Very Great Luminaries.

who have denounced Masonry if they have over heard of the Masonic Fraternity as a body engaged in the persecution of individuals or of institutions of any kind ? Has she begun the strife iu which different political

parties have engaged ? We answer most emphatically that she has not . Has she gone forth in her strength , and set herself in battle array against those who have denounced the institution ? No , but she has left them to deride beneath the clouds of their

own ignorance . Has she assembled her legions , and declared a crusade againsfc Christianity ? No , but she implores the protection of the same being , worships the same God , inculcating brotherly love and that kind of perfect charity which is not obstrusive in its character ,

called forth and exercised upon true principles . Sho sends no herald before her to proclaim the goodness and tbo amount of the gift , but the blessings of charity are felt and received , without coming into contact wifch tho gaze or cold and heartless indifference of the world-. This ,

brethren , is one of the secrets of our Order which lias been productive of much good in tho world , having been built upon that admirable teaching of our Lord , which reads

thus : " Bufc when thou doest aim * , let not th y left hand know what thy right hand doeth , * tbat thine alms may be iu secret , aud th y Father , which seeth in secret , Himself shall reward thee openly . "

Friends , bear with tis for a moment , while we present you with a few of the emblems or working tools of our profession , recollecting , at the same time , that Masonry does not stand alone in teaching and illustrating by signs or symbols , the great principles of her existence . All

nature abounds iu emblems which illustrate her being , pointing man to the great Maker of all things ; pointing man to God , who has seen fit to teach by emblematic instruction—thereby making it the striking and eloquent

language of heaven . Do you ask for evidence ? Fancy you see at this moment the bow of God . Look , behold , and see the sign of His promise . Look back for a moment at the time when this promise was verified .

" When o'er the green nndelaged earth Heaven's covenant thou didst shine , How came the world ' s gray Fathers forth To watch the sacred sign . And when its yellow lustre smiled , O ' er mountains yet untrod ,

Eiich Mother held aloft her child , To bless the bow of God . " " Every character , figure and emblem depicted in a Lodge has a moral tendency , and inculcates the practices of virtue . " Why is it , then , said by some that these

emblems are unmeaning ? Can we not use fit emblems and symbols to impress upon our minds , and to fix deep in our hearts , the most instructive and important truths ? Are nofc these emblems , which lead us to reflect on some moral truths , sufficient to teach us ? Though , they

be derived from the humble sphere of Operative Masonry , yet , in referring us to the source of all truth , they teach great and important lessons . They teach us to build a Temple greater than Solomon ' s , a Temple within , which shall withstand the " wreck of matter and the

crush of worlds , ' and which shall appear iu perfect beauty before the throne of God . " The colours are significant of the Order to which they belong , and when arrayed together they show forth unity , bufc separately they have a higher

meaning . The apron with which a newl y initiated candidate is presented is an emblem of innocence , and beinc white ifc is significant of the purity of our cause ; hence ifc is a badge of mourning . The blue is the unstainable honour of Masonry . The red denotes that we will make

war on none—aud our motto is peace ou earth and good will to men , " though at fche same time we have au anxious desire to protect , defend and preserve our mysteries . These colours must ever teach tho same importuut lessons , as long as men shall receive lessons from

earthl y preceptors . Shining in all their pristine beaut y , so blended as to seb forth fche unity existing in our Lodges , and gleaming in our moral sky as a rainbow of promisej thoy show that Masonry never , never will be destroyed . * ' The square teaches us fco regulate our conduct b y the

principles of moralit y aud virtue , aud the compasses teach us to circumscribe our actions and keep our passions in proper bounds . The simple trowel teaches us to spread the cement of brotherly love ; the p lumb-line to walk uprightl y ; and the keys to keep securel y locked the mysteries of Masoury . The coffin teaches that we are

Very Great Luminaries.

mortal , and the sprig of acacia that we shall live for ever . Tho letter G points us to the name of that Being before whose presence tho nations of the earth shall oue day appear . The east and west teach us thafc the Masonic temple is commensurate with time , aud the cloudlet

canopy is its only covering . " Surely this is simple yet sublime teaching , in a language bold and impressive ; teaching in a language whioh no Mason can forget and stand approved before the bar of conscieuce , or tbe bar of God . ( To be continued ) .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

— : o : — GRAND LODGE .

A QUARTERLY Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was hold in tha Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 2 nd inst ., when there was a vory large attendance of brethren from all parts , to the number of about 400 . In the absence of the Grand Master the throne was occupied by Bro . James Berry Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire . It was a fitting event on his retirement from the Grand Committee that Bro . Berry was preaent to preside at suoh an

influential and important meeting of this grand body . His introductory remarks were very heartily received , and the support whioh he bespoke was cordially given ; and ths excellent manner ia whioh the business all through the long meeting was conducted was a subject of general admiration . A statement was submitted of the accounts of Grand Lodge for

the year ending 24 th November , from whioh it appeared that tbe income had been £ 5 , 197 , and tbe expenditure £ 4 , 410 . The sum of £ 1 , 500 , being half of the free iucome of Grand Lodge for 1890 . 91 , had been paid over to the Annuity Fund . During the year there had been 5 , 955 entrants to tho Order , The funds and estate amounted to £ 32 , 897 . The Committee of the Fund of Benevolence

had during the year paid £ 651 in grants , and tbe fund now amounted to £ 6 , 917 . The Annuity Fund had paid £ 1 , 090 in annuities , and now amonnted to £ 20 , 790 . This year £ 1 , 393 falls to be paid to it as half of tke free income of Grand Lodge . A deputation appeored from Aberdeen , headed by Bro . Wilson E . W . M ., and were heartily welcomed from the throne .

Bro . Wilson thanked Grand Lodge for the enthusiastic reception , and then supported the nomination by the Lodges of the Province , and tho recommendation of Grand Lodge im favour of Bro . James H Forshaw to be Provincial Grand Master of the City of Aberdeen . In doing so , be spoke in highly eulogistic terms of Brother Forshaw as a Mason . Tho election of Bro . Forshaw was unanimously agreed to by

Grand Lodge . A report wag submitted from Bro . Dr . Middleton Provincial Grand Master of Roxburgh and Selkirkshire * 1 , in which he stated that of the 10 Lodges under that jurisdiction , four hold as Lodge property the halls in which their Masonic work is transacted , while three others rent hall * entirely unconnected with licon-ied premises . There wan , he nrMed , manifestly a growing desire among all the Lodges to

dissociate Freemasonry from hotels awl taverns , and in preference to secure suitable premises of their own . A very creditable illustration of this had been afforded by Lorljj-e No . 421 , Hawick , which , greatly aided by the presence of tho Grand Master , succeeded in raising last September , by means of a bazaar and the snbscriptions of its own members , the not inconsiderable sum of £ 700 , after clearing all expenses . Indications were also given that othc-r Lodges were moving iu a similar direction .

The minutes of Grand Committee reported that the Grand Secretary bad drawn their attention to the painting in the Board Room , purporting to represent tho Installation of Burns as Poet LaureafceofLodge Canongate Kilwinning , No . 2 . This picture came into possession of Grand Lodge in 1863 , as a present from the family of the late Chevalier James Barnes . Itwasscceptecl without ones tion as to

whether the event portrayed therein was real or imaginary . Tho story of the inauguration was never challenged until 1873 , when the present Grand Secretary , while preparing his " History of Freemasonry in Scotland , " and after a minute examination of Canongate Kilwinning's record , formed the opinion that Burns was never . elected to , and never held the office of , Poet Laureate of the Lodge , and

never was installed into such au office . His views having become known to its Office Bearers , by their instructions the Secretary of the Lodge questioned the soundness of his opinion , and laid a statement before him embodying facts which he unfortunately accepted aa true , and in his history modified the opinion which he bad originally formed . In a printed corroapondence between Bros . Allan Mackenzie

tho historian of No . 2 , and William Officer G , Secretary , he asserts that tbe statements made to him wero unfounded , and that ifc is clearly established that the story of the installation of Burns as Poet Laureate is a myth . Attached to the original painting presented by the Burneaaes is the inscription : " The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Gftnonwate Kilwinning .

1 st March 1787 . " This date is accepted by the Lodge as correct . In all statements and discussions in support of the story the minute of the meeting at which tho event is alleged to have happened has been kept out of sight . It is as follows-. — "The Lodge being duly constituted , it was reported that since last meeting K . Dalrymple ,

Esq ., F . T . Hammond , Esq ., R . A . Maitland , Esq ., were Entered Apprentices ; and tbe following brethren passed and raised : — li . Sinclair , Esq ., A . M'Donald , Esq ., C . B . Olive , Esq ., Captain Dalrymple , R . A . Maitland , Esq ., F , T . Hammond , Esq ., Mr Clavarin-j , Mr . M'Doaald , Mr . Millar , Mr , Sitae , and Mr . Gray frbo