Masonic And General Tidingds

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGDS

The fund raised at the Mansion House fur the benefit of the r . utferers by the recent earthquakes at Ather . s has been closed at a total of ^ 52 SS . The Goldsmiths' Company have r . ent a donation of £ ioo to ( he Hon . Alfred Lyttelton for the Children ' s Country Holidays Fund , 10 , Buckingham-street , Strand , W . C .

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice paid a visit on Tuesday to the depot , Motcomb-street , Belgrave-square , of the Irish Industries Association , and made several purchases of the work of Irish cottagers . The Princess of Wales , Princesses Victoria and Maud , Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) . Prince ar . d Prince :. ^ Louis of Battenberg , and suite , witnessed the opera of " Elaine , " at the Royal Opera House , Covent Garden , en Wednesday evening .

Benevolent Lodge , Teignmouth , has , on the motion of Bro . F . C . Frost . P . G . Supt . of Wks ., r . econtied by the W . M ., Bro . G . N . Burden , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks ., unanimously elected the Prov . Grand Master of Devon , Bro . Lord Ebrington , as an honorary member .

The installation meeting of the Henry Levander Lodge , No . 204 S , will be held on Saturday , the 3 Sth inst .. at the Railway Hotel , Harrow Station . Lodge will be opened at two o ' clock , and Bro . W . M . Stiles , P . M ., will be installed W . M . The banquet will take place at the Midland Grand Hotel atd . 30 .

Letters of allotment of the London Exhibitions . Limited , were posted to applicants on Saturday , the 14 th inst . V \ e are informed that the share capital offered for -, ubscription was over applied for , notwithstanding the antagonistic articles which appeared in our contemporaries , the result of which , the Company inform u =, was the withdrawal by ore applicant of his application for two shares .

In the report of the Special Grand Mark Lodge which appeared in our columns last week the name of Bro . Sir Lionel Darell was inadvertently omitted from the list of those present . The omission is now to he regretted as Si-Lionel Darell occupied the chair of Junior Warder ., ar . d had remained in town at considerable incor . veriirxe to attend the meeting .

The final competition for the Stt-inway grand pianoforte presented by Bro . Sir Augustus llairis to the Guildhall School of Music took place on Wednesday , the examiners being Mr . J . L . Shedlock and Mr . Hermann Klein . Twelve competitors were admitted to this final test , and the prize was awarded to Miss Augusta Foster , Mr . Francis Davey being highly commended .

Lady Hamilton , wife of Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton , President of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich . distributed the prizes to the successful competitors in the annual athletic sports at the Royal Hospital bchool on Wednesday . A full programme was successfully carried out under the guidance of Cap * ain Collins , Superintendent , who was efficiently aided by Mr . G . C . Phillips , the headmauler .

The Elms Lodge annual outing took place on Wednesday , the nth inst ., when a trip to Kingsbrid ^ e and Slaptor Sand : ; was much enjoyed by a company numbering 40 . Bro : ; . Ferguson , W . M ., and J . Basset , the Secretary , made excellent arrangements . Messrs . Bradbury , Wright , Jago , Lcwthwaite , and White contributed pleasant music , and the Secretary by the aid of the photographic camera secured agreeable records of one of the pleasantest outings the lodge bar . enjoyed for many years .

" MASONIC LADIES . " —Freemasons are rworn loyal , and so are their wives . On Monday last , when his Royal Highnesr . was at Greenwich , Mrs . Darley , the wife of ar . old Past Master now engaged copying the ceiling of the Painted Hall , with two other ladies , the wives of Masons and naval officers , as they stood in the crowd were intruded upon b y a fellow with a foreign accent , who freely spoke in

disparagement of the Prince of Wales . The ladies denounced and condemned his conduct , and so did all within hearing , and strongly urged that he be turned out . He fiuther expressed surprise to one of the police that the Prince was not afraid to move about without a guard . The officer sharply ret rted that it was because he was 1 true . b ) in Er . gli . -hman , and ordered the man to move or . ar . d clear out . —Smith Eastern Herald .

The Shepherd ' s Bush Cycling Club held its first ar . r . ual meeting on the Putney Track , on Monday , the iiith instant , and are to be congratulated on the success of their enterprise The card contained five events—a Mile Championship Race , a Team Race—Shepherd ' s Bush C . C ., v . West London C . C , and three Handicaps—three , five , ami ter . rr . iles respectively . The Club Championship was won easily by Mr .

P . II . Sanders , Mr . Cecil Abbott being second . In the Team Race , Messrs . West and P . H . Sanders , for Shepherd ' . ; Hush , had it all their own way , and won hands ebv .-n , from the West Lundon representatives , Messrs . Wheele ; and Hutton . Mr . P . H . Sanders ( scratch ) won the Three Miles Handicap , Messrs . V . Abbott ( 100 yards ) , ar . dB Watkins ( 2 . 10 yards ) , being second and third respectively . The Five Miles fell to Mr . Cecil Abbott ( 1 O 0 yards ) , whe

war . two-thirds of a lap ahead of his brother , Mr . V . Abbott ( 170 yarc ' s ) , Mr . F . Smith ( 130 yards ) obtaining third place . Seven ran in the Ten Miles , which was ultimately won by Mr . A . Dunn ( 1 min . ) , Mr . P . H . Sanders ( scratch ) being second , and Mr . F . Smith ( 1 min . 20 sees . ) third . Owing to the wind that prevailed , no fast times were recorded . There was a good muster eif the members and their friends , and it only needed f . unshine to have made the gathering a slill greater success .

A » l ' . /| -:. GAME OI FIOII-AM . ( jives more real picture to tlir rmleinUers than is provided in a cniilt-:. ! :, t almost any other spoil . It is amusing to nvtch tl , e inlcrr . M displayed in one of the IHi-al I . c ;> t ; ue mutches . Hi . w many of the spectators seem as IlioiiKl , they would delight to participate- in (]>_ slrumjle . Unfortun for of them

ately many , active exercise ol any kind is unposlibit-. In this happy land of curs rheuinalinii , ({ out , and lumbago claim their victims by the thousand . If yoo happen to be or . e of the ft- victims , get some Ilolloway ' s Ointment without delay , and take Holloway ' s Pills for mmplaints of th- liver , impurities ir he * Moid , disorders of the stomach , he .

Masonic And General Tidingds

The proprietors of the Australian . Keystone offer prizes for the best original essavs on Masonic subjects , to be written by any brother residing in Australia . The rewards will be Masonic jewels . There were those who predicted failure for London's

new water gate . But already , to quote Sir Albert Altaian , such are beginning to realise that , far from being a costly failure , a perfect white elephant to the Corporation , it will be one of the greatest improvements the City has ever effected .

We regret to announce the death of Bro . Alfred Williams , of Bankside , Southwark . Bro . Williams took special interest in the Mark Degree , and at the time of his death , and for many years previously , was a member of the General Board . We shall give a fuller account of his Masonic career in next week ' s Freemason .

Princess Frederica of Hanover has definitely decided to remain abroad for the remainder of the summer and the winter , and will return to Hampton Court in the spring . Her Roval Highness has accepted her Majesty ' s offer of the Stud House , Home Park , which is now in the hands of the builders for repairs .

The Duke and Duchess of York have expressed their willingness to receive in person the address of congratulation of the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London on the birth of the Prince , at York House , on Monday , the 30 th inst . Owing to the lack of sufficient space for the reception of the whole of the Corporation , it is asked that a small deputation only will attend .

Only at long intervals is the fiat obtained for the domolition of one of our ancient City churches ; but now All Hallows the Great , in Thames-street , is doomed to the fate which lately befell St . Olave , Jewry . At oresent only the fabric remains , and this , with the freehold site on which it stands , will be brought to the hammer on the last day of the month . A portion of the proceeds of the sale will be devoted to the erection of a church of the same name in another and more populous district .

We regret to learn from a circular issued by the W . M . of the Cambrian Lodge , No . 364 , Neath , of the death in that town of Bro . Ebenezer Roberts , a P . M . of the Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 , London . Bro . Roberts had been for a considerable time a member of the Cambrian Lodge , in which he had taken a great interest , and was highly esteemed by the brethren . The funeral tonk place on Tuesday last , and his remains were followed to the grave by many members of the Craft .

We are seriously looking forward , ana we quietly ask ourselves , would not Masonry be better if we would look to the real qualifications , and confine Masonry to the men who are nearly equals , not in wealth , but in intellect , in knowledge , in goodness of heart . It is this idea that is

growing stronger and stronger with us every day , perhaps from observation that there is an essential feature , the ideal of Masonry , the brotherhood of it , that is yet far from having asserted itself , and that we should bend our energies to attain to the standard of perfection in this respect . —/ M . Kills .

The Duchess of Teck opened a bazaar at Woolwich in aid of the restoration fund of tre parish church on Thursday . Mr . Rath ; : read an address of welcome , and her Royal Highness , in the course of a brief reply , said : " I think you will be glad to heir that my dear daughter , the Duchess of York , is nearly recovered , and that the baby is very well . It gives me great pleasure to be present to-day at Woolwich

—the place whence so many leave their native land to serve our Queen and country . " The Duchess , who was accompanied by Prince Alexander of leek , subsequently made purchases at all the stalls . To-day ( Friday ) the bazaar will be opened by the Countess of Wharncliffe . The annual picnic in connection with the Staffordshire Knot Lodge , No . 72 O , was held on Wednesday , last week ,

when the outing took the form of an excursion to Leamington , Warwick , and Stratford-on-Avon . The excutsionists numbered about 40 , and included Bro . George Wormal , W . M . ( Mayor of Stafford ) , and the Mayoress . The party enjoyed fine weather and had a very interesting tour through Shakespeare's country . Luncheon was provided at Warwick and dinner at Leamington in the evening .

After the dinner , the toast of " The Queen and the Craft " was duly honoured . "The Health of the Worshipful Master" was proposed by Bro . W . ioldridge and drunk with the greatest cordiality , and the only other toast was "The Ladies , " proposed by Aldtrman \ V . H . Peach , and coupled with the name of the Ma-oress . Hone was reached via Birmingham about it o ' clock .

MASONIC PRESENTATION AT PLYMPTON ' . —At the conclusion of the regular meeting of Lodge St . Maurice , Nc . 185- ; , at Plympton , on the 12 th inst ., Bro . Captain G . Strode-Lowe , P . M ., P . J G . W ., on behalf of the members of the lodge , oresented the Secretary , Bro . R . Hambly , P . M ., P . P . G . 7 . ot Wks ., with a gold watch hearing the following inscription : " Presented to W . Bro . Robert Hambly , P . M ., P . G . S . of Wks ., by the brethren of

Lodge St . Maurice , No . 1857 , as a mark or their esteem and regard on the occasion of his marriage , July , 1 S 94 . " The watch is a handsome keyless demi-hunter lever , iScarat cases throughout , , ' plate movement , compensation balance . Bro . Strode-Lowe referred to the fact that Bro . Hambly had proved himself a worthy Mason , and v . is not only respected by the brethren throughout the province , but by the public generally with whom he had come in contact . Bro . Hambly suitably replied .

The case of the St . Andrew's Lodge , Banff , v Kilgour . & o , came before Lord Low in the Court of Session on Tuesday , the 10 th inst . It was in the form of a note of suspension to have it determined whether or not the respondents were any longer entitled to any of the privileges of membership in the lodge , they having been suspended by the Grand Lodge . The respondents

maintained that they were the Master and office-bearers of the lodge , and that the coniplainers were mere merely honorary members , having no right to vote or act in any lodge business . The Lord Ordinary refused an interim interdict , and recently the case was discussed in the Procedure Roll , and continued to allow complainers an opportunity to

amend their pleadings , as the Lord Ordinary considered they had not made relevant statement in support of their title to sue . On Tuesday it was intimated that the complainers had resolved not to proceed further with the case , and the note of suspension and interdict was accordingly refused , with expenses .

Masonic And General Tidingds

The Duchess of Teck has consented to visit the Female Orphan Asylum at Beddin ? ton on Tuesday next , and to distribute the prizes to the orphan girls . The Caledonian bill held a fortnight ago wis the m : ans of raising no less a sum than 4235 10 s . each for the Royal Caledonian Asylum and the Scottish Corporation . An emergency meeting of the Prince Edward Encampment was held at the Queen's Arms Hotel , Dukinfield , Sir

Knight John Clayton , Q . C ., presided . There were three installations of worthy companions , viz ., Comps . James Cookson , P . M ., P . P . G . Treas ., and Z . ; C . Chetwynd Atkinson , M . A . ; and Hirsch . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Sir Joseph Dimsdale , Grand Treasurer , has consented to perform the ceremony , or Monday next , of opening West India House , Lead-nhallstreet , E . C , which has recently been completed by Messrs .

J . Allen and Sons from the designs of the architect , Mr . Delissa Joseph , at a cost of £ 21 , 000 . The Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs . Binsw entertained on Wednesday afternoon the recipients of the Lambeth " dole and corody , " a class of the blind from Lambeth Parish , and a largrt number of pensioners of two charity organisation societies of the district . Music wis provided in the garden by the police band of the L Division . After

tea a concert was given in the Guird Room by various ladies and gentlemen , and the Archbishop then gave an address to the company assembled in the chapel . The annual exhibition of drawings and other handiwork executed by the scholars and pupil teachers will be held at the Hugh Myddelton School , Clerkenwell , on Friday , Saturday , Monday , Tuesday , and Wediesdiy , 20 th , 21 st , 23 rd , 24 th , and 25 th irist . The exhibition will be

publicly opened by Mr . Armstrong , director of the art at the Science and Art Department , at noon , on the Friday , and it will remain open from 12 o ' clock till half-past nine each day . The Prince and Princess of Wales , the Princesses Victoria , and Maud , and Ptincess Louise Duchess of Fife , with whom was the Duke of Fife , honoured the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire by their presence at dinner , at

Devonshire House , on Thursday evening . Present to meet the illustrious guests were the Russian Ambissador , the P . irtuguese Minister , the Duchess of Mmchester , Earl and Countess de Grey , the Earl and Countess of Gosford , the Countess of Dudley , Count Albert Mensdorff , Viscount and Viscountess Curzon , Lord Houghton , Lord Charles Montagu , Mr . and Lady Evelyn Cavendish , Sir Horace Farquhar , General Ellis , and the Lidy-in-V \' aiting on the Prircess of VValiS .

The Mister of a lodge is an autocrat , if he will be ; bu . t no Master , with the good of his lodge at heart will assert his opinion in direct and offensive opposition to thit of his brethren . He is a servant king , and as such should rule . He is king , because his right to govern is supreme . He is servant , because h's brethren have , by the exercise of their united opinion , placed him in that positnn of absolute power . There are times when one's opinion should be

exercised and enforced , if contrary to that of otherswhether Master , Secretary , or lodge . No one should permit a substitution of his opinion of right . When that is done the man sinks Shis manhood beneath cowardice . Better stand alone and be right , than go with the multitude to do wrong . Thus it is the duty of a Mason in lodge , or elsewhere in the Fnternity , to oppose all cliqueism and tricky political schemes to accomplish personal aims of ambitious

but undeserving men . —Freemasons' Repository . The brethren of St . James's Lodge , No . 44 S , had their annual outing on Thursday , the 12 th inst ., to Ripon , Studley Royal , and Fountains Abbey . Leaving Hilifax at 10 . 19 , they arrived at Ripon at 12 . 15 . Carriages were awaiting to convey the party to the well-known L ' nicorn Hotel , where a substantial luncheon was awaiting them . Being market day , the ancient city was very busy , and the visitors were much interested in observing how business was conducted

in a purely agricultural district . After visiting the Cathedral , the party was driven to Studley Royal , where some hours were spent in the splendid gr mnds and in exploring the ruins of the famous Fountains Abbey . To some of the older brethren of St . James's Lodge the visit reminded them of one who as Grand Master of England and as Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire is still remembered with feelings of the highest respect . The party arrived home about nine o ' clock .

Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) , as President , distributed the medallions and certificates won by the members 0 ! the St . John's Ambulance Association in the No . 9 district of the Metropolitan Centre on Thursday , the ceremony taking place at the Town Hall , West Himpstead . Included in the large company present were the Marquis 0 Lome , Lady Sophia Macnamara , Lord Amherst of Hackney , Sir Owen and Lady Agnes Burne , Canon Duckworth , Sir

Herbert Perrott , the Hon . Mrs . Randolph Clay , and Miss Barter , who presented a beautiful bouquet to her Royal Highness . As Chairman of the Centre , Gsneral Lowrj made an encouraging statement touching on the progres of the movement in the district . A corps of ladies holding association certificates had been started to supplement the district nurses in their work among the poor , and a gratifying feature in connection with the ambulance classes was

the number of railway servants who attended and haa pissed the examinations . The Marquis of Lome acknowledged a vote of thanks which was accorded the Princess . The new twin screw Royal Mail steamer . Norm in , which has been built for the Union Steamship Company ' s South African mail service , was successfully launched at lijlfast on Thursday by Messrs . Harland and Wolff . The christening ceremony was performed by Lidy Evans , wife

of Sir Francis Evans , M . P ., deputy chairman of the company . The dimensions of the Norman are : Length . 490 ft ; breadth , moulded , 53 ft ; depth , 37 ft 6 in ; gross tonnage , about 7500 . She is constructed of steel , and wil be fitted with twin screws . The Narman has two sets ol triple expansion engines , expected to develop great power and high speed . She is designed for carrying a large cargo , and as a troopship her cipacity will be

enormous-Large numbers of passengers will bs provided for in eacr class , and no expense has been spared to make the accommodation for them as regards berths , dining saloons , smoking-rooms , and library as up-to-date as possible . She will be fitted throughout with electric light , and there will also be refrigerating engines and machinery , and cok chambers for the conveyance of fruit and perishable goads . The Norman leaves Southampton on her first voyage or November 10 th next .