Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF R UTLAND left Cap Martin on Tuesday , proceeding to England by easy stages . THE DUCHESS OF ABERCORN and the Ladies Hamilton , who are at present staying in Paris , return to London this week . THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA is likely to remain at Nice till the end of the month , when he will leave for Coburg .

THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY , who is at present at Cannes , will return to Claremont Palace , Esher , to-morrow ( Saturday ) . A STAINED-GLASS window has been placed on the west-end of the south wall of Holy Trinity Church , Margate , as a memorial of Mrs . Crawford , the wife of Mr . J . Crawford , J . P ., and the mother of Bro . H . Homewood Crawford , the City Solicitor . CRYSTAL PALACE . —His Royal Highness the Prince of VVales has graciously consented to open the International Photographic Exhibition , on Monday , the 25 th inst . The exhibition is organised by the Royal Photographic Society , and will remain open from Monday , the 25 th inst ., to Saturday , the 14 th prox .

AT THE MART , Tokenhouse-yard , Messrs . Lumley offered for sale the residence of the late Bro . Sir F . Lockwood , Q . C . M . P ., "Cobir Hill , " Clouehton , about five miles from Scarborough . U was erected in 1 S 90 by the late barrister for his own occupation . Commencing at £ Sooo , the biddings advanced to , £ 8900 , and the auctioneers then withdrew the property at £ , KOO .

A NOTICE issued by the Post Office with regard to the registration . and compensation for loss or damage of inland postal packets states that on and after th ; ist prox . the fees payable for registering inland packets , including parcels , will vary from 2 J . with a limit of compensation of £ 5 , to is . 2 d . with a compsnsition limit of £ 120 . In other respects the rules will remain unchanged .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK , with Prince Edward of York , who spent the greater portion of the week at Cromer on a visit to Princess Victoria of Wales , awaited the arrival of H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , Princess Victoria of VVales , and Princess Charles of [ Denmark at Sandringham , on Saturday afternoon , afterwards visiting at Sandringham House , and joining the other members of the Royal party at Sandringham Church on Sunday last .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT were present on Satuaday last at the Royal Artillery Steeplechases . The weather was delightful , and a brilliant company gathered in the enclosures , including Maj .-Gen . and the Hon . Mrs . Reginald Talbot ; Major . General and Mrs . Marshall ; Col . and Mrs . and Miss Talbot-Coke j Colonel Sir Arthur Mackworth ; Mrs . and MissFitzroy ; Col . and Mrs . Nugent ; Col . and Mrs . Pitt ; Col . and Mrs . Eustace j Col . and Mrs . Hunt ; and Col . and Mrs . Plumer .

THE STATE CHILDREN ' S AID ASSOCIATION , of which Bro . tne Right Hon . Lord Herschell is chairman , has just issued its first annual report . The main object of the Assccia lien is "to obtain individual treatment for children under the guardianship of the State , " and in the propagation of its theories no less than 17 Iea ( l : ts and pamphlets have been issued and 20 public meetings organised or addressed during the past year . The Association congratulates itself that its main ideas and principles are steadily gaining ground and being accepted .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE or WALES reached London on Monday evening on the conclusion of his visit to the Riviera , succeeded b y a short stay in Paris . His Royal Highness was due at Charing Cross at 6 . 10 , but his boat was early at Dover , and , as all the arrangements for the special train to town had been completed , with a good margin of time to spare , it was found possible to reach the South-Eastern teiminus a quarter of an hour before lime . His Royal Highness , who was attended by Commander the Hon . Seymour Fortescue , drove to Marlborough House . The Prince will leave Marlborough House to-morrow ( Saturday ) for Sandringham , and will be present at the Newmarket races next week .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES , accompanied by Princess Charles of Denmark , and attended by Miss Knollys and General Sir Dighton Probyn , left Marlborough House on Saturday last for Sandringham . Princess Victoria of Wales , who has been staying for some weeks past at Cromer , also arrived at Sandringham . Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Wales , Princess Victoria , and Princess Charles of Denmark , attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the household , were present at Divine Service at the church of St . Mary Magdalene , in the Park , on Sunday morning last , the Rev . Mr . de Putron officiating and preaching .

FLORENCE WAS en fete on Sunday in honour of the fifth centenary of Paolo Toscanelli and Amerigo Vespucci , who were both natives of the city . The opening ceremony was held in the magnificent hall at the Palazzo Vecchio . The festivities will last until the end of the month . Thc programme comprises a geographical congress , the inauguration of several monuments , the revival of the old game of football as

played in the 15 th century , a costume ball in the Palazzo Vecchio , and a series of races and regattas . King 1 lumbert and Oueen Margherita are expected for a two days' stay . II . M . battleship Revenge was to " arrive at Leghorn on Thursday , after which Rear-Admiral Noel and the officers of the vessel will attend the festivities , and will be enter-Uir . td at dinner .

AMONG later donations to the Lord Mayor s Fund for providing a memorial to the Princess Mary Adelaide , Duchess of Teck , in the form of a Home of Rest for Poor Women from London , are the following : The Marquis of Salisbury , £ 20 ; the Marchioness of Salisbury , £ \ o ; St . Augustine's Church , Highbury New Park , £ 15 ; the Countess Somers , £ \ o ; Mrs . VVebster , £ 5 5 s . ; Lady Pearson , £ 5 ss . ; Mrs .

Maidstone Smyth , £ 5 5 s .,- Messrs . Warner and Sons , £ 10 103 . ; the community of the Dutch Church , Austinfrius , £ \ o ; Lady Elizabeth Uiddulph , £ 10 10 ; . j the Duke of Wellington , £ 10 j Mr . Deputy Creasey , £ 5 53 . ; Mr . Warner , M . P ., £ 5 ; Bro . J . L . Toole , ^ 1 is . j Adeline , Duchess of Bedford , 4 , 10 ; Sir Edward Durning-Lawrence , M . P ., £ 10 ios . ; Bro . Biddulph , M . P ., £ 10 ios . ; and the Cordwainers' Company , £ 21 . The fund amounts to about £ 8200 .

AT A BALL given by General Gebhart , Military Governor of Nice , at the Cerc ' e de la Mediteranee , on Saturday night last , Princess Christian was accompanied by Countess 1 ' rbach , and attended by Miss Cochrane , the Hon . Lady Ponsonby , the Hon . Harriet Phipps , and Col . Carrington . The Princess was met at half-past 10 by General and Madame Gebhart and conducted by them to the top of the ball-room , which was beautifull y decorated with garlands and wreaths of flowers . Chairs had been reserved for the distinguished party . The room , which is large , was well filled , but not

inconveniently crowded . The music was performed by a full-string orchestra , and the sight was very brilliant , among the uniforms being those of the British oliicers from her Majesty ' s ship Surprise , and of several French naval and military officers . Amj ng the other distinguished guests were the Crown Prince of Roumania , the Duki de Uiiroli ( I resident of the club ) and the Duchess de Rivoli , M . Leroux ( Prefect of the Alpes i ?" j- ^ an < 1 Madame L « roux , and M . Sauvan ( Mayor of Nice ) . Princess Christian , who did not dance , retired at a quarter to 12 , when rain was falling in torrents .

ALEXANDRA PALACE . —Now that the extreme pressure of the Easter holidays is over , the management of the Alexandra Palace are devoting all their energies to put the grounds , and lighting of same , in proper order , the latter involving enormous labour , owing to the fact that the whole of the gas pipes have had to be renewed , as , on examination , it was found that these had rusted right away . Arrangements have also b : en completed ^ for a popular series of Saturday afternoon concerts , at which many well Known artistes will appear , and each Saturday evening , at themilitary promenade concert , a series of national and patriotic programmes will be carried out , introducing many novel features

, which will undoubtedly arouse the patriotic feeling of the visitors , ¦ special attractions are being arranged for each Thursday and Saturday throughout the -eason , commencing tc-morrow ( Saturday ) , including balloon ascents , parachute uescents , and firework displays . The management have decided to make the uexandra I alace popular to all comers , and have , therefore , arranged for the public to th pL " * nission to all entertainments and dioramic views . The next performance of UeniTt 3 •< ?? 'V wiil be ° n Saturday afternoon , the 30 th instant , when Sterndale nt , J . 1 ,. Qufen " will be rendered by a full choir and orchestra of 1000 voices , » nder the direction of Mr . Henry J . Baker .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL meetingof the Bar will be held in the old dining hall , Lincoln's Inn , on Tuesday next , at 4 . 15 . BRO . THE EARL OF HALSBURY , Lord High Chancellor , will be the principal guest at the anniversary dinner of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers . THE NELLIE FARREN FUND is now closed , the total sum realised being £ 7260 15 s . 6 d ; among the latest contributions is £ 25 from H . R . H . the Prince of Wales .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE , who arrived at Gloucester House , Park-lane , is expected at Newmarket for the races next week , and will occupy his suite of apartments at the Jockey Club Rooms . BRO . THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF DERBY and Lady Isobel Stanley , who have been spending the winter in Egypt , have returned to England , and have gone to Knowsley for a few days .

BRO . THE EARL OF LATHOM and the Ladies Wilbraham have left Madeira , and are expected to reach England at the end of the week . The Lord Chamberlain has benefited greatly by his stay abroad . BRO . LORD GLBNESK will leave town shortly for Cirencester House on a visit to his daughter , the Countess Bathurst . His lordship will probably spend the summer at Glen Muick , which he has taken from Sir Allan Mackenzie . BRO . THE DUKE OF ABERCORN has arrived at fhmpden House , Green-street , from Ireland , and was present at the General Meeting of the South Africa Company , which was held at noon in Ihe Cannon-street Hotel on Thursday .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE O ? WALES will goto Sandringham to-morrow ( Saturday ) , and will attend the Newmarket Meeting next week , at the end of which he will return to town forthe season . Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein visited his Royil Highness on Wednesday .

ACCORDING to the latest arrangement officially notified the Queen will arrive in England from the South of France on the 30 th inst . The children ot Princess Henry of Battenberg will , as usual , travel in advance of her Majesty , and are due in London on the evening of the 29 th inst . f HE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE Mas returned to Lansdowne Housi from Holker Hall , Lancashire , where he had been on a visit to Bro . Victor and Lady Evelyn Cavendish . The Marchioness of Lansdowne is making good progress towards recovery , and is able to take carriage exercise .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has signified hi ? intention of being present at the next smoking concert of the Royal Amateur Orchestral Society , fixed to take place on Friday , the 29 th inst ., at the Queen's Hall , on which occasion Miss Mabel Berrey , Mr . Norman Salmond , and Mr . Henry Such will assist . ON TUESDAY , the 12 th inst ., the hall in Ashley-lane , Lymington , which has been converted into a Masonic Temple , was used for the first time by the brethren of the New Forest Lodge , No . 319 , Bro . Catt presided , and the Vicar and Rural Dean ( Rev . B . Martin ) was present and said a few words of congratulation to the brethren .

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH is from " The British Weekly " ( Scotch Edition ) of 31 st March last : " The oldest inhabitant of Thurso is Mr . George Swanson , who was born in 1804—3 mason by trade , and one of the very oldest of Scotland ' s Freemasons . He was initiated in February , 1 S 23 . " He is thus both an old operative and an old speculative Mason . This is surely a record in ages . —VV . D . K .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT presided at a meeting of the Aldershot District of the Army Temperance Association , held at the Officers' Club , on Wednesday afternoon , her Royal Highness the Duchess of Connaught , attended by Madame De Morenni , being also present The Duke , as President of the Association , addressed the meeting , highly complimenting it on the good work it had achieved . When in India he had seen a great deal of its working , and could testify to the good results .

ON MONDAY afternoon H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , accompanied by Miss Kncllys and Piincess Charles of Denrjiark , returned to Cromer , with Princess Victoria of Wales , who has , during the past few weeks , been staying at Carrington Villas , Bro . Lord Sufiield's seaside residence , for the benefit of her health . The Princess of Wales relumed to Sandringham later in the day , but Princess Charles proposes to spend a few days with the Princess Victoria , whose stay is for an indefinite period .

THE ANNUAL festival of the Metropolitan Hospital was held on Monday last , at the Hotel Metropole . The Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . Alderman Davies , presided , and he was supported by Bros . Alderman F . Green , P . G . D . ; Sheriff Dewar , C . J . Thomas , P . M . ( the Chairman of the Hospital ) , J . IT . Lile , C . C , and H . Lovegrove , P . G . S . B . ( Honorary Surgeon to the Hospital ) , Messrs . J . Lowles , M . P ., and J . R . Pike , Lieut .-Colonel Montefiore , and many others , about 150 in all . The lists amounted to £ 2 ' 40 .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK arrived at Portsmouth Harbour Station on Wednesday afternoon by South Western train from Waterloo . Their Royal Highnesses , who were received by Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour , proceeded to Admiralty House , were they are the guests for a few days of the Naval Commander-in-Chief and Lady Culme-Seymour . It is believed that his Royal Highness will hoist the pennant on board the lirst-class cruiser th Crescent for the naval manoeuvres , which will take place in the summer .

PRINCE CHRISTIAN , who will be the Queen ' s special representative at the celebrations in connection with the Jubilee of the King of Saxony , came to town from Windsor on Wednesday and proceeded to Buckingham Palace , whence he started the following morning for Dresden , accompanied by Colonel Eliot and Sir Charles du Plat . Princess Christian , who has been staying with the Queen at Cimiez , arrived in London on Wednesday evening in order to see the Prince before his departure . Her Royal Highness reached Victoria by the boat train , and drove with her suite to Buckingham Palace , where she is expected to remain for some days .

THE MARRIAGE of the first recipient of the Marquis of Bute's dowry—Miss Alice Green—took place at Cardiff , on Thursday , the bridegroom being Mr . William Tanner . At the conclusion of the ceremony , which was witnessed by a large congregation , the wedding party proceeded to the Town Hall , where they were received by the Mayor and the Town Clerk in the Mayor's parlour . His worship , as directed by the deed of gift , read the first 12 verses of the second chapterof St . John ' sGospel , and then hinded to the young lady an envelope containg the dowry—interest on Ji , 1000 . His worship also , on behalf of the Mayoress , presented Mrs . Tanner with a Bible .

THE NEW WEST-END Synagogue , Bayswater , of which building the late Bro . Barney Barnato was a member , will shortly be enriched by a present from Messrs . Barnato Brothers of a handsome Sepher Torah , orScroleof the Law . The mantel is of dark green velvet , and is richly embroidered with gold . In the centre is a handsomely worked rai . ed crown , under which are a shield of David and t ' ne initial words of the Ten Commandments . In lieu of the bells there is a massive crown silvered . On the plate is an inscription , " Presented by Messrs . Barnato Bros ., in loving memory of Barnett Isaacs Barnato , who departed this life 14 th ( une , 1 S 97—Sivan , 14 th , 5657 . " A similar present has been made to the Johannesburg New Synagogue . THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY and Mi « Halfnnr ™ t . rf . i ™ l s ^ lmti . r nn

, , Wednesday evening , at Mr . Balfour's official residence in Downing-street , the Duke of Norfolk , Earl Cadogan , the Earl of Hardwicke , Earl Grey , Lord and Lady Wolverton , Lady Elward Cecil , the Hon . F . and Lady Esher Smith , Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , M . P ., and Lady Northcote , Lady Rayleigh , Bro . and Mrs . W . IT . Grenfell , and Mr . and Mrs . Sandars . Subsequently , Miss Balfour held a reception , at which were present the Russian Ambassador , the Austrian Ambassador , the Chinese Ambassador , the Belgian Minister , the Danish Minister and Madame de Bille , the Brazilian Minister , the Portuguese Charge d' Affaires , the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs . Temple , the Marquis of Lansdowne , the Marchioness of Headfort and Lady Beatrix Taylour , the Maiquisof Headfort , Bro . the Earl of thlsburv ( Lord Chancellor ! and

Countess Halsbury and Lady Evelyn Giffard , Bro . the Eirl of Arran , Viscount Cross and the Hon . Mary and Hon . Margaret Cross , Bro . Lord and Lady Loch , the Hon . Lady Ridley , Bro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., and Lady and Miss Hill , Bro . Admiral Lord Charles Beresford , M . P ., Lady Randolph Churchill , Bro . the Right Hon . Walter Long , M . P ., and Lady Doreen Long , Bro . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , and Airs , and Miss J ackson , Bro . Sir Mark Stewart , M . P ., Sir Elliott Lees , M . P ., and Lady Lees , Bro . Sir Blundell Maple , M . P ,, Lady Maple , and Miss Merryweather , and many other members of Parliament .