Scotch Meetings

SCOTCH MEETINGS

Resuscitation of Eobert Burns ' s Mother Lodge , St . David's , Tarbolton , Wo . 133—This Lodge , which has been dormant for thirty . two years , was re-opened , by order of tho Grand Lodge of Scotland , on Monday , loth January , by Bro . B . Wylie P . P . G . M . of Ayrshire , and tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire , in due Masonic form . An attempt was made some

years since to effect this object , but as it was also wished to remove the Lodge to tho adjacent town of Mnuchline , it fell through . The erection of a statue to the memory of Burns in Glasgow , which is to be unveiled on the 25 th instant , again directed the attention of the petitioners to the disgrace that attached to tho fact of their nllowingthis Lodge to be struck off the Roll , and accordingly efforts

were renewed to regain tho charter which had for some years been in possession of the G . L . in Edinburgh , and this time , through the G . M ., Sir M . R . S . Stewart , himself taking an interest in it , the object was happily effected . Leaving Glasgow by an early train , wo arrived at Mauchline by midday . The brethren had kindly provided carriages to tako the visitors to the scene of operation ; but , in company

with Bro . Tweed , the antiquarian publisher , we preferred , instead of waiting for that conveyance , to walk the five miles , and traverse some of the scenes immortalised by the poems of the bard . Thus we saw the houses in which he courted both his wife and his " Highland Mary . " Took a seat in the public house where he composed and sang his "Jolly Beggars . " Saw "Lucy's Thorn , " "Ayr Waters , " Willie ' s

Mill and the Muokle Stane , where death met Dr . Hornbook . Passed the Castle of Montgomery , and the stream that ne'er runs , as well as tho farm of Mossgiel , where ho spent what was doubtless the happiest part of his life . Imagined that we saw the field in which grew " The wee modest crimson-tipped flower , " and the other in which he ploughed up the Mouse . Here , too , ha composed "The Cotter ' s Saturday

Night . " By the side of this stream he wrott " Man was made to mourn , " and by that ho took his last farewell of his Highland Mary ; on the hill side that strain that still throbs Scottish hearts in all quarters of the globe , viz ., " Scots wha hae . " From here , too , we can see " Ballocbmyle , " unfortunately this time without the " bonnie lass , " for our " Nannie ' s awa . " Bnt we must hasten into the

village , where mine host of tho Black Bull receives us kindly , and while we are refreshing the inner man sends for Bro . Jas . MoCosh , the Master of the St . James Lodgo , No . 135 , who manifested at once the true Masonic spirit , and offered to take us to tho Lodge room , and show the highly-prized relicts of Bums in their possession . By this time the rain had set in in earnest , but that does not damp the warmth

of his kindness nor our enthusiasm , so out we sally to the end of tho village , calling on Bro . Barclay , the S . W ., on our way ; for here they keep up the good old custom of three locks to the chest , and the keys in the bands of three different brethren . Arrived at the Crown , we are first shown , and of course sit clown in the seat , au old high chair , immortalised by the poot in his " Farewell to the Brethren of St .

James , " Tarbolton , which says , " Hero then I oft presided o ' er tho Sons of Light . " The jewel of tho Master , which ho wore , is next put upon on our breasts , then the old minute book is placed in our hands , with his name on tho roll of members , as well as that of his Brother Gilbert . JohnRankine , whom he calls "Rough , ready-witted Rankino , " also thoso of the Minister , and the Schoolmaster , Wm . Wilson , whom

he designated as Dr . Hornbook . 11 . Morrison , at whoso house ho wrote tho " Haggis , " also that of his groat opponent , James Humphrey , on whom he composed that stinging satire , "Epitaph on a Noisy Polemic . " There wero two Lodges in Tarbolton , —St . David ' s , his mother , under the G . L . of Scotland , and St . James , holding under tho then independent Grand Lodge Mother Kitlurning . The poet appears to havo early joined the St . James

Lodge , as an affiliated member , and as tho Master , Colonel Montgomery , a member of tho Eglington family , does not appear to have been often present , tho minutes for some years aro signed by Burns as Deputy Master ; but , oven ns tho great Shakspeare was not always particular in the autography of his name , so hero wo find it at first signed Robt . Burness , then Bnrnes , and then Robt . Burns . Thoy have also an interesting letter , all ou Lodge business , dated Edinburgh , 23 rd August 1787 , which concludes thus : — -

Within your dear mansion may wrong and contention , Or withering envy ne ' er enter ; May secrecy sound be the mystical bound , And brotherly lovo be the centre . The ontaido is subscribed to the officers and members of St . James Lodgo , Tarbolton , care of Jas . Mason , Innkeeper . Jnst opposite is

the old parish church , where , ou the lady ' s bonnet , ho saw tho creeping thing which caused him to write : — " Oh whad some power tho giftio gio us to see ourselves as itboro seo us . " But wo must quit those memorials of tho olden time , and hasten back to tako part in the ceremony of tho day . At half-past 4 Bro . R . Wylie opened tho Provincial Lodgo , with Bros . Halket and Cnrrtithers as P . G . D . M . and S . M .,

Bros . F . A . Fergerson aud J . Tweed of Gla ^ ow F . 3 . W . P . J . W ., Bros . Winston aud Gibson S . W . and J . W . of Mother Kilwinning , Bro . McKay , Kilmarnock , in the absence of tho Rev . J . Inglis , acting aij Chaplain , Bro . Pollock R . M . of London , Hewmilncd acting S . W . of tho Lodge , and Bro . Park R . W . M ., St . Paul Irving No . 82 ns J . W . There wero also present tho Masters and Wardens of Lcdsres 124

Kilwinning , Avr , 135 St . James , Tarbolton , 138 Operative , Ayr , 157 St . John Beith , 126 St . Andrew ' s , 109 St . Marnock , Kilmarnock , 1-19 St . Andrew Irvine , 179 St . Mungo , Mauchline , 165 Royal Arch , Ayr , 20-i St . Paul , Ayr , 5 J 9 St . Matthew , Dreghorn . Tho acting P . G . M . said he regretted tho absence of Col . Muir , of Caldwell , their P . G . M ., who was

on tho Continent , ho had also received Jotters of apo . ogy from W . 0 . l ' artrick and W . Partrick , tho Deputy and Substitute G . M ., and also from Bro . Montgomorie , thoir Proxy Master . Ho then read the authority from tho G . M . of Scotland for the re-opening of the Lodge , and proceeded to instal tho officers , namely : —Major James Wallace Pnnlop Adair R . W . M ., Dr , 21 , Faulda P . M ., John Faulds P . M . 179

S . M ., W . Rennie T ., James Muir P . M . of 135 S . W ., J . Gibson J . W ., Dr . Muir , two Deacons , two Stewards , and McCowan Tyler . At the request of the acting P . G . M ., Bro . G . W . Wheeler 73 opened a board of installed Masters , and duly placed Bro . Major Adair in the chuir of King Solomon , at tho same timo conferring that degree on three other P . M . ' s who had not previously received it , viz ., Bros .

James Muir P . M . 135 , Dr . Faulds 179 , and J . Harvey R . W . M . 179 , Mauchline . Tho Board having been closed , tho assembled brethren saluted Bro . Adair in the three degrees . The newly-installed Master thanked the P . G . officers and Installing Master for their valuable services , and proposed them all as honorary members of St . David's 133 , which was carried by acclamation . Ho also thanked the

brethren for the honour they had done him by putting him in the chair , which he believed ho owed to his family connection with Burns , his grandmother being half-sister of Gavin Hamilton Burns , first patron , and his wife being a grand-daughter of tho same gentleman . Tho acting P . M . G . acknowledged the compliment paid to him and the brethren who had accompanied him ; they would long look

back with pride to that day at the part they had taken in the ceremony , the only drawback to which had been the limited accommodation of the Hall . The Kilwinning brethren remained to dine with the officers of St . James 133 , but as the accommodation was so limited the Glasgow and Mauchline brethren accompanied tho officers of the re-oponed Lodge in carriages to Mauchline , where they dined together

in the Lodge room of St . Mungo 179 , at the Loudon Hotel , where a most excellent went * was spread , that would not have disgraced any of our large city hotel keepers' establishments . Major Adair R . W . M . 133 , St . David ' s , presided , and Bro . J . Harvey R . W . M . 179 , St . Mungo , efficiently filled the Croupier's Chair . The toasts of the Queen and the Craft ; the Prince of Wales and the rest of tho Royal

Family ; the Three Grand Lodges ; were given from the chair , in a manner that showed the new Master was at home in presiding over a Masonic gathering . Bro . Gibson proposed the Army , Navy and Reserved Forces , and called upon the gallaut chairman to respond . Major Adair , in brief , but pithy sentences , said , that notwithstanding the croakings of would-be prophets , he knew from actual observation

that the Army and Navy would well maintain their old prestige , while it would bo unfortunate for any invaders should thoy attempt to try the metal of the Volunteers . Bro . Muir P . M . 135 gave The Immortal Memory of Burns , in a truly eloquent speech , which we are sorry space forbids us to insert . The chairman then gave the

Visiting Brethren . Bro . Wheeler responded , regretting that timo prevented the others from replying , as the last train was leaving . The toast list was not completed , when we had to leave . We should mention that Bro . Alexander S . D ., by his voice , and at tho piano , contributed to the evening ' s enjoyment , and Bro . Cowin also sang , in good stylo , " Burns ' s Farewell to Tarbolton Lodge . "

Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow . —The annual meeting for nomination of tho Election Officers was held on the 11 th of January , at St . Mark ' s Hall , Bro . John Baird P . G . S . M . in tho chair . He said he was glad to report that Colonel W . M . Nelson P . G . M . was nearly recovered , and ho hoped ho would be able to be at their installation meeting . In the meantime , he had sent a commission to

Bro . W . H . Bickerton as P . G . S ., and it was for them now to elect the subordinate officers . Bro . James Gilles was then re-elected Treasurer , and tho following is tho list of the officers chosen by tho Lodgo : — John Morgan I . P . M . 219 S . D ., John Miller P . M . 87 J . D ., J . Ritchie 3 bis Architect , J . Jack R . W . M . 120 Jeweller , A . Bain P . M . 103 B . B .,

J . Halkett P . M . 102 D . of M ., R . Robb 102 P . of S ., J . Balfour D . M . 332 D . of C , D . Reid R . W . M . 465 S . B ., Rev . Dr . Pemny Assistant Chaplain , G . Sinclair P . M . 27 Treasurer of Benevolent Fund , J . Booth R . W . M . 87 I . G ., J . B . Hardie 102 O . G . The P . G . L . was then closed in due form .

St . John ' s 3 biS . —Bro . W . Kyle jun . R . W . M ., D . M . Nelson I . P . M ., Fletcher , W . Bell , D . Han D . M ,, P . Brownlie 6 . W ., Jas . Kyle J . W ., J . Ferguson Treasurer , Wm . Cochrane Secretary . The late Treasurer presented his report , which showed a balance of about £ 138 in favour of tho Lodge . The new Master then gave tho E . A . degree in an able manner to Mr . Alex . Stevenson . This being the first meeting in the new year , the Lodgo went to refreshment for a couple of hours .

Thistle and Eose , "No . 73 . —Held its regular mooting on the 16 th of January , Bro . J . Kinnaird R . W . M . in the chair , supnorted by G . Macdonald I . P . M ., G . W . Wheeler acting S . W ., W . T . Kay J . W ., G . MacDonald jun . S . D ., J . Smith Chaplain . Arrangements wero made for holding the 121 st anniversary festival next month .

Union Lodge , No . 332 . —Held its regular ' meeting on Honday , tho 15 th inst ., at 213 Buchanan-street . Bro . D . McKirdy R . W . M . in the chair , J . Balfour D . M . and a full complement of officers . Visitors —Bros . JRS . Findley R . W . M . 333 , M . Stark R . SY . M . 419 . Tho Master read a letter ho had received from Bro . Allmin , from Virginia City , Nevada , enclosing a cheque for : C 5 as a coutrilmtion to

tho funds of his mother Lodge . Tho Master said that was tho third time Bro . AUman had sent a similar amount , showing that ho , at any rata , docs not forgot his mother Lodge , although in a foreign clime . The auditors account was read , showing that tho Lodge is in a highly prosperous stato . Tho R . W . M . then , in his usual ptyle , initiated two gentlemen , Messrs . J . Ross and J . D . Thompson .

t-nr . N-T-s ; : VW . TIZC ,. —For Sale , an elaborately carved set of Ivory Chessmen , The Kings stand 8 J inches high , tho other pieces in proportion . ' Knights nnd Fawns on horseback , all mounted on stands , with concentric balls . Can be aeon , and lull particulars obtained , on application to W . XV . MOB & AIT , 07 Barbican , — Adet .