Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

Bro . Sir Edmund Lechmere , P . G . M . Worcestershire , who takes a great interest in the St . John Ambulance Association , has sent us a pamphlet entitled , " First Aid to the Wounded , " which contains a number of authenticated instances of such first aid in numerous cases from certain pupils of the association . The pamphlet is very interesting , and well worth reading-by all who sympathise , as the St . John ' s Society does , with those liable to sudden

accident , and think it not an unworthy object to spread widely a knowledge of the means whereby human suffering in this form can be quickly and efficaciously relieved . —Broad Arrow . It is announced that His Royal Highness Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , K . G ., will take the chair at the annual dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund next year . . Several performances of "Ye Burlesque of

Kenelworth or Ye Oueene and Ye Earle , " have lately been given by the officers and men _ of the Second Battalion Coldstream Guards , at the Star Theatre , Wellington Barracks ( by kind permission of the commanding bfTi er ) , the acting being far superior than usually shewn by amateurs . The music was arranged by , and the band , under the direction of Bro . James Weaver , P . P . G . O . Middlesex .

A Greenock firm of engineers has just secured a contract to supply the whole machinery nece .-sary for a sugar refinery in Hong Kong . _ The contract amounts in value to upwards of £ 50 , 000 , and the new refinery is to be conducted by a purely Chinese firm , who will remove the machinery from this country in vessels sailing under tne Chinese Has " .

Bro . Lewis M . Meyers is to be installed W . M . of the Lodge of Joppa , No . -iSS , at the Albion Hotel , Aldersgate-street , on Monday next . Bro . Fred . H . Cozens , well-known to a large Masonic circle as a musical conductor and vocalist , made his first appearance as a lecturer at Sion College on Thursday , the 29 th inst ., in connection with St . Stephen's

Institute . He was assisted by many well-known artistes , and the choristers from the Temple Church and St . Stephen's , Coleman-street . The entertainment was thoroughly successful , and we hope to give a full report in our next . It is in contemplation by a Committee , formed for the purpose in Broad-street Ward , to present the Lady Mayoress with a marble bust of Bro . the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor . —Citizen .

Bro . R . Pierpoint , the station-master at the London Bridge Station of the London , Brighton , and South Coast Railway Company , was , on Thursday , the 22 nd inst ., presented with a testimonial , consisting of a cheque for £ 320 , in recognition of the esteem in which he is held hy the passengers on the line who have come in contact with him duiing the twenty-two years he has been in thc service

of the company . Mr . Spencer Balfour , M . P ., presided , and was supported by Mr . Cohen , O . C ., M . P . Mr . A . R . Jackson , Hon . Sec . of the Testimonial Fund , read the list of subscribers , amongst whom were Alderman Cotton , M . P . ; Sir Trevor Lawrence , Bart ., M . P . ; Sir Henry Peek , Bart ., M . P . ; Mr . Edward Clarke , Q . C , M . P . ; Mr . Spencer Balfour , M . P . ; the Mayor of Brighton , and the

Mavorof Lewes . , Mr . Cohen , M . P ., in presenting the testimonial and purse , said it gave him great pleasure to go through the duly he was now called upon to perform . During the twenty-two years Mr . Pierpoint had been in the service of the company he had been gaining the esteem ot both the directors and patroniscrs of the line . He was esteemed bv everybody , and ought to be a happy man .

He ( Mr . Cohen ) should always look back with pleasure to this occasion , and , he hoped that testimonial would make Mr . Pierpoint do the same . Bro . Pierpoint said he felt unable to reply after the kind things that had been said of him . He could not sufficiently thank those who had thus shown their appreciation of the manner in which he had performed his duties . Votes of thanks were given to the

chairman and Mr . Cohen , and the proceedings terminated . VY . Bro . Lieut .-Col . the Earl of March , M . P ., S . G . W ., will be installed W . M . of the Union Lodge , No . 3 S , at the Council Chamber , Chichester , on Thursday , January 5 th , 1 SS 2 . Bro . Sir VV . \ V . Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M . Sussex , and the Prov . Grand Officers will be present .

The Fraternity in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania are now thoroughly aroused to the threatened danger from an elevated railroad in proximity to the Masonic Temple at Broad and Filbert-streets . All public-spirited citizens who value the beauty and utility of the new Public Buildings should cordially unite with us in preventing the accomplishircntof thc i-elfish interestsof the Elevated Railroad

Company . The interestsof the Masonic Temple and the Public Buildings coincide , and neither should be sacrificed . But if citizens are willing to sacrifice the Public Buildings , Freemasons are determined to preserve the Masonic Temple from being marred in architectural beauty , and impaired in value and usefulness . —Keystone . CEDARS or I ^ EBAXON * . —Her Majesty ' s Consul-General at Beyrout , G . Jackson Eldridge , has sent an

interesting communication reciting the measures that have been taken by Rustem Pasha , Governor-General of Mount Lebanon , for the preservation of the cedars , together with a copy of thc regulations issued '' for the guidance of future travellers who propose to visit these venerable monuments of antiquity . " The official notice makes known that the Governor-General has caused to be

built round the trees a walled enclosure in charge of a custodian whose duty it will be to see that the regulations are carried out . Visitors of all nationalities will be allowed as heretofore access to the cedars , but will only be permitted to set up tents outride the enclosure , at places specially designed for the purpose . Fires will not be allowed near the trees , the necessity of this rule having

within the last few years been demonstrated by the ' fact that three of tho fa gest cedars have been partially destroyed by fires owing to the carelessness of travellers ' servants . It is further " absolutely forbidden to cut a branch or bough of any sing le tree . " No animals belonging to travellers are to be permitted within the enclosure . The Governor-General expresses a hope that all tourists ¦ * Y . ill sufficiently appreciate the motives of these instructions to assist the authorities in their enforcement .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Alderman Knight , we regret to learn has been obliged to decline the mastership of the Loriners' Company to which he has lately been elected . Bro . Knight's health is still very indifferent , but we hope by next year to hail him as the Master .

A Masonic Ball , under the auspices of the Worshipful Master , P . M . ' s and Oflicers of the Mirfield Lodge , No . 1102 , will be held in the Town Hall , Mirfield , on Friday , the 20 th January , 1 SS 2 . Brethren to appear in fullMasonic clothing . Bros . Horsfall and Bailey's band has been engaged .

Bro . Alderman Notta . f ** e is erecting- a handsome range of Buildings in the Queen Anne style on the King ' sroad , Brighton , at a cost of nearly £ 42 , 000 , the upper portion of fifty-one rooms being for the purposes of a private hotel , while belcw _ arewine stores , seven shops , and various offices .

Lady John Manners suggests the gift of a few stamps to open a Post Office Savings Bank account as a useful Christmas-box . Twelve stamps will start an account . Mr . Grenvil'e Murray , the author of " The

Member for Paris" and other works , and well known as a frequent contributor to the newspaper and periodical press , died at Paris on Tuesday . Mr . Quintin Hogg has purchased the premises formerly known as-the Polytechnic for the Young Men ' s Christian Institute .

The Juvenile Ball will take place at the Mansion House on Heriday , January 13 th . A deputation of the members of the City of London Society of Artists will attend at the Mansion House on Wednesday , January 4 th , to present his bust , which has been executed by Mr . Birch , A . R . A ., to Bro . Alderman Sir Francis Wyatt Truseott , who was the first

president of the society . Mr . B . Quaritch , of Piccadilly , has been b y far the largest purchaser at the sale of the Sunderland Library . His expenditure during the first ten days is said to have amounted to £ 10 , 000 . The current number of the Building News gives an excellent double-page illustration of the Central Institution of the City and Guilds of London Institute for the

Advancement of Technical Education , at Exhibition-road , South Kensington . Messrs . Osier and Co ., of Oxford-street , have completed for the King of Siam a magnificent centrepiece , or decorative plateau of glass $ 6 feet long to run the whole lengtli of a dining table . The effect is said to be that of "a shining river bordered with flowers , " and at intervals rise Moorish temples of glass , within which play fountains of scent .

Mr . J . Grimstead , station-master at the London and South Eastern Railway terminus , Charing-cross , writes that the subscriptions for the widow and family of the late Mr . Young , station-master at Waterloo Junction , who was recently killed while on duty , amount to £ 545 , of which Mr . Abbott , of Cannon-street terminus , received £ 40 , and Mr . Lord , of Waterloo Junction , £ 25 , the remainder being

received at Charing-cross . Her Majesty the Queen , Mr ; Gladstone , Sir William Harcourt , Sir Richard Cross , Lord Derby , Lord Aberdare , Mr . Mundella , and Mr . Dodson have been pleased to accept and thank Mr . George Smith , of Coalville , for his new work , "Canal Adventures by Moonlight , " published by Hodder and Stoughton .

The Vienna Chess Club , in celebration of its twenty-fifth year ' s anniversary , is arranging an International Chess Tournament , to which players from all parts of the globe are invited . The tournament will commence on the ioth of May , 1 SS 2 . Players who wish to

take part in it must give notice to that effect by the 2 nd of May , 1 SS 2 . Alf communications are to be addr essed to the "Committee for the International Chess Tournament , Vienna , I ., Giselastrasse C . " The prizes are as follows : 1 st prize , 5000 frs . ; 2 nd do ., 2000 frs . ; 3 rd do ., 1000 frs . ; 4 th do ., soofrs . ; sth do ., 300 frs . ; Gth do ., 200 frs .

The Loyal Lodge , No . 251 , held its annual meeting at Barnstaple , on Tuesday last , when Bro . J . Giydon was duly installed W . M . for the ensuing year . The oflicers appointed were : Bros . R . P . Morrison , I . P . M . ; G . C . Davie , S . W . ; A . Chanter , J . W . ; H . C . Guppy , Sec . ; J . List , Treas . ; F . VV . Hussey , S . D . ; J . II Seldon , J . D . ; H . Edwards , Org . ; the Rev . T . Russell ,

Chap . ; H . J . Edwards , I . G . ; S . Berry , and C . A . White , Stewards ; A . Bater and H . Hancock , Tylers ; and Bro . Ebsworthy , Supt . of Works . 'The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . f . R . Chanter . 'The banquet was held at Bro . Saxon ' s , Fortescue Hotel , and was attended by several brethren of neighbouring lodges , about thirty in all being present .

LONDON * COTTAGE MISSION * . —The poor children of the East-end of London , who look forward Wednesday after Wednesday throughout thc winter for their welcome dinner of Irish stew at the Mission House of the above Charity , were agreeably surprised on WediieFday last to find , instead of Irish stew , an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum pudding . Nov-, all this costs money ,

as Mr . Walter Austin , the Director of the Miss ' on reminds us , and we make no excuse for asking our readers one and all to contribute their mite to so deserving a cause . Besides , just at present thc new hall of the Mission is being built at a cost of £ 1000 . All our good readers can lend a hand in this case , and get a good return for their money , too , by paving a visit on the nth , 12 th , and 13 th January next to

Ihe bazaar , to be held in aid of the Mission , at Myddelton Hall , Islington , where we hear that some of the most popular vocalists will be engaged . Although winter has not yet shown itself in its bitterest aspect , the amount of misery and want in Eastern London is unfortunately as great as ever , as the appearance of die crowd outside 67 ,

Salmon'slane on Wednesday last amply testified , and there was no mi faking the poor children ' s looks of real hunger . VVe feel in advocating the cause of the London Cottage Mission we arc doing good work , and we trust all those who see this short notice will contribute what they can . Their subscriptions will be thankfully received and _ acknowledged by Miss F . Napton , 304 , Burdett-road , Limehouse , or by Mr . Walter Austin , 44 , Finsbury-pavement , E , C .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Wm . Allsford fvas installed W . M . of the Lodge of Friendship , No . 202 , at Devonport , on Tuesday last . At the last Annual Communication of the District Grand Lodge ol South Austra'ia , it was proposed and carried "That in the opinion of the District Grand Lodge , it is expedient that an officer be appointedcalled the

, District Grand Inspector of Lodges , whose duty it shall be to visit the various lodges in the district , in 01 der to secure the proper working , such officer to report-to the R . W . D . G . M . or his Deputy any cases of irregularity which may come under his notice ; and that the R . W . D . G . M . be requested to appoint such an officer ; and that the reasonable

travelling expenses of such officer be paid out of the Grind Lodge funds ; but the R . W . D . G . M . said that as it did not appear by the Book of Constitutions that he had authority for thc appointment of such officer , be would request the VV . D . G . Secretary to consult the authorities of Grand Lodge before he took action .

The Princess c f Wales has sent through Mr . R . F . Synge ( Foreign Office ) , to King Kalakaua several photographs of herself and the Royal Princes , as a contribution to a bazaar to be held at Honolulu in aid of the building of the cathedral there .

The members of the North London Auxiliary of the Printers' Pension and Almshouse Corporation have for some time had a box for the reception of stray coppers , which are dropped in from time to . time withput being missed . The amount so collected this year was over £ 16 .

which was distributed in gifts to the inmates of the almshouses at Wood Green . This illustrates in a remarkable way the power of the pence , and the example thus set might well be imitated in connection with other benevolent institutions .

The South Australian Benevolent Fund amounts to £ 423 Hs . 3 d-The Savoy Theatre is now entirel y lit with the electric light . Bro . Charles Douglas Stentiford was installed VV . M . of the Brunswick Lodge , No . 159 , at Stonehouse , on Wednesday evening last . We shall give a report in our next .

The "Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , Diary , and Pocket-book for 1 SS 2 " ( London and Liverpool : George Kenning ) has just appeared , and as usual contains a great deal of information useful to the brethren of the mystic tie , As this is the twelfth year of publication , the * -conductors have been enabled to bring the work to a high state of perfection . It is a comprehensive Masonic book of reference , and no Mason should be without a copy . — Liverpool Courier .

The late Chief of the Birmingham Police , Bro . Major Bond , has been appointed by Government to a Commissionership of Police in Ireland at £ 1000 a year . At the monthly meeting of the Dunhev . ; d Lodge , 7 S 9 , on Tuesday last , held at the Masonic Hall , elected Bro . Henry Martin Harvey the W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro James Fidler was re-elected Tyler .

"The oldesf inhabitant" of Folkestone , Mr . Wm . Hills . died a few days ago . He was curator of the Chichester Museum for over forty years , but retired at the age of ninety-one . Mr . Hills was born in 17 S 3 , and consequently reached the patriarchial age of ninety-nine . A despatch has been received frorh the Foreign Office , dated November 14 th , from Mr . Blaine to Mr .

Lowell , expressing the sensibility with which Mrs . Garfield , and the Government and people of the United States , have welcomed the manifestations of regret and sympathy which have been addressed to them from England on the occasion of the death of the late President . In his despatch Mr . Blaine says : " For weeks past each mail has brought to us , from across the ocean , its freight of ten .

der sympathy and heartfelt condolence from all classes in England and the British possessions , to their brethren in the United States , by reason of the sad death of our revered Chief Magistrate , James A . Garfield ; while tho tears of a sister people throughout the world have mingled , in unfeigned grief , with those of the widow and the fatherless in their crushing calamity . The spectacle

has been indeed a touching and memorable one . The tic of our common blood has been signally felt to the farthermost ends of the earth ; and , from the noble womanly thoughtfulness and kinship in the presence of a -Teat sorrow so feelingly shown by Her Majesty the Oueen , to the cry of deep sympathy which has come from the humble

cottage in the green valleys at home or the far-off sheepfolds of the Southern Continent , every tribute bears eloquent testimony to the closeness with which the two nations are united , as members of a common family , with a common history , a common interest , and a common glory of successful achievement in the path of progress . "

The preparations for the Electrical Exhibition at the Crystal Palace are making substantial progress , but there is no prospect of anything like a general opening during the present month . The great lighting companies and firms have got foundations made , and are putting their steam engines in positi-n . The Electric Li ght and ' Power Generator Company , the Maxim , and Weston , Mr . Strode of Pari Rowatt

M . Graveur , s , Messrs . and Fyfe , and Crompton , are well advanced , and might light up in a' few days . The Brush lights are , under the direction of Mr . Hammond , are beginning to make a show ; as also are Messrs . Siemens , M . Lontin , and the SocieteGdneYale d'Electricity 1 he British Electric Li g ht Company , who took one of the gold medals at the Paris Exhibition , where they had ci"ht of their large fine lights , will have twenty-six of t ° eir Brockie at

lamps Sydenham , besides numerous incandescent lights ; and Edison is working actively , and making good speed . The telephone arrangements are also progressing satisfactorily , and there appears to be a good prospect of something to be seen in the early part of January . The Directors have done wisely , however , in not announcing an opening day , as there are numbers of cases as yet unpacked , and further consignments of goods to arrive from Paris .

J . E . Sl-KND & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts and V-Juer ») . Well fermented Old Wines and matured Spirits . a , Albert Manl sions , Victoria Street , London , S , VV .