Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY FESTIVAL . —We are asked to state in reply to numerous enquiries , as to when the usual illuminated presentation to the Stewards will be ready for delivery , that the elaborate nature of the design has somewhat delayed its completion , but it is hoped that in another week or two they will be in the hands of the brethren ent ' t ed to receive them .

At the last meeting of the Starkie Installed Masters Lodge of Instruction , held under the Warrant cf St . George ' s Lodge , No . 1170 , at Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester , it was resolved " That the best thanks of the lodge be tendered to the W . Bro . Henry

Sadler , G . Tyler and Sub-Librarian , for his kind and valuable assistance to the W . Bro . J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Br ., and for the articles recently published in the Freemason relating to the ceremony of installation of Master . "

Bro . Walter J . Gregory , VV . M . of Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 , installed Bro . George H . VV . Grace , S . W ., as bis successor , on Tuesday last , at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . A report will appear in our next .

A Ball vvas held in the new Town rial ! , Bournemouth , under the patronage of the Prov . Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . VV . B . Beach , and officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , and the three Bournemouth lodges , on Thursday , the ioth inst ., and proved a great success . The company numbered about 120 , and the Stewards consisted of the Masters and Wardens of

the Hengist , Boscombe , and Horsa Lodges , with the assistance of other Past Masters and brethren . The room vvas very tastefully decorated by Bro . doom , whilst Bro . Dacre provided the supper . The programme included special dances for the several degrees . A Masonic Ball in aid of the funds of the Hospital of S . Cross , Rugby , will be held at the Assembly

Rooms , Town Hall , in that town , on Wednesday next . It has been organised by the Lodge of Rectitude , No . 502 . Bro . Gabriel Lindo , CC , has been elected Master , and Bros . W . Hays , Alderman Evans , W . A . Higgs , and E . F . B . Fuller Wardens , of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Company for the ensuing year . At the last meeting of the St . Martin ' s Lodge

No . 262 , of Mark Master Masons , Bro . Edmund George Walthew , Solicitor , of Whitstable , was elected W . M . for the ensuing year . The installation will take place at the Masonic Temple , Canterbury , on Friday , the 25 th inst . Bro . J . Leach Barrett was installed VV . M . ol the Eclectic Lodge , No . 1201 , at Freemasons' ; HaIl , on Friday last . We hope to give a report in our next . Bro . Dr . Corrie Jackson , F . R . C . S ., who is a

Steward for the next Festival of tho Boys' Schcol , has organised a concert and entertainment in aid of the funds , to be given in the Craven Lecture Hall , Foubsrt ' s-place , 206 , Regent-street , on Friday , the 22 nd February . A goad programme is arranged , all the artistes kindly giving their services . VVe wish Bro . Jackson success in his praiseworthy efforts to bring a much needed addition to the funds .

The Duke of Cambridge , who had been on a visit to Bro . and Mrs . Tyssen-Amherst , M . P ., at Didlington Hall , Norfolk , returned to Gloucester House at the close of last week . Great preparations are being made for the reception of the Prince and Piincess of Wales on the occasion of their visit next week to Yorkshire . Their

Royal Highnesses will be received at the Richmond Station by Bro . the Earl and Countess of Zetland , and will receive an address from the Corporation at the Market Cross on their way to Aske Hall , when a series of entertainments will be given in their honour . Bro . the Earl and Countess Granville and Bro . Sir Frederick Abel arrived at Sandringham Hall on

Monday , on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales . Bro . Canon W . H . Cooper , P . M ., P . D . G . C , has been obliged to apply for six months' leave of absence from his parish in British Columbia , in consequence of the serious illness of his wife . On the arrival of Bro . and Mrs . Cooper at Montreal , enroute for England , they were unable to proceed any farther on their journey , and are now

waiting until Mrs . Cooper gels sufficient strength to undergo a severe operation , which must be performed before she attempts the voyage home . Much sympathy has been expressed for Bro . Cooper , in consequence of his great trouble , and it goes without saying that his Masonic brethren have been foremost in extending their sympathy . The dedication of the new Devon and Cornwall Freemasons' Hall at Plymouth , on the 2 nd inst ., by Bro .

Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., P . G . M . Devonshire , in the presence of about 600 brethren vvas a most impressive ceremony , and one well worthy of being remembered by all who took part in its proceedings . We regret that , owing to the demands upon our space we have been again called upon to hold over our report of the gathering ; but it vvas a most successful meeting , and its arrangements were admirably carried out . We hope we shall be able to find space in our issue of next week .

The plans for a new hall at Oban were submitted to a Dean of Guild Court recently . Thc building will be one of two storeys in height , the ground floor being made available for shops and the upper portions for hall and side-rooms . The building is estimated to cost about £ 1100 .

The Electric Li ght in its vast superiority to gas and all other forms of artificial li ght , is an apt illustration of the position which " Grant ' s Morella Cherry Brandy " maintains in comparison vvith all other Liqueurs , in its perfection of rich fruity flavour . Comforting in cold weather . Sold everywhere . Be sure and ask for Grant ' s . T . Grant and Sons , Maidstone . Makers also of the nonalcoholic wine "Morella , " and nf the delicious "Morella Marmalade . " Sold by Grocers .

Masonic And General Tidings

Bro . CF . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br ., will be installed VV . M . of the Israel Lodge , No . 205 , for tho second time , at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Tuesday , the 22 nd inst . A very successful Masonic ball was held on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., at Castle Mona , Isle of Man , His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor and Mr . Walpole were present , as well as the Prov . Grand Master , Major Goldie Taubman , and a large number of Prov . Grand officers .

Thc ball was primarily in aid of the Insular Benevolent Fund , which , we believe , has been considerably benefited . At the Albion on Thursday , the ioth inst ., Bro . Carter vvas installed in office as the W . M . of the Bank of England Lodge , No . 263 . The festival dinner of the Newsvendors' Benevolent and Provident Institution will be held at the H 6 tel Metropole on Tuesday , the 26 th February , when Bro . Edward L . Lawson [ Daily Telegraph ) will preside .

Bro . Lord Randolp h Churchill , M . P ., left town on Monday on a week ' s visit to Newmarket , and will leave England next week for a tour on the Continent . Collingwood Hall and estate at Tabenhill , near Burton-on-Trent , have been purchased by Bro . Lord Burton , who is owner of ths adjoining company at Rangemoor .

At the annual dinner of the Bristol and West of England Press Fund , at the Roy-ii Hotel , Bristol , on Saturday last , Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., proposed the toast of "The Press" in very eulogistic terms , and was loudly applauded by the guests present .

The Empress Frederick of Germany and her three daughters , who have been during- the present week on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham , it is expected will return to town on Monday next , accompanied by their present host and hostess , and , after a stay of a few clays at Buckingham Palace , will return to the Oueen at Osborne .

The Prince of VVales , on the occasion of his visit to Middlesborough on VVednesday , the 23 rd inst ., will be presented with an address by a deputation from the brethren of North and East Yorkshire , headed by Bro . the Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of the province .

Bro . Akers-Douglas , M . P ., arrived in town from his seat in Kent , on Tuesday , and , after transacting business in Downing-street , paid a visit to the Chancellor of the Exchequer . The Friendship Lodge , No . 206 , at their meeting on the ioth inst ., elected Bro . Sindall as their W . M . for the ensuing year .

VVe regret to hear of the death of Bro . Sir Henry A . Hunt , K . C . B ., Consulting Surveyor to Her Majesty ' s Office of Works from 1 S 5 6 to 1 S 86 . The deceased , who was made a C . B . in 1 S 71 and a K . C . B . in 1876 , was 7 6 years of age . The first of a series of four conferences on the

Food Supply of the People was held at the Cannon-street Hotel on Tuesday evening , when a paper was read by Bro . D . Tallerman on the importance of combination on the part of Co-operative Societies' and School Managers , with a view to bringing producers and consumers into closer contact .

There are four candidates for the Aldermanic gown of Bishopsgate Ward , rendered vacant by the death of Alderman sir Thomas S , Owden , Bros . Ex-Sheriff Davies and Sheriff Newton being two of them . The nomination is fixed for Monday next , and the polling for the day following . It is understood that , so far as the arrangements have been made , this year ' s session of Parliament will be opened on Thursday , the 21 st February .

Bro . Sir John E . Gorst , M . P ., left England on Saturday last for New Zealand , on board the Royal Mail Steamer Toiigariro . A meeting of the Actors' Benevolent Fund was held at the Lyceum Theatre , on Tuesday afternoon , Bro . Henry Irving , who is President of the Fund , occupied the chair , and among those present were Bros . J . L . Toole ,

Bancroft , E . Terry , and others . Bro . the Lord Mayor has addressed a letter to the press generally appealing to the public for aid in behalf of the funds of the Mansion House Council on the Dwellings of the Poor , which for four years past has been doing some excellent work in the interests of health and sanitation in various parts of the metropolis .

The drainage and other works which have been in progress during the last tivo months at the Mansion House being now completed , Bro . the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress have taken up their residence . A slight improvement in the condition of the Earl of Warwick , father of Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., is reported , and we trust will continue .

The brethren of the Harmony Lodge , No . 272 , which meets at Boston , in Lincolnshire , celebrated their Festival of St . John on the gth inst . Bro . Charles Lucas vvas installed W . M . for the ensuing year , the installation ceremony being performed by Bro . C . Pickering , P . M . I'he W . M . subsequently invested his officers as tollows : Bros . C . R . Morton , l . P . M . ; W . G . B . Dickinson .

S . W . ; D . Stephenson , J . W . ; the Rev . G . W . Lowe , P . M ., P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; J . Eley , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . ; C . Pocklington , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Sec ; j . Padley , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., D . C , H . S . Winn , S . D . ; H . Tyler , J . D . ; J . Atkin , I . G . ; F . Fountain and F . Blanshard , Stwds . ; and 1 " . Ward , Tyler . The usual banquet was provided at the Peacock and Royal Hotel in the evening .

HOLLOWAY ' S PILLS AND OINTMENT . — The attention of all sufferers is drawn to these well-known remedies , for they possess conspicuous advantages as a safe and reliable aid in all those emergencies to which travellers , emigrants , and sailors are so especially liable . They have been largely patronised by wayfarers by land and sea , and , in fact , by all classes of the community—to

their very great advantage . 'I he Pills are beyond all doubt one o £ the most eli ' ective remedies ever discovered for cases of obstinate constipation , conlirmed indigestion , and colic complaints , which are engendered by exposure and irregular feeding . The Ointment will be found of tne very greatest service in cases of piles , abscesses , erysipelas , and all kinds of local ulcerations .

Masonic And General Tidings

The usual monthly meeting of the Boscawen Lodge , No . 699 , Chacewater , vvas held on the gth inst ., when , after the initiation of a gentleman , the lollowing brethren were appointed officers for the ensuing year : Bros . Grose , W . M . ; Bennetts , Treas . ; and Lean , Tyler . A committee vvas also appointed to arrange the festival of St . John , which will be held on the fourth Monday in

January . Messrs . Dean and Son , I 6 OA , Fleet-street , are about to publish a new volume of humorous and other recitations , by Mr . Campbell Rae-Brown , author of "Kissing Cup ' s Race . " The book will be entitled

" Rhymes of the Times , " and will form one of " Dean ' s Books for Elocutionists . " Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., addressed a crowded and influential meeting of his constituents of West Bristol , at the Victoria Rooms , Clifton , on Monday , and was accorded a vote of confidence .

A correspondent of the Glasgow Evening News thus writes of the necessity of providing- a building for the exclusive use of Masons in the City . — " Being in the company of several Freemasons the other night it vvas again forced on my notice that in Glasg-ow the fraternity have no common meeting-place . It strikes me as singular indeed that the brotherhood , so numerous and influential ,

should be without a home in this great city , or , indeed , anywhere in Scotland . In Edinburgh , the head-quarters of the Craft , there is , I believe , no Masonic Hall belonging to them . All g-rand functions are generally held in the Music Hall . It is neither creditable to the East nor the West of Scotland that the brotherhood should be without a temple after the style to be seen in New York , Philadelphia , and other

American cities . Were the matter initiated in Glasgow , under the presidency of Sir Archibald Campbell , the popular Grand Master , I venture to say that it would quickly enlist the sympathy and support of the brethren generally . If a building worthy of the architecture of the city and of Freemasonry could not be erected by voluntary subscriptions , it might be done as a commercial speculation among the brotherhood themselves . See to it , Brother Menzies . "

Bro . the . Marquis of Hartington , M . P ., will visit Norwich on the 27 th February , and addiess a meeting , vvhich will be held in ; rt . Andrew ' s Hall , under the presidency of the Earl of Leicester , Lord Leiutenant of Norfolk . Bro . General Lord Wolseley will preside at the lecture which will be delivered at the Koyal United Service Institution to-day ( Friday ) , by Captain Francis R . Stone , R . A ., on "Quick-firing Guns for Fortress Defence . "

GALLERY LODGE BALL . — The ei ghth annual ball under the auspices of the above lodge vvas held on Friday , the 4 th inst ., at the Brixton Hall , Acre-lane . The hall was beautifully decorated , a very pleasing effect being produced by a large number of fairy lamps distributed among the palms and flowers arranged round the orchestra , in front of which was the banner of the lodge . In the

gallery several immense Japanese fans , kindly lent by Messrs . Smith , of the Bon Marche , formed a fitting setoff to the profuse decorations at the orchestra end and the sides of the hall . This lodge occupies the unique position of being wholly composed of members of the press , and , as its name suggests , many of them are engaged in the press "gallery" of the Housesof Parliament . Dancingcommenced

at 9 0 clock - , to the strains of a first class band , supplied by Mr . C . Hann , and was kept up until 4 o ' clock next morning . At midnight the company sat down to supper , and great praise is clue to Messrs . W . Hill and Sons , Bishopsgatestreet , for the way it vvas put upon the table and served . After supper—at vvhich the Master of the lodge , Bro . R . J . Griffiths , LL . D ., presided— " The

Queen and the Craft" and "The Gallery Lodge " were duly honoured , as vvas also the toast of "The Ladies , " proposed by Bro . Bevan , P . M ., and responded to by Bro . Richard Eve , Past G . Treas . of England . The arrangements were carried out by the following committee :

Bros . R . J . Griffiths , W . M . ; J . C . Duckworth , l . P . M , ; H . Wright , S . W . ; H . Massey , P . M ., C . Greenwood , Stwd . ; and R . Masson , with F . Sale , D . C , and Charles K . Moore , Stwd ., joint Secretaries , and VV . J . Innes , Treasurer . The joint M . C . 's were Bros . F . Gale , C . Greenwood , and Charles K . Moore .

A correspondent of the Bazaar asked the Editor for _ some information about Freemasonry , and the following judicious reply appears in our contemporary : — " Freemasonry is not a benefit society ; it offers no pecuniary advantages whatever ; its benefits are purely intellectual , social , and moral . This should be clearly understood by all who would be Masons . The objects of Freemasonry

are : To diffuse a knowledge of the secrets preserved amongst Freemasons , and to promote brotherly love , relief , and truth . The mode of admission is by initiation . Freemasonry is generally diffused over the earth , and it has no head-quarters ; but , as far as the United Grand Lodge of England is concerned , its head-quarters may be said to be Freemasons '

Hall , Great Queen street , London . Provincial Grand Lodges usually migrate from one to another , and are held under the banners of the respective lodge or lodges of trie town they vi ; it , and the town in which the provincial lodge meets is the head-quaiters for the time being . The fees vary in different lodges . By the Book of Constitutions , the lowest sum allowed to be charged is three guineasexcept

, in the case of a serving brother . As a rule , the initiation fee is about ten guineas ; this includes registration and Grand Lodge ) cestificate , but not Masonic clothing , vvhich costs two or thiee guineas more . ' The annual subscription to the lodge is two guineas or upwards , according to the

by-laws . No man should offer himself as a candidate unless he is well able to pay the fees and contribut . ons without injury to himself or his connections , and also to subscribe to the various Masonic charities , and , above all , has a desire for knowledge and a sincere wish to render himself more extensively useful to his fellow creatures . "

Mr . Kenning , of Great Queen-street , sends us the new edition of the " Freemasons' Pocket Book , " vvhich will be found useful by every member of the Craft . It contains the moot comprehensive records of Freemasonry at home and abroad that can possibly be brought within the compass of a single handbojk , while at the same time serving the purpose of a general diary . Daily Chronicle .