Scotland.

Clare , 408 , Lodge Clyde , was affiliated a joining member , and Bros . J . Hamilton , W . M . 116 , and ex-Bailie Edgar , Rutherglen , were affiliated honorary members of the lodge by the W . M . The lodge was then called to refreshment , when the W . M . proposed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which were heartily responded to . The toast of , ; The Visiting Brethren " was replied to by Bro . A . Gow ,

S . M . 5 81 , in an eloquent speech . " The W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Phillips , W . M . 55 6 , and replied to in suitable terms by Bro . Smart . "The Past Masters" was proposed by Bro . ex-Bailie Edgar , and replied to by Bro . Cunningham , I . P . M . During the evening Bros . Young , Aitken , Millar , Cunningham , Montgomery , and Gardner sang some excellent songs .

MOTHERWELL . —Lodge St . John Dalziel ( No . 409 ) . —The annua ! festival of this lodge was held on Friday , 31 st . ult ., Bro . John King , W . M ., in the chair , supported by Bros . W . Forrest , P . G . B . B . ; C . Gilchrist , P . G . S . D . ; W . Bulloch , D . M . ; and J . Johnston , S . W . Bros . J .-Forsyth , S . W . ; and Williamson , J . W ., ably discharged thc duties of Croupiers , supported by Bros . Kelso ,

R . W . M . ; Brownlie , S . W . ; and Barr , J . W . of Lodge St . Mary , Coltncss , No . 31 . Between fifty and sixty brethren sat down to dinner , including deputations from the following lodges : —Bros . A . Gladston , St . Mark's , Glasgow , 102 ; J . Walker , Hamilton , 233 ; and McPhail , Kilwinning , Paisley . After the usual loyal , patriotic , and Masonic toasts had been proposed and responded to , Bro .

Bryson , at the request of the Chairman , proposed "The Health of Bro . A . King , P . M ., " in a very congratulatory manner , and in the name of the lodge presented him with a very handsome timepiece , as a mark of respect , and in consideration of the valuable services be has rendered to the lodge . Bro . King , in replying , thanked the brethren for their kindness , and said that this mark of esteem was

quite unexpected , and that it gave him very much pleasure to think that the brethren had thought him worthy of such a handsome presentation . A very happy evening was spent with song , toast , and sentiment . Bros . Robertson and Gladston added greatly to the harmony of the meeting by giving some excellent selections of music on the violin and harmonium .

GLASGOW . —Lodge Athole ( No . 413 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held in St . Mark ' s Hall , 213 , Buchanan-strcct , on Tuesday evening , the 28 th ult ., Bro . J . I . outtit , W . M ., in the chair ; J . Miller , P . M . ; D . Leeds , S . W . ; A . Holmes , J . W . ; P . Agnevv , Treas . ; II . Graham , Sec . ; G . Robertson , S . D . ; VV . Grindlay , J . D . ; and others . Among the visiting brethren were Bros . W . Bell ,

I . P . M . 3 _; Jas . Booth , W . M . 87 ; W . Ferguson , I . P . M . 116 ; W . Ferguson , I . P . M . 543 ( " Freemason" ) ; R . Allan , Sec 5 81 ; Fraser , 73 ; Kay , 73 ; Annand , 87 ; Grant , 127 ; Aitken , 441 ; and Hunter , 453 . On the lodge being opened , and thc minutes of previous meeting read and con

firmed , Messrs . James Peace and J . McNeill were admitted and initiated into the First Degree by Bro . Louttit , W . M . Three brethren were passed to the F . C . Degree , the W . M . again performing thc ceremony , and four brethren were raised to the degree of Master Mason by Bro . I . Miller , P . M .

Rifle Match In Edinburgh.

RIFLE MATCH IN EDINBURGH .

A most interesting rifle match came off on Monday , 27 th ult ., in the Hunter's Bog , between thc Volunteer members of the Rittc Lodge , No . 405 , and the military and Volunteer members of thc Roman Eagle , No . 160 . The competition arose out of a challenge , given some

weeks ago by the Rifle Lodge , which was at once accepted by their Masonic brethren . of No . 160 . The last-named lodge being strong iii military members , the match was considered by outsiders as a foregone conclusion in their favour . The result , however , shows that the Rifle Lodge has among its brethren a number of very good average

shots . The conditions were—ten men aside . any military weapon , ranges 200 and 500 yards , seven shots at each . Proceedings began at 2 . 30 , by which time a very large number of gentlemen connected with the Craft had assembled to witness Ihe match . Thc weather was dull , but altogether favourable to good shooting . At the conclusion it was found that thc youthful lodge representatives ( thc

Rifle ) had beaten their opponents by 37 points . The top scores of the match were Colour-Sergeant Machin , 79 th Regiment , 47 ( Roman Eagle ) , and Private D . Stewart , 47 ( Riile ) . The arrangements for the match were carried out by liio . J . M . Forrester for the Rifle Lodge , and Bro . Gunn for the Roman Eagle . The following are the aggregate scores : —

Riri . E Linn ; -:. ROMAN E . U ; . E . Pt . D . Stewart , Q . E . R . A . 47 Col .-Scr . Machin , 79 th ... 47 Ser . Edwards , M . C . A . V . 44 Ser . Emslie , 79 th 41 Gunner Young . M . C . A . V . 43 Piper Glen , Q . E . R . V . ... 40 Capt . Hills , Q . E . R . V ... 40 Ser .-In . Kennedy , 79 th 39 Pt . A . T . Apthorpe , do . 40 Ser . M'Phail , 71 st \ 8 ¦

Dn . Forrester , M . C . A . V . 39 Ser . Chassels , 79 th *(¦ ; C-ip . 'Macadam , Q . E . R . V . 38 Ser . Marshall , Q . E . R . V . 32 Pt . Marr , Q . E . R . V 37 Ser . Mallard , A . M . Crps . 27 Bat .-Scr .-Maj . Mitchell , Scr . Gunn , 79 th 27 M . C . A . V 30 Ser . Henderson , 79 th ... iy Mr . Grieve- 24

. I * , .-145 'I he- team of the Rifle Lodge were entertained by their opponents to supper in the Iona Hotel , Nicolson-street .

New Masonic Hall For Exeter.

NEW MASONIC HALL FOR EXETER .

For thirty-three jears past the Freemasons of this city have made Tuckers' Hall their headquarters , and during their occupancy the building was specially fitted up for their accommodation . Sometimes , however , their meetings were found to clash with the meetingsjof the Tuckers ' and Weavers' Corporation , and upon these occasions they

New Masonic Hall For Exeter.

had , of course , to give away . This was a source of inconvenience to the brotherhood , and they have , from time to time , discussed the advisability of obtaining " a house of their own ; " in fact , for many years past the funds of thc Exeter Lodges have been accumulated and investedj ' for the express purpose of purchasing an eligible site , or a building that could be made available for a Masonic Hall .

During the alterations which , for the past nine months , have been in progress at Tuckers' Hall , they have had to hold their meetings at the Public Rooms , anti the trouble and expense entailed has brought the old subject of discussion again to the front , so that the question of erecting a Masonic Hall for Exeter has had to be definitely considered . A piece of land at thc top of Longbrook-strect was

offered , and a general meeting of the three Exeter Lodges was called to consider this offer ; but just previous to thc meeting a suggestion was made that the extensive premises in Gandy-street lately occupied by Mr . Hawkins , surgeon , and belonging to Mr Snow , wine merchant , might be purchased , anil for a comparatively small outlay adapted to serve all thc purposes of the Craft . A

large number of the brethren viewed thc premises , and were so struck with their general suitableness that they at once accepted the offer of Bro . Jerman , architect , to survey and report upon thc premises to a general meeting of the Order . A joint committee , composed of three members from each lodge , with Bro . S . Jones as hon . sec , was formed to receive the report , which

they subsequently brought before the united lodges , who confirmed the first impressions of the brethren , and passed a resolution author ! sing . them to enter into arrangements for purchasing . Like most of the houses in Gandy-strcet , the residence selected by the Freemasons for their Masonic Hall is of ancient date and appearance . It was built , as far as can be ascertained , more than two hundred years

ago , and has been occupied from that time by city magnates . It was the residence of Roger Sanders , who was three times Mayor of Exeter , and of his family for several generations afterwards ; eventually it came into thc possession of thc Snow family , who used it as a residence until some forty years ago . From the architect ' s report we arc glad lo learn that in adapting the building to the

purposes of Freemasonry every care will be taken to preserve its ancient and historical features . Several of the inner doors are of the time of Henry VIII ., carved and mounted with quaintly-devised ironwork , and , being in moderately-good preservation , they will probably be allowed to remain , as will a so the quaint Elizabethan fire-places . The right wing is to bealloted for the

accommodation of the resident Tyler . The premises are extensive , and , in addition to the large anil handsome lodge-room , will admit ef the apportioning of a good-sized private room to each of the three Exeter lodges . The establishment of a Maeonic Club has been suggested , and the premises arc certainly well adopted for the carrying out of such a scheme . The want of such a club , where the members cf

the Craft of thc city and Ihe province of Devon can meet in social communion , must have been long felt , and it is , therefore , hoped that the brethren will not allow the present opportunity to pass by without giving the matier their serious consideration . We arc assured that many of them have already expressed their opinions in favour of such a scheme . The first separate lodge-room , with

robingroom attached , is to be on the first floor of the left wing , the olher two being on the basement on each side of thc staircase . This staircase is a grand , wide structure , with heavy turned balustrade . On the second floor there is a fine large room , formerly used as a banquetroom , 26 ft . by 1 7 ft ., into which will be thrown a small room , oic , adjoining , making it 31 ft . by 18 ft . This is

to bc set apart as thc general lodge-room , and is considered sufficiently large to accommodate the Craft in the city for many years to come . If thc brethren should feel ambitious to possess a large Masonic Hall for provincial purposes forthe use of the whole of the Craft in the West , they have plenty of room at their disposal , and such a hall might be erected without in any way interfering with

ihe present arrangements . The entrance into the large room is proposed to be through wide folding doors , the walls and ceilings to be stencilled and embellished with Masonic emblems and ornaments , a beautiful enamel window to be placed inside the present large window at the East end , and the floor to be covered with a Brussels carpet , of an appropriate design . The upper rooms will

probably be set apart for the Orders of Chivalry ( Knight Templar , Rose Croix , to . ) . These rooms arc excellently adapted for this purpose , there being thc necessary three rooms connecting with each other . There are seveial other rooms for the storage of Masonic furniture , and other conveniences . Indeed , it is the opinion of many that more convenient and commodious premises could not have been secured , even if Ihey had gone to the

necessarily heavy outlay of erecting a new building expressly for the purpose-, while the present building can be adapted and fitted up at comparatively slight expense . We | arc informed that thc preliminary agreement for purchasing has been signed by the honorary secretary to thc joint committee , who arc to bc the trustees , and that thc property will be conveyed to them with all convenient

despatch-A STERLING TESTIMONIAL . —One of those gratifying and graceful tributes of esteem and recognition of services , afie-r a long number of years , filled with anxiety and care , transpired on Wednesday , jyth ult ., by a presentation of a very handsome silver tea set to Miss Agnes Tomkins , lately holding the principal position in one of the numerous fancy departments , in the well-known house ol Bro . Ex . Sheriff Mutton , 7 , Newgate-street , London . The service was contained in a beautiful Russia

case , lined with purple silk velvet , each piece of plate bore the monogram of Miss Tomkins . Such testimonial do credit both to the firm as well as to the lady in question .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"ANNUM . REPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN ASH CITY POI . ICE ORPHAN-ARE , 1876 . " We have read with much pleasure the Annual Report of this useful institution for 1876 . It is a most satisfactoiy one . There are now 160 children in the orphanage , 88 boys and 72 girls , and the school report of the Rev . D . Anderson is much to the credit both of teachers and taught .

The financial statement is equally good in the present and promising for the future . The whole amount received reaches to £ 9-54 . - ; 19 s . 8 d , the whole amount expended to £ 8008 3 s . 7 d ., leaving a balance in hand of £ 1537 16 s . id ., as well as £ 1975 6 s . 2 d . Three-and-a-half per Cent Met . Con . Stock . But some of the items of receipts are very remarkable . Annual subscriptions amount to

£ 1903 18 s . 7 d , donations to £ 1179 12 s . ? d . The Metropolitan and City Police Sergeants and Constables subscribe £ 2228 8 s . 7 d ., while the large sum of £ 3276 is . gd . is raised from popular concerts and other entertainments organized mainly by the force . Retired sergeants and constables send £ 31 4 s . 8 d ., and the boxes at thc police stations £ 72 os . 2 d . Now , as wc before remarked , these

items arc very notevvorthy , Unasmuch 35 ^ , 5504 ios . 4 d . may fairly be said to be obtained by the unflagging zeal and organized efforts of the two forces . It is an old saying , and not thc less true because old , that when people are in earnest they are sure to succeed , and we have not the least doubt but that , thanks to some liberal and befitting outside aid , the great success of the

orphanage is attributable to thc steady and persevering efforts , and cheerful and ready support of the force itself . The French saying " Aide toi memc et Dieu t'aidera , " " Help thyself , and God will help thee " is often exemplified and made good in human life , and never that we remember has it been more forcibly made true than in the case of this most , needed orphanage . We trust sincerely lhat it

has before it a future of increasing usefulness and practical prosperity . It appears to be admirably managed , and economically administered , and remembering what the peace and safety of this huge and overgrown metropolis owes to so comparatively small a body of disciplined and well-behaved men , we think that many of our merchants and " upper ten thousand , " may well , by an annual subscription , strengthen the hands of the executive , and

develope , as needs be , the great blessings of the institution itself . The work of the police is very hard and trying , they are exposed ta innumerable accidents , and worse , and sure we arc , the orphanage , of which the force may well be proud , deserves the friendly sympathy of all who are interested in the orphan and frendlcss , and above all are glad to testify their good will to those from whom they exact so much , and for whom often they do so little .

MAY ' S BRITISH AND IRISH PRESS GLIIIE IOR 1876 . May's Press ) Guide for 1876 is a very striking publication . Some of its facts are very interesting . There are now 1 734 newspapers published in the United Kingelom , iu the metropolis 452 , in the provinces 931 , \\ n Wales 52 , in . Scotland 157 , in Ireland 141 , and in the British Isles 20 . Of these 8 3 arc daily morning , and 43 daily evening

papers , 13 j . re published 3 times a w-cek , 2 four times a week , 23 3 times a week , no twice a week , 16 are published on Mondays , 6 3 on Tuesdays , 101 on Wednesdays , 136 on Thursdays , 336 on Fridays , 70 on Saturdays , and 1 on Sundays , we feel bound to say , sad exception , I is published three times a month , 15 twice a month , 8 fortnightly , 99 monthly , 1 quarterly , and 1 irregularly . We

are interested in this " petit sujet . " And of those 80 are published at a halfpenny , 880 at a penny , 93 at ijd . 270 at 2 d ., 13 at 2 J , 117 at 3 d ., 10 at 3 A , 5 + at 4 c ! ., 20 at jd ., 76 at 6 d ., 3 at 71 ! ., 2 at 8 d ., 6 at « jd . ^ 23 at is ., 2 at is . ( id ., 5 at 2 s ., and 15 gratis . Of these newspapers 5 were established before the year 1700 , 73 lrom 1700 to 1799 , 34 from 1800 to 1810 , 29 from 1811 to 1820 , 48 from

1821 to 1830 , 100 from 1831 to 1840 , 132 from 1841 to 1830 , 457 from 1831 to i 860 , 4 6 4 from 1861 to 1870 , 249 from 1871 to 18 74 , and 84 in 18 75 . There are also , it seems 746 periodicals , or serials of which 555 are ' publisrit-: ! in London , in the provinces 107 , Wales 19 , Scotland , 41 , Ireland 22 , and British Isles 2 . 329 of these are published monthly , 83 quarterly , 80 weekly , 32 at irregular times , and . 21 at various times from biennially to half yearly .

The earliest magazine is thc Gentlemen ' s Magazine 1732 , and six others were published originally in the last century , and still continue . Of these serials 32 G are religious , London issuing alone of this number 260 . Surely some brother who read these figures , if any one ever does re-ad figures , will admit that " fact is often stranger than fiction , " and that there are many more wonderful things in this wuild , statistical or otherwise , than exist often in a " fellar ' s " philosophy .

REPORT OI * TIII ; SEAMEN ' S HOSPITAL AT GREENWICH . The old " Dreadnought" had a great interest for us all , for though we are a nation of shopkeepers , we have a good deal of "sentiment , " and not a little patriotism , and " Jack " always appeals to the heart and memories of a Briton . Now that he is ashore , comfortably housed at Greenwich , and no longer afloat in the Thames , we still

feel a considerable degree of interest in that most useful of institutions , which cares in its cosmopolitan character for the mercantile marine of all nations . We are told that the report is , on the whole a good one , though we note that the hospital is apparently in need of funds . Its ordinary and extraordinary income for 1875 amounted to

£ 12 , 691 18 s . 8 d ., and its expenditure to £ 14 , 439 'B * 7 "'' but as of this account £ 363 6 9 s . 6 d . were debts , it would seem that if its receipts keep up to this present account , there would remain about £ 2000 to meet extraordinary expenditure , which , of course , varies each year . 2045 '"' patients were admitted in 1875 , and as many of them