Grand Lodge Virginia.

contents completes this highly interesting and very elaborate report of this Grand Lodge . Two among the points we have recapitulated above deserve tho special attention of our readers . The first of them is the great importance attached in this , and we may

add , in all American jurisdictions , to the appointment of a Grand Lecturer , whose duty it is to see that the working of the different Lodges is uniform throughout the jurisdiction , and that it is not neglected . The other is that the working , on one day of the meeting , of the thi'ee degrees ,

and of the third degree on the second occasion was exemplified in Grand Lodge under the direction , in the latter instance , of the Grand Lecturer , who waa aided in his duties by members of the Grand Working Committee . We in England may take a lesson from our brethren of Virginia .

We are far too indifferent in this country to the working of our beautiful ceremonies , and the sooner Grand Lodge takes upon itself to appoint officers , whose duty it shall be to see that the different degrees are well and uniformly worked , the better for the general body of the Craft . We

may add , however , that this will be of very doubtful benefit indeed unless Lodges themselves are careful in the selection of competent officers . Were there Grand Lecturers in England at this present time , we doubt if one-half of the Lodges would be able to acquit themselves even moderately

well , much less with credit , in the labours of the Lodge ; while in far too many cases , the attempt at working would amount simply to a most pitiable display of absolute—we feel almost disposed to add—crass ignorance on the part of the Worshipful Masters . This is a matter which calls for

immediate remedy . Lodges of Instruction are of little use if they are not properly attended ; and it is very little good in brethren visiting them unless they go prepared to expend some trouble in acquiring a portion of that knowledge in which so many of them are so lamentably deficient . We

beg leave to add that this is our deduction from the Pro . ceedings of the Virginia Grand Lodge recorded above . We think it is a very fair one , and we trust that , at no very distant date , it will be in onr power to announce that it has been acted upon . It is not credit able that , in themotherland

of Freemasonry , the members of the Craft should be left to pick up their crumbs of knowledge anyhow . Still less creditable is it that brethren should be pitchforked into positions they are utterly incompetent to fill . The oft quoted lines of Horace ' s epistle to the Pisos occurs to na as very

appropriate—Hnmano capiti cervicem pictor eqninam Jungere ei velit , et varias inducere plnmas Undique collatis membris , ufc tnrpitor atrum Desinafc in piscem mulier formosa superne ; Spectatum admissi risum teneatis , amici P

Had Horace lived in these days , and been a member of one among sundry of our English Lodges of Freemasons , he would have written , perhaps , somewhat to the following effect : — " How , my brethren , will you be able to refrain

from laughter , if , when you enter a Lodge for the solemn purposes of Freemasonry , you find the representative of King Solomon with the body of a Worshipful Master , the head of a donkey , and the gorgeous plumage of an unintelligent parrot ?

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

ELECTION OF GRAND SECRETARY . A SPECIAL meeting of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was held at Freemasons' Hall , George-street , Edinburgh , on Monday , the 19 th insfc ., for the purpose of determining the salary of the Grand Secretary , and to elect a brother to fill the position . Grand Lodge was opened at 5 o'clock , in ample form , by the M . W . the Grand Master , Sir Michael R . Shaw Stewart , with H . Inglis D . G . M .,

William Mann acting S . G . W ., W . Hay acting J . G . W ., Captain G . R . Harriott , Prov . G . M . of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright , Roger Montgomerie , M . P . Prov . G . M . of Ayrshire , the Rev . A . Thomson Grant , Grand Chaplain , W . Officer , Representative of the Grand Lodge of Egypt , Dr . Loth , Representative of the Grand Orient of France ,

David Kinnear , interim Cashier and Secretary , Alexander Hay , Grand Jeweller , Daniel Robertson , Grand Bible Bearer , G . Hunter Thorns , Proxy Grand Master of South Australia , F . A . Barrow , D . G . M . Glasgow , J . J . Muirhaad , W . Clark , W . L . Mair , & c . The first business transacted was the reading of the report of the Grand

Committee . This stated that there had been fifteen candidates for the office of Grand Secretary , from whom the Committee had selected threa , and they recommended that the salary shonld be fixed at £ 400 per annum , with £ 100 extra for clerks . It was moved by Bro . Officer that £ 300 be allowed the Grand Secretary , with £ 100 for a clerk . Grand Lodge , he said , for some time past had been spending more

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

i Itaii its income , and lie thought they ought to act as they would for themselves , and retrench tho expenditure until their income would allow them to he moro liberal . Bro . Mackenzie , Past Muster of St . John ' s , Fishi-rrow , moved that tho salary bo £ 100 , with £ 100 for a clerk , if necessary . These motions wero seconded , and after a deal of discussion tfio roll was catted , when there voted for Bro . Officer ' s

motion , 190 ; and for the amendment , 187 ; so that , by a majority ot niuo , the salary was fixed at £ 300 , with £ 100 for a clerk . The appointment of Grand Secretary was then proceeded with . For this office Grand Committee had suggested Bros . D . Murray Lyon , Ayr , R . Wylie , Secretary and Past Master of Mother Lodge , Kilwinning , and W . B . Heath P . M . and Sec . 198 , London . It was suggested

by the Grand Master that as Bro . Heath , though highly respectable and highly recommended , was necessarily unknown to the brethren iu Scotland , aud would not receive any considerable amount of support , his name should first be put to tbo meeting . His election was accordingly proposed by Bro . Maun , who referred to the very high certificates the caudidate had been able to produce , and said that

while he might not expect success , it was extremely gratifying to him to find himself so highly appreciated by his Scotch brethren . Bro . G . C . C . Christie duly seconded the nomination , but the result was such as to leave no hope of success , and accordingly tho vote was left as between the two other candidates . Bro . F . A . Barrow , Glasgow , then moved the election of Bro . D .

Murray Lyon , recommending him , from a knowledge of his qualifications for many years , as a man of honour , high character , position , and ability for the office . He had bestowed a great amount of labour on Freemasonry ; his writings thereon were held as standard works , not only in Scotland , but all over the globe . He had had considerable practical experience in financial and literary matters , and he had no

doubt he would bring all this experience to bear favourably upon the interests of Grand Lodge . In support of his remarks , the speaker referred to a recommendation from the Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire , and a letter from the office-bearers of that Lodge . Bro . Daniel Robertson seconded , and referred to the assistance which the candidate had rendered in connection with Masonry in the province

of Ayr . Bro . Roger Montgomerio , M . P ., moved the appointment of Bro . R . Wylie , remarking that he had taken upon himself , as Past Master of Mother Kilwinning , to appear before them to propose Bro . Wylio , who for many years had been Grand Secretary of the Provincial Lodge of Ayrshire . He submitted his name along with that of Bro .

Murray Lyon , for whom he had the greatest respect , and asked them to give their vote to the ca didate they thought the best . If their decision were in favour of Bro . Wylie , he had not the slightest hesition in saying that their choice would be beneficial to Masonry iu Scotland , and highly satisfactory to the Provincial Lodge with which he had tho honour of being connected . As stated by Bro . Barrow ,

Bro . Wylie had signed an address , in which it was said that Bro . Murray Lyon would make a good Secretary ; but he did not see thab that fact should prevent Bro . Wylie from coming forward as a candi . date when pressed by a number of office-bearers . During tho past fifteen years Bro . Wylie had done good service to the Craft in Ayrshire Lodge Kilwinning . He was a man iu the prime of life , had been

brought up in business habits , and had acquired practical experience of the working in Freemasonry . This motion was seconded by Brother James W'Cosh , Dairy ; aud the two propositions were then put to the vote , when Bro . Murray Lyon was elected by 210 against 128 . Tho newly appointed Secretary was then formally installed into his office , tbe Grand Master expressing a hope that ho would show his

appreciation of the manner in which he had been elected by devoting himself entirely to his important duties , in which no doubt he would be aided by the assistance of the office-bearers of Grand Lodge , and tha members of the Craft in general . The Grand Secretary having appropriately acknowledged these remarks , Grand Lodge waa closed in ample form .

Ancient And Accepted Rite

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE

THE following changes have taken place in the Supreme Council 33 ° for England and Wales : — 111 . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon having resigned hia high office of M . P . S . G . C , was succeeded therein by III . Bro . Captain N . G . Philips , who appointed the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale as Lt . G . Commander .

111 . Bro . Captain N . G . Philips having likewise resigned his office was succeeded by 111 . Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , who appointed 111 . Bro . Captain N . G . Philips as his Lt . G . Commander . The Supreme Council is now constituted as follows : —

GRAND PATKON . III . Bro . H . R . H . Albert , Edward Prince of Wales , K . G SupiraiE COUNCIL

111 . Bros . The Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale M . P . S . G . C . „ Captain Nathaniel George Philips Pt . M . P . S . G . C . and Most 111 . Lt . G . O .

„ Major-General Henry Clerk , Grand Treasurer-General . „ John Montagu Pulteney Montagu , Grand Chancellor . „ Major Shadwell Henry Gierke , Grand Secretary-General „ Dr . Robert Hamilton , Grand Chaplain . „ Sir Michael Costa , Grand Captain of Guards .

„ Colonel Alexander William Adair , Sov . Grand Inspector General . „ Hugh David Sandeman , Sov . Grand Inspector . General . Assistant-Secretary—111 . Bro . W . Hyde Pullen .