Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . SIR ] . BLUNDELL MAPLE , Bart ., M . P ., has consented to preside at the Hotel Metropole on Monday , July Sth , at the annual festival dinner of the Royal Eye Hospital . THE IS SECTIONS will be worked at the Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , No . 65 , at the Manchester Hotel , Aldersgate-street , E . G ., on Wednesday , the 5 th prox ., at seven o'clock .

ALEXANDRA PALACE AND PARK were opened to the public on the iSth instant by the Duke of Bedford , Lord-Lieutenant of Middlesex . The Queen sent a telegram wishing every success to the Palace . " THE VALUE OF AN ORCHID . —At a special sale of orchids in flower held at Messrs . Protheroe and Morris ' s _ rooms on Tuesday , a plant of Odontoglossum Alexandra : of a finely-spotted variety realised 150 guineas .

CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL men who are Freemasons will be pleased to hear that a warrant has been granted by the Duke of Connauirht to found a lodge in connection with that institution . Its name is the Chere Reine , No . 2 S 53 , and it will be consecrated on June 7 th . ARRANGEMENTS have benn made for holding a Livery dinner of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company , of which Bro . Matthew R . Webb , J . P ., is Master , at the Cannon-street Hotel on Monday , June 27 th , when the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs are expected to attend .

A RICHLY-EMBROIDERED REPLICA is to be made forthe King of the banner of Queen Victoria , formerly Sovereign of the Order of the Garter . Her late Majesty's ensign and that of the Prince Consort still hang above the Royal stalls in the choir of St . George ' s Chapel , where both have been displayed for many years . CONVALESCENT HOME FOR RAILWAY MEN . —A strong effort is being made to complete the furnishing of the Passmore Edwards Convalescent Home for Railway Men at Heme Bay , to enable the institution to be opened early next month . In furtherance of this object a high-class concert has been arranged at Battersea Town Hall on the 31 st instant .

CRIPPLEGATE INSTITUTE . —Very recently Bro . Passmore Edwards offered to present to the Cripplegate Institute marble busts of Milton and De Foe , both of whom were residents in the parish at one time . This generous offer was gladly accepted . The busts are Ihe work of Mr . Frampton , R . A ., and it is stated that the position they are to occupy at the institute will be left to the discretion of the artist .

DUKE OF YORK ' S SCHOOL . —Bro . Earl Roberts , the Commander-in-Chief , has notified his intention of making the annual inspection of the Duke of York ' s Royal Military School at 11 a . m . on Wednesday , July 10 . The annual fete and sports will take place on Thursday , July 11 , commencing at three p . m . Lady Raglan has consented to present the sports prizes , and the band of the Royal Military School of Music will play during the afternoon .

AVENUE THEATRE . —Ever mindful of the comfovtsof his patrons in the unreserved portions of his house , Mr . Weedon Grossmith has arranged that those who corns and have to wait for the curtain to go up on " The Night of the Party " at the Avenue Theatre , shall be given , not only light , but music . To this end , Mr . Grossmith has arranged that his orchestra will commence playing selections 20 minutes before the curtain rises , which it now does at S . 30 .

A SOUVENIR BIBLE . —The Oxford University Press are issuing a beautiful little souvenir edition of the Bible , printed on Oxford India paper , of convenient size for the pocket . It contains a portrait of the Queen at the time of her accession , reproduced from a painting by Sir W . C . Ross , A . R . A ., and also a portrait of the Queen at the end of her reign . In addition there are reproductions of the cartoons painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds of the seven virtues—Faith , Hope , Charity , Justice , Prudence , Temperance , and Fortitude .

THE 143 rd anniversary festival of the Orphan Working School will be held on June zSih at the Whitehall Rooms , Hotel Metropole , Whitehall-place , S . W ., when Bro . C E . Keyser , J . P ., of Reading , will preside . The school , which wis founded in 175 S , maintains and educates 500 fatherless boys and girls , has H . M . th ; King for Patron and Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , J . P ., D . L ., as Treasurer . Gentlemen willing to act as Stewards at the festival are requested to send in their names without delay to the Secretary , Alexander Grant , Esq ., at hi _> office , 73 , Cheapside , E . C .

THE ANNUAL REPORT of the Liverpool , London , and Globe Insurance Company for the year 1000 , which was submitted at the 65 th annual meeting of the proprietors on the 16 th instant , shows a net lire premium income for the year of £ 1 , 597 , 821 , losses £ 97 ° > 439 . giving a surplus , after paying expenses , of £ 75 , 304 . The life premium income amounted to £ 239 , 801 , claims and bonuses paid , £ 274 , 810 . The life and annuity funds have been increased by £ 117 , 724 , and now amount to £ 5 , 472 , 078 . The net balance of profit and loss account amounts to £ 1 , 162 , 972 , a dividend of 22 s . per share and a bonus of us . per share being paid on account ot the fire department , and out of the life profits 3 s . per share , free of income-tax .

THE LONDON TENT EVANGELISATION COMMITTEE ire appealing lor funds for this year ' s campaign ; £ 2500 is needed at once , of which £ 650 has been subscribed . We may point out in connection with this good work that ic is undenominational in character , and that it so commends itself that in several districts the local councils have voted the use of public land for the erection of the committee ' s tents ; while the appreciation of the masses is evident from the fact that in the past not one inch of rape or canvas has been cut or harmed , though the tents , each of which is capable of holding upwards of 2000 people , were often erected only a few feet from the public street . Last season one million and a quarter people attended the special services held in these tents .

BRO . LORD EUSTON ' S VISIT TO NEWCASTLE . —At the invitation of Bro . G . E . Macarthy , P . P . S . G . D . ( Mark ) , about 130 members of the Province of Northumberland and Durham assembled , on the 17 th instant , on board a steamer , at the Tyne General Ferry landing , Quayside , to accompany Bro . the Earl of Euston and Grand Oificers on a trip on the river . The party proceeded to the upper reaches of the Tyne , as far as

Scotswood , and thence to the Tyne piers . During the day they boarded the Wellesley training ship . The boys were put through a number of evolutions , which greatly delighted the distinguished visitors from London , coming as an unexpected pleasure to them . A most excellent luncheon was provided , and hearty thanks were accorded Bro . Macarthy for his kindness in affjrding such pleasure to the members of this branch of Freemasonry .

THE LATE BRO . SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN . —A great number of the friends and admirers of the late Sir Arthur Sullivan hiving expressed a desire that his memory should be perpetuated by some appropriate form of memorial , both visible to the public and useful to the musical profession , it was determined on Friday last , at a meeting held at the Savoy Hotel , to form an executive committee , which was forthwith constituted tor the purpose of fulfilling- the three following objects : 1 . The erection of amonumsntin St . Paul's Cathedral , the Dean and Chapter of St . Paul ' s having graciously given their

consent to this proposal . 2 . The endowment of a scholarship , to b : called th : Arthur Sullivan Scholarship , to be alternately within the gift of the Royal Academy of Music and of the Royal College of Music . 3 . The placing in some public position ( the Embankment Gardens , immediately in front of the Savoy Theatre , was a position which found favour ) of a statue or bust of Sir Arthur Sullivan , if the necessary permission can be obtained from the First Commissioner of Works . Among those present at the meeting

were Sir George Martin , Dr . F . H . Cowen , Mr . T . P . Chappell , Mr . Edward German , Mr . Henry J . Wood , Mr . Frank Collier , Mr . Alfred Littleton , and Capt . Basil Hood , and about A , 500 was forthwith subscribed towards the fulfilment of the above objects . To enable members of the public who may desire to take a share in the accomplishment of ends so admirable to subscribe to them an account has been opened at Lloyds Bank , Law Courts Branch , 222 , Strand , W . C , into which donations may be paid , for the receipt of which acknowledgment will be made by the bank .

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 ., 18 , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta . Established 1821 . Write for price list . Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

AMONGST THE LATEST WILLS Bro . Colonel Craig Laurie has bequeathed £ 4000 to the Masonic Female Orphan Schools , Dublin , on condition that the trustees keep in order the Craig Laurie Vault , Downpatrick , and keep in order and replant , when necessary , the yew-tree avenue . THE WALLACE COLLECTION . —The Wallace collection will in future be open to the public on the two paying days , Tuesday and Friday , at 10 o ' clock , instead of , as hitherto , at 11 . Th ? hours of opening on the other days remain unaltered . On Whit Monday the museum will open at 10 o ' clock , instead of , as usual on Mondays , at 12 .

HAMPSTEAD ART GALLERY . —The Hampstead Borough Council , having been requested to establish a public artgallery , has made arrangements for an experimental public exhibition of pictures . This exhibition will be opened in the Town Hall , Haverstock-hill , on Wednesday next , at four o ' clock by Bra . Sic Henry Harben , the Mayor . MERCHANT TAYLORS' COMPANY . —The Chelsea Hospital for Women has received from the Merchant Taylors' Company a grant of £ 31 ios . towards the reflooringof the wards recommended by the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund . The Merchant Taylors'Company has also made a grant of £ 31 103 . towards the building fund of the North Eastern Hospital for Children , Hackney-road .

THE ALDERSGATE PAST OFFICERS' CLUB . —The monthly meeting was held at the Manchester Hotel on Monday . Bro . V . I . R . Longman . CC , President , occupied the chair . Among those present were : Bros . W . S . Whitaker , T . Murray Janes , Deputy Goodinge , and James Mayhew , Hon . Sec . It was decided that the summer outing should take place in July at Henley . Full particulars will be given at the monthly meeting in June . A vote of thanks to the President concluded the meeting .

"ST . BART ' S . " AND THE KING . —For 34 years the King has been President of St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , from which oflice his Majesty has now retired . It has occurred to the Governors that the King ' s many acts of condescension and frequent efforts on behalf of the Hospital , and the unfailing interest manifested by him in its welfare , demand some permanent and visible memorial of that long presidency , and a fund has been started to place either a portrait or bust of the King in the Central Hill of the Hospital .

MESSAGE FROM THE SEA . —An Edinburgh telegram states that a message was picked up on the 23 rd instant at Granton in a bottle , stating that the Croft and all hands were going down in mid-Atlantic . The Croft , which traded between Leith and New York , left Leith in October , iSgS , and was never again heard of . She had a crew of 30 , of whom several came from Newcastle , and others from Leith . This is the fiist ever heard of the steamer since she left .

EXCURSIONS are advertised in connection with the Great Western Railway commencing on June 3 rd , and continuing until further notice , to Bath , B'istol , Cheltenham , Wells , Weston-super-Mare , Barnstaple , Ilfracombe , Exeter , Dawlish , Teignmouth , Torquay , Plymouth , Bodmin , Falmouth , Penzance , and other places of interest served by the company's railways . Tickets are also issued daily to pleasure resorts within easy distance of London , such as Windsor , Burnham Beeches , Henley , & c . Tickets and pamphlets are obtainable at the company ' s stations and town offices .

MASONIC PRESENTATION . —On the 14 th instant a most interesting and unique presentation was made to Bro . Alderman Richard Williams by the brethren of St . Bartholomew ' s Lodge , No . 606 , held at the Anchor Hitel , WednesWy . The W . M ., Bro . Hemming , said Bro . Richard Williams was the oldest living member of the lodge , and at the last meeting a resolution was passed electing him as honorary life number of the lodge . Bro . Thomas Jones , the senior Past Master , made the presentation of the resolution , which was engrossed and illuminated on vellum .

THE original charter of the Duns Lodge of Freemasons , recently revived , is dated February , 1761 , and bears the following names : Robert Cockburn , Esq ., Master ; Alex . Teller , Esq ., of Kimmerghame ; James Loraine , Esq ., of Angelrow ; Robert Cockburn , Esq ., of Newbipging ; James Auchinleck , Esq ., of Oxendean ; Alexander Loraine , surgeon , Duns ; John Hunter , merchant , Duns ; Robert Ainslie , Bailie of Duns ; and Alexander Murray of Clockmills , for themselves and in name of the brethren . —Kelso Mail .

MASONIC CATALOGUE . —Messrs . George Kenning and Son , of the well-known Masonic depot in Little Britain and Aldersgate-street ( West End Branch : 16 , Great Queen-street , VV . C ) , have issued a new edition of their catalogueof Masonic jewels , clothing , and furniture . The catalogue is in handy pocket form , and is cop ously illustrated . An interesting feature is the series of views illustrating the firm ' s manufactures at the City factory , also their show-rooms in London and the provinces . This attractive little publication should be in the hands of every member of the Craft . — Citizen .

FOR SOME TIME past the War Oflice have made use of typewriters for expediting correspondence and reports . These machines have been found of so much service during the operations in South Africa that it was decided to supply them to every regiment , and the various 'Army headquarters . A committee was appointed for the purpose of enquiring into the merits of the various makes used in Government Departments . The result of their deliberations has been the placing of an order for 250 Royal Bar-Lock Visible Writing machines . This , we believe , constitutes a record order for typewriters . —Financier and Bulllionist .

CURIOUS RECOVERY OF LOST KEYS . —A CI . V ., who returned with his regiment from South Africa , has this week recovered in a remarkable manner a bunch of important keys which he lost on the South African veldt during the campaign . The keys were picked up in a Kaffir kraal in the course of recent operations near Ficksburg by Sergeant W . E . Grace , ist Stafford Regiment , who , finding upon them the registration label of the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit , returned them to the company wi'h a note of the peculiar circumstances under which they were found . The keys , of course , were handed over immediately to the proper owner .

" WOMEN ARE SO SERIOUS , " is the title selected by Mr . Brandon Thomas for his adaptation of " Celles qu'on Respecte , " the French Comedy , by M . Pierre Wolff , in which Monsieur Noblet made such a success in Paris . The play will be produced at the Royal Court Theatre , Sloane-square , on Friday evening , the 31 st instant . There are but half a dozen characters of importance in the play and for these characters Mr . Brickwell and Mr . Kerr have succeeded in engaging a company ol exceptional strength-Mr . Kerr , who will , of course , play Noolet ' s part , will be assisted by Miss Ellis Jeffreys , Miss Constance Collier , Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis , Mr . Herbert Standing , Mr . R . C . Herz , and Mr . George Giddens .

FOR A peiind covering some 30 years , V . E . Sir Knight John A . Cowan , the editor of the Toronto Freemason , has been engaged in an endeavour to get at the bottom of the origin , evolution and incorporation of the Knights Templar Order , and has at last succeeded in determining where it originated . He says : " Investigation along three different lines all unite upon the French-Irish origin of the chilvaric _ degrees ; their subsequent introduction into Scotland ; their incorporation with the capitular branch of Masonry as side degrees , and their modern evolution as higher grades . That the

chivalric degrees were worked independently of Masonry is beyond dispute ; that they were used for political aims by both Jacobites and the United Irishmen cannot be denied , but their giadual development into one of the most loyal and patriotic bodies in the British Empire is the only thing that now requires explanation . " Regarding the Knights of Malta , which is now an appendant degree of the Order of the Temp le , he says : "The Order of Hospitalers was instituted in 104 S , and its members were subsequently known as Knights of St , John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes . hts

Alter the capture of Rhodes by the Turks in 1522 , they were styled Knig of Malta . In 179 S the French captured Malta . A claim is made by certain Masonic Knights of Malta that they are representatives of the ant ient Order . Whether this is true ornot , it is certain that the Degree of Knight of Malta was conferred in Irish Masonic lodges many years before the dissolution of the ancient Order . In an edition of Dean Swift's works , published in 174 C , but evidently written between 1726 and I 73 ' > he refers to the " Knights of St . John of Jerusalem , " and the " famous old lodge 01 in

Kilwinning , " in such a way as to lead to the inference that they were corelatea popular opinion . No mertion is made of the Knights Templar . Regarding the Templar bodies in Scotland , which Sir Knight Cowan has thoroughly investigated , his cone usions will be referred to in a later issue if space permits . He is engaged in a congenial *'"/'> and the head Templar body of Canada should insist upon him giving In detail ms researches along the lines indicated . They could not fail in interesting every intelligent Mason , and more especially those who have been with him anxious to definitely hx tne origin of the noble Order of the Temple . —From the London ( Canada ) Free Press .