Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M . Middx ., has now arrived at Ancaster House , Richmond Hill , Surrey , from his seat , Foremark Hall , Derbyshire . We are pleased to hear that Bro . Sir Jacob Wilson , Land Director to the Board of Agriculture , is progressing favourably towards recovery .

Bro . I ' . arl Cowper has returned to town from Spain , and will at once meet his colleagues on the Royal Commission on the proposed Gresham University . The Queen has granted the use of a suite of apartments at Hampton Court Palace to Lady Napier , widow of Field-Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala . It is stated that a schism is impending in the Grand Orient of France , one party being desirous of divesting Masonry of its political and anti-clerical aspects .

A concert in aid of the Gordon Boys' Home will be given at St . James ' s Hall on Monday next , the 23 rd inst ., when the Duke and Duchess of Connaught will be present . It is injurious to be in a hurry , and delay is often equally so ; he is wise who do s everything in proper time . Tardiness and precipitation are extremes equally to be avoided .

Bro . Alderman Sir James Whitehead presided on Tuesday at the annual dinner of the Gardeners' Orphan Fund , held at the Hotel Metiopole , the subscriptions announced exceeding £ 1000 . Her Majesty ' s Judges will attend Divine service at St . Paul's Cathedral on Hospital Sunday , the iqth June , and

will dine with Bro . Lord Mayor Evans and the Lady Mayoress at the Mansion House on the 22 nd June . The Queen , accompanied by the Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg , will leave Windsor Castle for her Highland residence this ( Friday ) evening , and is expected to return south after about a month ' s residence at Balmoral .

Mr . Charles Gibson Miller , of Melbourne , a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron , and owner of the steam-yacht Saide , has expressed a wish to present an annual prize of L 50 to be sailed for at this regatta , and the offer has been accepted .

Brethren possessing votes for the Royal Hospital for Incurables are reminded that the elertion takes place at the Cannon-street Hotel on Friday , the 27 th inst ., from 12 till two o'clock , and their attention is called to the case of Bro . J . TI . Gaball , particulars of which appear in our advertisement columns .

Bro . Walter Hancock , S . W ., was , on Tuesday last , unanimously elected W . M . of the Anglo-American Lodge , No . 2191 , and Bro . John B . Cumming , Treasurer . Bro . VV . Hancock is the much respected Preceptor of the Islington Lodge of Instruction . The installation meeting will take place at the Criterion , Piccadilly-circus , S . W ., on Tuesday , June 21 st .

The Princess Louise , Marchioness of Lime , accompanied by the Marquis of Lome , distributed certificates of the St . John ' s Ambulance Association to sundry skippers and mate * of vessels of the Medical Mission connected with that to the Deep Sea Fishermen at Exeter Hall on Monday . A telegram of sympathy with the Deep Sea Fishermen was received from her Majesty while the meeting was in progress .

The 41 st annual General Court of the Governors and Subscribers to the Royal Camb idge Asylum for Soldiers ' Widows , was held at the Royal United Service Institution , Whitehall , on Monday afternoon , under the presidency of the Duke of Cambridge . Among those present being Prince Edward of Saxe-Wcimar , Bro . General Sir H . C . B . Dauberry , General SirE . A . Holdech . Tiro . Major-General E . C . Sim , and General II . L . Gardner .

Bro . Sir Augustus Harris ' s operatic season at Covent Garden opened at the Theatre Royal , Covent Garden , on Monday , among those present being the Duchess of St . Albans , the Duke and Duchess of Westminster , Louise , Duchess of Manchester , Bro . the Earl of Lathom , Lord and Lady Alington , Lord and Lady Brougham , Sir Francis and Lady Grenfell , the Earl and Countess of Pembroke , Earl and Countess de Grey , Lord and Lady Ashburton , and others .

Princess Christian held tho secondjDrawing Room of the season on Wednesday , at Buckingham Pa'ace , when she was stipportedby the Duke of Edinburgh , the Dukeand Duchess of Connaught , Prince and Princess I lenry of Battenberg , and the Duke of Cambridge . 'The ceremony , although accompanied by the usual state magnificence , was not so well attended as the one on Monday , and there were not so many presentations .

The annual festival dinner of the Newsvendjrs' Benevolent and Provident Institution will take place at the Hotel Metropule , to-morrow ( Saturday ) . Sir Algernon Birth wick in the chair . All interested in the welfare of the Press would assist a good cause by sending subscriptions to the Chairman on the day of the dinner , even it they cannot be present to support him in person . All such contributions

would be gratefully acknowledged , and when it is considered what hard and industrious lives those spend who are engaged in the work of distributing newspapers , and how they contribute to the pleasures of OIK existence , there ought to be many kind sympathisers ready to help in a substantial manner such an essential , deserving charity as that for which Sir Algernon Boithwicl ; makes a most earnest appeal .

HOLUIWAY ' 1 ' U . I . S . — Wvakness and Ik-Uility . - Unless lhe blond lie kept in a pure state , the omMitiit ' on must be weakened and disease supervene . These- wonderful I'ills p-issess the power of neutralising and removing all corit-uninations of the blood and system generally . They ( piietiy but certainly overcome all obstructions tend in ;; to ill-health , a ml institute regular actions in organs that are faultv from derangement or debi ity . The

dyspeptic , weak , ami nervous may rely on these i'ills as their best iriemls and comforters . Tiiey iniprine th - appetite , and thoroughly invigorate the digestive apparatus . Holloway ' s I'ills have long been known to be tbe surest preventatives of liver complaints , dreadful dropsies , spasms , colic , constipation , and many other diseases always hovering round the feeble and inlirm . —Auvr ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

The world ' s population is increasing at the ] rate of C , ooo , ooo per year . Life in all its various phases is made up of receiving and bestowing , and he who fancies he can do without either loses more than half of life ' s power and . happiness .

About £ 500 has been subscribed towards the fund for the erection of a memorial window to the late Mr . W . H . Smith in St . Margaret ' s , Westminster , and to-day ( Friday ) the Committee will finally decide upon the design for the work .

According to annual usage the Lord Provost of F . dinburgh presented the keys of the citv on Wednesday to the Marquess of Tweeddale , her Majesty's High Commissioner . In the evening the Marquess and Marchioness entertained a large company in the Picture Gallery of Holyrood Palace .

The Duke of Edinburgh has signified to the Mayor and Corporation of Preston , through Lord Lathom , that he will open the Prince Albert Dock , in that town , on Saturday , the 25 th June . His Royal Highness will be the rruest of the Mayor , Councillor Humber , during his stay in Preston . Ernest Atkinson , a fourth-class fireman in the

Metropolitan Brigade , who was reported as having saved four lives at a fire which occurred at No . 313 , Kennington-road , will probably be rewarded by a medal of the kind usually bestowed by the London County Council on men who thus distinguish themselves . His bravery has already been brought under the attention of the authorities .

The Duke of Connaught has arranged to lay the memorial-stone of the new parish church of St . John , Forton , Gosport , on Monday , June 27 th . The church is being built from designs by Sir A . Blomfield and Sons , to provide for the increased population of the parish , which has grown from under 2000 to over 7000 . Towards its erection Mr . A . Nichols , of London , has given X 2000 .

By a curious coincidence the arrival of the King of Sweden in the South of France has occurred at the very time fixed for the sale of the house in which his grandfather , Marshal Bernadotte , the founder of the dynasty , was born . It is a one-storyed building , with three

windows looking on the street—at Pau—and above the door is a marble tablet thus inscribed : " Charles Jean Bernadotte , King of Sweden—called to the throne by the unanimous voice of the Swedes—was born in this house on the 26 th of January , 1 7 G 3 . "

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs . Benson entertained at dinner , at Lambeth Palace , on Wednesday evening , the Turkish Ambassador , the Marquess of Lothian and Lady Margaret Kerr , Viscount Cranbrook and Hon . Miss E . Gathorne-Hardy , Lord and Lady Knutsford ,

Eleonora , Lady Trevelyan , Sir Charles Bowen , Sir William and Lady Emily Hart-Dyke , Sir Frederic Leighton . P . R . A ., the Dean of St . Paul ' s and Mrs . Gregory , Miss Peel , the Rev . John and Mrs . Storrs , Mr . and Mrs . Anderson , Mr . and Mrs . Lathbury , Mrs . Bishop , and Mr . Marshall .

A meeting of brethren interested in the propagation of Masonic light was held on Friday , the 29 th ult ., at the office of the Grand Master of Masons of Maryland , at Baltimore , to devise ways that upon re-occupancy of the new temple , a museum for the collection and deposit of

articles of antiquity , rarity and merit ( Masonic and otherwise ) be established . The Committee appointed for the purpose have been in consultation with the Grand Master upon the subject , and have concluded to form an association specially for the purpose as set forth above .

It is the intention of the Prince and Princess of Wales , at the earnest desire of the King and Queen of Denmark , to proceed to Copenhagen , accompanied by Prince George and the Princesses Victoria and Maud , to be present at the " golden wedding " of their Majesties on the 26 th instant . Owing to their deep mourning , their Royal Highnesses will be unable , however , to take part in any of the fetes and festivities which may be given on that occasion .

Wednesday being "Grand-day " of Easter Term at the Middle Temple , the Treasurer , Lord Justice Lindley , and the Benchers entertained the following guests at dinner in the Middle Temple Hall , viz ., the American Minister , Lord Watson , Mr . Justice Denman , Sir lames Paget , the

Attorney-General ( Sir R . Webster , O . C . ) , Sir James Crichton-Browne , Sir John Bridge , Bishop Barry , Judge Bacon , Mr . J . Hannav , the Rev . Canon Ainger , the President of the Royal College of Surgeons ( Mr . J . E , Erichscn ) , Mr . VV . H . Horwood , and the Under Treasurer , Mr . Waldron .

La Paz is the finest little city along the Mexican coast , and has long been noted for its peirl fisheries . The pearls of La Paz far exceed those of India in lustre and in price , and are eagerly sought for by the belles of all lands . Yet a person buying pearl there must be somewhat of an expert or he will get swindled , as there is a fine imitation made from the pearl shell that almost defies detection .

La Paz , with its hundred windmills , its shaded avenues , beautiful gardens in terraces , and its white houses , of which one catches a glimpse beneath the date and cocoa palms reaching down to the sea , contrasting so beautifully with the nut-brown hill as a background , forms a lovely picture . In aid of the Masonic Charities of Devonshire , and under

the direction of Bro . W . Heartier , P . P . G . O ., two dramatic performances were given at Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , on Wednesday , the 1 ith inst ., and Thursday , the 12 th inst . The piece selected for performance on each evening was Fred W . Broughton ' s one-act comedietta " Withered Leaves , " followed on Wednesday by the comedietta " Sunset , " and on Thursday by " Sugar and Cream . " On each

evening also Bro . Lavers , P . M . 1255 , recited" An Appeal , " written by Mr . Neville Lynn , F . L . S . A ., and on Thursday night , after the dramatic performance , there was an additional attraction in the shape of a dance . A previous dramatic performance on behalf of the Masonic Charities had a most satisfactory result , and it is hoped that the present effort will be no less successful .

FISH I I ' ISII ! FISH ! The CO-OI-KRATIVK FISH SUI ' . Y Co ., LTD ., are now sending out cheap BASKETS of FISH or OVSIKKS , carriage paid , to any part of the Kingdom , from 2 s . fid . each and upwards , direct trom the landing stage . Address orders and remittances to the Co-Operative Fish Supply Co ., Ltd ., Pontoon , Grimsby , or to Billingsgate Buildings , London , E . C , as may be mist convenient . Try our London House for their celebrated Bloaters , Findon Haddocks , Kippers , & c .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Over 40 , 000 persons land at Joppa every year in order to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and other spots celebrated in sacred history . The American Bible Society will make an exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair , in which will appear copies of Bibles in more than 200 different languages .

The death is announced of a former serf named Kos . tromskoy , who saved the life of the late Czar on the occasion of the attempt to assassinate him in 1 S 66 . For this act he was granted a patent of nobility-The Masons of St . Louis , Mo ., having been notified by the owners of the property to leave their Masonic Temple are actively considering the erection of a new Temple , which ' we hope , may be in every way an improvement on the old '

Under the presidency of their genial and popular Chairman , Mr . G . E . Wood , the members of theEpping Forest Committee dined together at the Albion , on Monday evening , when he was presented with a handsome gold watch as a memento of his year of office .

Marked earthquake shocks have been felt at Singapore Penang , and Johore . It is 31 years ago since similar shocks were experienced . The Times Correspondent at Singapore also wires that a telegram from Sumatra states that a sharp earthquake shock was felt there Tuesday night , travelling from east to west .

The celebration of the Centenary of the Masonic Female Orphan Schools , which promises to be very successful , practically commenced on Monday at Dublin with the distribution of prizes to the girls in the Leinster Hall . There were present a large number of Masons of all grades .

The 50 th meeting of the National Thrift Society ( 1 S 93 series ) was held at St . Peter's-park Schools , Elgin-avenue , on Wednesday evening . The Rev . J . Mitchell Cox presided , and an address was given by Bro . T . Bowden Green , Secretary of the National Thrift Society .

The Ainos of Japan burn their dead and place the ashes in a prayer house next to their dwelling . This prayer house is made of deals , and is generally more than two feet high , and in it the ancestral tablet is placed . This tablet consists of a long upright plank , cut slantingly at the upper end , and tied round with six loops . At the foot lies a fish and two tobacco leaves .

Bro . the Lord Mayor has told the London bankers that in 1 S 90 there was " cleared " in the City , for London alone , no less a su m than £ 7 , So 1 , 048 , 000 ; that there was deposited in all the banks in the United Kingdom an estimated sum of £ 8 , 50 , 000 , 000 , and that there was in the Savings Banks a _ further sum of £ 114 , 000 , 000 , nuking a total of nearly £ 1 , 000 000 , 000 ,

The 2 ( ith anniversary of Dr . Barnardo's Homes will be held at the Poyal Albert Hall , on Wednesday evening , June 22 nd . Lord Kinnaird will preside , and will be supported by Lord Aberdeen , the Rev . Canon Wilberforce , Sir Henry Selwin-lbbetson , M . P ., Colonel C . E . Howard Vincent , M . P ., and others . There will be a long and interesting programme .

Messrs . Cassell and Company will hold their 10 th annual Black and White Exhibition , at the Cutlers' Hall , from May 25 th to June 10 th . The exhibition will be the most important and interesting they have yet held . The drawings will include those made by Sir James Linton for " Henry VIII ., " by Mr . Frank Dicksee for "Othello , " and by Mr . W . L . Wyllie for " The Tidal Thames . "

Bro . G . Manners , F . S . A ., F . L . S ., was on Monday last the recipient of a testimonial from the Library Committee of the Corporation of London in recognition of the services rendered to the library during the past year . Mr . Deputy Horn presided , and he was supported by the Lord Major

and Sheriffs . The presentation consisted of a handsom ; picture of "A Roman Lady , " by Hanson Walker , ami Racinet ' s six-volume work entitled " Costume Historiqu ? . " The book , which was bound in full morocco , is beautifully illustrated , and is undoubtedly the best authority on the subject of the costumes of all ages and all countries .

The seaside camp for London working boys , which , under the management of the Diocesan Council for the Welfare of Young Men , has for the last three years afforded a summer holiday to no fewer than 2 S 39 boys from all parts of London , has been compelled to leave its original site on the Deal sandhills to make room for

golfers . Another place has , however , been found at Pagham , near Bognor , where the first batch of campers out will be received by Colonel Farquharssn , the commandant , on Saturday , June 11 . The applications for a week ' s sojourn by the sea promise to be this yea r more numerous than before , which mean increased subscriptions and donations will be needed .

How often are " brethren of the Craft" assailed with the question , " Why can ' t a woman be a Ma-on , " and ho . v meanly they usually take advantage of the opportunity to enlarge upon woman ' s curiosity and fondness for talkin ; . General Sherman once devoted himself to quite a sertni j discussion of the inquiry , and it was upon the conduct ol Evethe first Junior Warden in the Lodge of Paradise ,

, that he based the rejection of the fair sex since that time from all Master Mason lodges . Eve neglected her duties , and seriously broke her obligations by letting in an expeiwa Mason , who posed as a grand lecturer and enl'S llten . ' f " her upon the want of proper regalia both for Adam , n Senior Warden , and herself . This brought them into troumc with the Grand Master , and "finding" that Eve was no

longer trustworthy , that she had caused Adam to net . '" -, his duty , and had let one in whom He expelled , the Gra Master closed the lodge , turned them out , and set a faitn Ty ler to watch the dour with a flaming sword . Ada ' repenting of his folly , went to work like a man and a t " Mason in order to get rein . tatcd again . Not so "" - "J .- ' She got angry about it , and commenced raising « - ¦ Adam , on account of his reformation , was permttte " establish lodges and work in the Degrees , and while - estalilisn looges anu worK in me uci-icca , ¦» ..- ¦• - . - L £ oiitsiue ¦

was allowed to join him in acts of Charity ,, was never again admitted to assist in the r- 'gulai * work of the Cra't . 1 lence the reason why a woman c * become an inside Mason . —Family Circle . A Goou P LAN . —The Eleventh Annual I'M '" b " Explanatory Book , sent free , gives valuable and re ^ information how to operate successfully in ^ ,,- vans Shares and obtain handsome profits . —Address , L ; eo . and Co ., Stockbrokers , 11 , Poultry , London , E . C ,