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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic And General Tidings.
Masonic and General Tidings .
BRO . DEPUTY R . HARGREAVES ROGERS will be installed W . M . of the North Kent Lodge , No . 2499 , on Saturday , the ist prox ., at the Masonic Hall , Bexley Heath . 13 RO . LORP BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH , Secretary for Scotland , has appointed the Earl of Dalkeith , M . P ., to be his private secretary unpaid . A VIFE v . ROKE OUT in "the librarv of Ihe Royal Castle at Berlin on Monday night , but it was speedily extinguished . It is believed the damage done to the contents is considerable .
BRO . LORD WOLSELEY has consented to preside at the annual dinner of tne North London Rifle Club , of which his lordship is President , which will be held at the Holborn Restaurant on the 26 th prox . THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY has consented to be present at the concert which will be given in aid of Ihe Charities of St . Augustine ' s , Limehouse—a poor parish in the very heart of East London—on Tuesday , the 4 th prox .
THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Honourable Society of C ) mmrode non will be held in the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole on Monday , the 17 th prox ., when the Duke of York will , by invitation , be the guest of the evening . ON SATURDAY LAST , at Osborne , the Queen conferred the hn-nur ol Knighthood on several gentlemen , among whom were Bro . Col . C . E . Howa d Vincent , C . B ., M . P ., and Bro . J . S . Goldie-Taubman , Speaker of the House of Keys , Isleof Min .
HER MAJESTY S SHIP PORCUPINE , one of the three torpedo-boat destroyers built by Messrs . Palmer at jarrow-on-Tyne , overed the d ' stance—about 300 miles—between the Tj ne and the Thames in 15 hours . The ship was under easy steam the whole way . IN THE REPORT , in cur last issue , of tie consecration of the National Artillery Lodge , No . 257 S , we omitted to mention that Bro . W . M . Stiles , Grand Treasurer , wis unanimously elected an honoraiy member of that lodge in addition tothe Consecrating Officers .
BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING was entertained at a banquet at Richmond by the British Assoc iation of Virginia on Sunday last , and met with a very cordial welcome . During the previous week at Washington he had been entertained by our Amba * sador and high officials of the United States . THE VICEROY OF INDIA , the Earl of Elgin , accompanied by Lady Elgin , has left Calcutta tor a short cruise in the Bay of Bengal on board the Irdian Marine Vessel Warren Hastings . His Excellency had been suffering from intermittent fever , and the crui ' . e has been undertaken by the advice of his medical attendants .
THF BRITISH EXPEDITION to Ashanli , under Sir F . Scott , entered Coomassie on Friday , the 17 th instant , without fighting , and King Prempeh , the Queen Mother , and other members of the Royal Family have been taken prisoners and will be held as hestages . The late envoys to England have also been arrested for forgery . THE ANNUAL general meeting of the Field Practice Association for Yeomanry and Volunteers will be held under the presidency of the Duke of Connaught in the theatre of the Royal United Service Institution , Whitehall , on Friday next , the 31 st instant . His Royal Highness will also present the National Rifle Association Challenge Cup for 1 S 95 .
THE ROYAL CARL KOSA OPERA , which has been absert fum London for five year .-, nude its first appearance at Daly's Theatre en Monday afternoon , Warner ' s opera of " Tannhaiiser" being selected for the performance . The opera went well , and the audience , which was numerous , was liberal in its applause of the principal artistes .
THE FIRST MPRTING of the Court of Aldermen , after the Christ . nas holidays , was held at the Guildhall , on Tuesday , under the presidency of Bro . Lord Mayor Sir W . Wilkin , and in the evening his lordship and the Lady Mayoress entertained the members of the Court , topether with the Sheriffs , the Common Serjeant , and other officers of the C 01 p ; ration at dinner at the Mansion House .
SEVERAL BRANCH INSTITUTIONS have been established in connection with the Central Library , Fulham , and one of them , which has been erected in the Wandsworth Btic ' ge-rocd at a cost of £ 2000 , was opened on Monday by Bro . Hayes Fisher , M . P ., wlo expressed his belief that as the Elizabethan age had been famous for the development of English litera'ure , so the Victorian age would be equally famous for the development of public lil raiies .
THE HACKNEY AND EAST MIDDLESEX BAND OF HOPE will commemorate its 21 st anniversary this year , and her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has consented to epen a bazaar in aid of its work . The appeal to her Royal Highness to undertake this duty was signed by a large number of influential people , among whom were Bro . I . ord Amherst of Hackney , and several Members of Parliament as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex .
A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER to Lord Lamington on his appointment as Governor of Queensland , took place at the Hotel Metropole on Tuesday evening . The Right Hon . J . Chamberlain , M . P ., Secretary of State , occupied the chair , and among those present were Sir Gerge Bowen the first , ar . d Sir Henry Norman the retiring , Governor of the Colony , the Italian Ambassador , and Bros . Lord Ampthill , Sir Frederick Abel , Sir Somers Vine , and R . G , Webster , M . P .
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL ' S Returns show that the death-rate of London last week was 19 1 per icoo , write lhat of Brighton was 20 . 3 . that of Croydon 11 , and that of Wolve : - Hampton , which was the highest amongst those recorded , 30 . 1 . The mild weather has had the effect cf diminishing the deaths from disease of the respiratory organs , the number registered beirg 413 below the corrected average , while influenza is being held well in deck , and was responsible for only 10 , as compared with 13 deaths during the previous week .
IT IS PROPOSED to erect a new Opera * House at the corner of the Haymarket and Charles-street , on the site formerly occupied by Her Majesty's Theatre . It will have a frontage of lyS feet to the Haymarket , 145 feet to Charles-street , and 19 S feet to the Opera Arcade , and will provide sitting accommodation for 2232 persons . Ihe plans for the new house , which will be known as the Imperial Opera House , have been submitted to the I heatres Committee of the London County Council . The Committee recommend the approval of the plans when altered in accordance with various suggestions .
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY . —An invitation has been sent to this Provincial Grand Lodge to meet this year at Kingston-on-Thames ( not Surbiton ) by four lodges which meet within the boundaries of the old town , viz ., Dobie , llrownrigrr , Ewell , and Noel , representing in the aggregate over 200 members of the Craft . We understand that the Prov . Grand Mister ( Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow ) has expressed himself in favour of meeting at Kingston , to which town the Prov . Grand Lodge has not paid a visit for 10 years , but no definite decision has as yet been come' to .
THERE WAS ONLY a small attendance at the annual general meeting of the subscribers and supporters of the Actors' Benevolent Fund , which was held on the stage of the Criterion 1 hcatre on Tuesday afternoon under the presidency of Mr . Charles Wyndham , among truse present being Mr . H . Beerbohm Tree , Mr . George Alexander , and Bros . S . B . Bancroft and Edward Terry . The report and accounts were adopted , on the motion oi the Chairman , seconded by Bro . Terry , and Bro . Sir Henry Irving was re-elected President of the Fund . Rcmaiks in condemnation of the absence of so many leading actors and actresses and the small assistance they rendered the institution weref eely made .
A PRIVATE theatrical peiformance was given at Osborne on Monday before the Oueen , the Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , thc Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) and the M irquis of Lome , and about 100 guests . The Indian Room was fitted and prettily decorated for the occasion , and the strinu band ot the Royal Marine Light Infantry occupied the gallery opposite the staee .
Pinero ' s comedy of " The Money Spinner " was the piece selected , and the several parts were ably filled by ladies and gentlemen connected with the Court and the Services . Afier the entertainment , the guests were presented to her Majesty in the Drawing Room , and supper was served in the Council Room . The performance was repeated on Tuesday .
Masonic And General Tidings.
1 HE GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC is the largest school of music in the world , having now considerably more than 3000 students .-"YE 0 I . DE FRIENDS" fouith annual smoking concert will be held in the Grand Hall of the Freemasons' Tavern on Friday , the 7 th prox ., at S o ' clock . BRO . SIR GEORGE TAUnMAN GOLDIE , K . C . M . G ., Governor and Political Administrator cf the Royal Niger Company , left London on the 17 th inst . for Akassa , and intends spending several months in the company ' s territories .
H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES returned to Sandringham towards the end of last week and rejoined the Princess and their daughters . The Duke of Teck also reached York Cottage on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of York .
AN IMPERIAL DECREE was published at St . Petersburg on Saturday las ' , fixing the date of the coronation of the Emperor and Empress for May next . A second decree directs that the municipal and other representative bodies of the Russian Empire shall be invited to attend the ceremony . AMONG THOSE WHO were present at the funeral of the late Earl Delawarr , at With } ham , East Grinstead , Sussex , were Viscount Cantelupe ( now Earl Delawarr ) , Lord Sackville , Bro . Col . the Hon . VV . E . Sackville West , Lord Lamington , Bro . the Duke of Bedford , and Lords George and Henry Nevill .
IT IS IN CONTEMPLATION among the Livery of the Coach Makers and Coach Harness Makers' Company , of which Lord Mayor Bro . Sir Walter Wilkin is Master , to commemorate the fact of the head of their guild being the chief magistrate of the City of London by presenting a service of plate to his lordship . BROS , RIGHT HON . A . AKERS-DOUGLAS , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart . ( Chancellor of the Excluquer ) , the Dukeof Devonshire , and Sir M . White Ridley , Bart ., were anion ; the Ministers who attended the Cabinet Council , which was held at the Foreign O . rice on Saturday last .
AMONG THE GUESTS entertained at Mount Stewart , County Down , last week , by the Alarquis of Londonderry and the Lady Helen Stewart , were the Duchess of Abercorn and Lady Alexandra Hamilton , Bro . the Far ! and Countess of Erne , Bro . Lord and Lady Arthur Hill and Miss Hill , and Lord and Lady Lurgan , His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Cadogan have returned to Dublin .
A MEETING of the Delegates of the Hospital Saturday Fund was held at the Farringdon-road offices on Saturday last , when it was unanimously resolved to distribute the sum of £ 17 . 650 amongst 174 institutions , comprising 32 hospitals , 64 special hospitals , 20 convalescent homes , 3 6 dispensaries , and 22 miscellaneous . The total receipts for the year amounted to , ( , 20 , 039 , as compared with £ 19 , 978 in 1834 .
THE MEMBERS of St . Cuthbert s Ledge , No . 1902 , Bedlington , have for sometime held their lodge meetings in the Mechanics' Institute . The Committee of the institute have , however , decided to extend the usefulness of the institution , and the rooms occupied by the brethren are now required for other purposes . At a meeting of the lodge the subject was brought up , and it was agreed that the Finance Committee take the
matter in hand . At a subsequent meeting it was resolved that a Company be formed for the purpose of building a hall for the use of the Freemasons . A suitable site has been picked out , and it is stated that £ 300 worth of shares were taken up at the meeting referred to . Bro . A . E . Burdon , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., is interesting himself in the matter . The idea is to baild a large hall which could also be let for public entertainments at the place .
PRESENTATIONS TO THE LATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY . —A few dajs since the staff of thc traffic department of the Great Northern Railway presented Mr . Francis P . Ccckshott , who retired from the position of superintendent of the line on the 13 th December last , with a handsome service of plate . Representatives of all ranks in the department and from all parts of the company ' s system were present . At the quarterly meeting of the conference of superintendents of
the English , Scotch , and Irish railways , held at the Railway Clearing House , on the 22 nd inst ., an important and finely executed drawing of a scene on the Yorkshire coast , near Filey , was presented to Mr . Ccckshott as an indication of the high esteem in which he was held by his late colleagues , and their regret at his retirement from the conference . On Saturday evening , the iSth inst ., Mr . Ccckshott entertained the staff of his old ellice , that of superintendent of the line , to dinner , at the Great Northern Hotel , King's Cross , a very pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable evening being spent .
THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES . —There is everything to indicate the fact that this magnificent establishment is striking deeper and deeper into the soil , and that its excellent formula is exciting unabated interest as the result of the last 20 years Tontine period . Numerous letters of acknowledgment were evoked by the unprecedented consummation under this system , some of which appear in a neat pamphlet entitled "Satisfied , " and carry with them conviction , inspired by the character and standing of the signatories . The highly interesting report of the
Society at once became a document in very great demand from all parts , and it soon became evident that the public had not thoroughly grasped the notion of " equitahility " until its pages had been perused , when it was soon found that every line within the covers of this pamphlet breathed essential vitality into the nostiils of policy-holders , and one eminent English divine—the Rev . Charles Croslegh . D . D . —emphatically declared that had he known the oilice earlier he certainly should have insured in it for a larger amount ; whilst another correspondent says * . "The result is so satisfactory , that I am
willing to take out policies for double the amount . " These letters are only a few selected frcm the many ; but they speak volumes in favour of this establishment , as well they may , for to be covered by a policy of insurance for 20 years , and to find at the end of that period you havc all your premiums returned and a proportion over , representing interest on such premiums must be productive of emotions even more supreme than satisfaction . An admirable feature in the econjmy of the Society is its instalment principle . Either from a personally inadequate knowledge of the world and its ways , or a
too ready acquiescence in the suggestions of artful " adviseis" and their baneful influences , many of the beneficiaries find themselves ths possessors of wealth , discreetly provided for them by their forb * ars , for but a short period indeed , and are soon left in poignant remorse through an ill-conceived or ill-advised investment . To obviate calamity in the investment of money realised , theS ; ciety inaugurated a highly laudable scheme . in "The Free Tontine Instalment Policy , " which may be so drawn as to become an absolute safeguard against the miscarriage of theintention of the assured . Under this scheme the
sum assured , instead of being payable in one sum , may be payable in 10 , 15 , 20 , 25 , or 30 equal annual payments ( as may be chosen at the time the assurance is effected ) , thereby enabling the assured to leave his family a fixed annual income , and protecting them against loss by speculatian , ot shrinkage from injudicious use of the funds , and from the loss which so often results from depreciation in the value of such investments as are frequently made by executors , guardians , or beneficiaries . We cannot do better than advise interested individuals to become possessed of the literature of the Society , at Si ,
Cheapside , where the general manager , Messrs . Munkittrick and W . Triggs , are invariably accessible to attend to enquirers ; and experience goes that these gentlemen will carry out the reputation the Society has earned for the courtesy of its officials at all seasons . Since the issue of the report and " Satisfied "—which we have read with much relish , there must be energies at work which will very soon present to the world other returns showing remarkable progression during 1 S 95 , for there are unmistakeable signs of great business in insurance during the past year , which we shall soon lis called upon to review when the new reports come to hand , and we very natur . illy expect to find that
the "Equitable Life of the United Stales " has far outstripped any progress made during one year in its history , a consummation which will not be begrudged to the Society by any individual . lt is already known that the results of policies maturing in iSyfi are equal to those of 1 S 95—a most satisfactory fact . It is deserving of notice that the smartness of the executive in the matter of the prompt settlement of claims is a characteristic that has earned fur the office a world-wide reputation , such a thing as a tortuous suspense in superfluous details being unknown in the working apparatus of the Society , and every diligence is used with a view to finality in this , the most essential consideration in all that appertains to life assurance .
A ( IKEAT HI . KSSINO TO III ' MANITV is without doubt a medicine composed of ingredients that , whil > l it eradicates the germs 01 ' disease , Mrcngthens the system . Holloway ' s I'ills act in this manner , and in general debility , mental depression , and nervous irritability there is no remedy which operates so beneficially . They purity the blood , give tone to the stomach , and thoroughly regenerate tlie system . The ) ' are mild in operation , although most powerful in removing disease . Ilelicate females anil young children can talic them with safety and benefit . It would be dillicult to enumerate all the advantages to he derived by taking these wonderful pills . N " household should be without them , for there is no complaint which they cannot cure or relieve ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic And General Tidings.
Masonic and General Tidings .
BRO . DEPUTY R . HARGREAVES ROGERS will be installed W . M . of the North Kent Lodge , No . 2499 , on Saturday , the ist prox ., at the Masonic Hall , Bexley Heath . 13 RO . LORP BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH , Secretary for Scotland , has appointed the Earl of Dalkeith , M . P ., to be his private secretary unpaid . A VIFE v . ROKE OUT in "the librarv of Ihe Royal Castle at Berlin on Monday night , but it was speedily extinguished . It is believed the damage done to the contents is considerable .
BRO . LORD WOLSELEY has consented to preside at the annual dinner of tne North London Rifle Club , of which his lordship is President , which will be held at the Holborn Restaurant on the 26 th prox . THE DUCHESS OF ALBANY has consented to be present at the concert which will be given in aid of Ihe Charities of St . Augustine ' s , Limehouse—a poor parish in the very heart of East London—on Tuesday , the 4 th prox .
THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Honourable Society of C ) mmrode non will be held in the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole on Monday , the 17 th prox ., when the Duke of York will , by invitation , be the guest of the evening . ON SATURDAY LAST , at Osborne , the Queen conferred the hn-nur ol Knighthood on several gentlemen , among whom were Bro . Col . C . E . Howa d Vincent , C . B ., M . P ., and Bro . J . S . Goldie-Taubman , Speaker of the House of Keys , Isleof Min .
HER MAJESTY S SHIP PORCUPINE , one of the three torpedo-boat destroyers built by Messrs . Palmer at jarrow-on-Tyne , overed the d ' stance—about 300 miles—between the Tj ne and the Thames in 15 hours . The ship was under easy steam the whole way . IN THE REPORT , in cur last issue , of tie consecration of the National Artillery Lodge , No . 257 S , we omitted to mention that Bro . W . M . Stiles , Grand Treasurer , wis unanimously elected an honoraiy member of that lodge in addition tothe Consecrating Officers .
BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING was entertained at a banquet at Richmond by the British Assoc iation of Virginia on Sunday last , and met with a very cordial welcome . During the previous week at Washington he had been entertained by our Amba * sador and high officials of the United States . THE VICEROY OF INDIA , the Earl of Elgin , accompanied by Lady Elgin , has left Calcutta tor a short cruise in the Bay of Bengal on board the Irdian Marine Vessel Warren Hastings . His Excellency had been suffering from intermittent fever , and the crui ' . e has been undertaken by the advice of his medical attendants .
THF BRITISH EXPEDITION to Ashanli , under Sir F . Scott , entered Coomassie on Friday , the 17 th instant , without fighting , and King Prempeh , the Queen Mother , and other members of the Royal Family have been taken prisoners and will be held as hestages . The late envoys to England have also been arrested for forgery . THE ANNUAL general meeting of the Field Practice Association for Yeomanry and Volunteers will be held under the presidency of the Duke of Connaught in the theatre of the Royal United Service Institution , Whitehall , on Friday next , the 31 st instant . His Royal Highness will also present the National Rifle Association Challenge Cup for 1 S 95 .
THE ROYAL CARL KOSA OPERA , which has been absert fum London for five year .-, nude its first appearance at Daly's Theatre en Monday afternoon , Warner ' s opera of " Tannhaiiser" being selected for the performance . The opera went well , and the audience , which was numerous , was liberal in its applause of the principal artistes .
THE FIRST MPRTING of the Court of Aldermen , after the Christ . nas holidays , was held at the Guildhall , on Tuesday , under the presidency of Bro . Lord Mayor Sir W . Wilkin , and in the evening his lordship and the Lady Mayoress entertained the members of the Court , topether with the Sheriffs , the Common Serjeant , and other officers of the C 01 p ; ration at dinner at the Mansion House .
SEVERAL BRANCH INSTITUTIONS have been established in connection with the Central Library , Fulham , and one of them , which has been erected in the Wandsworth Btic ' ge-rocd at a cost of £ 2000 , was opened on Monday by Bro . Hayes Fisher , M . P ., wlo expressed his belief that as the Elizabethan age had been famous for the development of English litera'ure , so the Victorian age would be equally famous for the development of public lil raiies .
THE HACKNEY AND EAST MIDDLESEX BAND OF HOPE will commemorate its 21 st anniversary this year , and her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has consented to epen a bazaar in aid of its work . The appeal to her Royal Highness to undertake this duty was signed by a large number of influential people , among whom were Bro . I . ord Amherst of Hackney , and several Members of Parliament as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex .
A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER to Lord Lamington on his appointment as Governor of Queensland , took place at the Hotel Metropole on Tuesday evening . The Right Hon . J . Chamberlain , M . P ., Secretary of State , occupied the chair , and among those present were Sir Gerge Bowen the first , ar . d Sir Henry Norman the retiring , Governor of the Colony , the Italian Ambassador , and Bros . Lord Ampthill , Sir Frederick Abel , Sir Somers Vine , and R . G , Webster , M . P .
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL ' S Returns show that the death-rate of London last week was 19 1 per icoo , write lhat of Brighton was 20 . 3 . that of Croydon 11 , and that of Wolve : - Hampton , which was the highest amongst those recorded , 30 . 1 . The mild weather has had the effect cf diminishing the deaths from disease of the respiratory organs , the number registered beirg 413 below the corrected average , while influenza is being held well in deck , and was responsible for only 10 , as compared with 13 deaths during the previous week .
IT IS PROPOSED to erect a new Opera * House at the corner of the Haymarket and Charles-street , on the site formerly occupied by Her Majesty's Theatre . It will have a frontage of lyS feet to the Haymarket , 145 feet to Charles-street , and 19 S feet to the Opera Arcade , and will provide sitting accommodation for 2232 persons . Ihe plans for the new house , which will be known as the Imperial Opera House , have been submitted to the I heatres Committee of the London County Council . The Committee recommend the approval of the plans when altered in accordance with various suggestions .
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY . —An invitation has been sent to this Provincial Grand Lodge to meet this year at Kingston-on-Thames ( not Surbiton ) by four lodges which meet within the boundaries of the old town , viz ., Dobie , llrownrigrr , Ewell , and Noel , representing in the aggregate over 200 members of the Craft . We understand that the Prov . Grand Mister ( Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow ) has expressed himself in favour of meeting at Kingston , to which town the Prov . Grand Lodge has not paid a visit for 10 years , but no definite decision has as yet been come' to .
THERE WAS ONLY a small attendance at the annual general meeting of the subscribers and supporters of the Actors' Benevolent Fund , which was held on the stage of the Criterion 1 hcatre on Tuesday afternoon under the presidency of Mr . Charles Wyndham , among truse present being Mr . H . Beerbohm Tree , Mr . George Alexander , and Bros . S . B . Bancroft and Edward Terry . The report and accounts were adopted , on the motion oi the Chairman , seconded by Bro . Terry , and Bro . Sir Henry Irving was re-elected President of the Fund . Rcmaiks in condemnation of the absence of so many leading actors and actresses and the small assistance they rendered the institution weref eely made .
A PRIVATE theatrical peiformance was given at Osborne on Monday before the Oueen , the Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , thc Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) and the M irquis of Lome , and about 100 guests . The Indian Room was fitted and prettily decorated for the occasion , and the strinu band ot the Royal Marine Light Infantry occupied the gallery opposite the staee .
Pinero ' s comedy of " The Money Spinner " was the piece selected , and the several parts were ably filled by ladies and gentlemen connected with the Court and the Services . Afier the entertainment , the guests were presented to her Majesty in the Drawing Room , and supper was served in the Council Room . The performance was repeated on Tuesday .
Masonic And General Tidings.
1 HE GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC is the largest school of music in the world , having now considerably more than 3000 students .-"YE 0 I . DE FRIENDS" fouith annual smoking concert will be held in the Grand Hall of the Freemasons' Tavern on Friday , the 7 th prox ., at S o ' clock . BRO . SIR GEORGE TAUnMAN GOLDIE , K . C . M . G ., Governor and Political Administrator cf the Royal Niger Company , left London on the 17 th inst . for Akassa , and intends spending several months in the company ' s territories .
H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES returned to Sandringham towards the end of last week and rejoined the Princess and their daughters . The Duke of Teck also reached York Cottage on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of York .
AN IMPERIAL DECREE was published at St . Petersburg on Saturday las ' , fixing the date of the coronation of the Emperor and Empress for May next . A second decree directs that the municipal and other representative bodies of the Russian Empire shall be invited to attend the ceremony . AMONG THOSE WHO were present at the funeral of the late Earl Delawarr , at With } ham , East Grinstead , Sussex , were Viscount Cantelupe ( now Earl Delawarr ) , Lord Sackville , Bro . Col . the Hon . VV . E . Sackville West , Lord Lamington , Bro . the Duke of Bedford , and Lords George and Henry Nevill .
IT IS IN CONTEMPLATION among the Livery of the Coach Makers and Coach Harness Makers' Company , of which Lord Mayor Bro . Sir Walter Wilkin is Master , to commemorate the fact of the head of their guild being the chief magistrate of the City of London by presenting a service of plate to his lordship . BROS , RIGHT HON . A . AKERS-DOUGLAS , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart . ( Chancellor of the Excluquer ) , the Dukeof Devonshire , and Sir M . White Ridley , Bart ., were anion ; the Ministers who attended the Cabinet Council , which was held at the Foreign O . rice on Saturday last .
AMONG THE GUESTS entertained at Mount Stewart , County Down , last week , by the Alarquis of Londonderry and the Lady Helen Stewart , were the Duchess of Abercorn and Lady Alexandra Hamilton , Bro . the Far ! and Countess of Erne , Bro . Lord and Lady Arthur Hill and Miss Hill , and Lord and Lady Lurgan , His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Cadogan have returned to Dublin .
A MEETING of the Delegates of the Hospital Saturday Fund was held at the Farringdon-road offices on Saturday last , when it was unanimously resolved to distribute the sum of £ 17 . 650 amongst 174 institutions , comprising 32 hospitals , 64 special hospitals , 20 convalescent homes , 3 6 dispensaries , and 22 miscellaneous . The total receipts for the year amounted to , ( , 20 , 039 , as compared with £ 19 , 978 in 1834 .
THE MEMBERS of St . Cuthbert s Ledge , No . 1902 , Bedlington , have for sometime held their lodge meetings in the Mechanics' Institute . The Committee of the institute have , however , decided to extend the usefulness of the institution , and the rooms occupied by the brethren are now required for other purposes . At a meeting of the lodge the subject was brought up , and it was agreed that the Finance Committee take the
matter in hand . At a subsequent meeting it was resolved that a Company be formed for the purpose of building a hall for the use of the Freemasons . A suitable site has been picked out , and it is stated that £ 300 worth of shares were taken up at the meeting referred to . Bro . A . E . Burdon , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., is interesting himself in the matter . The idea is to baild a large hall which could also be let for public entertainments at the place .
PRESENTATIONS TO THE LATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY . —A few dajs since the staff of thc traffic department of the Great Northern Railway presented Mr . Francis P . Ccckshott , who retired from the position of superintendent of the line on the 13 th December last , with a handsome service of plate . Representatives of all ranks in the department and from all parts of the company ' s system were present . At the quarterly meeting of the conference of superintendents of
the English , Scotch , and Irish railways , held at the Railway Clearing House , on the 22 nd inst ., an important and finely executed drawing of a scene on the Yorkshire coast , near Filey , was presented to Mr . Ccckshott as an indication of the high esteem in which he was held by his late colleagues , and their regret at his retirement from the conference . On Saturday evening , the iSth inst ., Mr . Ccckshott entertained the staff of his old ellice , that of superintendent of the line , to dinner , at the Great Northern Hotel , King's Cross , a very pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable evening being spent .
THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES . —There is everything to indicate the fact that this magnificent establishment is striking deeper and deeper into the soil , and that its excellent formula is exciting unabated interest as the result of the last 20 years Tontine period . Numerous letters of acknowledgment were evoked by the unprecedented consummation under this system , some of which appear in a neat pamphlet entitled "Satisfied , " and carry with them conviction , inspired by the character and standing of the signatories . The highly interesting report of the
Society at once became a document in very great demand from all parts , and it soon became evident that the public had not thoroughly grasped the notion of " equitahility " until its pages had been perused , when it was soon found that every line within the covers of this pamphlet breathed essential vitality into the nostiils of policy-holders , and one eminent English divine—the Rev . Charles Croslegh . D . D . —emphatically declared that had he known the oilice earlier he certainly should have insured in it for a larger amount ; whilst another correspondent says * . "The result is so satisfactory , that I am
willing to take out policies for double the amount . " These letters are only a few selected frcm the many ; but they speak volumes in favour of this establishment , as well they may , for to be covered by a policy of insurance for 20 years , and to find at the end of that period you havc all your premiums returned and a proportion over , representing interest on such premiums must be productive of emotions even more supreme than satisfaction . An admirable feature in the econjmy of the Society is its instalment principle . Either from a personally inadequate knowledge of the world and its ways , or a
too ready acquiescence in the suggestions of artful " adviseis" and their baneful influences , many of the beneficiaries find themselves ths possessors of wealth , discreetly provided for them by their forb * ars , for but a short period indeed , and are soon left in poignant remorse through an ill-conceived or ill-advised investment . To obviate calamity in the investment of money realised , theS ; ciety inaugurated a highly laudable scheme . in "The Free Tontine Instalment Policy , " which may be so drawn as to become an absolute safeguard against the miscarriage of theintention of the assured . Under this scheme the
sum assured , instead of being payable in one sum , may be payable in 10 , 15 , 20 , 25 , or 30 equal annual payments ( as may be chosen at the time the assurance is effected ) , thereby enabling the assured to leave his family a fixed annual income , and protecting them against loss by speculatian , ot shrinkage from injudicious use of the funds , and from the loss which so often results from depreciation in the value of such investments as are frequently made by executors , guardians , or beneficiaries . We cannot do better than advise interested individuals to become possessed of the literature of the Society , at Si ,
Cheapside , where the general manager , Messrs . Munkittrick and W . Triggs , are invariably accessible to attend to enquirers ; and experience goes that these gentlemen will carry out the reputation the Society has earned for the courtesy of its officials at all seasons . Since the issue of the report and " Satisfied "—which we have read with much relish , there must be energies at work which will very soon present to the world other returns showing remarkable progression during 1 S 95 , for there are unmistakeable signs of great business in insurance during the past year , which we shall soon lis called upon to review when the new reports come to hand , and we very natur . illy expect to find that
the "Equitable Life of the United Stales " has far outstripped any progress made during one year in its history , a consummation which will not be begrudged to the Society by any individual . lt is already known that the results of policies maturing in iSyfi are equal to those of 1 S 95—a most satisfactory fact . It is deserving of notice that the smartness of the executive in the matter of the prompt settlement of claims is a characteristic that has earned fur the office a world-wide reputation , such a thing as a tortuous suspense in superfluous details being unknown in the working apparatus of the Society , and every diligence is used with a view to finality in this , the most essential consideration in all that appertains to life assurance .
A ( IKEAT HI . KSSINO TO III ' MANITV is without doubt a medicine composed of ingredients that , whil > l it eradicates the germs 01 ' disease , Mrcngthens the system . Holloway ' s I'ills act in this manner , and in general debility , mental depression , and nervous irritability there is no remedy which operates so beneficially . They purity the blood , give tone to the stomach , and thoroughly regenerate tlie system . The ) ' are mild in operation , although most powerful in removing disease . Ilelicate females anil young children can talic them with safety and benefit . It would be dillicult to enumerate all the advantages to he derived by taking these wonderful pills . N " household should be without them , for there is no complaint which they cannot cure or relieve ,