Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . J . C . PARKINSON has left England for a tour through Ind . a . BRO . THOMAS . MURRAY J ANFS has been elected the Renter Warden < -f the Painters ' Ctmpany . THE PROVINCIAL CRANIO LODCF . CA . vnRiur . F . siiiRH will be held at Camhiidgeon Monday , the 23 rd prox ., under the auspices of the Isaac Newton University Ledge . TllR OlllEMwill leave Balmoral for Windsor Castle on the ; tli or 14 th of next month , and on the iSth December will go to spend Christmas at Osborne , and remain there for about two months .

THE 3 STH anniversary banquet of the Warrant Holders to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales will take place at the Hfitel Mctropale on Monday , the <) th proximo , when Bro . Major Heibert Lambert , V . D ., will preside . H . R . H . THP PRINCESS OF WALKS has forwarded a donation of £ 20 in aid of the Extension and Improvement Fund of Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital , Marylehoneroad , of which her Royal Highness is a Vice-Patron . MESSRS . GOWANS AND GRAY , Glasgow , and Messrs . S . VV . Partridge andCo ., London , will issue immediately a new handy-sized illustrated Bible , containing 135 views , from photographs of the Holy Land . The prices will be 3 s ., 4 s . Gd ., and 6 s . net .

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL Southwark and Lambeth Free Loan Picture Exhibition a ' Red Cross-street , Southwark , was opened by the Bishop of Rochester , on Saturday afternoon last . Among those who have lent oil paintings are her Majesty the Queen and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales .

A LIFEBOAT SATURDAY demonstration was held for the first time in Coventry , on Saturday last , when a most enthusiastic reception was given to a crew from West Hartlepool , who manned a cyclist lifeboat . The various trade benefit and philanthrcp ' c societies , took part in the demonstration . THE SECOND-CLASS CRUISER Diana , which was built by the Faiifield Shipbuilding Company , of Glasgow , returned to Chatham on Saturday last after successfully completing her official trials , at which she attained a mean speed of 19 . 72 knots per hour under natural draught and 20 . 16 knots under forced draught .

TO-MORROW ( Saturday ) the Commander-in-Chief , Bro . Lord Wolseley , will open the newly-erected Head-quarters and Drill Hall of the Tower Hamlets Royal Engineers ( Volunteers ) in Victoria Park-square . His lordship will arrive at 6 . 30 p . m ., and will be accompanied by Bro . Lord Methuen , Sir Francis Gienfell , General Salmond , and other officers .

THE EXECUTORS of the late Bro . Sir Augustus Harrris have made arrangements for the fancy dress balls to commence at Covent Garden Theatre about the iSth prox . They will be on exactly the same magnificent scale as hitherto , and the ballroom will represent Canton en fe ' te . Mr . Btuce Smith , the celebrated scenic artist , is now busy on the work .

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY announce that , following the policy which they adopted some time ago of providing pillows for the convenience of passengers in the night trains , they have now decided to further add to that convenience by supplying rugs to passengers during the cold weather at a nominal charge of sixpence each . The arrangement will come into force at St . Pancras on November 2 nd .

A TRIAL WAS MADE on the Horse Guards Parade , Whitehall , on Saturday last , of one of the London Electric Omnibus Company's carriages . The vehicle ran very smoothly and the vibration was practically nil . As soon as the Horseless Carriages Act comes into force , which will be next month , the company will run several of their omnibuses between Liverpcol street and Hammersmith , and on other lines .

THE LYCEUM THEATRE was filled from floor to ioof on Saturday afternoon last , with an enthusiastic audience assembled to witness Bro . John Hare ' s impersonation of Eccles in the play ot "Caste . " The theatre had been lent for the purpose by Bro . Sir H . Irving , and at the close Bro . Hare delivered a biief speech of farewell for a time , and expressed his great acknowledgments to the audience for their reception .

THE DIRECTORS of the Crystal Palace have decided to give a short series of the Saturday Classical Concerts after Christmas , commencing on the last Saturday in Ftbiuary , after the close of Wulff ' s Ciicus , and terminating with Mr . Mann's annual benefit concert on March 27 th . In April a longer series of popular Saturday ^ afternoon vecal and instrumental conceits will be cemmenced , also under the direction of Mr . August Manns .

PRINCESS LOUISE , MARCHIONESS OF LORNE , who was accompanied by the Marquis of Lorne , distributed the prizes at the Royal School forDiughters of Naval and Marine Officers , at St . Margaret ' s , Isleworth , on Siturday last . The house in which the school is located formerly belonged to the Kilmorey family , and the Cirenony took place in the spacicus entrance hall , a vote cf thanks to her Royal Highness terminating the proceedings .

THIS BEING THE J ubilee year of the National Chrysanthemum Society , it will celebrate its 50 th show with a remarkable display of the rarest chrysanthemums , and an exhibition of magnificent fruits , vegetables , and flowers from all parts of the Empire . Two enormous floral shows of two days each , to be held at the Royal Aquarium , and to continue on the 3 rd and 5 th of November . A sight never previously witnessed , and may , perhaps , never be seen again .

IN THE LIFE of Bro . Archbishop Magee , just published , appears , amongst many other extremely interesting letters , one written to Bro . Major Henry Wright , P . VI . 1 S 27 , under the heading of " Christian Socialism , " and apropos of a sernvon preached at the Chapel Royal St . James ' s Palace in 1 S 89 . In another letter , Bro . the ( then ) Bishop of Peterborough alludes to the presence of Mr . and Mrs . Gladstone at that sermon , and he adds lhat Mr . Gladstone should not have looked so " venomous , considering the good instruction he then gave him . "

SEVERN END MANSION , near Malvern , the historic abode of the Lechmere family , was discovered to be on fire on Saturday morning last , and in spite of all the effjits that were made to tubjugate it , the building with its valuable collection of manuscripts and family relics was totally destroyed . It was an interesting specimen of a timbergroined house , its internal work of embossed ceilings and oak panelling dating back to the rtign of Henry VII ., and being in an excellent state of preservation . The place was given lo Ihe Lechmere family at Ihe time of the Cor qui st .

THE TRIENNIAL HANDEL FESTIVAL will take place at the Crystal Palace next June , and the directors on Wednesday definitely settled the list of the chief artistes engaged . The sopranos are Mesdames Albani , Ella Ru-sell , Clara Samuell , and Nordici ; and the contraltos Madame Marion McKenzie , and Miss Clara Butt . Mr . Lloyd is the only tenor , and Messrs . Santley and Andrew Black are the baritones . Mr . Walter Hedgcock will play an organ concerto , and Mr . Manns will conduct a hand and chorus of 3500 performers . The public rehearsal will take place on June 11 , '' Messiah , June 14 , the "Selection" June 16 , and " Israel in Egypt" June 18 .

BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING laid the foundation-stone of the new library which is about to be elected in Lordship-lane , Dulwich , at tbe corner of Woodwarde-road , at an estimated cost of £ 5834 , the site having been given by the Estates Governors of Dulwich College , while Bio . J . Passmore Edwards has munificently contributed £ 5000 towards the building fund . At Bro . Edwards ' s wish the library will remain always as a memorial

of Edward Alleyn , the Elizabethan actor , and founder of Dulwich College . Among those present at the ceremony were Miss Ellen Terry , Bro . Sir Edward Llarke , Q . C , M . P ., Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , M . P ., and Lady Maple , the Committee of Public Libraries and Museums , and many of the leading inhabitants of Dulwich and the neighbourhood .

EXTRACT FROM A LECTURE ON " FOODS , " ISY DR . ANDREW WILSON . — "The consumption of cocca happily increases year by year . I say * happily , ' because , as tea and coffee are not loods , while cocoa is a true food , any increase in the national nutiiticn means an increase in the national prosperity . Winter , besides , is close upon us , and 1 advise those who are susceptible to colds to fortify themselves against chill by attention to their food . The easiest way of effecting this end for many is to substitute cocoa ( Epps ' s being Ihe most nutritious ) for tea and coffee , "

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE MERCERS' COMPANY has sent a denationjof 100 guinras towards ^ the funds of the Additional Curates' Society . THE HERTS COUNTY COUNCIL held a meeting on Monday , when Bro * Earl Cowper , the Chaiiman , moved a resolution complimenting the Lord Mayor elect on his appointment . THE BRITISH WARSHIPS , Trafalgar , Hood , Hawke , Nib , Collingwood , and Astr . ra arrived at Athens early in the week under the command of Rear-Admiral Hawes , and will remain till further orders .

WE HFAK ON AOTHUKITY that Bro . Alderman Walter Vaughan Morgan , 1 \ M . ( Treasurer of Christs' Hospital ) , will be nominated al the December Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge for the office of Grand Treasurer for 1 S 97 . AMONG THOSE WHO sent wreaths to the funeral of thelateSir Albert Sassoon , at Brighton , on Tuesday , were Baron Rothschild , Lady Augustus Hervey , and Lord Battel , sea , while H . R . H . the Prince of Wales sent a letter of condolence .

LADY GERARD , who recently had a fall and sustained a fracture of the collar-bone , when hunting with the Quorn at Lodge-on-the-Wolds , is progressing satisfactorily , but it will be some time before her ladyship will be again able to take part in the chase . THE CONSECRATION of the Lewisham Lodge of Instruction will take place on Wednesday , December 9 th , at the Parish Hall , when Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I ., has kindly promised to work the ceremony of consecration and installation at 6 . 30 .

THE INAUGURAL BANOUET took place in the Masonic Hall of theTrocadero Restaurant on Thursday , the 22 nd instant , which has been fitted up by Messrs , George Kenning and Son with every convenience for the use of the lodges dining at the restaurant—City Press . THE BISHOP OF LONDON has been translated to the Archiepiscopal see of Canterbury , and to-morrow ( Saturday ) afternoon will open the Pepys House Mission Hall and Club , which has recently been erec' . ed in Rochester-row , Westminster , by the munificence of the Baroness Burdett Coutts .

THE AGENT-GENERAL for Western Australia has received a telegram from the Colonial Treasurer to the effectthat the revenue of the Colony for the 12 months ended the 31 st September , 1 S 9 6 , was £ 7 , 22 . 2 , 021 , as compared with £ 1 , 235 , 904 for the previous year , the increase being £ 986 , 117 . THE KING AND Q UEEN OF ITALY gave a grand banquet to the Diplomatic body at the Palace of the Quirinal in Rome on Monday in connection with the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Naples , who were present , while on Tuesday there was a grand review of some 20 , 000 troops of all arms in Rome in honour of the same event .

MR . MCCONNELL and Bro . Loveland Loveland , Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively of the Quarter Sessions for the County of London , have accepted the invitation of the members of the Middlesex Sessions Bar to dine with them at the Trccadero Restaurant , to-morrow ( Saturday ) , in celebration of their recent appointment to those offices .

AT THE RECENT show of the Royal Horticultural Society at the Drill Hall , Westminster , the Queen contributed a beautiful exhibit consisting of a large group of winter flowering zonal pelargoniums from Windsor , to which a silver Banksian Medal was awarded . A silver-gilt Banksian medal was also awarded to Bro . Earl Percy , who exhibited , in addition to several dishes of apples and pears , a handsome group of crotons .

ON HIS RETIREMENT from the office of Lord Mayor of Liverpool , Bro . the Earl of Derby has received a unanimous vote of thanks from the City Council for his services , the speakers , in moving , seconding , and supporting the vote , declaring that Liverpool had never had so good a Mayor before . His lordship has also returned the £ 2000 , the emoluments of his office , with the suggestion that the sum should be devoted to local charities .

IN OUK REPORT of the installation meeting of the Lewisham Lodge , No . 2579 , we omitted to mention that Bro . Edward Hall , Secretary of tt . e lodge , was the recipient of a very handsome gold-mounted umbrella , presented by the first W . M ., Bro . Christoper Sims , at the banquet held subsequent to the meeting . A letter was also read from Bro . Sir Ma tthew White Ridley ( on behalf of her Majesty the Queen ) expressing her thanks for the resolution of congratulation sent by the brethren of the Lewisham Lodge .

THE PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN visited Brighton on Tuesday , for the purpose of opening a bazaar and sale of work at ths Royal Pavilion in aid of the Albion Hill Home tor the ieclamation of young women . Her Royal Highness having lunched with Bro . Gerald Loder , M . P ., and the Lady Louis : Lode ' , drove to tne Pavilion , where she declared the baziar open , and made the round of the stalls . Subsequently she visited the Police Seaside Home at Hove and St . Mary ' s Hill , a school for clergymen's daughters , at King ' s Town , and , after partaking of tea , attended a concert in the schoolroom .

THE LORD MAYOR ELECT , Alderman George FaudeLPhillips , attended with the Sheriffs and City officials at the House of Lords on Mondiy for the purpose of receiving from the Lord Chancellor ( 8 ro . Lord HaLbury ) an intimation of the tjueen ' s approval of his appointment as Chiet Magistrate of the City of London . In conveying this approval , Bro . Lord Halsbury was pleased to congratulate the Alderman , and laid particular stress upon the fact that the late Sir Benjamin Pnillips , father of the Lord Mayor elect , had filled the same office some 30 years ago .

THE EARL OF MBATH , in the unavoidable absence through indisposition of the Countess of Meath , opened a three days' bazaar in the Parish Room of St . Matthew ' s , Wandsworth-road , Stoke Newington , on Monday . There was a large attendance , and , in the course of his address , the vicar stated that the object of the bazaar was the enlargement and improvement of the school buildings . It was hoped to provide additional accommodation for at least 179 children . This would cost about £ 1000 , and i , 6 oo , including ^ 50 from the Marquis of Salisbury , had already been collected .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . PASSMORE EDWARDS . —Bro . J . Passmore Edwards , of London , has been presented with the honorary freedom of the borough of Liskeard , in recognition of his gift of a cottage hospital and free library to the town . The Mayor ( Mr . W . H . Stanton ) piesented to Bro . Edwards the certificate of freedom , which was enclosed in a solid silver casket ( gilded ) , and spoke in eulogistic terms of that brother's many generous gifts to his native county of Cornwall . Bro . Passmore Edwards afterwards opened the free library , a handsome building in the centre of the town , which has cost about £ 2000 . The cottage hospital was completed and presented in April last . Bro . Passmore Edwards is thus the first honorary freeman ever elected for L'skeard .

"I DREAMT THAT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS" will be the pleasing fancy to every one who first crosses the threshold of the gorgeous 1 ' rocadero Restaurant , which now holds such a proud and enviable position in the " New London " starting into life round and about Piccadilly Circus . But instead of the " vassals and serfs " of the old song we shall find a warm and hospitable welcome from the courteous and spirited proprietors , Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , and the proverbial attention and peisonal cumlort ever extended to the public by these well-known caterers and

restaurateurs . The basement floor is devoted to the grill room , with the buffet , smoking , reading , and billiard rooms . The entrance floor is occupied by the grand restaurant , with its golden minstrel and great gallery in the style of Louis Quatorze , and attached to the gold hall and gallery is a splendid adjacent saloon in the style of Louis Quinze . Small but deliriously cosy dining rooms surround these splendid public rooms . The first floor of the new 1 ' rocadtro is another welcome surprise , consisting as it does of a

ball room , a banqueting hall in the Empire period—a most admirable reproduction—and an ante-room in the style of Louis T reize . On the gallery level , at the top of the grand staircase , will be found a reception room , again in tne style of Louis Trcize ; a magnificent Masonic lodge in the period of Francois Premier , with , of course , the necessary ante-rooms for the comfort and convenience of the brethren of the Craft . Full particulars can be had on application at the Trocadero , Piccadilly Circus . MARRIAGE .

LIGHT—EVERETT . —On the 29 th instant , at St . James ' s , Piccadilly , by the Rev . F . W . Parkes , M . A ., Edward Fall Light , ot Kensington , to Alberta Charlotte , third daughter of Bro . George Everett , P . G , Treas ., of " Claremont , " Clapham .