Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . ALDERMAN SIR JOSEPH SAVORY , Bart ., entered upon his 59 th year on Tuesday last . BRO . ALDERMAN AND SHERIFF VAUGHAN MORGAN has forwarded a donation of £ 25 to the Dutch Women and Children ' s Fund of tbe Victoria League . THE PENNSYLVANIA CREW witnessed "The Night of the Party" at the Avenue Thralre on the 24 th instant as the guests of Mr . Weedon Grossmith .

THE TREASURER of the Middlesex Hospital have received from Mrs . Blagrove Paton 100 b guineas to endow a bed in the cancer wing in perpetuity in memory of her husband .

THE GARDENS OF LINCOLN'S-INN . —On Wednesday , by permission of the Benchers , these gardens were thrown open from six to eight p . m . f jr tb . 2 b ^ iefi : of p >) r children resident in the district . BRO . SIR JOHN BLUNDELL MAPLE gave notice in the House of Commons of a Bill to vest the undertakings of the London water companies in a single public authority , and for other purposes .

THE KING AND THE CROWN JEWELS . —The Crown regalia was removed from the Tower of London on Tuesdjy , and conveyed to Marlborough House , for inspection by the King and various Court officials . THE LADY MAYORESS , who was accompanied by Bro . the Lord Mayor , distributed the prizes on Saturday last at the 20 th annual championship meeting of the County Athletic and Cycling Association at Chelmsford .

IT IS SIX MONTHS AGO last Wednesday since Queen Victoria passed away , and the period of full Court mourning has come at last to an end . Half-mourning and subdued colours will be worn by the Court for another six months to come , and a full year must pass before full colours are worn .

iiij FOR TWO LETTERS OF DR . JOHNSON . —On Tuesday , at Sotheby's , an important series of autograph letters of Dr . Johnson , the property of General Macdonald , came up for sale , and realised high prices . One dated April 19 th , 17 S 3 , fetched £ 57 , and another dated October 4 th , 1783 , sold for £ 5 6 . BRO . A . J . HOLLINGTON'S two year-old Shire colt , Bishopthorpe Duke , won the first prize , the championship , and the medal at the show of the Waltham Cross and Three Counties Horse and Foal Society on Thursday , the 17 th instant . Bro . Hollington also took the second prize for a saddle-horse , and the third for a horse shown in harness .

ATTENTION IS DRAWN to the corrected advertisement appearing in this issue of the Belle steamers belonging to the Coast Development Company , 33 , Walbrook , E . C . Special holiday arrangements have been made from August 2 nd to Gth inclusive , for sailings between Fresh Wharf , London Bridge , and all the principal watering places of the south and south-east coasts , particulars of which may be obtained by application .

THE LATE MR . JOHN T . BEDFORD . —The fine bust of the late Mr . Deputy Bedford , which was recently placed in the lobby at the Guildhall , has , at the instigation of Bro . T . Hastings Miller , the Chief Commoner , been ornamented with a plate , bearing the following inscription : " John Thomas Bedford , Deputy of the Ward of Farringdon Without ( north side ) 1 SS 4-1 S 96 . He saved Epping Forest for the people . "

A GRAND SCENIC BAZAAR , representing the British Empire , will be held at the New Hall , Menai Bridge , on August tst , 2 nd , and 3 rd , the proceed ! from which will , it is hoped , suffice to pay off the debt on the Masonic Hall at Menai Bridge , amounting to about £ 400 . The bazaar will be opened by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Harlech , and by kind permission of the colonel and officers the band of the Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers will appear .

"A CHANNEL FLEET , " is the title of a little booklet issued by the Great Eastern Railway Company , and the title is appropriate for the brochure tells of the fine fleet owned by this company for the accommodation of mails and passengers between Harwich and the Netherlands , Germany , Denmark , Norway and Sweden . Information useful to intending tourists is given , while the illustrations are most artistic , including views of the Company's boats , and of the scenery in the Continental countries to which travellers are conveyed by these floating hotels on keels .

WE HAVE PLEASURE in drawing attention to a new catalogue of Masonic jewels , clothing , and furniture just issued by Messrs . George Kenning and Son , Masonic jewellers , of 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 , Little Britain , London , E . C , and iG and I 6 A , Great Queen-street , London , W . C . The list is of a convenient size to carry in the pocket 7 and contains descriptions and prices of all kinds ot Masonic jewellery , clothing ,

furniture , regalias , symbols , & c , with an alphabetically arranged index so that any article can be found at a moment's notice . An attractive feature of the list is a series of 40 ploto prcctss blocks illustrating the firm's manufactory and showrooms both in London and the provinces , the processes of manufacture , & c . Copies of the catalogue may be had upon application as above . —Ihe Jewellers and Watchmakers ' Trade Advertiser .

A RARE AND ROYAL MASONIC APRON . —There has recently come to light we learn from the Humanitarian , a Masonic apron—probably the most exquisite example of needlework extant—that busied the fingers of Mary , Queen of Scots , duiing her long imprisonment , and served to divert her mind from her impending doom at the block . Just before her execution she secreted her prized apron under the lining

of ere of her robes , which kept her treasure safe until recently the garment was ripped apart . Its history has since been fully authenticated through letters written by the ill . starred Queen to a friendly ambassador at Pari ? , who smuggled the material out of which it was wrought into her dungeon . The apron came into the possession of an American , who has refused ^ 10 , 000 for it , and has also declined £ 1000 for the privilege of unravelling a single stitch to learn its secret , which is a mystery to all experts .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY issue ordinary as well as excursion ticktts at their principal City and West-en 1 offices , and this arnnj ? m : nt is probably never so much appreciated as during the we = k preceding the Bank Holiday , wlenlaige numbers of people avail themselves of the opportunity thus aff 3 rd id for obtaining tickets at their own time and without thecro vdingand worry inseparable from a large railway station at holiday seasons . The fares charged are the same as at Paddington . Tickets can also be obtained at Clapham Junction , Kensington (

Addisonroad ) , Uxbridge-road , Hammersmith , and other stations . Tn ^ booking ollice at Paddington Station will be open for the issue of tickets all diyon Wednesday , Thursday , Friday , and Saturday , July 31 st , August 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd , 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 , the Company will run several ordinary trains in duplicate during the week preceding the Bank Holiday , but on the Bank Holiday several of the up and down expresses will not run , and there will be other

minor alterations in the services . Fast excursion trains leave Paddi ngton every Monday , Wednesday , and Friday to Weston-super-Mare ; every Monday ( except August 5 th ) , and every Friday , by the new route via Putney and Westbury , to Frome , Yeovil , Dorchester , Weymouth , & c , ; every Monday and Friday to Swindon , Bath , Bristol , Gloucesler , Cheltenham , Hereford , & c . ; Tuesday nights , July joth and August 6 th , and every Wednesday afterwards , to Rhyl , Llandudno , Bettws-y-coed , & c . ; every Wednesday for Shrewsbury , Aberystwyth , Dolgelley , Barmouth , & c .: Taunton ,

Tiverton , & c . ; every Wednesday noon and Thursday , to Minehead ( for Lyriton and Lynrnuuth ) , & c . ; every Wednesday night , to Newport , Cardiff , Swansea , Tenby , New Milford , and other places in South VVales ; every Thursday , to Minehead , Lynton , Lynmouth , & c . ; every Thursday morning , Thursday night , and Friday night , to Barnstaple , llfracombe , Exeter , Dawlish , Ttignmouth , Torquay , Plymouth , & c . ; every Thursday morning End Friday night , to Falmouth , Penzance , and other resorts in the

West of England ; every lhursday midnight , to Lhester , Birkenhead , and Liverpool ; every Friday , to Newbury , Marlborough , Devizes , Trowbridge , & c . ; every Friday night , to the Scillv Islands ; and every Friday night and Saturday , to Douglas ( Isle of Man ) . Every Monday ( except August 5 th ) , day excursions are run to Newbury , Winchester , Southampton , and Cowes , and on Mondays , July 29 th , August 12 th , 26 th , September 9 th and 23 rd , day trips to Southampton , including steamboat trip round the Isle of Wight . For other cheap excursions see advertisement page .

Masonic And General Tidings.

A' GREAT compliment has just been paid to the Lady Mayoress . Her daint y poem . S" Flower Symbols , " has been translated into French by Miss Janotha , and is about to be recited in Paris by Madame Sarah Bernhardt . LONDON IMPERIAL YEOMANRY . —The Earl of Dunraven is to be appointed to command the 3 rd County of London ( Sharpshooters ) Imperial Yeomanry , whose formation has just been approved by the King .

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to accept a copv of the Edition de Luxe of MrsT Nevill J ackson ' s " History of Hand-Made Lace" ( L . Upcott Gill , 170 , Strand ) , which contains actual specimens of old and fine lace . THE LARGEST AMOUNT ever paid for stamp duty has just been handed over to the Treasury by Mr . Andrew Carnegie : - £ 5000 worth of stamps were required to

make the deed of gift by which he endows the Scottish Universities a legal document . QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL . —Bro . Dr . Lenr . ox Browne is anxious thathis suggestion for an appropriate memorial to the late Queen should not be lost sight of . His main proposal is the perpetuating of the great feature of the Victorian reign—the consolidation of the Empire—by a series of arches , uniform in character , but with distinctive treatment on the frieze of each colony so represented .

BRO . FORBES ROBERTSON'S repertoire , during his forthcoming autumn provincial tour , will include " Othello , " " For the Crown , " " The Sacrament of Judas , " and of course his comparable representation of "Hamlet , " added to which he will , in the course of his itinerary , produce at least one and probably two or three new plays , the first of which , unless circumstances ] arise to prevent it , will be one by the talented authoress Madeline Lucette Ryley .

ROYAL ACADEMY SOIREE . —The galleries at Burlington House were closed to the general public at six o ' clock on Wednesday , in order to allow of preparations being made for the annual soiree . Three hours proved by no means too long a time for the transformation which greeted the guests later on . The grand staircase and rooms were beautifully decorated with tall palms and flowers , and the electric

light shed a brilliant glow upon the animated throng which filled the rooms to overflowing . The guests , who were received by Sir Edward Poynter , arrived in a continuous stream , and all the learned professions were largely represented . The first exhibition of pictures looked at their best , but it could hardly be expected that they would be the chief objects of interest at a social reunion of such magnitude . A brilliant programme of music was performed by the Royal Arti'lery String Bind .

AN INTERESTING GATHERING . —Tuesday evening last witnessed an interesting gathering at the Mitre Hotel , Richmond , in connection with the Lodge of Harmony , No . 255 . That ledge was originally founded at the old Toy Hotel , which stood close by the Trophy Gate , opposite to the Mitre Hotel . After a few years the meetings of the lodge , for some reason unknown to the outside world , were suspended ; but in 1 S 01 the Lodge of Harmony was revived at the place where it was established , and continued to meet at the Toy Hotel until it was pulled down , now over 50 years ago . The members resolved to celebrate the centenary of the revival of the lodge , and

decided to do so at the Mitre Hotel , being close to the spot where No . 225 was called into being . Bro . J . F . K . Daman , the present W . M . of the lodge , presided over the business which had to be transacted , and then took the head of the _ table at the banquet which followed , which was attended by about 30 members and visitors . A recherche repast was served , and the members were pleased to find that there was a link between the Mitre to-day and the Toy of old . The late Bro . Sadler was connected with the old Toy Hotel before crossing over the road , and saw to the " creature comforts " of the me mbers of the Ledge of Harmony during the forties . It was reserved for his widow and sons to do the same at the centenary festival under notice .

MIDLAND RAILWAY . —For the convenience of the public the Midland Railway Company have arranged that the booking offices at St . Pancras and Moorgate-street Stations shall be open for the issue of tickets all day on Friday and Saturday , August 2 nd and 3 rd . Tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway will also be obtainable beforehand at their City and suburban offices . The tickets obtained at these offices 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

excursion trains will be run from London on Friday night , August 2 nd , to Stirling , Perth , Aberdeen , Inverness , & c , for 4 or 10 days , and to Edinburgh , Glasgow , Dumfries , Castle Douglas , Ayr , & c , for 4 and 10 days , by which trains third class return tickelswill be issued at about a single fare for the double journey , available for i 6 days . Cheap excursion tickets will be issued from London ( St . Pancras ) to Dublin , and the South of Ireland ( via Liverpool ) , on alternate Fridays ( August 2 nd to September 27 th ) , and to Belfast , Londonderry , Portrush , & c . ( via Barrow ) on alternate Fridays , from

August 2 nd to September 27 th . Also to Belfast and the North of Ireland ( via Stranraer and Larne , or via Liverpool ) on alternate Thursdays from August 1 st to September 25 th . On Friday midnight , August 2 nd , for 3 , 6 , or 7 days , and on Saturday midnight , August 3 rd , for 2 , 5 , or 6 days , to Leicester , Nottingham , Manchester , Stockport , Liverpool , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , & c . On Saturday , August 3 rd , a cheap excursion train will be run to Birmingham , Walsall , Wolverhampton , Leicester , Nottingham , Melton , Burton-on-Trent , Derby , Manchester , Liverpool , Blackburn , Bolton , Preston , Wigan , Blackpool , Rochdale , Oldham , Bury , the Furness District ,

Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , Barnsley , Keighley , York , Hull , Scarboro ' , Darlington , Durham , Newcastle Carlisle , & c , for 3 , G , or 7 days . On Monday , August 5 th , day trip trains will be run from London ( St . Pancras ) to Southend-on-Sea , St . Albans , Harpenden , Luton , Bedford , and Kettering . There will also be a 1 , 2 , or 3 days' trip to Leicester , Loughboro ' , and Nottingham ; a 1 , 2 , 4 , or 5 days' trip to Birmingham , and a 2 or 5 days' excursion to Nottingham , Sheffield , Stockport , and 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 above-named offices .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY announce that cheap excursions will be run as follows : On Wednesday , July 31 st , and each Wednesday until September 1 Sth , for eight days , to Sheringham , Cromer ( Beach ) , Mundesley-on-Sea , Yarmouth ( Beach ) , Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , and Mablethorpe . On Friday , August 2 nd , for four or 10 days , from London ( Woolwich ( Arsenal and Dockyard ) , Greenwich ( S . E . and Co . ) , Vicfoiia ( S . E . and Co . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , King's Cross ( G . N . ) , & c ) , for Northallerton , Darlington , Richmond , Durham ,

Newcastle , Alnwick , Berwick , Edinburgh , Glasgow ( International Exhibition ) , Helensburgh , Dumbarton , Stirling , Perth , Dundee , Dalmally , Oban , Fort William , Montrose , Aberdeen , Inverness , and other stations in Scotland . Passengers with four days' tickets return on Tuesday , August Oth , and those with 10 days' tickets retnrn on Monday , August 12 th . Tickets at about a single fare for the double journey will also be issued by above excursions to places named , available for return by one fixed train on any day within 16 days , including days of issue and return . On the same day an excursion for

3 , 6 , or 8 days will be run to Newark , Retford , Doncaster , Wakefield , Leeds and Bradford . On Saturday , August 3 rd , for three , six , or eight days , from London ( Woolw ' . ch ( Arsenal and Dockyard ) , Greenwich ( S . E . and C ) , Victoria ( S . E . and C ) , Ludgate Hill , Mcorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , King ' s Cross ) , & c , for Cambridge , Ramsey , Huntingdon , Lynn , Norwich , Cromer , Yarmouth , Spalding , Boston , Grimsby , Lincoln , Nottingham , Leicester , Derby , Burton , Burslem , Tutbury , Stoke , Newark , Chesterlisld , Edwinstowe , Retford , Sheffield , Barnsley , Rotherham , Huddersfield , Manchester ,

Liverpool , Doncaster , York , Hull , Harrogate , Bridlington , Malton , Scarboro , Whitby , Stockton , Richmond , Darlington , Hartlepool , Middlesbro' , Durham , Newcastle-on-Tyne , Shields , Sunderland , Wakefield , Leeds , Bradford , Halifax , Keighley , Accrington , Blackburn , Bolton , Burnley , Bury , Rochdale , and other principal stations in the Lincolnshire , Nottinghamshire , Staffordshire , Lancashire , Yorkshire , and North-Eastern Districts ; also for one , three , or four days to Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , and Mablethorpe . On Saturday , August 3 rd , and each Saturday until September 28 th , for three ,

eight , 10 , 15 , or 17 days , to Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , Mablethorpe , Grimsby , New Clee , Cleethorpes , Bridlington , Filey , Scarborough , Robin Hood ' s Bay , Whitby , Saltburn , Redcar , Appleby , Tynemouth , Whitley Bay , Cullercoats , Liverpool , Southport , and Douglas ( Isle of Man ) . On Bank Holiday , August 5 th , for one , two , or three days , to Grantham and Nottingham , also for one day to St . Albans , Hertford , Wheathampstead , Harpenden , Luton , Dunstable , Hitchin , Baldock , Royston , Cambridge , Biggleswade , Sandy , Tempsfotd , St . Neots , Huntingdon , Peteiboro ' , Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , and Mablethorpe .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Inlian-manufacturjd condiments , currie stuffs , chutnees , preserves , poppidums , Borr . biy du : ki , Nepiu ' pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C Stembridge and Co , iS , G .-een-stt- et , Leicester-square , London ; , and Calcutta . Established 1 S 31 . Write for ptics list ( Removed from 33 , Leicesler-square ) .