Masonic And General Tidings.

- The Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 , will hold its first meeting after the recess on Thursday , the 7 th October , at the . Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons' Avenue , Basinghallstreet . FOG IN- LONDON . —On Tuesday afternoon a fog , which was especially dense in the northern districts , settled over the metropolis , causing , as the evening advanced , great inconvenience and delay to pedestrian and carriage traffic .

The amounts collected for the Hospital Saturday Fund have been increasing , though slowly , since it was started in 1 S 74 . In that year the amount was £ 258 ; in 'S / 5 , £ 4 S 9 ; in 1 S 76 , £ S 25 ; in 1 S 77 , £ m ; in 1 S 7 S , i . 1090 : in 1 S 79 , £ 1171 ; and this year , £ 1370 . The attention which has been drawn latel y in the Houses of Legislature to accidents and the means of

providing against them , makes interesting any statistics that throw light on their "causes " and "effects . " The manager of the Accident Insurance Company , of Bank-buildings . has published details of the accidents the company in question has paid for during the last ten years , and they furnish the most ample testimony of the usefulness of insuring

against the casualtes of every-day life , apart from those that arise from risky occupations . 11 , 703 claims are accounted for as follows : 544 S in riding , driving , and walking : 2974 in business and professional accidents ; 1 555 home and domestic disasters ; 417 cases in travelling by sea and land ; 271 injuries through animals , birds , and insects ; and 103 S came through sports and pastimes .

A NEW VINE . —A French explorer , M . Lecart , who is at present on the banks of the Niger , writes home from " Koundian ( Gangaran ) , July 25 th , " that he has discovered a new vine , which promises to he of great economical value . He says the fruit of the vine is excellent and abundant , its cultivation very easy , its roots tuberose and perennial , while its branches are annual . It can be

cultivated as easily as the dahlia . He himself had been eating the large grapes of the vine for eight days , and found them excellent , and he suggested that its culture ought to be attempted in all wine-growing countries , as a possible remedy against the phylloxera , lie is sending homo seeds for experiment , both in France and Algeria , ' and will bring home specimens of the plant at all stages . It is not without danger that M . Lecart has been able to make thisdiscovcrv .

as he states that the people of the Soudan arc in a state of great excitement and apprehension at the many . attempts of white people to penetrate into their country . The story of the last expedition sent by Prance into the south of Algeria has spread to all parts , and the conviction of the natives is that the travellers are collecting information preparatory to conquest . Perhaps the natives are not entirely wrong .

I HE COLOUR OF FLOWERS . —At a recent meeting of the Vaudois Society of Natural Sciences , Professor Schnetzler read an interesting paper on the colour of flowers . It has been generally supposed that the various colours observed in plants were due to so many different matters , each colour being a different chemical combination without relation to the others . Now , Professor Schnetzler

shows by experiments that when the colour of a flower has been isolated , by putting it in spirits of wine , one may , by adding an acid or alkaline substance , obtain all the colours which plants present . Mowers of peony , <•. ;' ., give , when placed in alcohol , a red-violet liquid . If some salt of sorrel be added , the liquid becomes pure red ; while soda changes it , according to the quantity , into violet , blue , or green . In

this latter case the green liquid appears red by transmitted light , just as does chlorophyll ( the green colouring matter of leaves ) . The sepals of peony , which are green with a red border , become wholly red when put in salt of sorrel . These changes of colour , which can he had at will , may quite well be produced in the plant by the same causes , for in all plants there are always acid or alkaline matters .

Further , it is certain that the transformation from green into , observed in the leaves of many plants in autumn , is due to the action of tannin which they contain with chlorophyll . Thus , without wishing to affirm it absolutely , Professor Schnetzler supposes a priori that there is in plants only one colouring matter—chlorophyll—which , beintr

modified by certain agents , furnishes all the tints which ' flowers and leaves present . As to white flowers , it has been found that their coloration is due to air contained in the cells of the petals . On placing the latter under the receiver of an air-pump , they are seen to lose their colour and become transparent as the air escapes from them .

ROBBERY BY A WAREHOUSEMAN . —George Isaac Mncey Stephenson of 100 , Milford-rond , Stoke Newington , was charged with stealing within the last twelve months from the manufactory of Bro . Albert J . Altman , C . C . ( trading as Feltham and Co ., 52 , Little Britain ) , three footballs and bladders , a leg guard , a boxing glove , and other articles of the value of £ 2 the property of his

, employer . Bro . Beard , C . C , prosecuted , and Mr . Edward Pratt defended . Mr . Beard said the prisoner had been in the prosecutor ' s employ for three years as warehouseman , at a salary of £ 4 per week . It was his duty to give out materials to be made up , to receive the work when it was brought home , and to see that it was properly done . Without the knowledge of his employer he entered into

business on his own account in the name of Crawford and Co ., and he not only took his employer ' s goods but had taken away several of his customers . From what the prosecutor heard he called the prisoner into his countinghouse on Saturday , and questioned him , when he admitted that he had had some of their goods at his house . Bro . Edward Altman , the prisoner , and two officers went to the

prisoner s house , where they found a quantity of stock similar to the prosecutor ' s and some of which the prisoner admitted belonged to his master . Detective-sergeant Robert Outrrm said that on Saturday he saw the prisoner at the warehouse of Bro . Altman . That gentleman told the prisoner lie had received information that certain goods which had been missing had been seen at his ( the prisoner ' s ) house . Bro . Altman asked him whether he

would have any objection to the officers and himself seeing what he had got at his place , and he replied that he had only a few samples of their things . They then all went to 100 , Milton-road , Stoke Newington , and in the front room on the ground floor he found a leg-guard ( produced ) , which bore the prosecutor ' s stamp of Feltham and Co ., a boxing glove , three footballs and bladders , and a quantity of catgut , all of which had been identified b y Mr . Edward Altman as the goods of his brother . The prisoner said to

Masonic And General Tidings.

BrO . Altman , "They belong to you ; I have no right to them . " They proceeded to search the room , and found racquet bats , finished and unfinished , cricket bats , and sundry other goods , similar to those which the prosecutor dealt in . He also found a number of memorandum forms , headed Crawford and Co ., and some account books . Witness asked the prisoner if he had invoices for the bulk of the goods they had found there , and he produced a

number of invoices , but they did not relate to any of the goods they saw . The prisoner pointed to some cribbage boxes , and said , "They are on approbation . " He brought them to the station-house , where Bro . Altman saw the prisoner , who said to him , " I have not robbed you to the extent you think I have . " ' He was then taken inside the station , and while the charge was being taken , the prisoner pointed to some catgut , and said to Bro . Altman , " That belongs to you ; it is not mine . " When the charge was read over to

him , he made no reply . Bro . Alfred Altman , manager to his brother , said the prisoner , from the position he held , had access to their entire stock . He identified the three footballs and bladders , the leg-guard , the boxing-glove , and the cat-gut as the prosecutor ' s property , and the value of it was £ 2 . The value of the things which he believed to be their property was about £ 15 . Albert Wharton , a cricket and racquet bat maker , also gave evidence , and the prisoner was remanded .

Robert Cummings , a respectable-looking man , who gave the address No . 11 , Wcymouth-street , Portlandplace , was charged before Mr . Newton , at Marlboroughstreet , with being concerned in stealing diamond rings , necklaces , and other articles of jewellery , of the value of £ 3000 , the property of Bro . the Earl of Bcctive , from No . 8 , Portland-place . Inspector Donald Swanson , of the Detective Department , Scotland-yard , stated that at

halfpast twelve the previous night he was in Charlotte-street , Portland-place , when meeting the prisoner he asked him how he could account for a pearl which he had had in his possession , and which he had shown to certain jewellers . The prisoner said he bought it of a man he did not know , and sold it to another man whom he did not know . On asking the prisoner whether the pearl was his own , he gave him some very unsatisfactory answers , but afterwards

said , " I will tell you the truth . I pledged it , and here is the ticket . " He ( witness ) went with theprisonertoNo . n , Weymouth-place , and searched all the drawers , with the exception of one , at the prisoner ' s suggestion ; but on searching the bottom one he found a quantity of jewellery rolled up in tissue paper , amongst the articles being four diamond stars , pieces of necklaces , and other articles of jewellery , and on asking the prisoner what one of the pieces

of jewellery was he said it belonged to Lady Bective . The prisoner said that although he committed the offence it was unpremeditated ; that he was passing home at one o ' clock in the morning , and seeing the gate open he went in , secreted himself in the house for about two hours , and then took the property . The prisoner added that horseracing had been the cause of it , and that he intended , if ever he got money enough , to redeem the property and

to assist in returning it . The prisoner then handed to him ( witness ) , from the inside of the lining of his hat , a ticket of a diamond ring , pledged for £ 20 , and some others , relating to , as the prisoner said , other articles of the property stolen . On telling the prisoner that he would be taken into custody he repeated the statement he had previously made . The prisoner , having no questions to ask the witness , was remanded .

Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , & c . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post-free to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five pep . ny stamps . Address , Publisher , 19 S , Fleet-street . —[ ADVT . J

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending Friday , October 1 , 1 SS 0 , The Editor will be glad to receive notice from Secretaries of Craft Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Lodges , Encampments , Conclaves , Sec , of any change in place , day , or month of meeting .

SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 25 . Lodge 1297 , West Kent , Crystal Palace , Sydenham . „ 1541 , Alexandra Palace , A . P ., Muswell-hill . „ 1679 , Henry Muggeridge , Prince George , Dalston . „ 1793 > Sir Charles Bright , Assembly R ., Teddington Chap . 17 G , Caveac , Albion Tav ., Aldersgatc-st . „ 1044 , Mid-Surrey , S . M . H ., Camberwcll .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Manchester , 17 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq ., at S . Star , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-rd ., at 7 . Percy , Joll y Farmers , Southgate-rd ., N ., at S . Eccleston , King's Head , Ebury Bridge , Pimlico . Sphinx , Stirling Castle , Camberwcll . Alexandra Palace , Masonic Club , Loughborough , at 7 . 30 .

MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 27 . Lodge 79 , Pythagorean , Ship Hot ., Greenwich . . » ' 745 > Farringdon ( Without ) , Holborn Viaduct Hot . „ 1 S 28 , Shepherd's Bush , Richmond Hot ., Shepherd's Bush-rd . Chap . 1201 , Eclectic , F . M . H .

LODGES OK INSTRUCTION . Lily , Greyhound , Richmond , at 7 . London Masonic Club , tot , Queen Victoria-st ., E . C ., at 6 Wellington , White Swan Hot ., High-st ., Deptford , S to 10 St . John , Gun Hot ., Wapping , 8 to 10 . PrinceLeopold , MitfordTav ., Sandringham-rd ., Dalston , 7 . 30 Sincerity , Railway Tav ., Fenchurch-st . Station , at 7 .

Camden , 174 , High-st ., Camden Town , at 8 . Tredegar , Royal Hot ., Mile End-rd ., at 8 . St . James ' s Union , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st ., at 8 . Perfect Ashlar , Victoria Tav ., Lower-rd ., Rotherhithe , at 8 UpperNorwood , White Hart Hot ., Church-rd ., at 8 . Marquis of Ripon , Pembury Tav ., Amherst-rd ., Hackney , 8 Loughborough , Cambria Tav ., Loughborough Junc ., at 7 . 30 Hyde Park , The Westbourne , 1 , Craven-rd ., at 8 .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

West Smith field , New Market Hot ., West Smithfield . St . George ' s , Globe Tav ., Royal Hill , Greenwich , at 7 . Doric Chapter , 24 S , Globe-rd ., Mile End-rd ., at S . Royal Commemoration , R . Hot ., High-st ., Putney , S till 10 British Oak , Bank of Friendship Tav ., Mile End . Eastern Star , Royal Hot ., Mile End-rd ., 7 . 30 .

St . Mark ' s , S . M . H ., Camberwcll New-rd . John Hervey , Albion Hall , London Wall , at S . New Finsbury Park , PlimsolIArms , St . Thomas-rd ., N ., at 8 . Kilburn , South Molton Hot ., South Molton-st ., VV ., at 7 . 30 . Strong Man , George Hot ., Australian Avenue , Barbican , S . Metropolitan , White Swan , Coleman-st ., at 7 . 30 .

TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 2 S . Lodge 65 , Prosperity , Guildhall Tav ., Gresham-st . „ 141 , Faith , Andcrton's Hot ., Fleet-st . „ iSC , Industry , F . M . H . „ 115 S , Southern Star , Bridge House Hot . „ 1441 , Ivy , S . M . H ., Camberwell . Chap . 54 S , Wellington , White Swan Hot ., Deptford .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Pilgrim , F . M . H ., 1 st and last Tues . Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 7 . Domatic , Surrey M . H ., Camberwell New-rd ., at 7 . 30 . Faith , 2 , Westminster Chambers , Victoria-st ., S . W ., at 8 . Prince Fredk . Wm ., Lord ' s Hot ., St . John ' s Wood , at 7 . Prosperity , Hercules Tav ., Leadcnhall-st ., at 7 . 30 .

Dalhousie , I he Sisters 1 av ., Pownall-rd ., Dalston , E ., 7 . 30 . Florence Nightingale , M . H ., William-st ., Woolwich , 7 . 30 . Constitutional , Bedford Hot ., Southampton Bdgs ., at 7 . Israel , Rising Sun Tav ., Globe-rd . Wandsworth , Star and Garter Hot ., Wandsworth , at 7 . Royal Arthur , Prince's Head , York-rd ., Battersea , at S . Beacontrce , Red Lion , Leytonstone , at S .

Excelsior , Commercial Dock Tav ., Rotherhithe , at S . St . John of Wapping , Gun Hot ., High-st ., Wapping , at S . Islington , Moorgate Tav ., 15 , Finsbury Pavement . Leopold , Gregorian Arms , Jamaica-rd ., Bermondsey , at 8 . Mount Edgcumbc , 19 , Jermyn-st ., St . James's , at S . Duke of Connauglit , Palmcrston Arms , Grosvenor Park , S . Sir Hugh Mydde ' lton , 1 G 2 , St . John's-st .-rd ., at S .

St . Marylcbonc , Eyre Arms , Finchley-rd ., at S . Corinthian , George Hot ., Millwall Docks , at 7 . Henley , Three Crowns , North Woolwich , at 7 . 30 . Royal Naval College , Greenwich Hospital Schools , at S . Eleanor , Angel Hot ., Edmonton . Metropolitan Chapter , Jamaica Coffee Hot ., Cornhill . Islington , Moorgate Tavern , 15 , Finsbury Pavement , at 7 .

WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 29 . Lodge S 9 S , Tempcrance-iii-tlic-East , G , Newby-pl ., Poplar * LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Confidence , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-st ., 7 till 9 . New Concord , Jolly Farmers , Southgate-rd ., . N ., at S . Mt . Lebanon , Horse Shoe Tav ., Newington Causeway , S . Pythagorean , Portland Hot ., Greenwich , at S .

Burdett Coutts , Salmon & Ball , Bcthnal Green-rd ., at S . 30 . La Tolerance , 2 , Maddox-st ., \ V ., at 7 . 45 . Peckham , Lord Wellington Hot ., 51 G , Old Kent-rd ., at S . Finsbury Park-, Alwync Castle , St . Paul ' s-rd ., N . Southwark , Southwark Park Tav ., Southwark Park , at S . Dukcof Connauglit , Kyi . Edwd . Hot ., Marc-st ., Hackney , S . United Strength , Mope & Anchor , Crowndalc-rd ., N . W ., 8 . Whittington . Red Lion , Poppin's-court , Fleet-st ., at 8 .

Royal Jubilee , Si , Long Acre , at S . Langthorne , Swan Hot ., Stratford , at S . Temperance in the East , Geo . the Fourth , Ida-st ., E ., at 7 . 30 . Thistle , M . M . M ., The Haro Tav . at S . Eleanor , Trocadero Hot ., Liverpool-st ., Edmonton . Zetland , King's Arms Hot ., High-st ., Kensington , at S . Merchant Navy , S'lver Tav ., Burdett-rd ., Limehouse , 7 . 30 , Creaton , Prince Albert Tav ., Portobello-ter ., Notting-hilI , 8 . Stockwell , Crown , Albert Embankment , at 7 . Panmure , Balham Hot ., Balham , 7 .

THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 30 . Gen . Com . Girls' School , at 4 . Lodge 45 , Strong . Man , Masons' Hall Tav ., Masons ' Avenue , Basingha ! l-st . „ 1524 , Duke of Connauglit , Andcrton ' s Hot ., Fleet-st . „ 15 G 3 , Cit y of Westminster , S , Air-st ., Regent-st ., VV . „ 1 S 39 , Duke of Cornwall , F . M . H .

LODGES OK INSTRUCTION . Union Waterloo , Earl of Chatham , Thomas-st ., Woolwich . Kent , Duke of York , Borough-rd ., Southwark , 7 . 30 . Egyptian , Hercules Tav ., Lcadenhall-st ., 7 . 30 . Fidelity , Yorkshire Grey , London-st ., W . C ., at S . Finsbury , Jolly Anglers' Tav ., Bath-st ., City-rd . Ebury , 12 , Ponsonby-st ., Millbank , at 8 .

Highgate , Boston Hot ., Junction-rd ., N ., at . S . The Great City , M . H ., Masons' Avenue . Higji Cross , Coach & Horses , High-rd ., Tottenham . Salisbury , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st ., at S . Southern Star , Crown Hot ., Blackfriars-rd ., at S . Great Northern , Berwick Arms , Berners-st ., Oxford-st . Rose , Walmer Castle Hot ., Peckham-rd ., at S .

Crusaders , St . John's Gate , Clerkenwell , at g . Prince Frederick William Chapter , St . John's Wood . United Mariners , Three Cranes Tav ., Mile End-rd ., at 8 . Vitruvian , White Hart , Belvcdere-rd ., Lambeth , at 8 . Royal Oak , Lecture Hall , High-st ., Deptford , at S . Capper , Three Crowns , North Woolwich , at 7 . Marauisof Ripon . PemburvTav ., Amhurst-rd ., Hackney , 7 . 30 .

Royal Albert , White Hart Hot ., Abchurch-lane , at 7 . 30 . Victoria Park , The Two Brewers , Stratford , at S . West Middlesex , Feathers Hot ., Ealing , at 7 . 30 . North London Chap . Jolly Farmers , Southgate-rd ., N ., at 8 . St . Michael ' s , The Moorgate , 2 S , Finsbury-pavement , at 8 . Guelph , Oliver Twist , Church-rd ., Leyton . Crusaders St . lohn ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , at o .

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 1 . Lodge 70 G , Florence Nightingale , M . H ., Woolwich . „ S 90 , Hornsey , F . M . H . „ 14 S 9 , Marquis of Ripon , go , Balls Pond-rd ., N . „ 1 G 27 , Royal Kensington , F . M . H . „ 1716 , All Saints , Town Hall , Poplar . „ 1 S 15 , Penge , Thicket Hot ., Anerley . Mark 8 , Thistle , F . M . Tav ., Great Queen-st . „ 223 , West Smithfield , New Market Hot ., King-st . K . T . Precpt . 74 , Harcourt , Greyhound Hot ., Richmond .

LODGES OF I NSTRUCTION . Robert Burns , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st ., at 8 . Belgrave , Harp Tav ., Jermyn-st ., W ., at 8 .