Ancient And Accepted Rite.

proposed in open chapter or at nine days' notice , he would therefcre leave it to the chapter to decide . Ex . Bro . Robertson , ist General , proposed , and Ex . Bro . Dr . Mills , R ., seconded the motion , that the ballot be proceeded with , which on being put to the meeting , was carried nem . con ., and the ballot being taken , Bro . Clark was declared duly elected . It was decided afterwards , however , for the sake

of regularity , to insert the candidate ' s name in the summons for next meeting if thought necessary . The usual courteous letters expressing inability to attend from various causes , were received from 111 . Bros , C . J . Vigne , P . M ., P . S . G . C . 33 ° ; Cap . N . G . Phillips , P . M ., P . S . G . C . 33 ; and A . H . Royds ; also from M . E . Bro . C . V . Child * , M . W . S ., Oxford and Cambridge

University Chapter , and others . The routine business of the chapter having been disposed of , and the alms of the Princes having been collected , the Sovereign Chapter of Rose , Croix H . R . D . M ., was declared duly closed , and the brethren retired for refreshment . On the removal of the cloth , the M . W . S . asked the

brethren as loyal subjects to honour the toast of "The Queen , " which was of course heartily responded to , the National Anthem being sung . The Most Wise then proposed "The Supreme Grand Council , 33 , of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , " and in doing so , remarked that the position of that rite was stronger than it had ever been before . As the brethren were aware , H . R . H . the

Prince of Wales had accepted the position of Grand Patron , he was also Grand Master of the United Orders of the Temple and Hospital , and was about to be Installed Grand Master of the Craft . He , III . Bro . Emra Holmes , believed that the three offices had never before been held by a Grand Master of the Freemasons before , and he thought it augured well for the high degrees , which

would now occupy a very different position to that they held before . He regretted that they had not been honoured with the presence on this occasion of 111 . Bro . Rev . A . Bruce Fraser , 32 , the newly appointed Deputy Inspector General for this district , who had been duly invited , but from whom no reply had been received , probably in consequence of the summons having miscarried . The toast

was duly given , with the honours peculiar to this ancient rite . The M . W . S . then proposed " The Past M . W . S . of the Chapter , 111 . Bro . Rev . T . G . Beaumont , 30 ° , " and in doing so bore testimony to the admirable way in which he had governed the Chapter for the last two years , and expressed his grateful thanks for Bro . Beaumont ' s kindness in

installing him that evening . Bro . Beaumont in responding , spoke deprecatingly of the praise bestowed on him by the M . W . S ., who he hoped and felt sure would so fulfil the duties of his station that at the termination of his year of office the brethren would beg him to occupy the post of honour for another twelvemonth . Hei begged to propose " The Health of their Most W . S ., "

whom he had great pleasure in installing with the regular ceremonial into his high office that evening . 111 . Bro . Emra Holmes , in returning thanks , expressed his deep sense of the honour conferred upon him . He would do his utmost to carry out the duties of his office to the best of his ability , and he trusted that when next year he handed over to his successors his authority as M . W . S . he might do

so with the feeling that it had lost nothing in his hands . He , of course , hoped they might have to install and perfect several candidates during the year , but yet he hoped to be able to find time to devote to a lecture on the Ineffable Degrees for the information of the members . These degrees were generally given by communication , and far too little was known about them . The brethren were no

doubt aware that although the 18 could only be conferred on brethren who took the obligation to the Holy and Undivided Trinity , the subsidiary degrees to , he believed , the 17 th , and certainly up to the 14 th , might be conferred upon Jews and others unwilling or unable to take the Christian degrees . He remarked that brethren were eligible to take all these degrees up to the 17 th , so soon as they were

Master Masons , though the Rose Croix degree could not be conferred on Masons of less than twelve months' standing , except by special dispensation from the Supreme Council . He thought it would be a very good thing if some of the degrees were worked at length—of course with the sanction of the Supreme Council , and he hoped at the next meeting of the Chapter to give the brethren

some account of the history and ritual of the Ineffable Degrees—some notion of their origin and object . He begged to thank them for the cordial way in which they had drank his health . Bro . Spalding provided an excellent supper , to which ample justice was done—and a very pleasant evening was brought to an end before low twelve .

Scotland.

Scotland .

GLASGOW . —LODGE ST . J ( NO . 3 % ) . —This lodge held their regular bi-monthly meeting in their Hall , 213 , Buchanan-street , Glasgow , on Tuesday , the 20 th ult . ; present—Bros . Wm . Bell , R . W . M . ; J . D . Young , S . W . ; D . Home , J . W . ; D . M . Nelson , D . M . ; R . B . Dalzell , Treas . ; J . Dick , Sec ; P . Brownlie , S . D . ; J . Rcid , J . D . ; Past Masters T . Fletcher , Park , McMillan , and Craig , and

a large attendance of members and visitors . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of last meeting read and approved of . The business of the evening consisted of the passing of Bros . S . McHarg , H . Winslow , D . Ross and A . Berridgc , the work being ably performed by

Bro . Loutitt . Bro . Young , S . W ., proposed that new clothing be provided for the office-bearers of the lodge , which was seconded by Bro . Home , J . W ., and agreed to unanimously , Bros . Bell , Fletcher , Samuels , Dalzell and Dick being appointed as committee to carry out the same . Bro . Fletcher , . P . M ., said it now involved upon him , in behalf of Bro .

Scotland.

R . More , to perform a very pleasant duty , that of presenting to Lodge St . John a plumb , twenty-four inch gauge , and level ; they were well worthy of the lodge's acceptance , and he hoped the members would accept them in the same spirit as they were given . The R . W . M ., Bro . Wm . Bell , in behalf of the lodge , said he was sure that every brother of the lodge would appreciate Bro . More ' s very handsome

present , and , through Bro . Fletcher , thank Bro . More for his kindness . Bro . McMillan , P . M ., said he quite concurred with Bro . Bell , and that he was deli ghted to see such a special mark of Kindness shown to the lodge by Bro . More , and he hoped soon to see him amongst them , and that he might be spared many days to be amongst them ; and he would now move that an inscription plate be put

upon these emblems with the donor's name , etc ., engraved upon them , which was agreed to unanimously . Bro . D . M . Nelson , D . M ., also moved that the Secretary be instructed to write to Bro . More in | behalf of the lodge , expressing their warmest thanks and high appreciation of his very handsome present , which was agreed to . There being no further business , the lodge was closed .

GLASGOW . —LODGE THISTLE ( NO . 87 ) . —The Prov . Grand Lodge of Glasgow paid their annual visit of inspection to this lodge on the 20 th ult ., within the hall occupied by the latter at No . 12 , Trongate . The members of the deputation were Bros . J . B . Walker , Treas . ; A . Mc Taggart , Sec ; J . Gillies , S . D . ; Geo . Thallon , J . D . ; J . Ritchie , A . ; Jno . Fraser , Assistant Marshal ; A . Bain ,

B . B . ; J . Balfour , Director of Ceremonies ; A . Arrick Smith , I . G . ; and Geo . Sinclair , Treasurer and Convener of P . G . L . Benevolent Fund . The deputation having been received in the usual form by the R . W . M . of the lodge , Bro . J . W . Barns , the P . G . Sec . ( Bro . McTaggart ) submitted the report of the deputation . This bore that , with some exceptions , the books of the lodge had been found

m very good condition , and that the lodge continued as usual to work in accordance with Grand Lodge law . The sederunt book had been as well kept as any other the deputation had as yet examined within the province . The minute book was very good ; as was also the roll book , with the exception in the case of the latter that the signatures of candidates had not been in all cases written up

at the proper time . It was of the utmost importance , the Secretary said , that the roll book of a lodge should be strictly kept , and the signatures entered at once , for the reason that the latter might quite possibly be required at a future time as a matter of reference . The receipt book , he was glad to say , had been very well kept . After pointing out one or two little irregularities , Bro . McTaggart

stated that it appeared the number of entrants into the lodge last year had been 26 ; that he was glad to observe the increase in their funds , which showed £ 119 6 s . 2 jd ., as against £ 111 odd at previous balance . The amount of their private charity during the year was £ 11 , and they had that night handed over to the P . G . Benevolent Fund the sum of £ 6 . In conclusion the P . G . Sec . said

that , with the few exceptions he had pointed out , the deputation might fairly congratulate the lodge upon their success . Whatever they had pointed out as amiss had been done in no spirit of fault finding , but in that of kindness , for the benefit of the office bearers and instruction of the brethren , to correct irregularities , and if possible to reform abuses . The R . W . M . ( Bro . Burns ) , in thanking

the deputation for their visit , said he was sorry to hear that the lodge had not been quite so correct as they might have been , but he was sure that they would lose nothing from the lesson that had been taught them . Bros . Sinclair , Ritchie , and Thallon having been affiliated as members of the lodge by Bro . John Fraser , P . M ., the deputation retired to an adjoining apartment , where they

were hospitably entertained by the Master and Wardens at a neat little hot supper , excellently purveyed by Bro . S . Mc Phee , of the St . Andrew Restaurant , fHutcheson-st ., and P . G . L . Steward . GLASGOW . —LODGE SCOTIA ( NO . 178 ) . —The P . G . L . of Glasgow visited this lodge within the hall at 170 , Buchanan-street , on the 14 th ult . The R . W . M ., Bro .

Joseph Singleton , presided , and there was a very large attendance of brethren and visiting members . The deputation of the P . G . L . ( headed by the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . W . Montgomerie Neilson ) having entered and been received with the usual formalities , the P . G . Secretary ( Bro . A . McTaggart ) submitted the report of the deputation , remarking , in the first place , that he had to congratulate

the lodge on that large meeting ; he had not before visited it and found a larger gathering or a more pleasant one . The report was to the effect that the deputation had examined the books and found them in very good condidon , with the exception of the cash book—for which , however , the present treasurer was in no way responsible . The deputation also found that Lodge 178 was working in

harmony with the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . With reference to the defective state of the cash book , the P . G . Secretary said that the deputation held the present treasurer entirely irec from blame in the matter . But , in justice to the past treasurer , they must state that the lodge had more than doubled its funds since the year preceding . At the end of that year these amounted to £ 44 ; while at

the end of last working year they amounted to £ 97 7 s 1 id . So that if the book had been irregularly kept , the funds had been much improved ; and , laying that and that together , the deputation need not be too severe upon the irregularity . Thereafter , the R . W . P . G . M . briefly addressed the meeting ; and , the R . W . M . ( Bro . Singleton ) having thanked the deputation for their visit , and Bro . Ritchie ,

P . G . A ., having been affiliated as a member of Lodge Scotia by Bro . McTaggart , the members of the deputation retired from the hall . GLASGOW . —LODGE UNION ( No . 332 ) . —The bimonthly meeting of this lodge was held in the hall , at 170 , Buchanan-st ., on 19 th ult , when the Prov . Grand Lodge of Glasgow paid it their annual visit of inspection . The deputation of Prov . Grand Lodge consisted of Bros , J . B

Scotland.

Walker , Treas . ; Archd . McTaggart , Sec . ; J . Gillies , S . D . ; W . Bell , Convener of Committee ; Jno . Fraser , Assistant Marshal ; J . Balfour , Director of Ceremonies ; J . Miller , Director of Music ; W . Phillips , S . B . ; and Geo . Sinclair , Treasurer and Convener of P . G . Benevolent Fund . The deputation was received with due honours , and the R . W . M . ( Bro . J . B . McNair ) , in acknowledging in customary form

the supremacy of Prov . Grand Lodge , said he was sure they would find no more loyal lodge in the province than Lodge Union . The Prov . Grand Sec . ( Bro . A . McTaggart ) - said it gave him very great pleasure to see so many brethren congregated there that ni ght , and to hear from the R . W . M . the assurance of the loyalty of the lodge . There was nothing more gratifying to the Prov . Grand Master

and his office bearers than to hear such expressions , because they showed the existence of a mutual and kindly sympathy between the lodges of the province and the Prov . Grand Lodge . The report he , on behalf of the deputation , had to make of the state of Lodge Union was a very short one , and worded in terms much similar to those of other lodges they had visited ; the reason of this being

that they had found Masonry in the province this year in a very healthy state , growing in numbers , wealth , and general prosperity . As regarded the books of the lodge , he had nothing almost to say , except in the way oE praise . He had not seen a better kept sederunt book this year in the province ; while the minute book was unusually well kept . He would give them a meed of praise for the

marginal notes with which the latter was illustrated ; . the book altogether gave a full record of the lodge ' s transactions . The roll book had been a little irregularly kept , inasmuch as in some cases the names had not been filled in at the proper time . He would recommend that on all occasions of initiation the roll book should be kept on the dais , and in each case the candidate should have

to put his signature to it then and there . He was happy to see that their funds had very materially increased during the past year ; while the number of members added to the lodge was 27 , being the same exactly as they had made the year before . In touching upon the subject of admission fees , the Prov . Grand Sec . strongly advocated their being fixed at a higher rate ; holding , as he did ,

that just in proportion as these fees were raised would the prosperity of Masonry in the province increase . In conclusion Bro . McTaggart hoped that the members of the lodge would take the remarks he had given in a kindly spirit , and he was sure that the deputation wished them all prosperity in the year to come . The R . W . M . ( Bro . Mc Nair ) said he was sure that the brethren of Lodge Union

would be very much pleased with the report which the Prov . Grand Lodge had given them ; and , with reference to the raising of the admission fee , stated that it had been raised by the amount of 15 s . since he ( Bro . McNair ) joined the lodge , and he thought that before they were many months older it would be raised still further . Before leaving , Bros . Bell , Sinclair , Miller , Thallon , and Phillips ,

members of the Prov . Grand Lodge deputation , were affiliated as members of Lodge Union by the R . W . M ., Bro . McNair . LODGE ST . GEORGE ( No . 333 ) . —The annual visitation of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Glasgow was made on the 14 th ult ., in St . Mark's Hall , Buchanan-street . The deputation having been introduced , and the authority of the

Prov . Grand Master recognized in customary form by the R . W . M . of the lodge , Bro . Alex . Thomson , the P . G .. Secretary ( Bro . McTaggart ) submitted the report of the deputation , and added to it a few remarks . From these it appeared that , after careful examination , the books had been found on the whole to be very well kept , and that the lodge was , as before , working in harmony with Grand

Lodge law . Since last visitation the lodge had increased ' its funds from £ 93 to £ 101 odd ; they had given during the year in charity the sum of £ 2 gs . ; and that night they had given into the Benevolent Fund £ 2 13 s ., being cxactly the same amount as they had done last year ; and they had made 9 admissions into the lodge . Some years their lodge had not been remarkable for the great number of

entrants , but they had always been noted for being very cautious as to whom they admitted . The lodge had its own duty to fulfil in the province of Glasgow , and he trusted it would go on to prosper . Touching the subject , of lodge fees , Bro . McTaggart said the Prov . Grand Lodge had been thinking whether they could not manage to have these raised considerably above the present amount ;

and he thought they might call upon the lodge to raise them . He had never found a single lodge to lose members by so doing , as some said would be the inevitable result . Others again said that if you raise the fees you make the Order exclusive . That he entirely denied . He did not see why a working-man lodge should not have as good a guarantee for its members as the highest lodge in the

land . The highest fees charged by the lodges occupying the highest places on the roll were miserable compared with what might be paid for the benefit of the Craft . Another thing was that they ought to have a respectable test fee ; in England they had test fees of £ 1 and more . Well , the brethren got something for their money . They had their social gatherings , at which nothing was paid ;

and , on these occasions , much money was frequently collected for charity , to benefit the widow and the orphan . After some suggestions as to improvement in " refreshment" matters , and having urged the cause of the Benevolent Fund , Bro . McTaggart concluded by congratulating the lodge on being , upon the whole , in a very good condition . Bro . Winton , P . M ., in reply to what the P . G . Secretary

had said on the subject of fees , said that , so far as No . 333 was concerned , they were emphatically a working-men ' s lodge , and he did not think that by raising their admission fees much higher they would improve their position . He thought , however , that they might well raise their test fee ; for his own part he would be happy to see it raised from two shillings , as at present , to ten shillings . Bro . McTaggart replied that in what he had said he did not at all