Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . — The recently established Civil Service Class in this ever progressive Institution has already borne excellent fruit . Mabel Bohli ( last year ' s gold medallist ) , has passed the examination for girl-clerks as high as 5 th out of 3 S 0 candidates for 40 clerkships , and is thus certain of a good appointment ih the Civil Service .

WE ARE , unfortunately , compelled lo hold oyer till next week several interesting reports of Masonic doings abroad in connection with the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee ; a list of additional amounts received since last week in respect of the recent Boys' School Festival ; and other matter . THE OUEEN has been graciously pleased to forward a message to the Lord Chamberlain , Bro . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., expressive of her thanks to his lordship and the officers of his department for the " untiring labours and constant attention " they have shown during the recent Jubilee celebrations .

ANNOUNCEMENTS have been made of the discovery of gold in Trinity County , California , and in British Columbia . In the latter country there has been an enormo us influx of people , all actuated by the ami' sacra James and all bent on the accumulation of as much of the precious metal as they can lay their hands on . BRO . LORD GEORGE HAMILTON , M . P ., as Secretary of State for India , has received a telegram from the Viceroy to the effect that during last week good rain had fallen in Bengal , the North-West Provinces , and Oudh , and some parts of the Punjab . In Central India there had also been rain varying in quantity , and in Bombay and the Deccan some showers , but more is needed .

GENERAL REGRET will be felt at the news received early in the week from Paris to the effect that Bro . the Hen . Sir E . Monson , the British Ambassador in the French capital , and his family have been taken suddenly ill after partaking of shell fish . Hi ? Excellency and Lady Monson are in a fair way to recover , but they hava baen obliged to cancel all their engagements . Lady Monson ' s sister and the Ambassador ' s nephew were more serious sufferers .

AMONG THOSE who called or sent on Monday to inquire as to the condition of Mr . Mundella—who , we regret to say , has since died—were the Duke and Duchess of York , Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , Bro . Sir Henry Irving , Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., the Marquis of Ripon , the Earl of Kimberley , Viscount Knutsford , Lord Edmund Talbot , Mr . John Morley , Bro > . Sir S . B . Bancroft and Lord Loch , Sir H . H . Fowler , Sir Mountstuart Grant-Duff , Bro . Sir T . Sutherland , and Mr . Justin McCarthy .

THE FOLLOWING BRETHREN have bsen elected Worshipful Misters of the respective Masonic lodges against which their names appear : Lodge of Friendship , City , Bro . G . F . Michell ; Adelaide Lodee , Port Adelaide , Bro . R . N . S . Baker ( reelected ) ; Lodge of Unity , Port Adelaide , Bro . H . F . Hearle ; Semaphore Lodge , Bro . E . 13 . Hancock ; Lodge of St . John , Strathalbyn , Bro . W . M . Rankine ; Duke of Edinburgh Lodge , Moonta , Bro . F . Bourne ; and Wooroora Lodge , Riverton , Bro . Henry Bushell . —South Australian Register .

A COMMITTEE consisting of Sir Courtenay Boyle , K . C . B ., Bro . the Hon . Sir H . Stafford Northcote , Bart ., M . P ., Sir Henry Bergne , K . C . M . G ., Mr . S . E . Spring Rice , C . B ., and Mr . A . E . Bateman , C . M . G ., has been appointed by the Board of Trade for the purpose cf inquiring into the best means of bringing to the knowledge of the home trade the commercial infor mation furnished by British officials in the Colonies and in India , and also as to the desirability of samples of goods in demand in Colonial markets being sent over by Consuls and agents with a view to their future exhibition in this country .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES was admitted at Marlborough House on Monday to the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of London , to which he was recently elected . In the afternoon , in company with H . R . H . the Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York , his Royal Highness honoured the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs . Temple with his company at their garden party in the grounds of Lambeth Palace . Nearly the whole of the episcopal bench of Anglican Bishops , both at home and abroad , were present on the occasion , together with a numerous body of lay guests and members of the Diplomatic Corps .

THE DISABLED C UNARDER Cephalonia , with 530 souls on board , was fallen in with in the North Atlantic on the 4 th instant , and safely towed into Queenstown on the 7 th instant by the West India and Pacific liner Floridian , under the command of Bro . Capt . VV . H . Bullock , R . N . R . Bro . Bullock , who is a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve and the holder of three medals and a clasp for personal bravery in saving life at different

times under circumstances involving grave peril to himself , is a member and first initiate of the United Northern Counties Lodge , No . 212 S , of which lodge his father is a P . M . and Sec . For the services rendered to the Cephalonia the Admiralty Court have just awarded £ 3050 to the Floridian , viz ., £ 2250 to the owners , £ 300 to the captain , and £ 500 to be divided among the officers and crew according to their rating .

THE BRETHREN connected with Bank Terrace Lodge , No . 4 G 2 , on Wednesday , the 14 th inst ., had a most successful outing to Eaton Hall . The members of the lodge were accompanied by their wives , and the party numbered 52 . Two saloons were attached to the S . 2 y train to Manchester for their accommodation and at Manchester the carriages were attached to the Chester express , Chester being reached about 11 o ' clock . Breakfast was in readiness at the Westminster Hotel , and afterwards the party boarded a specially-chartered river steamer and sailed down the river to Eaton Hill . The beau ' . i-

ful river scenery was thoroughly appreciated , and a walk through the fine grounds of Eaton Hall and a tour of some of the splendid suites of rooms was much enjoyed . Returning to Chester , a splendid dinner was served at the Westminster Hotel , Bro . J . Bridge , W . M ., presiding . The usual loyal toasts were honoured . The return journey was commenced at 7 . 35 , and completed about 11 o ' clock . The arrangements were efficiently carried out by Brcs . J . Bridge , VV . M ., Hiram Waddington , and R . L . James .

UNITED FOUNDERS' ASSOCIATION , LIMITED .-The prospectus of this Association lies before us , and we are free to remark that the perusal of that document has made such a distinctly favourable impression upon our minds . There are none of the ( too usual ) inflated promises to make the fortune of the public for nothing ; on the contrary , the Association states its objects and justifies its existence in a manner which will appeal to men of business and common sense . The Association has a fault which will be inevitably mended in time , it is young , but starts life with a solid capital of

£ 10 , 000 , and already has at its command an army of agents and correspondents throughout the kingdom . Incorporated under Act of Parliament , it offers its advantages not only to the man of thousands , but to the man of hundreds and to the man of tens . A deseivedly pcpular feature will be the distribution gru / is to all applicants , of a list of selected investments in well-known and sound industrial undertakings , likely to increase in capital value , and at the present time paying satisfactory and substantial dividend ' , and shares in which may be either ( 1 ) for cash down , or ( 2 ) on terms , i . e . on the

Association ' s system of mortgaged investments , by which , say , five hundred pounds worth ot snares and the income accruing upon the same may be secured by an actual outlay on the part ot the investor of 2 . 5 per cent , only of the amount of the purchase money , the balance being advanced by the Association at 4 per cent , interest per annum for as leng a term as may be desired . The Association also proposes to negotiate for its clients all descriptions of financial business , to advance money on approved securities promptly and at reasonable rates , to collect dividends and coupons , as well as to transact

Exchange business both speculative and investment , and to act as agents generally in this country for residents abroad . In addition to ordinary banking business the Association will act as brokers , buying and selling Stock Exchange securities according to the instructions they may receive from their clients , and charging a brokerage of oneeighth . Space does not allow us to enter into any further details , so let it be sufficient to say that deposit accounts may be opened for so low a sum as £ 10 , and that 4 per cent , per annum is offered on sums withdrawable on demand , 6 per cent , with three

months' notice , and Sper cent , at six months notice , and that the convenience of clients will be liberally met with regard to the periods at which they desire payment of their interest . Thus , it is clear that the United Founders' Association , Limited , offer a much higher rate of interest than can be obtained from the existing banks , and there can be little doubt that the facilities tendered by the Association to business men and others will meet with the ready appreciation of those whose interests will be advanced by embracing the financial opportunities offered . The registered office of the United Founders ' Association is at No . 15 , Craven-street , Charing-cross , W . C .

Masonic And General Tidings.

A DEPUTATION of the Society of Architects ( St . James' Hall , Piccadilly ) , attended at St . James' Palace on Wednesday last , to present an address to her Majesty the Queen , on completing Co years of her reign . The deputation consisted of Bro . Robert Walker , of Cork , President , Bro . Henrv Lovegrove , P . G . S . B ., and Bro . Walter Emden , P . G . Stwd ., Vice-Presidents ; Bro . Major F . S . Leslie , and Messrs . Farman and Marsland . They were received by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , who handed them her Majesty's gracious answer .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY issue ordinary as well as excursion tickets at their principal City and West-end Offices . The booking offices at Paddinjton s tation -will be open for tbe issue oi tickets all day on Wednesday , Thursday , Friday , and Saturday , July 28 th , 29 th , 30 th , 31 st , and the tickets issued ( except those for specified excursion trains ) will be available for use on any of those days . To meet the expected additional traffic by the ordinary trains on Saturday , July 31 st , the Company will run in duplicate the 11 . 45 a . m . and 3 . 0 , 6 . 0 , and 9 . 0 p . m . trains to the West of England , the 1 . 30 , 445 , and 6 . 50 p . m . trains to the North , and the 12 . 0 noon train to

South Wales . The first portion of the 3 o and 9 . 0 p . m . trains will leave Paddington at 2 . 55 p . m . and S . 55 p . m . respectively , but the first portions of the other trains will leave at the advertised times , and the second a few minutes afterwards , the long distance passengers being as far as possible taken jn the first portion , but with a few exceptions both trains will stop at the advertised stations to take up and set down passengers . On Thursday , July 29 th , excursion passengers will be booked to Cork and Killarney at 3 . 35 p . m ., and on Friday , July 30 th , at 4 45 p . m ., to Belfast , Armagh , Giant's Causeway , & c , and at fi . 10 p . m . to Limerick , Killarney and other places in the South of

Ireland . Fast excursion trains for the West of England will leave Paddington at 10 . 10 p . m ., and for South Wales at 12 . 23 midnight , on Ftiday , July 30 th , and at 7 . 55 a . m ., 11 . 5 a . m ., 12 . 40 noon , and 10 . 10 p . m ., on Saturday , July 31 st , for the West of England . Excursions will also be run on Saturday , July 31 st , to Bath , Bristol , Dorchester , Weymouth , Marlborough , Devizes , _ Gloucester , Cheltenham , Worcester , Malvern , Hereford , Stratford-on-Avon , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Oswestry , Chester , Liverpool , Manchester , Isle of Man , and other places served by the Great Western System . In addition to the weekly excursion trains to the West of England

and Weymouth districts , an excursion train leaves Paddington at S . 10 a . m . every Saturday during July , August , and September , for Shrewsbury , Llanidloes , Aberystwyth , Barmouth , Harlech , Rhyi , Colwyn Bay , Llandudno , Bettws-y-coed , Bangor , Carnarvon , and other stations in North Wales , for 3 , S , 10 , 15 , or 17 days . Passengers are also booked every Saturday to Guernsey and Jersey , via Weymouth , and the short sea passage to the Islands by the trains leaving Paddington at S . 50 a . m . and 9 . 45 p . m . Third-class return tickets , available for 3 , S , 10 , 15 , or 17 days are issued at a fare of 24 s . 6 d . There is now a dailv Daylight Service from Weymouth to Guernsey and lersev

in addition to the night boats . On Sunday , August ist , excursions will be run to Cirencester , Stroud , Gloucester , Cheltenham , & c , and at 12 . 15 midnight an excursion for one or four days will leave Paddington for Oxford , Leamington , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , & c . On Monday , August 2 nd , cheap trains will be run to Reading , Pangbourne , Goring , Wallinglord , Bath , Bristol , Stroud , Gloucester , Cheltenham , & c . Cheap third-class excursion tickets are issued daily by specified trains from Paddington , Kensington ( Addison-road ) , Hammersmith , and certain stations on the Metropolitan , Metropolitan District and North London Railways , to Staines , Windsor , Taplow , Maidenhead , Henley , and other popular riverside resorts .

MIDLAND RAILWAY ARRANGEMENS FOR THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY . —On Monday , August 2 nd , certain booked trains will be discontinued , of which due notice will be given by special bills at the stations . For the convenience of the public , the Midland Railway Company have arranged that the booking offices at St . Pancras and Moorgate-street Stations shall be opened for the issue of tickets all day on Friday and Saturday , July 30 th and 31 st . Tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway will also be obtainable beforehand at the company's offices . Cheap Excursion Trains from London . —Cheap excursions will be run from London on Friday night , July 30 th ,

to Stirling , Perth , Aberdeen , Inverness , & c , for four or nine days , and to Edinburgh , Glasgow , Dumfries , Castle Douglas , Ayr , & c , for eight days , by which trains third class return tickets will be issued at asingle fare for the double journey , available for iS days . Cheap excursion tickets will be issued from London ( St . Pancras ) to Dublin , Belfast , Londonderry , & c , and excursion tour tickets to the North of Ireland on Friday , July 30 th . ( See bills for times , fares , routes , Sic . ) On Saturday , July 31 st , cheap excursion trains will be run to Leicester , Nottingham , Melton , Birmingham , Walsall , Wolverhampton , Burton , Derby , Manchester , Liverpool , Blackburn , Bolton ,

Preston , Wigan , Blackpool , Rochdale , Oldham , Bury , the Furness District , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , Barnsley , Keighley , York , Hull , Scarboro ' , Darlington , Durham , Newcastle , Carlisle , & c , returning the following Monday or Thursday . O . i Monday , August 2 nd , day trips will be run from London ( St . Pancras ) to Southend-on-Sea , St . Albans , Harpenden , Luton , Bedford , Kettering , and Leicester ; a one or four days' trip to Birmingham , and a two days' excursion to Manchester . Tickets for these trains for starting from St . Pancras Station can be obtained on the two days previous to the running of the trains at the company's offices . Southend-on-Sea . —Cheap daily and week .

end excursion tickets are issued from St . Pancras and other Midland stations' to Southend-on-Sea by the new and shorter route , via . the Tottenham and Forest Gate line . For holiday companions , travellers cannot do better than secure copies of the new publications which have just been issued by the Midland Railway Company , including " Pocket Guide to the Midland Railway , " " Pocket Diary and Guide to the Isle of Man and English Lake District , " " Illustrated Guide and List of Furnished Lodgings in Farmhouses , Country Villages , " & c , " The Peak of Derbyshire , " "S : otch Tourists'Programme , " & c . The books may be obtained at any Midland station or

agency . HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS . —The Great Northern Railway Company announce that on the night of Friday , July 30 th , a cheap excursion will leave London ( Woolwich Arsenal , Woolwich Dockyard , Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , King's Cross , & c ) , for Northallerton , Darlington , Richmond , Durham , Newcastle , Berwick , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Helensburgh , for 9 or iG days , and to Stirling , Perth , Dundee , Oban , Fort William , Montrose , Aberdeen , Keith , Buckie , Fraserburgh , Ballater , Inverness , and other stations in Scotland for 4 , 9 , and 16 days .

On Saturday , July 31 st , cheap excursions will also be run for three and six days from London ( Woolwich , Victoria , Moorgate , King ' s Cross , & c . ) to York , Bradford , Keighley , Halifax , Leeds , Wakefield , Doncaster , Liverpool , Southport , Manchester , Sheffield , Leicester , Derby , Nottingham , Hull , Grimsby , Lincoln , Ollerton , Edwinstowe , Chesterfield , Gainsborough , Lynn , Yarmouth . Norwich , iSpalding , Wisbech , Cambridge , St . Ives , Ramsey , & c . On Saturday , July 31 st , and each succeeding Saturday during August and Sjptember , cheap excursions lor 3 , S , i » , 15 , or 17 days , will be run from Moorgate , King ' s Cross

( G . N . ) , & c , to BridhngVon , Filey , Scarboro ' , Robin Hood ' s Bay , Whitby , Saltburn , Redcar , Seaton Carew , Tynemouth , Whitley , Cullercoats , Liverpool , Southport , and Douglas . In connection with the above excursions to the provinces and Scotland , tickets will be issued at Holloway , Finsbury Park , the High Barnet and Edgware branch stations , Muswell Hill , Harringay , Hornsey , Wo ^ d Green , the Enfield branch stations . New Southgate , Oakleigh Park , and New Barnet at the King's Cross fares , and passengers booking at these stations may , without extra payment , travel by ordinary train to either Finsbury Park or King ' s Cross , as may be necessary in order to join the

excursion trains . On Saturday , July 31 st , cheap excursions for six days to London ( King's Cross ) will be run from Keighley , Halifax , Bradford , Leeds , Yorks , Wakefield , Doncaster , Retford , Newark , Manchester , Wigan , Rochdale , Barnsley , Sheffield , Worksop , Grimsby , Gainsboro' , Derby , Nottingham , Grantham , Peterboro' , & c Saturday , 31 st July , cheap one , two , and three days' excursion will be run to Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , Mablethorpe , from Moorgate , King ' s Cross , & c . Monday , 2 nd August , cheap day excursions will be run from Victoria ( L ., C , and D . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , King ' s Cross , Finsbury Park , & c , to St . Albans , Hertford , Wheathampstead ,

Harpenden , Luton , Dunstable , Hitchin , Royston , and Cambridge . A cheap day excursion will also be run from Moorgate , King ' s Cross , Finsbury Park , & c , to Biggleswade , Sandy , Tempsford , St . Neots , Huntingdon , Peterboro' , Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , Mablethorpe , Ollerton , Edwinstowe , Bolsover , and Chesterfield . Cheap day excursions to London will be run from Keighley , Halifax , Bradford , Shipley , Leeds , Morley , Castleford , Batley , Dewsbury , Brighquse , Horbury , Wakefield , York , Doncaster , Retford

Newark , Derby , Nottingham , Lincoln , Stamford , Peterboro ' . Huntingdon , St . Neo ^ s , Sandy , Biggleswade , Cambridge , Hitchin , Luton , Dunstable , Hertford , St . Albans , & c . Tuesday , 3 rd August , a cheap day excursion will be run to Skegness from Moorgate , King's Cross , & c To prevent inconvenience from crowding at the Company's principal terminal station . King's Cross , tickets , dated in advance , will be issued at King's Cross ( G . N . R . ) , Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate ,- Aldersgate , Farringdon , and suburban stations , and at all the Company's ticket offices ,