Grandlodge Of Scotland.

GRANDLODGE of SCOTLAND .

The Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge was held on Monday evening , 5 th February , 1872 , in Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , the Right Hon . the Earl of Rosslyn , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , on the throne . The Grand Lodge having been opened in ample

form , and the preliminary business disposed of , the Grand Master moved that addresses of congratulation on therestoration to health of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales be forwarded to her Majesty the Queen and to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales . ( Cheers . ) He was

quite sure there was no body of men in the kingdom who excelled the Freemasons of Scotland in their feelings of anxiety during what her Majesty called those " terrible days . " ( Cheers . ) And he was sure there was no body of men who excelled them in satisfaction when they found

that the Prince had been enabled to overcome his severe illness . That he had passed through so terrible a crisis , and was now in a fair way of recovery , must , he thought , be matter of gratification to everybody in these realms . He was sure that the Grand Lodge would join in praying that

the Almighty Architect of the Universe might see fit to preserve the life of his Royal Highness for the benefit of this country ; and that he might be destined to come forth—though changed and weakened from the illness he had

undergonebetter than ever fitted to discharge those important duties which his Royal Highness might one da / be called to perform . ( Loud cheers . ) The addresses were then read by the Grand Clerk , and weie in the following terms : —

To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty . Most Gracious Sovereign , —We , your Majesty ' s loyfA subjects , Francis Robert , Earl of Rosslyn , Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland ; Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , Bart ., Right Worshipful Depute Grand Master ; Henry Inglis of Torsonce ,

Right Worshipful Substitute Grand Master , for ourselves and the other office-bearers and members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , as well as in the name of the whole Fraternity of Scottish Freemasons throughout the world , beg leave to approach your royal presence with our dutiful and most cordial

congratulations on the happy occasion of the recovery of his Royal Highness the Prince of Waies from his late most dangerous illness . We humbly avail ourselves of this occasion to convey ojr expressions of loyalty and attachment to your Majesty ' s royal person and family with feelings of that true

fraternal , and sincere sympathy with which we as Freemasons welcome every event which conduces to the happiness of so beloved and exemplary a sovereign . That it may please Him by whom kings reign to shower down upon your Majesty and your royal house His divine blessing , and long spare in

re-invigorated health and strength the life of his Royal Highness , our illustrious patron , so very dear to the Masonic Craft , as well as to the whole nation , is our humble but sincere prayer . Given at Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , in full Grand Lodge assembled , this fifth day of February , anno domini 1872 , anno lucis 5876 . ( Signed ) ROSSLYN , Grand Master .

To her Royal Highness the . Princess of Wales . We , the Right Hon . Francis Robert , Earl of Rosslyn , Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland ; Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , Bart ., Right Worshipful Depute Grand Master ; Henry Inglis , of Torsonce , Right Worshipful Substitute Grand Master ,

for ourselves and the other office-bearers and members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , as well as in the name of the entire Fraternity of Scottish Freemasons throughout the world , approach your Royal Highness with the warmest expression of our heartfelt congratulation on the happy restoration to

comparative health of our much beloved and illustrious patron , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . We gladly embrace this opportunity to express our most loyal and dutiful attachment to your Royal Highness , your royal consort , and family , and most earnestly pray the Great Father , the

Great Architect of the Universe , to bestow upon your Royal Highnesses and your royal house every blessing and happiness , combined with long life , health , and prosperity . Given at Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , in full

Grand Lodge , assembled , this fifth day of February , anno domini 1872 , anno lucis 5876 , ( Signed ) ROSSLYN , Grand Master . The addresses were most enthusiasticall y ad jpte . l by the assembled brethren . They were beautifully inscribed in vellum by Bros . Melville

Grandlodge Of Scotland.

and Adamson . Charters were ordered to be expede for new lodges : "Jacob ' s Deale , " Cape of Good Hope ; " Cosmos , " Lima ; " Peace and Progress , " Lima ; "Abbotsford , " Gulgung , New-South Wales ; and " St . Andrew , " New Pitsligo . The resignation of Bro . Brodie of Brodie as Prov .

Grand Master of Inverness-shire , on the ground of ill-health , was accepted with regret . It was unanimously resolved to submit the name of Bro . William Mann , Past Senior Grand Warden , to the Grand Lodge of Sweden , for apoointment as

their representative of this Grand Lodge , vacant by the decease of Bro . W . A . Laurie . Several motions from last quarterly communication were then disposed of . Among others was that of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master : —

That it is desirable that a project for the gradual extinction of the Grand Lodge debt , the augmentation and establishment of the Fund of Benevolence on a more permanent footing , and the Building Lodge Rooms for the assembling of the brethren throughout the provinces , be taken into consideration at the next quarterly communication .

His Lordship urged the necessity for the motion , going into full details of Grand Lodge affairs and interests . He stated that , having sent down his proposal to the various lodges , he had received in reply the strongest expressions of sympathy with the object in view . He had that morning

received from the Prov . Grand Master of Berwickshire a very cordial letter , enclosing a cheque for ; £ io towards the fund sought to be instituted . His lordship intimated his intention of heading a subscription-list for the establishment of an orphant school with the donation of 100 guineas .

His Lordship s motion was seconded by Bro . Mann , and was carried amid the acclamations of the brethren . A motion for the recognition of a Past Master ' s ceremonial was also carried , and the details remitted to a committee to report upon . It was also agreed that precedence in

Grand Lodge be accorded to all Past Grand Masters in their Order . Several new motions , including that of the Grand Master for working out his project , where then tallied for discussion at next meeting , and thereafter Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

——?—FREEMASONRY AND ISRAELITISM .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —Will you please allow me space in THE FREEMASON , to call the attention of W . E . N , to the paragraphs in

your last impression , which in the reading struck me as an error , arising from an oversight , and not a want of knowledge , viz . : — " He sent them first to the .... scattered

through the nations . " " And , here , it is important and other parts of Asia Minor . " I have for some time been interested in this subject , and have always

thought that nine tribes only , were carried away by the Assyrians , Benjamin being left until after the time of Christ , closely connected with the Jews , or tribe of Judah , with whom were also the Levites , who

with Judah , went into captivity to Babylon , and with them returned to Jerusalem , remaining there with Judah , when Benjamin , in obedience to the warning of Christ

finally separated from Judah and followed after the nine tribes , at or before the actual commencement of the siege of Jerusalem and the final dispersion of the Jews , Judah and Levi .

I am not learned , but desire to know the truth , and therefore call attention to this , that if it is an error it may be put right :

and if I am mistaken , I trust my brother W . E . N , will kindly show me wherein , that together we may know and rejoice in the truth .

Excuse my troubling you , and believe me Yours fraternally , J- B . 731 King ' s Lynn , January 31 , 1872 .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

[ FRO-M OUR SPECIAL REPORTER . ] The Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held on Wednesday evening , the 31 st ultimo , at Freemasons' Tavern , the Right Hon . the

Earl Percy , 31 . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland , in the chair . The attendance oi brethren on the occasion was large and influential , and the President of the day had the gratification of finding that

the objects for whom he had undertaken to plead—the aged and helpless—were not the less cared for because the young and strong find so many supporters . It has frequently occurred to us to have to place the benefits

which this Charity provides before the brethren ; but , in case the good it does may not be generally known , we would again state that it gives a weekly allowance to decayed brethren and the widows of

deceased brethren , either to be enjoyed at the almshouses at Croydon ( when there is a vacancy ) , or in the voluntary residences of the pensioners . To the receipt of the pension , candidates have to be elected in

the same way as the sons and daughters of Freemasons obtain admissionto the schools , with this difference , that a subscription of five shillings a year secures to the subscriber one vote at the annual election of the

Benevolent Institution , on the third Friday in May , while a guinea annually paid to either the Boys' or Girls' School obtains one vote at each half-yearly election , in April and October , in whichever Institution the money is paid to .

At the conclusion of the banquet , grace " For these and all Thy mercies , " was beautifully sung by the professional ladies and brethren , and the toastmaster then cried " Silence for the Chairman , " and the

toasts of the evening were commenced . In giving the first toast , The Chairman said : Brethren , the first toast which I have this evening to call your attention to is one which will require no

words of mine to recommend it to your acceptance ; it is that of " Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria . " ( Cheers . ) It is a very common saying that the empire over which our sovereign reigns is one upon

which the sun never sets . From the whole of that great empire have gone up the prayers of all her subjects , for every heart has felt the deepest sympathy for her in her joy and in her sorrow ; but of this I am

sure that , although this has been a spectacle which has never been equalled , I believe , in any other country or nation since the world began , yet from none have prayers more fervent been offered , none have felt

more deep and sincere sympathy than those subjects who are the citizens of an empire which is co-extensive with that of her Majesty , I mean the subjects of our Most Worshipful Grand Master . ( Hear , hear . )

Brethren , I feel that I need not detain you longer , but that I should at once ask you to drink this toast with that cordiality with which Masons are accustomed to receive it ,

and which is more especially called for at such a time as this . Brethren , I give you , " Her Majesty the Queen . " The toast was drunk with all the honours