Reports Of Meetings.

Bro . Charles Cruikshanks was invested with the collar of Treasurer of the Lodge . The balance sheet for the year , showing a very handsome sum in the Treasurer's hands , was read , adopted , and ordered to be placed on the minutes . Notices of nominations for the advancement ' of three Brethren at the next meeting were received .

The labours of the day being ended , the Brethren dined together under the genial rule of their W . M .

New Temple At Edinburgh.

NEW TEMPLE AT EDINBURGH .

ON the afternoon of Wednesday , igth ult ., the members of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland held a special meeting for the opening and dedication of their new Temple , which has lately been constructed at No . 75 Queen

Street , Edinburgh . There was a large attendance of the members of the Grand Chapter , and representatives of Chapters in Edinburgh , Glasgow , and other parts , of the country . The chair was occupied by Colonel W . Ivison M'Adam Depute First Grand Principal .

About four o ' clock the Companions assembled in the lower Hall , all attired in their Arch regalia , and proceeded to the door of the Grand Chapter Hall . The Grand Officers followed , and at the door the Architect ( Comp . P . L .

Henderson ) presented the key of the Grand Chapter Hall , and the acting First Principal opened the door . The Companions then entered , and the' ceremonial was carried through with dignity and solemnity , almost in the terms used at the Consecration of the Grand Chapter in 1817 .

The Depute First Principal afterwards addressed the Grand Chapter , and congratulated them on now having so comfortable a home in which to carry on their work . Comp . J . Dalrymple Duncan proposed thanks to the Committees who had carried on the work , and said that of all the

Masonic Flails he had seen—and he had seen many—none was so artistically designed or had the details so admirably carried out . Dr . Auchinleck expressed the congratulations of the Grand Chapter of Ireland , which he represented , and expressed the hope that their foundations would be strengthened and the Order made stronger in Scotland .

. The' usual Quarterly business meeting was then held , and thereafter the company , to the number of 120 , sat down to dinner—the Depute First Grand Principal occupying the chair , supported by the Companions who had attended the

ceremony . The new Temple has been constructed according to the plans of Comp . P . L . Henderson , architect , Edinburgh . The property entering by No . 75 Queen Street has been entirely gutted out and reconstructed , and consists of three

flatssunk , ground , and first floors . On the sunk floor are the caretaker ' s house , kitchens , store rooms , & c . ; on the ground floor , offices of the Chapter and a Chapter Hall or dining room ; and on the first floor is the Royal Arch Temple , with retiring rooms , & c . The entrance from Oueen Street is

protected by an Ionic porch , projecting out to the pavement , with a pediment over the front , and gives a dignified prominence to the premises . On the left of the vestibule are the Chapter offices , and in the front a double swinging glass door gives entrance to the inner lobby communicating with

the Chapter Hall on the ground floor , and the grand staircase to the Royal Arch Temple . The Chapter Hall is arranged to be suitable as a dining room to seat about 200 persons , and is elaborate in design , with pilasters at intervals supporting a massive frieze and elegant consoles . Each console has two

lions couchant , on the heads of which is a deep abacus supporting the beams of the upper floor . In the end of this Hall is a deeply recessed arch , which gives relief to the rythmic repetition of the pilasters . The lighting is by a series of windows in the depth of the frieze opened and shut

by a shaft and screw gearing worked from a side room . The staircase is extremely handsome , being seven feet wide , constructed of solid granite , concrete steps , with mahogany balustrades of chaste and beautiful design , the baluster being Ionic columns of the Venetian type , supporting semi-circular

arches curiously moulded , and the main balusters having finials and pendants delicately carved . The effect at the top of the staircase is very effective . The landings have three quaint looking arches resting on ornamental columns . On

the one side these arches communicate with a large balcony , and are richly draped ; while on the other side two of the arches contain heavy mullioned windows , while the third gives access by a half a dozen wide steps to the pronaos of the Temple . The Temple is designed in the Egyptian style , and is modelled on the hypostyle hall of the palace of the King

New Temple At Edinburgh.

Maneptha at Karnac . It is entered by a wide and heavily panelled door with low and deeply recessed lintel , which is calculated to impress the sympathetic visitor with a sense of solemnity . Nor is this sense relieved when the stranger enters the home of the Pharaohs , with its Sphinx ' s heads ,

pylons , and other familiar Egyptian details . Following the plan of the hypostyle hall at Karnac above referred to , the Temple has a row of small columns at each side , with entablative and clerestory above ; while in the centre , forming the supports of the recess at the dais or throne , are two rows of

tall and handsome columns , which are very imposing , and give a dignity and repose to the whole design . The details are simple and massive rather than elaborate , and , have been arranged purposely with a view to an extensive and rather ambitious scheme of mural decorations , which will probably

be carried out in the summer months . The heating . is by electric radiators of the latest type , specially arranged with spaces between heated plates through which . cold air is admitted at the floor level at will , while the vitiated air is

exhausted at the ceiling by fans with electric motors . In the basement is an elaborately-equipped kitchen , with serving rooms , hot closets , and hoists communicating with all floors . — " Scotsman . "

After a Mason has received his third degree , he is left to shift for himself . He is not directed to Masonic literature , nor is definite attempt made to acquaint him with the genius of the institution . He is allowed to acquire his knowledge haphazard , and yet a study of Masonic literature is more

necessary now than ever before . Numbers of those who become Masons are already members of other societies , and instead of absorbing the spirit of the organisation into which they have entered , they endeavour , consciously and unconsciously , to introduce the methods of the institutions from

which they come . -The fact should be impressed on every Mason that in its origin and development , Freemasonry , as a Fraternal institution , holds a unique position , and this fact should never be lost sight of if Freemasonry is to retain its distinguishing characteristics . In most , if not all , other

Fraternal organisations the Fraternal bond is established as a means to a certain end , which is the real object of the existence of the society . In Freemasonry it is the end itself , and all other matters are subservient to it . — -R . S . Thornton , Manitoba .

••• There may be conspiracies for crime , like the Mafia or the Chinese Tongs ; there may be secret conventicles of sin , like the Luciferians of Paris , or the gambling clubs of our own cities . But the principle of mutual association remains

unaffected , though the corruption of the best is the worst ; and vast good arises from it in every walk of life . Such voluntary societies are to be judged by a threefold rule : Their principles , their works , and their membership . Where these three are harmoniously praiseworthy , we may not fear

to pass a favourable verdict , confident that even secrecy hides no harm , but is only the natural reserve drawn round family matters , the privacy proper to every home . So , I believe and testify , we are compelled to pass favourable judgment upon Freemasonry . —Rev . W . H . Van Allen , New York .

Oh , men and women , there is a light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world . It is not difficult to know our duty , it is not difficult to see our way . We do not need to pray for more light , as men are disposed to do , but we need to use more of the light which we have . We do not

need to know more things to do , but we need to do more of the things that we know . That is the need . And God will not stultify Himself by giving His child more light , until His child shows a better disposition to use the light He has already given . —Rev . E . M : Stires , Illinois .

Entertainment Notes.

Entertainment Notes .

Alexandra Theatre . —All round praise is certainly due to Bro . F . W . Purcell in connection with his fourth annual Christmas Pantomime at his comfortable Theatre at Stoke Newington , upwards of four hours continuous enjoyment being provided for his patrons . The old time story of " Puss in Boots " has been selected

for the groundwork , and on that foundation Mr . J . Hickory Wood has written an interesting story . The chief honours of the entertainment are secured by Paul Cinquevalli , whose performances are certainly marvellous , and are alone worth a visit . He is , however , well supported by the other members of the company , who among them succeed in keeping their audiences in a continuous round of laughter ,