Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE CROWN PRINCESS OF AUSTRIA , the Archduchess Stephanie , has returned to the Hotel Albermarle from visiting the Queen at Osborne . MR . GLADSTONE , accompanied by Mrs . Wickham and the Rev . Henry Drew , attended a matinee performance of " The Sign of the Cross " at the Royalty Theatre , Chester , on Saturday last , and was most enthusiastically cheered by the audience .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT , in his remarks on the operations in which the regular and volunteer troops were engaged on the 7 th instant , expressed the pleasure it had given him to note the improvement made by the latter as compared with former years . IN CONNECTION with the "One and All" Flo . ver Show of the National Cooperative Festival at the Crystal Palace on the 22 nd inst ., there will be a unique exhibition of photographs and other illustrations of suburban and rural gardens and scenery .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SPARTA and Prince Nicholas of Greece , with their suite , arrived at Marlborough House on Saturday last , and in the course of the evening left London , via Flushing , for Germany . on a visit to the Empress Frederic at Friedrichsruhe . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the National Artillery Ass-ciation at Shoeburyness was brought to a conclusion last week with the usual distribution of prizes to the winning detachments and the review of the troops by the Commander-in-Chief , Bro . Viscount Wolseley .

TRINITY TERM LAW SITTINGS came to an end on Wednesday , when the judges rose for the Long Vacation . There will be no further general sittings in Court until Saturday , the 24 th October , when Michaelmas term commences and the Courts will resume business . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has presented a photograph of himself and a silver medal to Mr . Herbert Palin , who served on board the Osborne during the voyage of his Royal Highness to Bom bay some 10 years ago . Mr . Palin is now a member of various local bodies at Portsmouth .

OWING TO THE irasses of heavy clouds which obscured the sky the men of science who had gone to Sweden to make observations on the total eclipse of the sun on Sunday Isst vere able to obtain only partial glimpses of the phenomenon , and unfortunately , at the moment of totality the tun was completely obscured . THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK has , through the editor of the Warwick Advertiser , sent £ 10 to the Joseph Arch Annuity Fund , with a letter stating that she is anxious to add even such a trifle to the sum being raised on behalf of the man who first taught the agricultural labourer to " see light on the mountain . "

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , accompanied by the Duke of York , and attended by Bro . Sir Francis Knollys and Sir C . Cust , arrived at Marlborough House from the Royal yacht Osborne off Cowes on Monday , and in the evening their Royal Highnesses visited the Prince of Wales ' s Theatre and witnessed a performance of "On the March . " THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Royal Botanic Society , Regent's Park , was held on Monday , when it was shown that the receipts exceeded those of the previous year by £ 857 . An endeavour was made to induce the Courcl to open the Gardens more frequently to the public , but it was decided to leave matt , rs in the hands of the

authorities . A uranimous vote of thanks was passed to the Duke of Teck , who is President of the Society , THE FORCE at Aldershot under the command of the Duke of Connaught has been this week augmented by the addition of 16 battalions of militia—about 10 , 000 men—who will form the fourth and fifth divisions for the approaching Army manoeuvres . They will not , however , be formed into divisions until , the 25 th instant , when Lieut .-General Lord William Seymour and Major-General Bro . Lord Methuen will arrive and take up their commands .

THE WIDOW of Lord Tennyson , Ihe late Poet Laureate , died at Aldworth House , Btackdown , nejr Haslemere , early on Monday morning , from congestion of the lung ? . Her ladyship , who was S 3 years of age , had been in delicate health for some time past , but no fears were entertained as to her condition until Friday , the 7 th instant , when grave symptoms , following upon a recent attack of influenza , set in , and she finally succumbed as stated .

. A GARDEN PARTY and Venetian fete were given at Barnes on Saturday afternoon last by the employes of Harrod ' s Stores , and proved a very great success . The band of the Royal Horse . Guards attended , by permission of Col . Brocklehurst , and played a choice selection of music , while the programme , which was a lengthy one , included athletic sports , negro minstrelsy , dancing , a musical ride by lady cyclists , tableaux vivarits , & c . The proceeds will be handed over to the fund that is being raised in behalf of Guy ' s Hospital .

THE CANADIAN VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY , who came over to England to take part in the annual meetingof the National Artillery Association at Shoeburyness , and who had the good fortune to carry off the Queen ' s Prize , were entertained at dinner by the officers and members of the 3 rd Kent Position Volunteer Artillery at their mess , Plumstead , on Monday . Colonel Hudsrn , of the latter body , presided , and among the guests were Colonel Coles , Captain Forster , and 26 others . . The evening passed off most enjoyably . On Tuesday they visited the Bank of England and Newgate Prison , and on Wednesday went to Windsor .

OF THE MATCHES which were brought to a conclusion on Saturday last , that between the Australians and Kent at Canterbury terminated in a decisive victory for the former by 176 runs , the scores being—Australia , 310 and 203 ; Kent , 196 and 141 . In the contest between Gloucestershire and Middlesex , the former won by six wickets , the scores being—Middlesex , 279 and 231 ; and Gloucestershire , 343 . and 170 for four wickets . Essex had no ditticulty in beaming Surrey , but the matches between Sussex and Somersetshire and Leicestershire and Lancashire were both drawn , Sussex scoring 559 and Somersetshire 47 6 for six wickets ; while Leicestershire made 399 and 63 fcr four wickets and Lancashire 3 S 5 .

THE MARQUIS AND MARCHIONESS OF SALISBURY gave a garden party at their Hertfordshire seat at Hatfield , on Saturday afternoon last , in honour of the Chinese Ambassador and the Archduchess Stephanie of Austria , about 1500 guests being present . Among the members of the house party were the Right Hon . A . J . Balfour , M . P ., Bro . and Mrs . Grenfell , Lord Rowton , Viscount and Viscountess Cranborne , the Earl and Countess of Selborne , Bro . Lord and Lady George Hamilton , Bro . the Marquis of Granby , Lord Waikworth , and Bro . the Hon . Sidney Greville . Among the other guests

were Lord Janus of Hereford , Lord and Lady Iveagh , the Earl of Stamford , Bro . the Earl of Crawford , Bro . the Earl of Londesborough , the Earl and Countess of Romney , Bro . the Earl of Kilmorey , Bro . Lord Glenesk , Lord and Lady Seaton , Bro . Lord Charles Beresford , liro . Sir Dixon and Lady Hartland , Bro . Sir Howard and Lady Vincent , and Lord and Lady Colchester . Previous to his visit to Hatfield , the . Chinese

Ambassador drove to Trafalgar-square to view the statue erected to the memory of " Chinese " Gordon , and two of his attendants affixed a wreath to the statue , bearing the inscription— " A Soldier and Friend of China . A Tribute of Respect from Li Hung Chang . " Subsequently his Excellency drove to St . Paul's Cathedral , where he saw the magnificent cenotaph to Gordon ' s memory . Here , also , he caused a wreath to be placed as a tribute of respect from him .

V . BENOIST , 3 C , Piccadilly , W . —Banquets , Dinners , Suppers , and Receptions served in the most unique style . Menus and estimates on application . Also French Comestibles of every . description . Sole Caterer to the celebrated Grafton Galleries . The best locale in the West End for holding Private Parties , Balls , & c . Telephone , No . 3 , 919 . Telegrams , Gourmet , London . —[ ADVT . ]

THE TROCADERO RESTAURANT will shortly be opened by Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , alter a lengthened period of preparation . Every effort is being made to make this the handsomest and most perfectly-equipped dining palace in Europe , and the arrangements for Masonic meetings will be made a special feature . Applications respecting bookings should be made as early as possible to the proprietors , J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington , where all inquiries should be addressed . [ ADYT . ]

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE BADGE AND CHAIN of office for Bro . ( Deputy ) R . Hargreaves Rogers , as Sheriff of the City of London , is being manufactured by Messrs . George Kenning j n j Son , Little Britain , City . A MILLION more passengers have been carried b y the Great Northern Railway during the first six months of the present year than during the corresponding period cf 1895 .

A NEW CLUB HOUSE , which has just been erected at Plumstead at a cost of seme £ 3500 , was _ opened on Saturday last by Bro . Sir VV . Hart Dyke , Bart ., M . P . for the Dartford Division of Kent . BY THE DEATH of Bro . the Earl of Limerick , the post of Chief Government Whi p has become vacant and willbe filled by the appointment of Earl Waldegrave , who will be succeeded as second Whip by Bro . Lord Churchill .

BRO . LORD METHUEN , commanding the Home District , has ordered an inspection of the 38 rifle ranges located therein , including several that are in use by the Metropolitan volunteers . The reports are to be sent in by the ist prox . WE REGRET TO announce that Sir John Everett Millais , Bart ., the eminent painter and President of the Royal Academy , died at his town residence at half-past five on Thursday evening . The cause of death was cancer of the larynx .

MR . WILLIAM OPPENHEIM attended last week by special command at Osborne for the purpose ot submitting some of the productions of the Royal Dresden China Manufactory for the Princess of Wales's inspection . The Princess was pleased with what were shown her and made several purchases . THE HEAT throughout the United States is terrible , and on Sunday as many as 71 persons are reported to have died from sunstroke and heat apoplexy in New York and the suburbs , while at least as many more succumbed in Philadelphia , Baltimore , Chicago , St . Louis , and the smaller towns and cities .

WEDNESDAY proved an unpropitious day in Scotland , and consequently there was very little done in the way of sport on the moors on that day . However , some good bags were made on the Bolton moors in Yorkshire belonging to Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , on the Sheffield moors in Derbyshire , and in North Wales . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , left Marl , borough House on Tuesday morning for the purpose of paying a visit to Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark at Appleton House , Sandringham . The same day trie Duke of York , attended by Sir Charles Cust , left London for Bolton Abbey , Yorkshire , on a visit to Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire .

FURTHER SEVERE FIGHTING has taken place in Matabeleland between the rebels and Sir F . Carrington ' s forces . Colonel Plumer , who was in command , defeating the enemy after a tough engagement which lasted some hours and in which the Matabeles fought very bravely . Their losses were heavy , amounting to close on 300 killed , including several chiefs , while the British lost five killed and 15 wounded .

Li HUNG CHANG visited the Crystal Palace on Monday , when he was entertained at dinner by the London Committee and Managers of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation . . After dinner there was a grand display of tireworks , which greatly interested the Ambassador , who frequently expressed his pleasure at what he saw . At the close of the day he returned to Carlton House-terrace .

AMONG THE MINISTERS present at the Cabinet Council , which was held at the Foreign Office on Tuesday , were Bros . A . Akers-Douglas , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Lord Ashbourne ( Lord Chancellor of Ireland ) , Sir M . Hicks-Beach , Bart . ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ) , the Duke of Devonshire , Lord George Hamilton , the Right Hon . M . H . Long , and Sir M . White Ridley , Bart .

A SERIES OF MISHAPS befel the steamers Cardinal Wolsey , Queen Elizabeth , and the Surrey Belle during their trip up the tiver to Hampton Court on Sunday last . They were well freighted with passengers , and on reaching Kew Bridge had the misfortune to run aground . When there was water enough to float them again they collided with barges and each other , but reached their destination without injury to person or property .

THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY will be installed as Lord Warden ofthe Cinque Ports at Dover to-morrow ( Saturday ) , and will be accompanied by the Marchioness ot Salisbury , Viscountess Cranborne , the Ladies Florence and Gwendoline Cecil , and Lords Edward and Hugh Cecil . The Mayor of Dover has invited the Acting Lord Mayor of Londsn ( Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Savory , Bart ., M . P . ) , and the Acting Lady Mayoress and the Sheriffs to be present , and they have accepted the invitation .

A RACE WAS sailed under the auspices of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on Wednesday for money prizes amounting in value to £ 150 and a cup value £ 300 , B ' by Mr . Whittaker Wright . ; Meteor ( the German Emperor's yacht ) , Britannia ( the Prince of Wales ' s yacht ) , Ailsa , Satanita , Caress , Isolde , and Corsair entered , and in the result Meteor proved an easy winner , Caress taking second prize on her time allowance .

THE MATCH BETWEEN Notts and Kent terminated in a draw . Notts went first to the wicket on Monday and completed the handsom : score of 430 , in which were included 172 by Shrewsbury and 127 by A . O . Jones . Kent pluckily responded wilh 337 , towards which Mr . J . M . Mason contributed 131 , and A . Hearne , who had to retire Jiurt , Si . Notts on their second venture scored 102 for seven wickets and then declared the innings closed . Kent then went in and had made 94 for two wickets when stumps had to be drawn and the match ended , as we have said , in a draw .

Li HUNG CHANG during the present week has visited the Bank of England and the Post Office , at the former of which he was received by the Governor and Directors , while at the latter H . M . ' s Postmaster-General , the Duke of Norfolk , did the honours of the meeting . At both places his Excellency exhibited the greatest interest , and at the Bank of England , in particular , he entered into a very animated conversation with the Governor and others who were present . In the afternoon he was received at the Fishmongers' Hall by the London Chamber of Commerce and its East India and China Trade Section . Among the presentations made to his Excellency was Bro . Alderman Sir J oseph Savory , Bart ., M . P ., the locum tenens of the Lord Mayor .

THE THIRD MATCH between the Australians and England was brought to a conclusion on Wednesday , England proving victorious by 66 runs . The scores were small , those of England amounting to 145 and 84 , while the Colonials put together 119 in the " first and only 4 } in their second innings . Vast crowds attended the Oval in order to witness the play , and at the close the cheers for the English team were most enthusiastic

It was entirely a bowler ' s match , and Trumble , Giffen , and McKibbin for the Australians ! and Hearne and Peel for England did tremendous execution , Hearne securing in a " 10 wickets and Peel eight , and Trumble 12 wickets , McKibbin five , and Giffen t * o . I " the two previous matches , played at Lord ' s and Manchester respectively , the honours were equally divided , England winning at Lord ' s by six wickets and the Colonials at Manchester by three .

PRESENTATION TO MRS . J . M . McLEOD . It will be within the recollection of our readers that on his appointment'' ? Grand Lodge Office last April , our Bro . J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., was presented by some of his friends with a complete suit of Grand Lodge and Chapter clothing at a complimentary dinner given in his . honour on May gth . Although the sub ' scribers to the testimonial were specially limited , when accounts were audited j was found that the indefatigable Bro . James Stephens had so carefully and

skilfully managed the business that a balance was left . It was generally felt by those who attended the dinner that this should be handed to Mrs . McLeod to purchase for herself a little memento of the occasion . ,-Recently a few friends ( including the Auditors , Bros . VV . M . Stiles , I •" Treas ., and H . J . Lardner ) foregathered at the Frascati and there presented A ... U . J ., U .. U ... j . UQ . U .. I . IJ . W . V . £ Clltll .. \ . ll CU . 1 .. 1 W ... 0 . 3 V . QM tt .. L . I ....... £ ¦ . , ot t

surprise packet to Mrs . McLeod in the shape of a cheque for the balance " fund , which we understand our Secretary's wife intends to expend upon a relia timekeeper to mark the early and late attendance of her husband at the ' lodges he visits in the performance of his duties . , j , Thus closed an interesting event , and we can only add a wish that the w may mark good time for many years and ever remind Mrs . McLeod of the estee in which her husband is held .