The Masonic Dispute In Scotland.

thing when brethren dwell together in unity , and will smile the smile of sarcasm when they read these evidences of what must certainly be described as something else than unity . Even a Mason may be pardoned the exhibition of unusual warmth when stoutly defending some cardinal

principle of Freemasonry , when , for instance , he is engaged in upholding the ancient landmarks of the Order , or when he is resenting the unwarranted , because unjust , attacks on them which are occasionally made by the bigot or the scoffer . In such case a defence couched in stronger

terms than are ordinarily employed in argument is excusable ; nay , we should not think much of him who did not so indulge himself , as the lack of warmth might be considered as betokening a state of indifference to the fair fame of the Craft . But for brethren of position to have

been betrayed into a most unseemly squabble over a matter of comparative unimportance is pitiful indeed , and , as we have said , will not tend to enhance the reputation of Freemasons in the opinion of the general public . We claim , and by the outside world are assumed , to be a body

of men united together by the most fraternal feelings . One of our watchwords is " Charity , " which we use , not simply in the sense of almsgiving , but in that infinitely wider and moro extended sense in which it is used by one

of the sacred writers of the earliest Christian era ; yet a simple statement , which , whether it were right or wrong , was of little moment , has sufficed to set the whole body of Scottish Freemasons by the ears . What makes it worse still is that the Grand Master Mason of Scotland is himself

in great measure responsible for this unseemly dicussion having taken place . Having seen a statement in the Scotsman to the effect that Bro . Inglis of Torsonce , Depute Grand Master , had declined to be put in nomination , on the ground that the present Grand Master ,

( Sir M . R . Shaw Stewart ) had expressed a wish to retain office for another year , thereupon the Grand Master writes to say that he had not been consulted by Bro . Inglis or his friends , and that he had not expressed any

desire for re-election . Still he had latterly been made aware of a very strong wish on the part of a large number of Freemasons , including the most influential in the Craft , that he should retain his office for the present , and for reasons which he believed were as well known to Bro .

Inglis as to himself . Now , whether the Grand Master had expressed a wish to be re-elected , or whether a large and influential section of the Craft had memorialised him to retain office for the present , was a matter so entirely imma . terial to tho outside public , that it was matter for surprise Si r

M . Shaw Stewart should have for a singlo moment entertained the idea of writing to non-Masonic journals about it . It is true the statement he was anxious to rectify appeared in the columns of such a journal ; but , in our humble opinion , the proper place for the correction of so trivial a

misunderstanding was Grand Lodge itself , when a few words of conversation between the Grand Master and the Depute Grand Master would have set the whole thing at rest . Nor was there any reason in pointing out that Bro . Inglis or his friends had not consulted him ( the Grand Master ) , because

there was no absolute reason why he or they should have done so . Bro . Inglis had acted with the greatest courtesy towards his chief , declining to be nominated to the Grand Mastership when he heard—erroneously as it turned out , however—that the latter was desirous of retaining office

another year . A brief explanatory statement to Bro . Inglis to this effect , that he ( Sir M . Stewart ) had not expressed any such desire , would have answered every purpose till the next Communication of Grand Lodge , when further personal explanations would have set the whole matter at rest .

But the Grand Master having initiated the discussion in the columns of the Scotsman , the Depute Grand Master followed the example of his chief , and wrote a letter to the effect that he was not acquainted with the reasons which had induced a section of the Craft to request the

Grand Master to retain office for a further term , that he had declined " the requisition of nearl y five hundred members of the Craft from all quarters of Scotland to be put in nomination for the chair solely from a desire to avoid unpleasant and unseemly discussion

in Grand Lodge ; " but that if the Grand Master was under the impression that his re-election was desired by " those most influential in the Craft" he ( Bro . Inglis ) , was quite willing to abide the result of a scrutiny of their respective requisitions . The challenge in the last clause we have referred to , is not , we regret to say , in accordance with'Bro . Inglis ' s previous and invariable courtesy . It

The Masonic Dispute In Scotland.

means simply : Let us try this issue , which of us is the more popular with the Craft , you whose re-election is desired by " those most influential in the Craft , " or I who have received a requisition signed by nearly 500 members

to be nominated for the chair . Moreover , in italicising tho words which are in italics , Bro . Inglis would appear to have cast some doubt on Sir M . Shaw Stewart ' s statement .

In short , tho Grand Master made a serious mistake when he sent his letter for publication , and the Depute Grand Master assuredly did not mend matters by replying . Had the matter stopped here , much as we might have regretted

the unseemliness of the controversy , we should havo contented ourselves with feeling , instead of expressing , our regret , but with one exception , the following letters have made matters still worse . Let the reader

note carefully their contents , and he cannot do otherwise than arrive at the conclusion that , while the language in which they are couched may bo unobjectionable , the tone which characterises all but that signed " R . W . MASTER " is most decidedly to be deprecated . " R . W . MASTER " thinks with us that there existed

other ways and means whereby the Grand Master Mason of Scotland might have made known " to the Craft ( who alone have an interest ) his sentiments on all subjects relating to its affairs . " But even he thinks it worth while to express his opinion that " a change in the occupancy

of the Masonic throne would he desirable , " thus at once constituting himself an opponent of the Grand Master , if not a partisan of tho Depute Grand Master . We regret the publication of controversial letters on a purely Masonic subject in anon-Masonic journal ; in the first place , because

it is uncalled for , the internal administration of the Craft being a matter of no interest to non-Masons : and in the next , because those who take part in the controversy

appear to lay aside those sentiments of charity by which Brethren of the Mystic Tie—presumably living together in unity — are supposed to be animated towards one another .

Meeting Of Lancashire Freemasons.

MEETING OF LANCASHIRE FREEMASONS .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of tho Western Division of Lancashire was held at tho Philharmonic Hall on Wednesday . The Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , Deputy Grand Worshipful Master of England , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of Lancashire ( the second most extensive province in tho United Kingdom ) presided , and he was assisted by a large nnmber of past and present Provincial Grand

Lodge Officers . Altogether there wero over 1 , 000 brethren present , each wearing fall Masonic dress , with his insignia or jewels of office . Bro . Spence W . M . Lodgo 32 officiated as W . M . in opening the Craft Lodge in accordance with the ancient rules and customs ; Bros . W . J . Chapman I . P . M . 1 , 609 as P . M ., W . W . Iolton 113 as S . W ., Jowett 281 as J . W ., and R . 11 . Evans 292 as J . D . The Prov . Grand Lodge

having been announced , a procession was formed , and the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form . The Provincial Grand Secretary ( Bro . H . S . Alpass ) then read the roll of Lodges in the Province , when the responses showed that the whole of the 79 , with the exception of two , were represented . Tho absent Lodges were the Ellesmere , No 730 , Chorley , and the Arthur John Brogden , No .

1 , 715 , Grange-Over-Sands . The Provincial Grand Secretary also read the minutes of the last Prov . Grand Lodge meeting , held at South , port , which were confirmed . It appeared from the report of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , which was taken as read , that the balances fiom last year were : — Charity Fund , £ 308 lis 6 d ; Prov . Grand Lodge Fund , £ 369 2 s lid ;

Fund of Benevolence , £ 1 , 637 3 s 9 d—total , £ 2 , 314 18 s 2 d . The income during the year with theso balances amounted to the following Bums : — Charity Fund , £ 472 5 » 9 d ; Prov . Grand Lodge Fund , £ 719 Os 2 d ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 1 , 962 19 s lOd—total £ 3 , 154 5 s 9 d . The disbursements included votes of £ 200 for the Indian Famine Fund , £ 100 to tho Royal Masonic Educational Benevolent Institution , and £ 105 to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational

Institution . The report also showed that up to the last report the sum of £ 1 , 829 5 s had been paid to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . There had been £ 1 , 000 invested in a bond in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board ; £ 773 8 s Id in the Savings' Bauk ; and £ 757 10 s 5 d in the National Bank of Liverpool . The balances at tho

end of the financial year were : —Charity Fund , £ 472 5 s 9 d ; Prov . Grand Lodge Fund , £ 719 03 2 d ; Fund of Benevolence , £ 1 , 962 19 s lOd —total , £ 3 , 154 5 s 9 d . On the motion of Bro . Dr . J . K . Smith , Bro . J . T . Callow P . M . 673 and 1505—a most assiduous Mason—was unanimously appointed to the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer . Bro . Callow returned

thanks . The P . G . M . then proceeded to invest his Officers for the ensuing year : Bros . W . J . A . Baldwin ( Baltoo-in-Fnrness ) P . Q . O . W ., H . R . Kobertson ( Liverpool ) P . G . J . W ., Rev . J . Rees Jenkins 216 P . G . Chaplain , Ralph Robinson 1502 P . G . Reg ., F . W . Sergeant 203 P . G . S . D ., W . Archer 1086 P . G . J . D ., J . E . Jackson 667 P . G . S . of W ., J . Welis 580 P . G . D . C ., J . Wainwright 613 P . G . A . D . C ., E . C . Cooper