Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

The next Council Meeting of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys vvill be held on Friday , the 24 th inst . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught has sent a donation of £ 10 to the funds of the Bethnal Green Free Library , vvhich is supported entirely by voluntary contributions . A general meeting of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours was held on Alonday evening , when Air . Alfred Gilbert , R . A ., vvas elected a honorary member .

Bro . Lord Carrington has granted a remission of 10 pet cent , to his South Lincolnshire tenants . A few years ago he made a permanent reduction in the rents of 30 per cent . The Queen has contributed a donation of £ 25 , and the Duchess of Albany one of £ 10 ios ., to the Esher Church Clock and Spire Fund , while her Alajesty has also given £ 10 to the Curate Fund .

Lord Rothschild has been invited and accepted the invitation to preside at the festival dinner , vvhich vvill be held at the Hotel Metropole , on the 20 th June next , in behalf of the Royal Hospital for Diseases of the Chest , City-road .

A grand banquet and ball , to celebrate the founding of the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge , No . 2432 , of vvhich Bro . W . H . Bullock , P . M . 212 S , is VV . AL , will be held at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Oueen-street , on Wednesday , the 22 nd prox .

The Duchess of Albany , vvho , with her Tchildren , the Princess Alice and the Duke of Albany , has been on a visit to her sister , the Queen-Regent of the Netherlands , left the Hague on Alonday evening , and arrived at Claremont the same evening .

The 21 st Anniversary Festival ofthe Provident Snrgical Appliance Society was celebrated at the Hotel AliStropole , on Monday evening , under the presidency of Air . A . L . Stride . Bro . Lord Addington was one of the principal guests , and the donations and subscriptions amounted to £ nSi .

The Queen and Court vvill , according to present arrangements , return from Osborne to Windsor Castle to-day ( Friday ) . Her Majesty will be accompanied by the Empress Frederick of Germany . The Prince of VVales and the Duke of York concluded their visit to the Queen on Monday and returned to Marlborough House .

Bro . Gabriel Lindo , C . C , vve are pleased to learn , has considerably improved in health during the past few days . Under the orders of his medical men , he left London yesterday by the s . s . Orient , for Naples . He will be absent from England for about six weeks .

At the 59 th ordinary general meeting of the London and South-Western Bank held recently , _ a resolution was unanimously carried that the sum of £ 1500 should be appropriated for the benefit of the widow of the late Bro . VV . Herbage in acknowledgment of his faithful and valuable

services for the past 17 years as joint general manager . We are glad to state that Aliss Edith Philbrick , daughter of Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , who vvas shot and terribly injured in August last by tlie man Manktlow , vvho , on his trial , was pronounced insane , is progressing slowly but surely towards recovery , and sanguine hopes are entertained of her ultimate restoration to health .

The royal yacht Osborne , vvhich encountered heavy weather on its way down Channel , put into Plymouth on Sunday morning last , for the purpose of coaling , and has since proceeded to Gibraltar and Marseilles , at the latter of which it vvill , it is believed , embark the Prince and Princess of Wales and their daughters , the Princesses Victoria and Alaud , for a short cruise in the Alediterranean .

The Earl of Southbrook presided at the last meeting of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Institution , when it vvas decided to elect 130 additional pensioners at the annual meeting , on the 7 th June next . This vvill raise the number of annuitants to 936 , and the amount to be distributed in annuities to £ 19 , 624 . The new annuitants vvill consist of 30 men , 25 married couples , and 50 females . j

Thc annual ball given by the brethren of Arkwright Lodge , No . 1 495 , took place at the New Bath Hotel , Alatlock , on Thursday , the 9 th inst . There were upwards of 70 present , including Masons from all the adjoining towns , and these appeared in full regalia by special dispensation . Dancing commenced at S . 30 to the strains of Barnes ' orchestra , and was maintained until 3 a . m . The ALC . vvas

Bro . H . B . Boag , and the Stewards comprised the chief officers of the lodge . Messrs . Charpentier and Co ., Portsmouth , write to the Yost Typewriter Co ., London , informing them that a specimen of typewriting executed on the Yost Typewriter by a young lady in Messrs . Charpentier ' s ofiice , has been submitted to her Alajesty , who has expressed her high

approbation of the neatness of the work . The writing was the manuscript of a lecture on astronomy read before the Oueen . Commenting on the incident , a Portsmouth evening paper remarks : " From this it vvill be seen that typewriting is not the dull mechanical process that many peop le think , but that it will vary from the blotted and blurred smudges to the cleanliness of the very best printing .

A Alasonic conversazione and dance vvas the subject of considerable interest at Lowestoft recently , and in diverging from the beaten track of Masonic social gatherings , the brethren of Lodge Unity , No . 71 , may fairly be credited with having scored a big success . Hitherto it has been the custom to give occasional balls under the auspices of this old and flourishing lodge , but as these gatherings have

never met with liberal support and sympathy , it was a happy thought when the popular W . AL , Bro . F . R . Freeman , and his staff of excellent officers resolved on the new departure . Not only was a much-appreciated entertainment the outcome , but the general result was a

welldeserved reward for the effort expended in promoting it , and a justification for its repetition at no far distant date . It was the general opinion that the evening had been a huge success , and for this much credit is reflected upon Bros . J . R . Freeman , F . S . Smith , F . Spashett , and Bro . A . Harbor , who slaved like the proveibial nigger to insure it .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Thomas William Boord , M . P ., has been appointed a director of the London and Provincial Bank , Limited . Bro . Alatthevv R . Webb , J . P ., has been elected to fill the vacancy on the court of assistants of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company . Bro . W . G . Higgins , P . M ., vvas appointed Secretary of

the City of Westminster Lodge by the W . AL , Bro . W . H . Bott , at the installation meeting recently held . The Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) has very kindly consented to present the prizes to the successful competitors of the 4 th Volunteer Battalion Essex Regiment , on Saturday next , the 25 th inst .

Bro . James Stevens' lecture on the Ritual , Ceremonials , and Symbolical connection of the Craft Degrees , postponed from the 27 th ult ., is to be delivered in the Masonic Hall , New-street , Birmingham , on Friday evening , the 24 th inst ., at 7 p . m .

"The Old Masonians" have arranged an excellent programme of music for a social evening at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , to-night ( Friday ) . On Monday , the Gth prox ., a Cinderella dance is to take place , to be followed on the 17 th by a social concert .

A dinner vvas held at the Hotel Aliitropole on the ioth inst ., in aid ofthe Sick and Nursing Fund of the St . Pancras Almshouses , at vvhich the chair vvas taken by the Earl of Dudley , and Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , ALP ., and T . H . Bolton , ALP ., were among the principal guests .

It is in contemplation to hold an exhibition of plants , flowers , and fruit , vvith heating apparatus and greenhouse appliances , in the Royal Agricultural Hall , Islington , in the month of August , under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society of England , vvhich offer prizes in the various classes of exhibits to the amount of about £ 400 .

The annual dinner of the Hunterian Society vvas held at Wood ' s Hotel on Saturday evening last , under the presidency of Mr . Gordon Brown , vvho vvas supported by the President of the Royal College of Surgeons . Sympathetic reference vvas made to the recent death of Sir Richard Owen , vvho vvas three times President of the Society .

A grand Masonic ball vvas held in the Assembly Hall , Daventry , on Thursday , the 9 th inst ., to celebrate the installation for the year of the Worshipful Master , Bro . Whitford . The hall was very nicely decorated by Mr . T . Warren . Bro . J . J . Hart and Bro . F . Willoughby vvere M . C . ' s . There vvere upwards of 160 present .

The Abbey Lodge of Westminster , No . 2030 , has recently lost three members by death , viz .: Bros . Alorgan , Thomson , and Green , each of whom had gained the regard and respect of the brethren of the lodge . Wreaths vvere sent by the lodge and several of the members attended at each of the ceremonies .

The VVorshipful Alaster of the Tennant Lodge , No . 1992 , with his officers and brethren , paid , by invitation , an official visit to the Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality , No . 1 S 7 , Bristol , on Wednesday , the Sth inst . The Cardiff brethren received from the VV . AI ., Bro . Fetters , and his officers a fraternal greeting and hearty welcome . This being the first visitation of a Cardiff lodge to their Bristohan brethren , the Tennant Lodge must be congratulated on the success of the visitation .

The Duke and Duchess of Teck , vvith their daughter the Princess Alay and Prince Alexander , vvere present at a musical and dramatic performance at the Castle Assembly Rooms , Richmond , on the ioth instant , in aid of the Drinking Fountain Fund and of the Richmond branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals . Her Royal Highness the Duchess will distribute the prizes to the successful competitors of the 3 rd Battalion East Surrey Volunteers at Kingston on Saturday next , the 25 th instant .

A private full-dress ball vvas given on Wednesday , the 15 th inst ., by Bro . J . R . Wellington , of the Temperance Lodge , No . i < 3 g , at the Alasonic Hall , Camberwell Nevvroael , S . VV ., by the desire of several friends , anel was supported by a large number of brethren tcom uuterent lodges who consented 10 act as Stewards for him . Bro . Wellington ,

vvho has conducted the Naval and Horticultural Exmbition bands , personally conducted on this night a splendid band betore an audience of about 150 persons , to the great satisfaction of all present and with credit , as usual , to himself . He had for his ALC , Bro . Remington , and the management was ably . looked after by Bro . KG . Chapman , of the Belgrave Lodge , No . 749 .

CORNWALL MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION . — The eighth annual meeting of the members of Cornwall Masonic Charity Association was held at Truro on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., when it was reported that 217 guineas had been received during the past year , lt vvas resolved to appropriate by ballot the sum ot 220 guineas , and the following being successful are entitled to have their names forwarded

as Life Governors or Lile Subscribers to either of the Central Masonic Charities : 'Ten-guinea votes—Zetland Lodge , Saltash ; Aleridian Lodge , Millbrook ; Loyal Victoria Lodge , Callington ; Tregullow Lodge , St . Day ; Cornubian Lodge , Hayle j Volubian Chapter , Falmouth j E . D . Anderton , John Jose . Five-guinea votes—Aaron Smith , W . H . Pmhay , and Airs . T . H . Colensa , Falmouth ;

E . Carus-VVilson , jun ., lruroj John IL Rowe and G . B , Pearce . Hayle j John Lobb , Christopher Mitchell , and R . H . Faull , Liskeard j J . Upie , Redruth ; W . A . Bennett , Chacewater j the Rev . A . Hawken , AL Body , J . Vicary , and 1 " . Trimmer , Launceston ; Iohn Duckett , Copsev . N .

Phillips , Tom Davey , and John Price , Alillbrook ; J . de Cressy Treffry , Fowey ; Rd . Alatthews , T . H . Alenadue , and A . J . Budge , Camborne j John Martyn , George H . Harris , H . Lander , and W . H . Ward , Wadebridge . The officers and Committee were thanked for their services , and re-elected .

HOLLOWAV ' S OINTMKNT AXD PILLS . —Chest anel Stomach Complaints , —The soiuce anel centre of almost every ailment is impurity of the blood ; •isludgc this poison , and disease departs , tlolloway ' s 1 ills exercise the inestimable power of thoroughly cleansing each component part of ihe biood , and rendering this 1111 iet tit to peifurm its important functions . They cope most siueessfully with chest diseases , stomach complaints , liver

disorders , and many other maladies , which were once ti . e besetting dangers cf mannind at certain seasons iu town aud country . The directions for use enable everyone to regulate the operation of these Pills with lhc greatest nicety . Lhronic invadd * , nervous sufferers , and all vv liom other trc .-itment has failed lo relieve , are respectfully invited to try Holloway ' s celebrated medicine , which vvill strengthen and cure them . —ADVT .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . J . J . 'Thomas is to be installed as Supreme Ruler of tbe Horatio Shirley Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor at the Holborn Restaurant , on Wednesday next . Bro . the Right Hon . Hugh C . E . Childers , vvho has been ordered by his medical advisers to take rest , has left London for Cannes , and is expected to return to town in April .

VVe are glad to hear that Bro . Lord Stalbridge is making slow but steady progress towards recovery from his recent attack of typhoid fever . The officers of the Soth or South Staffordshire Regiment celebrated the centenary of the formation of the regiment at the Savoy Hotel , on Saturday evening last , prior to their departure for Egypt .

On Saturday last Mrs . Gladstone opened the new buildings vvhich Miss Catherine Mary Phillimore has erected as a centre for women ' s work in connection vvith the Christ Church , Oxford Mission of St . Frideswide ' s , Poplar . It is satisfactory to note that the recent Masonic ball at the Bath Saloons , Torquay , has resulted in a balance of 40 guineas , vvhich has been handed to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons .

Perry and Co ., Limited , Steel Pen Alakers , announce a dividend on the Ordinary Shares , viz .: 12 ! per cent , for the year and 2 _ . per cent , bonus , vvhich is the same as last year . The same amount is also placed to the Reserve Account .

Bro . J . Willing , jun ., the chairman of the Assessment Committee of the Strand Union , vvas on Friday , the ioth inst ., presented by his colleagues with a very handsome silver salver , " as a token of respect and esteem on the occasion of his silver wedding . "

VVe are glad to hear that Bro . the Earl of Londesborough has been makingsuch further progress ! towards convalescence that he is now able to sit for a few hours every day . As soon as his lordship is sufficiently strong to bear the journey , he vvill make a visit to the South of France .

After Alarch ist all amateur cyclists in France are to pay a tax of 10 francs per annum for each tricyle or bicycle they may own for recreation . Cycles employed for business purposes are to pay only five francs . It is estimated that the tax vvill bring in a million francs a year .

The Duke of Edinburgh has arranged to visit Exeter for the purpose of distributing the Volunteer Officers' decoration on Tuesday next , the 21 st instant , on which occasion his Royal Highness vvill be entertained at a banquet in the evening by the Alayor and members of the City Council .

The results of the recent sale , when the Duchess of Teck and Princess Alay attended , have been that a further cheque for £ 100 has been paid towards the cot endowed " ln Memoriam" of the late Duke of Clarence by the efforts of the little members of "The Children's Salon . "

On Saturday last , at the Albert Institute , Windsor , the Princess Christian presented the medallions and certificates signed by her Royal Highness , vvhich had been awarded to the male and female members of the Windsor centre of the St . John's Ambulance Association . The number of those who passed the examination being about 50 .

No less than 12 lives were lost by the heavy sea vvhich on Saturday , the 4 th inst ., swept the decks of the Allan Line Steamer , Pomeranian , which had left the Clyde for New York on the 27 th ult ., and returned after the disaster to Greenock on Saturday last . The lost included the captain , second and fourth officers , two quartermasters , two stewards and five passengers . The captain and a saloon passenger had both their legs broken , and succumbed to the injuries they received .

The annual dinner in aid of the French Hospital and Dispensary in London was held at the Hotel Metropole on Saturday last , when among the toasts that were honoured was one , proposed by the Lord Alayor , "To the Health of M . W addington , the French Ambassador , " whose approaching departure vvas referred to in terms of great regret . The subscriptions and donations were announced as amounting to about £ 2500 .

At a Provincial Grand Lodge Visitation of the St , Alichael's Lodge , No . 63 , Dumtries , on February gth , Bro . James Smith , the historian of the Dumfries Lodges , was presented by the lodge vvith a handsome Past Alaster's jewel in appieciation ofjvis services as R . W . M . of that lodge . Ihe gift vvas made by the Dep . Prov . G . M ., on behalf of the members of the lodge , and all united in expressing their pleasure and satisfaction with Bro . Smith's genial and able rule during his term of office .

Bro . Lord Balfour of Burleigh presided at the annual meeting of the London Fever Hospital on the ioth instant . The report showed that during the past year 748 patients had been admitted , of whom 593 were suffering from scarlet fever , 91 from German measles , 12 from diphtheria , and one from small-pox . The mortality from scarlet fever was as

low as 1 . 9 per cent . The annual subscriptions amounted to £ 7106 , or . ( , 1097 more than in the previous year . The report was adopted , and Bro . Lord Balfour was re-elected President for the ensuing year , while the committee , the hon . medical staff , and the other officers were cordially thanked lor their services .

A PALESTINE EXHIBITION . —An extremely interesting and instructive exhibition is to be held at the Holborn Town Hall , on the 2 / st to the 24 th , next week . It will illustrate Bible customs and manners of olden times and the present . There will be much to learn of Solomon ' s Temple , the second Temple , Ancient Jerusalem , & c . Eminent clerical lecturers and travellers vvill give frequent descriptions . Dioramas , panoramas , and curios , will present vivid

pictures of life in the " changeless land . The object is twotold . To impart information to every visitor , and to dispense help and relief among the poor of the Holborn and surrounding district . When we mention the fact that our Bro . flenry Bevis is the manager and organiser , and draw attention to the object—a truly Masonic one—to help those vvho cannot help themselves , we feel sure that the Brotherhood vvill not let such a cause fail through want of sympathy and support .

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 Erices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., Stockrokers , 11 , Poultry , London , E . C .