Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE LATEST returns slow that the Mansion House Indian Famine Relief Fund amounts to £ 491 , 200 . BRO . THE MARQUIS and Marchioness of Tweeddale arrived at 6 , Hill-street on Monday from Scotland , and the following day left for Paris . BRO . SIR FRANK LOCKWOOD , Q . C , M . P ., intends spending the Easter holidays at B ' arritz , and left town on Wednesday for that purpose . BRO . LORD BLYTHSWOOD left town on Monday for Blythswood , Renfrewshire , and will be joined before the end of the present week by Lady Blythswood .

THE PRINCESS LOUISE , MARCHIONESS OF LORNE , visited the Lyceum Theatre on Monday evening and witnessed the performance of " Madame Sans Gene . " THE DUKE and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Frederick Charles of Prussia have left Buckingham Palace , and laken up their residence for the present at Bagshot .

THE COUNTESS OK LATHOM , who has been taking a course of the waters at Bath , has gone to Lathom , where her ladyship and Bro . Lord Lathom , with the members of the family , will spend the Easter holidays . THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK , accompanied by Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox , left Warwick Castle , on Monday , for Paris , where she will remain for some weeks in order to give sittings for her portrait to Carolus Duran .

BRO . THE DUKE OF ST . ALBANS has taken Queenswood , _ Staveley-road , Eastbourne , for a short term , and on Wednesday proceeded thither in company with the Duchess and family and Bro . and Lady Myra Cavendish .

COL . J HAY , the newly-appointed United States Ambassador to the Court of London , sailed on Wednesday from New York on board the s . s . St . Paul , and is expected to arrive at Southampton on Wednesday , the 21 st inst . ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON last , at Edmonton , Mrs . Humphrey Ward laid the first stone of a new public library , which is about to be erected at the cost of Bro . J . Passmore Edwards , in memory of Charles Lamb and John Keats .

THE EARL OF RONALDS HAY , eldest son of Bro . the Marquis and Marchioness ol Zetland , will come of age on the nth June , and on the occasion the tenants on the Cleveland Estate intend presenting his lordship with a life-size portrait of himself .

BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE have been entertaining a small party of guests at Compton Place , Eastbourne , among them being Lord and Lady Emily Lurgan , Sir Charles and Lady Hartopp , Mr . Haldane , and Lord Charles Montagu . THE NEW ORDER for muzzling dogs came into force on Tuesday , the 6 th instant , and between that date and Sunday , the nth instant , inclusive , the number of

unmuzzled dogs seized by the police and conveyed to the Dog s Home , Battersea , was 1192 . THE QUEEN , accompanied by Princess Henry of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Schleswig Holstein , drove to Cap Ferrat on Monday , and later in the day , Princess Henry of Battenberg went over to Cannes to pay a visit of condolence to the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin .

BRO . LORD WOLSELEY ( the Commander-in-Chief ) , with a party of military officials from the War Office , left Paddington by special train on Monday for Pewsey , Wilts , for the purpose of inspecting the northern portion of the land on Salisbury Plain recently acquired for military and manoeuvring purposes . MR . BEERBOH . M TREE presided at the 40 th anniversary dinner of the Savage Club , which was held in the King ' s Hall of the Holborn Restaurant on Saturday evening last , among those present being the Earl of Desart , Sir J . N . Dick , Bro . Sir Norman Pringle , Sir A . Cameron , and Bro . Gen . Sir F . W . Grenfell .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE visited the Royal Hospital at Chelsea , on Saturday last , for the purpose of unveiling the tablet to the memory of the late Field Marshal Sir Patrick Grant . Among those present were Field Marshals Sir Donald Stewart , Sir F . Haines , and Sir J . Lintorn Simmons , and Sir Dighton Probyn represented the Prince of Wales .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES arrived at Charing Cross Station from Paris at five minutes past seven on Wednesday evening , having travelled by special South-Eastern train from Dover . The Prince , who looked extremely well , proceeded to Marlborough House , accompanied by Commander Fortescue , and was loudly cheered as he drove away from the station .

AMONG THOSE present at the first performance of " Madame Sans-Gene , " which was produced by Bro . Sir Henry Irving , at the Lyceum Theatre , on Saturday evening last , were the Duke and Duchess of Teck , the Duke of Cambridge , Bro . the M arquis and Marchioness of Granby , Bro . Sir F . and Lady Grenfell , Bro . Lord and Lady Skelmersdale , Bro . SirF . Milner , Bart ., M . P ., and Bro . the Earl and Countess of Londesfcorough .

THE DUCHESS OF TECK laid the foundation-stone of the new church of St . Michael ' s , Southwark , Wandsworth , on Saturday last in the presence of a large and influential gathering , among whom were the Bishop of Southwark , the Rev . W . Reed , Vicar of Wandsworth , Bro . Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , Bart ., and Bro . H . Kimber , M . P . It is estimated that the cost of the church will be about £ 6000 , towards which a considerable sum has already been contributed .

SIR ALFRED MILNER , who is proceeding shortly to South Africa as High Commissioner , was entertained at dinner at the Hotel Metropole on Saturday evening last by the members of the Inland Revenue , over whom he has presidsd as Chairman of the Board for the last five years . The chair was occupied by Bro . F . L . Robinson , and among those present were the First Lord of the Admiralty , Bro . Gen . Sir Evelyn Wood , and Sir Algernon West . Previous to the dinner Sir A . Milner was presented with a handsome service of plate by the officers of the Excise .

MR . RITCHIE ( President ) promises at the Aquarium for Easter a programme that should draw all London , it literally teems with grand shows , commencing with a variety show as early as 10 a . m . running up to 1 p . m ., drawing room entertainments from 1 o'clock to 2 o'clock , followed by a three hours " World's Greatest Show , " on the great central stage , commencing 2 p . m ., and terminating about 5 p . m ., which is again followed by conjuring and drawing rcom entertainments , and a concert occupying the interval from 5 p . m . to 7 p . m . and up to the second representation of the " World's Great Shew , " which will commence at 7 o'clock and terminate at 11 . 40 p . m . Upwards of 400 artistes take part in upwards of 150 varieties extending from 10 a . m . to 11 . 40 p . m .

BRO . WILSON BARRETT concluded a very successful season at the Lyric Theatre en last Saturday evening . In accordance with a good old custom , Bro . Barrett closes his theatre during Holy week , and will not re-open until next Saturday alternoon . 'The Daughters of Babylon " is withdrawn for the present , and next Saturday , at 2 . 30 p . m ., the season will be opened by a matine-e of " The Manxman . " For some time this

admirably constructed play will cccupy the board' ; , with Bro . Barrett in his old part of Pete Quillam . There will be four matinees of " The Manxman " during Easter week —on Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , and Saturday—besides a performance every evening , so the members of the company have their work cut out for them . Later on in the season Bro . Barrett intends reviving some of his old successes , such as " Virginius " and "Othello , " at which his friends will rejoice .

HOME OF ST . BARNABAS , for aged , disabled , and convalescent clergy , liro . Canon W . II . Cooper sends us some particulars of this unique Home for not only poor and old clergy , but also for those who have broken down in their work and require rest and change and some weeks' or months' care and nursing . The Home at present consists of a chapel , which was built some years ago for the inhabitants of the estate on which the Home is situated ; two houses , very pretty , very comfortable , and very convenient to London and the nourishing town of East Grinstead . In one of these houses

the permanent cases are received ; in the other those who do not require any medical treatment , only test and care . What should interest Masons is the fact that two of the inmates of the Home are brother Masons ; both were Chaplains of their respective lodges , and were it not for this newly-founded charity they would be probably now inmates of the workhouse . Bro . Cooper , who has had a . world-wide experience in Masonry , is abrut to bring before the Craft a proposal for the relief of such brethren as the Home of St . Barnabas is at present sheltering . His efforts for poor and distressed brethren will no doubt meet with a hearty response from the Craft .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE FOLLOWING lodges have sent contributions to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales s Hospital Fund since our last issue : The Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , £ 10 10 s . ; the Lodge of Unity , No . 69 , £ 5 5 s . ; and the Campbell Lodge , No . 1415 , £ 3 3 s . BRO . ALDERMAN AND MRS . TRELOAR have gone to Dresden for a change . BRO . A . T . LAYTON , J . P ., C . C ., has offered to present to the Corporation of Croydon a handsome clock to be fixed in their council chamber .

BRO . COL . GEORGE LAMBERT , F . S . A ., has given £ 200 as a jubilee gift to the Silver Trade Pension Society , in addition to a recent donation of 50 guineas to that Institution . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . W . HU . ME LONG , M . P ., President of the Board of Agriculture , will spend his Easter holidays at his Wiltshire seat , Rood Ashton , and was to leave town to-day ( Thursday ) .

THE QUEEN will not come back to England through Germany . She is now to leave Nice on the 21 st instant , and will be home again at Windsor , if all goes wel 1 , in 54 hours . She stays at Windsor three weeks , then goes to Balmoral , and comes back just in time for the Jubilee . AT A Quarterly Court of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company , which was held on Monday , the 12 th inst ., a sum of 210 shillings was unanimously voted to the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund for London .

BRO . THOMAS MURRAY J ANES , Master of the Joiners Company and Renter Warden of the Paper Stainers' Company , has been re-elected on the East and West Molesey Urban District Council at the head of the poll . WE HAVE much pleasure in announcing , in compliance with a request that has reached us from the Secretary , that the Fairfield Lodge , No . 2224 , Long Eaton , has contributed £ 25 to the Lord Mayor's Indian Famine Relief Fund .

THE FIRM OF Arthur Guinness and Co ., Dublin , has given £ 2000 in commemoration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee . Of this £ 500 is assigned to the Diamond Jubilee Fund for Nurses , and £ 1500 distributed among sundry hospitals in Dublin . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES left Cannes on Saturday last for Paris , where he arrived the following afternoon and took up his quarters at the Hotel Bristol . After a few days in the French Capital , his Royal Highness arrived in England on Wednesday . BRO . SIR J . BLUNDELL MAPLE , M . P ., has decided to entertain between 4000 and 5000 children from St . Albans , Harpenden , Redbourne , and Sandridge in Clarence Park on Wednesday , the 23 rd June , in celebration of the Queen's long reign of 60

years . AT A MEETING of the Court of Aldermen on Tuesday , at which Bro . Sir Joseph Savory , Bart ., M . P ., presided in the absence of the Lord Mayor , Bro . General Sir Redvers Buller , V . C ., was admitted to the freedom of the City through the Dr apers ' Company . BRO . THE Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane are on their way home from 1 ndia , and will pay a visit to Taymouth Castle , Perthshire , before taking up their residence in town for the season . His lordship has been having excellent sport tiger-shooting with the Nizam in the Deccan .

THE LONDON and North-Western Railway Company have announced their intention of granting to all their servants a holiday without deduction of pay on Jubilee Day ( the 22 nd June ) , except to those who must be on duty to see to the traffic , and these will be given the option of an extra day ' s pay or a holiday with pay at some future time .

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT , having been advised that an International Yachting and Fisheries Exhibition is to be opened on May 17 th at the Imperial Institute , has requested the various port and maritime authorities to call the attention ot the coastwise population of France to the interest which they would have in being represented at the exhibition .

LADY CROMER has met with a severe accident while on her way home from Egypt on board the Semeramis . Her ladyship slipped on the companion ladder , and besides injuring both her wrists and hands , received a deep cut over the eyebrow , so that she is detained at Brindisi for a few days . It is not a little singular that Lady Cromer met with a very similar accident , also while on board ship , some few years ago .

BEFORE THE special session of the New Zealand Parliament came to a close on Saturday last , the two houses unanimously adopted addresses congratulating the Queen on her long reign , and approving of the Premier ' s acceptance of the invitationlo attend the Jubilee celebrations . A military contingent and a team of marksmen will also be sent over , and the necessary appropriations for all these purposes have been voted .

Two OF THE 12 ladies who attended the Queen as bridesmaids at her marriage on the 10 th February , 1840 , are still living , and are doubtless looking forward with pleasure to the celebration of her Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee on the 22 nd June . The two are the Duchess of Cleveland , who was then the Lady Wilhelmine Stanhope , and Elizabeth , Duchess of Bedford , who became a widow in 1891 , and who in 1840 was Lady Elizabeth West , daughter of the fifth Earl De la Warr .

A JOINT committee , representing the Commons Preservation Society , the Isyrle Society , the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association , and the Society for the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest , has been formed with Lord Hobhouse as Chairman , the intention being to raise a fund of " £ 100 , 000 in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee , for the acquisition of some 300 acres of land at Wandsworth , Highgate , Wood Green , Edmonton , and South Tottenham .

THE ARRANGEMENTS for her Majesty ' s visit to Sheffield next month , were settled at a meeting of the Reception Committee on Tuesday . It has been decided that the Town Hall shall be decorated , triumphal arches erected , and the military line the streets en route . The Duke of Norfolk has been conferring with the school teachers of the city in reference to the monster gathering of schoal children in Norfolk Park , and the Queen has expressed her intention of driving through the grounds and hearing the children sing .

AT THE RECENT election of the Boys'School Mrs . Crook secured first place with her son Ralph , polling 372 ( 1 votes on the first application . This must be very gratifying to Bro . R . S . Cushing , P . M ., and Treasurer 1 C 07 , who had the case in hand , ably assisted by Bro . Kdmund J . Morgan , P . M ., and Sec . 1571 , and a strong committee . Mrs . £ rcok returns thanks in the present issue to the Governors and Subscribers who brought the case to so successful an issue . Mrs . Crook has another son , a candidate at the forthcoming election of the London Orphan Asylum , and we wish her a like success on that occasion .

Wednesday being the anniversary of the birthday of her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Battenberg , youngest daughter of her Majesty , who was born on April 14 th , 1 S 57 , the event was celebrated in London in the customary manner , the complimentary honours accorded to members of the Royal Family being duly carried out . The bells of several City and West-end churches , including the Royal churches of St . Martin-in-the-Fields and St . Margaret , Westminster , were rung , and flags hoisted on the various public buildings , while the band of the Grenadier Guards played a selection at St . James's Palace in the morning , and the usual salutes were fired .

BRO . TIIF HON . SIR E . MONSON , her Majesty ' s Ambassador in Paris , has been specially deputed by the Queen to visit Ushant and present the medals struck by order of her Majesty , to the fisherfolk who rendered such essential services at the time of the loss of the Drummond Castle . The municipal authorities of Ushant and Molene have decided to entertain the British Ambassador at lunch on the occasion of his visit , while in the Island of Molene his Excellency will be ofTered a vitt d'honnour . The town ard shipping will be decorated with bunting in honour of the visit . There are in all 24 8 medals to be distributed .

THE ANNUAL meeting ol the Devon Masonic Institution was held at Freemasons Hall , Plymouth , on Wednesday afternoon , the 7 th inst ., when liro . E . H . Shorto , P . M . 39 , Vice-President of the Fund , occupied the chair . In the election of three children on the Fund , there were six applications , with the result that the son of a late brother of St , John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , Teirquay , received < J 5 < 5 votes ; the daughter of a late brother

of Fidelity Lodge , No . 230 , Devonport , S 94 votes ; and the daughter of a late brother of the Sun Lodge , No . 347 , Exmouth , received 702 votes , and were declared elected . The unsuccessful candidates were the son of a late brother of Concord Lodge , No . n 35 » Ilfracombe , 529 votes ; a son of a late brother of Fortescue Lotge , No . S 47 , Honiton , 30 votes ; and a daughter of a late brother of Devon Lodge , No . 665 , Newton Abbot , 26 votes .