Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The Consecration of the Windrush Lodge , No . 1703 , took place on Friday , the 21 st inst ., at the Corn Exchange , Witney . We understand that it is the intention of our brethren in the province of Hertfordshire , to present to Bro . George Lambert , 32 ° , a portrait of himself , painted in oil .

At a meeting of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Thursday , 13 th inst ., Bro . John Charles was unanimously elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . Owing to the recent sudden death of Bro . T . L . Fox , of H . M . Stationery Office , and for many years a much respected Past Master of the lodge , the brethren appeared in mourning as , a slight mark of the esteem in wnich he was held .

We are p leased to hear that Bro . George Attenborough is steadily recovering from the effects of the carriage accident which recently befel him . —City Press . Bro . Julius Charles Frank , P . M . Euphrates Loelge , 212 , has established himself as a translator uf languages , at 3 , Newmau ' s-court , Cornhill . Even Masonic secrets will "out . " It is

proposed to make Sir James McGarel Hogg , one of the respecteel representatives of the city of Truro in Parliament , a member of the " Phoenix Lodge of Honour and Prudence ; " and a worthy " brother "—forgetful alike of the virtues indicated by the name of his lodge and of the momentous oath by which , it is said , he is bound to

secrecylet the cat out of the bag 111 the fpesl Briton . We have heard ominous murmurings ancnt this crime of publishing to the Gentile vvoilri a secret of the sacred fraternity , and doubtless the dear but erring "brother" will have to suffer some dread punishment . " So mote it be" I—Royal Ctrnwall Gazelle .

"The Gossips' Bowl , " is the title of the Christmas number of ihe Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News , including a splendid coloured picture of most attractive character , by J . T . Lucas , entitled " Chips of the Old Block I " Numerous illustrations by distinguished artists are also given . Stories , poems , drama , etc ., by wellknown authors . The leading story is by Miss M . E . Braddon , author of " Lady Audley ' s Secret . " It is certainly one of the best Christmas numhtrs of 1877 .

The damages occasioned to the National Hospital for Diseases of the Heart and Paralysis , Sohosquare , through the recent gales , have , on fuither examination , proved more serious than > was' at first anticipated , and has rendered it necessary that the entire building be placed under repair . Owing to the critical state of some of the patients , the hospital is but partially closed , and an

earnest appeal for funds at once to repair the damages and to re-open all the wards has b . en made by their treasurer , the Earl of Glasgow . In the meantime the committee are obliged to refuse daily pressing applications . The Annual Ball of the Norse Rowing Club will be held at Willis ' s Rooms , King Street , St- James ' s ,

011 Friday , January , 1 ith , I 878 , under the patronage of His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh and Queensbury , K . C There was a Cabinet Council held on Tuesday last , the result of which was an announcement that Parliament will meet on the 17 th of January , or about three weeks earlier than usual .

The Masonic Hall , Kirkdale-road , Liverpool , has been purchased by the Roman Catholics , and will be opened immediately as a chapel , eledicated to St . Alphonsus Liguori . This , it ought to be stated , is a comparatively small hall at the north end of the town , and as its accommodation has been found too limited for the increasing number of lodges and brethren in this district , another larger building is now in course of erection , which will probably be opened early in the year with Masonic

cere-. It had been arranged that the Queen and Princess Beatrice were to leave Windsor Castle on Wednesday next for Osborne . On Saturday evening , however , upon the return of the Queen to Windsor Castle , after visiting Lord Beaconsficld at Hughcnden , her Majesty altered her determination , and she will now pass

Christmas at Windsor Castle . REGISTERED LETTERS . —Tn the changed system of registration which will come into use on Jan . 1 , it will be important to note that the new envelopes bearing a twopenny stamp for the payment of the registration fee only must have affixed to them the necessary stamp or stamps for postage , and must not be dropped into a

letterbox , but must be given to an agent of the post-office . The envelopes are stoutly lined with linen , and fasten at one end \ cry securely . For the convenience of persons living in country places , where no post-office is near , letters will be registered by rural post messengers , who will receive letters for registration on their outward and on their inward walks , whenever it is practicable for them to do so . In the event

of a registered letter containing an enclosure of intrinsic value or its contents being lost while passing through the post , the department will , under certain regulations , make good the value of the contents up to £ 2 . Inland letters containing coin , jewellery , or watches , cannot be sent unregistered . If dropped into a letter box , they will , as heretofore , be registered by the post-office , and charged on delivery with a registration fee of 8 d ; a similar fee of 8 d

Will be charged on letters ( without regard to their contents ) marked " Registered , " but posted unregistered instiad of being given to a pi . st-oflicc servant . No letter containing coin , jewellery , or watches , can be sent , even if registered , to any forei gn country . The Postmaster-General hopes that when registration is made so cheap and so easy the public will altogether abstain from sending letters containing enclosures of value through the post unregistered .

Masonic And General Tidings.

At a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Wales and Shropshire on Frielay , the i . rinst . a sum of £ 50 was toted from the Grant Lodge funds to the willow of the late Bro . Dr . Goldsbro ' . A sum of £ soo was also voted to the purchase of a vice patronship in the Masonic Boys School , and £$ o as part of ihe larger sum tor the sume in connection with the Girls School .

Rejoicings were held on Thursday week on the extensive Forfarshire estates of the Earl of Dalhousie , the occasion being the marriage of his lordship ' s eldest son , Lord Ramsay , to Lady Ida Bennett , youngest "daughter of the Earl of Tankcrville , which marriage took place on Thursday week , at St . James ' s , Piccadilly . The . National Lifeboat Institution held its

annual meeting in London on Thursday , at which it was stated that liieboats had this year saved 743 lives ; 208 lives were saved during the gales of last month . THE MARSUIS OP BUTE AND THE HIGHLANDERS . —The Marquis of Bute presided over a great gathering of Highlanders in Greenock a few evenings ago . ' 1 hree thousand persons were present . His lordship was

supported by Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart , Bart ., Mr . Grieve , M . P ., anel a number of distinguished gentlemen . The Marquis delivered a long ailihess , tracing the history of the Celtic : race and languages . He remarked on the great tenacity of Cymra , saying there were twenty-four newspapers in the Welsh language in Wales . Irish and Scotch literature could not compare with this . He advised his

hearers to cultivate their literature , to preserve their languageT His lordship receiveel loud demonstrations of sympathy when he said that a recent event , " the disastrous fire at Mount Stuart House , " had deprived him of the liteiary means of being better prepared for the subject . KNIGHTHOOD . —The licensed victuallers of Liverpool appreciate keenly the honour reflected upon the

whole of their body by the knighthood which her Majesty has been pleased to confer upon the ex-Mayor , Sir A . B . Walker . At their monthly meeting , the Chairman ( Bro . W . Vines , W . M . 1299 ; Bro . W . Coates , 1601 ) , being the Vice-Chairman ) , referring to the matter , saiel he was sure every member of the association would rejoice in this

mark of the Queen ' s favour , and he moved that a complimentary letter should be sent to him from the members of that association . The recommendation was agreed to by acclamation . A new poem entitled " Angels and Men , " by Bro . Wellin Smith , P . M . 1261 , has been published . It is dedicated by permission to the poet laureate .

The meeting of the Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge of Scotland will be held on Monday , instead of Tuesday next . The announcement is made that Mr . Chief Inspector Clarke , of the Detective Department , Scotlandyard , has been reinstated on full pay . The action of the Commissioneis will entitle Mr . Clarke to the arrears of his pay since the date of his arrest , and to his full

pension . We are asked to state that the " Scottish Masonic Calendar" for 18 7 8 will not be published until the middle of January , to permit of those lodges who do not elect their office-bearers until the 27 th inst . The Secretaries of lodges , chapters , e \ : c ., under the Grand Lodge of Scotland , will therefore oblige by stnding in their

returns not later than the 1 st of January next . Her Majesty oil Saturday afternoon paid a visit to Lord Beaconsficld at Hughcnden , and though the occasion was private , advantage was taken of it by the Mayor and Corporation of High Wycombe to present the Queen with a loyal address . The stay of her Majestv larteil a little over two hours , during which lime ,

and after luncheon , she visited the church in ihe park where the late Lady Beaconsficld is interred . PARIS EXHIBITION . —Tuesday night ' s Gazette contains ; i list of the intending British exhibitors at Paris . The catalogue is a very comprehensive one , and fully representative of all the leaeiing industries of the United

Kingdom . The Mayor , Alderman Albert Wood , entertained the members of the Conway Town Council , and a large number of guests at a grand banquet at the Castle Hotel . Bro . Bulkeley Hughes was present during the evening .

STAFFORD HOUSU COMMITTEE . —A meeting of this committee was held on Saturday last , at which Mr . Barrington Kennett was present , and gave a full and most satisfactory account of the work of the committee in Central and Asiatic Turkey . Upwards of 30 , 000 sick and wounded soldiers have been attended by the surgeons of the committee , and have received food on their way to the

front , and at the present moment upwards of icoo men are under treatment in the permanent hospitals , independently of the field ambulance . The Earl of Chichester , Lord-Lieutenant of Sussex , while riding in his park at Stanmer , near Lewes , recently , was thrown from his horse , and sustained severe injuries . It is hoped , however , that no bones were broken .

Mr . S . A . Hagon , Hon . Sec . of the Goldsmiths and Jewellers' Annuity and Asylum Institution was presented on Thursday week with a handsome silver-teapot in recognition of his services so cheerfully rendered in connection with the Jubilee Festival held at Goldsmith ' s Hall . Bro . George Lambert made the presentation . Don Carlos , who is travelling incognito in Italy ,

has been robbed of his Collar of the Golden Fleece , which is not only of great pecuniary value , but is believed to be the ornament made for Phillip , Duke of Burgundy , in 14 . 30 , on his founding the Order in celebration of his third marriage . Don Carlos , who always carried it about with him , and had recently placet ! it in his trunk , found the case empty .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Sir R . Michael , Shaw Stewart , Bart ., M . W . G . M . of Scotland , has intimated that he will not contest the representation of Greenock . The Crystal Palace Grand Comic Pantomime entitled Tne Sleeping Beauty , by Messrs . Augustus Harris , and W . R . Osman , will be performed for the first time on Wednesday next ( Boxing-day ) under the personal direction of Mr . Charles Wyndham . Phe Ballet and

Chorus will consist of an army of two hundred children . The Peninsula and Oriental Company ' s steamer Bokhara sailed from Southampton with £ 20 , 000 in gold for Alexandria , and 300 , 000 in specie for Bombay . The traffic receipts of the London and South ¦ Western Railway for last week show an increase of £ 417 ; and the Grand Trunk of Canada an increase of £ 8 , 700 . CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS . —In

order to afford the public an opportunity of taking their railway tickets and obtaining information previous to the holidays , the London , Brighton , and South Coast Railway Company give notce that their West-end office , 28 , Regent-circus , Picadilly , will remain open until n p . m . on Friday , 21 st , Saturday , 22 nd , and Monday , 24 th inst ., for the issue of tickets to the various attractive places on the

South Coast and Isle of Wight , Paris , and the Continent . Passengers may be booked at that office at the same fares as charged from the Victoria and London Bridge stations . Messrs . Dowling , of Half-moon-passage , Leaelenhall Market , were the purchasers of two pens of pigs ( exhibited at the Cattle Show ) , one the property of

Her Majesty , the other the property of E . Drew , Esq ., of Dorset . The latter took the first prize of its class . The " Freemason " of this week ( Dec . 22 nd ) consists of 32 pages exclusive of wrapper . The wrapper is unambitiously illustrated with portraits of the following eminent brethren : —

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . H . R . H , the Duke of Connaught , S . G . W . H . R . H . Prince Leopold , J . G . W . JE . J . Mclntyre , Esq ., OX ., G . Registrar . J . B . Monckton . Esq . P . B . of Gen . Purp . Sir Albert Woods , G . Dir . of Cer . T . Fenn , Esq ., A . G . Dir of Cer .

Bros . Terry , Little , and Binckes , Secretaries of the Royal Masonic Institutions ; and Bro . Henry G . Buss , Asst . Grand Sec . The price of this number is 41 I ., and may be had of all news-agents , or direct from the office ( 198 , Fleet-street ) , on receipt by the Publisher of 5 penny stamps . As we are in Christmas times I'll conjure up

a conundrum . Why is a policeman like the ghost of Hamlet ' s father?—Because he is "doomed for a certain time to walk the night I " "Hold on ! " cried a candidate to his rival , with whom he was stumping the State . " Do you mean to say that 1 spoke falsely ? " " Well , no , not falsely ' , hut I'll leave it to this intelligent and patriotic assemblage

if they ever saw any other man take such a circumlocutory course around the truth as you did ! " Two whiskered dandies , with hair enough upon their upper lips to make a grenadier ' s cap , went , the other elay , to the academy of fine arts . On reading the inscription over the door , " No dogs admitted , " the foremost turned to his friend and wittily observed : " You

must go back , Fred , you see they don't admit you . " "Oh , don ' t be f lightened , gentlemen , " said the door-keeper , " you may both come in ; " adding while pocketing the cash , " the regulation does not extend to puppies . " A MISNOMER . — Lord Donoughmore has presided over a Masonic festival at the Freemasons' Hall . Lord Do-no-morc is scarcely a fit title for a man who is

inclined to do so much . —Funny Folks , Dec . 15 th . Highly Considerate . Little Smithkin ( debonairly ) : Object to smoking ?—North Briton : Nae in the least , if it does 11 a mak' ye sac' ? As Little S . saiel , he " cut the old cad for the rest of the journey . " " Who can hold a fire in his hand ? " exclaimed a public speaker . " Any one that smokes , " responded a

voice ; " he'll strike a match and light his cigar with it the windiest day that ever you saw I " A lawyer having worn out the patience of a judge by his quibbling , the judge testily exclaimed : " Mr . , what do you think I ' m sitting here for ?" " That's too hard a conundrum for me . I give it up , " said the lawyer , as he sat down . The clerk of a criminal court having read the

indictment of a prisoner for horse stealing , said to him : " Guilty or not guilty ? " " Wal , " he responded , "I ' m guilty fast enough , but then I want to be tried just the same , ' specially as I see several of our boys on the jury . " The Kroomen of West Africa say of the American : " Him catchce horse , make he work ; catchee water , make he work ; catchee fire , make he work ; catchee wind , make he work . "

" I didn t at all expect company to-day , " said a lady to her visitors , with a not very pleasant look ; " but I hope you will make yourself at home . " "Yes , indeed , " replied one of them , starting off , " I will make myself at home as quick as possible . " " Madam , don ' t you know that your baby will catch i's death ol cold ? " "No , sir , " she promptly responded . " Well , it's such carelessness as that which fills

our cemeteries with little graves , " he continued . " While all the meddlesome old fools continue to live , " she replied . "The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , Diary and Pocket Book" ( G . Kenning , 198 , Fleet-street ) is especially adapted to Masonic people ; to others it will be a curiosity . It contains very full statistics of the body for which it is intended . —The Queen , Dec . 8 th , 1877 .