Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The whole of the clothing and jewels for the Eai-tcrii Province , Soulh Africa , arc now on view at thc Masonic Show Rooms , I , 2 and 3 , Liltle Britain . At the last meeting of the Grand Masters Xot - ge , No . 1 ,, Bro Ralph Gooding , M . D ., B . A ., Grand Steward , was unani-nou-ly elected to the Mastei's chair for the cn-uing tw . lve months .

A ISIFT HORSE . — 'Ihe Theatre states that e Russian Prit . ee . fanaiico per la Mustca , ordered a splendid necklace and earrings of a St . Petersburg jeweller , with the intent ! n of presenting them to a celebrated prima donna , tn the occasion of he-r benefit last month , at the Imperial Open . The- prima dciuna , hearing of this , called upon the j-wellerand inspected the jewellery . It was not

to her t isle , and she r . quired scveial alterations to be matle . Thc jew H r promised to consult his employer . The benefit was h-. Iii , nut t : e jewellery was not forthcoming . The prince hatl r . serned the neekUcc and earrings for some less ejtjctint , ' retiuicnt , and the prima d . uma w s left to meditate on thr- homely wisdom of the proverb , " You should not look a gift horse iu the mouth . "

ihe fir ; . t annual ball iu connection with the City t \ f W slminstcr Lodge , No . 15 C 13 , will take place at Willis ' s Rooms , King-street , St . James ' s , on Wednesday , thc 23 rd inst . Bro . Dan . Godfrey ' s quadrille band will be in ale ^ irfance . We understand the sanction for wearing Cialt cl--ihing has been obtained . Tickets and further information may be had of the Hon . Secretary , Bro . E . J . S ^ ott , 34 , Bury-strcer , St . Jimcs ' s .

EMIT . UYBRS AND EMPLOYEES . —One of those

gatherings marking the interest taken by some of cmla ! g . r -iritis in catering lor the amusement and instruction of th ir cmpl lye ' j-, took place on Monday evening , the f / Jlh i . i-t ,, at Messrs . Oelz iienn ami Go's ., the well-known ? uu-e furi'isheis , of Hamp teed-road , in connection with thcM . tua Improvement Society and Library , established on tlie picmi-c-i , when a lecture was delivered to an audience of ab . ut e , 00 , in one of their larye show-rooms , by the

JRev . Ca 011 McConnel Hus-e-y , entitled " Firesides . " Cauun Hussey's fame as a lecturer is well known , antl this lettur , wt . ieli , as the title indicates , is peculiarly adapted to tne prcs . nt season , was heartily appreciated by all present . We are asked to state that the London Lodge of Insiruc inn , No . 201 , meets every Wednesday Evening , al 8 tiVlevek , at the " Devonshire Arms , " DevonshiresUect , Vortlaid-ulaec , W .

The Colonel Baker who is reported to have been wounded and takm prisoner by the Russians in thc affair * l TH . skr-. an has been supposetHo be General Valentine Baker , but this i < not so ; il is Colonel Baker , V . C ., who is ref rred tn , a moi-t I / HIUM and ab ' e soldier , who has been throughout on the staff e . f his namesake , together with Cilonel Allix , an-l wlm-e loss is a grave injury to the Turkish cause . —Panly Fair

Loitn KiNNAiKD .-By the death of Lord Kiiinairil , and the •¦ ucces > itin in the litle * anil estates of the deceased peer ' s brother , the Hon . A . Kinnaird , M . P . for Perih , a v . cancy is caused in fit * representation of that city . The Installation Meeting of ihe Globe Lodge , No . 43 , took place at Freemason's Hall , on Thursday last . Bio . R . berc Dougla-, S . W ., was insullel into the Chair of K . S . A icport of the proceedings will be given in our

ncxi . The Karl of Rosslyn , M . W . P . G . M . of Scotland hid the honour of an audience- with the Queen , on Monday last , and kissed hands on his appointment as Ami a .-sadtH-cktiaorriinary 10 the King of Spain . Capt . G . H . Howard , has been appointed to the post of Aidc-d .--C .-mp to the Queen , in the room of Capt . the Hon . H . Glyn , promoted to the rank of

Rcar-Adm'ral . TISMPLB BAR . —The works in connection with the removal of Temple Bar arc completed , with the exception of the south arch , abutting upon Messrs . Child ' s bank , and it is intended that this portion of the structure .-hall icmain until the bank builelings are shored U |> . This is to be done in the course of a few days , after which the arch will be rcii . ovtd . when the whole of thc oto stiucture will have been cleared away .

The North China Herald states that " a g igantic c -inpiidium of Cliinese literature , comprising neatly 6000 volumes , has been purchased by Her Majesty's Chinese Seeretary of Legation at Ptkin . Mr . Mayers , on behalf ol the authorities of the British Museum , to which institution the collection will be removed as sue d . lv as practicable . Profe . ssor Alexander Gralum Bell , of the

Boston Uniei-rsiiy , had the honour of exhibiting the telephone to her Maj sty , Princess Beatrice , and the Duke of Connaught , on Monday evening , in the Council Room at Osborne . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT . —Tuesday ' s Gaxcttc announces that Honorary Colonel His Koyal Highness tne Duke of Connaught has redgncd his commission in the Rot , *! East Knit Yeomanry , and is succeeded by Major-General the Marquis of Conyngham .

The World , understands that Bro . Archibald For * s inttiids to undertake a short lecturing tour , his subject being personal experiences of the war , which seems now so near its termination . Bro . Foibes will begin at Bri g hton tui * day ( Saturday ) , and will face a London

audience 011 the 24 th inst ., in St . James's Hall . _ The tPorld also has reason to believe that a ¦ m- ariihge will learraiged betwicn H . H . H . the Duke of Conn-light and the Princess Louise , daughter of Prince Fr-dciiik Charles . Thc Princess is seventeen years of age , and much liked by those who know her .

Masonic And General Tidings.

H . R . H . the Prince of Walss consented to receive an address on his departure from Hamilton Palace for Loiieion on Wednesday . Thc Freemasons wished to present an address , but there was not sufficient time . Brethren desirous of obtaining a copy of the /• Ycoiiietioit Almanack for 1878 , should apply without tielay at the office , ig 8 , Fleet-street , London .

We are once more pleased to note the re-appearance of the " Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , Diary , and Pocket Book . " The issue for thc coming year leaves nothing to be desired . It is replete with information indispensable to every " brother" who desires to be well " posted "in affairs Masonic , antl , in addition , it contains as much diversified intelligence of a calendar character

as would make the fortune of many a more pretentious and costly annual . Bro . Kenning deserves to be complimented on the very creditable manner in which he has performed his task . —Civilian . We extract the following from the SiindayTiines : " On Wednesday last , the 9 th inst ., the . boys and girls who remain in the schools during thc Christmas holidays

werc invited by Mr . 'lalhot Smith , and the other Masonic members of thc Gaiety Theatre company to witness the performances at that theatre , and fully appreciated the entertainment provided for them . Their healthy nnd respectable appearance elicited many inquiries respecting them , and it would be hard to say whether the excellent performance on the stage or the pleasing sights presented by the presence of these interesting little folks thus

introduced into public view most interested the audience . When it is borne in mind that these were the children vvhn , unhappily , had no Christmas home to return to , and no relatives to welcome them , thc kindness of thc brethten connected with the Gaiety Theatre deserves the warmest recognition . Bro . E . Freeborn has b ^ en appointed Grand Secretary of ihe Grand Lodge of all Sottish Freemasonry in India , on the resignation of Bro . Rowell .

IHE INDIAN FAMINE . —The followinrr letter

has reached thc Chairman of the Mansion-house Committee of tlie Indian Famine Fund : — " 10 , Dowuingstreet , Jan . 3 . Sir , —Lord Beaconsfield de > ires mc to thank you for your letter of the ist inst . informing him that the amount contributed to the Indian Famine Fund at the Mansion-house has reached half a million sterling . His Lordship has great pleasure in learning of the

continued success of the appeal . I am , Kir , your obedient servant , J . F . Daly . To Sir Thomas White . " Thc weekly statement ot the Madras Executive Committee , under date December 13 , says thu so successful have many of the district committees proved themselves in the judicious distribution of the large funds intrusted to them that , distress still continuing to be vcry great , further allotments have

been made upon occasion being shown for increased aid . The famine is passing awav , crops have ripened and are ripening ; but the after effects of such terrible scarcity as the Presidency has experienced during the past year have been and continue to be very great . The more detailed thc inquiries matle in famine-stricken regions , the more strious was the distress found to be ; but side by side with records

of poignant distress antl terrible suffering are to be found particulars of the exceeding great good which " thc fund " has wrought and the great part it has played in bringing the country back to its normal condition and in infusing a new life into the people . The de-ith-r . ite still continues very high . The increased deaths above the average rate in October in four districts only was 34 , 992 , and the

decrease of births in three districts 4 607 . 1 lie amount sent to district committees to date—in many cases nearly the whole has been already spent—is 6 , 093 , 933 rupees . The total sum received and roughly slated is 7 , 900 , 000 rupees , of which the Mansion-house Fund contributed 3 , 350 , 3 , 2 rupees . The Indian Princes had subscribed 55 , 000 rupees , the Maharajah of Baroda , the Maharajah Holkar , antl the

Maharanee of Cassubazzar giving io . ooor . each . The late Lord Mayor , in acknowledging the rcceijit of £ 8500 from Sydney , writes , — " Ic affords me thc greatest pleasure to receive these splendid contributions raised in your colony in aid of an object which has provoked an outburst of heartfelt sympathy among Her Majesty ' s subjecls in all parts of the world . 1 beg of you to express to the subcribcrs the warmest thanks of the Committee and of

myself for their great liberality , and to assure them that their gifts will be much appreciated by the suffering people of India . " PLOUGH MONDAY . —Monday week , being what is called Plough Monday , the Lord Mayor , Mr . Alderman Owden , according to custom , entertained a select company , composed of civic dignitaries , at dinner at the

Mansionhouse in honour of the occasion . Plough Monday was originally the name of a rustic festival , heretofore of great account in England , bearing , like St . David ' s Day , reference to the resumption of labour , after the Christmas holidays . In Roman Catholic times the ploughmen kept lights burning before certain images in churches to obtain a blessing on their labour , ar , d were accustomed on this

day to go about in processions , collecting money for support of these " plough lights , " as they were called . Eventually , the Reformation put out the lights , but it could not extinguish the festival . The peasantry continued to go about in jorocession collecting money , though only to be spent in convwiality . It was at no very remote date a very gay and pleasant spectacle . A plough was dressed

up with ribands , and other decorations , and 30 or 40 stalwart swains , with their shoulders and hats flaming with ribands , dragged it along from house to house . Times have changed , antl these observances have fallen into disuse . In the City , however , Plough Monday is still marked in the . calendar . In the afternoon on Monday the Lord Mayor went in state from the Mansion-house to the Guildhall , and presided at what is known as a grand court of wardmote .

Centenary Of The Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 73.

CENTENARY OF THE MOUNT LEBANON LODGE , No . 73 .

On Tuesday evening this lodge celebrated its centenary at the Bridge House Hotel , Bro . Thomas Knott , W . M ., presiding at the fust part of the evening . About 170 biethren were present , of whom thc following is a list : — Brof . E * E . Cooper , J . Dixon , P . M . and Treas . ; H . Moore , P . M . ; F . H . Ebsworth , P . M . ; T . ( . Sabine , P . M . ; D . Rose , l' . M . and W . S . ; G . Free , P . M . and

Sec . ; G . ' J . Grace , P . M . and D . C . ; A . L . Dussek , P . M . ; J . J . Hooper Wilkin * -, P . M . ; H . Keeble , A . J . Ireton , Benj . Isaacs , J . J . Hole , W . Klingenstein , S . S . Said , S . Huntley , T . Suffield , R . G . Chipperfield , F . r £ . Cooper , sen ., F * E . Cooper , jun ., J . Spindler , H . C . Davies , A . P . Sted .-nan , Geo . Lcc , 11 . S . Harvey , G . B .

Yatnian , W . E . Rogers , R . J . Newby , A . Sycr , f . Larking , J . W .- . El ) iott , J . W . Mash , Coughtrey , J . Harrison . T . Sutton , S . Sutton , E . Buckland , S . Harman , J . Crawley , A . Jacoby , W . j . T . Egglcsfield , G . Muller ,. J . Gale , J . 11 . Sp-nccr , It . G . Bennett , W . Butlin , J . J . Prince , W . Heritag " , E . Coronet , F . R . Hayes-, E . Kipps , A . Hudson , | . E . btepheis , W . Charlesworth , G . Austin , H , G .

Willoughby , C . Rittscher , Erhardt . R . Boyle , W . Groom , W . Gregory , H . Nay lot . Seago- Mcdgett , VValraven , Frankenberg , G . Chandler , H . ' Stephens . The visitors were : —Bros . Col . Bu rtlctt , P . G . W .,. P . G . M . Middlesex ; J . H . Scott , P . G . M . Sussex ; Gordon , P . D . G . S . W . Cape of Good Hope : ; Freeman , i' . G . Sec . Sussex ; German , P . P . G . S . D . Sussex ; G . Smith ,

P . P . G . P . Sussex ; J . Coutts , P . G . P . & c . ; Terry , Sec . R . B . Inst . ; Binckes , Sec , Boys School ; Potter , P . M . 11 ; Shaw , P . M . 79 ; Doughncy , P . M . ; F . Garbett , W . M . 117 S ; Stidolph , W . M . i : * 4 o ; Rev . liatc ' . i , A . Watkins , P . M . 1475 ; Littcll , P . M . 860 ; Hayes , P . M . 11 , 70 ; R _ H . William-, 1314 ; Pillin , W . M . JSO ; Mason , P . M , 1540 ; Liver , P . M . 117 8 ; HuUingsworth , P . M .

11 S 5 ; Seex , P . M . 1426 ; Nicholls , P . M . 1050 ; , Simmons . W . M . elect 1559 ; Stevens , P . M ; 1426 ; Macdonald . P . M . 1158 ; ' Nicholson , W . M . 145 , 7 . Green , P . M . 153 S ; Hcckell , P . M . 1 G 9 ; Ash well , P . M . 1305 ; Ebcrall , P . M . 315 ; Abbott , P . M . 192 ; , Bolton , P . M , 1 ( 19 ; Wells , P . M . 777 ; Knibjs , P . M . 174 ; H . Brett . P . M . 134 ; H . iMassey ( Freemason ); Vickcrton , S . W

1321 J ; Jacobs , S . W . 1614 ; Loveti , S . W . 1314 ; Thomas , S . W . 1446 ; Berry , Sec . 169 *;; Robins , J . W . 2 ^ ; Thue . J . W . 1622 ; W . Hairis , ifitj ; Lambert , D . C . 155 6 ' Miles , P . M . 1310 ; Richards , J . D . 1329 ; Goldstone , I . G . 1329 ; Shcad , J . . 13 . 6 OJ Barrow , 1357 ; C . Graham , S 74 ; J . Harris , 6 57 ; . Ward , 1 G 22 ; Judge , 1178 ; Van

Duren , 180 ; Thompson , 55 ; L . Abbott , 1348 ; Axtell , 1178 ; Plummet , 177 ; Turnham , 548 ; Rossitor , 180 ; Worstcr , 1540 ; Meygett , 890 ; Miller , 65 ; Kicardei , 1540 ; Orchard , 177 ; Smithers , Leslie , Garner , Edell , ic 8 ; J . VVilktts , 1178 ; Busby , 701 ; Lawson , 1426 ; McRac , 87 ; Seymour Smith , Pritchelt , 1527 ; Simons , 1181 * , Thornton , 1706 ; and j . Distin .

After the lodge had been opened and thc minutes confirmed , Dr . Dixon , the senior P . M . present , delivered the following address : " W . M ., Officer ? , and brethren of thc Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 -. Wc arc assembled to-day for the purpose ot commemorating an event of deep interest in the history of a Masonic lotlge , its existence foe a period of more than a hundred years . This lodge

was originally a lodge of Antient Masons , antl was constituted ou the 27 th day of February , 1760 , by a warrant from thc Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient antl Honourable Fraternity ot Free and Accepted Mascns according to the old constitutions . It was known as No . 81 . In consequence of the union ot the two Grand Lodges , and the formation of thc United Grand

Lodge , on thc 27 th day of Dec . 1813 , it became No . 104 . On January 26 , 1818 , it first assumed the name of Mount Lebanon Lotlge . At the alteration of thc numbers in 1832 it became No . 87 , since which , owing to the general alteration of numbers in 1863 , it has become and now stands 011 thc registry as No . 73 . Having completed the centenary of its

existence the members of the lotlge have petitioned the M . W . G . M . for permission to wear a centenary jewel . Ou June nth , 1877 , H . R . H . thc Prince of Walcs , . M . W . G . M ., was pleased to grant a warrant , permitting each of the actual subscribing members of the lodge to wear in all Masonic meetings a jewel of the approved pattern for so long as he shall pay his regular stipulated subscription to

the funds of this lotlge , and be duly returned as such ta thc Grand Ludge of England . As some yeais have elapsed since this lodge completed the centenary of its existence , it might be supposed that the brethren have been indifferent t-j the fact , and careless about the honour ol wearing a centenary jewel . 1 shall endeavour to shew yeiu that this has not been the case , by giving a short

account of the proceedings which have been taken at various times in relation to this subject . Thc early history ot this lodge , like that of Freeniasoiny itself , and of many other excellent institution ; - , is involved in o' scurity . The original warrant is no longer in existence , and the names of tile founders ot the lodge aie unknown to us . The first minute book of

the lodge appears to have been lost before the year 1819 . It is stated on the table of P . M . 's that this lotlge was founded in 1749 , under the sanction of Lord Byron , M . W . G . M . Tnat tabic was constructed by Bro . Turner in 1824 . I have no eloubt the names of ihe Masters were taken from books which were then in the possession of the lodge . I do not know whether there was in 1824 any

documentary evidence for the statement that the lodge was founded in 1749 , but if such was really thc case , this lodge must have been one of those lodges which seceded fiom the Grand Lodge of England , and joined the Grand Lodge of Ancie-nt Masons , for the reasons which 1 shall hereafter explain . The idea tnat 1749 was the date of our constitution was supportel—< f it had not , as 1