Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH , Bart ., M . P . ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ) , and Lady Lucy and Miss Hicks-Beach are on a visit to Lord and Lady Penryhn , at Penrhyn Castle , Bangor . THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve of the appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Star of India , of Mr . Joseph Parker , who has retired from the post of Director-General of Stores at the India Office .

A FIRE BROKE OUT at Althorpe House , Northamptonshire , the seat of Earl Spencer , on Sunday afternoon , but the fire brigade connected with the estate , which was immediately summoned , quickly succeeded in extinguishing it . IT HAS been definitively arranged that the visit of the Italian Fleet to British waters in acknowledgment of the visit paid by our Mediterranean Squadron to Italian ports shall take place next spring . The Duke of Genoa will be in command .

THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND and Countess Cadogan visited Birkenhead on Saturday for the purpose of presiding at the launch of the Leinster ( City of Dublin Steamship Company ) for service between Dublin and Holyhead . WE REGRET TO HEAR that Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., during his soiourn at Baron's Couit , County Tyrone , met with an accident while riding a bicycle , and sprained one of the tendons of his leg , necessitating a rest for a day or two .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT , in his report on the work done by the 5300 Volunteers who spent Ihe first week in August at Aldershot , is in the main complimentary . His Royal Highness is careful to point out the weak points in the work that was done , but on the whole his remarks will be gratifying to those who were present on duty in the

camp . THE PRINCE GEORGE , sister ship to the Victorious , having completed her trials at Chatham , carried out her forced-draught trials at Portsmouth on Monday , when , though the weather was stormy , she proved a capital sea-boat , while at the same time she exceeded her contract horse-power by 250 , and accomplished an average speed of over iS knots per hour .

SPIERS AND POND , LIMITED , notify that the share transfer books will be closed from the 21 st to the 30 th instant , both inclusive , for the purpose of preparing dividend warrants for the first instalment of 4 s . per share ( less income tax ) on account of the dividend for the year ending 31 st March , 1897 , which will be posted to the shareholders on the 1 st of October next .

AMONG THE PICTURES presented by Mr . G . F . Watts , R . A ., to the National Portrait Gallery , the Director has selected 17 to be handed over at once , including portraits of Matthew Arnold , Robert Browning , Sir Andrew Clarke , President of the Royal College of Physicians , the Earl of Lytton , Rossetli , Bro . the Earl of Shaftesbury surnamed the Good , and Bro . Viscount Sherbrooke .

A SAD STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT occurred at Beresing en , a small village in Baden , on Ihe left bank of the Rhine , between Schaffhausen and Constance , on Monday morning . The steamer had called there , and was landing passengers , when the gangway , from some unexplained cause , collapsed , and 45 people were precipitated into the water . Of these three were drowned and five rescued in an unconscious condition .

THE COURTS of Alderman and Common Council of the City of London will meet on Tuesday the 22 nd and Thursday the 24 th instant respectively , while on the 2 Sth instant a further Court of Aldermen " of the outer chamber" will be held for the 1 urpese of swearing in the new Sheriffs . On Michaelmas Day there will be a Comrcnn Hall held in the Guildhall for the election of Lord Mayor for the ensuing year .

ARRANGEMENTS HAVE DEEN MADE for the presence of the Channel Squadron at Leith during the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Russia to the Queen at Balmoral . Rear-Admiral Powlett re-hoisted his flag on the battleship Magnificent on Monday at Devonport , and his ( the Western ) division of the Squadron proceeded into the Sound , preparatory to joining the Eastern Division under Vice-Admiral Lord Walter Kerr in the Downs . On Wednesday the fleet sailed for Leith .

AN ADDITION was made to the P . and O . Company's fleet on the Firth of Clyde on Saturday , when a new vessel tried her speed at the measured mile and madt ne irly 20 knots per hour . Her horse-power is 10 , 000 , her registered tonnage Sooo , and her length 500 feet . She will be able to carry 317 first class and 150 second class passengers . The company now owns 57 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 300 , 000 , and there are five ships building , three at Greenock , one at Belfast , and one at | arrow .

THE EXPEDITION under Sir E . Kitchener has made a further step in advance on its march on Dongola , having left Kedermaat daybreak on Monday morning , and reaching Fereig about 10 a . m ., while the Dervishes have retired to Kerma . where it was expect * d that they would be attacked in the course of the next few days . The Egypiian arniv is well furnished with stores and transport , while sailing craft and the steamers on the Nile keep pace w ' . th the force . The troops are in excellent condition and the best of spirits .

VICE-ADMIRALSIR J . O . HOPKINS , K . C . B ., has been selected for the appoinment of Commander-in-Chief of the British fleet in the Mediterranean , in succession to Admiral Sir M . Culme Seymour , Bart ., K . C . B ., whose period of service will soon expire . Admiral Hopkins entered the navy in 1 S 4 S , and saw a good deal of service during the Crimean war . He has also served as Captain Superintendent of Shcerness Dockyard , as Admiral Superintendent at Portsmouth , as a Lord of the Admiralty , and as Commander-in-Chief on the North America and West Indies Station .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES concluded his visit to the Earl of Crewe , at Fryston Hall , on Sunday , and arrived in York by fpecial train from Ferrybridge , accompanied by Major-General Clarke ( Equerry-in-Waiting ) , Bro . Sir Henry Keppel , Bro . Chrittcpher Sykes , and the Hon . H . Stonor , His Royal Highness and the Duke of Cambridge , who had been staying in the city for some days , attended Divine Service in the Cathedral , afterwards repairing to Government House . The Prince subsequently left lor Tulchan in Elginshire . ,

CRYSTAL PALACE . —It has been decided to give , during the ensuing autumn and winter months on Wednesday evenings , in the theatre of the Crystal Palace , a seties of entertainments and lectures . The main object cf these lectures , which will be delivered by eminent scientists , will be to exemplify the various great discoveries and inventions of the Victorian era . In this manner they will form an introduction to and tend to a more intelligent appreciation of the grand exhibition and fetes to be held at the Crystal Palace next year in commemoration of the Coth year of her Majesty's reign .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has fixed Wednesday , the 7 th prox ., for his visit lo the Norwich Musical Festival , when Sir A . C . Mackenzie ' s " Rose of Sharon , " with Madame Albaniand Mr . Lloyd , will be peiformed in the morning ; and Mr . Cliffe ' s new violin concerto and Signor Randegger ' s " Ftidolin " in the evening . On ihe same day , at the Agricultural Hall , Norwich , his Royal Highness will present the bustjof Bro . Lord Suffield to the Provincial Grand Lodge . The Prince , who this year is President of the Festival , will probably attend the Wednesday morning conceit , thus renewing h s acquaintance with Sir Alexander Mackenzie ' s popular cantata , which he heard at its first peifoimar . ee at Norwich 12 years ago .

THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Russ ' a to the Queen 2 re in a fair way of being completed . Ihe Duke and Duchess of Connaught left Bagshot on Tuesday for London and proceeded Ihence by the evening mail to Scotland . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the Duke will go to Leith to receive tkeir Imperial Majesties and will accompany them to Balmoral . The procession from Balla ' . er to the Rojal residence will comprise a landau and fiur gicys for the Empercr and Empre-s and T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales , a landau and four bays fcr the Duke and

Duchess of Vcrk and Ladies-in-Waiting , a landau and pair for the Grand Duchess Olga and nurses , and other carnages for the Officers of State , the Russian Ambassador , & c . The escort will be furnished by the Scots Greys , of which the Emperor is Colonel-in-Chief , while the Emperor ' s carriage will be accompanied by outriders and other attendants in scailet . From the gates of the Royal demesne up to the PaLce the roadway will be lired by attendants bearing blazing torches , and in order to insure that the horses are not disturbed by the glare of the toiches , her Majesty has directed that sundry rehearsals shall be held .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE EARL OF DUNRAVEN , who has been laid up with a sharp attack of gout , j ,. left town to join his yacht at Southampton . DURING THE ABSENCE of the Duke of Connaught , who has gone on leave for several weeks , the troops at Aldershot are to be under the command of Major-General Bengough . THE MARRIAGE arranged between Miss Gwendoline Peel , daughter of Lad y Emily Peel and the late Sir Robert Peel , with Herr Victor von Midler will take place on the Sth prox . at Geneva .

VISCOUNT FALMOUTH , Colonel of the Coldstream Guards , took over the command of the troops in the Home District on Wednesday , during the absence on leave of Major . General Bro . Lord Methurn .

THERE HAS been further lighting in Matabeleland , resulting in the capture of several more of the rebel chiefs , while operations are being conducted against others which promise to be equally successful . THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY is to pay a brief visit to Belfast . He win arrive in that city on October Sth , where he will be the guest of the Countess of Shaftesbury , at Belfast Castle . The visit will be private .

PRINCES PIERRE AND LOUIS OF ORLEANS , grandsons of Dom Pedro , ex . Emperor of Brazil , accompanied by two friends and eight guides , returned on Wednesday to Chamounix from a successful ascent of Mont Blanc . THE IMPORTS of Australian wine into this country during the eight months ending the 31 st ult . were 442 , 979 gallons , as compared with 399 , 11 s gallons during the corresponding period of 1 S 95 , the increase being 43 . S 61 gallons .

THE SOCIETY OF MINIATURE PAINTERS . —The private view of the inaugural exhibition will be'held at the gallery , 175 , New Bond-street , on Tuesday next , the 22 nd instant , and the exhibition will be open to the public daily , from the 23 rd instant to the 17 th of October . ON MONDAY afternoon next and 12 following nights the new Brixton Theatre will be occupied by Mr . Greet's Company in " The Sign of the Cross . " At the opening performance Bro . Wilson Barrett will play his original character of Marcus Superbus , and Miss Maud Jefferies her original character of Mercia .

Li HUNG CHANG sailed from Vancouver for China on Monday . Before leaving , he expressed himself delighted with his trip over the Canadian Pacific Railway , the immense forests , the thousands of miles of fertile prairie , the broad level wheat fields , and the lofty mountain ranges being all new to him , unlike anything he had previously seen . THERE WERE a large number of visitors invited for the journey on the new Castle liner Dunvegan Castle , from Blackwall to Southampton . The magnificent vessel is 595 S tons burthen , and is fitted up as a palace . Bro . Willie Wright , P . M ., Organist , of the Sir Hugh Myddelton and Citadel Lodges , had charge of the musical arrangements .

THE LORD MAYOR has received the following letter from a correspondent abroad : " Master the Mayer to London , England . —1 you schall grateful and your me to give one great ser-viss of me to send dexterity one either several newspaper acclimatisation either of chase ( Englisch ) . Thanks forestal . Accept , Master , my single-heartest salute . " —Daily Telegraph .

THE POPE , says our Rome Correspondent , attaches great importance to the approaching International Anti-Masonic Congress which opens on the 26 th instant at Trente , and continues till the 4 th of October . This Congress is the first of the kind , and its organisers anticipate great success for it . Adherents are expected from all the countries in Europe and from America . —Standard .

THE DOWAGER LADY AMPTHILL ' S residence , Ampthill Park , Beds , has been entered by burglars . Valuables have been stolen amounting to several hundred pounds , including a number cf gold watches , jewelry , and other articles belonging to a lady guest . 1 he robbery was committed during the dinner hour , and the thieves appear to have been disturbed when about to enter a second bed-room .

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK , in his official capacity as the Postmaster-General , visited East Grinstead on Wednesday and opened a new post office . The principal streets were gaily decorated in honour of the occasion , which was celebrated by a general holiday . His Grace received a hearty welcome , and was entertained at a banquet at the Public Hall . Lady Phiiippa Stewart , the Duke ' s sister , Dr . Stewart , and Sir Edward Blount were among those present .

AMONG THOSE PRESENT at the wedding of Lord John Parkenham Cecil ( Grenadier Guards ) , youngest son of the late Marquis of Exeter , with Miss Maud Joicey , eldest daughter of the late Col . John Joicey , M . P ., in St . Michael ' s Church , Chester-square , on Tuesday , were the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter Bro . Lord and Lady Barnard , and Bro . Lord Amherst of Hackney and the Hon . Miss Amherst . In the course of the afternoon Lord and Lady John Cecil left for Burghley House , Stamford , for the honeymoon .

MADAME PATTI recently gave her annual concert in aid of the Charities of South Wales . Hitherto the entertainment has taken place in turn at Swansea , Neath , and Brecon , but this year for the first time Cardiff was chosen , the proceeds being chiefly devoted to the Infirmary of that town . Travelling by special train from Craig-y-N ' os Castle , accompanied by Signor Nicolini and the artists whom she had invited to take part with her in the concert , the diva was met at the station by various officials representing the corporation and the infirmary , and amidst the cheers of the large crowd that

had assembled outside was driven under an escort of mounted constabulary to the Park Hall . The concert-room was filled to overflowing by an appreciative audience , who a . corded Madame Patti an enthusiastic welcome . She was in excellent voice . Her selections were : " Bel raggio , " * ' III Bacio , " and " Kathleen Mavourneen . " The Misses Marianne and Clara Eissler , Mr . Hirwen Jones , Mr . Ffrangcon-Davies , Signor Bonetti , Bro . Franklin Clive , and Signor Tito Mattel also supported the programme , the duties of accompanist being performed by Bro . Wilhelm Ganz .

CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY s SCHOOL OF ART , SCIENCE AND LITERATURE .-The following is a list of the inaugural lectures of the 37 th session , 1 S 9 G-97 , opening on the 28 th September , 1896 , and closing on the 31 st July , 1 S 97 . Monday 21 st instant , at 3 p . m ., H . Windsor try , R . B . A ., ' Greek Sculptor : The Parthenon " ( with Iantcrm illustrations . ) Tuesday , 22 nd instant , at 3 p . m ., Edwd . C Musson , M . A ., "The Sei and its wonders" ( with lantern illustrations . ) Wednesday , 23 rd instant , at 3 pm ., Miss Elsie Kogerty , " The Comrades of Moliere and their Successors . " Thursday ,

24 th instant , at 3 p . m ., Ernest de Selincourt , B . A ., * ' Engluh Letter-writers . " Friday , 25 th instant , at 3 p . m ., Miss Elsbeth Philipps , Somerville College , Oxford , " Oliver Cromwell—an appreciation . " Saturday , 26 th instant , at 3 p . m ., Gustav Ernest , '' Art and Morals . " The lectures will be delivered in No . 9 Lecture Room of the school . entrance near the Byzantine Court , at the north end of the PaUce . Admission without charge by special ticket , which will be issued only to the capacity of the rojm . Early application should be made to the Superintendent Edacational Department in the Library . Gentlemen as well as ladies are admitted .

THE REPORT that an English syndicate had secured avast tract of Balata forest , in French Guiana , has been confirmed , and a company , to be called The Rubber Exploration Company , will shortly be before the public with the view of making I" * best possible use of this remarkable and valuable concession . Balata is a descrip tion 01 India rubber which is peculiarly adapted to the construction of cycle and other tyres . It is stated that the company is backed by one of the strongest cycle manufacturing

combinations known , but , at any rate , there should be a large demand for the product , seeing that Balata carries no import duty from Guiana , while Para rubber , the best hitherto obtainable from Brazil , has an impott of 21 per cent , ad valorem duty . ln , advent of The Rubber Exploration Company , whose basis of operations is a secured an " absolute fact , is anxiously looked forward to in many quarters , and there will , doubtles » be a big rush for the shares .

V . BENOIST , 3 ( 1 , Piccadilly , W . —Banquets , Dinners , Suppers , and Receptions served in the most unique style . Menus and estimates on application . Also I'rene Comestibles of every description . Sole Caterer to the celebrated Grafton Gallery-The best locale in the West End for holding Private Parties , Balls , & c . Telep hone . No . 3 , 919 . Telegrams , Gourmet , London . — [ ADVT . ]