speaker ( Bro . J . C . Gully , Q . C ) , on Wednesday . A GRAND COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT will be given at the Cannon Street Hotel , on Tuesday next , the 16 th inst ., to Bro . Frank Swinford , Prov . G . Org . Middx ., on his recovery from a prolonged and serious illness . The patrons include the Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex , and a very large number of eminent artistes have kindly promised their assistance .

THE DIRECTORS of Spiers and Pond , Limited , announce that the Share Transfer Books will be closed from the 16 th to the 31 st instant , both inclusive , for the purpose of preparing dividend warrants for the third instalment of four shillings per share , less income tax , payable on the ist April next , making 12 s . per share paid on account of the dividend for the year ending 31 st March , 1897 . IN CONSEQUENCE of the great number of troops that will be brought into London to line the streets and take part in the Royal procession to St . Paul ' s Cathedral on Tuesday , the 22 nd June , it has been decided to pitch camps at Hounslow and on

Wimbledon Common , the former being intended for regiments ot artillery and battalions of Royal Horse , and Field Artillery and the latter for battalions of infantry . THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY had an audience , which lasted an hour , with the Queen , at Windsor Castle , on Monday , and returned to town in the afternoon , and was afterwards visited at the Foreign Office by the Russian and French Ambassadors . The German and Italian Ambassadors also called at the Foreign Office before his lordship ' s return from Windsor , and the former made a second call later in the day in order that he might see his lordship in person .

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS , 1 S 97 . —The Great Northern Railway Company have issued their annual list of the principal Agricultural Shows to be held throughout the country during the year 1897 , and copies may be had free on application to the Company ' s agents , or to Mr . L . Brightman , King ' s Cross Station , London , N . Representative of the Company will , as usual , attend on the show grounds , and be prepared to give free particulars of rates , times of transit , & c .

SIR WALTER GILBEY entertained the Council of the Hunters' Improvement Society , and the members of the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding at dinner at his residence Cambridge House , Regent ' s Park / on Tuesday evening , among those present being Bro . W . H . Long , M . P . ( President of the Board of Agriculture ) , Bro . the Eirl of Yarborough , the Earl of Coventry , Earl Spencer , Bro . Viscount Valentia , M . P .,. Col . E . Nigel Kingscote , the Hon . W . F . D . Smith , M . P ., Capt . Fife , and others .

As THE TROOPS which will form part of the Queen's procession on the 22 nd June will consist of cavalry and other mounted corps , including the Indian and Colonial contingents , the command of the procession will be in the hands of Major-General the Hon . Reginald Talbot , C . B ., Commander of the Aldershot Cavalry Brigade , while the command of the troops in London for the occasion will be given to the Duke of Connaught , who will be in the procession , as also will the Commander-in-Chief , Bro . Lord Wolseley , and his stall .

AMONG THE GUESTS at the first evening party given during the season by the Countess Stanhope were the Austrian Ambassador , the Danish Ambassador and Madame Anthopoulo , the Netherlands Minister , Bro . Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) and Lady Halsbury , the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Wharncliffe , Earl Waldegrave , Viscount and Viscountess Knutsford , Bro . Viscount and Viscountess Ebrington , Bro . Lord Glenesk , Bro . Lord and . Lady Skelmersdale , Lord Greenock , Lord James of Hereford , Lord and Lady Morris , and many others .

LORD MAYOR FAUDEL PHILLIPS entertained the Master ( H . R . H . the Duke of York ) and Elder Brethren of Trinity House at a luncheon at the Mansion House , on Tuesday , among the principal guests being Hro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P . ; Cardinal Vaughan , Lord Kayleigh , the Bishop of Stepney , the Governor * of the Bank of England , Capt . Sir J . Sidney Webb ( Deputy Master of the Trinity House ) ; Bros . Sir T . Sutherland , M . P ., and Alderman Sir J . Savory , Bart ., M . P . ; Sir Djnald Currie , Bro . Sir Edward Lawson , Bro . H . McCalmont , M . P . ; Capt . Vyvyan , and others .

BRO . W . H . RICE , P . M , 1755 , has been the recipient of some handsome testimonials on the severing of his connection with the Bristol Training Ship , Formidable ( where he held the position of Head Master ) , after 27 years' service . On Saturday he was surprised by being asked to accept a handsome silver inkstand and beautiful oak smoking cabinet , both suitably inscribed , given by the past and present officers of the

ship , which gifts were suitably and feelingly acknowledged . Bro . Rice is well-known in Freemasonry , not only in Somerset , but -in London , where he has taken great interest in the Central Charities and in the high grades of our Order , and we trust he may long be spared to enjoy his well-earned retirement and to continue his valuable and valued services to the Craft .

JJ EW INFIRMARY BUILDINGS FOR THE GUARDIANS OF TUB POOR OF THE PARISH OK ST . MARY , ISLINGTON . —Communications were considered from the undermentioned selected as eli g ible for the appointment of quantity surveyor : John Andrews , 13 , Basinghall-street , li . C ; Harry E . Pollard , 6 , York-buildings , Adelphi ; G . H . Luetchford , 26 , Kelly-street , N . W . ; Bro . H . Dow White , VV . M . 1601 , 52 ,

Finsbury-pavement , li . C . j T . Wilson , 34 , New Bridge-street ; Alan Paull , 6 , Qualitycourt , Chancery-lane , W . C ; J . Leaning and Sons , 28 , John-street , Bedford-row , W . C . ; VV . H . Barber and Son , 22 , Buckingham-street , Strand , W . C . ; Walter I * . Farthing , 4 G , Strand , W . C . ; and Fowler and Hugman , 9 , Craig-court , Charing Cross , S . VV . Bro . Dow White was appointed .

N EWSVENDORS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION . — The annual meeting of this society was held on Tuesday at the Memorial Hall , Bro . Lord Glenesk , President , in the chair . The report stated that a substantial addition had been made during last year to the invested funds , which now amount to £ 15 , 030 . The annual subscriptions have increased , showing , in the opinion of the Committee , that members of the news trade are at last beginning to appreciate the benefits offered by the society . The total receipts for the year were £ 1266 5 s . 3 d ., and the expenditure £ 853 Oi . 91 . leaving a

, balance of over £ 400 . ln moving its adoption , the Chairman called attention to its satisfactory nature , and thanked Bro . Alderman Treloar for presiding at their last annual dinner , and the Stationers' Company for lending their hall , and predicted that the next festival , at which the Earl of Crewe had consented to preside on April 28 th , would also prove a great success . He found in hia experience that those who helped themselves generally got helped by their neighbours , and he believed the pub' . ic would alwavs be ready to assist members of such a trade as theirs , involving exposure and lone *

hours for their customers' convenience . He hoped the Victoria Pensions for poor widows would be increased this year , and that the society would long continue to carry on its noble work . Mr . T . Miles supported the resolution , which was adopted . Four candidates—J . Clarke , Hannah C . Nash , Mary Ann Nelson , and G . A . Wright—were then elected to the benefits of the institution , * and received their first cheques from the hands of the Chairman , after which a resolution was adopted directing tne Committe : to devote this year's donations to the increase of the Royal Victoria Pension Fund .