Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

ON THURSDAY evening the Indian Famine Fund amounted to nearly £ 531 , 000 . BRO . ALDERMAN SIR J . C . DIMSDALE has been elected Treasurer of the Earlswood Asylum . His HOLINESS THE PorEJhas appointed Monsignor Sombricetti to be his representative at the Diamond Jubilee Commemoration of her Majesty the Queen .

A MOVEMENT is on foot to bring together all the actual Masters of London lodges , numbering 450 , at a banquet to be given after the Commemoration Festival at the Albert Hall .

BRO . SIR J . B . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., presided at the festival dinner of tbe Solicitors' Benevolent Society , at the Hotel Cecil . The subscriptions amounted to £ 5855 . WE LEARN from the African Critic that Bro . W . Gradwell has been installed W . M . of the Zambesia Lodge ( Dutch Constitution ) , and that among those present at the ceremony was the Bishop of Mashonaland .

PRINCESS HENRY OF BATTENBERG will leave England to-day ( Friday ) for Kissengen to take the waters , and it is hoped that her Royal Highness will be well enough to return in time to take part in the jubilee festivities . THE FIRST MEETS of the two great driving clubs , the Four-in-Hand and the Coach will take place to-morrow ( Saturday ) at 1 p . m . at the Powder Magazine , Hyde Park , whence the former will drive to luncheon at Hurlingham and the latter to Ranelagh .

THE PRINCESS LOUISE , accompanied by her husband , the Marquis of Lome , and attended by Lady Churchill and Lieut .-Col . Arthur Collins , distributed on Saturday last at St . James's Hall , the prizes won by the girls of the Home at Kingston which bears her name .

THE ANNUAL banquet of the Homers' Company was held at the King ' s Hall of the Holborn Restaurant , on Tuesday evening , under the presidency of Bro . Lieut .-Col . George Lambert , F . S . A ., who was supported by the Wardens , the Clerk , and a numerous company . IT IS THE intention of T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales to visit as many as possible of the centres ivhere the poor will partake of the bounty provided out of H . R . H . the Princess of Wales ' s Fund for the outcast poor of London during J ubilee week , and there is little doubt the visit will meet with the most enthusiastic reception .

THE FOLLOWING ledges have contributed to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund—Wandsworth Lodge , No . 1044 , £ 32 13 s . ; King Harold Lodge , No . 1327 , £ 2 2 s . j Kintore Mark Lodge , No . 333 , £ 2 2 s . j Cranbourne Lodge , No . 15 S 0 , £ 2 2 s . j Unanimity Lodge , No . 102 , £ 1 is . j and Cinderella given by the Royal Oak Lodge , No . 871 , £ \ 2 7 s . BRO . DR . RALPH GOODING , J . P ., presided as Master at the snnual dinner of the Court and Livery of the Poulters' Company , which was held at the Hotel Cecil , on Friday , the 21 st inst . The Lord Mayor was unable , owing to pressure of business , to be

present , and Alderman and Sheriff Ritchie owing to indisposition , but the Lady Mayoress and a number of ladies were among the guests , and so was Bro . Sheriff Rogers . THE CEREMONY of laying the foundation-stone ofthe new Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital in the City-road will be performed by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales to-day ( Friday ) . His Royal Highness will be accompanied by H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , who has very graciously consented to accept purses in aid of the building fund . The guard of honour on the occasion will be provided by the Honourable Artillery Company .

THE DUCHESS OF PORTLAND opened the Art Exhibition at the People ' s Palace on Monday afternoon . Several of our best artists of the day , among them being the late Lord Leighton and Sir John Millais are represented , and the display is likely to prove a great attraction . On the motion of Bro . Sir Walter Besant a hearty vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to the Duchess for her Ijindness in attending and performing the ceremony .

THE SECOND LOT of medals belonging to the late Bro . H . Montague was sold by auction by Messrs . Sotheby , Wilkinson , and Hodge on Tuesday . The prices ranged from £ 1 is . to £ 30 , but in three cases the sums ot £ 240 for the " Naval Reward " or "Blake" medal of 1 C 53 , s ' truck by Thomas Simon in pure gold ; £ 70 for the medal struck by the same artist to commemorate Oliver Cromwell ' s elevaticn to the Protestants , and £$ i for another were realised .

ERO . T . HASTINGS MILLER , lately Chairman of the Coal and Corn and Finance Committee cf the London Corporation was entertained at Saddler ' s Hall on Monday , the 17 th inst ., and presented With a silver and glass epergne as a mark of the esteem in which he WES held , ar . d in recognition of his services . Bro . A . Biockman , the present Chairman of the Committee , presided , and among the principal guests were the Lord Mayor , Alderman and Sheriff Ritchie , and Bro . Sheriff Rogers .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES visited the East End of London on Saturday last when the Prince , as the representative of her Majesty , opened the new Blackwall Tunnel . Crowds assembled all along the route followed by the Royal procession , and their Royal Highnesses were most enthusiastically cheered . The procession was a semi-state one and escorted by a detachment of Life Guards . The Duke of York and Princess Victoria of Wales rode in the same carriage with the Prince and Princess .

THE SIXTH annual dinner of the members of the Japan Society was held on Tuesday evening , under the presidency of the Japanese Minister to this country , among the visitors being Bro . Admiral Field , M . P ., Sir E . S . Hill , M . P ., Sir Edwin Arnold , Mrs . Douglas , and Bro . Sir E . J . Reed . The toasts that were honoured included those of" The Queen , " "The Emperor and Empress of japan , " " The Japan Society , " and "The Visitors . " In the course of the evening an excellent programme of music , in which were included several Japanese pieces , was very ably carried out .

AT THE funeral of the Dowager Duchess of Atholl , which took place in the family mausoleum , Dunkeld , on Saturday last , her Majesty was represented by Bro . the Earl ot Kintore and the Hon . Francis Drummond , the former of whom placed a bea utiful wreath on the coffin on behalf of her Majesty with the inscription " A mark of loving affection , regard , and true friendship from herold friend Victoria R . and 1 . " Princess Henry of

Battenberg , and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , sent wreaths . The funeral was attended by most of the nobility and . gentry residing in the neighbourhood of Blair Atholl , and nearly the whole of the tenantry . The coffin was borne from the church to the vault by relays of stalwart Atholl Highlanders , preceded by a dozen pipers playing dirges . ,

PRINCESS LOUISE ( Marchioness of Lome ) , who was accompanied by the Marquis of Lome , visited Diapers'Hall on Tuesday morning for the purpose of opening the Competetive and Loan Exhibition of Fans , which has been organised by the Fanmakers ' Company . Her Royal Highness was received by the Master , Wardens , and Clerk of the Drapers' Company , by whom she was conducted to the drawing-room , where the

Lord Mayor , the Master , and Wardens of the Fanmakers' Company , Bro . H . H . Crawford ( Chairman of the Exhibition Committee ) , and many otheis had assembled . Then there was a precession to the Court Room , where an address of welcome was presented by Bro . Crawford to her Royal Highness , the honour conferred upon the exhibition by the Queen in lending four fans of great historical value being specially referred to .

MR . H . T . BRICKWELL has arranged with Bro . W . S . Penley to produce Messrs . David Christie Murray and John L . Shine's play , "An Irish Gentleman , " at thc Globe Theatre on Thursday , the 3 rd prox . The following is a full description of the characters and cast of same -. Gerald Dorsay , Mr . John L . Shine ; Uorsay Dillon , Mr . H . Reeves Smith ; Mr . Macquarrie , Mr . J . B . Gordon , * Tim Kelly , Mr . Richard Purdon ; Lord

Avon , Mr . Ihomas Kingston ; Jim Darcey , Mr . R . J . Beauchamp j Daley Doyle , Mr . j . L . Mackay j Bill Horsley , Mr . Howard Russell j Ellaleen Dunrayne , Miss Eva Moore j Mrs . Dunrayne , Mrs . George Canninge j Constance , Miss Lillian Menelly ; and Katty , Miss Kate Kearney . The above is not a musical play , but there are one or two songs in same which have been composed by Mr . John Crook , who has also done the ncidental music ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE FUNERAL of Bro . William George Lemon , Treas . 2033 , J . P ., LL . B ., who passed away on the morning of Wednesday last , wilt take place on Saturday , the 29 th inst . A service will be held at the Blackheath Congregational Church , at 2 . 30 p . m ., and the interment at Lewisham Cemetery at 3 . 30 . AT BODMIN Mr . Courtney , M . P ., opened a free library which Bro . Passmore Edwards has presented to the town . Mr . Courtney made an interesting speech contrasting the present day facilities for acquiring knowledge with the meagre facilities in his boyhood . Bro . Passmore Edwards also addressed the large assembly .

HIS MAJESTY the King of the Belgians arrived at Balmoral on a visit to the Queen for a few days . A detachment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was drawn up in the station square at Bailer when the train arrived and presented arms as his Majesty drove off in one of the Royal carriages drawn by four greys and preceded by outriders . THE REMAiNs ' of the late Bro . ' the Earl of Hardwicke were interred in St .

Marylebone Cemetery , East Finchley , on Saturday last , a wreath , sent by H . R H . the Prince of Wales , being placed on the coffin by Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , in behalf of his Royal Highness , while a second bore the signatures of the Earl of Coventry , Master of the Buckhounds , and of Bro . the Earl of Cork and Orrery , Bro . Lord Suffield , Lord Colville of Culross , and Lord Riblesdale , his lordship ' s predecessor and successor in the office of Master .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES will visit Canterbury to-morrow ( Saturday ) for the purpose of opening the restored Chapter House of the Cathedral . His Royal Highness on his arrival will make a tour of the main streets of the citv and will proceed to the Deanery , from whence the Royal party will walk to the Chapter House , being met at the end of the Norman Cloister by the Cathedral choir , augmented for the occasion by

members from Rochester Cathedral , who will sing a processional hymn until the door of the Chapter House is opened . When the Prince has declared the Chapter House open , there will be a presentation of purses towards the restoration fund , after which the Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Benediction , Among those who have accepted invitations to be present are Bros , the Duke of Fife , Viscount Wolseley , Earl Amherst , and Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart ., M . P .

WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS . —The Great Northern Railway Company announce that on the night of Friday , June 4 th , a cheap excursion will leave London ( Woolwich Arsenal ) , Woolwich Dockyard , Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , Aldersgate , Farringdon , King ' s Cross , & c , for Northallerton , Darlington , Richmond , Durham , Newcastle , Berwick , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Helensburgh , Stirling , Perth , Dundee , Oban , Fort William , Montrose , Aberdeen . ^ Keith , Buckie , Fraserburgh . Ballater , Inverness , and other stations in Scotland , returning on Tuesday ,

Sth , or Saturday , 12 th June . Tickets at a single fare for the double journey will also be issued by above excursion to places named , available for return by one fixed train on any day within 16 days , including days of issue and return . On Saturday , June 5 th , cheap excursions will also be run for three , six , and eight days from London ( Woolwich , Victoria , Moorgate , King ' s Cross , & c . ) to York , Bradford , Keighley , Halifax , Leeds , Wakefield , Doncaster , Liverpool , Southport , Manchester , Sheffield , Leicester , Derby , Nottingham , Hull , Grimsby , Lincoln , Ollerton , Edwinstowe , Chesterfield , Gainsboro ' ,

Lynn , Yarmouth , Norwich , Spalding , Wisbech , Cambridge , St . Ives , Ramsey , & c On Saturday , June 5 th , and each succeeding Saturday during June , July , August , and September , cheap excursions for three , eight , 10 , or 17 days , will be run from Moorgate , King's Cross ( G . N . ) , & c , to Bridlington , Filey , Scarboro ' , Robin Hood's Bay , Whitby , Saltburn , Redcar , Seaton Carew , Tynemouth , Whitley , Cullercoats , Liverpool , Southport , and Douglas . In connection with the above excursions to the provinces and Scotland , tickets will be issued at Holloway , Finsbury Park , the High Barnet and Edgware branch

stations , Muswell Hill , Harringgay , Hornsey , Wood Green , the Enfield branch stations . New Southgate , Oakleigh Park , and New Barnet at the King's Cross fares , and passengers booking at these stations may , without extra payment , travel by ordinary train to either Finsbury Park or King ' s Cross , as may be necessary in order to join the excursion trains . On Saturday , 5 th June , cheap excursions for three , five , or eight days , to London ( King ' s Cross ) , will be run from Keighley , Halifax , Bradford , Leeds , York , Wakefield , Doncaster , Retford , Newark , Manchester , Wigan , Rochdale , Barnsley , Sheffield ,

Worksop , Grimsby , Gainsboro ' , Derby , Nottingham , Grantham , Peterboro' , & c . On Whit-Monday , June 7 th , cheap day excursions will be run from Victoria ( L . C . and D . ) , Ludgate Hill , Moorgate , King ' s Cross , Finsbury Park , & c , to St . Albins , Hertford , Wheathampstead , Harpenden , Luton , Dunstable , Hitchin , Royston , and Cambridge . A cheap day excursion will also be run from Moorgate , King ' s Cross , Finsbury Park , & c , to Biggleswade , Sandy , St . Neots , Huntingdon , Peterboro' , Skegness , Sutton-on-Sea , and Mablethorpe . Cheap one or two days' excursions to London will be run from Keighley , Halifax , Bradford , Shipley , Leeds , Morley , Castleford , Batley ,

Dewsbury , Brighouse , Horbury , Wakefield , York , Doncaster , Retford , Newark , Manchester , Barnsley , Sheffield , Worksop , & c > and a cheap day excursion will be run to London from Deiby , Nottingham , Lincoln , Stamford , Peterboro ' , Huntingdon , St . Neots , Sandy , Biggleswade , Cambridge , Hitchin , Luton , Dunstable , Hertford , St . Albans , & c . _ 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 Suburban stations , and . at the Company ' s offices .

MIDLAND RAILWAY . —Whitsuntide Holiday Arrangements . —Cheap excursion trains will be run from London to Dublin , Cork , Killarney , & c , for 16 days , vid Liverpool and vid Morecambe j also to Belfast , Londonderry , and Portrush for Giant ' s Causeway , vid Barrow , viii Stranraer and Larne , and vid Liverpool , on Friday , June 4 th j and to Londonderry , via Liverpool or via Morecambe , on Saturday , June 5 th , to return within 16 days , as per bill of sailing j to Leicester , Nottingham , Newark , Lincoln , Birmingham . Walsall , Wolverhampton , Burton , Derby , Manchester ,

Liverpool , Preston , Wigan , Blackpool , Blackburn , Bolton , Oldham , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , Scarboro ' , Newcastle , the Furness District , Carlisle & c , on Saturday , June , 5 th , returning the following Monday , Thursday , or Saturdiy , and to Douglas ( Isle of Man ) for todays ; to Carlisle , Castle Douglas , Dumfries , Helensburgh , Edinburgh , Greenock , Glasgow , Stirling , Perth , Dundee , Aberdeen , Inverness , Ballater , & c , on Friday night , June 4 th , returning the following Tuesday or Saturday , by which third class return tickets at a single ordinary fare for the double

journey will also be issued , available for returning on any diy within 16 days . On Whit-Monday , June ;* th , to St . Albans , Harpenden , Luton , Bedford , Kettering , Leicester , and Birmingham , for one day ; and to Manchester , for the races , on Thursday ( midni g ht ) , June ioth , returning Saturday , June 12 th . _ Tickets for these trains for starting from St . Pancras Station can be obtained on the two previous days to the running of the trains at the Company ' s City and West - end Booking Offices . Cheap daily and week - end excursions

to Southend - on - Sea as announced in time tables and bills . New Weekly Summer Excursions fiom London . —The season excursions from London ( St . Pancras ) to Matlock , Buxton , Liverpool , Southport , Blackpool , Lytham , St . Anne ' s-on-Sea , the Isle of Man , Morecambe , Lancaster , the English Lake District , Sic , will commence on Saturday , June 5 th . The tickets are available tor passengers to return in either 3 , 8 , 10 , 15 , or 17 days . Cheap week-end tickets are now issued every Friday and Saturday from London ( St . Pancras ) and other principal Midland stations to

the chief holiday and pleasure resorts in the " Peak " district of Derbyshire , Yorkshire , the North East Coast , and other parts . The tickets are available for return on the following Sunday ( where train service permits ) , Monday , or Tuesday . Cheap Excursions to London . —Cheap excursion trains for five or eight days will also be run to London from Catlisle , Bradford , Leeds , Sheffield , Liverpool , Manchester , Blackburn , Burnley , Bolton , Bury , Rochdale , Oldham , Lincoln , Newark , Burt in , Derby , Nottingham , Leicester , & c , on Saturday , ( une 5 th j and for three or six day * on M mday , June

7 th j from Liverpool , Southport , Warrington , Manchester , Stockpcrt , Bradford , Leeds , Barnsley , Sheffield , Sic , on Saturday , June 5 th , for three , five , or ei £ ht diys ; also from Birmingham , Walsall , Wolverhampton , for three , four , fivs , or eight drys . Passengers will be booked by these trains at cheap fares to Brighton , Hastings , St . Leonards , Eastbourne , & c . ; and to Paris and other places on the Continent , hiving the privilege of returning by any ordinary train within 1 *> days . On Wnit-Monday , June 7 th , an excursion train to London for one or two days will be run from Bradford , Leeds , Barnsley ,

Sheffield , & c , and for one , two , three , or six days from Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Walsall , & c ; and day trips from Burton , Derby , Nottingham , Leicester , Wellingboro ' , & c . Ordinary Train Service . —On Whit-Monday , June 7 th , certain booked trains will be discontinued , of which due notice will be given by special bills at the stations . Early Issue of Tickets . —To prevent inconvenience and crowding , the booking * offices at St . Pancras and Moorgate-street Stations will be open for the issue of tickets all day on Friday and Saturday , June 4 th and 5 th , and tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway will also be ssued beforehand at any of their offices .