Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , as Duke of Cornwall , has contributed £ 100 to the fund being raised in that county for the relief of the distress among the Cornish miners . ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY years ago this month the first Freemasons' lodge was established in Carmarthen to meet on the first Tuesday in every month at the Bunch of Grapes . —South Wales Daily News .

THE DUCHESS OF TECK , attended by Miss Tufnell and the Hon . Nelson Hood , visited the Paddington Workhouse on Saturday last and opened the sale of work by the inmates under the Brabazon Employment Scheme . The Duchess expressed the pleasure it had given her to attend , and made several purchases at the various stalls .

THE WELSH CHOIR AND CONGREGATION from Berkeley Chapel , Mayfair , visited Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday last , when choral evensong in the Welsh language was celebrated for the first time in the venerable edifice . There was a very full congregation present , and the benediction was given by the Dean of Canterbury ( Dr . Farrar ) .

BRO . LORD AND LADY PIRRRIGHT entertained a party cf guests at Henley Park from Saturday to Monday , among those present being the Earls of Dundonald and Longford , Bro . Viscount Wolseley , Viscount and Viscountess Deerhurst , Bro . Lord and Lady Eustace Cecil and Miss Cecil , Bro . Admiral Sir Edmund and Miss Commerell , Sir Henry Brackenbury , and many others .

BRO . LORD MAYOR SIR W . WILKIN officially visited the East London Exhibition , now open at the People ' s Palace , on Saturday last . His Lordship was accompanied by the Lady Majoress , Mr . Aldeiman and Sheriff Pound , Bro . Sheriff Cooper , and many civic dignitaries . An entertainment was given in the Queen's Hall by the Poplar Co-Operative Children ' s Guild , and a very hearty welcome was extended to the distinguished visitors .

THE DUCHESS OF ALIIANY , accompanied by her sister , the Princess Elizabeth of Waldeck-Pyrmont , attended by Miss Heron Maxwell and Bro . Sir Robert Collins , visited Watford on Saturday afternoon last , lor the purpose of distributing the prizes at the London Orphan Asylum . The institution was founded in 1 S 13 , and her Royal Highness having closely inspected the building , expressed her pleasure at the manner in which the asylum was conducted . The Herts Yeomanry and Ride Volunteers furnished an escort and guard of honour on the occasion .

BY COMMAND OF THE QUEEN , the natives of India , Ceylon , and Burma , who are employed as artizans and performers at the Earl ' s Court Exhibition were taken down to Windsor by Bro . Imre Kiralfy , who was accompanied by Mrs . and Miss Kiralfy , Mr . Charles Kiralfy , Bro . W . E . Chapman , and others . The party , to the number of about 200 , were inspected on the Terrace by her Majesty , and afterwards by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princesss Henry of Battenberg . After the visitors had partaken of refreshments , the party returned to town , delighted with their visit .

TO-MORROW ( Saturday ) Messrs . E . Onslow Ford , R . A . ; A . Hasker , A . R . A . ; and Basil Bradley , R . W . S ., will adjudicate upon the merits of the works produced by the Students of the Ciystal Palace School of Art during the current session , which will be open on the day in question to the students and their friends , and will award a silver mf dal for the mest meritorious work in the following classes , namely , painting from life , drawing or modelling from life , painting from costumed figure , and landscape , architecture , flowers , animals from life . Ihe judges may also award a certificate for the next in excellence in each class , as well as for the best drawing from the antique , and two certificates for original design and composition .

SEVERAL OF THE mest important contests at Bisley were settled en Saturday among them being that for the International Challenge Trophy , teams 20 in nurrber seven shots at 200 , 500 , and 600 yards . Scotland proved the winner with 16 5 S points , Wales being second with 16 47 , England third with 1642 , and Ireland last with 1613 . The London Ride Brigade first team won the Mappin Brothers Challenge Cup with a

score of 209 points , while the Artists Corps won the Sir James Whitehead Challenge Cup with S 9 points . In the contest for the Elcho Challenge Shield , teams of eight , 15 shctsatSoo , QCO , and icoo yards , England repeated its success of last year by again winning with a score of 1 G 59 , Ireland being second with 1 G 14 , and Scotland last with 15 SS points .

THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF DENMARK arrived at Charing Cross Station from Copenhagen on Saturday morning last . Owing to a telegraphic error , H . R . H . the Prince cf Wales and other members of his family were late in reaching the station , the Duke and Duchess of York driving up as the train entered , the Prince of Wales following shortly after , and then the Princess of Wales , Sic The Crown Prince and Princess drove to Buckingham Palace , where they remained as guests of the Queen . In the evening the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece and Prince Nicholas of Greece arrived at Charing Cross , and were met by the Prince and Princess of Wales , whern they at once accompanied to Marlborough House .

THE _ SECOND MATCH between Australia and England terminated , after an exciting contest , in a victory for the former by thtee wickets . Australia went in first and scored 412 , Iredale ( toS ) , Giffen ( S 9 ) , and Trott ( 53 ) being the chief scorers . England then went to the wickets and put tcgether only 231 , Ranjitsinhji ( 62 ) and Lilley ( G 5 ) being the most successful . In their second attempt the Englishmen compiled a total of 305 ,

of which Ranjitsinhji made 154 not out , Stoddart being next with 41 . This left the Australians 125 to win , but it cost them seven wickets to accomplish this , Richardson taking as many as six wickets for 70 runs The matches between Hampshire and Yorkshire and Essex and Warwickshire were drawn . In the former , Hampshire made 515 and Yorkshire 307 and 23 s for the loss of eight wickets , while in the latter Essex scored 395 and 242 and Warwickshire 347 and 23 O with eight wickets still to fall .

MIDLAND RAILWAY BANK HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS . —On Monday , August 3 rd , certain booked trains will be discontinued , of which due notice will be given by special bills at the station . For the convenience of the public the Midland Railway Company have arranged that the booking effices at St . Pancras and Moorgate-street Stations shall be open for the issue of tickets aU day on Friday and Saturday , July 31 st and August 1 st . Tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway will also be obtainable beforehand at their offices . The tickets thus obtained will be available from St .

Pancras Station , and will be issued at the same fares as charged at that station , and dated to suit the convenience of passengers . Cheap excursions will be run from London on Friday right , July 31 st , to Stirling , Perth , Aberdeen , Inverness , & c , forfour or nine days , by which tiain third-class return tickets will be issued at a single fare for the double journey , available for iC days . On Saturday , August 1 st , in addition to the new weekly summer excursions to Liverpool , Southpoit , Blackpool , Isle of Man , Matlock , Buxton , Morecambe , Lancaster , and English Lake District , for 38 , 10 15 or 17

, , , days , cheap excursion trains will be run lo Leicester , Nottingham , Melton , Birmingham , Walsall , Wolveihampton , Burton , Derby , Manchester , Liverpool , Blackburn , Bolton , Rochdale , Oldham , Bury , the Furness District , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , Barnsley , Keighley , York , Hull , Scarboro' , Darlington , Durham , Newcastle , Carlisle , & c , returning the following Thursday ; to Edinburgh , Glasgow , Dumfries , Castle Douglas , Ayr , Sic , for eight days , with bookings at a single third-class fare for the double journey for iG days . On Monday , August 3 rd , day trips will be run from London ( St . Pancras ) to StAlbans

. , Harpendtn , Luton , Bedfoid , Leicester , and Birmingham , and a two days ' excursion to Manchester . Tickets for these trains for starting from St . Pancras Station can be obtained on the two days previous to the running of the trains at the company's offices . Cheap excursien trains fir six days will be run to London from Carlisle , Keighley , Bradford , Letds , Barnsley , Sheffield , Liverpool , Manchester , Blackburn , Bolton , Burnley , Bury , Rechdale , Burton , Derby , Nottingham , Birmingham , Walsall , Wolverhampton , Leicester , & c , and from Liverpool , SouthportWarringtonSicfor

, , , three days , on Saturday , August ist . Passengers will be booked by the six days ' excursion trains at cheap farts to Brighton and other South Coast stations for 5 , S , 10 , or 15 days ; to Paris and other places on the Continent , having the privilege of returning within iG days . On Monday , August 3 rd , cheap day trips to London will be run from Bradford , Leeds , Derby , Nottingham , Leicester , Birmingham , Bedford , Luton StAlbansand two and four tri

, . , a days' p from Manchester , Stockport , & c . Cheap daily and week-end excursions are run from St . Pancras and other Midland stations to Southend-on-Sea by the new and shorter route , ui ' ii the Tottenham and Forest Gate line . For holiday companions , travellers cannot do better than secure copies of the new publications which have just been issued by the Midland Raiiway Company . The books may be obtained at any Midland station or agency .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE STATE APARTMENTS at Windsor Castle will be open to the public on and after Monday , the 27 th inst ., en every weekday , Wednesdays excepted , under the USUM regulations , until further notice . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN has consented to offer special prizes for embroidery at the Artists' Guild Eighth Amateur Art Exhibition , which will be held in the Royal Albert Hall in November .

WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE the death at bis residence , Fairholme-road , West Kensington , on Monday , the 20 th instant ,. of Bro . Charles Dickens , eldest son of the great novelist . The deceased was 59 years of age , and leaves a widow and family t 0 mourn his loss . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , his daughter . Princess Victoria , the Duke and Duchess of Sparta , and Prince Nicholas of Greece visited Messrs . Agnew ' s Gallery on Monday afternoon for the purpose of inspecting the portrait of the Princess of Wales painted by Mr . Hogher .

Li HUNG CHANG , the Chinese Envoy to Europe , will arrive in London on the 31 st August and will remain for a month , during which time he will be entertainedby various public bodies , among them being the London Chamber of Commerce , which will hold a reception in his honour in Fishmongers' Hall , and the China Association , which will entertain him at a banquet . He will also visit the Queen at Osborne and will present an address to her Majesty .

A DEPUTATION FROM WALES waited upon the Princess Maud at Marlborough House on Monday afternoon and presented her Royal Highness with a wedding ring of pure Welsh gold and an address contained in a silver casket . Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , the Duke and Duchess of York , Princess Victoria , and Prince Charles of Denmark were present at the reception of the deputation , which represented the Gorsedd and National Eisteddfod Association .

WE REFERRED AT LENGTH in our issue of the nth instant to the marvellous success achieved by Harrod ' s Stores , Limited , as a trading concern . We now learn the Harrodians have resolved to do a part in making a success of the Guy ' s Hospital Fund , and have arranged to hold a Grand Garden Party and Venetian Fete on the 8 th August on their pretty grounds at Barnes . Bro . Alderman Newton , the Chairman of the

company , and Mr . Richard Buibtidge , the managing director , have entered very heartil y into this praiseworthy undertaking , and , encouraged by the generous support of the board and a host of patrons , their ambition is to raise a sum of not less than £ ' 2000 , and knowing what Mr . Burbridge raised last year in aid of the Drapers' Schools , when he was a Steward ( some £ 1300 ) , we have little doubt as to the sum aimed at being realised .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY announce that on Friday night , July 31 st , cheap four or nine days' excursions will be run from London to Stirling , Perth , Dundee , Oban , Montrose , Aberdeen , Inverness , & c . Also on Friday night , July 31 st , for nine days , to Northallerton , Darlington , Richmond , Durham , Newcastle , Berwick , Edinburgh , Glasgow , & c . By the above excursions , tickets at a single fare for the double journey will also be issued available for 16 days . On Saturday , August ist , cheap three , eight , 10 , 15 , and 17 days' excursions will be run from King ' s Cross ( G . N . )

to Bridlington , Filey , Whitby , Scarboro' Robin Hood's Bay , Redcar , Seaton Carew , Saltburn , Tynemouth , Whitley , Cullercoats , Liverpool , Southport , and Douglas ( Isleof Man . ) On Saturday , August 1 st , cheap six days' excursions will be run from London to Cambridge , Huntingdon , Peterboro ' , Lynn , Cromer , Yarmouth , Nottingham , Derby , Burton , Tutbury , Stoke , Manchester , Stockport , Liverpool , Wakefield , Leeds , Bradford , Keighley , Halifax , Hull , Harrogate , York , Scarborough , Whitby , Bridlington , Darlington , Richmond , Hartlepool , Middlesboro , Durham , Newcastle , & c . On Saturday ,

August ist , Monday , August 3 rd , cheap day excursions will be run to Skegness , Suttonon-Sea , and Mablethorpe . Tickets will be issued by the excursion _ on Saturday , available for return by the excursion on Monday or by any ordinary train on Tuesday . For Alexandra Park Races on Saturday , August ist , a frequent service of special and ordinary trains will be run from Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Moorgate , Broad-street , King ' s Cross , and the Wood Green Station . On Sunday , midnight , August 2 nd , a fast excursion for two days will be run from King ' s Cross , & c , to Manchester . On Monday

August 3 rd , cheap day excursions will be run from Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Moorgate , King's Cross , Finsbury Park , & c ., to St . Albans , Wheathampstead , Harpenden , Luton , Dunstable , Hitchin , Royston , and Cambridge . Cheap return tickets will also be issued to Biggleswade , on Monday , August 3 rd . On Tuesday , August 4 th , cheap day excursions to Skegness . To prevent inconvenience from crowding at the company's principal terminal station , King ' s Cross , tickets , dated in advance , will be issued at King ' s Cross , ( G . N . R . ) , Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Ludgate-hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , and Finsbury Park Stations , and at the company ' s ticket offices .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY issue ordinary as well as excursion tickets at their principal City and West-end offices , and the arrangement is probably never so much appreciated as during the week preceding Bank Holiday , when large numbers of people avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded for obtaining tickets at their own time and without the crowding and worry inseparable from a large railway station at holiday seasons . The fares charged are the same as at Paddington , and the tickets are available for use under precisely the same conditions as those issued

at that station . The booking offices at Paddington 'Station will be open for the issueof tickets all day on Wednesday , Thursday , Friday , and Saturday , July 29 th , 30 th , 31 st , and August 1 st , and the tickets issued ( except those for specified excursion trains ) will be available for use on any of those days . To meet the expected additional traffic by the ordinary trains on Saturday , August ist , the company will run in duplicate the 3 . 0 , 5 . 45 , and 9 . 0 p . m . trains to tho West of England , the G . 50 p . m . train to Shrewsbury , and the 12 . 0 noon train to South Wales . The first portion of the 3 . 0 and 9 . 0 p . m . trains

will leave Paddington at 2 . 55 p . m . and 8 . 55 p . m . respectively , but the first portions ot the other trains will leave at the advertised times , and the second a few minutes afterwards , the long distance passengers being as far as possible taken in the first portion , but with a few exceptions both trains will stop at the advertised stations to take up ana set down passengers . On Thursday , July 30 th , excursion passengers will be booked to Cork at 3 . 35 p . m ., and on Friday , July 31 st , at 6 . 10 p . m ., to Limerick and other places in the South of Ireland . Fast excursion trains for the West of England will

leave Paddington at 10 . 10 p . m ., and for South Wales at 12 . 25 midnight , on Friday , July 31 st , and at 7 . 55 a . m ., 8 . 40 a . m ., 12 . 40 p . m ., and 10 . 10 p . m ., on Saturday , August . ist , for the West of England . Excursions will also be run on Saturday , August ist , to Bath , Bristol , Dorchester , Weymouth , Marlborough , Devizes , Cheltenham , Worcester , Malvern , Hereford , Stratford-on-Avon , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Oswestry , Chester , Liverpool , Manchester , Isle of Man , and other places served by the Great Western system . In addition to the we : kly excursion trains to the West of

England and Weymouth districts , an excursion tram leaves Paddington at S . 5 a . m . every Saturday during July , August , and September , for Shrewsbury , Llanidloes , Aberystwyth , Barmouth , Harlech , Rhyl , Colwyn Bay , Llandudno , Bettws-y-coed , Bangor , Carnarvon , and other stations in North Wales , for three , eight , 10 , 15 , or 17 days . Passengers are also booked every Saturday to Guernsey and Jersey , via Weymouth and the short sea passage to the Islands , by the trains leaving Paddington at 8 50 a . m . and 9 45 p . m . Third class return tickets , available for three , eight , 10 , 15 , or 17 days » are issued at a fare of 24 s . Gd . On Sunday , August 2 nd , excursions will be run to

Cirencester , Stroud , Cheltenham , & c , and at 12 . 15 midnight an excursion for one or four days will leave Paddington for Oxford , Leamington , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , & c . On Monday , August 3 id , cheap trains will be run to Reading , Pangbourne , Goring , Wallingford , Bath , Bristol , Stroud , Cheltenham , Sic . Cheap third class excursion tickets are issued daily by specified trains from Paddington , Kensington ( Addison-road ) , Hammersmith , and certain stations on the Metropolitan , Metropolitan District , and Noith London Railways , to Staines , Windsor , Taplow , Maidenhead , Henley , and othci popular riverside resorts .

V . BENOIST , 3 G , Piccadilly , W . —Banquets , Dinners , Suppeis , and Recep tions tetved in the mott unique style . Menus and es'imates on application . Also Frencn Comeslibles of every description . Sole Caterer to the celebrated Grafton Galleries . The best locale in the West End for holding Private Parties , Balls , & c . Telep hone No . 3 , 919 . Telegrams , Gourmet , Londjn . —[ ADVT . ] THE TROCADERO RESTAURANT wiil shortly be opened by MessrsJ Lyons and

. . Co ., Limited , alter alcrg . hencd period of preparation . Every effort is being madet make this the handsomest ar . d mest perfectly-equipped dining palace in Europe , a " the arrangements for Masonic meetings will be made a special feature . Application respecting bookings should be made as early as possible to the proprietors , ]•Ly ° and Co ., Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington , where all inquiries should be addressed ' [ A DVT . j