Masonic And General Tidings .

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE BLACKSMITHS' COMPANY have given a donation of £ 5 5 s . to the funds of the City of London General Pension Society . BRO . BURNE , TURNER , AND CO . ( LIMITED ) , of Leadenhall-street , have been appointed wine merchants to the King . THE BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY has voted the sum of 250 guineas as a Fpscial jubilee donation to the Newspaper Press Fund . THE CLOTHWORKERS' COMPANY have given a donation of £ 50 to the funds of the Grosvernor Hospital for Women and Children .

THE HOUSE in Lichfield in which Dr . Johnson was born , having been purchased by the city , was formally dedicated to the public as a museum and library . THE KING'S NEW GOLF LINKS . —The King's new golf links , on the Royal demesne , near Windsor Castle , which have occupied some time in preparation , have now been completed . CHRIST'S HOSPITAL . —A Select Committee of the House of Commons on Tuesday found proven the preamble of a Bill to ' authorise the Governors of Christ's Hospital to sell the site .

THE TERM "Royal Yacht , " hitherto applied to vessels appropriated to the personal use of the Sovereign , will be abandoned henceforth , and the appellation will be •* His Majesty's Yacht . " BRO . ALFRED J . THOMAS , who has just been appointed P . A . G . D . of C , was given a small congratulatory dinner by a few intimate friends on Friday last , at Oddenino ' s Imperial Restaurant , Regent-street .

PROPOSED CHINESE EXHIBITION . —It is announced that a syndicate is in course of formation for the purpose of holding an exhibition of the industries , arts , and sciences of the Chinese Empire in London in the summer of 1903 . Preliminary negotiations have been entered into for renting Olympia , Kensington , which , with its annexe , forms a most suitable place for such a purpose .

A DELIGHTFUL DAY was spent on Monday , the 15 th instant , by the members of the West Ham Park Committee , who journeyed to Hampton Court , and enjoyed a trip up the river as far as Chertsey . Bro . Deputy Walford ( the chairman ) was gracefully assisted by Mrs . Walford in dispensing hospitality , and superintending the arrangements for the comfort and pleasure of their guests .

TIME-HONOURED PRESENTS TO BRO . THE LORD MAYOR . —In accordance with a custom dating from the 12 th century at least , Bro . the Lord Mayor has received warrants from the First Commissioner of Works for four fat bucks from Bushey Park . The Sheriffs have received warrants for three bucks , and the Recorder , Chamberlain , Town Clerk , Common Serjeant , and Remembrancer warrants for one buck each . The warrants had their origin in the early charters by which their "huntings" were secured to the citizens of London .

MORE SALMON FOR THE THAMES . —It is stated that the Thames Salmon Association has now some Sooo salmon parr in Mr . Gilbey ' s hatchery on the Colne , near Uxbridge , and it is intended to place the fish in the Thames when they have assumed the smolt stage . It cannot definitely be ascertained that anything has since been seen of the first consignment of salmon turned into the river at Teddington by the Association last April , although it was rumoured that several of the fish had been discovered dead in Richmond Lock . Inquiries from the lock-keeper showed , however , that that official had seen nothing of the salmon , dead or alive .

THE MEMBERS OF THE LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCH / l-OLOGICAL SOCIETY made an excursion on Saturday last to Abingdon , Dorchesteron-Thames , and Wallingford . At Abingdon IWr . Alderman Harris met the party , and conducted them over the Town Hall , containing the corporation ' s treasures , insigriia , p late , & c . A visit was also paid to Christ ' s Hospital , which is a charming medieval building with a wocdtn colonnade in front , and contains an interesting sents of arms and poitraits . The Deputy Mayor conducted the company over the interesting parish church . Visits of equal interest were paid to Dorchester and Wallingford .

BRO . SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN MEMORIAL FUND . —The first list of subscriptions has now been issued , by which it appears that upwards of 50 firms and peisons , most of them well-known either in music or society , have contributed nearly / poo . The subscription is to provide a monument in St . Paul ' s , to endov a scholarship , and to erect a statue on the Embankment . A large general committee ha ; been formed , andjamong the members of the executive committee are Sir George Lewis , Sir A . L . Mackenzie , Sir G . Martin , Messrs . T . Chappell , Cowen , German , Hare , Hood , Charles W . Matthews , Walker , Wagg , A . Littleton , and Rupert Carte .

THE PASSMORE EDWARDS * SAILORS' PALACE . —The foundation stone of this building , which will be erected mainly through the munificence of Bro . Passmore Edwards , wis laid by Bro . the Duke of Fife on the nth instant . The building will cost £ 12 , 000 , and the site and endowment will require another £ 12 , 000 . It is situated in L ' ommercial-road at the junction of four main highways , and is surrounded by the Scandinavian , Asiatic , and German homes . The ceremony on the nth instant was attended by Bro . the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress , Bro . Alderman and Sheriff

Vaughan Morgan , Bro . Sheriff Lawrence , M . P ., Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Dimsdale , M . P ., and Lady Dimsdale , Mr . H . S . Samuel , M . P ., Mr . S . Buxton , M . P ., Bro . and Mrs . Passmore Edwards , Mr . Mason ( chairman of the British and Foreign Sailors ' Society ) , the local members of Parliament , and the Mayors of the adjacent boroughs . Replying to an address read by the Bishop of Hereford , Bro . his Grace the Duke of Fife expressed his pleasure at finding that the name of Bro . Passmore EJ . vards would always be associated with the work , as but for his generosity the directors would have hesitated about commencing such an undertaking . It would be a noble building ,

admirably equipped , and would thoroughly justify the name of " Jack's Palace . " His Grace then laid the foundation stone with a trowel ( presented by Lady Dimsdale on behalt of the Ladies' Guild ) made from the oak and copper of the Foudroyant . On the motion of Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , seconded by Mr . F . T . Bullen , votes of thanks were passed to the Duke of Fife , the Lord Mayor , and Bro . Passmore Edwards . Altcrwards the Duke presented Bro . Edwards with a signed address , la the afternoon the Duchess of Fife entertained about 300 sailors at a garden party in the rectory grounds .

ON THE steamer Zeeland , sailing July 10 th from New York for Antwerp , will be Col . M . Richards Muckle , accompanied by his grandson , M . R . M . Stamb ' ach , who visits Europe on business combined with recreation . He will remain abroad about two months , duiing which time he will sojourn in Paris a short while to visit old-time friends , and later on other localities on the Continent , among them Strasburg in Alsace , where he will inspect the newly-completed building erected by the German Government for the Imperial University and National Library , restored since the war between France and

Germany . The library at the period of its destruction in 1 S 70 numbered between three and four hundred thousand books , pamphlets , and valuable ancient manuscri pt * , which were all destroyed . General Bismarck Bohlen , who was appointed by Emperor Wilhelm I . the Governor-General of Alsace and Loraine , in making an appeal for contributions in books and money for the _ restoration of this famous historical and world renowned institution to friends of literature throughout the world , selected for the purpose in the United States and Canada , Col . M .

Richards Mucklc , _ who has been diligently engaged in this , to him , veiy agreeable mission for the past 30 years , and has but recently again forwarded another case of books , of which already between 4 c and 50 have been sent by h ' m , numbering in the neighbourhood of 13 , 000 volumes and pamphlets . The contributions have been forwarded to their destination from the United States free of all expen-e whatever , through the kindness and liberality of the Adams Express Company and the Noith German Lloyd Steamship Company . Colonel Mucklu ' s visit to the Imperial

Library will be a source of much pleasure and interest , enabling him to inspect his contributions resting upon the shelves of this great and noble Imperial organisation . He will later also visit Berlin and the Foreign Office , in which he will be able to meet some of his friends of past years , as well as some oi the members of the Reichstag . We bespeak for him a very hearty reception , particularly in Germany , where he is very popular , and has always been welcomed by many distinguished personages , among others the late Prince Bismarck , with whom he was an admired correspondent ,

Masonic And General Tidings .

BRO . T . HASTINGS MILLER ( the Chief Commoner ) attained his 60 th yaar or , the 13 th instant . AT the last examination for young women for positions in the Post Office , there were no fewer than 754 candidates for 132 vacancies . THE HOSPITAL SUNDAY RECEIPTS amounted on Tuesday to £ 51 , 000 , the highest sum that has been recorded for some years . THE EMPRESS EUGENIE , who is now in fairly good health , paid a visit incognita to the Glasgow Exhibition on the 12 th instant .

THE LORD PROVOST OF GLASGOW , as the result of his visit to London , announced last week , that the King will visit Glasgow Exhibition in the autumn . THE KING is taking deep interest in the Congress on Tuberculosis , which opens in London on the 22 nd instant . The proceedings will be opened by the Duke of Cambridge . THE BUTCHERS' COMPANY have sent an annual subscription of £ 2 2 s . to the Dental Hospital of London , and a donation of £ 1 is . to the St . Bartholomew-the-Great school excursion .

THE PROV . G . M ., Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., has summoned a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , to be held on Tuesday , the 6 th prox ., at Aldershot . BRO . THE LORD MAYOR and the Lady Mayoress were present on the 16 th Instant at the garden party given by Bro . Alderman Truscott and Mrs . Truscott at their residence , Greatwood , Chislehurst .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . —Comp . the Rev . J . Home Pilkington , rector of Framlingham , has been appointed to succeed the Comp . the Rev . C . J . Martyn as Grand Superintendent of Suffolk . THE CHIEF event in the Henley Regatta was a race between an English eight and a crew from Pennsylvania University . The English crew won , after a desperate struggle , by a boat's length .

WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED to draw attention to the fact that the Grand Festival of the Order of the Secret Monitor will take place on Tuesday , the 23 rd instant , and not on Wednesday , as was erroneously stated on the front page of circulars . THE SPANISH ART EXHIBITION . —The dailv attendance of visitors to the Guildhall Art Gallery is being well maintained . Since its opening ihe Spanish Art Loan Exhibition has been visited by no fewer than 223 , 000 persons .

A CELTIC CROSS , the order for which was given by the late Queen , has been erected within the grounds of Balmoral Castle in memory of the late Duke of Coburg . The cross is of granite , and was quarried itt the neighbourhood .

HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND . —The Rev . Dr . Adler , Chief Rabbi , has sent Bro . the Lord Mayor £ 846 7 s . Sd ., being the aggregate of the amounts collected in the Lcndon synagogues under his charge in aid of the Hospital Sunday Fund . IN OUR ISSUE of the 6 th instant we stated that a special grant of £ 10 had been placed by the Prov . G . Lodge of Surrey on the Prov . G . Master's list for the recent Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . This should have been £ 210 .

BRO . LORD EUSTON was entertained at dinner recently by the brethren of his lodge . It was a dinner primarily to congratulate Lord Euston uponjhis appointment as N . D . C . to the King , but we relieve it also possessed an antecedent significance . AN OFFICIAL REPORT states that mainly owing to tunnels and other excavations in the vicinity , the foundations of St . Paul ' s Cathedral are endangered . Cracks have appeared in the walls , and the vast structure " shows an inclination to slide down the hillside towards the Thames . "

WE HAVE received an illustrated leaflet entitled "Saturday to Monday at Dieppe , " issued by the Continental Traffic Manager of the L . B . and S . C . Railway . Particulars are therein given of the journey to Dieppe and back , of the town and its environs . The fint-class return fare for the week-end is now only 30 s . MESSRS . BRAND AND CO . ( Limited ) , of Mayfair—whose advertisement wil bi found in another column—have been honoured by the Royal Warrant of appointment as Putveyorsof Concentrated Beef Trato II . M . King Edward VII . The honour of being purveyors to his Majesty , when Prince of Wales , was held by this firm for many years .

REGENT'S PARIC LODGE OF INSTKUCTION .-Bro . Dr . Mordaunt will deliver a lecture on "Lights and Shadows of Masonry" before the Regent's Park Lodge of Instruction , No . 2202 , meeting at Frascati ' s Restaurant , on Monday evening next , at eight o ' clock . Members of the lodge are invited to bring as many visiting brethren as possible . The ordinary working of the lodge will be dispensed with on this occasion .

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH appeared in the Times , Standard , and all the morning papers of Wednesday , the 10 th instant : "Maseru , July S . A patrol of sharpshooters , under Captain Thoiras , moving northwards from Ladybrand , engaged a patty of Beets , lfillirg five , wounding seven , and capturing three . " The officer in command is the youngest son of the well-known Bro . James Lewis Thomas , F . S . A ., P . A . G . D . C , who has another son at the front , Bro . Major G . Harley Thomas , R . A . M . C .

IN THE OPINION OF MR . CHOATE , the American Ambassador , more successful attention has been given to the development of scientific methods of administering charity in London than in any other city . That which has struck him more than anything else in London , he adds , is the enormous and widespread devotion of its people of all classes , lrom the Royal Family downwards , to the cause of chaiity .

THE LATE LORD WANTAGE'S WILL . —The gross value has been entered at £ 21 , 671 is . 7 d . of the whole of the estate of Bro . Colonel Robert James , first Baron Wantage , of Lockinge House , Wantage , and of Oyerstone Park , Northampton , ind 2 , Carlton-gardens , V . C ., K . C . B ., Lord Lieutenant of Berks , M . P . for Berks 1865-85 , and Financial Secretary to the War Office 1 S 77-S 0 , who died on the 10 th ult ., aged 69 years , son of the late General James Lindsay , of Balcarres .

•THE MARQUIS OF ZETLAND , Prov . Grand Master of North and East Ridings of Yorkshire , will hold a Provincial Grand Lodge and General Communication of this province ( on the invitation of the Old i Globe Lodge , No . 200 , Denison Lodge , No . 124 S ' , Leopold Lodge , No . 17 ^ 0 , and St . Nicholas Lodge , NJ , 25 S 6 ) , in th : Grand Hall , the Spa , Scarborough , on Friday , the 26 th instant , at three o ' clock . Dinner will be provided at the Grand Hotel , at five o ' clock ; tickets for which ( 55 . each ) maybe had from Bro . Chas . Travess , Masonic Club , Scarborough ,

FREEMASONS' KETTLE .-On the 1 ith instant the annual Kettle of St . David ' s Lodge , No . 393 , took place at South Bells , Berwick . The day was delightfully opporiune for such a gathering , and the large company enjoyed the sunny outing to their very hearts' content . South Bells was reached in the usual way , and at 2 . 30 the company sat down to the favourite repast , purveyed in Councillor Greenwood ' s familiar able style . Bro . F . Edminson , W . M ., presided . A number of toasts were proposed and responded . The Sheriff proposed "The Visitors , " and ex-Provost Laidlaw , Jedburgh , and Rev . M . . Green , Notham , replied .

THE 20 TH ANNUAL OUTING of the emplojfces of the Freemason took place at Windsor on Saturday last , under the chairmanship of Mr . W . H . Sayer ( Father of the Chapel ) , Bro . C . Lambe , Vice-chairman , The Chairman , in proposing " The Health of the Proprietor , George Kenning , Esq . " ( which was enthusiastically received ) , remarked that he hoped the good feeling which had always existed between the

proprietor and the employees would continue . After dinner the party had an enjoyable drive by brake to , Virginia Water , and returned to London abcut nine p . m . Great credit is due to the stewards , Messrs . C . R . Bettison and A . French , for the able manner in which they arranged the outing . A very tasteful programme was provided .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-manufactured condiments , currie stuffs , chutnees , preserves , poppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C . Stembridge and Co ., iS , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta . Established 1 S 21 . Write for price list . ( Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .