Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

IT IS estimated that the Glasgow Exhibition receipts will show a surplus of not less than £ 100 , 000 . There has already been taken at the gates and for season tickets about . £ 195 , 000 . HUGE ROYAL STURGEON . —A royal sturgeon , i \ feet long , and weighing iSS lbs ., was lande * at Yarmouth on Saturday last by a Lowestoft trawler . It was of the broad-nosed kind , rarely caught off the East Coast .

REFERRING to the forthcoming mayoralty of Bro . Alderman Sir Jo ; eph Dimsdale , M . P . > the World says there is every reason to believe thathe will make an efficient and popular Lord Mayor in what promises to be an exceptionally interesting year . BRO . ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR declares that betting and gambling , "while comparatively unusual amongst young women of the middle class , have made

considerable way amongst those in fashionable life , and are extremely common among factory girls and others of that condition . " THROUGH HIS Excellency the American Ambassador ( the Hon . J . H . Choate ) , the hon . secretary ot the Lord Russell of Killowen Memorial Fund have received the sum of £ 852 us . gd . as the subscription ofthe legal profession in America towards perpetuating the memory of the late Lord Chief Justice .

THIS YEAR the old grape-vine in New-square , Lincoln's Inn , has not been very prolific , having produced only about 20 bunches of grapes . The ancient figtree which grows by the side of the vine always produces an abundance of flowers annually , but shortly after the figs are formed they invariably fall off , and never reach maturity . A SPLENDID entertainment was extended by Portsmouth , on the nth instant , to the crew of his Majesty ' s ship Centurion , lately returned from arduous duties on the China station . Lord Selborne was the chiet speaker at a banquet in ths Town Hall . It is stated that Sir C . Seymour is to succeed Lord Walter Kerr as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty .

SOUTH AFRICAN medals were distributed to 59 members of the two Cheshire Imperial Yeomanry companies at Chester on the 7 th instant by Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , the Lord Lieutenant of the County , who was accompanied by the Duchess of Buckingham . Prior to the ceremony there was a service in the cathedral at the close of which the National Anthem was sung .

A CHARTER has been granted for the commencement of a new Masonic lodge at Ashington . Bros . R . Crawford , P . M . 636 , will be the first W . M . ; Arthur A . Askwith , P . M . G 59 , the first S . W , ; and J . R . Turner , P . M . 1902 , the first J . W . The consecration ceremony will , in all probability , take place at the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge which will be held at Newcastle , under the presidency of Bro . Viscount Ridley , Prov . Grand Master .

DERBYSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ' S 40 th annual show opened on the nth instant at Derby , the entries numbering close upon 1000 . In the open classes exhibitors from all parts of England were represented . Amongst others who had contributed prizes were the Duke of Devonshire , Duke of Portland , Duke of Rutland , Lord Scarsdale , Sir Francis Burdett , Sir Oswald Mosley , Sir Peter Walker , Sir Thomas Roe , Sir Alfred Haslam , and Mr . Victor Cavendish .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE distributed war medals at Wellington Barracks , on the uth instant , to soldiers who could not be included among those who received them from the King recently . His Royal Highness naturally takes a great interest in the welfare of the men of the Duke of " Cambridge ' s Own , and heartily agreed to present to the members of that regiment the medals which they had won by hard service in South Africa . About 20 members of the corps are still taking part in the campaign , and many others have accepted commissions in the regular Army .

PRINCESS HENRY OF BATTENBERG attended on the nth instant the annual exhibition of the Isle of Wight Fine Art Society at Ryde , of which she is the president . Her Royal Highness aided the excellent display by sending an oil-picture painted by herself , entitled " Egyptian Ruins , " and further showed her interest in its success by Burchasing a water-colour by a young artist named Gurnal . It is called " Crossing the ar , " and represents the naval pageant at the funeral of Qaeen Victoria .

THE PRINTERS' PENSION CORPORATION FUND . —The London Printing and Stationery Trades' Cricket Association will hold its annual match with the London Daily Newspaper Cricket League at Kennington Oval to-morrow ( Saturday ) . The object of this annual fixture is to realises sum of £ . 35 " to found a pension of . £ 10 ios . per annum in connection with the Printers' Pension Corporation Fund , and of this amount previous efforts have produced £ ioG . In the evening a Bohemian concert will be held at the Horns Assembly Rooms , Kennington . A capital programme has been arranged .

THE BOARD OF TRADE having been officially informed of the signing of the Peace Agreement between China and the Powers , draws attention to the fact that by Article VL of the Protocol , the Powers have agreed to an import duty of 5 per cent , of the value of all goods hitherto admitted free with the exception of rice , cereals , and flour of foreign origin . Pending their conversion into specific rates , the duties will be levied ad valorem . Only such merchandise as is en route within 10 days of the signing of the Protocol ( September 7 th ) willbeadmitted . into China on the old basis . The new tariff comes into force on November 7 th .

MESSRS . DEAN AND SON , LIMITED , have arranged ' to hold an exhibition of the successful paintings in Dean's Patriotic Painting Book Competition , at St . James ' s Hall ( Banqueting Room , Regent-street entrance ) . VVith this will be incorporated an exhibition of original pictures by well-known artists , including : Dudley Hardy , Richard Simkin , "Crow , " A . S . Forest , M , D . Ayoub , and others , and it will take place on the 24 th , 25 th , and 26 th instant , 11 a . m . to 6 p . m . The Red Band will play 3 to 5 p . m . Theie will also be shown an unique exhibit of children ' s picture books , varying from the hand-coloured books of the early Victorian period to the most finished productions of chromo-lithography and colour processes .

BRO . EARL ROBERTS on the 12 th instant spent the day in visiting the eastern and western fortresses at Plymouth , accompanied by Sir Evelyn VVood and Sir William Butler , and a minute inspection was made of these formidable defences , as well as of the plans of other works now in contemplation , ln the evening the Commander-in-Chief and a large number of officers dined with Sir William Butler at Government House , Devonport , where a reception was subsequently held . An authoritative contradiction is given to the statement recently published by a Service journal to the effect that his lordship would not remain much longer at the War Ofiice .

THERE is a curious parallelism between the careers of Mr . Justice Murphy , who died on Thursday , and Lord Morris , who died on Saturday . They both obtained gold medals in Trinity College , Dublin , in the same course . They were called to the Irish Bar on the same day . They practised both in stuff and in silk together . They sat on the Irish Bench together , and they died in the same week . Lord Morris , however , far outdistanced Mr . Justice Murphy in the race of promotion . He became a member of the Irish justiciary in 1 S 67 , more than 16 years before Mr . Justice Murphy , who did not attain a similar position till 1 SS 3 .

MASONIC ROOMS , NORTHFIELD . —This company has just been registered with a capital ol £ 1000 in £ 1 shares , to acquire land , buildings , and hereditaments in the pansh of Northfield , or elsewhere , and to provide , furnish , and maintain club rooms and other premises and conveniences for public or private purposes . The subscribers are Bros . G . J . C . Cross , J . Hull , F . W . Phelps , E . J . Collins , C . Taaffe , A . P . Townsend , and Douglas Russell . Minimum cash subscription 550 shares . The number ol directors is not to be less than two nor more than live . The first are Bros . G . J . C . Cross , I . A . Bayliss , W . Lister , and J . Hull . Qualification £ 20 ; remuneration as fixed by the company .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-manufactured condiments , currie stuffs , churnees , preserves , poppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C . Stembridge and Co ., 18 , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta . Established 1 S 21 . Write for price list . ( Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

SIR THOMAS LIPTON is having a lively time of it in America . He has already been engaged ( in print ) to at least half-a-dozen heiresses . THE 37 TH consecutive benefit on behalf of Messrs . C . T . Brock and Co ., the pyrotechnists , will take place at the Crystal Palace on Thursday , the 19 th instant . SERIOUS DIFFERENCES have arisen at two West End hotels , frequented by Americans , over the quartering in the same establishments of a number of the negro delegates to the Methodist Conference .

THE GERMAN EMPEROR has commissioned the American designer , Mr . A . Gary Smith , to build him a schooner-yacht , 120 ft . long , and thoroughly up-to-date in every respect . She is to be ready for delivery in April , 1902 . FRIENDSHIP LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 20 S . —The regular meetings will take place every Monday evening at 5 . 30 , at Simpson ' s , Bird-in-Hand-court , Cheapside , and the officers will be glad to welcome any brethren who can make it convenient to attend .

THE DIRECTORS of Cassell and Company , Limited , have declared an interim dividend for the half-year ended 30 th June at the rate of 4 per cent , per annum , payable on the 20 th inst . The corresponding distribution at this time last year was 3 per cent , perannum . NEXT YEAR'S Irish International Exhibition , which is to take place at Cork promises to be a great success , especially as it is expected that the children of Erin now ' flourishing in America will fiock over in their thousands to pay homage to the land of their forefathers .

BRO . ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR will open the new parish hall at St . James , Upper Edmonton , on Thursday , the 31 st prox ., when Sir Edward Clarke , K . C , will be ' the principal speaker . The cost of the chairs and seats has been defrayed by the Bishop of London's Fund . THE LONDON SEASON is over , and the Scotch season is in full swing . The elite of Park-lane have betaken themselves to the moor and mountain north of the Tweed , and their coachmen may now be seen driving their own families about in their employers' handsome equipages .

"BECKY SHARP , " at the Prince of Wales ' s , has been judiciously curtailed since the first performance , and now concludes at the more reasonable hour of about 11 . It is announced that Wednesday matinees will be given on and after the iSthinst ., in addition to the usual Saturday afternoon performances . BRO . VV . J . CARROLL , the retiring VV . M . of the Uoton Lodge , No . 1227 , installed the W . M . elect for the ensuing year , Bro . R . F . Thomson , at the Holborn Restaurant on Thursday . During Bro . Carroll ' s year of office there have been no fewer than 20 initiations . A detailed account of the ceremony will appear in our next issue .

THE ADDRESS of welcome presented to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York by the Indian community of Cape Town is a beautifully illuminated work , having views of the Taj , " the Wonder of Agra and Crown of the World , " and the Golden Temple , Amritsar , copied from native Indian hand paintings , while the border represents cashmere shawl designs .

BLOOMSBURY SAVINGS' BANK . —To persons in every degree ot life this bank commends itself , for as little as one shilling , and sums ranging up to £ 50 , can be paid in during the year ; and as a proof of its adaptability and the confidence placed in it , its depositors embrace al ! sections and classes of the community . The facilities , advantages , and security of a bank like this , which has been established So years , and which places all its moneys in the hands of the Government , are indisputable .

THE WORK of widening London Bridge will take three years , and will cost about £ 100 , 000 . The enlargement , which will be a gain of 12 feet across , is to be made by throwing out cantilevers and erecting a balustrade of granite . When it is remembered that on an average 100 , 000 foot passengers and 22 , 000 vehicles cross the bridge every 24 hours , it will not be difficult to realise that the present width , which was built for the needs of nearly a century ago , is not sufficient for the present traffic .

AN INTERESTING double wedding took place at St . Andrew ' s Church , Hamble , a pretty little Hampshire village , on the nth inst ., when two daughters of Rear-Admiral Sir John Fullerton , Groom-in-Waiting on the King , were married to two lieutenants in the Royal Navy , Miss Rachel being led to the altar by Lieutenant Gerald Lane , of H . M . S . Excellent , and Miss Elizabeth by Lieutenant Sydney Meyrick , also of H . M . S . Excellent , The brides were given away by their father . The presents numbered 500 , and , curiously enough , were identical in each case . Princess Beatrice sent each bride a silver looking-glass .

THE REV . FORBES PHILIPS , Vicar of Gorleston , had occasion to criticise a certain local institution somewhat caustically , anent which one of the ollicers concerned thus wrote him : " Unless you at once withdraw your statemrrnt , write me an apology , and give five pounds to the institution of which I am an officer , I will give you a sound thrashing . " To which the worthy Vicar immediately replied : " I will not withdraw the statement of which you complain ; so that it will be necessary for you to give me a thrashing . It you are able to get home without a cab after you attempt it , I will donate ten pounds to your institution . " The institution did not receive the ten pounds !

THE NATAL Mercury of August 4 contains a long and detailed account of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Durban . Speaking of the decorations the Mercury says : Messrs . Hart and Co ., in coniunction with Mr . Fred . W . Phillips , of the Phcenix Hotel , imported from the well-known firm of Messrs . G ; orge Kenning and Son , London , a very handsome device , and must have been rewarded by

the evident appreciation of the thousands ot sight-seers surging down West-street . Portraits of the Duke and Duchess were introduced . The accompanying wish was contained in the words , "The Garden Colony Welcomes its Future King and Oueen . " Some idea of the size ot the device may be gained from the fact that it measured 51 ft . in length by 6 ft . in breadth .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR presided at a special meeting on the 12 th instant of •the Council of the Hospital Sunday Fund , held in the Mansion House , when a letter was read from Mr . Henry N . Custance tendering his resignation of the office of Secretary , which he had held for 2 S years , by reason of a breakdown in health . The council decided to give him six months' further leave of absence , from November ist next , in the hope that at the expiration of that period he would be able to continue the performance of his work . Sir Sydney Waterlow , who , as Lord Mayor in 1 S 73 , founded the fund , and others , bore earnest testimony to the admirable manner in which Mr . Custance had discharged his duties .

THE FOLLOWING are among the principal donations received at the Mansion House within the last few days towards the National Memorial to Queen Victoria : Rochester , per the Mayir ( first instalment ) , £ 100 ; Messrs . Debenham and Freebody ( first instalment ) , £ 100 ; Major-General D . Crichton-Maitland , £ 5 ; Miss Freeman , £ 5 ; offertory at a parade service in the King ' s Chapel , Gibraltar , £ 3 3 s . ; collected at Marlow , Bucks , per General Sir George Higginson , K . C . B ., chairman of committee , £ oG os . id . ; C . H . D ., £ 5 ; Ward of Aldersgate , £ 36 12 s . 6 d . ; Mrs . North Graham , £ 10 ios . ; Mr . and Airs . Victor Drummond , £ S ; and Some Boys of the Foundling Hospital , 5 s . The Fund now amounts to £ 150 , 000 .

HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND . — " Hospital Saturday " —for the 29 th successive year—will be observed on October 12 th , when " special" collections will be made in the workshops and business houses in aid of the medical charities of the Metropolis . The weekly collection , which constitutes the main source of the fund , will continue until the end of December . It is hoped that the ultimate total will not fall short of £ 25 , 000 . With a view to extending the weekly collection scheme , which was inaugurated during

the Lord Mayoralty cf Sir James Whitehead , the governing body have addressed a circular to some thousands ot firms which have hitherto been unidentified with the movement . The appeal states that the Hospital Saturday Fund aims at providing opportunities for all those employed in workshops and business houses to give a penny a week , or , at least , a small donation once a year , in support of the hospitals . After enumerating the benefits accruing ^ to subscribers , the circular adds that the annual ncome of the fund is now about £ 20 , 000 , which is obtained from some Oooo firms .