Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

The Prince of Walesjhas sent a donation of £ 25 payable out of the Duchy of Cornwall Revenues towards the "William Liddon Memorial Fund . " The Sublime Porte has signified to her Majesty's government its approval of the appointment of Sir Philip Currie as Ambassador at Constantinople , in place of Sir Clare Ford , who has been transferred to Rome .

The Duke of York has addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Royal London Yacht Club , of whioh his Royal Highness is Commodore , requesting him to express his thanks to the members for the wedding present of a tea table made by them , and latelv received at York House .

At the monthly nleeting of the Etruscan Lodge , No . 54 6 , Longton , Bro . J . E . Hocken , S . W ., was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year . The installation will take place on the nth January , and a Masonic ball , will be given under the banner of the lodge on the 24 th of the same month .

The Prince of VVales , accompanied by the Duke of York , was present at the annual distribution of beef , on the 23 rd inst ., to the labourers on the Royal Estate at Sandringham . His Royal Highness has also given a donation of £ 100 to the recently formed Devon and Cornwall Miners' Accident Fund .

Brethren are invited to send for the list of Masonic Books published at the office of the Freemason . Many works of interest both to the Masonic student and general reader have recently been added , and the publisher will gladly forward a copy to any address on receipt of a post-card .

On Boxing Day , Bro . Earl Cowper , as Chairman of the Herts County Council and High Bailiff of the Borough of Hertford , formally opened to the public forever the Mill Bridge , in the town of Hertford , which , by the joint action of the Courts and Council and Borough Corporation , has been freed from toll at a cost of £ Soo .

H . M . S . Resolution , which left Plymouth on thc iSth instant to join the Mediterranean Squadron , encountered such a terrific gale in the Bay of Biscay , that she was compelled to put back to Queenstown , where she arrived on the 23 rd instant . The torpedo-catcher Gleaner , which accompanied the Resolution , took shelter in a French port .

The Earl of Denbigh , as Lieut .-Colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company , has made known to the regiment his entire satisfaction at its increased efficiency as shown by the returns of the past year , the per centageof efficients having increased a little over two per cent ., and the musketry efficients from 91 " 5 togG ' oi . The Dockyard Authorities at Sheerness have began the

construction of two gunboats , to be named the Alert and the Torch , which will be of an entirely new typefrom designs furnished by Mr . VV . H . White , C . B ., Chief Naval Constructor , and will be employed on foreign service . It is intended that they shall be ready for commission early in 1895 , and my Lords have sanctioned the expenditure of £ 25 , 000 upon them during the current financial year .

It is satisfactory to learn that the strength of the firstclass Army Reserve is greatly in excess of what it was at the corresponding period of 1 S 92 , there being indeed an increase of fully 5000 , the total number now liable to be called up for service being 79 , 000 , of which G 6 oa are cavalry , 8700 artillery , 2000 engineers , 4 S 00 footguards , and 52 , 000 infantry of the line , the rest being available for the Army Service and Medical Staff Corps .

Bro . J . Rowe has been elected VV . M . of Mount Sinai Lodge , Penzance . EMPIRE THEATRE . —Owing to the prevailing distress , the directors beg to announcea matinee , under distinguished patronage , on the 31 st prox ., for the benefit of the poor women and children of London . In addition to thisa

sub-, scription list will be opened , and all contributions gratefully acknowledged by E . J . Conlon , Esq ., Hon . Sec , Empire Theatre , and lists from time to time will be published in the Press . Many of the leading artists have kindly offered their services for this good cause , and the list of patrons and programmes will be shortly announced .

THE NEW CLOCK AT ST . PAUL ' S . —The ceremony of starling the new clock of St . Paul ' s was performed last week by Miss Alice Gregory , the daughter of Dean Gregory , in the presence of the resident clergy , the choir , and a few visitors . A short dedication service was conducted in the clock tower b y the Dean and the Rev . Canon Newbolt . Shortly before its conclusion , and precisely at twelve o ' clock ,

Miss Gregory pulled a cord and set the clock in motion , the hours being chimed on what is known as Phelps' Bell . The clock was designed by Lord Grimthorpe , who also was the designer of that at St . Stephen ' s . 'The new clock has been made by Messrs . John Smith and Sons , of Derby , and some twelve months were devoted toils manufacture . It is divided into three parts , the main frame being of

castiron and 19 ft . in length . This frame is laid on two wroughtiron girders , 28 ft . long , built into the east and west walls of the south-west tower . The hammer , which strikes on Phelps'bell , weighs 2 cwt ., the pendulum being 15 ft . long and weighing 7 cwt . There are three dials , facing

respectively Ludgate-hill , St . Paul ' s Churchyard , and Cannonstreet . Each dial is 17 ft . in diameter , and the central part of each will be lighted at night . The figures on the dial are 2 ft . yin . in length . 'The minute hand is gft . Gin . long , and the hour hand 5 ft . The clock is the largest in the kingdom .

A OFUNIJ S _ . _ : CII _ ATION , in these days of linnncial unrest , is a rare thing fur people with spare capital to come across . It is , therefore , refreshiuK to know lhat in purchasing a box of Holl 1-way ' s Mills good value- for money can he obtained , they never fail to give instant relief from pain , anil no disease car , long withstand their purifying influence . A few appropriate doses at

the proper period will prevent many a more serious illness . 'lheir primary iciion is upon the Wood , stomach , liver , kidneys , and bowels . Their secondar , action strengthens thc nervous centres . No drug can he so harmless , yet so antagonistic to disorders caused by brain worry . The most perfect reliance may be placed upon their regulating and renovating virtues .

Masonic And General Tidings

On Friday last the new hall which has been presented to the St . Clair Lodge , Dysart , by the Earl . of . Rosslyn , R . W . M ., was inaugurated by iSro . Sir Charles Dalrymple . After the inauguration ceremony a banquet was held in the hall .

"Great Thoughts" for January Gth , 1894 , will contain an article on Walt Whitman , the celebrated American poet , by Dr . R . F . Horton " , and with the same number will be presented an hitherto unpublished portrait of Mr . Gladstone , which will be printed on plate paper .

Freemasons' Calendar and Pdcket-book for the . year 1894 . ( C . Kenning , ifl and IGA , Great Queen-street , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields ) . —This little hook is well stored with matter most useful to Masons tor purposes of reference . A great mass of information , most conveniently arranged , is given in its pages , and it will be found , as in former years , a most useful little book . —Morning Advertiser .

Lord Methuen has made known , the results of the year's class firing in the 44 volunteer corps included in the Home District , the honour of being the best shot being shared between Colour-Sergeant A . W . Lancaster , ist V . B . Royal Fusiliers , and Orderly Room Sergeant W . Giles , 17 th Middlesex Rifles , who w , as best shot in 1892 , with a total score of 221 points , the Best shooting corps being , for the second year in succession , the ist Bucks Rifles , whose figure of merit is 222 . 73 , and for recruits 152 . 97 .

In conveying to Bro . A . B . Hudson their thanks for his services in the chair , the Committee of the Bridge House Estates make use of the following words : " The Committee congratulate their worthy Chairman upon the progress that has been made during his year of office in the

erection of the Tower Bridjje , a work with which he has been connected for the past eight years , and in which he has taken the greatest interest , and they 'join wtth him in the satisfaction he must feel at _ the approaching completion of that great work . "

On Friday , the 22 nd inst ., the members of the Friendship and Zetland Lodges at Cleckheaton entertained the aged people of the town to tea in the Town Hall , in accordance with annual custom . The number present was 10 S , and there are about 30 others who could not attend , but to

whom a Christmas parcel was . sent . After tea the old folks were supplied with fruit , tobacco , & c , and a musical entertainment was given by members of the lodges and Miss Littlewood and Miss Jowett . . Each guest received a parcel on leaving , containing a spice loaf , tea , & c , and a shilling , the gift of Mr . Alfred Law .

" Mallett , " in the Glasgow Evening News says : " A compromise is likely to be effected in the dispute between the Defensive Bank Mark and Chair Lodge , and the Supreme Grand R . A . Chapter of Scotland , on the recommendation from the Supreme Committee that should the Lodge surrender its warrant and cease to work

the Chair Degree , a charter be granted to the numbers to consitute a Royal Arch Chapter , with permission to " exalt , " at a modified fee , for registration and diplomi , such of the members of the lodge as are not Royal Arch Masons . Should the recommendation be approved at the meeting of the Supreme Chapter to-night it will be a very happy solution of a vexed subject .

DRURY LANE THEATRE . —From the following letter which has been sent to the ptess , it will be seen that the expiration of the ground lease of Drury Lane Theatre does not , as has been generally expected , involve the removal of the building . The lease is to be renewed , and the theatre to remain . Sir , —The impression seems to be abroad that " RobinFon Crusoe , " produced last night at Drury Lane Theatre , is not only the last pantomime to be given during

thc present lease , but that the theatre is to come down . I shall therefore be obliged if you will allow me to explain through the medium of your columns that his Grace the Duke of Bedford has kindly agreed to renew my tenancy , and it only remains for certain formalities—such as making plans , & c . —to be carried out before I receive the lease , which I have been officially notified is being prepared . —I am , Sir , yours ohedientlv , —AUGUSTUS HARRIS . —Theatre Royal , Drury-lane , 27 Dec , 1893 .

The usual entertainments for the amusement of the public were forthcoming on Boxing Day , pantomime being in the ascendant at many of the Lor . don theatres , but more especially in the provinces , Old Drury taking the lead with the pantomime of " Robinson Crusoe , " the joint production of Bros . Harry Nicholls and Sir Augustus Harris . The house was crowded from floor to ceiling , and

the delight of the audience , more particularly with thc grand spectacular displays , being _ both heartily and frequently manifested during the evening . " Jack and the Beanstalk " at the Crystal Palace was also deservedly well received , while at Bath , Brighton , Bradford , Sheffield , Edinburgh , Leeds , Bristol , and other leading provincial

towns and cities , thc pantomime fare provided was excellent in its character , and greatly appreciated by the audiences which had the * good fortune to witness them . The principal music-halls and such other places of entertainment as Madame Tussauds , the Egyptian Hall , & c , provided popular programmes , and were well patronised .

One of the greatest attractions at the Chicago Exhibition was the exhibit of the American Ostrich Company , which has recently established farms in California , for the purpose of rearing , as is done in South Africa , ostriches for the cultivation of the feathers . The Chicago exhibit is now en route for this country , having been especially imported by the Royal Aquarium . The birds will number 25 , in age

varying from one to 12 years , every stage of development will , therefore , be seen . As the process of hatching is conducted artifically , the incubators and various appliances which arc actually working will be on view , and can be watched by the visitor . Explanatory lectures will be delivered frequently during the day . It is estimated that the farm was visited at Chicago by upwards of two millions of people . The feathers are found in the ostrich ' s wings ,

there being on each 104 feathers , the under ones white , the others grey . The birds are very savage , one of those in the farm recently killed a man wilh a blow of its feet . These birds are plucked every 10 months , the best feathers being worth from 15 to 20 dollars each . The task of importing them has been extremely difficult and hazardous , the process being to heed each bird when taken on board shin .

Masonic And General Tidings

The Dukeof Fife , K . T ., has kindly cousented to preside at the thirtieth anniversary banquet of the Homes for Little Boys , Farningham and Swanley , at the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole , on Saturday , March 3 rd next .

The Duchess of Albany and her children , the Duke of Albany , and Princess Alice , took part in the annual festival of the Esher National Sunday Schools on Thursday , hec Royal Highness distributing a number of prizes to the scholars . On Thursday the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and

their children drove from Bagshot Mansion in the Queen ' s Sefton-and-four to Windsor Castle and took luncheon at the Palace . Their Royal Highnesses afterwards visited the Albert and St . George ' s Chapels . The Dean of Windsor and Bishop Barry were in attendance .

The Queen and her Grand Ducal Highness Princess Louise of Battenberg drove out on Thursday afternoon , attended by the Dowager Lady Churchill ; and her Majesty went out this ( Friday ) morning , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice and her Grand DucaT Highness Princess Louise of Battenberg .

The new volume of " Helping Words commences with a capital list of writers . The January issue , with which will be given a charming coloured plate , entitled "The Three Graces , " . will have contributions b y Mrs . C . E . C . Weigall , Miss Sarah Doudney , Rev . E . Griffith-Jones , Miss Evelyn Everett-Green , the author of " How to be Happy though Married , " Mrs . Evered Poole , and others .

The Fairfield Lodge , No , 22 9 , on the 22 nd inst . entertained 200 of the poor children of Long Eaton to a capital dinner of roast beef and plum pudding in the new Board School on Sawley-road . After dinner an entertainment of a suitable character was given , including ventriloquists and a company of minstrels . At the close each child was presented with a bag containing a mince pie and an orange .

On Thursday the Bishop of Lichfield dedicated a chancel screen , which has been placed in Patshull Church , near Wolverhampton , to the memory of the late Earl of Dartmouth , his brother . ' The screen is of handsome design , and adds much to the beauty of the church , upon which the late Earl , during the last 20 years , spent nearly £ 60 , 000 . The gift was presented by the Earl of Bradford on behalf of the subscribers .

General his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , commanding the Aldershot Division , has given orders that every facility is to be given to non-commissioned officers and men who wish to be present at divine service on New Year's Eve . Passes are to be granted from tattoo on the 31 st inst . until 1 a . m . on the ist prox . Col . T . Kelly-Kenny on Thursday assumed the duties of Assistant-Adjutant-General at Aldershot .

'Two minutes , one dated December 2 nd and the other December 4 th , 1778 , have , I believe , been discovered in the archives of the Edinburgh Royal Arch Chapter , No . 1 , which would seem to prove that this branch of Masonry was first introduced into Scotland by the . members of Lodge Scoon and Perth . The first minute states that "This day ( December 2 nd , 1778 ) , the compliment of six sundry steps

in Masonry was offered to the office-bearers of St . Stephen's Lodge by sundry of the brethren from the ancient Lodge of Perth and Scoon . . . . " . Thc minute of December 4 th , 177 S , say , " This night being set apart by the brethren of Perth and Scoon Lodge , in order to confer upon the officebearers of St . Stephen ' s Lodge the following degrees of Masonry , viz .: Excellent and Super-Excellent Mason ,

Arch and Royal Arch Masons , and , lastly , Knights of Malta , there was then at that time admitted into the order , Sic . " The discovery , which is due to the exertions of Bro . A . J . Stephenson , P . M . Scoon and Perth , No . 3 , will form a valuable item in the . history of the lodge ( No . 3 ) , at present being prepared by Bro . Crawford Smith . — Mallett .

LAYING THE FOUNDATIO . N-STONS OK A NEW CHUR . —On Wednesday ^ afternoon the foundation-stone of the new church of St . John the Evangelist at Boscombe , Bournemouth , was laid by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . VV . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) , supported by about 250 brethren from all parts of the Province . There had not

been a similar Masonic function since the laying of the foundation-stone of the Peterborough Cathedral , and much interest was therefore taken in the event . Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in the St . George ' s Hall . Thence , after voting 20 guineas to the building fund of the church , the brethren marched in procession to the site of the new church . On arrival there , the brethren opened to

the right and left , forming an avenue for the Provincial Grand Master and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Le Feuvre , to pass through , preceded by the Provincial Grand Standard Bearers and the Provincial Grand Sword Bearer , and followed by the Provincial Grand Officers and brethren . The clergy and Building Committee received the Provincial Grand Master , and conducted

him to the dais . As the procession bassed , the choir sang the Old Hundredth . The Prov . Grand Master having taken his position , the brethren bearing the vessels containing the corn , wine , and oil , together with the mallet and trowel , deposited these on the pedestal placed for their reception . Bro . the Rev . S . A . Selwyn , vicar of St . John's , and formerly vicar of St . James's , Hatcham , addressed the

assembly , and the stone was then laid by Bro . Beach , who afterwards addressed the brethren and' the , general assemblage . The procession subsequently returned to St . George ' s Hall , where Prov . Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Hotel Burlington to lunch , the Prov . Grand Master presiding . The architect of the new church is Bro . C . T . Miles , and the builder is Bro . Nelson Jenkins . The cost will be about £ 14 , 000 , and the

church will accommodate 1100 persons . The site for the church was given by Sir G . Meyrick , and Sjr " Henry Drummond Wolff gave up a lease of a portion ,. of the ground . During the proceedings in Prov . Grand Lodge , the Prov . Grand Master presented a copy of the portrait of himself , which was presented to him by the Masons of the province two years ago , and afterwards exhibited at the Royal Academy .

Twelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent gratis and post free , gives reliable information how to make money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest and lowest prices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., Stockbrokers , 11 , Poultry . London , E . C .