Scotland.

all paid their fees to the Treasurer . No other business being before the meeting , the Lodge adjourned . " Grand Secretary submitted I hat , in the interests of truth as set against a fable , it is necessary that steps should be taken by Grand Committee to have the inscription on the picture amended . Thereupon Bro . Mackenzie said it would be well for Grand Committee to ascertain whether the

event really took place or not , and questioned its right to alter the inscription or any painting bequeathed to Grand Lodgp . He explained that the friendly correspondence between Brother Officer and himself was , so far as he was concerned , undertaken on his own responsibility , and had not been officially recognised by Canongate Kilwinning , but that hia history was only a compilation of some of

its records . Further , thafc since Graud Secretary had brought tho matter before Grand Committee he had seen a document which bore strong evidence of the installation having taken place , and he knew that tbe Lodge No . 2 waa in possession of other documentary evidence of a like nature . The Grand Committee—Bros . William Officer , David Sneddon , and

Allan Mackenzie—were appointed to consider and report upon tbe whole question ; Bro . Oflin <* r Convener . This was approved . It was reported from ti ' . od Committee that Brother Sir Michael Shaw Stewart had resigned his position of Provincial Grand Master of West Renfrew , and that the Provincial Grand Lodge had passed a resolution of regret and sympathy and of thanks for his 45 years '

services . The Provincial Grand Lodge had recommended as his successor Brother M . H . Show Stewart , of Carnock , M . P ., and on the recommendation of Graud Committee he was appointed accordingly . On the motion of the Grand Master , a special vote of thanks was enthusiastically passed to Bro . Sir Michael Shaw Stewart on bis resignation .

Bro . M . H . Shaw Stewart was unanimously appointed Provincial Grand Maater of Renfrewshire West , and Bro . Christie , Stirling , to succeed him as Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire . Charters were ordered to be issued for the new Lodges St . Gilbert , Dornoch , Sntherlandshire ; Captain Speirs , Houston , Renfrewshire East ; and Blairhoyle , Thornhill , Perthshire West . The following brethren were elected members of Grand Committee ,

with the number of votes mentioned : Bros . C . Baxter , Edinburgh , 221 j Major Black , Glasgow , 253 j General Boswell , 247 ; Dr . Carmichael , Edinburgh , 219 ; J . Davidson , Edinburgh , 204 ; W . Denholm , Glasgow , 340 ; G . C . Douglas , Edinburgh , 262 , C . Galletly , Glasgow , 338 ; J . Jack , Paisley , 189 : C . C . Nisbet , Edinburgh 200 ; J . Reid , Greenock , 269 ; Captain Sneddon , Kilmarnock , 340 ; Major Stewart , of Mardestown , 259 ; and W . Drummond Young , artist , Edinburgh , 276 .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Aberdeen City.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF ABERDEEN CITY .

A SPECIAL communication of the Aberdeen City Province of the Grand Lodge was beld in the Masonic Hall , Exchange Street , on Saturday afternoon , tho 11 th inst ., the occasion being the installation by Colonel the Earl of Haddington , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , of Brother Jamea Hampton Forshaw as Provincial Grand Master . The Earl of Haddington was accompanied by a deputation

from the Grand Lodge , and there were also preient a large number of representatives from the Lodges of the Craft ia the city and surrounding districts , the total number present being about 200 . The Lodge was opened by fche Provincial Grand Master , and tbe Grand Master Mason and tbe deputation were admitted , and received a hearty and enthusiastic welcome . Lord Haddington having

thanked the bretkren for the cordiality of tbe reception , the commission in favour of the Provincial Grand Master elect wae read , and Brother Forshaw was then presented to the Grand Muster . He subsequently took the oath do fideli , and was invested with the insignia of his office . Lord Haddington , after performing this part of the ceremonial ,

congratulated Brother Forshaw on his accession to the Pro » incial Grand Mastership . He felt confidence that in placing him in this important position , and in conferring npon him tho highest hononr that lay in the power of the brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge , fchey did so in the knowledge that they were conferring that honour upon one who was worthy of it , and one who they knew would

faithfully and zealously discharge the duties of tbe office . He also must congratulate the Wardens upon the selection they had made , and he felt anre , from what he knew nnd from what he had heard , that they could not have made * wiser or more prndent choice . The new Provincial Grand Master was no novice in Masonry . He had walked step by step np the rungs of the Masonic ladder . He had learned to

mark tbe rising and the setting sun—the sun at its evening and meridian splendour—and he trusted that Brother Forshaw would let the light of tbat glorioue orb be tbe guide of his life , and more especially of his Masonic life . It was also bis lordship ' s desire that he would let that light illumine his Province , so thafc it might be among the brightest of tho Province of Scotland , and that as it diffused its glorious rays and spread light and lustro over all , be

might remember that it was his duty to extend light and lustre to all within his Province . He would seek to impress upon the members the dignity of Freemasonry , the great moral truths it taught , and the necessity of acting up to these truths , so that it might be said of any of the brethren that to him the burdened heart might pour forth its sorrows , and to him the distressed might como in time of grief . Ii that spirit prevailed , he felt confident that the Province was sure to

prosper . Provincial Grand Master Forshaw , in replying , said he begged to return his most sincere thanks for the honour hia lordship had conferred upon him that day by installing him as Provincial Grand

Master of the Province . He would also take tbe opportunity of thanking the members of the Grand Committee for accepting and passing the recommendations placed before them in his favour . To the members of the Grand Lodge he desired to convey his most cordial thanks for unanimonBly conGrmiug his appointment , and now

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Aberdeen City.

to the members of the Craft in Aberdeen he extended the right hand of fellowship , and faithfully promised , to the best of his ability , to look after their interest , both in the Province and in the Grand Lodge , and he sincere " . y trusted they would never find cause to regret the day he was installed Provincial Grand Master . The minute of the Graud Lodge was then reid . It was signed by

the Earl of Haddington , Bro . D . Murray Lyon Grand Secretary , and Bro . Reid Grand Cashier . It was stated that in accepting the office of Provincial Grand Secretary at a most critical period in the history of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge , Brother Alexander Wilson had been instrumental iu a hiyh degree in bringing the business of the Craft within its jurisdiction iuto a most efficient state . His lervioes ai

Provincial Grand Secretary had been most important and were worthy of all commendation . In his capacity as Provincial Grand Master Depute , Brother Forshaw , now Provincial Grand Master , had in the course of his visitations , as recorded , displayed a thorough aptitude for the discharge of the onerous duties falling to the head of the Province , and the Grand Master had every hope that in his

new position he would greatly advance the interests of the several Lodges over which ho had been so unanimously called to rule . The Grand Master had noted us a most favourable feature of this Provincial Grand Lodge that its Charities were dispensed moat liberally , and that at the present time its Benevolent Fund possessed some £ 500 iu investments and cash .

Lord Haddington again congratulated the Craft upon the efficiency of the Lodge generally and ihe state of the books . There were one or two things in tha history of Masonry which might not be known to mauy , and whioh be would desire to bring before them . As a Masonic centre , Aberdeenshire was united with Forfarshire in 1747 . Towards the end of the century it was erected into a separate

Province , and remained so till 1827 , when it was formed into threo divisions—Aberdeen City , Aberdeenshire East , and Aberdeenshire West . The Aberdeen City Province , within which they were convened , had for its first Provincial Grand Master Thomas Burnet , Advocate , for many years Purse Bearer to tho Lord High Commiesioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland . He was

appointed in February 1827 . He was succeeded in 1834 by William Watson , Sheriff of Aberdeenshire , whose fame as one of the originators of ragged schools was first in tbe memory of all philanthropists . Louis Crombio of Phesdo was the next Provincial Grand Master , elected in 1 S 39 ; he was succeeded in 1846 by Alexander Haddon of Persley . Dr . Robert Beveridge , one of the most aocompliihed of

Scottish Craftsmen , succeeded Mr . Haddon , and after his death Lord Saltonn , their present Substitute Grand Master , became , in January 1889 , Provincial Grand Master of this important Province . His lordship having resigned , was now succeeded by his Depute Brother Forshaw , whose qualifications for the honour and tho functions attached to the high office had been readily recognised by Grand

Lodge , as well as by the Lodges over which he was the Masonio head , and who had the best opportunity of judging of Brother Forshaw ' s fitness for the work to which he had been appointed . Aberdeen was represented at the institution of Grand Lodge in 1736 by the Lodge Aberdeen , whose great antiquity has been recently acknowledged by Grand Lodge in ' ilix-in" it ou the roll next to the aucieiit Lodge of

Melrose . No fewer than six of tbe Lodges in the Province have entered on the second century of their existence . With its train of thirteen Lodges the Provincial Grand Lodge of Aberdeen City was of no mean importance . After thanksgiving by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , tho Grand Master M-ison nnd the deputation of the Grand Lodge withdrew . In

the course of the impressive pioceedings , it may be mentioned that a select programme of mnsic was gone through . Dnring the assembling of the brethren , a pacred selection was played by organ and orchestra , and thereafter at intervals several pieces were given , the conductor being Bro . R . B . Bateman , M . B . ; the Organist , Brother F . L . S . D . Connon : and the leader of the orchestra , Brother G . W .

Morgan . The Provincial Grand Lodge snbsrquently adjourned to the Im pi rial Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was served . Provincial Graud Master For 8 h « . w occupied the clvvir , and was supported on the right by the Sail of Haddington the Grand Master Mason , aud Bro . D . Murray Lyon Grand Secretary ; and on the left by Brother Sir

Allan Mackenzie , Bart ., and Brother Reid Grand Cashier . There was an attendance of about 95 . After covers had been removed , the usual loyal aud patriotic toaata were given from fche chair , aud responded to with all tbe bononrs . The Navy , Army , and Reserve Forces was proposed by Brother E . G . Palmer , and acknowledged by Bro . Captain Forbes . The next toast was the Grand Lodge of

Scotland , which was also given from the chair . Provincial G-nnd Master Forshaw , in proposing the sentiment , said they had been ppecially honoured tbat day with the presence of their Most Worshipful Grand Master Lord Haddington , together with a large and influential deputation of Grand Officers , which spoke a very great deal ( couiideriiig the long distance whioh these brethren

had come ) for the great interest they all took in the cause of Freemasonry . Tbe sood that the Graud Lodge bad done , and the rapid strides which Freemasonry had made during the past few years , spoko volumes as to the manner in which the inner working of the Gra'id Lodge was conducted , aud eaid a great deal for tbe Grand Officers who were placed at the head of their affairs iu tho

management . Lord Haddingto .- * , in replying , said he never expected , when he was last in Aberdeen , that at bis next visit he should come iu the capacity of Grand Master Mason of Scotland . He could not exactly recapitulate the various Lodges in the Province , bufc he knew there were six of them which had been two centuries in existence , and he

thought that spoke something for Masonry in Aberdeen . He had had the honour of visiting several Provincial Grand Lodges in the courso of liis short term of office , and ho must say * that he had found mnch to praise Mid little to condemn , aud that applied to the Aberdeen Lodge he had just visited . The other toasts were tbe Aberdeen City Provincial Graud Lodge ,