A Lodge Bi-Centenary.

A LODGE BI-CENTENARY ,

ON Thursday , 6 th inst ., the members of St . John ' s Lodge , Dunblane , No . 9 , celebrated their bi-contenary . In the course of the afternoon the Brethren were visited by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Perthshire West , and by a deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and dined in the Victoria Hall .

There was present one of the oldest , if not the oldest , Freemason in Scotland—Bro . Wm . Neilson . He is 91 years of noe , and was made a Mason at Denny in 1822—73 years ago . Ihe Lodge having been raised to the third degree , Bro . C . Murrav Stewart W . M . expressed his satisfaction at the excellent

turn-out of members and Brethren from a distance to take part in the interesting ceremony . In handing the mallet of Office to Colonel Stirling , he said they were met to celebrate one of the most eventful periods in the history of the Lodge . They not

only welcomed Colonel Stirling as the Grand Master of Perthshire West , but remembered that he was once Master of the Lodge , and that it was due to him that there was a resuscitation of that Masonic spirit they saw that day . He hoped that Colonel Stirling would long be spared to go out and in among

them . Colonel Stirling said it was with no ordinary feelings that he received from the W . M . ' s hands the emblem of power in that his mother Lodge , where he had gathered round him many friends . He was glad that on an occasion like that , the bi-centenary , not

of the Lodge , but only of its written records , they should have in the chair as their Worshipful Master one so well known to Masonry , so well known in Dunblane , and who was so thoroughly trustworthy , active and zealous . He was proud to be Provincial

Grand Master on that occasion , and it was with feelings of true interest that he was present . Nothing would have brought him north but the bi-centenary of his mother Lodge . In returning the emblem of Office , he expressed the hope that Bro . Murray Stewart might be long spared to worthily fill the chair .

A deputation then attended from Grand Lodge , headed by Sir Charles Dalrymple , of New Hailes , Bart ., Grand Master of Scotland .

Bro . Murray Stewart , in handing the mallet of Office to the Grand Master Mason , explained the object of the meeting , and said that very few Lodges in Scotland were in a position to say that they had complete records for 200 years . Not only were the members proud of their position , but the feeling was

reciprocated in . the Provincial Lodge and in Grand Lodge . He welcomed Sir Charles Dalrymple as the head of the Craft in Scotland , and the deputation who accompanied him , and expressed the hope that he would be long spared to superintend Masonry .

Sir Charles Dalrymple , in returning thanks , said that the occasion was one of no ordinary interest , and it gave him and the deputation from Grand Lodge the greatest pleasure to be present . Bro . Murray Stewart read a short history of the Lodge ,

which it had been arranged to put m a jar and place in a cavity in the Lodge Room floor along with lists of the Masters of the Lodge since 1695 , Provincial Grand Officers , bye-laws of Provincial Grand Lodge and of Lodge Dunblane , and copies of the " Dundee Advertiser " and order of service that , dav . Thp

Grand Master placed the jar in the . cavity , the Brethren meanwhile singing " Oh God , our help in ages past . " Bro . Murray Stewart , on behalf of the Office-bearers and members of the Lodge , presented Sir Charles Dalrymple with the silver trowel with which he had performed the ceremony , and thanked him

and the members of Grand Lodge for their presence and assistance at the celebration of their 200 th birthday . He trusted that it would be a memorial to him of the service that day , and a token to future generations of the interest which Sir Charles took in Masonry . The trowel bore the following inscription : —

" Presented to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of Scotland Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., M . P ., of New Hailes , by the Right Worshipful Master , Office-bearers , and members of Lodge No . 9 , Dunblane , on the occasion of the bi-centenary celebration of the written records of their Lodge . — 6 th June 1895 . "

Sir Charles Dalrymple said that when he was invited to be present he had no expectation that so interesting and impressive a ceremony would have formed part of the proceedings , and he could not imagine any circumstance that could lead him to receive that beautiful trowel . He would treasure the gift more tnan

. he cou "l say . It was the second he had received since his appointment as Master Mason , and he looked on them as milestones and landmarks of his Masonic career . He reciprocated most heartily on the part of the Grand Lodge the kind things uicn

" tne Worshipful Master had said , and expressed his pleasure that the account of the Lodge was to be preserved in a more enduring form . Nothing could be more interesting than the connection between the Lodge and the family of the Provincial " " Master , He noticed with interest the reference made to

A Lodge Bi-Centenary.

his generosity in the matter of the hall . It was no ordinary thing to be able to say that one man ' s family had been connected with a Lodge for upwards of 150 years , at all events . But one thing was even more interesting than that , and it was that the interest in Masonry by the representative of the family at the

present day should be as great as at any previous time . He congratulated Bro . Murray Stewart in occupying the chair on that occasion , and said that no one who listened to his remarks that day would feel that they could have had a better Chairman . The Lodge was closed in the usual form . — " Dundee Advertiser . "

The Coborn Lodge of Instruction , No . 1804 , has been removed from the Eagle , Snaresbrook , and now meets on Thursdays , at 8 p . m . at the George Inn , High Road , South Woodford .

Lady Lechmere has presented to the Province of Worcestershire , for the use of its Master for the time being , the clothing and jewels of office which were worn by her husband , the late Sir Edmund A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P .

A grand Bazaar and Fancy Fair is to be held in Brownlow House and Gardens , Lurgan , commencing Monday , 24 th inst ., and to continue for the three succeeding days , with the object of raising sufficient funds to build a Masonic Hall suitable for the

requirements of the three Lodges working in the town ( 24 , 134 , and 151 under the Irish Constitution ) . Our Irish Brethren appear to have made every arrangement to ensure success , and we hope the efforts of the many Ladies and others who are

working will lead to the most satisfactory results . As we have had the pleasure of business relations with one of the Hon Secretaries and Treasurers ( Bro . S . Agnew , M . D . ) for many years past , we should like to be the means of securing him a

contribution to the fund for which he is working , and therefore ask our readers to bear the Bazaar in mind if they have anything suitable for the many stalls that will be provided . As is usual in these matters , there is no limit to the variety of articles that may be sent , whether of Masonic or general interest .

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GAIETY RESTAURANT , ST ^^ lsHD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and RESTAURANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GRILL ROOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in RESTAURANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the VIENNESE BAND performs from 6 tillS . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICAN BAR . THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PBT 7 ATE DlflLNG E 00 MS P 0 E LAME AUD SMALL PAETTJS 8 .