Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

PRINCE ALFRED OF SAXE COBURG-GOTHA , the only ' son of the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg-Gotha ( Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ) , attained his majority on Tuesday , and the event will shortly be celebrated with all possible eclat . BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OP DEVONSHIRE arrived at Devonshire House , Piccadilly , on Saturday last from Newmarket , and left again for the North of England on Monday in order to attend Thirsk Races . THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve of the appointment of Bro . Lord Henniker as Governor of Ihe Isle of Man in succession to Sir Alex . Ridgeway , whose resignation of the office will take effect from the 24 th January next .

AN EXPERIMENT made at the beginning of the year having proved successful , it has been resolved to open the Wimbledon Free Library on Sunday evenings during the winter months .

MR . ROSE ' S challenge to sail a match next vear for the America Cup was acceDted at a meeting of the New York Yacht Club held on Monday . The present Cup Committee was re-appointed with full power to confer with Mr . Rose and arrange conditions THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT , who have been visiting Paris incognito , lunched with the Marquis and Marchioness of Dufferin at the British

Embassy . Subsequently their Royal Highnesses called on President Faure , who returned the visit later in the day at the Embassy . EARL CADOGAN attended the annual speech day proceedings at King Edward the VI . 's School , Bury St . Edmunds , on Tuesday and distributed the prizes to the successful pupils . His lordship , who has recently become a governor , expressed great pleasure at the improvement which had latterly taken place in the status of the school ..

THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR , who had been on a visit to the Marquis of Bath , has returned to the Embassy in London . His Excellency is engaged to deliver an address at the annual meeting of the Philosophical Society \ n Edinburgh on the 8 th November , after which he will take his accustomed autumn holiday . PRINCE AND PRINCESS HENRY OF PRUSSIA have concluded their visit to the Oueen at Balmoral , and travelling by the West Coast route from Ballater , reached Euston Station , and drove thence to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday . On Wednesday they left Victoria for the Continent , travelling by the way of Dover and Ostend . .

THE J UNIOR UNITED SERVICE CLUB , which is the second oldest military club in existence , will entertain the Duke of Cambridge , on the occasion of his vacating the command of the Army , at a banquet at the Club House on Saturday , the iGth prox . Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar has signified his intention of being present . THE FRENCH FORCFS , under General Duchesne , have captured Antananarivo , the capital of the Oueen of Madagascar , after some hard fighting but with slight loss .

Negotiations for a treaty of peace were opened almost immediately afterwards , and a treaty has been since signed and ratified by the Queen . I * " - MOST OF THE MEMBERS of the Cambridge University and London Athletic Club teams left New York for England on board the Cunard liner Lucania , deputations representing Yale University and the New York Athletic Club being present at the dock at the time of their departure and bidding them a hearty farewell . ;

THE 27 TH ANNUAL Exhibition of Cats was opened at the Crystal Palace on . Tuesday . The total number of entries was 630 , and had it not been for . the recent Windsor show , it is probable this number would have been greatly exceeded . The character of the exhibits left nothing to be desired .

A GHNERAL MEETING of the Association of Municipal Corporations will be held at the Westminster Palace Hotel to-day ( Friday ) , when resolutions will be considered , for extending membership of the Association to municipal corporations in Ireland , and holding an annual autumn meeting . A CORRESPONDENT of the Daily Telegraph has stated , in evidence of the unprecedented mildness ol . the present season , that ripe strawberries and raspberries are being

gathered in South Lincolnshire , other instances being mentioned in . which apple and pear trees are in blossom , while some plum trees are bearing a _ second crop of fruit . IT HAS BEEN announced tl at the National Bazaar in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children will be held in the Exhibition Buildings in the City of Vork on Tuesday next , the 22 nd instant , and four following days . The Duke of Cambridge will perform the opening ceremony on Tuesday , the Lord Mayor . of York on Wednesday , and the Marquis of Ripon on Thursday .

IT WAS RESOLVED at a special meeting of the Exhibitions' Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce , which was held on Tuesday , under the presidency of Sir A . Rollit , M . P ., to endeavour to secure exhibitors at the International Maritime and Fishery Exhibition , which will be held at Kiel next year . The Exhibition will comprise three sections—River Navigation , Ocean and Sea Navigation , and Fisheries .

THE BANQUET which is to be given by the civil and military staff at the War Office to the Duke of Cambridge , and at which the Marquis of Lansdowne , Secretary of State for War , will preside , has been fixed for Tuesday , the 5 th November , the 41 st anniversary of the battle of Inkerman , at which his Royal Highness was present and had his horse shot under him . ORDERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED at Sheerness that the new war cruiser , Pelorus , which was laid down as recently as the 21 st May last , to be completed and ready for commission by next June . She will he one of the fastest third-class cruisers in the Royal Navy , her engines being of 7000 horse power , and her designed rate of speed 20 Iknots

per hour . ON WEDNESDAY the half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge ot West Yorkshire took place at the Town Hall , Dewsbury , Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., P . G . M ., presiding . Bro . H . Smith , Deputy P . G . M ., and other Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , and brethren also attended the gathering , which was a very large one . After the business , which was of a format character , dinner was served in the Mayor ' s Reception Rooms .

AT THE CATFORD TRACK on Monday , J . W . Sticks , the amateur 25 mile champion of 1 S 93 , made an attempt to beat the 50 miles record of 1 hour 48 minutes 58 2-5 tb seconds , and accomplished a series of marvellous performances in the attempt , covering five miles in 9 minutes 51 1-5 seconds ; 10 miles in 20 minutes 10 1-5 th seconds ; 25 miles in 51 minutes 27 4-5 th seconds ; 29 miles 45 yards in the hour ; and 44 miles in 1 hour 34 minutes 11 4-5 th seconds .

BRO . LORD MAYOR Sir Joseph Renals received a letter on Monday from Bro . D . P . Cama , Past G . Treas ., of 3 and 4 , Great Winchester-street , stating— " To-day being the anniversary of my late wife's death , to mark that solemn occasion , I am desirous to do some charitable act , as taught me by my religion . I feel I cannot do better than place in your lordship ' s hands a cheque for one hundred and five pounds for the Poorbox at the Mansion House , "

His ROYAL H IGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES concluded his visit to Bro . the Earl and Countess of Warwick at Easton Lodge , Dunnow , on Monday , and returned lo Marlborough House by 11 . 30 a . m . Two hours later his Royal Highness left Town by the Great Northern line for Newby Hajl , near Ripon , on a visit to Mr . and Mrs . Newby , being received at the Ripon Station by his host and the railway officials , and being heartily cheered on his way to the Hall .

BRO . F . P . A LLISTON , whom we heartil y congratulate on his recent election as Alderman of the Bread-street Ward , is a prominent citizen of London , having for many years past taken a leading and active part in its affairs . He is , among other things , a Lieutenant of the City , a liveryman of the Cordwainers' Company , the founder and a Past Master cf the Beckenham Lodge , No . 2047 , a member of the Beckenham School Board , a churchwarden of St . Margaret Moses , Bread-street , a member of the

Committee of the Royal Hospital for Incurables , and the chairman of the City Dispensary . Among his philanthropic efforts may be mentioned the erection by him of some model dwellings in Hoxton , which have proved a complete success . Bro . Alliston , who has been twice married and has a family of seven sons , lives at Beckenham , where , it is needless perhaps to say , his elevation to the Court of Alderman is regarded with feelings Of the liveliest satisfaction . We trust our respected brother may live to attain to still higher distinction in the Corporation he has faithfully served for so many years .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE NAVY LEAGUE has arranged to hand over to the First Commissioner of Worlt s a large wreath , to be placed at the base of the Nelson Column , on Monday next , the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar . TO-DAY ( FRIDAY ) being St . Luke's Day , the 31 st anniversary Festival of the Guild of St . Luke will beheld in St . Paul ' s Cathedral at 7 . 30 p . m ., when the sermon will preached by the Lord Bishop of SL . Andrew ' s .

THE BIGGEST SALMON caught with rod and line on the Tay this season was exhi . bited in the Piscatorial Society ' s Holborn Restaurant Salon this week . By the desire of its captor , Mr . E . Foreman , it was cut up into steaks , which were balloted for by the

members-THE EMPRESS FREDERICK OF GERMANY left Cronberg on Wednesday afternoon on a visit to the Grand Duke of Baden , and to-day ( Friday ) will be present at the un . veiling of the monument of the late Emperor Frederick at Woerth . Subsequently she will leave for Trieste where she intends making a few days' stay . THE PRIVILEGE of visiting the Royal Society ' s Gardens in Regent ' s Park , which was limited in the first instance to Bank Holidays and then to Mondays throughout the year on the payment of a small fee , has now been extended to Saturdays as well .

A MARRIAGE has been arranged between the Lady Evelyn Gordon-Lennox , eldest daughter of Bro . the Earl of March , and Captain Cotterell , ist Life Guards , only son of Sir Henry Cotterell , Bart . BRO . W . KUHE will give a concert , conducted by D . Hans Richter , at the Dome , Brighton , to-morrow ( Saturday ) afternoon . Herr Richter will bring his celebrated orchestra of 90 performers , and Mr . Edward Lloyd will be the chief vocalist . IN THE UNAVOIDABLE ABSENCE of the Earl of Stratford , the Lord Lieutenant of

the County , Mr . Hi R . Williams laid the foundation-stone of the new annexe to the Middlesex County Asylum on Wandsworth Common . When the new premises are complete , the asylum will be able to accommodate 1424 inmates instead of the usual 1080 . THE SUSSEX KENNEL ASSOCIATION opened its first show at the Dome and Corn Exchange , Brighton , on Tuesday . All classes of dogs were represented , the number of entries being 1100 . The quality of the exhibits compared favourably with those of the best provincial shows .

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER ( Bro . Sir M . E . Hxks-Seach , Bart ., M . P . ) , was present at a church bazaar , which was opened by the Duchess of Beaufort , at Bristol , on Tuesday . yThe object in holding the bazaar is to raise the sum of £ 1800 to pay off the debt on Bishopston Church . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF TECK arrived in London on Saturday morning , and , after paying a visit to Grosvenor House , drove to the White Lodge , Richmond Park . The Princess Adolphus of Teck , who has recently given birth to a son , is , with her infant , doing well .

VISCQUNT PEEL , ex-Speaker of the House of Commons , was entertained at an official banquet given by the Mayor and Corporation of Leamington in the Council Chamber on Tuesday , and expressed the pleasure it gave him to be once again visiting the borough he had so long represented in Parliament . THE QUEEN has been pleased to signify her intention of conferring peerages upon Bros . Sir Algernon Borthiwck , the Right Hon . D . PJunker , and Baron Henry de Worms . In consequence there will be vacant seats in the House of Commons for South Kensington , Dublin University , and East Toxteth Division of Liverpool .

THE 4 TH ( Queen's Own ) Hussars have been directed to supply the military escort for the new Lord Mayor on the 9 th of November , ihe band of the regiment and that of the Royal Horse Guards joining the procession . BRO . SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN conducted a concert of the Bradford Permanent Orchestra on Saturday last , the programme being composed entirely of selections from his own vocal and instrumental compositions . At the close of the performance a service of plate was presented to Sir Arthur , who expressed his thanks for the gift , and congratulated the orchestra on their success in establishing a purely local orchestra .

THE REMAINS of Bro . William Cochrane , Depute Master of Operative Lodge , No . 47 , who died suddenly in his house in Peddie-street , Dundee , was interred in the Western Necropolis , on the 13 th inst . A large numberof brethren in the city , principally of Operative Lodge , attended the obsequies as a mark of their respect for one who had taken such an active interest in the Craft in general , and the working of Operative Lodge in particular . Bro . the Rev . Stewart Galloway , Chaplain of the lodge , conducted a short service in deceased ' s house and the Masonic service at the grave .

Archdeacon Palmer died on Thursday at Oxford in his 7 6 th year . The deceased , who was a brother of Lord Selbourne , had a distinguished career at college , and was chosen a Fellow of Balliol in 1845 . In 1854 he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Oxford ( Dr . Wilberforce ) , but did not take priest ' s orders till 14 years later . He was Corpus Piofessor of Latin , and was one of the best Latin scholars of the day . In 1 S 7 S he wis appointed a canon of Christ Church , and succeeded shortly afterwards Dr . Gierke as Archdeacon of Oxford .

THE LADIES OF THE ISLE OF MAN , headed by Mrs . Goldie-Taubman , wife of Bro . Goldie-Taubman , Prov . Grand Master of the Isle of Man , who is Speaker of the House of Keys , intend presenting Lady Ridgeway , wife of Sir Alex . Ridgeway , who is about to retire from the Governorship of the Island , with a testimonial in token of their appreciation of her ladyship ' s kindness and the manner in which she has identified herself with every public movement . Addresses will also be presented to Sir A .

Kidgeway by the Legislature and other public bodies . DR . RANDALL DAVIDSON was enthroned as 86 th Bishop of Winchester in the Cathedral of that city on Tuesday in the presence of a congregation numbering some thousands , his lordship being received at the west door by some 500 robed clergy . At the conclusion of the ceremony which was performed chiefly by the Archdeacon of Canterbury , the Bishop was entertained at luncheon by the Mayor of Winchester at the Guildhall , about 250 guests being present .

MASONIC SMOKING CONCERT AT BOSTON . —The W . M . and brethren of the Franklin Lodge , No . 838 , gave a smoking concert in Shodtriars' Hall , at Boston , or . the 15 th inst . Bro . R . Newcomb , W . M ., presided , and there was a large attendance of brethren and friends . Bros . G . H . Gregory , W . H . Gane , R . Hayes , E . H . Shepherd , VV . Kitwood , and R . Newcomb , and Messrs . R . B . Appleby , J . E . Hilton , and 1 ' . Parker took part in the programme . During the evening an appeal was made on behalf of the Masonic Charities , and was liberally responded to .

THE CEREMONY of laying the foundation-stone of the new mansion about to be erected in Deeside as a summer residence for Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Fife , to take the place of the lodge which was destroyed by fire in June last , was performed by the Queen on Tuesday . Her Majesty drove over from Balmoral , accompanied by the Princess Beatrice and Lady Lytton , Prince Henry of Battenberg and the Hon . Alex . Yotke following shortly afterwards . At the conclusion of the function , the Royal party returned to Balmoral .

GIFT OF A CHURCH BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES . —The restoration of the parish churches of Sandringham , Wolferton , and West Newton , at the cost of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , is just being followed by the g" of a church to the Parish of babingley , which forms the extreme portion of tne Royal estate , and abuts upon Castle Rising , Babingley is reputed to be the parish where the first Christian Church was erected in East Angha by St . Felix the Burgundian , about the vear 600 A . D . A portion of the ruins of the ancient church was reoaired in 1849 , and

has been used lor Divine Service , but the chancel , containing remains of the sedilia ana piscine , has long been an interesting archaeological study , overgrown as it has been with ivy . ' I he small village oi Babingley has grown some distance from the site of the old church , which at the time when Castle Rising was a borougn was probably a place «' greater importance than of recent years . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has

now presented to Babingley a new church , not built of stone and brick , but of iron , «"'" a picturesque thatched roo t , and situated in a position more convenient to the inhabitant than the old church , the ruins of which , situated not far from the famed Wolferton Woods , it is hoped and believed will be permitted to remain for their archrc jlogical valwS ' Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will probably attend a " opening service at the new church , which is included in the living of Sand ^ ing ham-WI , ; Appleton and Babingley , held by the Rev . Canon Hervey , Chaplain to the Queen , anu Domestic Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ,