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Craft Masonry.
St . Botolph S Lodge ( No . 2020 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Monday , the 4 th instant . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the initiation of Mr . Richards , Principal of thc Commercial Travellers' Schools at Pinner , took place , the ceremony being very impressively rendered by Bro . B . G . Elliilt , W . M . The installation ceremony was then proceeded with , Bro . William Lake , P . M . 131 . P . P . G . Registrar of Cornwall , being installed in the chair of the lodge in the presence of a large Board of Installed Masters .
After presenting , in the name of the lodge , a Past Master's jewel to the retiring W . M . ( Bro . ) B . G . Elliott ) , the W . M . took occasion to express his personal thanks to Rro . Elliott for the very perfect manner in whirh that ceremonv had been performed . The W . M . then appointed his officers as follows : Bros . J . D . Myers , S . W '; S . F . Staples , J . W . j P . Saillard , P . M .. Treas . ; H . G . Cubitt , P . M ., Sec ; L . F . Hodge , S . D . ; F . C . Pieott , J . D . ; G . Walker , I . G .: E . W . Stillwell , P . M ., D . C . ; F . B . Stafford and A . W . Hazell , Stewards ; and R . Goddard , Tyler .
Thelodge was then closed , and the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , presided over by the W . M . About 50 were present , including many visitors . The loyal and other toasts having been disposed of , The I . P . M . proposed "The Health of the W . M . " Bro . ' Lake , he said , had occupied the position of Secretary of the lodge since it was Iirst constituted , and he in
common with all the brethren were delighted to see him in the proud position of W . M . of the lodge , to whose success he had so largely contributed . He wished him a pleasant year of oflice , and took occasion also to offer him , in the ' nameof the lodge , heartv congratulations on the responsible position to which he had been appointed in the ofBce of Grand Lodge .
Bro . Lake , in responding , referred to his many years of pleasurable and harmonious intercourse with the members in his capacity as Secretary , to the truly Masonic feeling that had always existed in St . Botolph ' s Lodge , and his hope that his year of office would be marked with the same unanimity and prosperity as his predecessors in the chair had enjoyed .
The toast of " The Candidate " followed , and Bro . Richards responded in a genial speech , expressing his great satisfaction at becoming a member of the Craft under the auspices of St . Botolph ' s Lodge . The W . M . then gave the toast of " The Installing Officer , " and again referred to the excellent manner in which Bro . Elliott had performed his duty , as indeed had been the case with all he had undertaken during his year of oflice .
Bro . Elliott , in reply , tendered his thanks for the loyal support and kindly feeling that had characterised his official year , and in wishing the new W . M . a successful term of office , expressed his desire to continue his efforts for the welfare of thelodge . The toasts of "The Past Masters , " "The Treasurer and Secretary , " and "The Officers of the Lodge " followed , and the Tyler ' s toast ended an exceptionally enjoyable evening . An excellent programme of music was gone through , in which Miss Gertrude Hughes , Miss Blanche Sawgwin , and Bros . Franklin Clive , Templar Saxe , J . D . Myers , J . Kift , and others took part .
SCOtS Lodge ( No . 2319 ) . —Thursday , the 24 th ultimo , was the regular meeting of this lodge , and the meeting at which the members celebrate the Burns ' Festival , and have as a rule a Burns' oration delivered ; but ordinary lodge work is also conducted , and the Burns' night is an incident in the proceedings which adds an extra zest to the always pleasant assemblies of the Scottish brethren . On this occasion the W . M ., Bro . Thomas Grant , P . M ., presided over a strong gathering of the brethren , the absence from among whom of the genial Peter Greig , on account of illness , was
much regretted . The meeting included , among others , the following names : Bros . D . F . Gellion , P . M ., I . P . M . ; J . Whitehead , P . M . ; J . Page , P . M . ; Jas . Gray , P . M ., Trustee ; Joseph Whitehead , S . W . ; James Thomson , J . W . ; David A . Ross , Sec . ; D . M . Forbes , S . D . ; D . R . Duncan , J . D . ; W . Craig , D . C . ; E . Johnson Gordon , I . G . ; Ashley Gordon , Organist ; and W . Robertson , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . J . I , Muirhead , P . M . 1 ( S . C ); W . Cooke , 19 S 7 ; G . Chumley , 16 5 6 ; T . Jones , 1656 ; J , Featherstone , 1 C 5 C ; J . J . Parratt , J . D . 13 S 1 ; W . J . R . McLean , Mus . Bac , Org . S 5 S ; VV . Vincer Alinter , 20 ; II . W . Parker , J . W . 204 S ; H . Afassey , 1 G 0 , P . M . 619 , 1928 ; J . T . Osterstock , I . P . M . 11 S 5 ; T . Jones , 733 ; E . A . G . H . Grant , S 34 ; and H . Bond , P . M . 1656 .
The W . M . first initiated Mr . Alexander McGregor , and then passed to the Second Degree Bro . John Nicol . Bro . Thomas McCIure , 499 ( S . C ) , was elected a joining member . Bro . Page , P . M ., announced that he would be Steward for the Boys' Festival , and Bro . Thomson , J . W ., said he would be Steward for the Girls . After the ' transaction of other business , when " Hearty good wishes" were communicated to the W . M ., Bro . J . J . Muirhead , P . M . 1 ( S . C ) , reiterated ' the statement he made at Grand Master ' s Lodge on the previous Monday that Mary ' s Chapel was the oldest lodge in Scotland , and that it held the oldest Masonic document in the world .
Following the closing of the lodge came one of the famous Scots' Lodge banquets , which was , as is usual at this lodge , heartily enjoyed , and Peter Maclean was piper . The customary toasts were honoured . Bro . I ) . F . Gellion , I . P . M ., proposed "TheW . M ., " on whose qualities as a Mason he said he need not comment . Neither was it necessary that he should remark upon his working of the ceremonies , as they were performed in a most effective manner and to the satisfaction of all the brethren .
Bro . Thomas Grant , W . M ., responded , simply thanking the brethren most heartily for the way they had expressed their opinions of his working of the lodge , and of the manner in which the business had been conducted generally . Bro . Thomas Grant , W . M ., next gave " The Immortal Memory of Bro . Burns , " whose fame spread far and wide . He said that in giving the toast he would quote words of the poet which he used to the mystic brethren of the St . James ' s Lodge , Tarbolton , which had been quoted many times before , —
" Then fill up a bumper , and let it o ' erllow , And honours Masonic prepare for to show , May every true brother of the compass and square , Have a big-belly'd bottle when harassed with care . " Burns must have been a true Mason and a true man to say that spontaneously . It had been expected that they would have an oration that evening upon Burns , but , unfortunately livo . Alex . Ritchie , the Treasurer , had had so many public duties to attend to that he had not been able to get it off , and the brethren would have to do without it on that
occasion . The toast was heartily drunk . Bro . D . F . Gellion , I . P . M ., who was first to respond to the toast of " The I . P . M . and I ast Masters , " said it had always afforded him a great amount of pleasure to be a ™ enJPer ° f 'bat lodge . He had sp » nt very many happy evenings among the brethren of the Scots Lodge , and he hoped he should spend a great many more .
, Br ° - Whitehead , P . M ., also replied , and wished all the good he possibly could for lhe lodge . He regretted he was absent from the last meeting , but he was in bed at the , " } e > a ™ l it was no slight to the W . M . He was always anxious for the welfare of the I . fi ? ' i ! ^ P leasei 1 10 sa y he had received Grand Lodge honours in Scotland , and ne thought the Scots Lodge must take credit to itself for that , as it was shortly after the
111 u c of lla < lllington and other Grand Officers of the Grantl Lodge of Scotland to the Scots Lodge . The honour conferred on him was that of Deputy Provincial Uiand Master of Aberdeen City , and the present was his third year oi oll ' ice . This X " bad been made representative officer in Grand Lodge of Scotand of India and south America . That he took not as a mark of respect and esteem to himself , but as a mark of respect and esteem for the Scots Lodge .
Bro . John Page , P . M ., in the course of his response to the toast , said it was while ne was acting in the chair of the Scots Lodge that the entertainment was given to the ^ rarnt OHicers of Scotland , antl he must say that the whole of the time he had been connected with the lodge , whether as a founder or as Master , he had met with the g reatest cordiality and sympathy . He should always be at the service of the lodge for anything it might want . M „ p " Nicol , F . C , who did not reply as Initiate at the previous meeting , and Bro . mcuregor , responded to the toast of " The Initiates , " and Bros . J . J . Muirhead , Overstock , and Parker to that of " The Visitors . " the toast of "The Oflicers " produced the following replies . < ai < 1 \ •M > Forbes > P-M-i •' ¦ ' •U-. responded to the toast of " The Ollieers . " He surr «__ f i quite t , ue lhat w ' Hhout good ollieers a Freemasons' lodge could not be auccesstul or prosperous . The officers of the Scots' Lodge had tried to do their duty
Craft Masonry.
to the W . M . and the lodge . The duty of manhood had been instilled into them by Burns— "A man ' s a man for a' that . " London Scotsmen were often twitted by their British friends that " they never go hack . " Napoleon , on the morning of the battle of Waterloo , said to Soult : "At last 1 have them , there are nine chances to one in my favour . " The Marshal replied : " Sire , 1 know these men . They will die on the ground on which they stand before they lose it . " In that sense the officers of the lodge accepted
it : they never went back from the post of duty . They were always loyal to their VV . M . " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled " would summon them to the front at any lime . In the sense that Scotsmen never went hack to their own country , it was untrue ; they as often as they could revisited their native land . They loved their mountains , glens , and rivers , the music of their cataracts , as well as that of their rippling streams . They loved them dearer than those of the south .
" Their groves of sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon Far dearer to me yon lone glen and green bracken ; Wi' the burn stealing under the Iang yellow broom . " They loved tovisit the scenes of their childhood and the graves of their sires , so as to re-invigorate in their hearts the flame of piety and patriotism , and to drop a tear on the grave of their ancestors . Believe this , in the words of Dr . Samuel Johnson , with some
little alteration : " I would think little of the man whose patriotism would not gain force on the fields of Bannockburn , or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Iona . " No patriot loved his country and kind more warmly than Robert Burns , and reciprocally he was admired , adored , and loved better than any poet that ever lived . Tonight his spirit , ariel-like , encircled the earth with a girdle . In every hamlet , hut , or habitation of Scotsmen that spirit was present , and bis genius glorified . Vie was the noblest of Scotland ' s sons ; the faithful representative of the genius of
Scotland" He'll hae misfortune great and sma ' , But aye a heart aboon them a ' , He'll be a credit to us a' , We'll a' be proud o' Robin . " Bro . James Gray , in responding to the toast of his health , as Trustee , said he thought Ihe W . M . was not far wrong in saying that he ( Bro . Gray ) seemed rather lazy to-night . He felt as if it were quite impossible for him to get up the steam to speechmaking point . This being their Burns' anniversary meeting , he very much regretted
that the W . M . had been disappointed in not getting one of thc brethren to-night to propose the toast of "Burns' Immortal Memory , " and he was certain that no one felt it more than the Master himself . Bro . Gray explained that his only reason for declining the honour on this occasion was , because it was his privilege and pleasure to have to do it last year , and to have undertaken it again so soon would have implied a poverty of oratorical enthusiasm for their great national poet , which would have belied the members of the Scots Lodge . He had suggested to the W . M . that their Bro . Dr . Forbes should be asked to propose the toast to-night , and from the evidence they had
just had of his eloquence and soul-enkindling Scottish fervour , they must all regret deeply that his uncertainty of being present to-night prevented him from acceding to the M . M . ' s request to fill the gap . Had he been able to do so , he would have performed the duty with that humour and brilliancy which was all his own and so delightful to the lodge . Of this the coming W . M . for next year should make special note , and endeavour to make their "Burns' Anniversary" a national characteristic of their Scots Lodge . As Scotsmen , they had every season to be proud of their great national poet , whose genius had breathed into the lyric literature of theircountry the breadth of a true human
life , and made it a living soul of intense love , of tenderest pity , of noblest patriotism , and universal Brotherhood . Burns , in his immortal songs , had climbed to the highest rung of the ladder of Scottish poetry , and so long as their tongue was known , or the English language spoken , his name would continue to be honoured , and his memory revered . As a brother Mason , Burns' genius hid shed such a halo of poetic beauty and fraternal force around the symbolic gospel of the Craft as to draw many good and true Scotsmen unto it in all parts of the earth , and to hasten that glorious time " When man to man the world o'er shall brithers be and a '
that . " Following up the remarks of their Worshipful Brothers , Osterstock and Dr . Forbes , on the union of Englishmen and Scotsmen and their unity as Masons , Bro . Gray referred to the position that Scotsmen ( although it might look like blowing their own horn ) had taken alongside Englishmen in the progress of the nation . In the administration of its affairs Scotsmen had taken no mean part , and as to thc present Cabinet they had no reason to be ashamed of either the number or the ability of the statesmen in it of Scottish birth . In art , whether in painting or music , the names of Scotsmen were neither few nor unknown to English fame . In the church , also , their countryman had
won and tilled with distinction its highest seats , and even the Scots Lodge was honoured with a high dignitary of St . Paul's as its Honorary Chaplain ( Archdeacon Sinclair , Q . C ) . Then as to literature . Every one of the brethren must have been struck with the great wave of genius from the north that hatl been recently , and was still , flowing over the lands . At that moment there must spring to every lip the name of Robert Louis Stevenson , that second wizard of the north , who had just passed away on his island home in the south , leaving behind him a fame of which they all felt proud . Then to that honoured name there were to be added the names of Barrie , Crocket , and others ,
whose genius was now rekindling the literature of our time with a brilliancy and charm that was delighting the reading world . While seeking , therefore , with all heartiness and fraternal affection to cement the bond of unity with their English brethren , the members of the Scots Lodge by always being true and loyal to their nationality would strengthen the connection and prove themselves worthier of it . He then apologised for having quite unintentionally detained them , and thanked the Worshipful Master for having so kindly proposed , and the brethren for so heartily responding to , the toast of his health .
The Tyler ' s toast was followed by the time-honoured custom of singing " Auld Lang Syne . "
Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge ( No . 2432 , —A meeting : of this lodge was held at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln's-Inn-Fields , on Thursday , the 24 th ult ., when there were present : Bros . George Emblen , W . M . ; G . Ransford , I . P . M . ; D . Phillips , S . W . ; T . W . Lightfoot , J . W . ; W . Klingenstein , Treas . ; A . V . Scholding , Sec . ; W . H . Lowry , S . D . ; W . F . Bates , J . D . ; T . Rayner , acting I . G . ; J . F . Pink , Org . ; T . M . Bell , Stwd . ; J . J . Woods , H . O . Winter , A . S . Benjamin , O . C . Moore , Alex . Jones , W . C . Lightfoot , E . Grahnert , R . Ambler , and H . Evenden , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . 1 . F . Saunders , S . W . 1 S 07 : M . Beedle , 12 S 7 ; I . Flemming , 19 S 7 ; H .
Bird , 231 ; VV . 1 \ Imbrey , 2372 ; V . Whicher , 1512 ; and C . H . Knuth , 1839 . The lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , the ceremony of raising Bros . William C . Lightfoot , and H . O . Winter , was ably performed by the VV . M . Bro . J . J . Woods proposed a candidate for initiation at the next meeting , and the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to an excellent dinner , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The I . P . M ., in proposing " The Health of the Worshipful Master , " said : I am quite
sure the important toast which it is my privilege to submit to you will be received with all the enthusiasm it deserves , because we all appreciate thc excellent Worshipful Master we have got to preside over us , it is impossible to say more in his favour than he deserves . VVe all know his excellent working in the lodge , and what he has done as Steward for the Charities . Bro . Emblen not only does his work well , but is conducting the general business connected with the chair in an admirable manner . The W . M ., in reply , thanked the brethren for the hearty way they had received th :
toast . One thing he very much regretted that evening , was the absence amongst the visitors of his dear old friend Bro . William Mason Styles . Bro . Styles was one of his oldest Masonic friends , a thorough good Mason who had worked hard for Masonry , and had taken up a very large sum of money to the Three Institutions , and thoroughly deserved the honour of election as Grand Treasurer , for which office he is a candidate at the foithcoining election . For the rest of the visitors , whose health he would ask them to drink , he could only sly they were pleased to svelcome them . Some had b : en there before , and both those and the others who had not , he hoped would come again .
the visitors all briefly replied , Bro . Whicher remarking that he very much regretted that after being the first joining member of the lodge he had felt obliged to resign through not being able to attend the meetings , but since resigning he had been a constant visitor , and most likely always should . 1 le wished the lodge continued success . In proposing "The Ollieers , " the VV . M . thanked them for the attention they all paid to their duties , and the support he received from tnem . . H « was sorry , * ' «! knew they would all be very sorry to h ,-ar the cause of ihe l . G . ' s ( Iiro . C Kan-fird ) . lbs -nee , was a severe accident from a cab . The responses of the officers and thc Tyler ' s toast brought a pleasant evening to a close .
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Craft Masonry.
St . Botolph S Lodge ( No . 2020 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on Monday , the 4 th instant . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the initiation of Mr . Richards , Principal of thc Commercial Travellers' Schools at Pinner , took place , the ceremony being very impressively rendered by Bro . B . G . Elliilt , W . M . The installation ceremony was then proceeded with , Bro . William Lake , P . M . 131 . P . P . G . Registrar of Cornwall , being installed in the chair of the lodge in the presence of a large Board of Installed Masters .
After presenting , in the name of the lodge , a Past Master's jewel to the retiring W . M . ( Bro . ) B . G . Elliott ) , the W . M . took occasion to express his personal thanks to Rro . Elliott for the very perfect manner in whirh that ceremonv had been performed . The W . M . then appointed his officers as follows : Bros . J . D . Myers , S . W '; S . F . Staples , J . W . j P . Saillard , P . M .. Treas . ; H . G . Cubitt , P . M ., Sec ; L . F . Hodge , S . D . ; F . C . Pieott , J . D . ; G . Walker , I . G .: E . W . Stillwell , P . M ., D . C . ; F . B . Stafford and A . W . Hazell , Stewards ; and R . Goddard , Tyler .
Thelodge was then closed , and the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , presided over by the W . M . About 50 were present , including many visitors . The loyal and other toasts having been disposed of , The I . P . M . proposed "The Health of the W . M . " Bro . ' Lake , he said , had occupied the position of Secretary of the lodge since it was Iirst constituted , and he in
common with all the brethren were delighted to see him in the proud position of W . M . of the lodge , to whose success he had so largely contributed . He wished him a pleasant year of oflice , and took occasion also to offer him , in the ' nameof the lodge , heartv congratulations on the responsible position to which he had been appointed in the ofBce of Grand Lodge .
Bro . Lake , in responding , referred to his many years of pleasurable and harmonious intercourse with the members in his capacity as Secretary , to the truly Masonic feeling that had always existed in St . Botolph ' s Lodge , and his hope that his year of office would be marked with the same unanimity and prosperity as his predecessors in the chair had enjoyed .
The toast of " The Candidate " followed , and Bro . Richards responded in a genial speech , expressing his great satisfaction at becoming a member of the Craft under the auspices of St . Botolph ' s Lodge . The W . M . then gave the toast of " The Installing Officer , " and again referred to the excellent manner in which Bro . Elliott had performed his duty , as indeed had been the case with all he had undertaken during his year of oflice .
Bro . Elliott , in reply , tendered his thanks for the loyal support and kindly feeling that had characterised his official year , and in wishing the new W . M . a successful term of office , expressed his desire to continue his efforts for the welfare of thelodge . The toasts of "The Past Masters , " "The Treasurer and Secretary , " and "The Officers of the Lodge " followed , and the Tyler ' s toast ended an exceptionally enjoyable evening . An excellent programme of music was gone through , in which Miss Gertrude Hughes , Miss Blanche Sawgwin , and Bros . Franklin Clive , Templar Saxe , J . D . Myers , J . Kift , and others took part .
SCOtS Lodge ( No . 2319 ) . —Thursday , the 24 th ultimo , was the regular meeting of this lodge , and the meeting at which the members celebrate the Burns ' Festival , and have as a rule a Burns' oration delivered ; but ordinary lodge work is also conducted , and the Burns' night is an incident in the proceedings which adds an extra zest to the always pleasant assemblies of the Scottish brethren . On this occasion the W . M ., Bro . Thomas Grant , P . M ., presided over a strong gathering of the brethren , the absence from among whom of the genial Peter Greig , on account of illness , was
much regretted . The meeting included , among others , the following names : Bros . D . F . Gellion , P . M ., I . P . M . ; J . Whitehead , P . M . ; J . Page , P . M . ; Jas . Gray , P . M ., Trustee ; Joseph Whitehead , S . W . ; James Thomson , J . W . ; David A . Ross , Sec . ; D . M . Forbes , S . D . ; D . R . Duncan , J . D . ; W . Craig , D . C . ; E . Johnson Gordon , I . G . ; Ashley Gordon , Organist ; and W . Robertson , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . J . I , Muirhead , P . M . 1 ( S . C ); W . Cooke , 19 S 7 ; G . Chumley , 16 5 6 ; T . Jones , 1656 ; J , Featherstone , 1 C 5 C ; J . J . Parratt , J . D . 13 S 1 ; W . J . R . McLean , Mus . Bac , Org . S 5 S ; VV . Vincer Alinter , 20 ; II . W . Parker , J . W . 204 S ; H . Afassey , 1 G 0 , P . M . 619 , 1928 ; J . T . Osterstock , I . P . M . 11 S 5 ; T . Jones , 733 ; E . A . G . H . Grant , S 34 ; and H . Bond , P . M . 1656 .
The W . M . first initiated Mr . Alexander McGregor , and then passed to the Second Degree Bro . John Nicol . Bro . Thomas McCIure , 499 ( S . C ) , was elected a joining member . Bro . Page , P . M ., announced that he would be Steward for the Boys' Festival , and Bro . Thomson , J . W ., said he would be Steward for the Girls . After the ' transaction of other business , when " Hearty good wishes" were communicated to the W . M ., Bro . J . J . Muirhead , P . M . 1 ( S . C ) , reiterated ' the statement he made at Grand Master ' s Lodge on the previous Monday that Mary ' s Chapel was the oldest lodge in Scotland , and that it held the oldest Masonic document in the world .
Following the closing of the lodge came one of the famous Scots' Lodge banquets , which was , as is usual at this lodge , heartily enjoyed , and Peter Maclean was piper . The customary toasts were honoured . Bro . I ) . F . Gellion , I . P . M ., proposed "TheW . M ., " on whose qualities as a Mason he said he need not comment . Neither was it necessary that he should remark upon his working of the ceremonies , as they were performed in a most effective manner and to the satisfaction of all the brethren .
Bro . Thomas Grant , W . M ., responded , simply thanking the brethren most heartily for the way they had expressed their opinions of his working of the lodge , and of the manner in which the business had been conducted generally . Bro . Thomas Grant , W . M ., next gave " The Immortal Memory of Bro . Burns , " whose fame spread far and wide . He said that in giving the toast he would quote words of the poet which he used to the mystic brethren of the St . James ' s Lodge , Tarbolton , which had been quoted many times before , —
" Then fill up a bumper , and let it o ' erllow , And honours Masonic prepare for to show , May every true brother of the compass and square , Have a big-belly'd bottle when harassed with care . " Burns must have been a true Mason and a true man to say that spontaneously . It had been expected that they would have an oration that evening upon Burns , but , unfortunately livo . Alex . Ritchie , the Treasurer , had had so many public duties to attend to that he had not been able to get it off , and the brethren would have to do without it on that
occasion . The toast was heartily drunk . Bro . D . F . Gellion , I . P . M ., who was first to respond to the toast of " The I . P . M . and I ast Masters , " said it had always afforded him a great amount of pleasure to be a ™ enJPer ° f 'bat lodge . He had sp » nt very many happy evenings among the brethren of the Scots Lodge , and he hoped he should spend a great many more .
, Br ° - Whitehead , P . M ., also replied , and wished all the good he possibly could for lhe lodge . He regretted he was absent from the last meeting , but he was in bed at the , " } e > a ™ l it was no slight to the W . M . He was always anxious for the welfare of the I . fi ? ' i ! ^ P leasei 1 10 sa y he had received Grand Lodge honours in Scotland , and ne thought the Scots Lodge must take credit to itself for that , as it was shortly after the
111 u c of lla < lllington and other Grand Officers of the Grantl Lodge of Scotland to the Scots Lodge . The honour conferred on him was that of Deputy Provincial Uiand Master of Aberdeen City , and the present was his third year oi oll ' ice . This X " bad been made representative officer in Grand Lodge of Scotand of India and south America . That he took not as a mark of respect and esteem to himself , but as a mark of respect and esteem for the Scots Lodge .
Bro . John Page , P . M ., in the course of his response to the toast , said it was while ne was acting in the chair of the Scots Lodge that the entertainment was given to the ^ rarnt OHicers of Scotland , antl he must say that the whole of the time he had been connected with the lodge , whether as a founder or as Master , he had met with the g reatest cordiality and sympathy . He should always be at the service of the lodge for anything it might want . M „ p " Nicol , F . C , who did not reply as Initiate at the previous meeting , and Bro . mcuregor , responded to the toast of " The Initiates , " and Bros . J . J . Muirhead , Overstock , and Parker to that of " The Visitors . " the toast of "The Oflicers " produced the following replies . < ai < 1 \ •M > Forbes > P-M-i •' ¦ ' •U-. responded to the toast of " The Ollieers . " He surr «__ f i quite t , ue lhat w ' Hhout good ollieers a Freemasons' lodge could not be auccesstul or prosperous . The officers of the Scots' Lodge had tried to do their duty
Craft Masonry.
to the W . M . and the lodge . The duty of manhood had been instilled into them by Burns— "A man ' s a man for a' that . " London Scotsmen were often twitted by their British friends that " they never go hack . " Napoleon , on the morning of the battle of Waterloo , said to Soult : "At last 1 have them , there are nine chances to one in my favour . " The Marshal replied : " Sire , 1 know these men . They will die on the ground on which they stand before they lose it . " In that sense the officers of the lodge accepted
it : they never went back from the post of duty . They were always loyal to their VV . M . " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled " would summon them to the front at any lime . In the sense that Scotsmen never went hack to their own country , it was untrue ; they as often as they could revisited their native land . They loved their mountains , glens , and rivers , the music of their cataracts , as well as that of their rippling streams . They loved them dearer than those of the south .
" Their groves of sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon Far dearer to me yon lone glen and green bracken ; Wi' the burn stealing under the Iang yellow broom . " They loved tovisit the scenes of their childhood and the graves of their sires , so as to re-invigorate in their hearts the flame of piety and patriotism , and to drop a tear on the grave of their ancestors . Believe this , in the words of Dr . Samuel Johnson , with some
little alteration : " I would think little of the man whose patriotism would not gain force on the fields of Bannockburn , or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Iona . " No patriot loved his country and kind more warmly than Robert Burns , and reciprocally he was admired , adored , and loved better than any poet that ever lived . Tonight his spirit , ariel-like , encircled the earth with a girdle . In every hamlet , hut , or habitation of Scotsmen that spirit was present , and bis genius glorified . Vie was the noblest of Scotland ' s sons ; the faithful representative of the genius of
Scotland" He'll hae misfortune great and sma ' , But aye a heart aboon them a ' , He'll be a credit to us a' , We'll a' be proud o' Robin . " Bro . James Gray , in responding to the toast of his health , as Trustee , said he thought Ihe W . M . was not far wrong in saying that he ( Bro . Gray ) seemed rather lazy to-night . He felt as if it were quite impossible for him to get up the steam to speechmaking point . This being their Burns' anniversary meeting , he very much regretted
that the W . M . had been disappointed in not getting one of thc brethren to-night to propose the toast of "Burns' Immortal Memory , " and he was certain that no one felt it more than the Master himself . Bro . Gray explained that his only reason for declining the honour on this occasion was , because it was his privilege and pleasure to have to do it last year , and to have undertaken it again so soon would have implied a poverty of oratorical enthusiasm for their great national poet , which would have belied the members of the Scots Lodge . He had suggested to the W . M . that their Bro . Dr . Forbes should be asked to propose the toast to-night , and from the evidence they had
just had of his eloquence and soul-enkindling Scottish fervour , they must all regret deeply that his uncertainty of being present to-night prevented him from acceding to the M . M . ' s request to fill the gap . Had he been able to do so , he would have performed the duty with that humour and brilliancy which was all his own and so delightful to the lodge . Of this the coming W . M . for next year should make special note , and endeavour to make their "Burns' Anniversary" a national characteristic of their Scots Lodge . As Scotsmen , they had every season to be proud of their great national poet , whose genius had breathed into the lyric literature of theircountry the breadth of a true human
life , and made it a living soul of intense love , of tenderest pity , of noblest patriotism , and universal Brotherhood . Burns , in his immortal songs , had climbed to the highest rung of the ladder of Scottish poetry , and so long as their tongue was known , or the English language spoken , his name would continue to be honoured , and his memory revered . As a brother Mason , Burns' genius hid shed such a halo of poetic beauty and fraternal force around the symbolic gospel of the Craft as to draw many good and true Scotsmen unto it in all parts of the earth , and to hasten that glorious time " When man to man the world o'er shall brithers be and a '
that . " Following up the remarks of their Worshipful Brothers , Osterstock and Dr . Forbes , on the union of Englishmen and Scotsmen and their unity as Masons , Bro . Gray referred to the position that Scotsmen ( although it might look like blowing their own horn ) had taken alongside Englishmen in the progress of the nation . In the administration of its affairs Scotsmen had taken no mean part , and as to thc present Cabinet they had no reason to be ashamed of either the number or the ability of the statesmen in it of Scottish birth . In art , whether in painting or music , the names of Scotsmen were neither few nor unknown to English fame . In the church , also , their countryman had
won and tilled with distinction its highest seats , and even the Scots Lodge was honoured with a high dignitary of St . Paul's as its Honorary Chaplain ( Archdeacon Sinclair , Q . C ) . Then as to literature . Every one of the brethren must have been struck with the great wave of genius from the north that hatl been recently , and was still , flowing over the lands . At that moment there must spring to every lip the name of Robert Louis Stevenson , that second wizard of the north , who had just passed away on his island home in the south , leaving behind him a fame of which they all felt proud . Then to that honoured name there were to be added the names of Barrie , Crocket , and others ,
whose genius was now rekindling the literature of our time with a brilliancy and charm that was delighting the reading world . While seeking , therefore , with all heartiness and fraternal affection to cement the bond of unity with their English brethren , the members of the Scots Lodge by always being true and loyal to their nationality would strengthen the connection and prove themselves worthier of it . He then apologised for having quite unintentionally detained them , and thanked the Worshipful Master for having so kindly proposed , and the brethren for so heartily responding to , the toast of his health .
The Tyler ' s toast was followed by the time-honoured custom of singing " Auld Lang Syne . "
Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge ( No . 2432 , —A meeting : of this lodge was held at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln's-Inn-Fields , on Thursday , the 24 th ult ., when there were present : Bros . George Emblen , W . M . ; G . Ransford , I . P . M . ; D . Phillips , S . W . ; T . W . Lightfoot , J . W . ; W . Klingenstein , Treas . ; A . V . Scholding , Sec . ; W . H . Lowry , S . D . ; W . F . Bates , J . D . ; T . Rayner , acting I . G . ; J . F . Pink , Org . ; T . M . Bell , Stwd . ; J . J . Woods , H . O . Winter , A . S . Benjamin , O . C . Moore , Alex . Jones , W . C . Lightfoot , E . Grahnert , R . Ambler , and H . Evenden , Tyler . Visitors : Bros . 1 . F . Saunders , S . W . 1 S 07 : M . Beedle , 12 S 7 ; I . Flemming , 19 S 7 ; H .
Bird , 231 ; VV . 1 \ Imbrey , 2372 ; V . Whicher , 1512 ; and C . H . Knuth , 1839 . The lodge having been opened and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed , the ceremony of raising Bros . William C . Lightfoot , and H . O . Winter , was ably performed by the VV . M . Bro . J . J . Woods proposed a candidate for initiation at the next meeting , and the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to an excellent dinner , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The I . P . M ., in proposing " The Health of the Worshipful Master , " said : I am quite
sure the important toast which it is my privilege to submit to you will be received with all the enthusiasm it deserves , because we all appreciate thc excellent Worshipful Master we have got to preside over us , it is impossible to say more in his favour than he deserves . VVe all know his excellent working in the lodge , and what he has done as Steward for the Charities . Bro . Emblen not only does his work well , but is conducting the general business connected with the chair in an admirable manner . The W . M ., in reply , thanked the brethren for the hearty way they had received th :
toast . One thing he very much regretted that evening , was the absence amongst the visitors of his dear old friend Bro . William Mason Styles . Bro . Styles was one of his oldest Masonic friends , a thorough good Mason who had worked hard for Masonry , and had taken up a very large sum of money to the Three Institutions , and thoroughly deserved the honour of election as Grand Treasurer , for which office he is a candidate at the foithcoining election . For the rest of the visitors , whose health he would ask them to drink , he could only sly they were pleased to svelcome them . Some had b : en there before , and both those and the others who had not , he hoped would come again .
the visitors all briefly replied , Bro . Whicher remarking that he very much regretted that after being the first joining member of the lodge he had felt obliged to resign through not being able to attend the meetings , but since resigning he had been a constant visitor , and most likely always should . 1 le wished the lodge continued success . In proposing "The Ollieers , " the VV . M . thanked them for the attention they all paid to their duties , and the support he received from tnem . . H « was sorry , * ' «! knew they would all be very sorry to h ,-ar the cause of ihe l . G . ' s ( Iiro . C Kan-fird ) . lbs -nee , was a severe accident from a cab . The responses of the officers and thc Tyler ' s toast brought a pleasant evening to a close .