Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic And General Tidings .

Through the kindness of Bro . James R . Perfect , the proprietor and manager of the Parkhurst Theatre , the whole of the boys of our Masonic School will be enabled to witness the performance of the pantomimeof "Aladdin , " on Monday afternoon next , ? th inst .

Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall will preside at the annual meeting of the Newsvendors' Benevolent and Provident Institution , to be held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Tuesday , when three pensioners will be elected . The twenty-sixth annual dinner of the Goldsmiths' and Jewellers' Annuity and Asylum Institution will take place at the First Avenue Hotel , Holborn , on Wednesday . 2 Sth inst ., Col . Howard Vincent , C . B ., M . P ., will preside .

A dramatic performance of " Hamlet" was given in St . George's Hall , Regent-street , on Tuesday , by Mr . E . Glossop Sach , assisted by the Shakespeare Reading Society , in aid of the funds of the Home of Rest for Horses . It has been arranged that the Royal Military Tournament for the present year shall be held , as usual , at the Royal Agricultural Hall , Islington , the period chosen for this

popular gathering being from the 31 st May to the 14 th June . Bro . W . Kuhe , P . G . Org ., announces that he will give an English Ballad Concert in the Dome , Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Tuesday next , the Cth instant . Among the artistes will be found Mdlle . Antoinette Trebelli , Mr . Santley , Miss Fanny Davies ( solo pianoforte ) , and Lady

Halle ( Matlame Nerude ) , solo violin . Under the auspices of the brethren of Bangor and the district , a Masonic Charity Ball will be held at the George Hotel , near that city , on Monday next . The movement is under distinguished Masonic patronage , and members will appear in Masonic clothing , while the military will attend in their respective uniforms . It promises to be a bri'Iiant affair .

Mr . Cecil Rhodes has promised that if the patrol party under Colonel Gould-Adams , which has gone out to seek for the bodies of Major Wilson ' s party is successful in finding them he will bear the cost of conveying the remains to Zimbabye , as well as of their burial and the erection to their memory of a monument .

At the meeting of the London County Council on Tuesday , its Finance Committee recommended that a sum of £ 57 , , receivable under the Local Taxation Act , should be applied during the year ending 31 st March , 1 S 05 , to the purposes of technical education , and , after much discussion , the recommendation was adopted .

On the occasion of the installition meeting of the Perseverance Lodge , No . 213 at Norwich , a handsome enlarged portrait of the retiring W . M ., Bro . Caleb Rust , was presented to him through Bro . T . C . R . King , P . M ., Treasurer of the lodge , by Bro . II . Sexton . Many influential brethren were present to testify their appreciation of the interesting event .

Bro . T . VV . Tew , P . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire , on the 25 th ult ., laid the foundation-stone of new buildings which are being erected in Ropegate , Pontefract , for the brethren of the St . Oswald Lodge . The buildings will be of modern classical structure , of red brick , with terra-cotta panelling ,

and stone facings . There will be a caretaker ' s house adjoining the whole work , costing £ 1000 , apart from the price of the site . Bro . J . II . Greaves , J . W ., is the architect . After the ceremony the members of the Craft and brethren from other lodges were entertained at a banquet by Bro . Tew , P . P . G . M ., at the Elephant Hotel .

A WORD AP . OUT KID GLOVES . —These gcod < , at first glance , seem easy enough of acquisition , but there is the mistake ! Real kid , or goat skin , is not abundant in the market , especially in the manufactured state , and yet how wide the difference between it and " sheep skin "—the ordinary article of commerce . To appreciators of the real thing we can cordially recommend Bro . A . Jugla , of 24 ,

Coventry-street , all of whose kid gloves are warranted genuine , and , moreover , are manufactured on the London premises , so that in his instance there is but one profit between the maker and the purchaser . OLD MASOXIANS .- —On Friday , the 2 Gth u ' t ., the Oil Masonians held another of their pleasant evenings at Anderton ' s Hotel , and a very fair company assembled . An

excellent programme , under the direction of Mr . R . E . Barnes ( who took the chair ) , was presented . The following is a list of the artistes : Messrs . C . Bond , VV . J . Packer , and C . P . O'Doherty ( sentimental ); Messrs . Harry Hawkes , Alf . Rogers , Arthur Melrose , and C . A . Coules

( comic ); Bro . K . H . Williams ( re-citation ; . Mr . J . E . Fisher presided at the piano . Mr . Ellis Stanyon kept the audience much interested and amused for upwards of halfan-hour by his marvellous sleight of hand feats , which were warmly applauded . A vote of thanks to the chairman brought to a close a very enjoyable evening .

The mortal remains of the late Sir Gerald Portal were interred in the mortuary chapel at Laverstoke , near Overton , Hants , on Tuesday . Wreaths were sent by thc Prince of Wales—" as a mark of sincere regard and admiration " —the Earl of Rose-bery , the Duke of Norfolk , Bro . the Duke of Abercorn , Bro . Lord Frederick Hamilton , M . P ., Bro . Sir Algernon and Lady Borthwick , Bro . Sir E . Lawson ,

Sir I'rancis Grenfell—on behalf of the English officers of the Egyptian Army—Bro . and Mrs . Wyndham S . Porta ) , and many other friends and admirers of the deceased ; while among those who attended the funeral were Lady AlcejIPortai ( the widow ) , Lady Edmund Portal ( her

sister ) , Mr . Melville Portal ( the father of the deceased ) , Bro . the Hon . Evelyn Hubbard , Bro . Wyndham S . Portal , Miss Portal , and Miss K . Portal , and other members of the Portal family . 'The service was conducted by the Bishop of Winchester , assisted by the Rev . Canon Awdry and the Rev . C . P . Berryman .

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

Masonic And General Tidings.

We are glad to hear that fhe condition of Bro . Earl Cowper , who has been suffering from a severe attack of ffout , has greatly improved of late , though it will be some time before his lordship will be able to leave his room . Arrangements have been made by which thc Oxford and Cambridge Athletic Sports will be held at the Queen ' s Club . West Kensington , on the 17 th March , the day fixed for the Inter-University Boat Race .

The condition of the Czar of Russia , which was reported in the early part of the week be be extremely critical , has since greatly improved , and though the bronchitis remains , his Majesty ' s state is nearly normal . The Duke ' of Connaueht commanding the troops at Aldershot has been granted leave of absence during the present month , the command during this period devolving upon i \ Ljor-GeneraI Gregorie , commanding the 1 st Infantry Brigade .

On Monday next the Duke and Duchess of Teck will honour with their presence a dramatic entertainment which will be given at the Star and Garter Hotel , Richmond , in aid of the Woolwich Branch of the Soldiers' Institute , and another charity .

By direction of the Princess of Wales , a sum of £ 1 ) is . Sd ., being a further donation from the proceeds of the sale of Canon Fleming ' s sermon— " Recognition in Eternity , " has been forwarded to the Secretary of the British Home for Incurables .

Thanks to a generous gift of £ 5000 on the part of Mr . J . Passmore Edwards , the National Society for the Employment . of Epileptics , which was formally inaugurated at a meeting held last year at the Mansion House , his beer , enabled to open its first colony , a farm having b » en purchased at Challont St . Peter ' s , Bucks .

On Wednesday night , the 24 th ult ., the annual ball under the auspices of the . Constance Leidge , No . 2135 , was held in the Town Hall , Consett . As usual , there was a brilliant and select assembly , the attendance , however , not being so large as on some foimer occasions . The hall had been very prettily decorated . Dancing commenced shortly after eight o ' clock to the strains of Mr . Smith's Military bind .

The Gazette of Tuesday evening contained an announcement to the effect that her Majesty the Queen in Council had been pleased to give her consent to the contract of marriage between her grandchildren , the Grand Duke of Hesse Darmstadt , and the Princess Victoria Alelita , second daughterof the Duke and Duchesssof Edinburgh ( Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha ) .

The Registrar-General ' s returns for last week show a sitisfactory decrease in the maladies which have latterly caused so much mortality in London . The deaths of only nine persons from scarlet fever and 41 from influenza were recorded , whilst the general death-rate for the Metropolis has fallen 20 / 5 a fortnight sirce to 23- 7 the previous week , and then to nyS . The mortality in Brighton is returned at 22 'S per 1000 , and in Croyelon at 177 .

The Earl of Elgin , the new Viceroy of India , was formally installed in office at Government House , Calcutta , on Saturday last , and immediately afterwards the Marquis of Lansdowne , the ex-Viceroy , left Calcutta on board the Warren Hastings . He was accompanied to the place of embarking by Lord Elgin , and the streets through which he passed were lined with troops , while the European and

native population who had assembled along the line of route were very enthusiastic in their farewell cheers . Her Majesty the Queen held a Council at Osborne on Monday , when Sir William Harcourt , M . P ., acting as L-. rd President ; Bro . the Marquis ot Brcadalbane , Lord

S : eward ; General Sir Henry Ponsonbyar . d Major-General Sir John Cowell attended , and Sir Philip Curne , G . C . B ., her Majesty's newly-appointed Ambassador to Constantinople was introduced and sworn in a member of the Privy Council . Sir Charles Lennox Peel was in attendance as Clerk of the Council .

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Great Eastern Railway Company was held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Tuesday , under the presidency of Bro . Lord Claud Hamilton . The report showed a balance of net revenue in favour of the company amounting to £ 122 , 7811 , as

compared with one of £ 260 , 0 ^ 5 for the correspjnding period of 1 S 92 , and a dividend ot 1 ' , per cent , per annum was recommended . Satisfactory reasons were given for the very great falling off in the revenue , and , after some discussion , the report was unanimously agreed to .

Bro . Lord Mayor Taylor has granted the use of the Guildhall on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., when the Princess Mary , Duchess of Teck , will distribute the prizes of the Post Oflice Volunteers , of which the Duke of l ' eck is honorary Colonel . After the distribution his lordship will entertain the Duke and Duchess at dinner at the Mansion House . On Saturday , the 17 th inst ., his lordship will

present , at the Mansion House , the prizes awarded at the ninth competition in the French language and literature by the National Society of French Masters . TESTIMONIAL TO SIR J OHN B . MONCKTON . —The numerous friends of Sir John B . Monckton will , we are sure , be gratified to learn that the movement started in the City for recognising in some permanent way the services

rendered by him as Town Clerk during the past 20 years has been received in all quarters with the utmost favour . It is suggested to offer to the Corporation a marble bust of Sir John for exhibition at Guildhall , and to present sone agreeable souvenir to Lady Monckton . The commission for the bust has been given to Mr . J . A . Raemakers . Those

who have already either sent or promised donations include the Lord Mayor and the members of the Court of Aldermen , and upwards of 100 Masonic , civic , and private friends . With the Lord Mayor's permission , Mr . VV . J . Soulsby is acting as hon Secretary of the presentation fund . —Citv Press .

' 1 nr . . MILUIIN . WHK has nui-n tinitil Ihe toning l : ii ) : mrur liis lieaity i . p | jetitL- ; iinl sti . rily health , lie would ^ Ia < l 1 > - have sacrificed a lar ^ e amount of liii- wealth in exchange lor these blessings . Although money is a necessary article ; U ) possess in tinier to obtain tlie means of existence , it cannot puchase love , Iricr . dship , or immunity from the il-oi ^ ers anil paiii / s of tlisease . Kven

ten thousand pounds per annum may he earned at too j ^ reat a sacilice if we risk our health and happiness during its acciiinulation . Ilnlliiw .-iy ' s I'il s ran uive strength to the most delicate . They are the precious key which open the door leading It ) the smiling valley of health . They purify the system , ami j ^ ive the essentials of strength for the Mood .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Duke of Westminster was re-elected President of the Cheshire Chamber of Agriculture at the annual meeting held at Crewe on Monday . Princess Christian came to town on Thursday , and attended a meeting of the British Nurse ' s Association , returning to Windsor in the afternoon . To Good-Will , the second number of which has just appeared , Bro . the Rev . H , C . Shuttleworth is contributing a series of articles on " The . Common Faith of the People . "

Detroit Lodge , No . ( i , has over 2700 members , and is the largest lodge of any kind in existence , has paid its own death losses of . ^ 202 , 000 , and $ (' 1460 towards the deaths of other lodges in Michigan . The largest lodge in New England is John Endicott of Salem , with 729 members , followed by Beacon Lodge of

Boston , with 723 . Silver City of Connecticut has 591 members , and Waltham of Waltham 590 . Mr . Passmore Edwards has generously undertaken to erect at his own cost the Caxton Convalascent Home for the special benefit of the men employed in the printing and accessory trades . The offer was made by Mr . Edwards through Mr . C . J . Drummond .

Brethren are invited to send for the list of Masonic Books published at the ollice 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 .

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , attended by Commander the 1 ion . Seymour Fortescue , leftSandringham on Thursday morning , about 11 o'clock , and drove to Wolferton , proceeding by the 11 . 22 Great Eastern Railway express to St . Pancras , and thence to Marlborough House .

It is announced that Lord Iveagh has practically concluded the purchase of Elvedon , the seat of the late Bro . the Maharajah Duleep Singh for £ 150 , 100 . In 1 S 7 G his highness declined an offer of £ 500 , 000 , when in accordance with his instruction , an attempt was made to sell the property .

The aged inmates of the Clock and Watchmakers ' Asylum , New Southgate , were entertained the other afternoon by the chairman , Mr . R . H . Halford , at the customary winter dinner , which was followed as usual by a musical entertainment . Mrs . Spring , who has built and endowed a home in memory of her husband , was amongst the guests on the occasion .

To-morrow ( Saturday ) , the 3 rd instant , the installation meeting of the Brixton Lodge will be held at the Horns Tavern , when Bro . J . J . Newland will be installed W . M . A testimonial will be presented to Bro . Henry Lovegrove , senior P . M ., on his retirement from the office of Secretary , which he has tilled for so many years .

The annual Masonic ball took place at the Assembly Rooms , Cork , on the 26 th ult . The ball was very largely attended , and proved most successful in every respect . The hall in which the dance was held was handsomely decorated , and those present were entertained at supper , the wines for which were supplied from the old-established firm of Messrs . M . D . Daly and Sons , Academy-street , and gave general satisfaction ,

The annual ball of that most deserving institution—the New North London Philanthropic Society—will take place at the Holborn Town Hall , on Thursday , the 15 th instant . We wish it every success . Many a poor home has been caeered during the late bitter weather by the timely gifts of this society . Tickets can be obtained of the Hon Sec , Mr . W . Piper , 20 , Culford-road , N . ; or the President , Bro . W . Olield , 09 , Rushton-street , N .

The Princess Louise , Marchioness of Lome , and the P . incess Henry of Battenberg , crossed from ( Cast Cowes to Portsmouth in the Royal Yacht Alberta , on Tuesday , and , after lunching with the Ear ) and Countess of Clanwilliam , visited the 1 own Hall , for the purpose of being present at the annual meeting of the Borough of Portsmouth Association for Nursing the Sick Poor . The Princess Henry returned to Osburne , but the Princess Louise proceeded to London .

The report of the Royal Commission on the proposed Teaching University of London has now been signed , and will shortly be published . It is rumoured ( says the Lancet ) that the recommendations will include a reconstruction of the existing University of London ; increased powers to the teachers in the London colleges and medical schools ; a

division of students into metropolitan and provincial , with some alterations with regard to examinations ; a combination with the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal College of Surgeons of England to give a suitable pass degree to London medical students ; and tne appointment of a statutory commission with powers to carry out these recommendations .

Thc marriage of the Grand Duke of Hesse and Princess Victoria Melita of Coburg-Gotha will take place at Coburg in the third week in April , but the actual date of the ceremonial has yet to be settled . Her Majesty the Queen will travel direct from Florence by spe . ial train to Coburg , were she will be the guest of the Duke and Duchess for several days , and will attend the nuptials of her Royal

grandson and grand-daughter . 1 he German Emperor and the Prince ot Wales are expected to be present at thc wedding , which will be solemnised in the private chapel at the Coburg Palace , and will be a brilliant and imposing function . The arrangements for the reception and entertainment of the Queen and of the numerous other illustrijus guests invited to tne marriage festivities are already being outlined by the Ducal Court ollicials .

Although only in its fourth season , the Post Office Musical Society is making excellent progress . Thursday evening found its mem tiers banded together at the Queen ' s Hall , under the conductorship of Mr . S ydney beckley . The work chosen tor performance was Handel ' s " Messiah , " an oratorio which , at any rate , presented no unfamiliar difficulties . Naturally enough there were moments when

weakness ot attack—a coaurun failing with a vocal body whose experience lias not been long—was to be noted . But , speaking generally , the choir sang with good tone , discreet vigour , and creditable accuracy . Among the soluists were such well-known performers as Miss Anna Williams , Miss Marian Mackenzie , and Mr . Bantock Pierpoint , artists whose rendering of the well-known airs won the favour of a large and appreciative audience ..