Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

Bro . Lieut-Gen . Sir Reginald Gipps , K . C . B ., has been appointed Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief , in succession to General Sir George B . Harman , deceased . At the last regular meeting of the London Scottish Rifles Lodge , No . 2310 , Bro . J . T . Norman-Callaway was unanimously elected to the chair of VV . M . for the ensuing yearin succession to Bro . Capt . W . H . Glynn Smith .

Bro . Lord Mayor Evans presided at a meeting held at the Mansion House on Saturday last of University Extension Students , and Canon G . F . Brown , of St . Paul ' s , delivered the annual address . Bro . Lord Carrington has granted to the labourers of Spalding- 3 ; acres of land to be let out in allotments at

f . om £ 1 13 s . to £ 2 2 S . per acre . The areas were mostly in acres , and the men were given possession on Saturday last . The Queen and Princess Beatrice visited the Albert Chapel on Friday , the iSth inst ., and placed two beautiful crosses—one composed of arum lilies , white blooms , and violets , and the otherof artificial flowers—near the coffin of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale .

The final contest for the Football Association Cup came off at the Kennington Oval on Saturday last . The competing teams were the West Bromwich Albion and the Aston Villa , and the former were victorious by three goals to nil . There were some 30 , 000 spectators present .

The Marchioness of Salisbury ' s reception , which had been postponed from Wednesday in consequence of the death of the Grand Duke of Hesse , was held at her ladyship ' s residence in Arlington-street on Friday , the iSth inst ., and was very numerously attended , especially by the diplomatic Corps .

A chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Illinois lately conferred the Royal Arch Degree , followed by a grand banquet , after which there was a lecture on the Order of Knights Templar . There should be an influx of candidates to the commandery in that place with such an advertisement . — Keystone .

Bro . James Stevens ( Evelyn , Citford , S . E . ) asks us to state that the list of subscribers for the first edition of his new work , now in the press , " The Evolution of Symbolic Masonry , " will be closed on the nth April . Subscribers ' copies will be forwarded post free for 13 pence , on or about the 15 th prox .

A volume of poems on Cornwall and by writers principally Cornish is about to be published . Mr . Stokes , author of "Restormel" and other poems , and Bro . Emra Holmes are amongst the contributors . Mr . VV . H . Thomas , of Penzance , is to be the editor of the new work , as stated in the Cornishman .

Old Farringdon Market , which was brought to the hammer at the Mart , Tokenhouse-yard , on the iSth instant , was knocked down at £ gS , ooo to Messrs . Charles and Tubbs , of Gresham street , who are understood to have effected the purchase for a client . The sum realised is , by Act of Parliament , specifically hypothecated to the payment of the debt on the Central Markets , so far as it will extend .

Bro . T . VV . Ockenden is serving as a Steward for the annual dinner of the London General Porters' Association , on April Sth , at the Hotel Me-. ropole , Bro . Atdermm Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., LL . D-, M . P ., in the chiir . If this annoucement meets the eye of any City friend whose experience has convinced him of the integrity and industry of our London Porters , llro . Ockenden will be delighted to hear from him .

The Queen has had a hind-nine media-vat brass tablet placed in St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , to the memory of the late Sir Edgar IS jchm . It bears the following inscription : "In memory of Sir Joachim Edgar Bochm , Uirt ., who was born at Vienna on July Gth , 1 S 34 , and who died , while at work in his stulio in London , on Dec . 12 th , iSjo . This tablet is erected by Queen Victoria in high appreciation of his talents as a sculptor , and in heartfelt gratitude for the memorials his art has left of many who were dear to

Bro . Colbron , after seven years' service as Postmister of the Kingston-on-Thimes district , has been appointed to the more lucrative position of a similar kind at Croydon . Bro . Colbron was W . M . of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation , No . 355 , at Swindon , where he was Postmaster 14

years When first moved to Surrey , he at once joined the Dolife Lodge , No . SSy , and went on to the chair very quickly . As a public officer Bro . Colbron has enjoyed the esteem of the inhabitants ,- as a friend and brother he has been held in the highest regard .

The M . W . G . M . hivin ? been pleased to errant a warrant for a new lodge at Epsom , to be called the Ebbisham Lodge , No . 2422 , the consecration of the said lodge will take place on Monday , May 9 th . The first W . M . of the lodge will be Bro . T . T . Bucknill , Q . C . Bro . File , proprietor of the Epsom Herald , will be chosen as Treasurer , and Bro . T .

J . Lawes as Secretary . The Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , Bro . Gerard Noel Money , C . 13 ., who will be attended b y Bro . Frederick West , D . P . G . M , and other Provincial Grand Officers , has consented to perform the ceremony of consecration . " Ebbisham , " the name of the lodge , is the old Sixon equivalent for " Epsom . "

UNIQUE BRANDY . —It is rather curious that , while the Municipal Council of Cognac is going to take stringent measures against the producers of spurious brandy , a firm in London is offering a brandy which wjuld probably bear away the palm from any now existing in I- ' rance . Made in 1865 , it lay in the cellars of a great house in Cognac until the year of the war , when it was shipped to England for fear it should fall into the hands of the bibulous Teutons ,

who took very kindly to the products of the vines of France . For 20 years this brandy has been maturing i 1 London , with the result that , while there has been a reduction of its alcoholic strength , the ethers which give it bouquet and flavour have been continuously developed . The p assessors of this choiceold Cognac are Messrs . Spiers and Pon J , who are now offering it to theircustomersata price which cannot be considered high , when we remember its uniqucmialities .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Col . T . Davies Sewell , whose assumption of the command of the 4 th Volunteer Battalion the Essex Regiment has infused new life and vigour into the corps , and made it one of the smartest in the Metropolis , has . tothe regret of rank and file alike , resigned his commission . Colonel Sewell is a veteran in our Reserve Forces , and the past 30 years of his life have been spent , when away from his daily

avjcations , in mastering the details of military drill , and this , the most exacting of military critics will agree , he did in a thorough manner . He has thrown himself with all the energy and enthusiasm which are necessary for a good commander into the work of the Militia , the Engineers , and the Volunteers , and whatever he did he did it with all his misrht . Thirty years' connection with the Reserve Forces is

a record to be proud of and when to this is added a thoroughness of knowledge of military matters which gave his men complete confidence in him when in the field , it will be admitted that Volunteers have lost one who was an ideal officer . In leaving his regiment the Colonel is allowed to retain his rank and wear the uniform . Nor will his

connection or interest with the movement cease , for he has a strapping son who is an officer in the same battalion . A Reuter's telegram from St . John ' s , Newfoundland , speaks of the success of the Northern Sealing Fleet as having been phenomenal , it being known that upwards of 200 , 000 seals have been taken .

Bro . Henry Irving has accepted the office of President of the Maidenhead Amateur Histrionic Club , which numbers amongst its members the Duke of Westminster , Lord Boston ,, Mr . W . H . Grenfell , and others . The Royal Botanic Society held its spring flower show in its gardens in Regent's Park on Wednesday , the attractions offered by the beautiful floral display being enhanced by the music of the band of the Royal Horse Guards .

The Zoological Gardens , Regent s Park , have lately been enriched by a very fine specimen of the now almost extinct American bison . It is the survivor of a pair which were sent from Canada by the Marquis of Lome as a present to the Oueen some few years ago .

The children of the Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg left Windsor Castle on Saturday afternoon last for Claremont , where they will reside with the Duchess of Albany during the absence of the Prince and Princess with the Oueen in France .

The marble bust of the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale , which the Queen commissioned Mr . Williamson , of Esher , to execute is finished , and was submitted to her Majesty by the artist before her departure for the South of France . The Prince is represented in the uniform of the ioth Hussars .

The rival University crews have taken up their quarters at Putney in view of the annual Inter-University boat race , and have been doing a considerable amount of work during the present week under the guidance of their respective coaches , namely , Mr . McLean for the Dark , and Mr . Muttlebury for the Light Blues .

A very successful flower show was held by the Royal Horticultural Society in the Drill Hall , Vyestminster , on Tuesday , the exhibits including a fine collection of forced plants sent by the Duke of Northumberland , a rare display of orchids by Mr . F . Sander , of St . Albans , roses and lilacs by the rival Pauls , of Waltham Cross and Cheshunt , agalias by Mr . B . S . Williams , & c

Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Portland have been entertaining a numerous party at Welbeck Abbey during the Lincoln races , among the guests being the Duchess of Manchester , the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry , Bro . the Earl of Enniskillen , Lord and Lady Alington , Bro . Lord Randolph Churchill , the Earl and Countess of Coventry , and others .

The Magee Testimonial Committee met at the Jerusalem Chamber on Friday , the iSth instant . In the unavoidable absence of Bro . Lord Wantage , Mr . Justice Jeune presided . The subscriptions were announced as amounting to £ 3661 , and after setting aside a sum for the sisters of the late Archbishop , it was settled that the remainder should be handed over to Mrs . Magee in trust for herself and her children .

The Queen , accompanied by Princess Henry of Battenberg , left Windsor Castle for the Riviera on Saturday morning last . Her Majesty travelled by the London and South-VVestern Railway , reaching Portsmouth at noon , when , with the Princess Victoria Patricia of ConnaueTit , who

joined her at the Dockyard , she embarked on board the Victoria and Albert . Cherbourg was reached shortl y after fi p . m ., and having remained in the harbour during the night , and attended Divine service on board her yacht , her Majesty left Cherbourg by special train , reaching Hyi-res on Alonday evening .

At the recent sale by Messrs . Christie , Manson , and Woods of the Werthemier collection some very high prices were realised . Two pictures by feiiers went for 1430 and 1700 guineas respectively . " A Young Woman in Repose " by Rembrandt sold for 5000 guineas . A la ' ndscape bv G .

Romney representing a girl in the foreground feeding a fawn fetched £ 5350 , while portraits by the same artist of Lady Hamilton , Mrs . VV . Morton Pitt and her son , and Lady Augusta Murray went for 2100 , 1100 , and 3 S 00 guineas respectively . A portrait of Lady Sondes by Sir Joshua Reynolds was sold for £ 4305 .

The Prime Minister and the Marchioness of Salisbury entertained at dinner at their house in Arlington-street on Wednesday the Russian Ambassador and Madame de Staal , the Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh , Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn , the Earl and Countess of Cadi gan , and other guests . Later in the evening her

ladyship held a reception which was very numerousl y attended , among those present being Bro . the Earl and Countess of Lathom , Bros , the Earls of Lim rrick and Ktlmjrey , liro . Viscount and Viscountess Sherb . ooke , Bro . Lord and Lady Halsbury , Bro . Lord and Lady Balfour , llro . Lord Monk Uretton , and Bros . Sir James Fergusson , Hart ., M . P ., Si Edward Clarke , Q . C , M . P ., and Sir A . Borthwick , M . P ,

l . N ' t ' i . UKttZA TONIC—Nothing is more effective in keeping up nerve and strength during the prevalence of influenza than Grant ' s Mjrella Cherry Brandy . In cases of debility its marvellous restorative powers , derived from the peculiar properties of the Kent Morella , render it of great value in regaining strength after illness . Sold everywhere .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Lewisham Board on Wednesday appointed Bro . ]) Samuel Rideal , of St . George' Hospital and Forest Hill , aJ public analyst for the Lewisham district . A letter of condolence—on the death of the Duke of Clarence—from the Ameer of Afghanistan to the 0 « een

; , enclosed in a casket of pure gold , weighing about a pound Bro . C . Thomas , P . M . 1755 , P . P . G . Std . Br . Sonier ! setshire , has been presented with a testimonial b y the " members of the church choir on his leaving Portishcad for Clifton .

The sale of the service of old English and French stiver and silver-gilt plate , the property of the late Earl Granville which concluded on Wednesday at the rooms of Messrs ' Christie , realised a total sum of £ 4820 5 s . 4 d . Bro . Lord Mayor Evans , the Sheriffs , Bro . Major Isaacs M . P ., and Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., were among the prin ! cipal guests at the election dinner at the Guildhall Tavern on Tuesday of the Worship ful Company of Paviours .

The Devonians in London held their reception and third annual ball at the Portman Rooms on Tuesday , under the presiding auspices of Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford and Lad y Northcote . The number of guests present was about 150 . Bro . Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Bro . Lord Ash . bourne ( Lord Chancellor of Ireland ) , and Bros . Lord George Hamilton , Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., and W . L . Jackson attended the Cabinet Council which was held at the Foreign Office on the 1 Sth instant .

The guests at the Speaker s fourth Parliamentary full . dress dinner on Wednesday included Bros . Sir Fred . Milner Bart ., Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., Sir Algernon Borth ' wick , Sir Charles Hall , Sir Thomas Sutherland , T . H . Bolton , Jasper More , and Storey Maskelyne .

It has been decided to give a morning performance of " Fra Diavolo " by the students of the Guildhall School of Music at the Lyric Theatre , on Tuesday , May the ioth , in order to enable the large number of applicants who were disappointed last week to witness the successful representation .

Bro . Lord Mayor Evans and the Lady Mayoress entertained at dinner , at the the Mansion House , on Wednesday , the Masters of CO out of the 79 City Companies , and in proposing the toast of the latter , referred to the close intimacy which had always existed between the Corporation and the

Companies . Official communications addressed to the lodge or sent out by the lodge should always be submitted to the considera . tion of the VV . M . He should be kept informed of everything that is being done in the name of the lodge , and for which he alone is held responsible . —Keystone .

There are now three comets visible in the northern hemisphere . A new one was observed on Tuesday over the North Pole . It is very small , but as its movement is extremely slow it may increase greatly in size . The third , the Vinnecke Comet , which was expected this year , has been observed at Vienna .

Berlin advices are to the effect that the unfavourable reports which have been in circulation as to the state oi the Emperor William ' s health are unfounded . His Majesty was suffering from hoarseness and general langour , but it was expected that these would speedily disappear underthe influence of the bracing air of Hubertusslock . The date of his Majesty ' s return to Berlin is uncertain .

On Wednesday , the iOth inst ., Bro . G . F . Barrell , P . M . 469 , P . A . G . D . C . Lincolnshire , & c , was for the third time elected Chairman of the Holland ( Lincolnshire ) County Council . His brother Aldermen and Councillors entertained Bro . Barrell at a complimentary dinner in the evening , which was largely attended , and was a most successful and enjoyable gathering .

The M . W . Frater Dr . W . Wynn Westcott , IV , Supreme Magus of England , has conferred the Vlllth Grade Honoris Causa upon the V . W . Frater Rev . Dr . Lemon , V ° , an office-bearer in the Metropolitan College ol the Rosicrucian Society of England , on account of two lectures delivered by him last year before the college , and of the interest he has shown in the Society .

There will be a ball at the headquarters of the London Scottish Volunteers in aid of the Cromarty Cottage Hospiul on Thursday next , the 3 ist instant , under the patronage of the Duchesses of Buccleugh , Arygll , and Portland , the Duchess Dowagcrof Marloorough , Lady Macdonald of the Isles , Lady Tweedmouth , Lady Helen Munro , Fei . ; uson , and others .

A warrior of the stirring days of the Crimea and Indian Mutiny has passed away in the person of Lieut .-Gen . Sir William Russell . Bart ., C . B . The deceased , who was close on 70 years of age , entered the Army in 1 S 41 , and had gone through the Crimean and Mutiny campaigns . I le was made C . B . for his distinguished courage at the KaptceKiver charge of the 7 th Hussars , had taken part in the s ^ ijc ol subse

Lucknow , and the attack on the Alcombagh , and - quently commanded the cavalry brigade under Lord Clyde in the campaign that followed the fall of Lucknow . fie was also M . P . for Devon from 1 S 57 to 1 S 59 , and for Normcti from i 860 to 1874 . Bro . W . H . Sharp , host of the well-known old coachir . J house at Hampton Court—the King's Arms—celebrated tne jubilee of his birth by inviting a few of his oldest person *

friends to dine with him , all but one being members of tM Craft . As each guest arrived he was handed an enve op containing an excellent cabinet size photograph of the no * taken in " clothing , " and also the menu . An elegant banquet was served , and a most enjoyable c . ( 5 ' . spent . On behalf ot the invited ones , Bro . E . 1 to r ' Dinger , ex-Mavor of Kingston-on-Thames , presented 0 1

Sharp with a locket , consisting of a valuable stone , set solid gold frame , suitably engraved , and testified to very high regard which they all had for him , HOIAOWAY ' S OINTMKST AMI PILLS . —Dangerous Client ^ plaims . —The enumeration of these diseases is scarce !) . ^ vary , as , unfortunately , most lii . glislimen know them ' n ) 1 | cost . Loughs , common colds , inlliien / a , bronchitis , . - * jt , pleuiisy , inflammation of the lungs , andfeven consu !"'' , " , " nimi'ni e . rrlv btau-cs . are best treated bv rulibini : Holloway s ! ' 11

upon the chest and upon the hack between the . "" "f . " ^ npenetrates internady , checks the cold shi verings , relieve 1 ^ ic , t , gorged lungs , gradually removes the oppression from '"'_ , ^ | y and restores the obstructed respiration , hitherto so "' .. ' jjss ol disagreeable and highly dangerous . Ill treating this '' ^ \„ f 1 diseases , Holloway's fills should always be taken > '" j „ iA liis Ointment ; they purify the blood , promote perspira" 1 j allay dangerous irritations .