Provincial Grand Lodge Of Dumbartonshire. Laying A Foundation Stone.

Freemason could cordially support , as it was tending to raise the moral and social status of onr fellow working men . The Secretary , Bro . Riddle , read letters of apology from Mr . Thompson and Dr . Begg , of Edinburgh . Mr . Edmiston , Chairman of the Directors , then requested the P . G . M . to accept the handsome silver trowel which he had used in the ceremony . Bro . Steel , in

reply , said it would not be the least valuable of the heir-looms he should leave to his family . The procession then returned in inverted order to the Lodge room , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was CloBed , the brethren remaining together in harmony till the last trains took them east and west to their respective destinations . In consequence of domestic affliction the pi ace of the P . G . S ., Bro . McBride , was supplied by Bro . Ferguson , P . M . St . John ' s , Dalmuir , 548 .

Masons On The Mountains.

MASONS ON THE MOUNTAINS .

From the "NEW ENGLAND FREEMASON . "

THE eastern press published at the time of its occurence , last September , an account of a remarkable meeting of tho Masons of Nevada , in tho vicinity of Virginia City , on the top of Mount Davidson , eight thousand feet above the level of the sea ; but the account was merely a crowded newspaper paragraph , and did not give an adequate idea of the event , which was-a most remarkable one , and worthy of commemoration . The brethren of the Virginia Lodge ,

No . 3 , of Nevada , have cansed an elegant memorial of the affair to be prepared for preservation by the participants , viz .: a full account of the proceedings , contained in a broadside of the " Virginia Territorial Enterprise , " of 9 Sept . 1875 , printed upon white silk , bordered with blue , —a beautiful object when framed , as well as being valuable for its Masonio associations . A copy of this as been sent to Brother

B . P . Shillaber , of Chelsea , by friends in Nevada , and we have been permitted to prepare from it an aocount in detail of that most exalted Convocation , of which we gave only a brief notice in our October number . In May last the * Virginia Lodge was " burnt ont , " and , through the kindness of their neighbours , the Odd Fellows , was sheltered in

the apartments of that Order , until , by the great fire early in September , they , with their generous entertainers , were made homeless . Under these circumstances , with no place of meeting , it occurred to tho brethren that they might revive the custom of the ancients , who held their meetings on the tops of hills or in low valleys ; and they saw in Mount Davidson , their neighbour , an excellent place for

the purpose . The summit , which is but about three-quarters of a mile from the city , is accessible to pedestrians and horses , but the way is tedious . About three hundred brethren joined tho procession , on foot and horseback , seventy from Virginia Lodge , and visitors from Gold Hill , Silver City , Dayton and Carson , including M . W . Robert W . Bollen , Graud Master , J . McGinnis , Grand Marshal , and

a suite of Past Grand Officers . This place of meeting was certainly one that would not have been selected for its facilities as a Lodge , nor its comfort , it being but a jumble of broken and ragged rocks ; yet the " Enterprise " launches forth into the most eloquent description of it , which we copy : — " Never , since the morning stars sang their Inllaby over the cradled

earth , was there a more perfect representation of a Masonic Lodge room than tho one in which the mombers of Virginia , No . 3 , and their visiting brethren , held their communication yesterday . This existed not only iu the Charter , tho Greater and Lesser Lights , and the nnmber requisite to compose a Lodge , but it was literally bounded by the extreme points of the compass . Its dimensions from east to

west , and from north to south , embraced every clime . Its covering was no less than tho clouded canopy ; and it is only where this is wanting that tho literal supports—the three great pillars of Wisdom , Strength and Beauty—are needed . But , metaphorically , they were all there ; for where in a Lodgo room was ever seen such wisdom to contrive , strength to support , and beauty to adorn . Verily , it was a

meeting in the temple of Deity , and tho wisdom , strength and beauty which are abont His throne were present in the symmetry , order and grandeur of this primitivo Lodgo room . It was a Lodge , the dimensions of which , like the universal chain of friendship of the Order , included the entire human family . Upon tho brow of the mountain , and a little south of tho flag . staff , an alter of rongh ashlar had been

improvised , whereon rested tho three Great Lights of Masonry . Beside them stood tho representatives of tho three lesser lights . Rude chairs had also been built of rough granite for the W . M ., S . W . and J . W ., while the Deacons found ample accommodation among the boulders around . A large G had been cut from sheet metal , and nailed to the flag-staff . The Tyler was indeed in trouble ; for in

such a place how could the Lodge be securely tyled in accordance with Masonic usage ? But nnder the direction of the W . M ., a row of pickets , designated by white badges on thoir loft arms , was stationed all around the summit . They were near each other , so that none could pass or repass without permission . " The Lodge came to order at the sound of the gavel , when , as

among so many as were in attendance , it was impossible to find vouchers for all , the M . W . G . M . present granted a dispensation to open without form . An opening ode was sung by the Lodge quartette , a prayer offered by Rev . G . D . Hammond ; then the white Masonic flag , emblazoned with the sqnare and compasses and the letter G , was flung to the breezes , greeted by cheers , and the work began .

The jewels worn , made from Ophir gold , and valued at 500 dols ., had passed through both fires ; and though warped , and some portions melted , but one was missing . W . Albert Hires then called M . W . G . M . Bollen to the East , who presided in a very happy manner . In taking the position , he said he had been a Mason for twenty-eight years , and this was the happiest moment of his life . He alluded pleasantly to the old custom of hold .

Masons On The Mountains.

ing meetings on the hills , and recalled several instances where meetings had thus been held in California—one at Ragtown , where the brethren had thus met to raise money and provisions for suffering emigrants , over whioh he had the honour to preside ; another at Eureka , in 1851 , another in Auburn , California , and another where

the three degrees had been conferred ; bnt gave Virginia Lodge the credit of opening a Lodge higher than any ever opened in the United States . The Lodge then proceeded to business , under the call of " good of the Order , " and closed for social observance of the occasion .

Hon . Brother C . E . De Long , of Virginia Lodge , was called up and made a brilliant speech , a brief abstract of which we quote from the " Enterprise . " He alluded to the fact that " events , however unim . portant in themselves , and considered trifling at the time , not infrequently marked great epochs in the world ' s history . The events

of the day , although considered but the events of a holiday , wonld be a marked epooh in Masonry . He pictured forcibly the rise and fall of nations . It was tho pride and glory of the Craft that it had sur . vived the fall of governments and all the changes of the moving world . They were assembled beneath the All-Seeing Eye of Him

who is tho Grand Architect of the Universe , and it behoved each Brother , with that light shining into his heart , to ask himself if he was living true to the tenets of tho Order and to tho lessons taught in the Lodge room . Ho sketched the surroundings within which they had erected their altar . Beneath them was the wealth of Ophir , and

around them the tumult of trade . The earth seemed accurst and rendered an unfit dwelling-place for man , bnt it is to be redeemed through tho intelligence of man , and each one had his part to perform in the work . Ho then told how , in Japan , ho had assisted in welding the link in Masonry which made tho chain complete around tho world .

Up to that time there had been one land whero the Order was not known . Now there was none . Masonry belted the globe . Tho lights of the altar had been lighted , and now there were six Lodges in the empire of Japan . " Col . R . H . Taylor , a visiting brother , then read the following beautiful and appropriate poem : —

The Lord unto the Prophet said : " Upon tho mountain ' s topmost round , Far as its breezy limits spread , . Shall be most holy ground . "

'Neath God ' s blest dome , on lofty hills , Whose crests first catoh the morning heat , —Whose light the evening glory fills , — The Craft was wont to meet .

There , far above the busy mart , Aud from its care aud turmoil free , They learned the lesson of the heart , To " work " and to " agree . "

Oh , sacred hills of olden time , Whoso hoary crags resist the gale , Te have a history sublime The ages cannot pale !

Again , to-day , the sons of light , As did their sires of olden days . Upon the mountain ' s dizzy height , Their mystic banner raise .

Again , above the dizzy marts , Where human feet have seldom trod , We raise our voices and our hearts In reverence to God .

Almighty Father ! by whose will Tho mountains rise , and worlds do move , Thy blessing grant ; descend and fill Each Mason ' s , heart with love . Brother E . A . Sherman made a brief speech , in which he alluded to

tho significance of tho meeting upon Mount Davidson—our Grand Master Solomon being David ' s son . Brother Gen . Williams indulged in reminiscences of past Brethren of tho Order . Brother R . M . Daggett made a short speech , ending with : " I have nothing against any brother here , so help me God ; " and Brothers Currie and Hopkins

closed the speaking , which was all excellent . A " touching prayer " . was offered by Rev . Brother S . P . Kelly , " Auld Laug Syne" was sung by the gathering , and the Lodge closed in " ample form , " the brethren , before they left the mountain , chipping the altar to pieces for relics .

Previous to closing , a vote of thanks was moved by Brother De Long , to Brother Gen . J . H . Winters , for starting the movement which had given them all such gratification , which vote was carried . Tho following States and countries were represented by those present : New York , California , West Virginia , Kansas , Michigan ,

Utah , Missouri , Iowa , Wisconsin , Maino , Colorado , New Jersey , Washington , D . C , England , Scotland , Minnesota , Massachusetts , Oregon , Washington Ter ., Virginia , Nova Scotia , North Carolina , Nebraska , Pennsylvania , Illinois , Canada West , Idaho , New Zealand , Kentucky . Several ladies wero present , and a number of children .

A gratuitous paragraph in the "Enterprise" describes an " iceolated " but important feature of the day : " The multitude yesterday upon the mountain were greatl y indebted to Mr . Mackey for the thoughtful and timel y donation of one hundred and fifty pounds of ice , which ho hired toted to the top on the backs of two

Chinamen ' s mules . These mules were afterwards stationed between the flag-staff and the city , and may have been mistaken by near , sighted individuals for true Masonic goats . " The Lodgd has since been rebuilt , and waB to hare been ready for dedication 1 st January 1876 .