Masonic Pilgrimage To Shakespeare's Tomb.

our mysteries are gi adually made known to them —and they are taught as Burns wrote" By that hieroglyphic bright , Which none but craftsmen ever saw , " to take part in our solemn ordinances and mystic rites , and to offer up with us , as brethren , their

adoration to the Most High , that God of the Mason ' s Lodge and of the English Liturgy , who is the " lover of concord , " and " whose service is perfect freedom . " Churchmen soon learn that Masons are zealous ritualists ; but thai their ritualism is a foe to bigotry , to nebulous

superstition and to idolatry , however specious may be its forms . Masonry and the Protestant religion both proclaim the volume of the Sacred Law to be the rule and guide of faith , but they do not teach that any frail and erring creature of the

dust is infallible , or that interpretations of the sacred volume are to be accepted blindly and without judgment . In brief , the principles of the Reformation and the spirit of Freemasonry have so much in common that if ever the

hardwon fruits of the first are threatened the duties and teachings of the Masonic Lodge will assuredly keep the brotherhoods , both lay and clerical , on the side of loyalty , truth , and freedom . ( Cheers ) . The W . M ., Sir George Elliot , M . P ., then gave

" The Earl of Carnarvon and the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " which was responded to by Bro . . / Eneas M'intyre , the Grand Registrar of England , who , in a speech of great eloquence , defined the duties of the Grand officers , and proclaimed the earnest desire of all filling the

positions to discharge those duties . The Grand Registrar pointed out that the Craft is most fortunate in having a nobleman of Lord Carnarvon's lofty character and versatile accomplishments in high office , and added that if his Royal Highness the Grand Master appointed his

lordship Provincial Grand Master , as was probable , the order would have still stronger reasons for appreciating Lord Carnarvon's qualities . An appointment of Deputy Grand Master would then have to be made , and the Grand Registrar knew of no better training for that high position

than a long and successful discharge of the duties of Provincial Grand Master . He had however , no sort of doubt but that whoever it might please his Royal Highness to appoint would be loyally received by the brethren , and that the Grand officers would meet as heretofore

with that warm welcome at the hands of the brethren which was one of the high privileges of theirposition . The Grand Registrar , who had been most warmly received throughout , resumed his seat amid a tumult of enthusiastic applause . The toasts of the Provincial Grand Master of

Warwickshire , Lord Leigh , and the Provincial Grand Master of Lancashire , Colonel Burdett , were severally given from the chair , and were responded to , Lord Leigh wishing that the officers of the Grand Lodge of could

England visit the Provinces more frequently , and Colonel Burdett expressing for Middlesex the great satisfaction experienced at the cordial greeting and welcome given the brethren from that county by Lord Leigh and the brothers of Warwickshire . The health of

the Vicar of Stratford as the Chaplain of the Bard of Avon Lodge , gave Canon Collis an opportunity in reply of again explaining the urgent needs of Shakespeare ' s church for repair and reconstruction . A Provisional Committee was formed , in which Lord Leigh , Sir George Elliot

, Brother Edgar Flower ( a leading resident of Stratford ) , Colonel Burdett , Bro . J . C . Parkinson , and Bro . Edmund Yates consented to serve , for the purpose of ascertaining the best modes of laying before the English public the present condition of Shakespeare ' s Church .

The health of Dr . Ramsey , of Inveresk , as W . M . elect of the Bard of Avon Lodge was then given by Sir George Elliot , who expressed himself warmly on the subject of being elected for a second year to the chair of this Lodge ,

and on the personal esteem felt for the brother who would succeed him . 1 ) r . Ramsey in reply expressed his firm intention to uphold the prestige of the Bud of Avon , and in the course of an animated and successful speech informed the brethren that Bro . Edmund Yates had grati-

Masonic Pilgrimage To Shakespeare's Tomb.

fied him by applying for office , and that Bro . Yates would be one of the Deacons under him , and would in due time present himself for election into the chair—an announcement received with loud cheers . Bro . J . C . Warden

returned thanks for the Stratford Past Masters of the Bard of Avon Lodge , and the proceed * ings terminated . Some of the pilgrims returned to town the same evening , but the majority came back by special train next day .

Scotland.

Scotland .

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW MASONIC HALL AT ALLOA .

As intimated by us last week , the laying of the foundation-stone of this hall could not be laid by the Grand Lodge , on account of their having held a funeral lodge on the 12 th inst ., in favour of the Earl of Dalhousie and Lord Murray , and accordingly the brethren of the Alloa

St . John's Lodge ( No . 69 ) had to put off the public demonstration in the meantime , as the laying of the foundation-stone could not be retarded longer , and therefore had no alternative but to take the initiative themselves , and lay it with full Masonic honours by the R . W . M . The

Oddfellows , Foresters , Free Gardeners , Shepherds , & c , will , no doubt , have met with a disappointment on this occasion , as it was not in the power of the St . John ' s Lodge to allow them to proceed in procession without the attendance of the Sister Masonic Lodges from other

quarters . It is gratifying , however , to state for their information that when the hall is completed , which it is expected to be early in spring , they will then have an opportunity of turning out in procession along with the Masons , as it is intended to have then a gigantic

demonstration on the day the hall is opened . It is just two years past on the 17 th of this month since a grand demonstration took place in Alloa , in connection with the laying of the foundation-stone of the New Burgh Buildings , which ceremony was performed by Major-General Sir Tames E .

Alexander , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for Stirlingshire . If the grand demonstration had taken place as at first anticipated , it was expected that the same gentleman would have performed the ceremony ; but , in the circumstances , he deputed the Right Worshipful

Master for Alloa—Mr . G . B . Graham—to lay the stone . Accordingly , on Tuesday , this was done with full Masonic honours . The weather was most unpropitious for the occasion , but , notwithstanding , the proceedings were witnessed by a large number of spectators . The building

which is being erected is next to the Archaeological Museum in the Glebe . It lies back off the street a little , but railings are to be placed in front so as to make it in a line with the pathway . The building is a plain substantial one , and is designed by Mr . James Mitchell , joiner . It is

to contain on the lower flat a public room , which is 15 feet by 14 ft . 6 in . ; three bed-rooms , 14 ft . 6 in . by 12 ft . 6 in ., 13 ft . by 10 ft ., and 10 ft . by 8 ft . 6 in ., respectively ; kitchen , 14 ft . by 11 ft . ; bath-room , 9 ft . by 6 ft . 6 in . ; and scullery , 8 ft . by 5 ft . 6 in . The height of the

ceiling will be 11 ft . 6 in . The entrance to this flat is from the front , with a vestibule glass door into the lobby , which is 6 ft . wide . In the upper flat will be the hall , which is 30 ft . by 20 ft ., with curved ceiling 14 ft . 6 in . in height , and will be lighted by four windows . There will be

also two ante-rooms on the same flat adjoining the hall , the one 15 ft . 5 in . by 12 ft . 5 in ., and the other 12 ft . 6 in . by 10 ft . 6 in ., the height of ceiling being 11 ft . 5 in . The flat is entered from the end of the south gable by a stone stair , built in with brick , and roofed . The entrance

door to the hall is 3 ft . back from the south gable , which cannot be seen from the front . The contractors are Mr . Alex . Gloag , mason work ; Mr . James Marshall , joiner work ; Mr . James Grant , plaster work ; Mr . Alex . Mitchell , plumber work ; and Mr . John Walker , slater

Scotland.

work . We have only to congratulate the Alloa St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 69 ) on their having at last obtained such a suitable resting place after being jostled about for many years . The Lodge formed in the Royal Oak Hotel at three o'clock , at which a goodly number of

the brethren attended , and at half-past three they formed . in procession and marched to the site of the hall , headed by the band of the 1 st C . R . V . playing the " Hallelujah Chorus . " After all the brethren had assembled , along with a few friends , at the " scene of action , " the band played

the " Queen ' s Anthem , " after which the worthy Chaplain , Rev . A . Bryson , offered up a most impressive prayer for the occasion . The Right Worshipful Master , Mr . G . B . Graham , then said the architect , Mr . Andrew Mitchell , will kindly step forward , and bring

forth the various workmen necessary for the completion of the work , which was done . He then called on the treasurer , Mr . Alike , to place the bottle in the cavity , and the secretary , Mr . Johnstone , to cover it with the brass inscription plate ; the Junior Warden , Capt . Cobb , to apply

the instrnment of his office , the plumb to the stone ; the Senior Warden , Mr . Philp , to apply his instrument of office , the level , to the stone ; and then upon the Past Master , Mr . S . N . Morison , to apply his instrument , the square , to the stone , all which having been done , the

R . W . M . said—Having full confidence in you , brethren , as being perfectly qualified for your various duties , it only remains for me to finish this noble work which we have begun , and accordingly he gave three knocks on the stone with a mallet , and declared it duly laid in full

Masonic form . This being done , the Past Master handed to the R . W . M . the cornucopia , or horn of plenty , which he put on the stone , after which the Senior Warden handed the vase of wine to the P . M ., who handed it to the R . W . M ., he pouring it upon the stone . This being done ,

the Junior Warden handed to the Senior Warden the vase of oil , who handed it to the * P . M ., and then to the R . W . M ., and he also poured it on the stone . While this ceremony was being gone through the band played " Old Hundred . "

The Chaplain of the Lodge then said—Right Worshipful Master , this is a day upon which I may felicitate the Alloa St . John's Lodge ( No . 69 ) upon the attainment of an object to which they have long looked forward . It is a most worthy object of ambition to have a permanent

meeting-place , and a permanent locality for the brethren . We have to congratulate ourselves not only upon the feeling immediately within the Lodge , but also by the kindly feeling which has been manifested to us by many brethren around us contributing to our finances and

enabling us to obtain this the object of our ambition . And while I congratulate you , the honourable brethren around me , I have to express the hope that having at lasta local habitation and a name , that this our Lodge will be used to

further the ends of Masonry , to which we have sworn fealty . I have also no doubt that those ties of brotherhood which we have sworn to observe , will , in time to come , extend more throughout the community , and that the power

will become more than a name—that it will become a reality for good in all social movements . If the day had been better I should have liked to have said something moie , but considering the state of the weather , I have | only to say , in conclusion , that I congratulate you most

heartily that the Lodge , which after an existence of more than a century , has attained this worthy object of ambition , and let me also add , so well , I having an interest apart from being a member of the lodge , in the buildings that are erected upon this bit of land . I must also congratulate

you on the admirable plans and the excellent house which is here being erected . And may God bless us all in our union that this our Lodge may always be used by the brethren to His glory , and to the welfare of our fellows . And

so , as the years go on and our lodge grows older , let us hope in good work and good brotherhood , it will promote the welfare of the locality with which we are placed . The procession again formed and marchad oft