Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . THE EARL OF DU . VRAYEN has arrived in town from Ireland . THE WESTMINSTER PHILANTHROPIC S OCIETY hold their dinner on Wednesday , February iOth . BRO . J AMES BISHOP has been unanimously elected Master of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company for the ensuing- year . THE QUEEN has sent a present of game to St . George ' s Hospital and 10 brace of pheasantsTo the Middlesex Hospital for the use of the patients .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES and the Duke of York , attended by Bro . Capt . Holfoid and Sir Charles Cust , left Sandringham on Monday evening for Newmarket . THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE has consented to preside at a festival dinner to be held en May ly ' . h , at the Hotel Cecil , in aid of the North London Hospital for Consumption . BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING has arranged to give two matinees of " Peter the Great , " at the Ljccum Theatre , en the afternoons of Wednesdays , 2 nd and 3 fd prox . DEATH OF THE OUEEN ' COACHMAN . —Mr . Charles Smith , who was for many years the Oueen ' s StaTe coachman , died at Slcugh on Thursday morning at the age of SS .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT , the Princesses Margaret and Victoria Patricia , and Prince Aithur , attended by their suite , visited the Barnum and Bailey Show at Olympia on Saturday afternoon last . BRO . SIR M . HICKS-BEACH , Bart ., M . P . ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ) was present on Monday night at the annual banquet of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce , and responded for the Houses of Parliament .

BRO . SIR F . SEAGBR HUNT , M . P ., who has been for some time indisposed , has , acting on the advice of Sir W . Broadbent , gone to the South of France for a lengthened stay . He is accompanied by Lady Seager Hunt . A MEMORIAL SERVICE to commemorate the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg was held at St . Mildred ' s Church , Whippingham , on Thursday , at noon , and was attended by the Queen and members of the Royal Family and a full congregation .

THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY , who , with her children , is now staying at Claremont , leaves at the end of the month for Cannes , returning to F . sher in April . Her Royal Highness will pass the summer in Holland with her sister , the Queen Regent . BRO . VISCOUNT WOI . SEI . EY will preside at the reading of the "Christmis Carol , " which Bro . Sir Squire Bancroft will give at the St . James ' s Theatre on the 31 st instant , in behalf of the East London District of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families' Association .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OK WALES , with Princess Victoria , attended by Miss Knollys , General Sir Dighton Piobyn , and Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , were present at Divine service at St . Mary Magdalen ' s , Sandringham , on Sunday the iO : h inst . THE DUCHESS OK YORK has consented to become the Patroness of the Surrey Needlework Guild , of which the late Duchess of Teck was President , and has requested Lady Ellis , wife of Bro . Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , to undertake the active duties of President .

BRO . SIR J E . GORST , Q . C ., M . P ., and other Members of Parliament will take part in the discussion on the relations of capital and labour to be opened by Col . Dyer , President ot the Employers' Federation , at the dinner of the United Club st the Criterion on the 6 th prox . THE QUEEN and the Royal Family , attended by members of the Household , were present at Divine service , at Osborne , on Sunday mor . ing last . The Bishop of Ripon was the preacher . The guests at the Palace included Lord and Lady Churchill , who , on Sunday evening , had the honour of dining with her Majesty .

ON SATURDAY EVENING , February 5 th , Handel's Oratorio " Athatiah " will be performed at the Queen ' s Hall by the Handel Society , under the auspices of the Regentstreet Polytechnic ' . Bro . Sir Walter Parratt has kindly undertaken to lill in on the riano the accompaniments to the airs and recitatives .

THE LATE MR . YILLIERS . —The body of the Right Hon . Charles I ' elham Villiers , the "Father" not only cf the House of Commons , but of the " entire Parliament , " was laid to rest yesterday ( Thursday ) , in Kensal Green Cemetery , amid signs cf sincere affection and regret . Many public men gathered at his graveside . FRIDAY , THE 14 th instant , was the anniversary ot the death of the lamented Duke of Claience , and a memorial service was held in Samlringham Church . It was at . tended by T . R . H . the Piince and Princess of Wales , Princess Victoria , the Duke and Duchess of York , General Sir Dighton Probyn , Bro . S-r Francis Knollys , and Miss Knollys . The Rev . Canon Dalton and the Rev . Canon Hervey officiated .

THE MERCERS' COMPANY and the Grcsham Committee are having a niche prepared on the south wall of the ambulatory of the Royal Exchange for another mural decoration . This will make the fifth of the eight works which different donors have promised . The subject of the new panel is that of the opening of the Royal Exchange by Queen Elizabeth on horseback . The artist is Mr . Ernest Crofts , R . A ., and the painting is the gift of the Mercers' Company .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN , who was accompanied to London by Prince Christian , left Cumberland Ledge on a visit to the Queen at Osborne . Baroness von und zu Eglo / Tstein and Major Martin were in attendance . Prince Christian returned to Winlsor in the evening . Princess Christian , who remained at Osborne , has intimated her intention to visit the Hampstead Hospital and Nursing Institute on March 5 th , to unveil the two beds which are to be maintained there in perpetuity , in commemoration ol the Oueen ' s Diamond Jubrlee . *"

A SUCCESSFUL MUSICAL entertainment was given at Dalkeith Palace on Saturday last , by the members of the house party now staying as guests of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch . 'lhe piece consisted of a one-act comedy entitled " I"hn Wedding Belle , " written by Lord Herbert Scott , the music being arranged by Major S . Tavlor . The author , with the Hon . Wilfred Egerton and Lady Constance Scott , played the leading parts , and among those who heartily applauded the peiformers were the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch , Lord and Lady Dalkeith , the Eirl of Stair , aid the Hon . Hew Da ! rymple .

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY , of which the Duke of York is Patron , and Bro . Lord Biassey President , call attention to the eff . rts v . hi , h the . are making to benefit the seamen visiting the ports of South America . Important work has been accomplished at Buenos Ayies , Bahia Blanca , Rosario , Monte Video , Rio de Janeiro , and Valparaiso . A sailors' missionary has been recently sent out to Tocopilla , while at Callao the captains and merchants have just subscribed £ ? $ >) to . vards starting a sailors' home , and £ 113 in subscriptions towards carrying it on , and ' . hey earnestly appeal for the Secretary to visit the West Coast and assist in inaugurating the vork . The directorshowever

, , cannot at present respond to this appeal , and , what is further , the ether Sciilh American stations are placed in jeopardy , because the society is passing thrc ugh such a crisis that it is feared the grants must be reduced or withdrawn , in either case it would mean a most serious blow to one of the best and most necessary works ever begun . When the Duke of York visited Monte Video he spoke of how some of his blue jackets were cninpcd . It is to counteract such evils and to show their sympathetic interest in such poits that the directors venture to bring the urgency of this appeal ( o rcttce . Derations or annual subscriptions may be sent to the socitty'sbankcrs — Messrs , Prcscott , Dimsclale , and Co ., Cornhill . London , ICC .

EVERY MASON should read " Volo , or the Will , " what it is , how to strengthen and hmv to use it . By Arthur Lovell , author of " Ars Vivendi . " Crown Svo ., cloth , 3 s . fid . net ; by post , , ; s . < jd . Many curious and interesting facts are given about ancient and mooern initiations . Catalogue post free . Nichols and Co ., Publishers , 23 , Oxfoid-strect , W . Lit , lit , Sept ., iNitf— " The Author ' s theories seem to us reasonable and va uable . The Ulas ^ r . a Herald , Sept ., 1 S 07— " Mr . LOVELL has much that is valuable to say on the subject of the Will , the advices which he gives as to the training and disciplining of the Will and its practical cultivation are excellent , while the central principle of his philosophy is beyond question . "—[ ADVT . j

Masonic And General Tidings.

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , accompanied by Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , was present at the Globe Theatre on Thursday evening . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN , who is staying with the Queen at Osborne , is expected to return to-day ( Friday ) to Cumberland Lodge , Windior Park . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . W . G . GULLY , Q-C , Speaker of the House of Commons , arrived at Dover from the Continent on Wednesday , and proceeded to London . THE DUKE OF YORK has consented to preside at the anniversary festival of the Royal Caledonian Asylum , to be held at the Hotel Md ; ropole on Monday , 9 th May .

THE Q UEEN WILL , according to present arrangements , leave England on Tuesday , March Stli 7 for Cimiez , where her Majesty will arrive on the ioth for a month's stay in the Riviera . THE Q UEEN has graciously sent 20 pheasants for the inmates of the Royal Hospital for Incurables , West Hill , Putney Heath , S . W . Her Majesty has forwarded a similar gift for the use of the patients of the Samaritan Free Hospital .

A MARRIAGE HAS been arranged between the Hon . Direk keppel , second son of the late Earl of Albemarle , Equerry to his Royal Highness the Duke of York , and the Hon . Bridget Harbord , youngest daughter of Bro . Lord and Lady SufTield . THE DUCHESS OK YORK , who is the guest of Mr . Frank and Lady Eva Dugdale at Snitterfield , paid a visit on Wednesday to Bro . the Earl and Countess of Warwick ,

at Warwick Castle . The visit was a private one , and there was no public demonstration . WE REGRET to learn that while Bro . the Earl of Ranfurly , the Governor ot New Zealand , was assisting , on Sundiy last , to unharness two horses attached to his buggy , the animals plunged forward and knocked his Excellency down . Both horses and the wheels of the buggy passed over his body . Lord Ranfurly , however , escaped with a severe shaking .

POSTMEN' SICK AND BENEFIT SOCIETY . —The annual concert of the Northwestern men took place at head-quarters , the Mansfield Hotel , Gospel Oak , on the ioth inst . There was a large muster , under the presidency of Mr . Walter Ward , who was supported by Mr . H . M . Wilsor , Secretary Postmen's Federation , and Mr . H . Boaler ( Mutual Benefit Society ) .

THE FIFTY-NINTH annual general meeting of the Newsvendors' Benevolent and Provident Institution will be held at the Memorial Hall , on Tuesday , February 15 th , The President , Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Glenesk , will take the chair at seven o'clock . The annual festival dinner will be held at the Hotel Cecil , on Wednesday , May nth , Mr . Cecil B . Harmsworth will preside .

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ( Bro . Lord Halsbury ) has written to the Hardwicke Society from Folkestone as follows : "There is nothing which gives me so much pleasure as association with my brethren of the law , and my membership of the Ilardwicke Society is one of the earliest , as well as pleasantest , memories of my commencement in the profession . I very cladly accept your mist kindly-wo .-del invitation to dine with the Society on Thursday , Feb . 17 . "

THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY is organising an International Exhibition of Photographic Apparatus and Photographs , w ' . vich will open at the Crystal Palace on April 27 th . There will be extensive Loan Collections , illustrating not only the history of Photography , but its enormous scientific and commeicial applications , Photomechanical Processes , Photograph ; in Colours , Photographs by means of tli 2 X rays , and kindred exhibits .

A REMARKABLE and interesting gathering took place at the Hotel Cecil on Friday night , the 14 th inst ., when about 500 gentlemen sat down to dinner on the occasion of the first annual re-union of the combined staffs of three famous business houses identified for many generations with the rise and progress of art in the home , viz . : Warings , Gillows , and Collinson and Lock , now formed into one company and trading under the name of Waring and Gillow ( Limited ) . The Great II ill o ! the Hotel Cecil , in which the dinner took place , was a fitting theatre for such a gathering , being one of the earliest decorative triumphs of the bouse of Waring .

IT IS INTENDED to make a collection of the sketches and drawings of the late Pro . Sir Frank Lcckwood , and to exhibit them in one of the Halls of the Inns of Court or in some other suitable place , and to devote the proceeds of the admission money to the excellent puipcscs cf the Bairisters' Benevolent Association . Any one who has in his pessession any example of Sir Frank ' s delightful h miour , whether it lie in pen or pencil , and whether framed or unframed , is earnestly invited to for . vanl it to Mr . E . Macrory , O . C , Hon . Sec . of the Barristers' Benevjlent Association , 7 , Fig-tree-curt , Temple , ETC ., where a receipt will be given for it , as well as an undertaking to rerurn it at the close of the proposed exhibition .

THE BURGHLEY PARK Polo Club ball , at Stamford , on Wednesday , was largely attended . The company included the Nurehley house party—the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter , Lady Louisa Cecil , Miss V Cecil , Lord and Lady liertie , Lord anJ Lady Lilford , Lord Burghley , liro . Beach , M . P ., and Mrs . Beach , Mr . C . Peacock , Mr . Hugh Whichcote , Mr . A . Sartoris , Captain R . and Miss Tryon , Mr . Noel Villiers

and Miss Villiers ; Bro . Captain the Hon . A . Greville's house party—the Hon . A . and Mrs . Grcville , the Countess of Westmorland , the Hon . L . and Mrs . Greville , Mr . and Mrs . 11 . Eaton , Major Wickham , Mr . Callender , and Mr . H . Peacock , L-jid and Lady John Joicey-Cecil , Mrs . Hornsby , Mr . and Mrs . J . VV . Hornsby , Mr . Blundell Williams ( lion . Sec ) , Col . and the Misses While , anJ Major Young .

THE DUKE OK CONNAUGHT presided on Wednesday evening at a lecture on Cooperation between the Army and Navy , given by Vice-Admiral P . H . Colomb before the Aldershot Military Society . At the close of a discussion on the points raised by Admiral Colomb , his Royal Highness expressed the thanks of the meeting to the lecturer . In the course of his comments , the Duke of Connaught remarked that in co-operation ,

both in defence and in attack , one important consideration for the two services was that they should know their strong and weak points and combine for the good of their country . It was unfortunate that in the past a little foolish jealousy had been shown by the Navy and Army one to the other , but they had now risen above that , and the services had one object in view , and the more they worked together and the more they knew of one another the better it would be for the country .

TUB ANNUAL BALL in aid of the St . Pancras Female Orphanage in Hampsteadroad and the St . Pancras Almshouses in Southampton-road is one of the mast interesting and popular events in the social and philanthropic life of the parish . Indeed , so strong a hold has it obtained upon the sympathies of the benevolcn ' . ly-inclined , irrespective of party differences , that it has long been regarded as one of our prominent local institutions . Fourteen of these pleasant gatherings have been held , and as a result nearly £ 1500 has been realised for the , two excellent charities named . I ' ne one

held on Thursday , the 13 th instant , in the Portnun Rooms— the 15 th of the serieswas no less brisk and enjoyable than any of its predecessors , and though the arten Jance fell slightly short of last year , the present chairman , Bro . Bangs , wii has been connected with them from the very start , is none tile less hop . fulof making thi financial result as good as anything achieved in previous years . When dancing began , shortly after S . 30 , to the strains of Mr . H . R . Johnson ' s Quadrille Hand , the company was already large , and the ftct that ladies and gentlemen were about evenly balanced tended to make the party even jollier than usual .

PRINCESS LOUISE visited Shrewsbury on Wednesday at the invitation of the Girls Public Day School Company , to open a new school , which has been erected at a cost of £ 7000 , and will accommodate 200 scholars . In accordance with the wishesof her Royal Highness the proceedings were of a somewhat private charac er , but the crowds which lined the streets , and the decorations which were visible almost everywhere gave evidence of the utmost enthusiasm and loyalty . The Princess was accompanied by the Marquis of Lome , M . P ., and the Duchess of Westminster , and the Royal party was met at the railway station by the Mayor , the Earl of Powis ( the Lord Lieutenant ) , the

High Sheriff , and others . lhe Mayor presented an address of welcome , which was acknowledged by the Marquis of Lcrne , who expressed her Koyal Highness ' s thanks SOY the cordial welcome . The visitors then drove through several crowded thoroughfares to Shrewsbury Schools , and thence to thi new High School for Girls , which Princess Louise formally opened , subsequently distribu'ing prizes . The return j ) urney to the railway station was by a circuitous route , which , trom en J to end , was thronged with an enthusiastic crowd of spectators . The Royal party left for Chester , and upon their arrival at Rossett Station drove across Eaton Park to the Hall . Princess Louise and the Marcjuis of Lome conclude their visit to Eaton Hall to-day ( Friday ) when they proceed to Birkenhead and Livernool , afterwards returning to London .