Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

Bro . Lord Alcester has returned to town after visiting Bro . Lord and Lady Carrington at their seat , High Wycombe Abbey , Buckinghamshire . Sir Lyon Playfair , M . P ., opened atStreatham , on Friday afternoon , the 17 th inst ., a free public library , erected by Mr . Henry Tate , at a cost of £ 6000 .

We are glad to hear that Bro . Sir John Gorst , Q . C , . M . P ., who resigned his Parliamentary duties last week , has greatly benefited in health by his recent trip to Teneriffe . According to present arrangements , the Queen will conclude her visit to Grasse early next week , and will arrive at Windsor Castle from the continent on Wednesday , the 29 th instant .

Bros . Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Lord George Hamilton , and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., attended the Cabinet Council which was held at the Foreign Office on Saturday last . The Duke of Edinburgh took part in the concert held at the Colston Hall on Wednesday by Mr . Riseley , assisted

by the British Society of Instrumentalists and the members of the Orpheus Glee Society . Amongthose present atthe performance of "Tannhauser , " at the Royal Italian Opera , Covent Garden , on Saturday last , were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and the Grand Duchess of Oldenburgh .

The Duke of Connaught has accepted the invitation to preside at the anniversary festival of the North-Eastern Hospital for Children , which will be held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Friday , the 15 th prox . Mr . T . K . Tapling , M . P ., who was an ardent philatellist , has , it is said , bequeathed to the British Museum his magnificent collection of stamps . The collection is valued at from , £ . 50 , 000 to , f 100 , 000 .

A general meeting of the Maso-ic Musical Union , of which the Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire , Lord Leigh , is patron , will be held at the Colonnade Hotel , Birmingham , on Monday next , at S p . m . The Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , has fixed Tuesday in Whitsun week for the holding of the Provincial Grand Lodge in the Town Hall at Dursley .

Arranged by Messrs . Liberty and Co ., an exhibition of silken fabrics of British manufacture is now open at Chesham House , Regent-street . The Weavers' Company have offered several prizes in connection with the exhibition . The 85 th anniversary festival of the Society of Friends of Foreigners in Distress was held at the Hotel Metropole on Saturday last , under the presidency of Count Deym , the

Austro-HungarianAmbassador . Thesubscriptionsamounted to £ 2349 . A marriage has been arranged and will take place sometime in the course of June between Pamela , youngest daughter of Mr . Frederick A . Campbell , and Bro . Lord Ernest Hamilton , M . P ., son of the late Bro . the Duke of Abercorn .

A farewell dinner to Bro . Lord Randolph Churchill , M . P ., previous to his departure for Mashonaland , was held at tl . c Amphitryon Club , Piccadilly , on Saturday evening last , among the principal guests being Bros . Sir H . Drummond Wolff , J . Aird , M . P ., and Sir F . Knollys .

The late Mrs . Elizabeth Orr Bell , widow of Mr . David Bell , who died in Glasgow on the 12 th inst ., has bequeathed the whole of her property , subject to the payment of certain ¦ legacies , to "General" Booth for the purposes of the Salvation Army . The amount is estimated at from , £ 60 , 000 to X 70 , 000 .

The brethren of the Franklin Lodge held a lodge of emergency on the iGth inst ., in celebration of the 105 th anniversary of the death 1 f Sir Ji hn Franklin , after whom the lodge is named . The Franklin coat of arms was unveiled , and Bro . W . S . Barratt gave a lecture on the American mode of rendering the ritual .

The Duke of Connaught has arranged to lay the founda-. lion-stone of the Church House , Westminster , on Wednesday , the 24 th prox ., but there is reason to believe that the ceremony will be somewhat less elaborate than was originally intended , owing to several fixtures of great importance having been already arranged for that day .

Bro . Lord Mayor Savory presided at the Jubilee Festival of the Prov dent Clerks' Benevolent Fund held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , on the 17 th instant . His lordship was supported by Sheriff Farmer , Bro . Sheriff Augustus Harris , the Cox error of the Bank of England , and other influential persons . The amount of subscriptions announced in the course of the evening was £ 2870 .

The annual hunt meeting connected with the Royal Buck hounds and Mr . W . H . Grenfell s Harriets was held on the Hawthorn Hill Steeplechase course , between Maidenhead and Windsor , on the 16 th instant , among those present being Prince Christian , the Master of Ihe Buckhounds , the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry , and the officers of the 2 nd Life Guards and Foot Guards now in garrison at Windsor .

I have sometimes wondered what good was accomplished by Masonic writers . I met a good brother in the ante-room the other night who complained that a certain lodge was not noticed as often as its prominence demanded . He said when that lodge was not mentioned , he found nothing in the paper of interest to him . The fact that every lodge in the city was doing work , and the Masters and Secretaries

felt sufficient interest in the matter to report the proceedings , was not a matter of interest to him . It reminds me of that good Christian soul , who , in offering his prayers to the throne of Grace , besought a blessing " on me and my wife , my son John and his wife , us four and no more . "

What is the use of reporting prosperity and harmony throughout the jurisdiction ? What good does it do to print editorials , or preach sermons ? What good is all this effort to propagate morality ? But somebody reads them , and somebody gives attentive ear to preachinghence the word is not lost . —New York Dispatch .

Masonic And General Tidings

The Princess Christian has appointed Monday , May 4 th , to visit Brighton for the purpose of opening the Home of Rest for Nurses , which has been established there in connection with the British Nurses' Association . Bro . the Earl of Zetland has built and fitted up at his own expense a chapel and reading room at Grangemouth , which is his lordship's property , for the benefit of the British and foreign seamen who come to the port .

Theannual TrinityCollege Dublin dinner—the tercentenary of the foundation by Queen Elizabeth of the Dublin University—will be held in ' the Hall of the Middle Temple on Wednesday , the 13 th prox ., under the presidency of Bro . the Archbishop of York .

It is the intention of Bro . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , Provincial Grand Master , to hold the next Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire at the Masonic Hall , Beverley , on Wednesday , the 13 th of May next .

Bro . Sheriff Augustus Harris presided at the 24 th anniversary dinner held at the Guildhall Tavern , Greshamstreet , on Monday evening , in aid of the Waiters' Provident and Pension Society , Bros . Major George Lambert and Under-Sheriff Beard being among the principal guests .

The Princess of Wales and the Princesses Victoria and Maud returned to Marlborough House on Monday . It is understood that the Prince and Princess and family will revisit Sandringham at Whitsuntide , when his Royal Highness is to present new colours to the Norfolk Regiment and inspect the Artillery Militia .

The Duke of Cambridge dined with the Secretary of State for War and Mrs . Stanhope on Tuesday evening , when there were present among the guests invited to meet his Royal Highness , the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador and the Countess Deym , Bro . Lord and Lady Wantage , and Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford and Lady Northcote .

. The 28 th annual May Horse Show will be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall , Islington , from 14 th to 20 th May , under the joint auspices of the Royal Agricultural Hall Company and the English Horse Show Society . There is a very liberal extension of the prize lists , and great improvements in the shape of greater accommodation will be made .

The "Maske of Flowers , " which was given by . the benchers of Gra \' s Inn in their fine hall in the yearof the Queen ' s Jubilee , will be repeated some time during the month of Jun' ' , in aid of the Convalescent Home of St . Michael , Westgate-on-Sea . Lady Halsbury is organising the entertainment , and among the many patronesses are the Princess Christian and the Princess Mary of Teck .

Lady Brassey , who will be accompanied by Lord Brassey , has consented to open , on Wednesday next , the second annual Holborn Industrial Exhibition at the Holborn Town Hall . On the following day Mr . James Rowlands , M . P ., will open the exhibition , while on May-day the inaugural ceremony will be performed by Sir A . K . Rollit , M . P .

The latest American idea is that in very ancient times the whole Western American Continent south of the United States was the home of Buddhism , and a picture in stucco has been unearthed in the palace of Palenque , Central America , supposed to represent the Lord Buddha , with features of the American-Indian type , sitting cross-legged on a couch , ornamented with two leopards' ( lions ) heads .

The Hospital Gazette says : — "Some confusion seems to exist in medical circles as to the recent consecration ofthe Galen Lodge of Freemasons . This , I am told , is not a lodge of medical Masons , as the name would seem to imply , but of gentlemen connected with chemistry and pharmacy . Regarding the new medical lodge , the / Esculapian , which is being formed , I understand that matters are being pushed forward very satisfactorily , and that Dr . J . Brindley James has been nominated as the first W . M . "

On behalf of her Majesty the Queen , the Prince of Wales held a levee at Buckingham Palace on Monday afternoon . Amongst those presented were Mr . R . H . Savory , by the Lord Mayor ; the Rev . Borrodaile Savory , by Sir William Savory ; and Lieut .- ' ol . Henry Smith , by the

Secretary of State . The City notabilities who attended the levee included Lord Rothschild , Hon . VV . Rothschild , Sir Thomas Chambers , Alderman Sir J . W . Ellis , Bart ., M . P ., Sir Owen Roberts , Baron F . de Rothschild , M . P ., bir I . Stainer , Mr . H . D . Truscott , and Col . A . B . Cook .

It will be remembered that a short time ago Dr . Crane , Roman Catholic Bishop of Sandhurst , issued a Lenten pastoral , in which he bitterly attacked the Craft of Freemasonry , and said that no man could be a Freemason and good catholic at the same time , and that the spirit of Freemasonry was strongly antagonistic to Jesus Christ and His work . To this strong indictment certain lodges at

Sandhurst have now published a reply . Of course they emphatically dt ny the charges , and insist that the Masonic system teaches most reverent and simple godliness , strict morality , justice tempered with mercy , and a wide-embracing Charity ; and , moreover , it includes many Degrees , the members of which are bound solemnly to defend Christ . —Melbourne Daily Telegraph .

At the " Spinning Wheel , " the establishment carried on by Lady Monckton and Miss Firth , two very interesting relics are now on view . One is a lozenge-shaped crystal lrchet set in gold . On one side is a miniature gold crown , and this inscription in gold lettering , " Queen Anne ' s hair , 1714 . " On the opposite side is a twist of reddish brown hair slightly streaked with grey . 1 he second interesting

object is a sedan chair just parted with by the family to whose ancestors it belonged . The chair is handsomely painted and upholstered in rich old brocade . The bearing poles are massive and richly ornamented . The roof is surmounted by a countess's coronet in gilt , and the very mat upon which the countess ' s feet rested when she was being carried about is still on the floor , showing decided signs of wear .

HOLLOWAY ' S PI 1 . 1 s . —Important for the delicate . It is difficult to determine which is the more trying to the human constitution , he damp , cold days of autumn and winter , or the keen , dry easterly svinds of spring . Throughout the seasons good health may be maintained hy occasional doses of Holloway ' s Pills , which purify the bl' od and act as wholesome stimulants to the skin , stomach ,

liver , bowels , and kidneys . I his celebrated mrdicinc needs but a fair trial to convince the ailing and desponding thLt it will restore and cheer them without danger , pain , or inconvenience . No family should be without a suiplyof Hohoway ' s Pills and Ointment , as by a timely recourse to them the first eiring function may be reclaimed , suffering may be spared , and life saved .

Masonic And General Tidings

The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Princes S Victoria and Maud of Wales visited the Royal Ita i ; > Opera , Covent Garden , on Tuesday evening , and witnesse l the performance of " Romeo and Juliet . " Bro . George Reynolds , Secretary of the Ang lo-American Lodge , has , we are pleased to say , returned from the sea . side in good health , and we trust with no ill-effects from the severe accident he met with a short time since .

The Directors of the Empire Palace Company have in . sured , through the Marine Department of one of the oldest insurance offices , six months' profits of this undertaking thus providing , in case of fire , that two consecutive quarterkinterim dividends would be paid to the shareholders at the usual rates .

The memorial for the proposed Savage Club Chapter of R . A . Masons designates Comps . Edward Terry , as Z Will . E . Chapman , H . ; and Walter J . Ebbetts , J . The other signers are Comps . Sir Somers Vine , J . D . Beve . ridge , Raymond Tucker , Dr . E . Milner , E . S . Penley , and Dr . Maitland Coffin .

Bro . F . Faithful Begg has reprinted the speech he delivered at the meeting of the Scots Lodge held in January last j n response to the toast of " The Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Immortal Memory of Bro . Robert Burns . " VVe are pleased to find that our brother ' s eloquent tribute to the immortal Scottish Bard is reproduced in a shape that can be preserved .

At a regular meeting of the Citadel Lodge , No . 1 S 57 held at the Railway Hotel , Harrow Station , on Saturday ' the iSth instant , Bro . Willie Wright , P . G . Org . Middx , was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year , and will be installed at the next meeting by Bro . John Osborn , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Sec , a relative , who initiated , passed , and raised him in Freemasonry .

The annual dinner of the Middlesex Yeomanry Cavalry ( Dukeof Cambridge ' s Hussars ) was held at St . James ' s Hall Restaurant on Tuesday evening , Col . Harfield being in the chair , and Bro . Viscount Ebrington among the guests . A testimonial , consisting of a silver inkstand and a cheque for £ 120 , was presented in the course of the evening to Sergeant-Major Langrish , in recognition of his 17 years' service with the regiment .

It is proposed by some of the brethren of the Province of Surrey to present a testimonial to Bro . Frederick West , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , as a token of their esteem as well of their high appreciation of his valuable services during the period in which he has held the

responsible position of Deputy Provincial Grand Master in charge . A Committee is being formed to carry this proposal into effect , and Bro . J . D . Langton , P . M . and Sec . 2006 , P . Z . 2096 , P . P . J . G . W ., Prov . G . Reg ., is the Hon . Sec . pro tem .

The Masonic Journal , Portland , Me ., says : " There is too much familiarity in vogue concerning the happenings of the various bodies of the Craft . The less the profane Press have to say about Masonry , the better it will be for the

Fraternity . Neither do we believe it is in good taste to publish the doings of lodges and their attendant bodies in papers and magazines not devoted to Masonry . We mean the number of candidates who receive the Degrees . It is no part of the public ' s business to know such details . "

A case came before the Board of Relief recentl y that was a little queer , to say the least . A young man , hailing from the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , asked assistance . His story was about like this : He was 21 years old . On the 3 rd of the month he received the First and Second Degrees ; on the 13 th he was raised . 1 wo days

alter he called for and received his dimit . 1 he next daythe 16 th of the month—he sailed for America , on the 23 rd he reached New York , and on the 24 th promptly applied to the Board of Relief for assistance . Did he get it ? Ask any member of the Board whether he did or not . Talk about young America , this young English takes the lead . — New York Dispatch .

Amongst the number of persons who attended the obsequies of the late Bro . Colonel Hambro on Tuesday there were few more genuine mourners than a House ot Commons shoeblack , who had travelled at his own expense from London , and who , though a cripple , had walked with to

the aid of a crutch from Blandford , seven miles away , be present at the funeral . It seems that Colonel Hambro , sympathising with the poor fellow's affliction , used his influence to get him into a country hospital in Dorsetshire , where the sufferer greatly benefited in health , and it was in gratitude to his benefactor that he undertook the tiresome

journey . Babylon , the great city of the Chaldeans , was five times as large as the London ot to-day . Its walls were as high a lofty church steeples—340 feet above the ground . ll > palace of Nebuchadnezzar , the destroyer of Jerusalem ! was seven miles in circumlerence . Tl . e bed ot the gre Euphrates was paved with bricks . The palaces a

temples were full of wonderful triumphs of painter , scu'P ' and libraiies of history , science , and letters . ' •1 ; L lonians were astronomers of great proficiency , consider D the age in which they lived , and they watcned the rno - ments of the heavenly bodies with intense interest , an ^ corded them accurately . The moon was the object ot ^^ , ^ ^ special regard , and her changes were noted with unnato ^ " assiduily and recorded in calendars . They called nei father of the sun . —Exchange .

On Thursday , the 16 th inst ., a meeting was held at Tivoli Restaurant , at which many prominent ' ' j " jjsctiss and actors were present , to appoint a Committee and ^ the subject of raising a memorial to the memory 0 ^^ John Maclean , so well known in his profession as an ^ and his earnest work in the cause of Freemasonry . ^^ Committee included , amongst many eminent names , ^ Henry Irving , Edward Terry , James Fernandez , JBeveridge , VV . Lestocq , R . Soutar , H . Meyer LuU . . , in ) Nicholls , W . S . Penlev . Alfred Bishop , F . H . iv ' . .

and Sam Johnson . It was resolved that a ^ "'Vr sum of be appointed and that subscriptions be limited to tn ^^ one guinea , and it is hoped and expected that su ^ will be raised that , in addition to a memorial ston > & is 0 lasting tribute to the memory of this brother , wn ^^ flf much for young Masons by instructing them in w of this the Craft , may be established . In furtherance ^ . ^ object any member of the Committee will begla " subscriptions .