Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

ON THURSDAY LAST the Directors of ihe Bank of England raised the Bank rate of discount from 3 to 4 per cent . WE REGRET to hear that'Bro . Sir Henry Halford , Bart ., is very seriously indisposed at his residence , Wistow Hall , near Leicester . THE MAIL HAG of the British Consul in New York , containing letters for Lond on , was lost on Saturday morning last while in transit from the Consular offices to the stiamer .

FOR THE THIRD year in succession Bro . the Earl of Warwick has accepted the invitation of his colleagues of the Warwick Town Council to become Mayor of the IJL rough . BKO . J . PASSMORE EDWARDS formally opened , on Tuesday , the art exhibition held in connection with the Hammersmith School of Art and Technical Art School ,

Brookgreen . BRO . SIR F . LOCKWOOD and Lady Lockwood anived at Liverpool from New York on beard the Campania on Satuiday last , and at once left for their residence near Staihorough . THE DUKE 01 " YORK has gone on afvisit for a few days' shooting to Lord Hastings at Melton Constable , while Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark have gone to Appleton Hall , Sandringham .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN or SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN has consented to open a bazaar at the Star and Garter Hotel , Richmond , on the 24 th February next , in aid of the funds of the Church of England Waifs and S . rays Society .

. H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has accepted an invitation from the Corporation of Longton , Staffordshire , to lay the fcundation-stone of the new Free Library and Technical Instruction Buildings early in the month of January next . BRO . LORD BALFOUR OK BURLEIGH , Secretary for Scotland , has appointed a Committee lo inquire into the alleged prevalence of sheep-stealing in certain parts of Scotland , with Mr . J . Hepburn Miller ; Advicate , Edinburgh , as Secretary .

BRO . BHOWNAGGREE , M . P . for North-East Bethnal Green , met with a most cordial reception from the native merchants on his arrival at Aden , and expressed to them his intention of always doing the utmost in his power for the cause of India . THE DUCHESS OK YORK visited Isleworth on Friday ; the iCth instant , for the purpose of opening the new Unijn Infirmary which the Brentford Board of Guardians has recently erected at a cost of over £ 30 , 000 , on a site purchased from the Duke of Northumberland .

THE 42 ND ANNIVERSARY of the Battle of BalaWavi will fall on Sunday neit and Ihe event will be duly honoured to-morrow ( Saturday ) , when the few survivors of the charge of the Light Brigade , who number only about 40 , will be entertained in the distiicts to which they belong . A PRIVATE MEETING of the Irish Horse Breeding Commission was held on Monday at Dublin Castle under the presidency of Bro . the Earl of Dunraven , Chairman of the Commission , for the purpose of arranging the future order of business . It was decided to hold the first public meeting and take evidence the following day .

BRO . SIR EDMUND MONSON , the retiring Ambassador to the Court of Austria-Hungary , and Mr . Greville , the British Consul-General at Buda-Pesth , dined with the Emperor Francis Joseph and the Imperial family on the iGth instant . Bro . Sir E . Monson had previously presented his letters of recall at a farewell audience ot his Majesty .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by Commander the . Hon . Seymour Fortescue , arrived at Marlborough House from Chippenham Park , Cambridgeshire , on Saturday evening last , and the following morning attended Divine service , in company with Il . K . H . the Princess , of Wales , Pnr . cess Victoria , and Prince aid Princess Charles of Denmark .

A WATERSPOUT was seen off Southport on Sunday afternoon last . Coincident with the appearance of a double rainbow a huge column of water was seen apparently rising out of the sea seme miles from the shore . In about a dozen seconds it fell , but reformed with a swaying and twisting motion three times before the cloud broke , and the phenomenon finally vanished .

LIVERPOOL MUNIFICENCE . —At a meeting held in the Liverpool Town Hall , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., to promote the construction of new schools for the blind upon a sile presented at Wavertree , it was announced that the Queen , the Patroness of the School , had given £ 30 to the fund , a donation of £ 10 , 000 from "A Friend" was announced , and other donations were of £ 500 downwatds . The total sum subscribed is £ 12 , 480 . The amount required is £ 20 , 000 .

THE ANNUAL meeting of the Lewisham District of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers was held in the Parish Hall , Ladywell , on Saturday last . A special service in honour of the occasion was held in St . Mary ' s Church , the address being given by the vicar . During the day , many people took the oppjrtu . iity of iaspecc . nr tne bells , some of which arc upwards of 300 years old .

THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON ( Bro . Alderman Sir VV . Wilkin ) went in state to Marlborough House on Satu : diy last for the purpose of pres .-nting , on the part cf the Corporation , to Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark the address of congratulation , ccntair . ed in a beautiful gold casket , which had been voted their Royal Fiighnessis on the cccasion of their mairiage . The Prince acknowledged the presen : atiein and the Princess expressed her admiration ot trie casket .

THE DUKE 01 * CAMBRIDGE was present at a Court of Cimmn Cornell of the City of London on Monday , when a bust of his Royal Highness was unveiled and an address , contained in a golden casket , was presented to him in recognition of his long ana valued services as Lomman Jer-in-Chief . The bust was unveiled , amid cheers , by the Lord Mayor ( Bro . Sir W . Wilkin ) , apd the address was read by the Recorder . The Duke made a very feeling acknowledgment of ihj honour , and ictired anid hearty cheers .

WE REGRET TO HEAR that Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Bedford met with a carriage accident while driving from Cairnsmore , where they are residing , to join a shooting party . The horses bolted while going down the avenue , and the Duke was shot out in one direction , while the Duchess was thrown with great foice against a tree wilh which the caniage had collided . Neither of them sustained injuries of a dangerous character , but both were severely shaken , and the Duke had one of his ankles sprained .

FUNERAL OF BRO . LORD KENSINGTON , PROV . GRAND MASTER OF SOUTH WALES ( W . D . ) . —The remains of the late Bio . Lord Kensington were , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., laid to rest in a plain grave just outside the south wall of the churchyard a : St . Biide , Pembrokeshire . The body of the deceased peer , which arrived from Scotland the pievious Saturday , had rested on a bier in the north transept of the little parish church , watched day and night by relays of men , two ef whom have kept vigil lor four hours at a lime . The side chapel was draped in black and decorated with palms . No invitations had teen issued for the funeral , but so many friends and

neighbours attended to show their sympathy with the family lhat the building was soon crowded . Lady Kensington , who has received a very large number of messages of condolence , including a letter from the Earl of Rosebery , leit London on the 14 U inst ., and was present at the funeral , the other mourners including the Hon . William Edwardes ( now Lord Kensington ) , the Hon . Hugh Edwardes , the Hon . Cecil Edwardes , the Hjn . George Edwardes , the Hon . Misses Edwardes , and Col . the Hon . Cuthbert Edwardes . The piece of ground in which the grave is situated will be consecrated at some future date , lt is at present not pait of the churchyaid , which is said to be quite lull .

EXTRACT FROM A LECTURE ON " I * OODS , " UY DR . ANDREW WILSON . — "The con ' sumpt on of cocoa happily increases year by year . 1 say ' happily , ' because , as tea and colfee are not foods , while cocoa is a tiue food , any increase in the national nutrition means an increase in the national prosperity . Winter , besides , is close upon us , and I advise those wl o are susceptible to colds to fortify themselves against chill by attenlicn to their food . ' 1 he easiist way of effecting this end for many is to substitute gocoa ( Epps 's being th ** most nutritious ) for tea and coffee . "

Masonic And General Tidings.

THERE WILL r . E A MEETING oi the Subscribers to the Scholarship Fund of the Royal Mascnlc Institution for Boys at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , the 30 th instant , at 4 . 30 p . m ., or immediately after the close of the regular business of the Council . ^ statement of accounts and the Auditors' report thereon will be presented ; the proposed regulations of the Fund will be considered , and Trustees , Governors , and Officers appointed .

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OK WEST YORKSHIRE will be held at 3 . 30 on Saturday , the 31 st inst ., at Wakefield . BRO . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , the Judge , is about to be entertained at a complimentary banquet by the magistrates who attend the Middlesex Sessions . THE FIRST-CLASS ARMOURED BATTLESHIP Victorious , which has been less than two and a half years under construction , was passed out of the dockyard hands at Chatham on completion on Saturday last .

LONDON NEEDLEWORK GUILD . —The work of this Guild will be on view , by p . mission of H . R . H . the Prir . ce of VVales , at Ihe Imperial Institute , South Kensington on the I 2 lh ,. nth , and 14 th of November , from 10 a . m . to s p . m .

BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING has placed the Lyceum Theatre to-morrow ( Saturday ) afternoon at the disposal of Bro . John Hare , that-he may appear as Old Eccles in " Caste , " prior to his departure from England on his second tour in America . THE OPENING PARADE of motor cars from London to Brighton and back , which was originally fixed for Saturday , the 14 th prox ., will take place to-morrow ( Saturd ay ) . A start will be effected from the H 6 : el Metropole at 11 a . m ., the meet taking place at

10 a . m . On the arrival of the cars at Brighton , a dinner w , ll be g . ven at the Hotel Meiropole there . THE MASONIC HALL of the Hotel Cecil was inaugurated on Monday evening last , on the occasion of the dinner of the Iris Lodge , No . 2545 . Bro . George Jefford Fowler , W . M ., presided . Among those present were Bros . L ) r . Lennox Browne , li ; J . Waterlow , Henry Chaplin , T . M . E . Armstrong , A . H . iEnglebach , A . F . Howard , E .-E * Harding , P . H . Waterlow , and J . H . D . Todd .

BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING will lay the foundation-stone of the new public library for Dulwich to-morrow ( Saturday ) afternoon . The building is to be erected on a site provided by the Estates Governors of Dulwich College , at the corner of Woodwardcroad , Lordship-lane . Bro . Passmore Edwards is subscribing the whole of the funds for the building . Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , and Sir Edward Clai ke , Q . C , M . P ., will be present at the opening ceremony .

LORD MAYOR ' S DAY . —Route of the Precession . —The procession will start from the Guildhall and proceed along Gresham-street , Wood-street , Fore-street , Moorgatestreet , Princes-street , King William-street , Eastcheap , Mark lane , Fenchurch-street , Lime-street , Leadenhall-street , Cornhill , Mansion House , Poultry , Cheap , iJe , Nevgatestreet , Old Bailey , Ludgate Hill , Fleet-street , to the Royal Courts of Justice , returning by way of Strand , Northumberland-avenue , Victoria Embankment , Queen Victoriastreet , Queen-street , King-street , to the Guildhall .

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES the Prince and Princess of Wales and their daughter , the Princess Victoria , left town on Monday for Wynyard Park , on a visit 11 the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry . They were attended by the H m . Seymour Fortescue and Miss Knollys , and asthe train moved off the Piince and Princess of Wales graciously acknowledged the salutations of those assembled on the platform . The Right Hm . II . Chaplin , President of the Local Government Board , and Bro . Christopher Sykes travelled northwards by the same train .

A MONUMENT to the Emperor William I . was unveiled wilh great ceremony at Mendin on Saturday afternoon last , in the presence of the Emperor and Empress . The Kaiser ' s train , along which the Imperial procession passed , was lined by members of the veterans' and gymnastic societies and of the Fire Brigade . When the ceremony was over and the guard of honour had marched past , the Emperor entered the Imperial Pavilion and , at the luncheon which was held 111 his honour , made a speech in reply tc the toast of his health , andthen drank to the prosperity of the Province of Westphalia ,

THE WOODGRANGE LODGE , No . 2409 , intend holding a Masonic service at All Saints' Church , Romford-road , Forest Gate , on Wedncsdiy next , at eight o ' clock p . m ., on behalf of the Building Fund for Parish Room and Sunday Schools . The sermon will be preached by Brj . the Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , M . A .,. G . Chaplain of England . Brethren will please assemble in the schoolroom adjoining the church , for the purpose of clothing , at 7 . 30 p . m ., and those who intend being present are requested to notify the same to the Secretary , so that seats may be reserved for them . Full Masonic Craft clothing and jewels may be worn .

ON SATURDAY MORNING LAST , the Household Troops and Scots Greys took part in certain operations which had been devised by Bro . Lord Methuen . The northern column , under the command of Colonel Lord Campbell , consisted of a squadron each from the 2 nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards , tne ist scots Guards and half of the 2 nd Coldstreams , with two guns , while th ; southern column , of equal strength , under Major Hippisley , consisted ef two squadrons of Scots Greys , the 3 rd Grenadiers , and half the 2 nd Coldstreams , and two guns . The manoeuvres took place in fine weather in the district lying between Putney and the Merton and Kingston-road .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL , M . A ., J . P ., C . C .-On Tuesday a deputation from the City Tradesmen's Club , consisting of Mr . R . Eskell Paget ( President ) , Mr . Thomas Simpson , and Bro . F . Kent ( Hon . Sec ) , waited upon Brj . H . B . Marshall , M . A ., J . P ., C . C , at Temple . House , to present an address containing Ihe resolution of condolence passed by the Club on the occasion of the death of the late Bro . H . B . Marshall , J . P ., C . C . Mr . Eskell Paget made the presentation , and said lhat the resolution ccntained in the address represented the unanimous feeling of the Club . Hro . Marshall thanked the deputation for the illuminated address , and said that Ihe tribute paid by the Club to the memory of his late father was very gratifying to him .

AN APPEAL FOR "POOR J . ]'—At a melting of the committee of the Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen ' s Institution , at 58 , Fenchurch-street , on the 14 th inst ., Admiral air F . Leopold McClintock in the chair , the question of the half-yearly election was on the agenda . Mr . J . B . Walker , the Secretary , reported that at the present there were on the funds of the institution 95 inmates at the home at Belvedere , and 23 S pensioners at their own homes thoughout the United Kingdom . There were alsj 27 6 applicants , that upwards of 1 S 0 of . these were between 70 and Ss years of age , and that

50 had been candidates from 10 to 20 elections . The committee decided to have an election in January , and deeply regret that the limited funds at their disposal will only allow them to elect three for admission to the home , and 10 to the out-pension . Thus 263 of these old and infirm public servants will be doomed to disappointment , and it is sad to contemplate how many will die in actual want before relief is obtained . It should be remembered that if not successful in obtaining the benefits of this charity , there is no similar door open fo them . Help is therefore urgently needed .

"I DREAMT THAT I DWELT IN MARDLE HALLS" will be the pleasing fancy to every one who first crosses the threshold of the gorgeous Trocadero Restaurant , which now holds such a proud and enviable position in the " New London " starting into life round and about Piccadilly Circus . But instead of the " vassals and serfs " of the old song we shall lind a warm and hospitable welcome from the courteous and spirited proprietors , Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , and the proverbial attention and peisonal ccmlort ever extended to the public by these well-known caterers and

restaurateurs . The basement floor is devoted to the grill room , with the bullet , smoking , reading , and billiard roems . The entrance floor is occupied by the grand restaurant , with its golden minstrel and great gallery in the style of Louis Quaturze , and atlac . led to the gold hall and gallery is a splendid adjacent saloon in the style of Louis Quinze . Small but deliciously cosy dining rooms surround these splendid public rooms . The first floor of the new 1 ' rocadtro is another welcome surprise , consisting as it does of a

ball room , a banqueting hall in the Empire period—a most admirable reproduction—and an ante-room in the style of Louis Treize . On the gallery level , at the top of the grand staircase , will be found a reception room , again in tlie style of Louis Treize ; a magnificent Masonic lodge in thc period of Francois Premier , with , of course , the necessary ante-rooms for the comfort and convenience of the brethren of the Craft . Full particulars can be had on application at the Trocadero , Piccadilly Circus . DEATH .

SADLER . —On the 15 th instant , at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , Brc Charles Sadler , Burdett Lodge , 1293 , in his 83 rd year .