Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

A team of Australian cricketers has been made up for a visit to this country during the forthcoming season . The half-yearly election of the Girls' School vvill be held on the igth and that of the Boys' School on the 21 st of April , instead of on the 12 th and 14 th , in consequence of Eastertide .

Bro . Alderman Savory presided at the second annual meeting of the St . Bride ' s Youths' Institute and Reading-room on Tuesday evening , and distributed Alderman Sir Robert Garden ' s prizes for swimming . Bro . Lieut . H . Wright , J . VV . 1827 , has been appointed acting adjutant by Colonel Clifford Wigram , of the Tower Hamlets Rille Brigade , during the leave of

absence of Major and Adjutant Richardson . Bro . John While , as the writer of the articles in Hie Times on " The Dwellings of the London Poor " in Southwark , which have been attributed to Mr . Sorton-Parry , has written to the Citizen to say that the latter

would not claim any such position . Bro . John Messent , P . G . S . B ., was on the 7 th inst ., presented with a most elaborately illuminated testimonial at the installation meeting of St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 231 , in recognition of his 20 years' service as Treasurer .

Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., P . '/ .., has accepted an invitation to deliver his interesting Masonic lecture , " Knobs and Excrescences , " in the Union Lodge of Instruction , at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Friday evening , March 14 th , the occasion of the annual festival ' of the lodge .

Wc arc asked to contradict the report contained in our last issue that the City of London Lodge , No . 901 , had removed to the Old Hell Inn , Addle Hill , there being no intention on the part of the lodge of changing its quarters . The £ 10 announced in our report of the installation meeting in January as having been invested out of the Benevolent I und should have been X ' 100 .

Bro . J . Sidney Tomkins , C . C , 5 60 , and Bro . Lieut . Henry Wright , J . VV . 1 S 27 , were present at the annual dinner of " 2 " ( Farringdon Within Ward ) Company of thc London Rifle Brigade on Monday . Bro . Tomkins responded in able terms for the toast of "The Lord Mayor and Corporation , " his speech eliciting much applause .

I he Prince of Wales , attended By Bro . Lord Carrington and Dr . Buchanan , on Monday morning last visited tome of the poorest and worst courts in St . Pancras and I lolborn . I ler Alajesty thc Queen has given her consent for thc Prince of Wales to serve on the Commission to be formed to inquire into the whole question of the dwellings of the poor . 'The presence of his Royal Highness on the

Commission is welcomed as another sign of his interest in the welfare and sympathy with thc distress of great masses of the English people . Stronjr efforts are , it is said , being made in Canada to secure a British team to attend the Canadian Wimbledon next year . A letter has been received by thc Dominion authorities from Col . Wilson , of the Scottish

team , to the effect that it would give thc Scottish Volunteers , at all events , great pleasure to come to Canada , and , in his opinion , all that was necessary to secure thc presence of a British team was to extend a formal invitation from the Association to thc War Office in London . If matters cannot be arranged this year , it is very likely that a team will visit Canada in 1 SS 5 . —Broad Arrow .

The following dinners , \* c , have been held at the Freemasons' Tavern during thc past week : Monday , Feb . iSth—Grand Masters Lodge , Civil Service Vocal Union , British Lod ge Installation Banquet , Wandsworth Tricycle Club Meeting . Tuesday , 19 th—Warwick Club Ball , Cadogan Lodge , Enoch Chapter , Salisbury Lodge , Industry Chapter , National Pcristeronic Society Meeting .

Wednesday , 20 th—London Morayshire Club , Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , Noviomagus , Oak Lodge . Thursday , 21 st —Old Acquaintance Musical Society , St . James's Fancy Dress Ball , Linncan Club , St . Mary ' s Lodge , Universal I-odge , Great Northern Lodge , United Pilgrims Chapter , Globe Lodge . Friday , 22 nd—Crichton Lodge Ball , Jerusalem Lod ge , Now Holborn Quadrille Assembly . Saturday , 23 rd—Bachelors' Quadrille Party , Asslus Cricket Club Ball .

On Saturday last the bust of the late Mr . Spottiswoode , P . R . S ., subscribed for by the employes of the firm of Eyre and Spottiswoode , and executed b y Bro . Belt , Grand Masters Lodge , No . 1 , who vvas himself in early life one of themselves , was unveiled at thc Oueen ' s Printing Office , East Harding-street , by Mr . Eyre , ~ the head of the firm . Amongst those present were Mr . Eyre jun . Mrs .

, Eyre , and their son , godson of the late Mr , Spottiswoode , Mr . G . A . Spottiswoode , and a number of other relatives , as well as a considerable gathering of employes of the firm . Bro . Belt , in answer to repeated calls , addressed the meeting . The bust is in bronze , and has been specially executed by Bro . Belt from a cast taken of the features of the deceased . It stands upon a short plinth of

black marble surmounted by books , which is inscribed " A ribute from daily witnesses of a noble life . The death of Mr . Chenery , for six years editor of the Times , removes not only a Iriend of the Jews , but a devoted student of their history and language . The scholarly work which Mr . Chenery had done in Hebrew and in translation from the Hebrewhas often been referred

, to in these columns . He was onc of the first members of the Committee of the Society of Hebrew Literature , and contributed to its publications a series of legends from the Midrash , which are very bright and effective renderings . Under his editorship of the Times the Russian atrocities on

the Jews were denounced and the career of Sir Moses Montefiore illustrated . The stupendous labours which Mr . Chenery imposed upon himself doubtless hastened his death . He went to the editor ' s desk a middle-aged man , and left it six years afterwards with blanched hair and old before his time . —Jewish Chronicle .

Masonic And General Tidings

Bro . Alfred Tisley , P . G . S ., W . M . 15 S 9 , was on Monday last Installed VV . M . of the British Lodge , No . S . Dr . Miillendorff , who has for the past 26 years been Professor of Early German History in Berlin University , died on Tuesday night . The sixth annual dinner of the employes of the firm of II . B . Marshall and Sons , wholesale newsagents , Fleet-street , vvas held on Saturday ' at thc Westminsterchambers Restaurant .

Messrs . J . M . Klenck and Co . ( Bro . Klenck ) , auctioneers and valuers for compensation claims , have removed from 25 and 26 , Bishopsgate-street Without , to 42 , Bishopsgate-street Within , their former premises being required tiy the Metropolitan Board of Works . The first list of subscriptions to the Sir Julius Benedict Testimonial Fund closed on the 17 th inst . Thc

preliminary meeting of the General Committee , of which body Bro . the Earl of Lathom is chairman , will take place at an early date . The 95 th annual festival of the City Dispensary was held on Tuesday evening at the Albion Tavern , Bro . the Lord Mayor presiding . After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts Bro . Samuel White proposed " The

Sheriffs and Corporation of the City of London , " to which Bro . Frank Green responded . Bro . T . Spreckley . ' proposed "The Medical Officers . " Monday , the nth inst ., being thc 50 th birthday anniversary of Bro . G . Burney , the esteemed host of the King William the Fourth , Greenwich , and thc preliminary

meeting for the formation of the Borough of Greenwich Mark Lodge being held at his house on that evening , his health was proposed and most heartily responded to and drunk vvith enthusiasm by the brethren at the meeting , and in response Bro . Burney hoped ever to be worthy of the trust they had that day reposed in him , and drunk success to the new lodge .

Thc movement in Canada for a permanent Grand Master is making headway . If the correspondence to the Masonic journals is to be considered an indication of the general opinion , it appears to be in favour of not settling the question until R . VV . Bro . Hugh Murray , the present esteemed Deputy G . M ., has succeeded to the Grand Mastership . One correspondent makes a very

pertinent remark bearing on the system at present in vogue : " One great benefit would accrue , at least , if our Grand Masters were brethren financially independent . I need not mention it , but I refer your readers to the list of (' . rami Lodge pensioners . " Bro . James Terry entertained a party of friends , numbering iG , to dinner on Tuesday last at the Albion .

Bro . Terry proposed "Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , " and Bro . Dr . Strong replied . The toast of "The Army , Navy , and Reserve Forces" was replied to by Bro . Capt . Durrant , Lieut . Birkett , and Terry , jun ., of the Hon . Artillery Company . Bro . Shipp , Secretary of thc London and Westminster Bank , acknowledged the toast o ! " The Commerce and Banking Interests of thc Country . " Bro . Edgar Bowyer proposed

" 1 he Health of Bro . Terry , " and Bro . Dr . Strong proposed "'The Health of the Vice-Chairman , Bro . Terry , jun . " As the dinner vvas served under the personal superintendence of Bro . Jennings , comment is unnecessary . The party reluctantly separated at a late hour . Thc rumour that the Pope intends to remove the Papal ban from English and American Freemasonry causes the Montreal Herald to comment as follows " If

thc report is true , the Pope has been a long time discovering that there are Freemasons—and Freemasons . The weakest part of thc Ultramontane programme to-day in this province is its war upon Freemasonry , because thc character of thc Freemasons of Canada , whether French or English , stands so high that charges of their enemies arc not believed , lt is true that some statements have recently

been published intended to affect the personal standing of some Montreal Freemasons , and calculated , if true , to give aid and comfort to the enemies of thc Order in this province . But thc offensive statements arc not vouched for ; for they arc essentially scandalous , and even if true , they would not affect the general character of thc body . " A very interesting and novel competition was

decided on Friday and Saturday last . It vvas certainly novel from the fact of its being the first of the kind ever held . It took place at thc West London School of Telegraphy and Electrical Engineering in Uxbridge-road , and was for a silver cup , offered by the proprietors of the Telegraphist , a monthly journal devoted to the interests of this science , tothe most rapid and best sender in thc Morse

key of 250 words selected . by the judges . Forty operators who , with the exception of two connected with railways , all are in the Postal Telegraph service , entered the competition , two ladies being-amongst the number . 'The majority were from London offices , but there were also competitors from Glasgow , Leeds , Wolverhampton , and Swansea . The competition vvas not directly promoted by the Government

authorities , but had their sanction and encouragement in the fact that the Morse and Whcatstone instruments employed were lent by the engineer-in-chief of the Post Office , who also sent one of the staff to fix them and have them in charge . VVe cut the following paragraph from the columns of a contemporary : " Until quite recently

we were under the impression that the Hon . Miss St . Leger was the first and only woman who had witnessed the mysteries of Freemasonry . The following advertisement , which wercprintfrom the Newcastle Courantol January 4 th , 1770 , gives us a decided contradiction , and a page from the history of Freemasonry which is not to be found in the records of the Craft : 'This is to acquaint the public—That on

Monday , the first instant , being thc Lodge ( or monthly meeting ) Night of the Free and Accepted Masons of the 22 nd Regiment , held at the Crown , near Newgate ( Newcastle ) , Mrs . Bell , the landlady of the house , broke open a door ( with a poker ) that had not been opened for some time past ; by which means she got into an adjacent room , made two holes through the wads , and , by that stratagem ,

discovered the secrets of freemasonry ; and she , knowing herself to be the first woman in the world that ever found out the secret , is willing to make it known to all her sex . So any lady who is desirous of learning the secrets of freemasonry , by applying to that well-learned woman ( Mrs . Bell that lived fifteen years in and about Newgate ) , may be instructed in the secrets of freemasonry . ' "

Masonic And General Tidings

Bro . J . Gladwin was installed W . M . of the Phoenix Lodge of St / Ann , No . 1235 , at Buxton , on the 7 th inst . A committee of total abstainers propose , as soon as they can get together funds sufficient , to offer two handsome prizes of the value respectively of £ 700 and i ' 300 for the best cheap palatable non-intoxicating drink .

The third annual costume ball in aid of the funds of the Bolingbroke House Pay Hospital vvas held on Wednesday night at the Albert Hall , a very large company attending the entertainment . The Earl of Carnarvon I . odge of Instruction , No . 1642 , will not meet on the 29 th inst ., the brethren having adjourned so that they may attend the Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , No . S 34 , where the Fifteen Sections vvill be worked on that evening .

The Prince of Wales has consented to preside at the meeting of the Institute of Agriculture in South Kensington Museum on March 17 th , when a paper upon " Ensilage , and its Influence upon British Agriculture , " will be read by Mr . Henry Woods , of Merton .

The well-known collie dog " Help , " which has been collecting subscriptions , throughout the country on behalfof the Railway Servants' Orphanage , London , was killed yesterday by a train at a level crossing at Middlesborough . A ball in connection with the Westbourne Lodge , No . 733 , will take place on Monday next , at Freemasons '

I avern . The names of many well-known brethren appear on the list of Stewards , and judging from the successful and pleasant gatherings that have been held in the past , we may safely promise an enjoyable evening to all who may be present . Bro . Sir Albert Woods , Garter Principal King

of Arms , proceeded to Windsor Castle on Monday , and placed the banner and insignia of Prince Albert Victor ( eldest son of the Prince of Wales ) , who vvas recently created a Knight of the Garter , in the choir of St . George ' s Chapel . 'The banner vvas hung between the ensigns of the Duke of Connaught and the Duke of Cambridge .

The Countess of Grosvenor has sent through Miss Hovvson , daughter of thc Dean of Chester , a gold cross to each of the lay clerks of Chester Cathedral who took part in thc funeral service of thc late Earl of Grosvenor , vvith the wish that they should wear it as a souvenir . The cross is of chaste design , bearing on one side the letter " G " under a coronet , and on the reverse

the date " January 25 th , 1 SS 4 . " Mr . J . S . Hood , Superintendent at Irongate Wharf , who has saved in all 14 lives , and was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Medal in 1 S 7 G , has just been awarded in addition thc clasp for a gallant ' act performed on thc Gth inst ., when he rescued from the Thames a soldier ofthe ist Sea forth Highlanders , who , while going on

board thc General Steam Navigation Company s steamer Penguin , fell overboard . lt will be remembered lhat on the 23 rd ult . thc Clacton Lifeboat , provided by Grand Lodge , went out in a terrible storm to relieve thc crew of a vessel in distress , in the attempt to do which two of the lifeboat's crew lost

their lives , and left widows and children . Some lodges have already contributed from their funds to raise a sum for thc assistance of these widows and orphans . Thc Prince of Wales , never unmindful of acts of heroism and devotion , will move in Grand Lodge at next meeting that Grand Lodge vote two sums of £ 50 each to thc families of the deceased men .

Thc Fifteen Sections will be worked in thc Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , No . S 34 , at the _ Six Bells Hotel , Hammersmith , on Friday next , the 29 th inst ., Bro . ( esse Collings , P . M . and Preceptor , in tho chair . The lodge will be opened at seven o ' clock precisely , and the working will be as follows : First Lecture—First Section , Bro . H . Purdue , J . VV . S 34 ; Second , Bro . VV . C Williams ,

J . D . 1385 ; Third , Bro . VV . H . Bluden , VV . M . 80 s ; Fourth , Bro . D . Stroud , 55 ; Fifth , Bro . A . Alais , P . M . S 34 * Sixth , Bro . J . H . Taylor , P . M . 17 G 7 ; Seventh , Bro . A . If . Hard y , 201 . Second Lecture—First Section , Bro . Dopson , J . D . S 34 ; Second , Bro . Capt . A . Nicols , LP . M . 1974 ; Third , Bro . C . Webster , 1381 ; Fourth , Bro . M . Speigcl , P . M . 188 : Fifth , Bro . S . Smout , I . P . M . 1 G 42 . Third

Lecture-First Section , Bro . J . VV . Barker , P . M . 1767 ; Second , Bro . R . IL Williams , J . D . 17 G 7 ; Third , Bro . G . Davis , P . M . 1 G 7 . The final meeting of the Committee entrusted with the arrangements for the recent annual Masonic ball at the Town Hall , Liverpool , vvas held on Friday evening , thc isth inst ., at thc Masonic Hall , Hope-street . Bro . II .

A . Tobias , P . P . G . S . of W ., occupied the chair , and there was a numerous attendance . Bro . J . C . Robinson , the Hon . Sec , submitted the financial statement of the ball , from which it appeared that , including donations , there remained a balance of £ 93 1 is . gd . to be handed over to Bro . J . T . Callow , the Hon . Treas . of the VVest Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution in aid of the funds of the

Charity—a monetary result which was considered exceedingly satisfactory in view of the lukewarmness displayed by many brethren who might naturally have been expected to take great interest in the scheme . Cordial votes of thanks were accorded to Bros . G . Broadbridge' and R . Martin , the Hon . Sees , of the Institution , for their generous -rifts of stewards' badges ; to Bro . 1 . C . Robinson for

his valuable services as Secretary ; and to Bros . R . Foote and H . H . Smith for their zealous assistance in connection with the refreshment arrangements . A ballot for Life Governors of this Charity as the result of stewards' fees was then taken , and the following were successful in securing this highly-prized honour : Bros . J . C . McGuire , R . Kitchingman , G . Godfrey , T . Hatton , and R . Foote , the

last named brother intimating his intention of contributing a sum sufficient to make his life governorship a vicepresidency of the Institution . The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman . " H UITURES . "—WHITE ' MOC-MAIN I . EVEH Tnuss is the most effective invention tor the treatment ot Hernia . The use of « steel spring , so hurtful in its effects , Is avoided , a soft bandage

being worn round the body , while the requisite resisting power is supplied by the Moc-Main Pad and Patent Uvcr , lilting with so much case and closeness that it cannot be detected . Send for descriptive circular , with testimonials and prices , to J . White and Co . ( Limited ) 2 ? S , Piccadilly , London . Do not buy of Chemists , who often sell an I MITATION of our Moc-Main .. J . White and Co , have not any agents . — [ ADVT . ] ,