Freemasonry In Scotland.

FREEMASONRY IN SCOTLAND .

The annual meeting of Mother Kilwinning Lodge was held on the 2 ist ult . in the hall of the lodge . There was a large inn-iter of brethren , Bros . R . W . Cochran-P . itriik of Woodside , Depute Pi \> vi : ichl Grand Master for Ayrshire , presiding . Thelod-. 'C having been duly opened in the first degree , nnd some routine business transacted , the

following office-hearers were unanimously appointed : — Coloncl ' Mur .-, M . P ., R . W . M . and Provincial G . M . for Ayishirc ; Sir James Fcrgusson , Bart ., Past Provincial Pro . G . M . ; Patrick Burns , D . M . ; J . Carruthers , S . M ., R . Montgomeric , M . P ., Proxv Master ; J . A . Ferguson , P . S . W . ; John " Tweed . P . J . W . ; J . ' Gibson , S . W . ; J . Gillespie , J . W . ; Revs . ] . Gillespie , W . Lee Ker , lohn Sime , and Alexander

Inglis , Chaplains ; Robert Wylie , Secretary ; John Wiiiton , Treasurer ; Robert Aird , S . D . ; George Jack , J . D . ; William Parves , S . S . ; W . Paterson , j . S . ; James Crawford , B . B . ; John Armsirong , jun ., architect ; C . Aitkcn , I . G . ; C . Breekeiiiidge , Tyler . Bro . Wy lie read a letter from the Rev . George Lake-man ( a member of the lo : lge ) , dated Portsoy ,

December , 14 , staling llv . it he was somewhat pained that he had to c . ill attention to the recent action taken by the Grand Orient of Fiance in having struck out of its preliminary declaration the words which express belief in the existence of God and tl-c immortality of the soul . He looked upon this as a great calamity . He had observed that the Irish Grand Lodge had promptly passed a

resolution regretting and strongly protesting against the action of the French Grand Orient in this matter ; and he understood that the Grand Lodge of England had appointed a committee to report upon the subject . Bro . Lakeman thought that Mother Kilwinning ought not to remain silent , because , were she doing so , it would give colour lo the assertion sometimes made that Ficemasonry

was only an empty shadow , without substance or form—without a meaning . He therefore suggested that the Mother Lodge should pass a resolution in words similar to the following : — "That we , the members of the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , beg respectfully to call the attention of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to the unfortunate step which has b ? en taken by the Grand Orient ol

France , whereby a belief in the existence of God and the immortality of the soul is expunged from its fundamental principles , and to express the hope that some step will be taken by which the Freemasons of Scotland may give expression of the sorrow they feel that their brethren and friends should have so acted . " Bro . Lakeman fuither said that between seventy and eighty French lodges had

protested against the change , and he submitted that Mother Kilwinning Loige ought to do all in their power to support these lodges in tlie stand they were making for the right . Bro . Cochran -Patrick agreed that they should take the action s-uggc-ted in that letter , for no doubt the Grand Orient had struck at the very foundation of Masonry when

they made such a change . He had found in Denmark , Sweden , and Norway that the Lodge Mother Kilwinning was regaided wilh great respect , and he believed that any resolution which she passed on the step taken by the Grand Orient woi . ld have great effect . He proposed a resolution in tlie terms suggested in the letter , ami thought that a copy should be sent to the Grand Lodge of

Scotland and Grand Orient of France . ( Applause . ) Bio . J . G . Ilalkct seconded the resolution , which was unanimously adopted . Tlie Lodge Mother Kilwinning celebrated their annual festival in the evening , and was visited by large

deputations from the follow nig daughter lodges , headed b y their respective Masters , namely , St . Andrew's , Kilmarnock , 1 ;(>; St . Andrews , Irvine , 149 ; St . John ( Kilwinning ) , Beith , 157 ; Thistle and Rose , Stevenston , I 6 Q ; Blair , Dairy , 290 ; and Neptune ( Kilwinning ) , Ardrossan , 442 . A most happy and enjoyable evening was spent .

Sweden Borgian Rite In Liverpool.

SWEDEN BORGIAN RITE IN LIVERPOOL .

On Wednesday , the 19 th December , the first lodge under the beautiful ritual , viz : The Royal Oscar Lodge and Temple , No . 9 , was consecrated by the P . G . M . for Lancashire , Bro . Major George Turner , at the Compton Hotel , Church Street . After the consecration Bro . Thomas

Clark , P . M . 6 73 , P . / ., ( 173 ; and holding many other offices in Masonry , was duly installed as the first W . Master , and the following officers were appointed to their respective positions : Bros . W . T . May , P . M ., 673 , and 1393 ; as S . VV . Thos . Roberts , P . M . 6 73 , as J . W . ; John Lloyd , P . M . 249 , M . of C . ; J . Wood , ( Freemason ) Registrar 11 . Pearson , P . M . 673 , Treasurer ; W .

Brackenbury , Secittaiy ; II . Marshall , Chaplain ; Lewis Herman , Marshall ; D . Jackson , S . D . H . Burrows , W . M . 673 , J . D . John Hug his , P . M . 220 , Standard Bearer ; John Atkinson , Sword Bearer ; John Seddon , Herald ; John Lolly , Sinr . Steward ; James Sampson , 2 nd . Steward ; W . J . Hale-ham , 3 rd . Steward ; and Thos . Smyth , Pursuivant . After the initiation of John Seddon by ihe

W . M ., the brethren adjourned to refreshment , when the usual l . - ijal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . Allusii 11 was made by the P . G . M ., Bro . Major George Tinner , anil the W . M ., t ; the spirited und very successful manner in which the lodge had been established , and winch pioni's . s to he the largest anil best worked

lodge in lhe prin nice , being ouly stareeel within the presei . t month , : ind already r . large number of brethren have joined . It was expected that the splendid jewel of the Order would have been ready for the members , but no doubt the Masonic jeweller having it in hand will complete it before the forthcoming Annual Ball .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . RICHARD WOOLFE . Bro . Woolfe was elescemled of an old family formerly seateel at Maileley , in Shropshire , where one of his ancestors , a Roman Catholic gentleman of that name , afforded a refuge and hospitality to King Charles the Second , fleeing from his signal defeat at Worcester , in 1651 . The deceased gentleman had lately changed the

orthography of his name—originally " Woof " —to " Woolfe . " Bro . Woolfe was Town Clerk of Worcester and as such , possesseel ample scope for the pursuit of local history anel antiquities in the large collection of MSS . and printed records confided to his keeping . These he not only carefully examined himself , but willingly afforded facilities for others to inspect who were engaged

in the same pursuit . We arc assured by Mr . Noakc that the deceaseel Bro . greatly assisted him in the preparation of his recently-published work , entitled " Worcestershire Relics , " which fact is gracefully acknowledged by the author in the dedication of the volume to him . Bro . Woolfe ' s great and principal work , however—performed during his time of office ol Town Clerk—was in

collecting and arranging all the municipal records , books , maps , documents , and pictures in the possession of the Corporation , with such interesting additions as he could procure , either by purchase or the free contribution of the citizens , and compiling a catalogue of the same , which was printed in the year 1874 .. This was a woik involving great labour and some personal sacrifice , which , however ,

was e'heerfully unelcrgone by Bro . Woolfe for the benefit of the city . The Corporation at his request made a grant for constructing a strong room for the reception of this valuable collection . He also presented them with an oil portrait of Charles II ., to be hung in the Cou ncil Chamber . Bro . Woolfe , who devoted a goo : ! deal of spare time to

historical , archaeological , and genealogical studies , was a fellow of the Antiquarian , of the Royal Historical , and other literary societies , to whose transactions he occasionally contributed some interesting papers . He was one of the original founders of the Worcester Architectural Society and the Archaeological Club , contributing papers to the latter , some of which were subsequently printed , including

one on "The Seal anil Arms of the City of Worcester , " a statement of " The personal expenses of Charles II . in the City of Worcester , 16 51 , " also a description of the portraits in the Guildhall . Bro . Woolfe was an active anel esteemed member of our Masonic Order , contributing to the lore cf the society , to the recognition of its principles , anil the advancement of

universal brotherhood . He had filled the offices of W . M . of the Worcester Loelge , 280 , anil First Principal of St . Wulstan ' s Royal Arch Chapter , besides important offices in the Provincial Grand Loilge of Worcestershire . He was one of the founders of the St . Amand Encampment of Knights Templar , meeting in Worcester , of which he was the first Eminent Commander . As a Deputy Provincial Grand Commander of the Oreler he was

corresponding Secretary in the dominion of Canada , with the rank of Past Provincial Grand Commander . He had also filled the chairs in other superior grades of Freemasonry , and was a member of the 32 nd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . He took a leading part in promoting the Mjsor . ic testimonial in the shape of a superb stained glass window in the Cathedral to the late

eminent Bro . Joseph Bennett ; and in the other painted window there presented by the Grand Lodge of Worcestershire . In these , Bro . Woolfe ' s acquaintance with the arts of antiquarian design , anel his thorough imbuement with , and profound appreciation of , the mysterious and science-teeming emblems of Freemasonry enabled him to render the most efficient service .

Bro . Woolfe joined the Order of St . John in 1867 , and up to the time of his illness he took the greatest possible interest in its charitable work . In 186 9 the diet system of relief , which had been employed with regarel to convalescent patients of some of the London hospitals , was introduced by the order into Worcester . From that time many of the convalescent patients of Worcester Dispensary

have received relief in the form of nourishing food , by which means a large number of persons recovering from sickness , who are depending on their toil for their daily bread , have been enabled to return to their work sooner thar . otherwise could possibly have been the case-. In this labour of love for his poorer bretluen Bro . Woolfe took a most active part , as he recognised in the system one of

the best means of employing the charitable funds of the Oreler to which he was so devotedly attached . As far as his services in this direction arc concerned , his loss is irreparable . But it was not only in Worcester that his services to the Oreler were so valuable and highly appreciated by the members . From the intimate knowledge which he had of the history of the Order , and in consideration

of other special qualifications which he possessed , he was selected in 1872 , by the Chapter of the Order in England , to fill the important post of Registrar , an office in which his legal , historical , anil general knowledge were of the highest advantage . His loss in this respect will be deeply regretted . The funeral of the deceased gentleman took place at

the New Cemetery , on Thursday afternoon , Dec . 20 , at one o ' clock . Piior to that time there gathered in the walk leading lo the chapel a number of fiiends of the late Bro . Woolfe , anel when the cortege arrived at the gate , the following procession was formed : Freemasons of Worcester ,

Magistrates and Corporation , numbers of the legal profession , members of the Board of Guardians , anel members of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , followed by three mourning coaches , ihe hearse , two mourning coaches , and the private carriages of Bro . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart , M . P ., R . Padmore , Esq ., and R . Smith , Esq . At

Obituary.

the entrance to the chapel , the procession divided , and the coffin was carried in . There the first part of the funeral service was performed by the Rev . T . W . Wooel , curate of Hanley Castle , and one of the Chaplains to the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , the proper psalms being sung hy the Cathedral choir , and also the hymn " Days and Moments Quickly Flying ; " Mr . A . [ . Caldicott

prefiding at the harmonium . On emerging from the chapel , the order cf procession was reversed , the members of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem taking the first position immediately after the choir , who sang " Jesus lives , no longer now , " the Worcester Freemasons bringing up the rear . At the grave , which was a bricked one , the Rev . Oswald Mangin Holden , Vicar of Gailey ,

Staffordshire , and also a Chaplain to the Order of St . Jeihn of Jerusalem , concluded the solemn service , and amid signs of profound grief , all that was mortal of one so well known and so universally beloved was committed to mother earth . The coffin was composcel of oak , with brass mountings ami mediaeval brass furniture . The plate bore the following inscription : " Richard Woolfe , born

15 th December , 1821 ; died 16 th December , 1877 . " It was covered by a very handsome violet pall , having a Passion cross the whole length anil width , and upon wdiich was laiel an tight-pointed cross of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem . Loving hands had constructed many beautiful devices in flowers , anil there was scarcely room to place them all on the coffin .

The following is a list of the pall-bearers . —C . C . W , Griffiths , Esq ., R . W . Roberts , Esq ., London ; Alfred Powell , Esq ., Richard Smith , Est ] ., F . R . Jeffery , Esq ., S . G . Purchas , Esq ., H . Caldicott , Esq ., Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P . The mourners were : S . P . Richards , Esq ., J . G . Richards , Esq ., Wolverhampton ; E . S . Sanders . m , Esq ., W . M . Woof , Esq ., ( cousin ) , Mr . C . W .

Griffiths , Mr . A . George , Mr . H . Caink , and Mr . F . Simms , Worcester . Among those who were present anil took part in the procession were , as representing tne Oreler of St . John of Jerusalem , General Sir John St . George , K . C . B ., Sir Brooke Kay , Bait ., Lieut-Col . Gould Weston , F . S . A ., ( librarian ); Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart , M . P ., ( secretary of the Order ) , the Rev . P . M . Holden and Rev . T . W .

Wood ( chaplains of the Order ) , anel E . S . Sanderson , Esq . Letteis of apology for non-attendance were received from several members . The Mayor ( F . Dingle , Esq . ) , the Sheriff ( W . Holland , Esq . ) , Aid . Woodware ! , Longmore , Josiah Stallard , John Stallard , M . Jones , Councillors Bosward , Harrison , Noake , Airey , Davies , Roberts , Lechmere-Pugh , R . E . Barnett , W . Stallard , and

Foxwell ; Revs . R . Cattley , D . C . Preedy , T . L . Wheeler , J . B . Wilson , J . Hamilton Davies , Messrs . J . V . Stallard , Baldwyn , Bajlis , Woodward , Butler , Holland ; G . W . Bentley , T . G . Hyde , R . P . Hill , Canning Hill , C . E . Beck , F . Corbett , H . Corbett , W . Allen , C . Pidcock , W . P . Hughes , | . Tree , W . W . A . Tree , H . Ciisp , S . M . Beale , W . W . Cawley ( Malvern ) , T . Bates , Hilary Hill , H . W .

Budd ; J . W . Isaac , D . W . Barker , R . W . Binns , H . Rowe , M . Power , Felton , C . Higgs , T . M . Hopkins , J . W . Stone , T . Hobbs , F . Lingham , W . Sanders , J . Close , H . Charge , H . Walters , J . H . L . Jones , J . Rutland , J . W . Weldin , W . Underwood , F . N . Gosling , W . Stephens , Horton , Jones , Roberts , anil H . George , were among the large concourse present .

Queen's College, Oxford.

QUEEN ' S COLLEGE , OXFORD .

The annual and ancient custom of serving up a boar ' s head at Queen ' s College , Oxford , was observed with all due ceremony on Christmas-day , when the public were admitted , as in former years , to witness the interesting ceremony . The boar's head , which , was provided by the

College Manciple , Mr . William Horn , was a splendid specimen ofthe species , weighing between 6 olb . and 701 b ., and was decorated with the proverbial " bays anil rosemary , " surmounted with the College arms , flags , & c . Shortly after 5 o ' clock a procession of singing men and choristers ,

beaded by the Rev . Sackett Hope , Chaplain of Queen's College , entered the hall , followed by the trophy on a silver salver , carried on the shoulders of two serving men , chanting tbe following carol , arranged by Dr . Hague , a former distinguished musical member of that society : —

" The boar ' s head in hand bring I With garlands gay and rosemary , I pray you all sing menily , Qui estis in convivio . Capuit apri defero Reddens laudes Domino . "

" The boar ' s head , as I understand Is the bravest dish in all the land ; When thus bedecked in a gay garland Servile cum cantico . "Our steward hath provided this In honour of the King of Bliss ,

Which on this day to be served is , In Reginensi Atrio . " Mr . Hope rendered the solo part to good effect , which was intensified by the excellent combination of voices in the chorus . On reaching the hig h table , the dish was deposited , and

on the departure of the public , the resilient members of the College partook of dinner , the boar ' s head forming one of the principal dishes . The origin of the ceremony is somewhat obscure , but there is no dnuVt it has been obscrveel for a period of soo

years , one authority quoting 1350 as being the probable year of the first festival . Mr . Pointer , in his Oxoniensis Acadcmia , remarks , in reference to the ceremony , that " It is in memory of a noble exploit , as tradition relates , by a scholar ( a Tabedar ) of Queen's College in killing a wild boar in Shotover Wood . " ( The wood still remains , being