Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

We regret to hear that Bro . Sir William Walrond , M . P , has been suddenly summoned to San Remo in consequence of the very serious illness of Lady Walrond . The Hon . E . Gordon-Lennox , son of Bro . the Earl of March , and one of the Eton eleven , was injured in a recent football match at Eton , and had to be removed off the field .

Bro . the Earl of Dunravan , who in spite of his illness , visited London in order to be present at the dinner given in his honour by the Sports Club , is about to proceed to Ireland , where he will entertain a large party of guests . Bro . Alfred Bookman , Chairman of the City Lands ' Committee , laid the memorial stone of the new civic buildings in Whitecross-street on Tuesday . The premises include a City greenyard , police stables , gas-meter testing , and gas examiners' offices .

Bro . F . Blackmore , J . W . 1222 , has been unanimously elected VV . M . for the ensuing year , and the installation will take place in January . Bro . H . B . ffarington has been re-elected Treasurer . The old folks' treat will be given by the lodge on New Year's Day .

A novel idea has been suggested in connection with the Hospital Saturday Fund . It has been suggested that all the football clubs in the Metropolis shouli play matches on a given Saturday , and hand over the proceeds to the Fund . A meeting has been called by Bro . Lord Mayor Tyler , which will be held at the Mansion House on Friday , the 29 th instant .

The annual meeting of the Working Lad ' s Institute , Whitechapel , was held on Monday evening . Great regret was expressed at the absence of Bro . Lord Mayor T y ler and the Lady Mayoress , his lordship being laid up with an attack of bronchitis . His place , however , was ably filled by Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Moore , and a very satisfactory report was submitted and adopted .

Bro . Sir T . Sutherland , M . P , presided at the 53 rd annual meeting of the Peninsular and ( Oriental Steam Navigation Company , when a very satisfactory report was submitted , showing a net surplus , including £ 8918 brought forward , amounting to close on , £ 180 , 000 , and enabling further dividends of 2-1 per cent , on Preferred and CJ per cent , on Deferred Stock , to be declared in addition to the interim dividend of 2 . V and 3 } per cent , respectively already paid .

At a meeting of the Masonic Dramatic Committee , at Paisley , Scotland , it was agreed to allocate the following sums from the proceeds ofthe recent Masonic production of" Rob Roy " : Paisley Infirmary , £ 5 ; Poor Association , £ 5 ; Eye Infirmary £ 2 ios . ; West Kilbride Convalescent Homes , £ 6 ; and to each of the four local Callan ' s Associations , £ 1 . The Committee also voted £ 30 to each of the two local Masonic charities .

The Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , is the subject of an illustration and descriptive article in last week ' s Penny Illustrated newspaper . The writer speaks of the turtle served at this well known house as if he had tasted it more than once , and , hoped to do so again . The accommodation for Masonic meetings is second to none in London , and Bro . Ashby , whose portrait adornes the page , is one of the most genial and courteous of managers .

The third annual dinner of the Actors' Benevolent Fund was held at the H 6 tel Mdtropole on Monday , under the presidency of Bro . W . Burdett-Coutts , M . P , who was supported by the Duke of Teck , Bros , the Earl of Londesborough , Sir Edward Clarke , Q . C , M . P , Sir J . Pender , M . P , Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , ~ Bart , Admiral Sir Henry Keppel , Sir Francis Burdett , Bart , T . H . Bolton , M . P , and Dr . VV . H . Russell . The subscriptions amounted to close on £ 1300 .

The "Setta of Od de Volumes" held a soiree in the Galleries of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours on Tuesday evening , when a rare collection of manuscripts and graphic curiosities of all countries was exhibited ; among the non - European treasures being Egyptian , Persian , Coptic , Samaritan , Hebrew , Armenians , Turkish , Sanskrit , Hindi , Mexican , and Burmese documents . There was a large attendance of guests on the occasion .

The Duchess of Albany recently paid a visit ti the new twin screw steamer Gothic , of 7720 gross tons burden , which had just previously arrived in the Royal Albert Docks , from the yard of Messrs . Harland and Wolff , of Belfast , the builders . This is the largest vessel—with the exception of ( he Great Kastern—that has ever entered the Port of London , being 490 ft . long between the perpendiculars , 53

ft . in breadth , with a depth of hold of 33 It , and of the gross tonnage already mentioned . It has been especially designed for the New Zealand Service , and has accommodation for 104 saloon and 114 steerage passengers , besides which it will carry in its refrigerating chamber the carcasses of 70 , 000 sheep . Her Royal Highness expressed herself well pleased with her visit . The Gothic will start on her first voyage on Wednesday next , the 20 th instant .

CHRIST ' HOSPITAL . —The following letter in reference to the alleged intention of the late Bro . J . Derby Allcroft to bequeath £ 100 , 000 to Christ ' s Hospital has appeared in the City Press : " Sir , —The information which is given to the world through your columns that the late Mr . Derby Allcroft had contemplated leaving £ 100 , 000 to Christ ' s Hospital , but ultimately changed his mind consequent on

the action of the Charity Commissioners is most interesting , but is it truthful information ? Speaking as his intimate friend for over 20 years , and acting as I have done during the past few years as his private solicitor , I am wholly ignorant of such intention on Mr . Allcroft ' s part . I am also authorised by his widow to say that he never in anv wav to

her alluded to such an intention . Mr . Allcroft wasone who preferred doing good and giving his charity privately and during his lifetime . —lam , & c—R . MELVILL BEACH CR ITT , II , Craven Hill . " [ The statement given by us was made by Mr . Alderman Vaughan Morgan ( treasurer ) at last Friday ' s meeting of the Almoners , the Duke of Cambridge being in the chair . —ED . 1 "

Masonic And General Tidings

Bro . F . J . Hornimanhas subscribed £ 100 to the Liberator Fund . Bro . James Curtis has been appointed Registrar of the Marylebone County Court . We regret to hear that Bro . Captain Lord Charles Beresford has been suffering from a serious attack of influenza , and has been confined to his bed for several days .

EMPIRE THEATRE . —Signorina MalvinaCavallazzi made her first appearance on Monday last . The Clown Misko ( with Pony and Dog ) is engaged and will shortly appear at this theatre . At Cambridge , Bro . Philip H . Young has been chosen as W . M . of Lodge No . 441 , and Bro . Charles H . Banham has been elected as W . M . of No . 88 . Their installations will take place on New Year ' s Day and J anuary Sth respectively .

Brethren are invited to send for the list of Masonic Books published at the office of the Freemason . Many works of interest both to the Masonic student and general reader have recently been added , and the publisher will gladly forward a copy to any address on receipt of a post-card .

Her Majesty's new cruiser , Forte , was launched at Chatham Dockyard on Monday in the presence of a large concourse of spectators in addition to the naval and military authorities of the ports . The ceremony of christening the vessel was performed by Mrs . Morant , wife of the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard .

A vacancy , in the representation of Brighton in the House of Commons has been caused by the resignation of Bro . Sir William Marriott , Q . C , who has had assigned him certain special duties in Egypt , which will render it impossible for him , for a considerable time at all events , to fulfil any Parliamentary duties . The Queen sent 21 splendid Devon bullocks and 100 fine

Hampshire Downsheep from the Royal Farm , Windsor , to the Slough Christmas sale , but the price * , realised were below those of last year . The bullocks averaged £ 31 is . 4 d . each , while the highest price for sheep was £ 4 12 s . 6 d , at which figure , howevei , only four sold . The Duke of Connaught sent some pigs , and the Dowager Duchess of Buccleugh , Lady Louisa Fortescue , and others cattle .

An interesting ceremony will take place at Bournemouth on Wednesday , the 27 th inst , when the Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , will lay the first stone of St . John ' s Church , Boscombe , Bournemouth . The P . G . M . will be accompanied by representatives of all the lodges in the province . The Prov . G . Master will present his portrait to the lodges of the province after the ceremony .

Finding that the Soldiers' Home already established through her exertions in Dublin has proved a success , Viscountess Wolseley has generously ^ undertaken to raise another £ 1000 towards the establishment of a second , which it is proposed to open in a central position in the city , so that it may be used by the hundreds ot soldiers who are continually passing through Dublin on furlough , as well as by those quartered in the city .

The Princess of Wales was to have left Sandringham on 'Tuesday , for the purpose of accompanying the Prince the day following , when he opened the " Hugh M y ddelton School , " Clerkenwell , and subsequently of visiting the Queen at Windsor Castle , and being present with the other

members ot the Royal Family at the service in the Royal Mausoleum in memory of the late Prince Consort . Unfortunately , her Royal Highness was detained at home by a mild attack of influenza . Her medical advisers report that she is going on favourably , and we sincerely trust that the progress towards recovery will be well maintained .

VVe regret to hear that Bro . James Terry , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and one of his staff , Bro . J . G . Stevens , are absent from duty on account of illness , the latter being laid up with influenza . Bro . Terry just managed to attend the meeting of the Committee of Management , bu : since then he has been confined

to the house . It is unfortunate that this should have happened just now , when the work of obtaining the services of brethren as Stewards is so pressing . But inlluenza is no respecter of persons , and all we can do is to express our sympathy with the invalids , and the hope that they may be speedily restored to their usual health .

The will and two codicils of Bro . W . A . Colls , P . G . S , late of 5 , Coleman-street , builder and contractor , and of Homedale , The Avenue , Gipsy-hill , who died on October 23 rd , were proved on the 28 th ult . by Mr . John Howard Colls ( the brother ) , Mr . William Henry Cortlandt Mahon , and Mr . Frederick Hazel ) , the executors , the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 81 , 000 . The testator

bequeaths £ 400 and all his furniture and effects to his wife , Mrs . Jessie Mary Colls ; an annuity of £ 1500 to her during widowhood , and one of £ 400 in the event of her marrying again ; £ 4000 upon trust for his son , Howard Benjamin ; and Ji , 100 each to his executors . The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves upon trust for his children , Florence Jessie , Winifred Theobald , Gertrude Emily Payne , and Oswald Bayley , in equal shares .

HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND . —According to the report of the Council of the Hospital Saturday Fund , just issued , the receipts from workshops to the 25 th ult . were £ 10 , 847 , as against £ 11 , 245 in the corresponding period of last year , and the street collection this year amounted to £ 5095 , as against £ 5684 in 1 S 92 . Even with a balance of £ 1114 remaining from 1 S 92 , as against £ 246 reserved from 1891 ,

the total income of the fund on the 25 th ult . was only £ 17 . 050 , as against £ 17 , 176 at the corresponding date in 1 S 92 . The diminution of receipts is mainly attributed to trade depression . The awards to the participating hospitals , dispensaries , convalescent homes , & c , will not be made until after the close of the financial year of the society , which ends on the Sth of next month .

VVE ARE NKVER Too OLD To UAKN , is a sentence brimful of practical sense , ancl the truth of it is demonstrated every day . It is onl , a fool who will say it is irnpo bible to learn , and his words convict him of dense i ^ iifirant-e . Tlie must eminent men are always anxions to improve- themselves . Wnen past 50 years of the translator of and

age Ogilby , Homer Virgil commenced to learn Latin and Greek . Socrates enlivened his declining years by le . ruing to play various musical instrnmcts . Many instances come to hand also of men livingto the a « e of ; o without knowing thc value of Holioway ' s I'ills and Ointment . At last they learn this ilcsson , and gain in return renewed health and vittour .

Masonic And General Tidings

The reception in honour of Bro . W . Rube ' s 70 th birthday was attended by a large number of eminent musicians , and among others by MM . Paderewski , Sarasate , Randegger Albanesi , Nachez , and Otto Goldschmidt , Sir J . Barnb y ) Messrs . Santley , Cowen , Berwick , Salmond , Oudin ' Brereton , and Felix Moscheles . Sir Arthur Sullivan sent a telegram of congratulation from Berlin .

At the pretty and popular Parkhurst Theatre , Holloway , there will be produced on Saturday evening , the 23 rd inst . ' at 7 . 45 , by arrangement with Mr . St . John Denton and Mr . Fred Storey , an original pantomime entitled "Aladdin in Luck , or the Patent Safety Lamf ) . " Libretto by Tom Craven , author of "The Ballad Singer , " & c Music by Mr . Thomas P . Fish , the popular chef d'orchestre .

The " Court Journal" is responsible for the following : "The Popes are , it is well known , quite infallible , yet it is a little curious that , strong denouncers as the Popes have been of Freemasonry , that they have always failed to have any influence whatever over Roman Catholics as regards

the Brotherhood . At a recent installation of Freemasons in London , it is a fact , which was remarked upon at the time , that a very large percentage of the brothers present were Roman Catholics and men of a distinguished social position . "

The Accident Insurance Company , Limited , of 10 , St . Swithin ' s-lane , London , has just paid , on the production of probate , £ 1000 for a curious fatal claim . Mr . W . B , Lowson , stockbroker , of Belfast was for many years an agent of the Company , and in 1 S 75 he effected a policy for

the above amount . In September last , while taking a walk in Carrs Glen , Upper Ballysillan , he was accidently drowned in nine inches of water . He must have stumbled down an embankment , as several stones had been dislodged by the fall , and , being stunned , dropped into a small stream , and therein suffocated .

The most notable transaction at the annual Christmas Cattle Market was the purchase by Spiers and Pond , Limited , of 50 of the very finest polled Scotch beasts ever brought to London . " The grandest lot ever you see , " as a well-known connoisseur was heard to exclaim . The modern art of preparing beasts for market is not to obtain mountains of mere fat , but to produce an animal which shall

yield a large proportion of lean and saleable meat ; and the herd in question fulfilled every condition which knowledge of the subject has devised . The countless customers of the celebrated caterers may indulge with confidence , during the coming Christmastide , not only in the "Roast Beef of Old England , " but also in the belief that the qualities which first made it famous have , b y the lights of science , been so developed that it is the ideal food of man .

The Evening News oi the 12 th inst , has the following 1 ' 1 All Freemasons will wish many happy returns to the Earl of Lathom , who to-day enters upon his fifty-seventh year . His life is commensurate with the Queen ' s reign . He has held all sorts and conditions of offices in and about the Court . In the memorable Jubilee year he was Lord Chamberlain , and looked every inch a lord . The old

Masonic days saw him often with the President of the Board of Benevolence , Brother Robert Grey , and the striking contrast between his beard and the President ' s jet black made them to be named in Masonry when they appeared together , as Rouge et Noir . He is a brotherin-law of the Earl of Clarendon , and father-in-law of Lord

Salisbury's son , and one of the Wilbrahams , who head the famous Lancashire " Ormskirk Gingerbreads " of which every lad in the Cou lty Palatine is proud . He owns in Lancashire , where lhe Willbrahams have been since the days of the first of the Tudors , some seven thousand acres of land , which produce over twenty thousand pounds a year

Under the presidency of Bro . Capt . J . D . Murray , P . G . Treas , a meeting of the General Committee entrusted with the arrangements for the annual Masonic ball in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , at the Town Hall , on the 9 th January , was held on Friday , the Sth inst , at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , when there was a large attendance . ' 1 he Hon .

Secretary , Bro . W . Rawsthorne , P . M . 1182 , gave a satisfactory report of the progress which was being made with regard to the festival , and it is expected the gathering will prove one of the most successful and enjoyable which has been held in aid of this deserving Charity . Bro . T . Wood has been entrusted with the catering , Bro . G . Eyton will supply the music , and Bro . H . M . Molyneux will once

more act . as Master of Ceremonies , an olfice he has held foi more than 40 years . Various items of important business were transacted , the Stewards' meeting was fixed for today ( Friday ) , and the Committee selected the badges to be worn by the Stewards at the ball , there being about 300 names on the list . The general meeting was adjourned till Friday , the 22 nd inst . Dancing will commence at halfpast eight o'clock .

The sitting of the House of Commons on Saturday last did little to mar the success of the installation banquet of the Gallery Lodge of Freemasons , which is mainly composed of journalists who fulfil their professional duty in the Palace of Westminster . There had assembled to welcome Mr . John C . Manning , the new Master , an unprecedentedly large number of visiting brethren , including Mr . Richard

Eve , Past Grand Treasurer ; Mr . Burnie , M . P , Past Provincial Grand Treasurer ( South Wales ) ; Colonel F . C Maude , who won his Victoria Cross in the Indian Mutiny ; and Mr . David Christie Murray . All these addressed the assembly in the course of the proceedings , Mr . Eve emphasising the desirability of the officers of Grand Lodge being drawn from a wider area than at present ; Mr . Burnie

speaking of the universality of the benevolence fostered by the Craft ; Colonel Maude , in proof of this , instancing cases where Masonry during ( the Mutiny had saved lives ; and Mr . Murray delighting his hearers with reminiscences of the Press Gallery in the latest days in which Disraeli led the Commons . ' The musical portion of the programme ,

arranged by Mr . Frederick Bevan , the Master of the Orpheus Lodge , and himself a well-known composer , was unusually effective ; the efforts of the Dilletante Vocal ( Juartet being heartily received , while Mr . Bcvan ' s rendering of his own song , "The Flight of Ages , " was deservedly encored . —Birmingham Post .

Twelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent gratis and post free , gives reliable information how to make money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest and lowest prices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., Stockbrokers , it , Poultry , London , E . C .