Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF KENT will be held at Ashford on the 17 th July . BRO . F . J ACKSON , P . M . 19 S 7 , was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year ot the Anglo-American Lodge , No . 2191 , on Tuesday last ; Bro . F . Kedge , P . M . 1348 and 2191 , Treasurer ; and Bro . R . F . Potter , P . M . 1348 , Tyler . We heartily wish the lodge every success .

A TERRIFIC CYCLONE swept over Sherman , Texas , U . S . A ., on the afternoon of the 15 th inst ., when the western part of the town was completely destroyed , it being estimated that 60 people , mostly negroes , were killed , and a still larger number seriously injured . THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Newspaper Press Fund took place at the Hfitel Metropole on Saturday last under the presidency of Bro . Lord Glenesk . The subscription list was a good one , and included 50 guineas from the Queen and 250 guineas from the Chairman .

THE MEMBERS OF Bro . Sir Henry Irving ' s Company were among the passengers by the Cunard Line Steamer " Etruria , " which left New York for Liverpool , on Saturday last . Miss Helen Terry has purchased a play entitled "Agatha Dene , " which it is intended to produce at the Lyceum . BROS , RIGHT HON . A . AKERS-DOUGLAS , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart . ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ) , the Duke of Devonshire , Lord George Hamilton , W . H . Long , and Sir M . White-Ridley , attended the Cabinet Council held at the Foreign Office on Saturday last .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES and her daughters , the Princesses Victoria and Maud , accompanied by Prince Charles of Denmark , returned to London from their recent visit to the Continent on Saturday evening last . They were met at Charing Cross Station by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who was attended by General Ellis , and at once drove to Marlborough House .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN distributed the teachers ' diplomas and medals and certificates of the National Health Society in the Rubens Room of Grosvenor House on Saturday afternoon last . The Duke and Duchess of Westminster received her Royal Highness , and when the distribution was over the Duke moved a vote of thanks to the Princess for her kindness in attending .

A LARGE COMPANY was present in the Town Hall , Stratford , on Saturday last , when the final stages in the annual competition of the Great Eastern Railway Corps of the St . John ' s Ambulance Brigade took place . The Mayor of West Ham presided during the early part of the proceedings , and his place was afterwards taken by Bro . Lord Claud Hamilton , while the prizes were distributed by Bro . Lord Charles Beresford .

THE TROCADERO RESTAURANT will shortly be opened by Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , after a lengthened period of preparation . Every effort is being made to make this the handsomest and most perfectly-equipped dining palace in Europe , and the arrangements for Masonic meetings will be made a special feature . Applications respecting bookings should be made as early as possible to the proprietors , J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington , where all inquiries should be addressed . — [ ADVT . J

SIR ARTHUR ARNOLD , as Chairman of the London Countv Council , presided on Saturday last at the dedication to the public for ever of the " Hilly Fields , " Brockley , which have been acquired at a cost of close on £ 45 , 000 . Of this sum the London County Council provided £ 24 , 000 , while the private subscriptions amounted to about £ 9000 , the remainder being contributed by the Greenwich and Lewisham District Boards . The fields occupy an area of rather more than 45 acres .

THE LAST DAY ' S SALE of Bro . Montagu's collection of coins took place at Sotheby ' s on Saturday last , when £ 115 was given for a double sovereign of the first coinage of Henry VIII . ' s reign j £ 175 for a double sovereign of the third coinage of Edward VI . ' s reign j and ^ 275 for a half George Noble of Henry VIII ., for which Bio . Montagu had given £ 255 . There was also a large number of pictures and drawings belonging to the late Mr . John Morley and others , disposed of at Christie's , some very goe d prices being realised .

THB DUCHESS OF ALBANY , attended by Miss Heron-Maxwell and Bro . Sir Robert Collins , visited the Crystal Palace on Saturday last for" the purpose of distributing the prizes and certificates awarded by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the writers of the best essays on "The Duty of Kindness . " Her Royal Highness , on her arrival , was received by the Baroness Burdett Coutts , Lord and Lady Bellhaven , Sir George and Lady Measom , Bro . Sir Howard and Lady Vincent , Lady Nottage , and others . At the conclusion of the ceremony , the Duchess visited the Burmese Village , and afterwards drove round the grounds in one of Sir David Salomons ' horseless carriages .

A MEETING WAS HELD at Marlborough House on Saturday last , under the personal auspices of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and his sister , the Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lortie ) , when Lady Halle was presented with a testimonial in celebration of the 50 th anniversary of her debut as a violinist , and of the 25 th of her sojourn in this country . Among those present were Bros , the Earl of Kintore , Lord Suffield , Sir Francis Knollys , and Sir Edward Lawson , Signor Piatti , Sir George Grove , and Mr .

Frederic Cowen , while the Chairman of the Fund Committee explained that , in obedience to Lady Halle's wishes , the bulk of the fund had been devoted to the purchase of a villa at Azolo on the Venetian coast , and the remainder in renovating and furnishing it , and in purchasing a casket to contain an address to her ladyship . When this had been done , the Prince offered a few graceful remarks , and expressed his regret that H . R . H . the Princess of Wales was unable to be present on the occasion .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY announce that on aaturday , May 30 th , the first of the weekly excursions will leave Paddington Station for Swindon , Bath , Bristol , Weston-super-Mare , Bridgwater , Taunton , Minehead , Barnstaple , Ilfracombe , Exeter , Dawlish , Teignmouth , Torquay , Dartmouth , Plymouth , Falmouth , Penzance , Frome , Yeovil , Dorchester , Weymouth , & o , and a special express excursion will leave Paddington at 8 . 5 a . m . each Saturday for Shrewsbury , Oswestry , Aberystwyth , Barmouth , Rhyl , Llandudno , Bangor , Carnarvon , Llanberis ( for Snowdon ) , and other

resorts in North Wales . Return tickets will also be issued to Guernsey and Jersey at 24 s . 6 d ., available by the boat express leaving Paddington at 9 . 15 p . m . on Saturdays . On Thursdays , June 4 th and 18 th , excursions will be made to Cork , and on Fridays , June 5 th and 19 th , to Waterford , Dungarvan , Clonmel , Limerick , Kilkenny , and other places in tl e South of Ireland . On Tuesday , June iGth , and Friday , June 26 th , cheap tickets will be issued to Belfast , Armagh , Larne , Portrush , Giant ' s Causeway , & c , and on Thursday , June 18 th , to the Lakes of Killarney via New Milford and Waterford .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES held a Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on Monday on her Majesty ' s behalf , presentations to her Royal Highness being by the Queen ' s command deemed equivalent to presentations to her Majesty . The Prince and Princess of Wales , the Princess Victoria of Wales and Prince Charles of Denmark , with their suite , arrived , under an escort of the Royal Horse Guards , at the Garden entrance of the Palace from Marlborough House , there being also present Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig Holstein , the Duchess of Albany , and the Duke of York . The

Hon . Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms were on duty in the State Saloons under the command cf their Captain , Lord Belper , while the Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the interior of the Palace under their Captain , Bro . the Earl of Limerick . Among the great officers in attendance upon the Princess were the Mistress of the Robes , Bro . the Earl of I -athom ( Lord Chamberlain ) , Bro . the Duke of Portland ( Master of the Horse ) , the Earl of Pembroke ( Lord Steward ) , Bro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P . ( Comp .

trailer of the Household ) , and many others . The Diplomatic and general circles were numerously attended , among those present being Bros . Lord Balfour of Burleigh , Capt . N . G . Philips , Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley ( Gold Stick-in-Waiting ) , the Earl of March , and many others . A large number of presentations were made to her Royal Highness , and as the day was fine , a large crowd of spectators gathered about the gates of the Palace to view the arrivals , & c .

THE PRINCE ' S RESTAURANT , PICCADILLY , W ., which was opened on the iSth inst ., is the most elegant and best appointed establishment of the kind in London , where Society can meet to enjoy Luncheons , Dinners and Suppers of the most recherche description . —Managing Director , G . Fourault , from Benoist .

Masonic And General Tidings.

V . W . BRO . FIELD-MARSHAL THE RIGHT HON . LORD W OLSELEY , K . P ., p . s G . W ., has become an honorary member of the Ubique Lodge of the Royal Artillery . THE CIVIL SERVICE SPORTS will be held at the Stamford Bridge Grounds on the 13 th June , when the prizes will be presented by Bro . Lord and Lady George Hamilton . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has given a donation of 100 guineas towards the fund which is now being raised for the re-endowment of Guy ' s Hospital .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , M . W . Grand Mark Master , has been pleased to appoint Bro . John Owen Marsh , J . P ., P . G . S ., Prov . Grand Mark Master of Monmouthshire . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK and the Duke of Cambridge visited the Royal Italian Opera House , Covent Garden , on Saturday evening last , and witnessed the per . formance of " Lohengrin . "

BRO . THE RIGHT HON . LORD ADDINGTON , P . G . M . Bucks , assistedby theofficers of the province , will , on Tuesday next , lay the foundation-stone of the Home for Women , in connection with the National Society for Employment of Epileptics , at Chalfont St . Peters . BRO . THE DUKE OF PORTLAND , Master of the Horse , Lord Bangor , and Admiral of the Fleet , Bro . Sir H . Keppel , G . C . B ., dined with Lord Belper and the Honourable Corps of Gentlomen-at-arms at their mess in St . James ' s Palace , on Monday evening .

THE PRINCESS LOUISE ( Marchioness of Lome ) will open the new head-quarters of the London Volunteer Medical Staff Corps , in Calthorpe-streer , W . C , on Wednesday , the ioth June , on which occasion her Royal Highness will present the prizes won by membeis of the corps . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Army Temperance Association was held at the Royal United Service Institution on Monday , the chair being occupied , in the unavoidable absence , at the Drawing Room , of Bro Lord Wolseley , by Bro . Major-General Lurd Methuen , commanding the Home District .

THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK presided at the annual meeting , on Tuesday , ofthe Invalid Children ' s Aid Association . It was stated in the report that during the year 1895 as many as 791 cases were dealt with , the children in the majority of cases being either sent to convalescent homes or provided with carriages or surgical instruments .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE dined with Bro . Sir Edward and Lady Lawson on Monday evening , among the guests invited to meet his Royal Highness being Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar , Earl and Countess Howe , the Right Hon . G . J . and Mrs . Goschen , Bro . Sir W . H . Russell , and Bro . Sir Frank and Lady Lockwood . THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY visited Exeter Hall , on Tuesday , and presented a number of good-conduct stripes and ambulance certificates to skippers , mates , and smacksmen employed in the vessels belonging to the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen . Her Royal Highness was attended by Miss Heron Maxwell and Bro . Sir Robert Collins .

THE LEWISHAM LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 2579 , has now been formed , and meets every Wednesday evening , at the Black Bull Inn , Lewisham , at 8 p . m ., under the following officers : Bros . H . T . Bridges , P . M . 957 , 2579 , Preceptorj J . A . Shelton , S . W . 1558 , S . D . 2579 , Treasurer j and Edward Hall , Sec . 2579 , J . D . 1793 and 1965 , Secretary .

THE ANNUAL DINNER in aid of the City of London Truss Society took place at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Tuesday evening , under the presidency of Mr . John Norbury , Honorary Treasurer of the Institution , the donations and subscriptions amounting to close on jj , 700 , in which was included a sum of £ 52 ios . given by the Chairman .

THE DUCHESS OF TECK , attended by Lady Catherine Coke and the Hon . S . Greville opened the three days' baziar which was held in St . Martin ' s Town Hall in behalf of the Royal Eye Hospital , Southwark . Her Royal Highness was received by the Committee , on whose behalf , subsequently , Sir Francis de Winton tendered the thinks of the authorities for her kindness in coming .

THE NEW PALACE S TEAMERS , LIMITED , will commence their regular sailings tomorrow ( Saturday ) from Old Swan Pier , London Bridge . The Royal Sovereign will run daily at 9 35 a . m . ( Fridays excepted ) to Margate and Ramsgate and back . The Koh-i-nor will leave at 9 . 30 a . m . for Southend and Clacton . The handsome Lt Marguerite does not commence running until June 20 th , when she will make regulir trips to Margate and Boulogne as before . Special trains will be run from Fenchurchstreet to meet the boats at Tilbury for the convenience of those leaving town later .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT arrived at St . Petersburg on Mondiy , en route lor Moscow , to represent the Queen at the Coronation of the Czar . The R lyal yacht Victoria and Albert , on which their R > yal Highnesses were , on entering Cronstadt roads , wis greeted with salutes of 21 guns from the wirships anchored there . The two British cruisers which escorted the Royal yacht remained in the roads , while the yacht itself entered the narrow channel leading to St . Petersburg .

THE FIRST " LIFEBOAT " SATURDAY was held in London on fhe 16 th inst ., with a view to benefiting the funds of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution . Several hundred lads from the training ship Arethusa were stationed at the railway stations , bridges , and other prominent points , while in sundry districts procesions were organised in honour of the occasion , and marched through the principal thoroughfares . In many business houses ) collections were made , while in the afternooi and evening there were demonstrations in the grounds of the Imperial Institute .

THE ANNUAL DINNER in behalf of the Royal Hospital for Incurables at Putney was held at the Hotel Metropole on Tuesday , the 19 th instant , under the presidency of Bro . Herbert J . Allcroft , Treasurer of the Institution . During the past year SCo persons had shared in the benefits conferred by the Hospital , 220 of them as inmates and 640 as out-patients . In the course of the evening subscriptions to the amount of ^ 3 < 5 Si

were announced , or more than £ 1000 in excess ofthe sum raised last year . The halfyearly election will be held at tne Cannon-street Hotel , E . C , on Friday next , the 29 th instant , when 30 candidates will be elected . The annual sale of the inmates' work , for their own benefit , will be held at the Hospital , West Hill , Putney Heath , on Tuesday , June 9 th , and two following days , from 2 to 7 p . m . On the opening day the Countess of Dudley will preside at the inaugural ceremony .

THE COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY LIMITED . The directors of the Society have been enabled to issue a brilliant and gratifying report for 1895 , which was ( . confirmed with tokens of hearty approbation at the annual general meeting held at thc principal offices , 419 and 421 Collins-street , Melbourne , on Wednesday March 25 th , and which is now being issued from the central offices for the United Kingdom , 33 , Poultry , Cheap side , London , E . C , where Mr . Edward W . Browne , F . S . S ., with characteristic zeal and energy officiates as manager , with a distinguished

and representative directorate . When account is taken of the vastly-impioved state of trade in Australia of late , in contradistinction to the alarming events of a few years ago , it was to be expected that the extensive holdings of the Society , under a thrifty and enterprising control , would tike a miterially improved tura in the worlds ' s commerce . Such has proved to be the case on a liberal scale . Dealing with last year ' s figures exclusively we find that an unprecedented record is exhibited , for of new business 3553 proposals were received for sums amounting to £ 1 , 085 , 414 , of which 825 were decline I , withdrawn , or not proceeded with for £ 263 , 6 . 31 J 317 remaining in various stages towards

completion for £ 104 , 516 j 2411 having been completed , 2296 for life assurance , and 115 for endowments , amounting in the aggregate to £ 717 , 207 . The annual income arising from policies issued during the yeir amounted to £ 23 339 gs . id . Tne renewal premiums amounted to £ 282 , 615 13 s . gd ., bringing the total premiums for the year up to £ 303 , 983 is , 1 id . I ' he value of this progression in the year was enh inced by a saving of mure than £ 10 , 000 irt claims , the sum actually paid last year having bjen £ 97 , 333 18 s . 2 d ., including bonuses , an additional sum of £ 27 , 050 ios . 7 J . hiving been paid for endowments matured under 141 policies ; the total sum disbursed since the organisation of the Society hiving been -41 , 539 , 406 .

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DEATH . BRO . GEORGE J AMES EARNEY . —On the 23 rd ultimo , at " Glenroy , " Sidcup , Bro . George James Earney , P . M . and D . C . ofthe Zetland Lodge , No . S i an Skelmersdale , No . 1658 . Interred at Southsea , Hants ,