Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR is making the Crescent Hotel his headquarters during his stay at Buxton . BRO . DR . CUMMINGS , the principal of the Guildhall School of Music , attained his 70 th birthday on Thursday last . BRO . SHERIFF LAWRENCE , M . P ., left on Wednesday for New York on a visit to Mr . Thomas A . Edison at New Jersey . BRO . SHERIFF-ELECT MARSHALL , C . C , J . P ., will take the chair in October at the annual festival of the City of London General " Pension Society .

MUSIC FOR THE PEOPLE . —During the summer 933 performances have been given in tlje London parks and open spaces by the bands of the London County Council . ' THE MARK PROV . GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL is to be held in the Guildhall , East Looe , on Wednesday next , at 1 . 45 p . m . Thc Right Hon . the Earl of Halsbury , Lord High Chancellor , will preside as Prov . G . M . IN VIEW of his appointment as the Chaplain to Bro . Sheriff-elect Marshall , we regret to hear that , owing tc a severe breakdown in health , the Rev . Hugh Price Hughes is not expected to reside again in town until after Christmas .

SPANISH ART IN THE CITY . —The Art Loan Exhibition of pictures by Spanish artists at the Guildhall Gallery will be closed at the end of the month , after a most successful career . Already 280 , 000 persons have visited the Gallery . BRO . THE LORD MAYOR , who came especially from Scotland to attend the meetings of the Court of Common Council and the City Lieutenancy on the 15 th instant , has now left for Buxton to join his family . He will return in the first week in September .

THE ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION offered a medal and to guineas for the best monograph of Sir John Vanbrugh and his buildings . The award has been made in favour of Mr . Gilbert H . Lovegrove , A . K . C ., student R . I . B . A ., son of Bro . Henry Lovegrove , P . G . S . B . DURING LAST WEEK the Glasgow International Exhibition was liberally

patronised by English visitors , the daily average exceeding 63 , 000 . Despite continuous rain 72 , 000 people were present on Saturday . The total attendance since the opening on May 2 is 5 , 548 , 315 , the aggregate cash takings being £ 81 , 798 . It is estimate ! that before the end of the week the attendance will exceed six millions , thus creating a British record .

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL is to assemble in the Public Rooms , Bodmin , on Tuesday , the 17 th prox ., at n a . m . There is no lack of business to transact . The Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Past D . G . M . of England , Prov- Grand Master , will preside . Bro . P . Colville Smith , P . G . D ., is the Dep . Prov . Grand Master , and Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean , P . A . G . D . C . is the Prov . G . Secretary .

THE QUEEN has caused an announcement which will delight the West-end modistes and the manufacturers in the country . The Hon . Charlotte Knollys writes at the Queen's command to Lady Amherst that , in her anxiety to promote the welfare of national industries , "the Queen expresses the earnest hope that all ladies who are to be present at the Coronation will employ for their dresses as much as possible materials made by British manufacturers and embroidered by British workwomen . "

WORKMEN are removing the rich but somewhat brightly-coloured glass in the south transept window-at Westminster Abbey to make room for the new window in memory of the late Duke of Westminster . They have commenced on the "sun " forming the upper portion , which is set with illustrations of incidents in the life of Christ , and the process is a very tedious one , requiring great care in order to preserve the glass intact . Ordinary clear glass is being substituted , so that the work of putting in the new memorial window may ultimately be undertaken as a whole , and not done piecemeal as the old one is removed .

ROYAL EXCHANGE FRESCOES . —In the south-east corner of the Ambulatory of the Royal Exchange a panel is being prepared forthe reception of the work of Mr . Edwin A . Abbey , R . A ., on the commission from the Skinners' and Merchant Taylors ' Compamas , to commemorate the founding of their annual feast . In the reign of Richard III . there occurred a dispute between the companies as to which should take precedence of the other at civic functions . Lord Mayor Billesden ( 14 S 3 ) decreed thit they should enjoy precedence in alternate years , and should dine together , in token of amity , on the eve of St . John ' s Day , June 24 .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR , before concluding his visit to Edinburgh , made a tour of inspection of the historic portions of the city under the escort of Bailie Brown , the senior magistrate . Bro . the Lord Mayor , who wis accompinied by the Lady Mayoress and Miss Nora Green , visited , among other places , Edinburgh Castle . The Chief Magistrate and his daughters were afterwards entertained at luncheon by the Town Council at the City Chambers . During the afternoon his lordship , as an old Freemason , visited Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , No . 2 , afterwards driving to the Forth Bridge , and returning to Edinburgh through the charming grounds ot Dilmeny House .

THE KING ALFRED COMMEMORATION—Arrangements for the national com m < moral ion of King Alfred the Great , which is fixed to take place on the 17 th , iSth , 19 th , and 20 th prox ., are in a very forward condition . On the 17 th tliere will be an opportunity for inspection of the Anglo-Saxon and other collections at the British Museum , under the auspices of the director , Sir E . Maunde Thompson . The i 8 : h prox .

will be occupied by excursions to places of interest in Winchester and the vicinity , and addresses will be given by Mr . Frederic Harrison , Si' John Evans , Bro . Sir Henry Irving , and others . One cf the two granite monoliths which are to form the bise for the colossal statue has already been placed in position . It is of Cornish granite , roughhewn , and , being one of the largest single blocks ever quarried in England , it created considerable inteiest in its transport to the site .

BKO . SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH has succeeded his cousin , Bro . liramston Beach , as Father of the House of Commons . Compared , however , with soi / is recent " Fathers , " he is young both in years and in Parliamentary service . He is only 64 , lut he has been in the I louse since 1 S 64 . Parliamentarians think of Bro . Sir Michael as an old man because so many years have passed since he was li-st in oflice . He was

Secretary of State for the Colonies two years after Mr . Chamberlain entered the House . Yet Mr . Chamberlain was born a year before him . There is such youthful vivacity in the piesent Colonial Secietary , that it is hard to realise that he is thc oldest man among the Cabinet Ministers in the H ouse of Commons . There is one occupant ol the Tieasury Bench who is still older , namely , Mr . Jesse Ceilings , but he is not in the Cabinet . He was born in 1 S 31 , and his chief was born in 1 S 36 .

PRINCELY GIFT FROM THE KAISER TO THE KING .-The Emperor William has designed a very valuable table ornament , which has been executed by Herr RoloiT , of the School of Arts , and which is intended as a present from the Kaiser to King Edward . It takes the form of an t-pergne , the centre of which is fashioned like an ancient vase . It is silver-gift , and over 3 't . high . Around it is a band edged with laurel wreaths , and beating the inscription : " Emperor William II . to King Edward VII . " From the sides there stand out lions' heads , having in their mouths rings which

form handles . The pedestal is decorated with acanthus , end the surface of the vase with lauiel , leaves . 'Ihe vessel is surmounted by a Royal Crown . Ihe ornament stands on a massive wooden pedestal decorated with gilded lines and rosettes . Around the centre piece , and connected with it by a sort of balustrade , are 30 coibels to hold flnujTc . The balustrade is of gilded bronze , and between the coibels are alternately shown the aims and monogram of the King . The ornament is to be taken to Hotnburg in a day or two , and will there be presented to the King . By the Emperor ' s order a table was laid in the old Throne-room the other day and the Royal gift photographed .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-manufactured condiments , currie stuffs , chutnees , preserves , poppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C . Stembridge and Co ., iS , Green-street , Leicester-square , 1-ondon ; and Calcutta . Established 1 S 21 . Write for price list . ( Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE BANK OF SPAIN has decided to raise the rate of discount for loans on l \ i . public funds from 3 * .- to 4 per cent . —Renter . IT IS STATED in Paris that the King of Italy has signified his intention of visiting France this autumn , or at the latest next spring . THE FIRE BRIGADES' UNION closed up their annual camp on the Basingstoke Hills on the 22 nd instant . Early in the afternoon the members were inspected by their president , the Duke of Marlborough .

THE KING has consented to be Patron of the Royal Natio-ial Eisteddfod of Wales to be held at Bangor next year . Curiously , Lord Penryn is to be President . Perhaps he has not quite understood the bardic odes concerning Bethesda .

THE REV . WILLIAM GRF . ENWELL , of Durham , the well-known antiquary , has sold his rare and splendid collection of Greek coins for ^ 11 , 000 to Mr . Warren , of Boston , U . S . A ., who intends to present the collection to that city . LOCAL MASONS should not fail to secure the Summer and Installation Number of the Freemason , which contains a capital portrait of Earl Amherst and quite a number of other Provincial Grand Masters . —Kent ami Sussex Courier .

IN PAINTING his picture of the Coronation Mr . Abbey will be required to furnish not only lifelike portraits of the King and Queen , but also of 300 other personalities . The group will thus be larger than in Mr . Frith ' s picture of the Prince and Princess of Wales ' s wedding . ON THE 19 th instant the foundation stone of the Masonic halls now being erected in Slamannan was laid with all the honours . Several hundreds of brethren fromvarious parts of the country were present , and Grand Master Christie laid the stone , assisted by the other office bearers of the Stirlingshire Provincial Grand Lodge .

LADY HOTHFIELD and Lady lernc Tufton are desired by Captain the Hon . John Tufton , Royal Susse : t Militia , to thank all who so kindly subscribed for comforts to the men of the 3 rd Battalion , and to say how much the gifts , which included shirts , socks , & c , as well as pipes and tobacco , have been appreciated .

PHILATELISTS MUST hurry up to obtain a treasure which before long will be obsolete . Notice ha ? been served on the postmasters that no further issue of the British 4 id . stamp will be made after the end of the present month . The demand by the public has been very small . The stocks in hand will be used until all are sold . IN RESPONSE to the unanimous request of the Mayor and Corporation of Folkestone , Bro . the Earl of Radnor has expressed his willingness to fill the office of Chief Magistrate for the ensuing year . This is the first occasion on which a selection has been made outside the Council . Bro . the Earl of Radnor is Lord of the Manor of Folkestone .

THE Alfred Bevan Convalescent Home for men , women , and children was opened by Mr . R . W . Perks , M . P ., at Sandgate , on Saturday . The home is in memory of the late Bro . Sir Alfred Bevan , and has accommodation for 250 beds . The wards include four dedicated to the Earl of Aberdeen , president , Lady Bevan , Miss Ida Bevan , and Mr . R . W . Perks , M . P ., resoectively .

THE INTEREST in the creation of two new Judges of the City of London Court is irery much alive , and probable , and even only possible , names are on everybody ' s tongue . Many still suppose that the selections rest with the Corporation , whose choice fell upon Mr . Commissioner Kerr nearly two generations ago . But the City Fathers now only find the money . The Lord Chancellor makes the appointments .

ARRANGEMENTS have been completed for an exceptionally enthusiastic welcome to the officers and crew of the German cruiser Stein to-morrow ( Saturday ) . Two banquets are to be given by the Dover Harbour Board , one to 400 German seamen forming part oi the crew of the ship , which will take place in Dover College Grounds on Saturday afternoon . In the evening a second banquet , to which Bros , the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London have been invited , will be given to the captain and officers of the ship in the Town Hall .

THE KING AND QUEEN . —Queen Alexandra , accompanied by Princess Victoria , on the 22 nd instant , paid a visit to the asylum established by the late . Queen Louise at Ordrup , near Bernstorff . In the afternoon her Majesty took a long drive through the environs of the city . Queen Alexandra , King Christian , and other members of the Royal Family intend on Monday next , if the weather is fine , to go on board the Danish Royal yacht Dannebrog , to meet the Pole Star , with the Djwager Empress of Russia .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT . —H . M . S . Melampus arrived at Castletown Bere , on the 21 st instant , from Kingstown , having on board th ; Duke of Connaught . On entering the harbour the Melampus was saluted by the forts erected on Bere Island , and also by the ships of the Channel Fleet lying in the Bay . After inspecting the forts on the island his Royal Highness proceeded on board the llagship Mystic , where he honoured Admiral VVilson by remaining for luncheon . The Duke was attended by Capt . MacNeil , A . D . C .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT , Grand Master of Mark Masons , has appointed Bro . the Rev . Frederick W . Macdonald , M . A ., to be Prov . G . Master for Wiltshire , in succession to the late Earl of Radnor , and Bro . the Rev . Edward Reid Curtie , D . D ., Dean of Battle , to succeed his Royal Highness as Prov . G . Mark Master fcr Sussex . Bro Lord Henniker , as Prov . G . Master for East Anglia , and Bro . Viscount Valentia , as Prov . G . Master for Berks and Oxon , have had their respective terms of office renewed for three years .

REPLYING TO a telegram in which Bro . Lord Kitchener , on behalf of the Army , expressed his regret at being unable to be in personal attendance on the Royal visitors to Cape Town during their stay in South Africa , the Duke of Cornwall and York returned " sincere thanks " to the Commander-in-Chief " and all ranks of the Army . " His Koyal Highness continued that the loyalty and goodwill displayed in Cape Town was most gratifying , adding : " If our visit is productive of any good results we shall indeed be thankful . " On the 22 nd instant the Duke and his consort laid the foundationstones of the Nurses' Home which is being erected as a memorial to Oueen Victoria and of the new Cathedral . ~ .

ON BEHALF of His Excellency , Mon-. Cambon , the French Ambassador , Mons . Rey , B . "; s Let ., B . es Sc , U . of France , OHicier d'Academie , on Tuesday , at the Abbey Hall , Reading , in the presence of a large assembly , presented t > Mr . Martin J . Sutton , head of the firm of Sutton and Sons , the insignia of the Ordre du Merite Agricole , as a further recognition by the French Government of Mr . Sutton ' s successful efforts in the improvement of grass and ; arable husbandry in France and England , especially in the advancement of agricultural education in both countries . Mr . Sutton was decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic in 1 S 7 S , for international services rendered to agriculture .

THE EXECUTORS of the late Bro . R . Bowerman West , of Streatham Hall , Exeter , have voted donations asunder to charitable institutions , viz .: £ 1000 each to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , the Church Army , the Royal Free Hospital , and the Royal Agticultural Benevolent Institution ; 500 guineas to St . Mary's Hospital , Paddington ; £ 500 each to Christ ' s Hospital , the Dental Hospital ( Leicester-squire ) , the City of London Truss Society , the Surgical Aid Society , Bridewell Hospital , the Royal Hospital for Consumption ( Vcntnor ) , the United Kingdom Beneficent Association , the Missions to Sramen , the London Hospital , the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution , the National Benevolent Institution , the Metropolitan Convalescent Institution , the Governesses' Benevolent Institution , the Church Pastoral Aid Society , and the Seamtn ' s Hospital Society ; £ . | oo to the Royal Normal College for the Blind , Upper Norwood ; £ 300 to the Paddington Green Children ' s Hospital ; and £ 250 each to the British Home and Hospital for Incurables , the National Society forthe Prevention of Cruelty to Children , Oueen Charlotte ' s Lying-in Hospital , the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , the London and South-Western Railway Servants Orphanage , the Samaritan Free Hospital for Women and Children , and the London Throat Hospital .

Death.

DEATH .

SOUTIIKV . —On the 22 nd instant , at Southfiuld , Plumstead , Bro . Sir Rich . ird Southey , K . C . M . G ., in his 94 th year .