Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF Music . —For the convenience of the students , refreshment rooms have now been opened at the Guildhall School of Music . BRO . P . F . R . SAILLARD . the master of the Cardmakers' Company , gained a second prize at the Smithfield Show in the class of steers over two years old . THE GOLDEN HAMMER which will be presented to the Pope by the Episcopate for

use in the ceremony of opening the holy door of St . Peter ' s , on the 24 th inst ., will have the shape of an ordinary Mason ' s mallet . The head will be decorated with texts in relief , and on the ivory handle will be carved references to the forthcoming holy year . A medallion bearing a dedication to Leo XIII . from the Episcopate will be attached to the handle . Rose branches of gold will also decorate the handle in order to symbolise the mystic rose , which is regarded as a sign of divine pity .

A CURIOUS OLD CUSTOM still survives at Aldermaston , between Reading and Newbury . It is the practice of letting by time candle , and it was resorted to on Saturday last in the annual letting of the churchwardens' acre , belonging to the historic parish . The letting took place at a vestry meeting , when the churchwardens measured off a sufficient portion of candle to represent the alloted time , and , the candle being lighted , the biddings commenced , the last bidder before the candle went out being declared the tenant for the ensuing year .

THE ORGANISATION of the League of Mercy , the extension of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund , is now almost complete in the home counties . The district presidents include Bro . the Lord Mayor , Sir Charles Hall , Q . C , M . P ., Sir Donald Currie , M . P ., Bro . Earl Carrington , L . C . C , Mr . Deputy C . T . Harris , Mr . I . Allen Baker , L . C . C , Mr . T . McKinnon Wood , L . C . C , Mr . G . Shaw Lefevre .

L . C . C ., Bro . Sir Henry Harben , Mr . A . M . Torrance , L . C . C , Mr . W . Haydon , L . C . C ., Col . Ford , L . C . C , Mr . Russell Spokes , L . C . C , Mr . Goddard Clarke , L . C . C , Mr . John Harris , C . C , J . P ., Mr . T . H . W . Idris , L . C . C , and Col . Bevington . The lady presidents include Ludy Dimsdale , Lady Burdett , and Mrs . J . Allen Baker . T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales will receive the presidents and lady presidents at Marlborough House on Monday , the iSth inst .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY announce that on Friday night , December 22 nd ( for five and eight days ) and Friday night , December 29 th ( for five and eight days ) , cheap excursions will leave London ( Woolwich ( Arsenal and Dockyard ) , Greenwich ( S . E . and C ) , Victoria ( S . E . and C ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , King's Cross ( G . N . ) , & c ) , for Northallerton , Darlington . Richmond , Durham , Newcastle , Alnwick , Berwick , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Helensburgh , Dumbarton , Stirling , Perth , Dundee , Dalmally , Oban , Fort William , Montrose ,

Aberdeen , Inverness , and other stations in Scotland . Passengers by the excursion on the 22 nd return on Tuesday , 26 th , or Friday , 29 th December , and those by the excursion on 29 th December return on Tuesday , 2 nd , or Friday , 5 th January , according to period of ticket taken . Tickets at a single fare for the double journey will also be issued by above excursions to places named , available for return by one fixed train on any day within 16 days , including days of issue and return . On Saturdays , December 23 rd and 30 th , cheap fast excursions will also leave London ( Woolwich ( Arsenal and Dockyard ) ,

Greenwich ( S . E . and C ) , Victoria ( S . E . and C ) . Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , King ' s Cross , & o ) , for Cambridge , Ramsey , Huntingdon , Lynn , Norwich , Cromer , Yarmouth , Spalding , Boston , Grimsby , Lincoln , Nottingham , Leicester , Derby , Burton , Burslem , Tutbury , Stoke , Newark , Chesterfield , Edwinstowe , Retford , Sheffield , Barnsley , Rotherham , Huddersfield , Stockport , Manchester , Warrington , Liverpool , Doncaster , York , Harrogate , Bridlington , Malton , Scarboro' , Whitby , Stockton , Richmond , Darlington , Hartlepool , Middlesboro ' , Durham , Newcastle-on-Tyne , Shields , Sunderland , Wakefield , Leeds , Bradford , Halifax , Keighley , Accrington , Blackburn ,

Bolton , Burnley , Bury , Rochdale , and other principal stations in the Lincolnshire , Nottinghamshire , Staffordshire , Lancashire , Yorkshire , and North-Eastern districts . Passengers by excursion on 23 rd return on 26 th and 28 th December , and those by excursion on 30 th return on 2 nd or 3 rd of January . On Friday night , December 29 th , a cheap trip to Nottingham , Sheffield , Penistone , Stockport , Manchester , Warrington , and Liverpool , will leave Woolwich ( Arsenal ) at S . 47 , Woolwich Dockyard S . 50 , Greenwich ( S . E . and C . ) S . 42 , Victoria ( S . E . and C . ) 10 . 40 , Ludgate Hill 11 . 12 , Mooreate 11 . 19 , Aldersgate 11 . 21 , Farringdon u . 23 , King's Cross 12 . 0 , Finsbury Park 12 5 . For further particulars see advertisement columns .

MIDLAND RAILWAY . —On Friday and Saturday , December 22 nd and 23 rd , the pressure of traffic will be relieved by the running of duplicate trains from St . Pancras as circumstances may require . On Tuesday , December 26 th , and Monday , January ist , certain booked trains will be discontinued , of which due notice will be given by special bill at the stations . Early issue of tickets . —The Midland Railway Company , to prevent inconvenience and crowding , have arranged for the booking ollices at St . Pancras and Mooreate-street Stations to be open for the issue of tickets all day on Thursday ,

Friday , and Saturday , Dece . nber 21 st , 22 nd , and 23 rd , and tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway can be obtained beforehand at the Midland Company ' s City and Suburban Offices . For further particulars see advertisement columns . Cheap excursion trains will be run from London ( St . Pancras ) and principal provincial stations to Carlisle , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Greenock , Dundee , Aberdeen , & c , on Fridays , December 22 nd and 29 th , for five or eight days , by which return tickets will be issued at a third-class single fare for the double journey . The single fare tickets issued on

December 22 nd will be available for returning on anv day u ; i to and including January Gth , 1900 , and single fare tickets taken on December 29 th will be available for returning any day up to and including January 13 th , 1900 . Cheap excursion trains will also be run from London ( St . Pancras ) on Saturday , December 23 rd , to Leicester , Birmingham , Nottingham , Derby , Newark , Lincoln , Burton , Manchester , Liverpool , Blackburn , Bolton , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , York , Scarboro' , Newcastle , Barrow-in-Furness , and the Lake District , & c ,

returning December 26 th or 28 th , and to the same places on Saturday , December 30 th , returning January 2 nd or 3 rd , 1900 . On Saturday midnight , December 30 th , a cheap three , four , five days' trip will be run to Leicester , Loughboro' , Nottingham , Manchester , Stockport , Warrington , Liverpool , and Sheffield . Irish Excursions . —Cheap excursion tickets will be issued from London ( St . Pancras ) and principal provincial stations on Friday , December 22 nd , to Dublin , Cork , Killarney , Limerick , & c , -. 'id Liverpool ,

available for iGdays , and via Morecambe , available for returning on December 28 th or 30 th , and January 2 nd , 4 th , and 6 th , 1900 ; on Friday , December 22 nd , to Belfast , Londonderry , Portrush , & c , via Barrow , or via Liverpool , available for iG days , on Saturday , December 23 rd , to Londonderry , viii Morecambe or via Liverpool , available for returning December 28 th , or January istor 4 th , via' Morecambe , and on December 26 th and 30 th , and January and or Gth , vitl Liverpool .

A NNEXING THE TRANSVAAL . —What will be the fate of the Transvaal after the war it is difficult to forsee , but one thing may be considered certain , and that is that every one who can will take care to annex a case of that delicious liqueur , Grant ' s Morella Cherry Brandy , which is so great a favourite at horn : and abroad . Sold everywhere ; also Grant's Cherry Whisky .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION of the University of Pennsylvania will send a team to take part in the "Olympian Games" at the Paris Exposition , and in the contests in London , where they will compete with Oxford and Cambridge athletes . COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS , PINNER . —The 54 th Annual Festival will take place at the Hotel Metropole , Northumberland-avenue , S . W ., on Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., at 6 . 30 for 7 p . m . Sir W . H . Wills , Bart ., M . P ., will preside , and will be supported by the Sheriffs of the City of London .

THE GALLERY LODGE , NO . 192 S . —The annual meeting of this lodge , the only exclusively Press lodge in the world , was held at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C , on the gth inst ., when Bro . F . W . Brodie was installed W . M . by Bro . E . A . Peachey , the retiring Master . A full report will appear in our next issue . A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of the shareholders of the Aldershot Masonic Hall Company , Limited , will be held at the George Hotel , Wellington-street , Aldershot , on Monday , the iSth inst ., at S . 30 p . m ., to consider the tenders received by the architects in answer to the advertisement in the Builder , and to decide what steps shall be taken in the matter .

ON THE 14 TH INST ., a serious accident , involving injuries to 19 passengers , occured at Crewe Station . A London and North-Western train form Hereford ran into the stop-blocks , the brakes failing to act , on account of the slippery state of the rails , caused by the frost . Many of the passengers who had risen from their seats to get out were badly knocked about , and 19 had to be surgically attended .

THURSDAY , the 14 th inst ., being the anniversary of the death of the ever-lamented Piince Consort , as well as of the Queen's beloved daughter , H . R . H . Princess Alice ( the late Grand Duchess of Hesse ) , the Queen and the members of the Royal family went to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore at half-past 11 o ' clock , where a special service was held , the Bishop of Winchester ( Clerk of the Closet to the Queen ) , assisted by the Very Rev . the Dean of Windsor , officiating .

Q UEEN ' S GIFT TO HER TROOPS . —The Press Association learns that , in addition to the original order for 30 , 000 tins of the Queen ' s present to the soldiers in South Africa , Messrs . Rowntree have received an order for an additional 10 , 000 boxes , making 40 , 000 in all from the York firm . The whole consignment will leave the works on Monday , and will be shipped by the Union Company ' s steamer Gaika on the 23 rd inst . The company are taking out the consignment free of charge .

ALREADY THE HUGE PALACE OF J USTICE at Temple Bar has become too small for the judges and the business , and the Benchers of Lincoln ' s Inn accordingly have , at the request of the Lord Chancellor , granted the temporary use of their old dining hall for the purposes of a tribunal for Mr . Justice Farwell during the early part of the ensuing Hilary Sittings . This apartment was in use for several years as a Court of Appeal prior to the opening of the present Royal Courts of Justice .

THE DUKE OFCONNAUGHT ' visit to the Guards' Barracks at Caterham the other day was of quite an informal character . He went over the hospital , kitchens , and other departments , and took the opportunity of presenting the Omdurman medal to some of the men in the Scots Guards , who are at present there . The Rev . E . Newman , Chaplain to the Forces , conducted his Royal Highness through the fine church adjoining the barracks , which was erected mainly through the instrumentality o' the late General Phillip Smith , to whose memory the beautiful mosaic reredos was dedicated .

T . R . H . THE P RINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES , attended by a large party , will to-night ( Friday ) visit Olympia , where a special performance will be given in aid of the two hospital ships organised and fitted out _ by H . R . H . the Princess of VVales and the American Ladies' Committee . As Olympia comfortably seats some 7003 people , there will be room for all those who like to unite a little charity with a good deal of amusement . Though the various villages and entertainments are open all day , the special performance in the theatre does not , by special desire , commence till nine p . m .

THE QUEEN drove out at Windsor Castle on Wednesday afternoon , attended by Viscountess ' Downe and the Hon . Judith Harbord . Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Wales and Princess Victoria , attended by Lady Emily Kingscote and General Sir Diprhton Probyn , arrived at the Castle . Her Royal Highness Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) also arrived . Lieut .-Col . the Hon . H . C . Legge ( Eauerrv-in-Waiting to the Queen ) was in attendance at the railway

station . The Bishop of Winchester arrived , and had the honour of dining with her Majesty and the Royal family . T . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , and her Grand Ducal Highness Princess Louis of Battenberg , arrived yesterday morning . Captain Holford was in attendance upon the Prince of VVales , and Captain McNeill was in attendance upon the Duke of Connaught . Prince . s Louis of Battenberg was attended by Miss Nona Ker .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY issue tickets at their principal City and West-end offices , and this arrangement cannot fail to be a boon to those travellers who desire to avoid the trouble of obtaining tickets at a crowded railway station , particularly at holiday times , and the booking office at Paddington Station will be open all day for the issue of tickets on December iSth , ig ' . h , 20 th , 21 st , 22 nd , and 23 rd . Ordinary tickets obtained in London between December iSth and 23 rd will be available for use on any day between and including those days . Cheap third-class tickets at reduced

fares will be issued at Paddington , Clapham Junction , Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Kensington ( Addison-road ) , Hammersmith , Sic , to Bath , Bristol , Taunton , Barnstaple , lllracombe , Exeter , Torquay , Plymouth , Falmouth , Penzance , Yeovil , Dorchester , Weymouth , Guernsey , Jersey , & c . ; similar tickets will also be issued from those districts in London ( except the Channel Islands ) . On Thursday , December 21 st , cheap excursions will be run from Paddington , Clapham ( unction , Kensington ( Addison-road ) , Hammersmith , & c , to Cork and Killarney ; on Friday , December 22 nd , to Waterford

, Limerick , Tralee , Kilkenny , Killarney , Belfast , Armagh , Giant ' s Causeway , Sic ; on Friday and Saturday nights , December 22 nd and 23 rd , to Exete .- , Plymouth , Newquay , Falmouth , Penzance , & c , to return December 26 th or 27 th ; and on Saturday night , December 23 rd , to Evesham , Worcester , Malvern , Hereford , Swindon , Cirencester , Stroud , Gloucester , Cheltenham , Newport , Cardiff , Swansea , Llanelly , Llandovery , Carmarthen . Tenby , New Milford , & c , for three daysj to Bath and Bristolfor three or four days ; and to Oxford , Leamington , Birmingham

Wolver-, , hampton , Shrewsbury , Chester , Liverpool , & c , for three or five days . On the days immediately precding Christmas Day , several of the trains from Paddington will be divided , and the fust portion of some of them will start five minutes before the advertised time . On Friday , December 22 nd , a special will leave Paddington at 7 . 5 p . m . for Bath , Bristol , Exeter , Plymouth , Sic On Saturday , December 23 rd , the 3 p . m . to Plvmouth . will be extended to Truro . A special will leave Paddington at 7 . 5 p . m .. for

Bath , Bristol , Exeter , Plymouth , Truro and other stations , and a special Express will depart at 1 . 0 night for Readine , Swindon , Bath , Bristol , Taunton , Exeter , Gloucester , Cheltenham , Newport , Cardiff , Swansea , & c . ln order to meet the extraordinary demands upon the Company ' s resources occasioned by the enormous parcel traffic despatched both from and to London at Christmas time , special fast trains carrying parcels only will run between the principal stations .

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