Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

Bro . Percy Wallis , P . P . S . G . W ., has been elected to the Chairmanship of the Charity Committee of the Province of Derbyshire , in succession to the late Bro . George T . Wright , P . P . S . G . W . The Princesses Mary and Victoria of Edinburgh , attended by the Hon . Mrs . Keppell , visited the Water-Colour Exhibition at Messrs . Tooth ' s Galleries on Thursday .

At the Birkbeck Institution on Wednesday Mr . Charles Dickens gave readings from " David Copperfield " and " Bob Sawyer ' s Party , " which were greatly appreciated by a large audience . The Bishop of Exeter was riding along the Topshamroad , Exeter , on Thursday , when the horse stumbled , and his lordship was thrown over the animal ' s head into the road . He was able , however , to remount and ride home .

At a meeting of the Walthamstow Lodge of Instruction , No . 2192 , on the 22 nd inst ., it was resolved to hold the meetings on and after 29 th inst ., at the Field House , Highstreet , Walthamstow , on Monday evenings , at eight o ' clock .

" Blue-Eyed Susan " at the Prince of Wales s Theatre has during the last few days been preceded by the farce entitled " My Wife's Out , " but owing to the sudden indisposition both of Miss Agnes Hewitt and Mr . Bantock , the management found it impossible to play the farce .

The Kensington Lodge , No . 1767 , held their annual ball on Ftiday , the 12 th inst ., at Ladbroke Hall , Notting Hill , which proved a most enjoyable and successful meeting . Bro . Talbot , in conjunction with Bro . James Wiggins , W . M . of the lodge , acted as M . C . ' s . At supper the usual toasts were given and responded to with the utmost

cordiality . The election of the Illustrious Sir Knight the Rev . Dr . Lemon as Secretary-General of the Grand Council of the Knights of Constantinople , in succession to the late Illustrious Sir Knight Vincent Bird , was unanimously confirmed at a meeting of the Grand Council held at the Freemasons ' Hall , Plymouth , on Saturday , the 20 th instant .

The officers and brethren of the Lodge of Union , at Reading , one of the oldest in the Province of Berkshire , of which the late Duke of Clarence was Grand Master , have resolved that 50 guineas shall be expended in providing a memorial of the late Prince at the Masonic Hall , and that 20 guineas be contributed to one of the Masonic Charities .

An assembly took place on Friday night , the 19 th inst ., in the Victoria Hall , Dunblane , under the patronage of the Master and brethren of Lodge No . 9 , Dunblane . About 50 couples were present , and several hours of very lively dancing was varied by a number of songs , rendered , among others , by Miss Taylor , Mr . Taylor , and Mr . Alex . Syme . The music was supplied by the Dunblane Quadrille Band , under the leadership of Mr . Peter Brown .

At the Brunswick Mark Lodge , No . 4 S , at Stonehouse , Devon , on Wednesday , the 17 th inst ., Bvo . T . Wavledge , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., was re-elected VV . M ., and he invested his officers as follows : Bros . XV . H . Williams , I . P . M . ; J . Harvey , S . W . ; J . Endicott , J . W . ; W . J . Parsons , Chap . ; C . Marshall , P . M ., Treas . ; R . H . Batstone , Sec ; VV . J . Rowe , M . O . ; T . Rogers , S . O . ; VV . Cutler , J . O . ; J . Riddle , S . D . ; T . Paynter , J . D . ; I . Andrews , Org . ; and J . Reddaway , I . G . A banquet followed .

The directors of Perry and Co ., Limited , the wellknown makers of steel pens , & c , of Birmingham and London , have recommended a dividend of 12 I percent , for the year—the same as that paid for the last two years . The directors also recommend the payment of a bonus of 5 s . per share on the ordinary fully paid shares . £ 2500 is placed to the reserve account , being the same amount as or the three preceding years .

Not every Mason is qualified and authorised to examine a visiting brother . This is evidenced b y the Worshipful Master selecting a Past Master , and with him the most experienced brethren of the lodge , as the Examining Committee . We may be satisfied that a man is a Mason , but yet would not be willing to vouch for that man in the body

of an open lodge . It is not proper to talk of the business of the lodge outside of the lodge to any one unless you can vouch for him in an open lodge . Stop and remember that Masonic business should only be talked over in a Masonic manner in the bod y of the open Masonic lodge . It is the safest to confine Masonry within the walls of Masonry to Masons only . —Keystone .

From lhe Newspaper Press Directory for 1892 we ascertain that " there are now published in the United Kingdom 2255 newspapers , distributed as follows : England — London , 4 C 1 ; Provinces , 1302 — 17 G 3 ; Wales , 95 ; Scotland , 206 ; Ireland , 167 ; and Isles , 24 . Of these there are 138 daily papers published in England ; six in Wales ; 20 in Scotland ; 19 in Ireland ; and two in the

British Isles . On reference to the first edition of this useful directory for the year 1846 we find the following interesting facts , viz ., that in that year there were published in the United Kingdom 551 journals ; of these 14 were issued daily , viz ., 12 in England and two in Ireland ; but in 1892 there are now established and circulated 2255 papers , of which no less than 185 are issued daily , showing that the Press of the country has more than quadrupled

during the last 4 6 years . The increase in daily papers has been still more remarkable ; the daily issues standing 1 S 5 against 14 in 184 O . The magazines now in course of publication , including the quarterly reviews , number 1901 , of which more than 473 are of a decidedly religious character , representing the Church of England , Wesleyans , Methodists , Baptists , Independents , Roman Catholics , and other Christian communities . "

INFLUENZA TONIC—Nothing is more effective in keeping up nerve and strength during the prevalence of influenza than Grant's Morella 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.

Bro . Lord Henniker was stated to be a little better on Wednesday , but his medical advisers forbid him to Travel for a few days . The Marquis of Salisbury arrived at Windsor Castle on Wednesday on a visit to the Queen , and returned to town on Thursday .

On Wednesday evening Bro . the Lord Mayor entertained the members of the Court of Common Council at dinner at the Mansion House . The Duke of Rutland , who has been staying at Belvoir Castle , Grantham , since last Saturday , returned to town on Wednesday , and will remain in London for the next few days .

Bro . the Earl of Onslow has sailed from New Zealand for Australia , on his way home . Sir James Prendergast , Chief Justice , will act as Governor until the arrival of the Earl of Glasgow . We are shortly to see another play by Mr . L . N . Parker , whose " Bohemian " is now the attraction at the Globe . The new piece is in the hands of Mrs . Lancaster-Wallis , who will herself appear in it , and who is now arranging the remainder of the cast .

We are asked to notify that the meetings of the Royal Standard Lodge of Instruction , No . 1298 , and of the Royal Standard Benevolent Association will , on and after the 2 Gth inst ., be held at the Castle Tavern , Si , Holloway-road , N ., at S p . m ., instead of the Builders' Arms , St . Paul ' s-road , Canonbury , as heretofore .

The Board of Trade have awarded a gold watch to Capt . Carl Bahlke , master of the German sailing ship Preussen , of Hamburg , in recognition of his kindness and humanity to the shipwrecked crew of the sailing ship Gareloch , of Glasgow , which was abandoned off Cape Horn on the 2 Cth November , 1 S 91 .

Dr . Klein , the value of whose laboratory work has obtained widespread recognition , is taking a leading part in the inquiry which is being conducted under the auspices of the Medical Department of the Local Government Board with the object of tracing the origin of the influenza epidemic and of discovering the best means of checking its fatal prevalence .

The 41 st annual meeting of the governors of the Cancer Hospital ( Free ) , Brompton , S . W ., was held on Wednesday under the presidency of Sir George Samuel Measom . During the past year 17 SS new patients were received , while the total number of attendances of out-patients

was 7498 , these figures being in excess of any previous year since the hospital was founded . As the reliable income was about , ( , ' 3000 a year less than the ordinary expenditure , the Committee made an earnest appeal for continued support .

Major William Vaughan Morgan , late of the 3 rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers , whose death is announced from Grasse as having taken place , after a long and painful illness , a few days ago , was well known to the public as the Chairman of the London Homos jpathic Hospital in Great

Ormondstreet , of which he had been a supporter since 1 S 5 S , and to which in later years he was a munificent donor . The progress of the London Homo * opathic Hospital during the past few years has been largely due to his administration .

T he Duchess of Edinburgh and her two daughters arrived at Dover on Wednesday from Calais and proceeded to London . Her Royal Highness reached Charing Cross Station at 7 . 30 . The Duke of Edinburgh was on the platform , attended by Colonel Colville , Captain Monsonand

, Lady Mary F'itzwilliam . The Royal party at once drove to Clarence House . The Duke and Duchess have made arrangements to leave Paddington to-morrow ( Saturday ) morning for Devonport , where the Duke resumes his duties as Commander-in-Chief .

Miss Annie Hughes , who has been making a short tour with her own company within easy reach of London , has been at Richmond appearing nightly as the heroine of " Sweet Nancy , " and on Wednesday as Naomi in " School . " She has been supported in both pieces by her husband ( Mr . N .

Devereux ) , Air . Charles Bernard , Miss Constance Robertson , and Mrs . E . H . Brooke . On Wednesday afternoon Mr . C . Cooper , Mr . Gilbert Hare , and Miss Winifred Fraser went down to play the Beau , Krux , and Bella in the Robertson comedy .

A brilliant subscription ball was given on Wednesday evening at the Berlin Opera House , at which the Emperor , several of the Princes , and many other distinguished persons were present . The Empress was unable to attend , having only just recovered from her recent indisposition . His Majesty led off one dince with Princess Leopold , the other august personages present also joining in the dance . The Emperor maintained a lively conversation for some time in the Diplomatic box .

All lovers of Masonic unity will regret to learn that the well-meant effort of M . E . Comp . Major Murray to bring about unity in Royal Arch Masonry in this colony has failed . His motion for a conference of the three existing Constitutions , which we printed in our last issue , was considered at the last convocation of the Grand Chapter of New South

Wales , and rejected by one vote . 'This is to be gravely regretted , and will tend to embitter the existing disunion . We wish wiser counsel had prevailed , as there was a golden opportunity to establish unity . Of course , it will come in time , but years will probably elapse . We sympathise with Comp . Major Murray in the failure of his earnest fraternal effort . —Sydney Freemason .

The Speaker gave his first Parliamentary full-dress dinner on Wednesday evening . Among those who attended were Mr . Balfour , Lord burghly , Lord W . Lennox , Ljrd G . Hamilton , Lord A . Hill , Mr . H . Matthews , Mr . E . Stanhope , Air . Brodrick , Mr . G . Curzon , Sir J . Fergusson , Sir M . Hicks-Beach , Air . D . Plunkat , Mr . J . VV . Lowther , Sir W . Hart Dyke , Air . Ashmead-Bartletr , Mr . H . Chaplin ,

Mr . W . Long , Sir W . Marriott , Mr . C . Stuart-Wortley , Air . C . T . Ritchie , Baron H . de Worms , Sir J . Gorst , Mr . W . L . Jackson , Afr . Akers-Douglas , Mr . A . B . Forwood , Sir H . Maxwell , Sir W . Walrond , the Attorney General , the Lord Advocate , the Attorney General for Ireland , the Solicitor General , the Solicitor General for Scotland , Mr . Hermon Hodge , Air . Milvain , Archdeacon Farrar , and Mr . E . Ponsonby .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Oueen went out at Windsor on Wednesday accotn . panied by Princess Beatrice . Princess Louise has left the Castle for Kensington Palace . The Duke of Cambridge will preside over the Royal United Service Institution meeting on Saturday , March 5 th , when the gold medal for the naval prize essay will be presented .

The Sportsman ' s Exhibition and the Kennel Club Show of Sporting and other Dogs will be held at the Agricultural Hall , Islington , from Tuesday , the 7 th , to Saturday , nth of June . The Johannesburg Lodge and the Transvaal Lodge of Pretoria sent cable messages of condolence on the death of the Duke of Clarence to H . R . H . the Grand Master , and received prompt replies expressive of thanks .

The District Grand Master of Natal promptly placed the lodges in his jurisdiction in mourning on receipt of the news of the Duke of Clarence's death . The District Grand Secretary likewise cabled a message of condolence , as did the Port Natal Lodge .

The Board of Agriculture has decided that it is no longer necessary to slaughter animals which may come into contact with other beasts suffering from foot and mouth disease . The most stringent precautions will , however , be enforced as regards disinfection and isolation .

Captain Pawson , Riding Master of the Royal Horse Artillery Brigade at Aldershot , on promotion to the rank of Major , has been appointed Senior Riding Master of the Royal Artillery to the Riding Establishment , Woolwich . Major Pawson , who has nearly 40 years' service , fought throughout the Crimean and China War .

At the opening of the Reichstag on Wednesday , the President mentioned that the first North German Parliament was opened on that day 25 years ago , and that five of the original members , viz ., Herren Bennigsen , Richter , and Stumm , Count Hompesch , and Baron Unruhe , are still in the House .

Miss Sylvia Grey s many admirers will be glad to learn that she revisits the glimpses of the Gaiety footlights this ( Saturday ) evening . She has been absent from the cast of ' * Cinder-Ellen " for more than three weeks , owing to an attack of rheumatism , which change of air and scene has enabled her to repel .

A new lodge , under the Constitution of the Netherlands , was consecrated at Pretoria on the 16 th ult . under the name Broederband , Bro . F . Kleijn officiating , assisted by Bros . T . VV . Beckett and J . Wagner . We are not in possession of a complete report , but we understand that the following are the officers : Bros . C Ueckermann , sen ., P . M ., W . M . ;

F . Kleijn , P . M ., D . M . ; Adrianus Kuipers , S . W . ; M . De Wilde , J . VV . ; A . E . J . Krause , Orator ; Jac . Bosch , Sec ; J . van Alphen andT . Krogh , Preparators ; J . S . Smit and C . Ueckermann , jun ., M . C . 's ; and E . P . A . Meintjes , LG . We wish " De Broederband" every success . —South African Freemason .

Frater William Taylor , of Torquay , P . P . G . O . of the Knights Templar of the Provincial Priory of Devon , has been presented by fratres of the province with a handsome gold jewel , the insignia of his office , bearing the inscription : * ' Presented to E . S . Kt . William Taylor , P . P . G . Treas ., as a memento of the centenary of K . T ., 1891 . " The presentation was made by E . Frater John Chapman , P . P . G . Ree .

of Devon , and Captain of the Guards in the National Great Priory of England and Wales . Frater Chapman , in felicitous terms , referred to the Alasonic zeal and ability of Frater Taylor , also to his liberality and hospitality during his year ot oflice , a year which would ever be remembered in the Order as the centenary of the Grand Mastership of the Order under its present formation .

A Birmingham correspondent writes : A very enjoyable evening was spent on the iSth inst . by a large and appreciative audience of brethren , ladies , and friends in connection with the Athol Lodge , No . 74 , Birmingham . Bro . Sydney S . Pridmore , P . M . 50 , was in a very happy and humorous mood , and introduced several new and startling tricks . . Bro . H . E . Maynard as an " amateur" mesmerist was

exceedingly good , and is , in the opinion of many , far superior to many " professors" of that sc ence . The musical portion , vocal and instrumental , was most ably given by the talented "Johnson" family and Mr . G . E . Franklin , ot Derby , to the satisfaction and deliirht of everyone

present . We are pleased to say , as a result , there will be a fairly good surplus to hand over to the fund for alterations and additions to the "home" of this old lodge , which have recently been carried out . This is the first gathering of the kind that has been held in this hall , and a hope was expressed by several that it will not be the last .

lhe installation meeting and banquet in connection with the Keystone Lodge , No . 107 , was held on Monday , the 25 th ultimo , at the Masonic Hall , Strada Stretta , Valletta , Malta , when there was a large attendance . Bro . Col . Marmaduke Ramsay , D . G . M . of the Mediterranean , was the Installing OHicer . The W . M . elect , Bro . C . H . Horsfall , D . J . G . O ., S . W ., was presented by Bro .

Cook , D . G . ALO ., the retiring Alaster , for installation . After having been duly installed , he invested his officers as follows : Bros . Cook , I . P . M . j T . V . Ouinn , D . G . D . C , S . W . j D . M . Bates , D . G . S . B ., J . W . ? T . Lucas , D . G . Std . Br ., M . O . J R . M . Farmer , S . O . j A . W . Kemp , D . G . Stwd ., J . O . j Rev . R . Dolby , D . G . C , Chap . ; Pariente , P . M ., P . D . D . G . M ., Treasurer ; H . P-

Wakelield , Secretaryj J . Nicholson , S . D . j VV . J . Phillips , J . D . j C F . James , I . G . j and Beck , Ty ler . The balance-sheet showed the lodge to be in a flourishing condition , 23 brethren having been advanced during the past year under the rule of Bro . W . E . Cook . This lodge is the oldest in the island , and has a roll of upwards of i °° members .

HOLLUWAY ' PILLS . — Enfeebled existence . —This medicine embraces evvry attribute requited in a general and domest *'* remedy . It overturns the foundations of disease laid by dcl ' ec'tive food and impure air . In obstructions or congestions ot thc l '* . ' ^ lungs , bowels , or any other organs , these Pills are especial ')' serviceable and eminentlv successful . Thev should be kept 1 "

readiness in every family , being a medicine of incomparab ' utility for young persons , especially those of feeble constitution ** - * They never cause pain or irritate the most sensitive nerves or mos tender bowels . Holioway ' s iMIls are the best known purifiers 0 the blood , the most active promoters of absorption and secret'O' > whereby all poisonous and obnoxious particles are removed fr 01 both solids and Huids ,