Masonig And General Tidings.

MASONIG AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

H . R . IL THE PRINCE of WALKS has very graciousl y promised to lay the foundation-stone of the new Lower School for the Royal Medical Benevolent College at Epsom , in June next . BRO . THE DUKK OK ATHOL has left town for Blair Athol , Perthshire , to spend the Easter recess , but the Duchess of Athol , whose health , we regret to say , is still unsatisfactory , remains for the present abroad .

TUB SOLICITOR-GENERAL ( Bro . Sir F . Lockwood , M . P . ) , has kindly undertaken to preside at the 32 nd anniversary festival which will be held at the Hotel Metropole on the iSth May , in behalf of the Newspaper Press Fund . THE DUKE OF SA . XE-COBURG GOTIIA , accompanied by his son , Prince Alfred , will arrive at Clarence House , according to present arrangements , on Monday , the 22 nd inst ., and will lie joined by the Duchess and the Princesses somewhat later .

MADAME ADELINA PATTI le / t town for Nottingham on Monday , and took part in a concert in that city . On the following morning , she left for her place in Wales , where she will remain until she returns to London for the opera season , the second week in June .

BRO . BARON HENRY DE WORMS M . P ., who has been suffering for some time past from a severe attack of influenza , but is now happily recovered , visited the House of Commons for the first lime since his illness on Monday , and was very warmly greeted .

( T IS ANNOUNCED that Bro . Sir Frederick Leighton , P . R . A ., has been ordered by his medical adviser to leave England on a prolonged holiday , and will in consequence leave England to-day ( the nth inst . ) , for Gibraltar . His place as President at the annual banquet of the Royal Academy will be taken by Sir John Millais , Bart ., It . A .

MESSRS . GEORGE ADAM t YOUNG AND CO ., Bible publishers , Edinburgh , have still a few copies left of the pamphlet " Variations of three most Ancient MSS . of the Greek New Testament , " as edited by Tischendotff . They are one shilling each nett , and embrace all the differences noted by that lamented scholar in the Tauchnitz edition of the New Testament .

THE GRAND CHAPTER of the District of Columbia , U . S . A ., held its annual convocation in Washington on the 24 th December , 1894 , when Comp . Frank L . Campbell was elected and installed G . H . Priest , and Comp . Lewis G . Stephens , G . Sec . There are 10 chapters on the roll with an aggregate membership of 2141 . The report on Correspondence was presented by Comp . W . R . Singleton .

SIR KNIGHTS WILLIAM H . MARTIN and John H . Miller were elected G . Commander and G . Recorder respectively of the G . Coramandery of Knights Templar of Maryland , at its annual conclave , in Baltimore , on the 27 th and 2 Sth November last . According to thestatistics presented on the occasion there are nine commanderies on the roll with an aggregate of 007 members .

THE LOUD MAYOR ( Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Renals ) has remitted to Bro . the Earl of Dartmouth , Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire , the sum of £ 2121 us . 10 J ., being the net result of the recent Mansion House Appeal in behalf of the widows , orphans , and dependent relatives of the colliers who perished through the terrible accident at the Audley Pit , near Stoke-upon-Trent , and whose bodies have not been recovered . The lecal subscriptions were also considerable .

THERE ARE id Councils with an aggregate membership of 1 S 5 S on the roll of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters for Maine , while Comp . Algernon McRoak is Grand Master , and Comp . Stephen Beny Grand Recorder . The Grand Council of Arkansas has a far less numerous membership , there being 14 councils on the roll of the Grand Council , and only 373 members . Comp .

Antonio B . Grace is Grand Master of the latter body , and Comp . James Austin Harvey , Grand Secretary . BRO . LORD CIIARI . ES BERESTORD was present at a meeting held in the Cambridge Hall , Southport , on Saturday evening last , when the prizes were distributed to the successful pupils of the Southport Physical Training College . His lordship laid great stress on the importance

of children being educated physically as well as mentally , and expressed a hope that the time would come when the Government of the day would see that steps were taken to include outdoor exercises and gymnastics in the training at all schools under their supervision . THE LORD MAYOR ( Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Renals ) presided at the 28 th anniversaiy festival , which was held

at the Hotel Metropole on Monday , in aid of the London General Potters' Benevolent Association . The Association at the present time is supporting 262 persons , the sum expended on whom is about £ 4700 per annum , and of this quite £ 3000 is raised by voluntary subscription . The amount which the Charity has expended in past years is about £ 60 , 000 , ard it is well worthy of support .

THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL in aid of the Royal Hospital for Incurahleswill be held at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgatestreet , on Thursday , the 23 rd May , when the chair will be occupied by EarlCompton , M . P ., President of the Hospital . It is in contemplation to raise a Dinner Fund of not less

than £ 5000 by way of inaugurating his lordship s presidency , with a view to 1 enlacing the amount of stock which it was found necessary to sell out in August last , in ordet to meet the current expenditure of the institution . We trust the festival will prove as gitat a success as the most ardent supporter of this important charity can desire .

All our paculties . Almost all disorders of the human body ale distinctly to be traced to inquire blood . 'The purification of that lluid is t ' be tirst slc | . towards health . Hollounv ' s Pills recommend themselves to llie attention of all sutlcrcrs ; no injurious consequences i an result from their use , no mistake can be made in their adininistralion . In indigestion , conlinncd d \ spcpsia .

and chronic tuustipation the most hcnclicia ! elicits haw been , and always must be , obtained from the wholesome power c \ ci ! v . ] by these purilying Pills over the digestion . Persons ul . nse lives have been restored to ease , strength , and perfect beallli In lliilluway ' s Pills , aller fruitless trial of the whole phaniKo npu-ia nl I'll ) sic attest Ibis fact .

Masonig And General Tidings.

WE ARE asked to state that the first nieht of "The Ladie ' s Idol" is postponed to Thursday , April , iSth , instead of Wednesday , April 17 th , as originally intended . THE COUNTESS or WARWICK has left Warwick Castle with Lord Brooke for Biarritz , having been ordered complete rest after the severe attack of influenza from which she recently suffered .

THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve of the appointment of Bro . Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton , Bart ., to be Governor of South Australia in the place of Bro . the Earl of Kintore , G . C . M . G ., whose term of office has expired . THERE are at the present time no less than four vacancies

in the House of Commons , namely , for Mid-Norfolk , through the retirement of Mr . Clement Higgins , Q . C ., for Oxford by the death of Sir George Chesney , for Warwick and Leamington by the retirement of the Speaker , and for East Wicklow by that of Mr . John Sweetman .

BRO . F . J . HORNIMAN proposes to give up his residence at Forest Hill , and to reside at Brighton . The museum , however , will remain open to the public as heretofore . The collections recently made by Bro . Horniman when travelling in India and Ceylon are now being arranged , and will most likely be ready for public inspection during the ('" aster Holidays .

A . 11 EETING of the Warwick Town Council was held on Tuesday , at which Bro . the Earl of Warwick announced that the Prince of Wales would visit Warwick on the 17 th and iSth May , on the occasion of the centenary of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry , and inspect the regiment . His Royal 'Highness will be the guest of his lordship at Warwick Castle during his stay .

THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL ( Bro . Sir F . Lockwood ) , accompanied by Lady Lockwood , opened the sixth annual exhibition of the Royal Drawing Society at Oueen Anne ' s Gate , on Saturday last . The collection of work exhibited has been shown as the best from about 120 schools in Great Britain , and the judges report a general improvement in the standard of merit attained .

AT THE regular meeting of the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1780 , held on Tuesday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Southampton , Bro . C . Alexander , W . M ., presented Brc . J . G . Jordan , I . P . M ., on behalf of the lodge , with a beautiful Past Master ' s jewel , and in a few well-chosen remarks congratulated him on the respect in which he was held by the brethren . Bro . Jenkins , on behalf of the 19

initiates during the past year , presented Bro . Jordan with a Past Master's apron . Bro . Jordan thanked the brethren for their very handsome presents . ON TUESDAY , at Marlborough Mouse , the Prince of Wales presented Sir Joseph Lister , Bart ., with the Albert Medal , awarded to him by his RoyallHighness as President and the Council of the Society of Arts , for his " discovery

and establishment of the antiseptic method of treating wounds and injuries . " Among the members of Council present on the occasion were Bro . Sir Frederick Abel , Sir G . B irdwood , Sir Courtenay Boyle , Sir Frederick Bramwell , Lord Belhaven , Bro . William H . Preece , Bro . Sir Geo . Hayter Chubb , and Sir O . Roberts , and Bro . Sir H . Trueman Wood , the Secretary .

THE CHITHAI . EXPEDITION , under Major-General Sir H . Low , has been making considerable progress since the opening campaign . The Alalakand Pass has been forced , the enemy's loss being estimated at about 1000 , while the casualties on our side amounted to between 40 and 50 .

Since then several small actions have been fought , in all of which the enemy has been worsted . News , moreover , has been received of Dr . Robertson and Lieutenants Fowler and Edwardes , the latter of whom are prisoners in the hands of Umra Khan , but are said to be well treated , while the former is still holding his own at Chttral .

THE BRETHREN of the Lodge of Relief , No . 42 , gave a social on Tuesday , the 2 nd instant , at the Grey Mare Hotel , Bury , Lancashire , to which they invited their wives and sweethearts . A knife and fork tea was partaken of , after which Bro . S . Cox officiated as Director of Ceremonies . Songs were rendered by Bros . Matthews ,

Chadwick , P . M .. Buxton , Gregson , Lonsdale , J . W . Kenyon , P . M ., Worsley , 12 S , and Carter , the two latter also playing the accompaniments . Mrs . Wild played a pianoforte solo , and Misses M . Duckworth , Spencer , and Chadwick gave songs . Mr . Halsall contributed Lancashire recitations . A very enjoyable evening was spent .

THE FUNERAL of Bro . John Walker , of the Criterion , Rettord , took place on Tuesday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Retford Cemetery . The deceased was a Past Master of the Vernon Lodge , Past Principal of the Royal Arch Chapter , and a Past Provincial Grand Officer of Nottinghamshire . A large number of the brethren attended the funeral , and all the principal shops in the town were closed . The first

portion of the service was was held in the parish church , the Rev . Canon Ebsworth being the officiating clergyman . At the giave side , after the chief mourneis \ M & retired , the Freemasons passed by the head of the grave and cast sprigs of acacia on the coffin . There were numerous beautiful wreaths with Masonic devices . The collin bore the inscription , " John Walker , bom September 30 th , 1 S 41 , died March 2 yth tSyj . "

BRO . J . STEVENS , P . M . 142 !; , writes a Glasgow correspondent , is at present in Scotland lecturing on the " Fruit Groves of Australia , " in connection with the Australian Irrigation Colonies . Me has had a most gratifying reception , and on a spare evening during his stay in Glasgow visited the Gael Lodge , G 09 , where he was wannly iec . ived , and in vecugnvUcn ot his services to Freemasunry , and in

appreciatijn of his visit to Gael Lodge , he was created an honorary member . The following evening he was entertained at supper at the annual meeting of Athole L'jd ^ e , 413 , and theregreatlydelighted the brethren with his remarks when called upon to respond for the visitors . On Monday , ist inst ., he was the guest of Bro . Major F . W . Allan , the Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masonry in G . asgow , and with him visited the Princes Lod ;; e , 607 , where the city

n . agnates do delight to congregate . Here , Bro . Stevens , in his address to the brethren , said he felt more at home as a Freemason than he had done since he came to Scotland , the work being conducted on English lines . 1 le expressed gratification with the truly Masonic wtlcome extended to him among the Scottish brethren . Bro . Stevens has , we understand , since visited Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy , and during next week will visit Dundee and Aberdeen .

Masonig And General Tidings.

IT IS ANNOUNCED that the Festival dinner in aid of th e funds ot the East London I lospital for Children , will ta | ; place on the 30 th May , instead of on the 29 th May , as previously arranged . A REPORT of the annual meeting of the Prov . Grand

Lodge of West Yorkshire in the Mechanic s Hall , Halifax on the 3 rd instant , will be found elsewhere in our columns ' but the address in full of Bro . the Right Hon . W . J . Jackson ' M . P ., Prov . Grand Master , has been held over till next week .

WK ARE requested to announce that the Fifteen Sections will be worked at the St . James's Union Lodge of Instruc . tion , No . 1 S 0 , at the St . James ' s Restaurant , Piccadilly , on Monday , the 29 th instant , when the chair of W . M . will be occupied by Bro . R . Sandland . Those who may desire further information will readily obtain it from Bro . Edwin P . Luke , the Hon . Secretary . Bro . Ernest Farwig , P . M _ 1 So , is the Preceptor .

THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Old Masomans will be held at Anderton's Hotel , on Thursday , the 25 th inst ., at 6 . 30 for 7 p . m . The chair will be occupied by Bro . George Everett , Past Grand Treasurer , Vice-Chairman of the Board of Manaeement , and Vice-Patron of the Boys ' School , who will be supported by Bro . J . Morrison McLeod , Secretary and Vice-President of the Institution . Tickets and full particulars may be had on application to Mr . C . P . O'Doherty , Hon . Sec , at Anderton ' s Hotel .

WE REGRET to announce the death this week of Bro . Walter E . Gompertz , P . M . Sfig , P . Prov . S . G . D . Hertford , shire . Bro . Gompertz was 70 years of age , and for some time past had been in failing health . He was initiated in the Greshatn Lodge , No . Sfio , as far back as 1 S 115 , and was

father and senior Past Master of the lodge , of which he had Iwritten a short history , and which he had faithfull y served , till within about a year of his death , as Secre . tary , for some 25 years . His loss will be greatly lamented by the members of his mother lodge .

THE FIRST of a series of inquiries ordered by the Local Government in consequence of the complaints made as to the deficiency of the water supply in connection with the late frost was opened at the offices of the Wandsworth District Board of Works on Tuesday . Major-General

Scott , R . E ., conducted the inquiries , which were restricted in this instance to the complaints by residents in Clapham Park and its vicinity . Several of the complainants gave evidence , and the inquiry was ultimately adjourned to Thursday , the 25 th instant .

THIS YEAR is the jubilee of the Duke of Cambridge as a Grand Cross of the Order of St . Michael and St . George of which his Royal Highness is Grand Master ; and to celebrate the anniversary the members of the Order intend entertaining the Duke at dinner at the Imperial Institute .

I he Prince of Wales will preside , and the Grand Master will hold a levee of the Order before the banquet . Tickets and further particulars may be had by members of the Order of Bro . Sir Somers Vine , C . M . G ., at the Imperial Institute .

THE RIGHT HON . A . VV . PEEL took his leave as Speaker of the House of Commons on Tuesday , having intimated the day previous his intention of resigning his office . The leaders of the House and opposition ( Sir W . Harcourt and Mr . A . J . Balfour ) , as well as Mr . Chamberlain for the Liberal Unionists and Mr . Justin McCarthy for the Irish Nationalist party , expressed their regret at his

retirement , and the hope that the right honourable gentleman might long be spared to enjoy the respect and esteem in which he was held by members of all the different political parties in the House . Subsequently the House unanimously passed a resolution in which it was agreed that an humble address be presented to her Majesty praying

that she will be pleased to bestow some mark of her Royal favour upon the Right Hon . the Speaker for his eminer . t services during the years he had presided over the House , and the dignity with which he had comported himself in the chair , and assuring her Majesty that any expense which she may think proper to be incurred will be made good by the House .

BRIGHTON SMUGGLER ' S CLUH . — A most enjoyable dinner in connection with the above club was held on Thursday , the 2 Sth ult ., at the club premises at 130 and 131 , King's-road Arches . About 60 members sat down to dinner under the genial presidency of the chairman of the club , Bro . T . Shrivell . This club , which has only been founded about 20 months is at the

present time in a most flourishing condition . Originally started with 15 members , it now numbers over 200 and daily its membership is increasing . Naturally , with such an increasing membership the committee found that the one arch which they originally started with did not provide sufficient accommodation and therefore arch number 131 was taken and the two have now been knocked into one . It was to

celebrate the extension of the club premises that the dinner was held . A capital repast was served by Bro . Mutton , «» u after this had been done full justice to , speeches and sot'k'S were the order of the evening . The loyal toasts wereenthusiastically received and accorded musical honours . '' Success to the Smugglers Club " was proposedin eulogistic terms by Bro . Wickham , and Bro . Hart in responding , menlioned that

if the club continued to mike the headway it was at present doing they would have to take further premises . During the evening the Chairman was presented by Bro . Kent , jun ., on behalt of the committee , with a capital portrait of himself in a handsome gilt frame , with Masonic S ymbols engraved upon it . Accompanying this was a list of the names ol the committee . The presentation was made in the

recognition of Bro . Shrivell being the first President of club , and the able and untiring work he had always done in its behalf . Bro . Shrivell , in acknowledging the S' *'» thanked the donorsfrom the bottom of his heart , and said that he would always continue to do his utmost for the welf 1 " - * and prospeity of the club . During the evsning songs we" - contributed by the members of the club . Bro . N . ' j '" - carried out the duties of accompanist in his usual a

manner . BRO . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M ., P . Z ., & c , author of " The Noble Soul , " " The Submerged City , " " 'loiijo" - Perdrix" ( poems ) , " A Novel Vengeance , " and "The toai Henries" ( prose ) , recites his original pro luct ' | ,- or musical entertainments , smoking concerts , & c terms , address 62 , Lancaster-road , Netting Hill , " .