Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

ON THURSDAY evening the Indian Famine Fund at the Mansion House amounted 'o £ 527 , 000 . BRO . SHERIFF ROGERS opened on Wednesday , the bazaar at the Myddelton and Wellington Halls , Upper-street , Islington , in aid of the funds of the Islington Wesleyan Circuit .

BRO . LORD HERSCHELL , the Chancellor of the University of London , distributed on Wednesday , at Burlington House , the prizes and diplomas gained by the graduates and undergraduates during the past academical year .. ART MIRACLES is the title given by the Aquarium Management to the latest and greatest development in colour photography , an exhibition of which is to be given at the Royal Aquarium at 2 p . m . on Wednesday next , the 2 Gth inst .

ACCORDING to advices from Weymouth , Bro . Lord Stalbridge has resigned the commodoteship of the Royal Dorset Yacht Club , but hopes are entertained that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales will consent to occupy the position during the present season . THE GUILDHALL CRICKET CLUB . —At a meeting of the members of the Guildhall Cricket Club at the Guildhall a few days ago , Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , the Town Clerk , was re-elected the President , and Bro . Colonel T . Davies Sewell the Treasurer .

THERE WILL BE a race at the Royal Aquarium by ladies on cycles for £ 200 . The race will be a 12 days' race , and the nationalities will run in separate sections , each section competing for 3 i hours daily , commencing at 2 p . m ., on Monday next , the 24 th instant . BRO . THE EARL OF J ERSEY has consented to preside at the annual meeting of the National Refuges and Training Ships Arethusa and Chichester , which will be held at Exeter Hall on Tuesday , the 25 th inst . A choir of about 500 young people , including tbe sailor boys , will take part in the proceedings .

BRO . HENRY CLARKE , C . C , and Mrs . Clarke have issued invitations to the brethren of Alliance Lodge , No . 1 S 27 , of which Bro . Clarke is Treasurer , tj a garden party at his residence , Cannon Hall , Hampstead , on Saturday , the 12 th prox ., " to meet the Lord Mayor and the Chairman of the London County Council "

PRINCE CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN , attended by his Equerry-in-Waiting , dined with Lord Belper and the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms , at their mess in St . James ' s Palace , on Monday evening , the other guests being Prince Blucher of Wahlstatt , the Earl of Albemarle , Bro . Lord Llangattock , and Bro . Sir Francis Boileau , Bart .

THE COMMITTEE in charge of the fund for a memorial to be raised to the late Bro . Sir Augustus Hanis have forwarded to the Charing Cross Hospital a cheque for £ 1000 for the endowment in perpetuity of abed in memory of our late respected brother . 'J he bed is to be reserved for the accommodation cf patients connected with the dramatic , musical , and music-hall professions .

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Queen at Windsor Castle , on Monday afternoon , and stayed with her Majesty to dinner , Lieut .-Col . A . Davidson being in attendance from the railway station to the Castle . The Duke of Yoik visited his mother-in-law , the Duchess of Teck , who is progressing favourably , but will not be able to leave her room for a fortnight .

THE ANNUAL Provincial Grand Lodge of Berkshire will be held , at the invitation of the Downshire Ledge , No . 2437 , in Reading , on Tuesday , Oth July . This will be the first time in the history of Freemasonry in Berkshire that the annual Provincial Grand Lodge has been held in this town , and the local members of the Craft are making special arrangements to give the visitors a hearty reception on their inaugural visit . The W . M . of the Downshire Lodge is Bro . H . G . Powell .

THE COMFORT and manifest convenience of hotel life are rapidl y tempting larger and larger numbers each year to take up their abode permanently in such admirable establishments as the Barkston Gardens Hotel , in the Earl's Court-road . Just re . opened by Bro . John R . Roberts , P . M . 2 ^ 41 , 2535 , P . Z . 1196 , who built Barkston Gardens , one of the prettiest squares in what is perhaps the most salubrious district in the West End ot London ; this hotel is replete with every luxury and embellished throughout with good taste and skill .

THERE WERE assembled at the Crystal Palace on Saturday last , under the auspices of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , some 23 , coo children and their friends , the orject of the meeting being to present the prizes awarded for essays on kindness to animals . For this competition no less than 139 , 320 essays were sent in , being an increase of nearly 20 , 0 : 0 on the number in 1 S 9 G , the number of schools

that were entered being 1446 , of which S 76 are under the School Board , 3 S 2 Denominational , and iSS of a superior character . Upwards of 2 SS 0 prizes were distributed , the Duchess of Portland giving away with her own hands as many as 1531 . A cordial vote of thanks was passed to her Grace for her kindness in undertaking what was , in fact , a very arduous duty .

BY COMMAND of the Queen , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales held a Levee at St . James ' s Palace , on behalf of her Majesty , on Monday . His Royal Highness , attended by Bros . Lord Suflield and Sir Francis Knollys and Capt . Holford , arrived at the Palace from Marlborough House , escorted by a detachment of the ist Life Guards . There were also present their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Connaught and Strathearne , York , and Cambridge , Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , and Prince Edward of

Saxe-Weimar . The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms was on duty , under the command of their Captain , Lord lklper , and the Ytomen of the Guard under their Captain , the Earl of Waldegrave , while among the officers of State and of the Household in attendance were the Mar ) of Pembroke ( Lord Steward ) , Bro . the Earl of Lathom ( Lord Chamherlain ) , Bro . the Duke of Portland ( Master of the Horse ) , Viscount Curzon . M . P . ( Treasurer of the Household ) , and Bro . Lord Arthur Ilill . M . P . ( Comptroller of the Household ) .

Miss J ANIE CROMVTON ' , a pianist from Manchester , gave a recital in the smaller Queen's Hall on Thursday afternoon , in the presence of a fairly numerous audience , the artist in question is equipped with a powerful technique , but her touch is hard , and she seems to have little command of expression . She offered a neat and vigorous performance of a movement by Scarlatti , following on with Schumann ' s " Novellette " in F major , rendered with more power than charm , while Stephen Heller's Caprice on the Fairies' Dance from Mendelssohn's music to "A Midsummer Night's Dream "

demanded a lighter finger to ensure proper appreciation . Miss Crompton was joined by Ferdinand Weist-Hill in the performance of Mozart ' s Sonata in A major , and two movements from Rubinstein ' s ] work of the same description in A minor , the young violinist also contributing solos . Vocal relief was supplied by Madame Belle Cole , Miss Alicia Jephson , and Mr . Cyril Dwight-Edwardes , the last-named artist , who owns a fine baritone voice , winning much applause for his artistic rendering of Massenet ' s " Promesse de mon Avtnir" and other pieces . Miss Kdith Merrylees was the accompanist .

THE ARRANGEMENTS for the Jubilee commemoration festivities have been completed by the Court authorities . On Sunday , the 20 th June ( Ascension Day ) there will be a commemoration service in St . Paul ' s Cathedral . On Monday the Queen will arrive at Buckingham Palace from Windsor Castle , and will receive the Royal representatives and Mutes of the Sovereigns sending delegates to the celebration , and entertain many of them at a State banquet in the evening . On Tuesday the Oueen proceeds in State to St . Paul ' s Cathedral , and , after receiving the Colonial Envoys , will give another State bar . quet . There will also be a [ general illumination . On Wednesday , after receiving

addresses from the Houses of Lords and Commons in the morning , and receiving and entertaining at luncheon the Mayors of the different cities and towns , her Majesty will relurn to Windsor . On Thursday the Oueen and Court will witness a grand torchlight precession of the Eton boys at Windsor Castle , and there will be a reception by the Prime Minister and a State ball at Buckingham Palace . On Friday there may be a dinner party , while Saturday is appointed for the Naval Review at Spithead , and on Monday , the 28 th June ( Coronation Day ) there will be a Garden Paity at Buckingham Palace .

THE FOLLOWING lodges have contributed to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund—Regent ' s Park Lodge of Instruction , No . 2202 , £ 2 4 s . ;¦ Lodge of Industry , No . 'SO , £ 5 ; Zetland Lodge of Instruction , No . 511 , £ 2 3 s . ; and Windermere Lodge , No . 2217 , £ 1 4 s . THE TEMPLE YACHT CLUB will , by permission of the Oueen , be known in future as the " Royal Temple Yacht Club . " THE ANNUAL DINNER of her Majesty ' s Royal Body-Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard will take place at the Victoria Mansions Restaurant , S . W ., on Monday next .

PRINCESS LOUISE ( Marchioness of Lome ) has promised to open in July the Convalescent Home at Cranbrook given by Bro . Passmore Edwards to the Metropolitan Hospital . LORD KELVIN has announced his intention of treating on the subject of " The Age of the Earth as an Abode fitted for Life " at the annual meeting of the members of the Victoria Institute .

THE QUEEN will reach Balmoral to-morroiv ( Saturday ) , having broken her journey at Sheffield to-day ( Friday ) for the purpose of opening the New Town Hall and visiting Norfolk Park . THE LADY MAYORESS gave a ball at the Mansion Hou ° e , on Wednesday , in honour of her youngest daughter who had been presented at Court the day previous . There was a large gathering of guests .

THE DUKE OF YORK and the Princess Victoria of Wales , attended by the Hon . Derek Keppel , visited the Yachting and Fisheries Exhibition on Thursday and Inspected the yachting and north galleries . THE COUNTERS OF WARWICK presided on Wednesday at a successful garden meeting on the terrace of Warwick Castle , on behalf of the newly-formed Ladies Guild of the British and Foreign Sailor's "Society . "

THE DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT has consented to be present at the concert organised by Lady Alington in aid of a Convalescent Home for Horeton , which will take place at Alington House on Thursday , the 27 th inst . H . R . H THE PHINCBSS OF WALES has signified her intention of visiting the Royal Horticultural Society ' s Great Show , in the Temple Gardens , on Wednesday , if she can possibly do so , after her Majest y ' s Birthday Parade .

ON THURSDAY the Queen received at Windsor Castle the Marquis of Salisbury , prior to the departure of the Court on this ( Friday ) morning for the North . His lordship dined with her Majesty and remained at the Palace . THE KINO AND QUEEN OF WURTEMISURG arrived at Claremont , Esher , on Wednesday on a visit to the Duchess of Albany . They were received at the railway station by her Royal Highness , and will remain in England for about a fortnight .

THE DUKE OF YORK , attended by the Hon . Derek Keppel , left Windsor Castle for Chobham , on Wednesday , for the purpose of visiting the Gordon Boys' Home . After lunching with the Commandant , Col . Walker , his Royal Highness returned to London , H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALLS , attended by Capt . Holford , returned to Mirlborough House on Thursday afternoon from Neivmirket , whsre ha hid been staying since Tuesday , and in the evening was present at the performincj of " Saucy Sally " at the Comedy Theatre .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE has consented to take the chair at a meeting of the quarterly court of governors of the Middlesex Hospital , to be held on tlis 27 th inst ., at noon , at which a congratulatory address to the Patron , her Majesty the Qjeen , on the celebration of the Ooth anniversary of her reign , will be submitted . A MASONIC SERVICE , as previously announced in our columns , will be held in the Collegiate Church of St . Saviour ' s , Southwark , on Thursday next , the 27 th instant ( Ascension Day ) , at which Bro . the Earl of Lathom , Pro G . M ., and other dignitaries of the Order , will be present , and the sermon preached by Bro , the Very Rev . S . R . I lole , D . D ., Dean of Rochester , G . Chap .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN , accompanied by her daughter , the Princess Victoria , distributed the badges and certificates awarded to the first ladies enrolled in the new Army Nursing Reserve . The cerennny took place in the lecture theatre of the Royal United Service Institute , and was witnessed by a numerous gathering of interested spectators , amongst whom were Bro . Lord Methuen and Bro . Lord and Lady Loch .

THE FRIENDS and supporters of the Jews Hospital and Orphan Asylum dined together at the Mansion House on Tuesday evening , under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , the Lady Mayoress , and numerous others being present on the occasion . In the course of the evening , the Lord Mayor , in acknowledging the toast of his health , announced that the subscriptions towards the funds of the Institution amounted to £ 11 , 700 .

THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY , attended by Bro . Sir Robert Collins and Miss Heron-Maxwell , opened a bazaar at the Assembly Rooms , Kingston-on-Thames , in aid of the Kingston School Accommodation Fund , for which a sum cf £ . 2000 is required in order to meet the demands for school places . Her Royal Highness having declared the bazaar open , graciously received Go purses of money from as many children representing the years of the Queen ' s reign .

THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON has ^ addressed a letter the daily press announcing that he has received a cheque for £ 25 , 000 towards the Princess of Wales's Fund for providing a dinner during Jubilee week for the outcast poor of London . This with the amount previously received will suffice for the purposes for which the Fund was being organised and the Ixrd Mayor has accordingly declared it to be closed . The donor of this munificent gift has elected to have his name kept secret .

BRO . GENERAL LORD WOLSELEY was the guest of Major General Thyme , at Yorlt , during Thursday and Friday last . On Thursday afternoon he visited York Minster , and was conducted over the most interesting portions by Bro . T . B . Whitehead , the Chapter Clerk . On Saturday he held a review of the troops on Knavesmire , including the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry Regiment ( the Yorkshire Red Caps ) , under the command of Bro . Lieut .-Col . the Right Hon . Lord Bolton , D . P . G . M . of North and East . Yorkshire .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES , representing her Majesty the Queen , will perform the ceremony of opening the Blackwall Tunnel to-morrow ( Saturday ) afternoon at 3 . 30 -p . m . Their Royal Highnesses will be accompanied by the Princess Victoria of Wales and the Duke of York , and attended by the Great Officers of the Household , & c . The procession will consist of live carriages under an esctrt of the ist Life Guards , and will prcceed by way of Pall Mall , Northumberland-avenue ,

the Victoria Embankment , Queen Victoria-street , Leadenhall-street , Aldgate , Whitechapel , Commercial-road East , and East India Dock-road . It will be met at the northern approach of the tunnel by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the London County Council , and the Chairman , Vice-Chairman , and members of the Bridges Committee . The tunnel having been declared open , the Royal Family , & c , will re-enter their carriages and return viti Greenwich , Deptford , Old and New Kent-road , & c .

Bv COMMAND of the Queen , H . R . H . the Princess of Wales held a Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday afternoon , at which , by the Queen ' s pleasure , presentations to her Royal Highness are considered equivalent to presentations to her Majesty . Her Royal Highness arrived at the Palace from Marlborough House accompanied by the Duke of Vork and attended by Lord Colville of Culross , Lady Km ' tly Kingscote , Miss Knollys , and Bros . Lord Suflield and Sir Francis Knollys . The Duchess of Albany and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein were also present , lhe

Honourable Corps of Gentlcmen-at-Arms were on duty under the command of Captain Lord Belper , and the Yeomen of the Guard under Captain the Earl of Waldegrave . There were in attendance on her Roval Highness , the Duchess of liuccleugh ( Mistress of the Robes ) , Viscountess Downe ( Lady-in-Waiting ) , the Hon . Mrs . Ferguson of Pitfour ( Woman of the Bedchamber-in-Waiting ) , the Hon . Ethel Cadogan and the Hon . Bertha Lambart ( Maids of llonour-in-Waiting ) , the Earl of Pembroke ( Lord Steward ) , of

Bro . the Earl of Lathom ( Lord Chamberlain ) , Bro . the Duke of Portland ( Master the Horse ) , Viscount Curzon , M . P . ; Bro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P . : the Earl of Coventry ( Master of the Buckhounds ) , the Earl of Clarendon ( Lord-in-Waiting ) , and many others . The Diplomatic and General Circles were very numerously attended and there was a large number of presentations which had previously been submitted for her Majesty ' s approval .