Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The annual meeting of the Prov . Gr nd Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be held at Portsmouth on Tuesday , gth August . It is expected that an unusual large number of brethren will be present , and in consequence of which the Lecture Hall at the Soldiers ' Institute ( the same hall as thc constitution of the Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar Lodge was held in ) has been engaged . - The R . W * . Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . W . W . B . beach , M . P . ) will preside .

Bro . Baron Henry De Worms , M . P ., received on Tuesday a cheque for a thousand pounds , which has been sent to him from Kimberley , South Africa , by some unknown donor , who wishes the money to be devoted to th ^ purpose of relieving the Jews of Southern Russia , in whose aid a fund is being raised under the auspices of the Auglo-Jewish Association . This fund now amounts to close upon seven thousand pounds .

Bro . Thomas Joseph Adams Williams , Town Clerk , of Monmouth , died at his residence , The Little Castle , Monmouth , on Wednesday , the 20 th inst . A warrant has been granted for a new lodge , to be called the Gallery Lodge , and also to approve of the nomination of Bros . H . Massey , P . M . 619 , as first Master , Harry Bussey , as first Senior Warden , and Thomas

Minstrell , as first Junior Warden . The idea of the lodge originated with Pressmen in the Houses of Legislature , and it will be composed entirely of journalists , being as far as possible limited to " gallery " reporters . This will be the only pure "Press" lodge in the kingdom , and the honour the fact that

of getting the warrant has been enhanced by but this one was issued , although applications were received for warrants from all parts of London . Six Presidents of the United States have been Freemasons , viz : Washington , Tyler , Polk , Pierce , Buchanan , and Garfield .

Bro . His Majesty King Kalakaua has been appointed an honorary member of the Orderof St . Michael and St . George . " Bro . J . VV . Baldwin , P . P . G . P . Middlesex , was installed W . M . of the Lebanon Lodge , No . 1326 , Hampton , on the 16 th inst .

Bro . Dr . Ace was installed M . W . S . of the Mount Calvary Chapter , No . 3 , at 33 , Golden-square , on the Sth inst . INNER TEMPLE .- At the July examination on the subjects in which instruction has been given by the

tutors of the Inn , the Masters of the Bench have awarded pupil scholarships of 100 guineas each to the under-mentioned students : Common Law , Mr . VV . P . Schreiner ; Equity , Mr . W . J . Lee ; Real Property Law , Mr . W . F . Beddoes .

The summer banquet of the St . John of Wapping Lodge , No . 1306 , was held at the Crown Gardens , Broxbourne , on the 20 th inst . The Prince and Princess of Wales honoured Sir Albert Sassoon with their company on Thursday , the 21 st inst ., at his residence in Eastern-terrace , Brighton .

Bro . Dion Boucicault will appear at the Standard Theatre on Monday . Thc house has undergone a thorough renovation . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Fowler , M . P ., was present on Wednesday , the 20 th inst . at Countess Percy ' s reception .

Bro . Philip Saillard , of Aldersgate-street , has been a large buyer during the last few days of landed estates near Horsham , Sussex . Bro . Frank Green , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , has been elected Worshipful Master of the Alliance Lodge , No . 1 S 27 .

The M . W . G . M . M . M . of England , at the recommendation of the P . G . M . Lodge of Tunis and Malta , has chartered a Mark Lodge at Syracuse , in Sicily , bearing the number of 2 S 7 , and called after the D . P . G . M . M . of Malta —the Coffey Lodge . The introduction of Mark Masonry on the Continent of Europe marks another era in the history

of the Degree ; and we believe a warrant will soon be in request at Palermo . It is in contemplation to form Tunis , Malta , and Sicily into a Mark Province , to be designed the District of the Mediterranean . Bro . Coffev has done good work during the unavoidable absence of R . W . Bro . Broadley in England .

Bro . H . A . Isaacs , C . C . ( Master ) presided at a court dinner of the Lonners' Company held at the Star and Garter , Richmond , on . the 19 th inst . Conway Castle , said to be the finest ruin in North Wales , has been given by Sir Thomas Erskine to the Corporation .

Our Portsmouth correspondent sends us some particulars of a circumstance which occurred a few weeks ago , and which has been kept very quiet . It appears that a gentleman was proposed , balloted for , and elected in one of the Portsmouth Lodges . On the night of the initiation the candidate put in an appearance in anything but a nt state to go through the solemn ceremenv . A member 01 tne

lod ge informed the W . M . of the appearance of the pntleman , with the idea that the VV . M . would not initiate '"m , but it was thought the candidate was not too far in a state of intoxication as to undergo the ceremony , and ne was dressed in the usual attire , and taken into the lodge . Everything worked well until the candidate was aoout to bc advanced to the EasK ivWn . wlinr with the

tn ? n room > ancl t ,, e excitement , the candidate had fn 1 V 1 su PP ° ' * l < "d by the Deacons , who were instructed tn m 1 thecand Wate out of the lodge , as he was too drunk hadIm T "'? " ** 1 ar , y of thc ceremony . The declaration he sub « rr 7- tl , e declaration book was torn out , and his talS- " *"'¦ ' returned to him . This gentleman is now ordeilf { , ** e c - ubs about the circumstances , and what make «„„ - . - '" ough . Surely the Grand Lodge will mane some inquiries aW the case .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . the King of the Sandwich Islands honoured the Baroness Burdett-Couttsand Mr . Burdett-Coutts-Bartlett with his presence at dinner on Thursday week at Holly Lodge ; among those present being Colonel Judd , Mr . Armstrong , Mr . Synge , Miss Seymour , Lady Kemball , the Hon . Miss Sydney , " Colonel and Miss Loftus Tottenhnm , Miss Rosman , Mr . and Mrs . Spencer Chapman , and Bro . G . A . Sala .

Bro . J . H . McLeary , Grand Master of Masons of Texas , is the present Attorney General of that State . Hehas lately appointed the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Representative of the Grand Lodge of Texas near the Grand Lodge of England . —Keystone .

Bro . the Duke of Richmond had a narrow escape at Chichester Railway Station on Monday . He was on the point of crossing the line when the Royal train with the Prince and Princess of Wales , who were on their way to Goodwood , ran up , and the Duke was only saved by the promptness of the station master in dragging him back upon the platform .

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex will be held at the Railway Hotel , Feltham , at three o ' clock on Saturday afternoon , the 6 th prox . Bro . 'Alderman Staples has headed thc list of donations towards the fund for a memorial to the Rev . W . C . 1 '" . Webber , late incumbent of St Botolph , Aidersgate . ^

Bro . Alderman David Smith , thc Mayor of Brighton has issued an official memorandum thanking the inhabitants tor the support rendered him on the occasion , and stating that he has received a letter from the private Secretary of the Prince of Wales , expressing the appreciaticn of his Royal Highness at the gratifying reception accorded himself , the Princess of Wales , and the Royal children .

Bro . Alderman Fowler , M . P ., presented the prizes at the Hatcham Schools ( Aske ' s Foundation ) of the Haberdashers' Company , on Monday last . Bro . General Sir Frederick and Lad y Roberts attended on Wednesda } -, the 20 th inst ., at a bazaar held at Portsmouth in connection with the Soldiers' Institute established there .

Bro . E . Dresser-Rogers , C . C ., has been added to the arbitrators of the United Wards Building Society . Bro . Sir Thomas Brassey , M . P ., K . C . B ., one of the Lords of the Admiralty , distributed the prizes to the successful students at the Royal Naval School , New Cross , on Wednesday last .

Bro . Lord Lei gh , the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire , distributed the prizes on Wednesday at Leamington Coll ege . , Bro . G . A . Sala ( " Echoes of the Week '" ' ) , in the Illustrated London Ne-. us , says that the Journalist " is

compelled ^ systematically to break the Sabbath , because people insist on having newspapers on Monday morning . " Bro . Lord Henniker presided at the opening of the new Museum at Ipswich , on Wednesday . Bro . Justice Cave will bc one of the Long Vacation judges .

Bro . Robert Whitfield , of Gateshead , will read a paper on "How to make Mechanics' Institutes most useful and attractive to working lads between thirteen and twenty-one ; " and Bro . William Brewis Elsdon , of Gateshead , on "The Progress of Education , " at the annua ! meeting of delegates of the Northern Union of Mechanics ' Institutions , to be held under the auspices of the Cambois Mechanics Institution in the Primitive Methodist Chapel , Cambois , near Blyth .

The Meridian Lodge , No . 1469 , Cradock , entertained the Officers of the District Grand Lodge , Eastern Division , South Africa , at the Victoria Hotel , Cradock , on the ioth ult . Comp . Edward Letchworth , P . Z . 1237 , will propose at the meeting of Grand Chapter on Wednesday next , that the Committee of General Purposes meet at four o ' clock instead of three as heretofore .

A vote of condolence was unanimously passed to the widow of thc late Bro . Warner Sleigh , at an emergency meetingof the Kennington , Lodge , in which he was initiated , on the 19 th inst . Bro . T . B . Whytehead was presented with a set of Grand Mark Lodge clothing and jewels , and an illuminated address , by the members of the York Mark Lodge , on the 19 th inst .

Bro . Slade was installed W . M ., for the second time , of the Lodge of Unity , No . 267 , MacclesfieM , at tVie last meeting of that lodge . Bro . Henry Hartley was installed W . M . oi the Duke of Lancaster Lodge , No . 1553 , Lancastei , on the 20 th inst .

It is proposed to form a new Provincial Mark Lodge for N . and E . Yorkshire , and a meeting of delegates will take place on August 3 rd for the purpose of memorialising Grand Lodge and for deciding upon a brother to be nominated for the office of first Provincial Grand Master .

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has written to the Secretary of the Mais training ship that he intends to visit Dundee next month , to inspect the Mars , which has 400 boys on board training for the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine .

Bro . Dr . James A . Henderson , Q . C , Grand Master of Canada , laid the corner-stone " of the Presbyterian Church , at Clark ' s Mills , in thc county of Lennox and Addington , Canada , on the 16 th ult . No less than 3670 vessels , registering 1 , 065 , 629 tons , cleared from Sunderland port during the half-year ending June 20 th last , the port tonnage dues of which amounted to £ 10 , 112 Ss .

Masonic And General Tidings.

We understand that the Freemasons of York intend to give a fraternal reception to the Masonic members of the British Association on the occasion of the Jubilee meeting , which will be held in that city at the end of next month .

Bro . W . C . Malthouse , C . C , was unanimously elected W . M . at the meeting of the West Smithfield Lodge , No . 1 G 23 , on the 21 st inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . THE CITY OF LONDON COLLEGE . —A meeting in connection with the Building Fund of the proposed new City of London College , presided over bythe Lord Mayor , took place a few days ago in the Egyptian Hall of the

Mansion House , and was numerously attended by most of the well-known advocates for the advancement of knowledge and education , who were unanimous in their opinions as to the inadequacy of the accommodation for the requirements of the College , and several resolutions were passed

for the erection of a suitable building , capable of affording tho required accommodation . It was announced that a sum of £ 6000 had been received towards the Building Fund . A vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor for his kindness in presiding and granting the use of the Egyptian Hall terminated the meeting .

A scheme for the improvement of Billingsgate-Market has been suggested by Mr . W . E . Heath , of 23 , Camden-road , and has been published by Mr . S . Clark , Paternoster-row . It involves a viaduct from Eastcheap to the market , the upper part of which it is proposed to remove , and to form upon the internal columns a flooring

or roadway over the entire area , pierced with staircases and wells for hydraulic lifts , which would take ordinary packages , and others for loaded vans and carts ; a bridge or viaduct would be thrown over Lower Thames-street , at the western end of the market . Plans accompany the scheme . . —City Press .

Wc regret to announce that owing to an attack of paralysis our venerable Bro . Jos . Nicholson , P . M . 151 , and P . P . G . S . W . of Mark Master Masons of the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland , was unable to- be installed Deputy Provincial Grand Master , as had been arranged on Tuesday last . Particulars of the meeting will be found in another portion of the Freemason .

A NEW KNIGHT . —The honour of knighthood is to be conferred on Mr . J . A . Picton , F . S . A ., a Justice of the Peace for Liverpool , and an old member of the Town Council of that city . By profession an architect , he is best known to the public as the author of the "Annals of

Liverpool" and various philosophical and other papers . Out of compliment to Mr . Picton's literary services the Picton Reading Room opened in Liverpool some time ago was called after him , and his long services in the Town Council has , in the eyes of his party , given him a fair claim to the mayoralty , with an aldermanship .

Miss Philhmore , daughter of the Right Hon . Sir Robert Phillimore , is writing a life of Sir Christopher Wren , to be published in October by Messrs . Kegan , Paul , and Co . Bro . Henry Wright , of the Alliance Lodge , and Honorary Secretary of the City Church and Churchyard Protection Society , has helped her with that portion relating to the City churches , most of which were built by Sir C . Wren . He is now occupied with gathering information respecting Sir C . Wren as a Freemason .

It is an interesting fact , as indicating the value of land , that an auction held at Henstridge on the 22 nd inst . by Messrs . Chinnock , Galsworthy , and Chinnock , the total quantity of land offered being 104 a . or . Sp ., with a rental of £ 220 , the whole realised the sum of £ 6910 , being thirty-one years' purchase , or £ 66 per acre .

We regret to have to announce the death of Mr . Neilson , one of thc oldest members of the English Press , which event took place on Wednesday . He was for nearly forty years the chief of the reporting staff of the Times The great accuracy of his reports , and the intelligence and judgment which always characterised them , led to

frequent requests that he should be employed on special occasions when important addresses were to be made , political or otherwise . Sir Robert . Peel and successive Prime Ministers and members of the Cabinet from his time to the present were often glad to obtain in this way the services of Mr . Neilson .

there has just been purchased for the British Museum a collection of Biblical and other Oriental manuscripts , which are of the utmost importance to the criticism and exegesis of the Old Testament . The collection , which was made in South Arabia , consists of forty manuscripts . Fifteen of these are portions of the Hebrew Scriptures , and two are probably the oldest which have as yet come to

light of the old 1 estament Scriptures . A third , which contains the Hagiographs , exhibits a recension of the Hebrew text , the other tivo portions of which are already in the Museum , thus completing the whole Hebrew ^ Bible . The remaining twenty-five manuscripts are Midcashim , or homiletic commentaries and liturgies . The Reserve Squadron , under the command of

the Duke of Edinburgh , which has just returned from the Baltic , and which on the previous evening left Leith Roads , on Wednesday appeared off Scarborough about noon , and was in sight for about two hours . The squadron came near to the shore , and thousands of persons crowded the cliffs to watch the vessels till they were out of sight . The squadron was under canvas , and proceeded southward without communicating with the shore .

I he Trustees of the late Mr . Batty have just handed to the Secretary of the City Orthop .-cdic Hospital a donation of £ 1070 in aid of the funds of that hospital . ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS . —The additions to these gardens during the past week include a red-handed tamarin from Surinan , presented by Mr . Keiser ; an American black bear from Nova Scotia , presented by the Earl of

Caledon , F . / S . S ., and the Hon . Charles Alexander ; two "rey ichneumons from India , presented respectively by Mr . C . R . Smith and Mr . C . Hassell ; a common raven , British , presented by Major Botts ; a carrion crow , European , presented by Miss Mortimer ; a Sykes monkey , three vulturine guinea foul , from East Africa , deposited ; three common pea-foul , two cheer pheasants , two horned tragopans , and a Siawese . pheasant , bred in the gardens .