Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

was to be proposed by Captain Hope the Substitute Grand Master—and in the absence of the latter the Brethren would not think it wrong that he proposed it . The manner in which the Reserve had answered the call to service was a most notable feature in the loyalty and patriotism of the

country and an acknowledgment of the justice of the war . The large employers of these men had agreed to keep their billets open for them until they returned from the war , and that was only what would be expected of large employers in such a nation as Great Britain . That also was an excellent

proof of acknowledgment of the justice of the war . No doubt many wives and children of the soldiers would become widows and orphans , and credit must be given to the Grand Secretary for suggesting this motion . He had sincere pleasure in proposing it , and no doubt his successor would see that it was at least doubled .

This was seconded by Colonel Ivison Macadam , and unanimously adopted . The Grand Master stated , in answer to a question , that the vote would not be sent through the Patriotic Fund in London .

The Grand Master said he had now " served his time of three years , and had to propose as his successor the Hon . iames Hozier , M . P . He was well known to Grand Lodge , e was an important member of Parliament , and he had a personality which was well known and would carry on the record of Freemasonry in Scotland .

Colonel Ivison Macadam seconded the motion , and spoke of the popularity of the nominee , and his certainty that he would prove a worthy successor to Lord Saltoun . The following letter from the Hon . J . Hozier was read : —

" As the members of Grand Committee have paid me the very great compliment of nominating mo for the Grand Mastership , I think that , in all the circumstances , it will be better for me not to attend the Quarterly Communication on Thursday , when the election will lake place , as my qualifications for such a high honour can be more thoroughly and more unbiasedly discussed and considered in my absence . I place myself unreservedly in the

hands of Grand Lodge . If Grand Lodge , as is quite likely , prefers to elect another Brother as Grand Master , that Brother , whoever he may be , will have no more loyal , no more devoted support than mine . If , on the other hand , fche choice of Grand Lodge falls upon me—unworthy though I consider myself to be—it will be my most earnest effort to prove myself , as far as I possibly can , worthy of such a great trust . "

On the motion of Brother W . Officer , S . S . C , a cordial vote of thanks was enthusiastically passed to Lord Saltoun for his services as Grand Master . His Lordship , in acknowledging , thanked the Brethren for the support they had given him , and expressed " his best wishes for the future welfare of Grand Lodge .

It was reported that the income for the past eleven months of this year had been £ 5 , 888 , compared with £ 5 , 793 during the corresponding period of last year—an increase of £ 95 . The income for past quarter had been £ 825 . and the

expenditure £ 895 . During that period there had been 1 , 080 entrants to the Order . £ 137 had been voted from the Benevolence Fund to Brethren in distress , or the Widows of Brethren .

Grand Secretary submitted a report showing that none of the Lodges in the following Provinces now met in licensed premises : —Metropolitan , Glasgow City , Renfrewshire West , Kincardineshire , Aberdeen City , Caithness , Orkney and

Shetland , Dumfriesshire , and Sutherlandshire . In all the other Provinces only twenty-one Lodges met in licensed premises , but all of these are about to build or purchase , or are endeavouring to secure , unlicensed premises , or keeping before them the desirableness of doing so .

It seems a pity that the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of English Freemasons , has found himself unable to accept the invitation of the American Freemasons who wished him to be present at the Masonic ceremonies in connection with the forthcoming centenary of the death of George

Washington , for the presence of the Duke of Cornwall at these ceremonies would have constituted , in some sense , a graceful return for the remarkable compliment which Washington once paid to English Freemasonry through the medium of one of the Cornish regiments . It is on record

that during the War of Independence the " Masonic chest " of the 46 th Regiment ( now known as the 2 nd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall ' s Light Infantry ) fell into the hands of the Americans , and the fact was duly reported to General

Washington . He at once gave directions for a guard of honour , under the command of a distinguished officer , to return the chest to the regiment , under a flag of truce . According to one account "the guard of honour , with their flutes playing a sacred march—the chest , containing the

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

constitutions and implements of the Craft , borne aloft like another Ark of the Covenant equally by Englishmen and Americans who lately engaged in the strife of war—now marched through the enfiladed ranks of the gallant regiment that , with presented arms and colours , hailed the glorious act

by cheers which the sentiment rendered sacred as the hallelujahs of an angel's song . " It might have been even practicable for the Duke of Cornwall to take with him , for use in the ceremonies at Mount Vernon , the identical Volume of the Sacred Law on which George Washington took his

•' obligation" when he was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry ; for it is said that this precious relic is actually possessed by the Masonic Lodge connected with the " Gallant

4 6 th , " and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the Lodge ( though working , we believe , under the Irish Constitution ) would have entrusted this treasure to the Grand Master of England under such peculiarly interesting circumstances . — "Western Morning News . "

It is proposed to give a complimentary benefit to Bro . Robert Dottie P . M . De Grey and Ripon Lodge , No . 1161 , on his retirement from public life , and through the kindness of Bro . J . Pitt Hardacre , late of the Dramatic Lodge , No . 2387 , there will be a Matinee in the Comedy Theatre ,

Manchester , on Wednesday , r 5 th instant . Distinguished patronage , which represents the elite of Lancashire , Cheshire , and neighbouring Provinces , where Bro . Dottie is well known on account of his humorous recitations and clever sketches of

humble character , has been obtained , and , according to the announcements , " a host of well known favourites have kindly promised their services , and will travel specially to Manchester for the occasion . " We sincerely hope our Bro . Dottie will have a bumper house .

On Thursday Bro . John Nathaniel Willis was duly invested as Mayor of Gravesend , and in the evening presided at a public dinner held at the Clarendon Hotel , when he was supported by the members and officials of the Corporation , several naval and military Officers , " and the leading gentlemen of the district .

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