Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . J . MORRISON McLEOD has been elected a Liveryman of the Glovers Company . BRO . V . I . R . LONGMAN , C . C , is spending the vacation at Melton Constable . BRO . SIR HENRY HARBEN has been appointed the hon . colonel of the ist Cadet Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers ( City of London Regiment ) . BRO . ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR says he rarely finds that sufficient attention is paid to the ventilation of churches . Perhaps this is one of the reasons , he adds , why people so often go to sleep in church .

THE DIRECTORS of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation ( Limited ) have declared an interim dividend at the rate of 15 per cent , per annum . The interim dividend a year ago was at the rate of 10 per cent , per annum only . KING'S YACHT . —His Majesty ' s new yacht , Victoria and Albert , left Portsmouth on the 14 th instant for Gibraltar , in order to subject the vessel and her boilers and machinery to a series of very severe tests . Commodore the Hon . H . Lambton was in command .

COAL PRODUCTION . —The production ot coal in the United Kingdom in 1900 was 225 , 181 , 000 tons , valued at £ 121 , 653 , 000 . The output in Belgium was 23 , 352 . °°° tons , in France 32 , 587 , 000 tons , in Germany 109 , 225 , 000 tons , and in the United States 245 , 422 , 000 tons . TOURISTS who intend spending their holidays at Cromer or in the neighbourhood would do well to procure a copy of the Great Eastern Railway's Company's new booklet , forming an annotated time-table to the London and Cromeriexpress service , which has just been issued by the company at their publishing office , No . 30 , Fleet-street , E . C .

ON THE 14 th instant , in the presence of a vast assembly of spectators , soldiers , and civilians , the Countess of Dundonald opened the new rifle ranges on the Morfa camping ground , Conway . Lord Cochrane fired the first shot with a L » e-Metford and scored a bull ' s-eye , amid great cheering . The Miyor of Conway , Alderman Hugh Hughes , presented the Countess with a beautiful album containing an address of welcome .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT is expected to leave Ireland very shortly for Germany in order to witness the autumn mancKuvres of the German Army . He will be accompanied in all probability by Prince Arthur , and will proceed to Marienbad , where he will be the guest of the Kaiser . Bro . Lord Roberts has also accepted the invitation of the Emperor to be present . The Duchess of Connaught will , in the meantime , pay a visit to her mother , Princess Frederick Charles of Prussia , at Mii . 'litz .

THE HOSPITAL OF ST . JOHN OF JERUSALEM . —The King has been pleased to sanction the following promotions in , and appointments to , the Order of the Hospital of St . John of Jerusalem in England : Knights of Grace : Colonel Bordrigge North North ( from Esquire ) ; Sir John Alexander Cockburn , K . C . M . G . ( from Honorary Associate ); Mr . John Brown , L . R . C . P . ( from Honorary Associate ); and Ccl . Arthur Montagu Brookfield , M . P . Ladies of Grace : Miss Henrietta Wedgwood ( from Honorary Associate ) and Agnes Fanny , Mrs . Temple .

FISH UNFIT FOR FOOD . —During last month the officers of the Fishmongers ' Company condemned as unfit for human food 197 tons 9 cwts . of fish at Billingsgate Market , representing one ton in about S 3 tons ; one ton 15 cwts . at Shadwell , representing one ton in about 109 tons ; and two cwts . at Farringdon Market . The weight of fish delivered during July at and near Billingsgate Market was 16 , 34 8 tons , of which 12 , 252 tons arrived by land and 409 ( 1 tons were delivered by water ; and at Shadwell the tota I delivery was 191 tons by land . Fifty-five tons of the quantity returned as condemned were immature plaice and whiting too small for sale on a glutted market .

THE MEMORIAL over the grave of "Chicago Smith , " whose death , it will be remembered enriched Ihe British Exchequer to nearly a million pounds sterling , is a unique feature in the beautiful cemetery near Elgin . A massive semi-Corinthian structure of Aberdeen granite , and weighing many tons , the monument covers a number of yards square . On one side of the slab , underneath the canopy , supported by four ornate pillars , arc inscribed the simple words : "In Memoriam . George Smith , Banker in Chicago . Born at Millhill , Old Deer , ioth Feb ., 1 S 03 ; Died at London , 7 th October , 1 S 99 . "

SUCCESS OF THE GLASGOW EXHIBITION .-The attendance at the Glasgow Exhibition on Saturday was 69 , 854 , and the money taken amounted to £ 1535 . In the three months the Exhibition has been open the aggregate attendance has almost equalled the six months' total of the iSSS Exhibition , the exact figures b : \ nf 5 , 106 , 111 , as compared with 5 , 74 8 , 179 . A comparison of attendances and takings for the Bank Holiday week is interesting . Thirteen years ago 255 , 045 people passed the turnstiles , and £ 6050 was realised ; while last week the attendance totalled 43 S 410 , and th ; cash taken amounted to £ 8343 . The latter figures dj not include coupons or steamboat tickets .

THE FACT that England and France are neighbours , writes Bro . the Rev . J . Stephen Barras ? , ihe Rector of St . Lawrence Jewry , ought to ensure the two countries living peaceably side by side . "That this is recognised by the Governments of our respective countries is evident , " he adds , " and the sooner it is recognised by the people and the Press the better will it be for all concerned . Whilst it is true that we are France's best customer , it is also ttue that France can serve us as no other country can .

If this were not so our trade would have gone elsewhere long ago . Very well ! what happens . ' That we are interdependent ; that any rupture in relations would produce mutual discomfort , unhappiness , dismay . What follows but that no effort must be spaied to produce friendly relations ? Where difficulties arise they should be faced and discussed in a friendly way—of course , with mutual friend'hsss . Such a course would ccmmend itself to the commonscnse of both England and France . "—City Press .

THE " ALFRED JEWEL . "—The fo'lowing letter to the Editor of the Times , by Sir George Birdwood , on the famous " Alfred Jewel " in the Ashmolean Museum , Oxford , which holds so important a position in the history of ancient jewellery and enamelling , is taken from the issue of the 51 b instant : Quite apart from the question whether the prognathic basal extension of the "Alfred Jewel " was' intended to represent the snout of a boar or a fish , every one familiar with the phylacteric talismany of the regal helmets of the Chinese and Indian Tartars will be prepared to accept Professor

Earle's explanation of the jewel as a significant adjunct and aljavait of a "Cynehelm " of , er about , the time of Alfred the Great . It closely resembles the turn worn on their regal helmets and turbans by lhe " Mo ( n ) gol Emperors "of India . The word torn means literally " a forelock . " " a curl , " " a ringlet ; " and hence " a plume , " "a crest , " " a tassel ; " and metaphorically " the cream ( of anything ) ; " while the torn ol the Tartar regal helmet , as worn by the " Emperors of Delhi" and their higher efficers , was a phylacteric jewel of gold set with precious stones , fashioned as a variant

of the " knopand Itawer" pattern , of which 1 have wntten at length in the last chapter of "The Industrial Arts of India . " The base of the jewel represents an expanded lotus flower of , usually , 12 petals , and the apex a lotus bud , modelled flit , with a II imboyant edging of gold , irradiated with diamonds . The back of both the 11 jwer and the bud are always decorated , in praved work , or enamel , with a conventional representation of Ihe " Tree of Life . " It is the " Tree of Life , " in its lily form , that is engraved

on the back of the "Alfred Jewel , " and this at once suggests its Oriental inspiration , and it is evidently but another variant of the lotus-knop of Egyptian , Assyrian , Buddhistic , and Arab art . Of course , no Oriental understanding the symbolism of the jewel would have : o draughted the decorations thereon that it had to be worn on the "Cynehelm" upside down—that is , with the broad end of the "knop" upward and the pointed end downward—in utter violation of all the principles of talismanic " signature . "

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-manufactured condiments , currie stuffs , chutnees , preserves , pc / ppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , Sic , send to the original firm . C . Stcmbridge and Co ., iS , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta , Established 'S 21 . Write for price ljst . ( Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . HENNIKER _ HEATON , M . P ., suggests that it would be an improvement if every official at St . Martin's-le-Grand had a preliminary two years' business training in a City shop . BRO . DR . WYNN WESTCOTT , H . M . coroner for N . E . London , is among the latest victims to the mosquito scourge . Both his hands have been badly bitten , the left hand being much swollen and painful .

THE EFFORTS of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers to improve the technical knowledge and skill of the working members of the craft have met with most encouraging success . At the recent examinations held in London and the chief pro - vincial centres upwards of 400 candidates were exam ned . A PAINTED-GLASS WINDOW in memory of the late Duke of Westminster has been placed by the parishioners of St . George ' s , Hanover-square , in St . Mary ' s Church , Bourdon-street , Berkeley-square , which was erected 20 years ago by the late Duke of Westminster as a chapel of ease to the mother church . The subject of the window is Christ blessing children .

IN WELL-INFORMED QUARTERS it is rumoured that the visit of the Crown Prince of Germany is not unconnected with the desire of his Imperial Highness to discover whether his feelings towards one of the daughters of Bro . the Duke of Connaught finds a response . Every good wish from the people of this country svill accompany the Prince in his suit .

THE REMAINS OF SIGNOR CRISPI arrived at Palermo on the 15 th instant on board the steamer Varese . The event was the occasion of a great popular manifestation . During the passage of the funeral car many flowers were thrown from the windows along the route . The coffin was taken from the carriage , and placed in the church'known as the Albergo delle Povere , while bands played , the soldiers presented arms , and all present uncovered their heads . The scene was very solemn and imposing .

ON VVEDNESDAY , the 14 th instant , Bro . the Earl of Warwick ( Lord-Lieutenant of Essex ) attended a public gathering at the Drill Hall , Brentwood , and presented suitably inscribed silver watches , provided by public subscription , lo 20 Volunteers belonging to Brentwood and the vicinity , who have returned from active service in South Africa . Seven of the recipients joined the C . I . V . ' s , 12 were members of the Essex Volunteers Active Service Company , and one served with the Imperial Yeomanry . Major Rasch , M . P . for the division , was present .

SIR THOMAS LIPTON left Liverpool on the Teutonic on the 14 th instant for New York , to watch his yacht race for the America Cup . The owner of the Shamrock was accorded an enthusiastic organised farewell , both at Southgate , his Hertfordshire home , and at Euston Station . ' Atthe latter place Sir Thomas told a correspondent experts had assured him that the old challenger had in recent trials shown herself at least eight minutes faster than she was at any time during the races , while Shamrock II . had proved herself nine minutes quicker than her sister .

FOR SICK CHILDREN . —The East London Hospital for Children , Shadwell , is appealing for a sum of ^ 20 , 000 , which is urgently required for extensions . The following new buildings are needed , ac many cases have to be turned away every week on account of the want of accommodation in the hospital : New mortuary and laundry , £ 2500 ; new kitchen , casualty department , accommodation for staff , £ 11 , 000 ; a ward of 12 beds for whooping cough , and new wards with 20 beds for general cases , £ 6500 . The number of patients applying for relief has increased from 6 S 73 in 1877 to 35 , 000 last year ; while the number of beds has only increased by 17 .

BURNS' RELICS . —The trustees of Burns' cottage , museum , and monument at Alloway , near Ayr , have just acquired a number of MSS . for the museum . The documents , which are eight in number , and all in the handwriting of the ooet , have been purchased for £ 400 . Chief among these writings is a copy of " Holy Willie's Prayer , " incribed on all four pages of a double sheet of paper 8 inches or 9 inches square . It ' is interesting as having the motto from Pope , "And sent the godly in a pet to pray . " Among several other objects of interest recently acquired by the trustees are three panes of glass from the Globe Hotel , Dumfries , on which Burns had scratched some characteristic verses with a diamond .

THE FOLLOWING is a list of the wreaths sent by various lodges at thc funeral of the late Bro . the Right Hon . W . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., for which we are indebted to the undertaker , Bro . W . Carnon : Province of Hints and Isle of Wight . Supreme Grand Chapter R . A ., Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , Rival Masonic Institu'in for Boys , East Medina Lodge , No . 175 ; Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , Hants and Isle of Wight ; Boscombe Lodge , No . 215 S ; Albert Edward , No . 1780 ; St . Hubert , No . 1373 ; St . Clair , No . 2074 ; Royal Gloucester , No . 15 , ; Medina , No . 35 ; Lodgeof Economy , No . 7 6 ; Camp Lodgo , No . 1331 ; Oakley , No . 6 yi ; Aldershot Army and Navy , No . 1971 .

LADY WARWICK ON EDUCATION . —The Countess of Warwick on Wednesday entertained a party of visitors from the Oxford University Extensio 1 Summer School at Warwick Castle . In the course of an address , she urged the Universities to bridge the gulf that lay between them and the mass of the people . She wished more of the working classes participated in such gatherings , for the University Extension Movement was intended to reach the people , of whom , she feared , the movement did not now touch the great mass . The Universities would never reach the democracy until teachinc in elementary schools was much imnroved . Here ili . « r » . i ii . ; .,.. c ; i ; . r

ought to step in and make their voices heard in demanding first that teachers in elementary schools should have a thoroughly liberal education , as well as high technical training , the training colleges being affiliated to the Universities . Secondly , they should urge upon the ruling powers the necessity of providing a really sound system of national education , which should bring not only our present very inferior primary , but also the best secondary , higher , and even University education within the reach of every working man ' s child . Lecturers had something to learn from thoie whoss alin-. t m iter was poverty .

The Late Bro. Samuel Pope's Will.

THE LATE BRO . SAMUEL POPE'S WILL .

£ 74 . 000 IN TESTAMENT . The will bears date 25 th March , 18 99 , with a codicil of the 3 rd June iSoi of Bro . Samuel Pope , of 74 , Ashley gardens , K . C , J . P ., and D . L . , Recorder of Bolton , who died on the 22 nd ult ., aged 74 years , son of the late Mr Samuel Pope and of Phube , daughter of Mr . William Rushton , of Liverpool . The late Bro . Samuel Pope ' s estate has been valued at £ 74 , 024 18 s . 6 d . It was his desire to be buried at Llanbedr , in the same grave as his late wife , and he benueathed

£ 100 in trust for the purpose of keeping the grave in order . He confirmed the gift to the Rector of Llanbedr of the Star Inn , now kno . vn as the " Artro " Workmen ' s Club , and the premises are to be in trust for use as a reading-room for the inhabitants of the village of Llanbedr . Bro . Pope was chairman of the English Association of American Bond and Shareholders , and a director of the South African Territories , Limited . He bequeathed to Mr . Charles Henry Mason of 36 , Holland Park , and Mr . Frederick Walker , of OSColeman-street solicitors

, , the executors of his will , £ 500 each ; to his clerk , Charles Taylor Barlow , £ 2000 ; to his servants of 15 years' service £ 500 each ; to his niece , Minaret Bury , £ 1000 ; to his niece , Elizabeth Bury , his cat ' s eye stud , his portrait as Q . C , by Percy , and his household effects ; and to his nephew , Samuel Pope , the portraits of his father and grandfather . The testator leaves the : residue of his property in trust to twosixths thereof for his said niece

as - , Elizabeth Bury , as to two-sixths for his niece , Florence Maud Wright , as to one-sixth for his niece and nephews , Pherbe and Samuel and William Rushton Pope absolutely , but with the intention that they shall provide for their mother , Mrs . Janet Pope , and the remaining onesixth in trust for his nieces , the daughters of his sister , Mrs . Phu'be Lankcster , ibsolutely , but with tbe intention that they nlso shall provide for their mother .