Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

Bro . the Earl of Dunraven has made a reduction of 15 per cent to all the agricultural tenants on his extensive estates in VVales . A new flagstaff made from a stout pine grown in Oregon , U . S . A ., and said to be Sg years old , is about to be erected on the Round Tower at Windsor Castle .

The Queen has graciously forwarded to the Royal College of Music the sum of 100 guineas ( £ 105 ) , being the amount of her Majesty's annual subscription to that institution . The Queen has forwarded , through Sir Henry Ponsonby , her annual subscription of £ 50 to the Army and Navy Pensioners' Employment Association , of vvhich her Alajesty is Patron .

The Duke and Duchess of Connaught have concluded their visit to the Queen at Bilmoral , and the Duke has now resumed his military duties at Portsmouth , where be will be joined by the Duchess . The annual Cat Show at the Crystal Palace was opened on Tuesday , there being upwards of Coo entries , divided into any number of classes , and including some very fine specimens of the feline tribe .

The 1 st Life Guards have been removed from Windsor to Shorncliffe Camp , their place at the former having been taken by the ist Dragoon Guards . The change of quarters by the two regiments vvas effected by train on Wednesday . In our report of the Provincial Grand Alark Lodge of Lancashire last week , we ommited from the list of officers appointed that of the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . S . Scott Young , P . M . 24 , for which vve tender our apologies to that worthy brother .

The late Air . George Fowler , of the firm of George Fowler , Son , and Co . ( Limited ) , of Liverpool , who died at Rockferry , Ch eshire , on the Sth January last , aged G 7 years , has bequeathed £ 100 , 000 to be devoted to charitable purposes in England and Ireland .

Princess Victoria Alary of Teck has very kindly consented to become Patroness of the Sister ' s and Women ' s Work in connection vvith the Trinity College Cambridge Alission , Camberwell , vvhich was opened last year by thc Prince of VVales and the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale .

News has been received that the P . and O . Steamer Bokhara , having a registered tonnage of 2555 , vvhich had been long overdue , has been totally wrecked , having struck on Sand Island , Pescadores , on its voyage from Shanghai to Hong Kong . The captain and the majority of the crew are lost , but 23 persons are known to have been saved .

LORD MAYOR ' S DAY . —The 17 th ( Duke of Cambridge ' s Own ) Lancers has been ordered to provide an escort for the incoming Lord Alayor ( Mr . Alderman Knill ) , on the 9 th prox . The bands of the Household Cavalry and 17 th Lancers and the mounted band of the Royal Artillery havc also been ordered to join the Lord Alayor ' s procession .

The professors of the Guildhall School of Alusic were entertained at dinner at the Hotel Alotropole on Saturday evening last by their new chief , Sir Joseph Barnby , who received a most enthusiastic welcome . Among the guests present vvere Bro . Sir W . Cusins , P . G . Org ., Sir John Stainer , Air . Sims Reeves , and Bro . Sir Augustus Harris .

Owing to increasing deafness Bro . Earl Cowper has announced his intention of resigning the chairmanship of the Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions , and at a recent meeting of the Court , a vote of thanks proposed by Bro . Baron Dimsdale and seconded hy Bra . Abel Smith , ALP ., was unanimously passed to his lordship , together with an expression of regret at his retirement .

Bro . Lord Alayor Sir David Evans and the Lady Alayoress entertained the Gaekwar and Maharanee of Baroda at luncheon at the Alansion House on Tuesday , and in the afternoon the Lady Mayoress held one of the largest of her musical receptions . To-day ( Friday ) will be held the annual ball to the Alayors and Provosts of the United Kingdom , while on Alonday the Dukeof Edinburgh , Alaster , and the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House , will be entertained at the usual banquet .

The full membership—2500—of the Borough-road Polytechnic Institution has already 1 een reached , though it was only opened about three weeks ago by the Iiarl of Kostbery , and there are several hundreds who hive appli d for admission . About £ 17 , 000 is still needed towards comp ' eting the institution , of which about £ 3000 has been promised . It is intended to apply this latter sum towards the erection of a swimming bath and gymnasium , provided the other £ 3000 vvhich vvill be required for the purpose is forthcoming .

The value has been sworn at £ 19 , 750 iSs . 9 L of the personal estate of the Right Hon . Lady Louisa Elizabeth Finch , late of 5 S , Rutland-gate , who died on August , 2 Gth last , aged SG years , and who was the daughter of the sixth Duke of Beaufort , and the widow of Mr . G ; orge Finch , Burley-on-the-Hill , Oakham . The executors of Lady Louisa Finch ' s will , which bears date Alay 14 , 1 . S 91 , are her

sons , Air . George Henry Finch , of Burley-on-the-Hill , ALP ., and Air . Henry Randolph Finch , of Preston , Uppingham . The testatrix appoints a sum of £ Suoo fettled upon her on her marriage in 1 S 32 , and now invested on mortgage of Foulnesse Island , to pay the income of her daughter Louisa for her life , and , subject to her life interest

, in trust fur her said son Henry Randolph . She bequeaths to her said son her shares in and money deposited with Combe and Co . ( Limited ) , and to her said daughter Louisa and her daughter Airs . Waller all her Queensland Inscribed Stock . The house in Rutland-gate and its furniture and all the residue of her property Lady Louisa Finch leaves in trust for her daughter Louisa .

Young lady artist , daughter of Exhibitor at the koyal Academy , artistically colours photographs : Cartes , is ., 2 s . cabinets , 2 s ., 3 s . Gd . Photographs enlrrged up to lite-si / . , and finished in oils , water colour , or monochrome . Ivory miniatures faithfully reproduced from photographs , and most delicately painted . Special care taken with the colouring of regalia . Highest testimonials from nobility , & c . —Alabel Vernon , Craven House , Beaconsfield-road New Southgate , N .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . J . E . Saunders , J . P ., has been elected Masterof the Wheelwrights' Company for the ensuing year . The Royal Courts of Justice , vvhich have been closed during the long vacation , vvill be re-opened on Monday next , the 24 th instant , that being the first day of the Michaelmas

Sittings . Princess Victoria Amelia of Schleswig-Holstein has been on a visit to Bro the Alarquis and Marchioness of Tweeddale at Gertes , where they have been entertaining a large number of guests .

According to advices from Vienna , it is proposed to organise a long distance ride between the Austrian capital and Rome on the same lines as the recent ride between Berlin and Vienna , the idea being very warmly supported in both cities .

In consequence of the heavy rains vvhich have lately fallen , a serious slip of the embankment of the Great Northern Railway occurred on Alonday near Grantham . The result vvas that the main line traffic had to be worked on a single line until the debris had been cleared away .

It is announced that the London and Provincial Fire Brigades will take part this year , as they have for many years past , in the Lord Alayor's Procession on the o » h prox . Captain Shean will be in command , and Captains Viscount Cantelupe ( Bexhill ) and Dyson ( Windsor ) vvill act as brigade-majors .

It is intended to hold a bazaar in Kensington Town Hall on the Gth December and three following divs in aid of the funds for the Poor Children's Free Aleals . It will take place under the patronage of the Princess Alary . Duchess of Teck , and her sister , the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz .

The Empress Frederick has intimated , through Count Secendorff , that it is her intention to contribute 50 guineas to the Alorell Mackenzie Alemorial Fund . It has been determined that the Memorial shall take the form of an extension of the Throat Hospital , Golden-square , to be called "The Alorell Mackenzie Wing . " Sir Walter Phillimore , of the Western Circuit and the

Admiralty Court , has been offered , and accepted , the Judgeship in the Queen's Bench Division vacant by the resignation of Air . Justice Denman . Sir Walter Phillimore , who is the only son of the late Sir Robert Phillimore , a Judge of the old High Court of Admiralty , vvas born in 1 S 45 , and vvas called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1 S 6 S .

Thursday , November ioth , is the date fixed by Bro . Irving for the production of " King Lear " at the Lyceum Theatre . " Henry VIII . " vvill be played every evening up to November 4 th , with the exception nf Saturday night , the 29 th inst ., when " The Bells " will be given . There will be two matinees of "Henry VIII . " on the 29 th instant and November 25 th , the latter being the last performance of the play .

The Household Cavalry are to be armed with the Alartini-Aletford , in place of the Martini-Henry , and commanding officers have been directed to send in at once demands for the number they require to equip their regiments . It is understood that the re-armament will extend to all the cavalry regiments , as the weapons become ready for issue . In the new carbine the smaller-bore Aletford barrel is substituted for the Henry barrel , and takes the same ammunition as the magazine gun of the infantry .

Bio . Henry Irving ' s celebrated collection of Edmund Kean relics is likely to have a curious addition made to it . It is not generally known that the great actor was , on October 7 th , 1 S 2 G , elected at Quebec a Chief and Prince of the Huron tribe of Indians , hy the name of Alanicmuidet .

An engraving is extant of Kean fully attired as a warlike Indian . Recently the original ostime—feathers , tomahawk , and all—vvas discovered among the effects of the late Airs . Ltigh Alurray , and it will 1 ) 2 exhibited at Clarkson ' s before being added to Bro . living ' s collection .

The Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) , who was accompanied by her husband , visited Edinburgh on Tuesday , when her Royal Highness formally opened the Parliament Hall in the Castle , which has been restored through the munificence of the late Air . Edward Nelson . The silver key which vvas presented to the Princess by Airs . Nelson vvas enclosed in a casket made of wood taken from the roof

of the old hall . In thc afternoon of the same day she presented new colours to thc Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders , the regiment under the command of Col . Chater being drawn up in review order on the Castle esplanade . In acknowledging her Royal Highness ' s kindness in performing this function , Col . Chater , in the nam ; of the

regiment , requested the Princess to accept the old onts , for which be hoped she would lind a home . To-day ( Friday ) the Princess will conclude her visit to Edinburgh , and will proccd to Djndee , where sir ; will receive an address from the Corporation , and visit a Home in connection with thc local sick poor nursing society .

A special meeting if the Devon Masonic Educational Fund is convened fur Saturday , the 29 th inst ., at the Freemasons'Hall , Plymouth . There are six candidates for three vacancies , and possibly 70-j votes will be required to secure election , but all depends on how the votes are distributed . The highi-st amounts received from lodges during ISIJI arc No . . vj ( ExeterJ , £ 21 lis . Gd ., per Bro . E . II , Shorto ;

No . 1402 ( Torquay ) , £ iH 7 s . Gd ., per Bro . John Taylor ; No . 223 ( Plymouth ) , £ iy , per Bro . R . Blight ; No . 15 G ( Plymouth ) , £ 15 13 s ., per Bro . G . Whittley ; No . 1550 ( Plymouth ) , £ 14 ios . Gd ., per Bro . C . Alutten ; No . 70 ( Plymouth ) , i ' i 4 Gs ., pur Bro . W . T . Hocking ; No . 1511

( Plymouth ) , £ 13 lis ., per Bro . N . Radmore ; No . 251 ( Barnstaple ) , £ 13 103 ., per Bro . J . Brewer ; No . 32 . S ( Torquay ) , £ 12 15 s , per Bro . C . ) . Harland ; No . 202 ( Devonport ) , £ \ i 1 . 5 s ., per Bro . W . Allsford ; No . U 12 ( Stoke ) , £ . 11 3 s ., per Bro . W . Fo . vler ; and No . 115 . S ( Newton Abbot ) , £ 10 ios ., psr Bro . R . 11 . Grimbly .

HIILLOWAY s P 11 . 1 . S . — i here is nntliinir 111 the wlmle " . Materia Meilii ' . i '' like these me'licanient * fur Ihe certainty nf their actum i 1 lumbnirn , sciatica , lie ilnlnreux , and all llyine ; or settliil piinw in the nerves and musi les . ( lipases uf Itiis nature originate in hail liloml ami ilepraveil liiini'Mirs , anil until these are i-nrrecti il tliere can he no permanent cure . Tlie untinarv re-i eilies atlnril

hat lempnr ^ ry relief , anil III the end always disappoint the sutierer . ( lollmvay ' s Ointment penetrates the human system as salt penetrates meat , anil tlie I'ills irreatly assist anrl ncrelerate its nperation r , y i-leanti .. away all nlistTnrtinns ami ejvinn tone In Ihe system e , encrally . The prophylactic virtues nf lliillmvay ' s remedies stand unrivalled .

Masonic And General Tidings.

In our report of the Provincial Grand Mark Lod Lancashire last week we gave Bro . F . Powell as the Prf' 5 It should have been Bro . C . E . Towell . '' A > Mrs . Martha Ricks , the aged negress , who , on her re visit to this country , was received by Bro . the Lord M ^"' " and Lady Alayoress , has forwarded to the latter a sh ' av ] " * " quilt of native workmanship as a souvenir of her visit t „ u " Alansion House . to the e

Bro .. H . AL Imbert-Terry haj been presented win , purse of 1000 guineas by the Conservatives of DevonsV ' ' and Airs . Imbert-Terry was presented with a valinlT' ' diamond pendant by the members of the Primrose Lea ? ! of vvhich she vvas a Ruling Dame . "" ii !

Our readers will all have been sorry to notice in the rial papers from time to time that Bro . Harry Nicholls td ? popular comedian and Senior Warden of the Drury | a e Lodge , has been dangerously ill . Thelast accountofhisco ' dition vvas , we are glad to learn , more hopeful , and vve tru-t ' his recovery is only a question of time . i

The German Emperor has accepted the dedication of a composition by Mdlle . Janotha , entitled " The Colbert Alarch . " It is written for the band of the regiment in vvhich Mdlle . Janotha ' s brother holds the rank of captain During her recent stay in Scotland , the Danish pianiste had the honour of playing before her Majesty tl « Oueen at Balmoral . ~

Air . Gladstone vvill to-day ( Friday ) cut the first sod of the new branch of the Alanchestcr , Sheffield , and Lincolnshire Railway , uniting North Wales directly with Liverpool , thus saving the long detour by way of Chester . A distinguished company is invited to meet the right hon . gentleman . The new line , which is a short one , starts from Wirral .

At the meeting of the Cricklewood Lodge , No . 2 fn , or , Wednesday last , Bro . James Willing , juu ., was presented by the brethren vvith a handsome silver salver , weighing 120 ounces , in recognition of his valuable services as a founder of the lodge , and his two years' occupancy of the chair . We hope to give a report of the proceedings in onr next .

Lord Alethuen has decided to make an experiment which is of considerable importance to Aletropolitan Volunteer officers—the establishment for their use of a night school of instruction in one of the Volunteer drill halls near Wellington Barracks , commencing on the 16 th prox . The school will be under the same regulations as the present day school of instruction at Chelsea , and the hours will he from 6 . 30 till 10 .

" Alana ' s Christmas Annual , whicn will consist ol a series of amusing episodes of English home life , by Urn . Edgar Lee , will be published early in November . There will be 50 pages of illustrations by Phil Alay , Wallii Alackay , Bro . Tom Alerry , George Cruikshank , Matt Stretch , Harold Furniss , VV . Dewar , J . Rogier , CeeTee , and other well-known black and white artists . The lirst issue is already fully subscribed .

Verdi's * ' Otello , " vvhich has not been heard here since it vvas lirst mounted by Bro . Sir Augustus Harris two seasons ago , is to be revived at Covent Garden some time during the week after next . The cast will be entirely new , except as to the part of lago , wbich Air . Dufriche has ahead )

played at this house . Londoners will have an opportunity , for the lirst time , of seeing Aladame Melba in the riVe oi Desdemona ; Aliss Guercia will be the Emilia ; ami Otello will be played by Air . Gianini , who has wjn distinction in the part on the Continent .

At the harvest festival of St . James ' s , Preston , the " Barton " lectern vvas dedicated . It stands G feetG inches high . On the base is the inscription : " St . James ' s Church , Preston . To the glory of God and in memory of I horrus Barton , who died April 27 th , 1 S 92 . The gift of his nephew ,

the Rev . I'himas Barton Spencer , M . A ., Vicar , Pas * . Grand Chaplain of England in Freemasonry . " The lectern isa facsimile of the one pref cited by the Baroness llurJe't-Coutts to St . Stephen ' s Westminster . A new Bible lias also been presented with the lectern by Bro . Spencer .

Bro . Seymour Smith again announces his annual bcneli . concert at the Peckham Public Hill on Thursday next . As on former ci-casions , he is supported by a large number 0 . excellent artistes , amongst whom vve notice the nam' * ° | the veteran , Richard Hldgrave . Alore than ordinary interest attaches to this performance from the fact that the lirst pa ' vvill consist of a sacred cantata entitled "Joshua , " cmf' ** ;" by Bro . Seymour Smith . The second part will he a j " cellancous selection of vocal and instrumental inns *' . <'

who can attend may be assured ot a musical treat . London vvas not favoured with a sight of the c < lips' the sun which tccuired on Thursday . The obsrurau ™ covered nine-tenths of th ; silar surface , anJ was ati > maximum at Gh 3 G 111 , rather more than an hour am , ? , after sunset in these islands . Except for about an imur t

sun was totall y eclipsed by mist and cloud so far as residents in this Metropolis were concerned . Ne * ) . " was not much better olT , f jr , owing to the luze prevailin g the darkening produced by the nuon ' s uiterv-intio i 1113 _ little perceptible difference . There the greatest eMcrt »¦ * - produced at 1 . 39 local time .

Now that the dark evenings are approaching , f '' dents are beginning , as usual , to be of frequent o "'" A f 1 he market is just now Hooded with cheap lamps , ' jt ,.. them of foreign make absolutely worthless , and ^ ¦ dangerous to use ; their ITunsy brass and g lass resi-rv , ^ anil ha . t rnnslrurtinn . make lliem dantrerous evill

used with the greatest care . Alessrs . A . C . Wells •" \ , lJj Alanchester and London , have submitted to us a . s-j " ! _ their unbreakable hand-lamps , which they claim to he nor lutely sale , and which will neither break if ""'''''" ^ jA explode under any possible circumstances . 1 he re . * - ' J ^ _ , e made i . f cast iron , and is indestructible . ! . , niA

numbers ol these lamps have been sold , anu u .= > lri llI 1 . legarding their efficiency have been sent to tne _ *** , l . _ . ol ] l ; gentry of position and inlluence , amongst whn ¦ ' ^ . 1 , 0111 the Emperor of Russia , where they are in U'L' , | y , Gatchina Palace . VVe a'lvise our readers to , nal ' ,, application to their nearest ir ra-n ; : r lor these l . n . A Goon PLAN .-The Eleventh Annual 1 , *< llt '' , " a i ,: e ] ! . * .... ! II .... 1 / L » nt fr I ..,..: valuable anil ; 1 :.

information how to operate successfully m * A levari * ; Shares and obtain hanuseme prolits .- Aa . ' . ress , and Co ., Stockbrokers , n , Poultry , London , f-, ^ -