Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

WE ARR IN A POSITION to state that , at the instance of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , a vote of rooo guineas in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund will be proposed at the next meeting of Grand Lodge on the 3 rd of March . WE HAVE MUCH pleasure in announcing that the late Bro . Capt . Crewe has bequeathed a legacy of £ ico to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . MR . LAWSON WALTON , Q-C M . P ., will preside at the next smoking concert of ( he Legal Musical Society , which will take place on the 5 th prox .

MESSRS . J . J . ABRAHAMS have taken a long lease of the Gaiety Theatre , Brighton , and intend running it with a dramatic and music-hall entertainment . THE DUCHESS OF TFCK has consented to open a bazaar at Hornsey on the 25 th February , in aid of the proposed new Church of St . Peter , Hcrnsey , for the erection of which a sum ot £ Sooo is required . EARL AND COUNTESS CADOGAN have granted the use of Chelsea House for the annual National Combined Exhibition and Sale of the Irish Industries'Association on St . Patrick ' s Day next ( 17 th March ) .

A MARRIAGE HAS been arranged between Bro . F . John Hormman , M . P ., andMiss Louisa Minnie , daughter of Mr . George William Bennett , of Charlton . The ceremony will take place at St . George ' s Hanover-square , on the 30 th inst . SIR CLEMENTS M ARKHAM presided at a meetinpr of the Royal Geographical Society on Tuesday , at which Sir W . Martin Conway delivered a lecture on Spitzbergen , the interest in which was greatly enhanced by a number of excellent photographic pictures .

THE GORDON MEMORIAL ANNIVERSARY was celebrated at Westminster Abbey on Sunday afternoon last , when Canon Eyton preached the memorial sermon before an enormous congregation , the offertory , both at the afternoon and morning services , being devoted to the Gordon Boys' Home .

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT will preside at the lecture which Mr . Henry Lucy has undertaken to deliver at the Crystal Palace in connection with the celebration of the Coth year of the reign of her Majesty . The subject of the lecture , which will be given en the 12 th May , will be " The Parliaments of the Queen . " THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT has sent a donation of five guineas towards any fund that may be raised for the widow of William Dunaway , who was killed by a train in which he and the Duchess were travelling to London . Dunaway , who had served in the Crimea , had been 33 years in the service of the railway company .

TUESDAY was the 12 th anniversary of the death of General Gordon , and the statue of the gallant soldier in Trafalgar-square was , as usual , adoined with garlands and olher floral emblems sent by the Gordon Boys' Home , the Church Army , the Council of the Ragged Schcol L ' nicn , ar . d many olher bodies and individuals . THE ELECTION DINNER of the Shipwrights' Company , will shortly be held in the hall of one of the principal City companies , and the Lord Major has promised to attend . Sir W . H . White , K . C . B ., Chief Constructor of Ihe Navy , will be inducted in the chair of Master , and there is expected to be a full attendance on the occasion .

PRINCESS HENRY OF BATTENISERG visited the Royal National Hospital for Consumption , at Ventnor , on Tuesday , and alter inspecting the buildings , planted two Austrian pine tree in the grounds . Her Royal Highness's visit had reference to the proposed erection of a wing in memory of the late Prince Henry of Battenberg . A SERIOUS FIRE broke out at the residence of the Dowager Countess de la Warr's residence , No . So , Grosvenor-street , early on Tuesday morning . How it originated is not known , but the house was well on fire before the inmates had any warning , and the Countess had a very narrow escape . The cook , who jumped from the window , was very seriously injured .

FROM THE ACCOUNTS received of the wreck of the Indian troopship , the Warren Hastings , off the Isle of Reunion , on the 14 th inst ., it seems that everybody on board behaved with exemplary coolness . All on board , to the number of 1246 persons , were saved , and the sufferers were most kindly received and tended by the French officials and others on the island .

A GREAT MEETING of the Royal Geographical Society will be held in the Royal Albeit Hall , South Kensington , about the middle of next month , when H . R . H . the Prince cf Wales and the Duke of York will be present to welcome Dr . Nansen and receive frcm him an account of his latest Polar Expedition . Originally the Queen's Hall was chosen for the gathering , which bids fair to be one of the largest and most brilliant of the season , but the applications for tickets were so numerous that it was found necessary to engage the Albert Hall .

A REPRESENTATIVE CONFERHNCE of delegates from the Lifeboat Saturday Fund Committee throughout the country was held at the Mansion House on Tuesday , under the presidency of the Lord Mayor . His lordship gave the delegates a most cordial welcome , and Sir Edward Bickbeck acknowledged on their behalf the heartiness of the reception . A resolution was unanimously passed expressing satisfaction with the results of the movement in iSo 5 , and expressing a hope that it might be equally satisfactory during the present year .

THE DRUMMOND CASTLE Breton Fund is officially announced to have reached a total of nearly £ iGoo , a portion of which the Committee in charge has arranged shall be expended in providing an adequate supply of drinking water for the Island of Molene , the present sources being insufficient for the inhabitants . The work will be carried cut under the direction of the French Minister of Public Works , and the estimated cost ( £ 560 ) has been remitted . A clock for the Molene Church and a steeple for Ushant Church will also be erected out of the Fund .

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY . —At a meeting of the Fellows held in the Gardens , Regent ' s Park , on Saturday , the 23 rd inst ., Mr . J . S . Rubinstein brought forward a resolution recommending the Council to intimate the Lord Mayor , the Chairman of the London County Council , the London School Board , and other Local Authorities , and to the Secretaries cf recognised Societies and Institutions , that the Council would be pleased to arrange for the use in the coming season of the Society ' s Gardens , for garden parties and receptions . The resolution was carried .

THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE presided at the first important meeting , held on Saturday afternoon last , in connection with the forthcoming Victorian Era Exhibition at F . arl' s Court . The meeting took place at Devonshire House , and among the ladies present were the Marchioness of Tweeddale ( Vice-President ) , the Countess of Ellesmeie , the Countess Cowper , and the Countess of Warwick . Bro . Imre Kiralfy , directorgeneral cf the Earl ' s Court Exhibition , submitted a plan of the proposed new building , which include a picture gallery , in which will be exhibited a collection of the masterpieces by women artists during the Victorian era .

THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND and the Countess Cadogan , have arrived at Dublin Castle for the season , and among the visitors who have been staying with their Excellencies are the Duchess of Abercorn , and Lady Alexandra Hamilton , the Marquis and Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava , the Marquisof Waterford , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Arran , the Earl and Countess of Erne , Bro . Viscount Charlemont , Bro . the Right Hon . A . H . and Mrs . Smith Barry , the Hon . Henry Coventry , and Captain Harrison . A levee was held on Wednesday , and other functions have since followed or have been arranged for the present week .

LORD KENSINGTON ' S WILL . —Personal estate of the gross value of £ 57 , 448 iCs . 4 d ., and of the net valuecf £ 27 , 313 Ss . 1 id ., has been left by the late Lord Kensington , of whose will , which bears Oate July 19 th , 1 S 72 , probate has been granted to his widow and Colonel the Hon . Ilcr . ry Walter Campbell , of 44 , Charles-street , Berkeley-square . Lord Kensirgton appointed a trust fund of £ 10 , 000 settled on his nianiage for the benefit of

hisjounger childien , and he bequeathed his coror . ettcd plate to his eldest son and his first and olher sons . He bequeathed certain pictures in trust for his eldest son , and he bequeathed to Lady Kensington £ ioco , the use and enjoyment of his house in Grosvenorstreet and its furniture , and the income of his residuary personal estate , which , subject to her life interest , is to be in trust in equal shares for all his children , excepting such son as shall succeed to the Kensington settled estate .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE will hold her second reception of the season at Devonshire House , Piccadilly , on Wednesday , the 10 th prox . MR . ANDREW BARLOW , of Chisley , Southampton , has very generously presented the sum of £ 1000 to the funds of the Hants Female Orphan Asylum . OVER £ 1250 has been received by the Baptist Missionary Society in London , in response to a special appeal on behalf ot the Famine Relief Fund . MRS . GULLY will hold receptions at the Speaker ' s House , Westminster , on Wednesday next , the 3 rd prox ., and also on Wednesday , the 10 th prox .

BRO . PASSMORE EDWARDS has offered £ 2000 towards the erection of a Victoria cottage hospital at Acton , in cemmemoration of the Queen ' s Diamond JuVihe . THE QUEEN has affixed a special prize of £ 25 to the Council of the Royal Counties Agricultural Society at their show , which will be held at Reading in the month of June .

THE COUNTESS OF ALBEMARLE will present the prizes of the London Volunteer Medical Start Corps at the head-quarters in CaYthorpe-streer , on SiturJay , Febrmry the Gth . THE QUEEN has intimated her intention of making a donation of £ 100 to the fund being raised by the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital , Moocfields , for defraying the , cost of the new hospital in course of erection in the City-road .

BRO . VISCOUNT WOLSELEY , the Commander-in-Chief , has been unable , to his great regret , to resume his duties at the War Office , owing to the severe weather and a bad cold he has contracted , which has compelled him to remain indoors .

BRO . F . J . HORNIMAN , M . P ., has presented the Bishop of Truro and the Mayor of Falmoulh with the title deeds of the advowson of the Falmouth rector ' s ^ rate . This gift will relieve the inhabitants of the rate of is . 4 d . in the pound , with which they have hitherto been saddled . THE HON . WALTER ROTHSCHILD has consented to lay the foundation-stone of the South Hackney Synagogue and Class Rooms , which are being erected from the designs of Mr . Delissa Joseph , F . R . I . B . A ., and February 14 th has been selected for the ceremony , at which the Chief Rabbi will officiate .

BROS . A . AKERS-DOUGLAS , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . Lord Halsbury ) , the Chancellor of the Exche quer ( Bro . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart . ) , the Duke of Devonshire , Lord George Hamilton , W . Hume Long , and Sir M . White Ridley , Bart ., were among the Ministers who attended the Cabinet Council which was held at the Foreign Office on Wednesday .

A MEETING of the Executive Council of the Actors' Orphanage Fund , of which Bro . Sir Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry are President and Vice-President respectively , will be held at the Inns ol Court Hotel to-day ( Friday ) at 12 . 30 p . m ., when a handscme offer by a well-known philanthropist and other suggestions in connection with the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee will be discussed .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES has graciously consented to become Patroness of the National Free Home for the Dying , at Clapham , of which the Duchess of Sutherland is President , and the Bishop of Rocheste r , Patron . This Home is absolutely free and admits patients without distinction of creed or country . The office is at the Church House , Westminster , Secretary , Miss Grace Murray . , THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES PRINCE AND PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIGHOLSTEIN , have been deputed by the Queen to open , on her behalf , the new General

Hospital , in Birmingham , on a day yet to be fixed in the month of June . The building is estimated to cost £ 200 , 000 , and towards this Mr . ] . C . Holder , the chairman of the Building Committee , has contributed a further sum of £ 5000 . THE EMPRESS FREDERICK is expected over from the Continent to-morrow ( Saturday ) . At the command of the Queen , General Sir Charles Du Plat has gone over to Flushing on the Royal yacht , Victoria and Albert , to meet the Empress , who will go first to Osborne . She will stay in England for a few weeks now , and come back later on to be with her mother for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations .

THE ST . PETERSBURG correspondent of the Daily Telegraph , is authorised by the Minister of the Imperial Court of Russia , to declare that the health of the Czar up to the present time is , and has been , most excellent . His Majesty has taken his usual walks , transacted as usual his State business , and received , as usual , the reports of his Ministers . In short , his daily life and condition is precisely what it always has been .

THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN ( Bro . the Earl of Lathom ) is authorised to announce that Drawing-Rooms will be held under the usual regulations , at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday , the 24 th February , and a day yet to be named in March . Names for presentation may he sent to the Lord Chambeilain ' s office on and after the 1 st prox . for submission to the Queen . The Prince of Wales will hold a Levee at St . James's Palace , on Friday , the 26 th prox .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by Captain Holford and Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , returned to Sandringham from Marlborough House on Saturday evening last , on which day the United States Ambassador and Mrs . Bayard , Bro . Lord and Lady George Hamilton , and the Bishop of Thetford arrived on a visit . During the latter end cf last week , H . R . H . the Princess of Wales and the Princess Victoria , and the Duke and Duchess of York enjoyed sleighing in the park and district .

BRO . BARON DIMSDALE having retired from the office of Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the County of Hertford , the opportunity was taken on Tuesday of presenting him with a pair of silver candelabra and a silver salver in recognition of the many important services he has rendered to the county . Bro . Baron Dimsdale , who is , or was a member of the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , represented Hertford in the House of Commons from 18 GG to 1 S 74 , and the Hitchin Division of the County from 1 SS 5 to 1892 .

THE MANSION HOUSE FUND for the relief of the sufferers by the famine in India had reached a total of £ 171 , 000 up to Thursday , irrespective of the large sums which are in course of collection throughout the country by the Lord-Lieutenants of counties , and Lord Mayors and Mayors of cities and towns ; by the Lord Provosts and Provosts of Scotland ; and in Ireland by his Deputy Lieutenants . The Birmingham fund had reached £ 5000 on Wednesday .

THE WILL , which bears date December Sth , 1 S 90 , of Charles I ' redenck Ashley Cooper , second Baron de Mauley , of Langford House , Lcchlade , Oxon ., who died on August 24 th , 1 S 96 , aged 81 years , at The Knapp , near Dundee , has been proved by the sole executrix , his widow , Maria Jane Elizabeth , Baroness de Mauley , daughter of the fourth Earl of Bessborough , and to her , the testator , by his will , devised and bequeathed everything of which he might die possessed . The late Lord de Mauley left personal estate of the value of £ 1076 12 s .

IT HAS BEEN DECIDED that thc memorial to the late Bro . Sir John Pender shall take the following forms , so tar as the funds permit : ( 1 ) That a bust of Sir John shall be placed in a suitable institution in London , at a cost not to exceed £ 200 ; ( 2 ) thata sum of not less than ^ 5000 shall be placed in trust with the Council of University College , London , as an endowment fund for the maintenance of the electrical laboratory in that college , to be named the " Pender Electrical Laboratory , " and the existing chair of electrical engineering to be known as the " Pender Chair of Electrical Engineering ; " and ( 3 ) that a Pender » Scholarship and gold medal be founded at Glasgow in connection with electrical subjects .

PRINCESS LOUISE MARCHIONESS OF LORNE has again consented to open a Fan Exhibition , promoted by the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers . _ It will be held at the end of May , and will be the fourth of its kind , the first being inaugurated by Princess Louise in 1 S 7 S . The Queen has extended her patronage to the exhibition , one of the principle features of which will be the competition for a prize offered for the best painted design of a fan-leaf to commemorate the celebration of the Goth anniversary of her Majesty ' s accession to the Throne . A special class for historical fans is sure to be large and representative . The Drapers' Company have lent their beautiful hall in Throgmorton-street for the occasion .

THE CREMATION of Ihe remains of Sir Isaac Pitman took place on Thursday at Woking , the funeral address bating delivered by Rev . J . Ashby , President of the New Church Conference . A service in memory of the deceased was held at the New Church , Argyle-square , W . C , which is one of 12 Uuildings in and around London associated with the Sweuentorgians . Amongst those present were Mrs . F . Pitman , widow of the late Mr . Frederick Pitman ( who had been a member of the congregation ) , General Sir John Spurgin , K . C . B ., C . S . I ., Colonel S . B . Bevington , j . P ., Dr . Gray , and Dr . Norman Kerr ,