Scotland.

Scotland .

WISHAW . ST . MARY COLTKESS LODGE ( NO . 31 ) . —On the evening of Friday the tSth ult ., the grand annual Assembly , under the auspices of the Right Worshipful Master , office-bearers , and brethren of the St . Mary Coltness Lodge ( No . 31 , S . C . ) which has been looked forward to with

considerable interest for some time past—was held with the greatest " pomp ancl circumstance" inthe Public School , Wishaw , and resulted in a success the most complete of all previous efforts . The school-room was tastefully ancl artistically adorned with a profusion of evergreens and variegated

lamps ; the insignia of the various lodges represented on the occasion were displayed to considerable advantage upon the walls . Conspicuous at one end of the hall was a portrait of the Earl of Dalhousie , Past Grand Master Mason of Scotland —the whole combined having a very novel

but pleasing effect—and called forth the admiration of all present . The paintings were by Bro . Shaw , and the other decorations were the handiwork of Bro . James Martin . Carriages began to arrive about nine o ' clock , anel dancing was soon

thereafter commenced to the inspiring strains of the Wishaw Quadrille Band , under the able direction of Mr . Miller , and continued till an early hour next morning " . The arrangements were on the most complete and elaborate scale ; and whilst the thanks of all < rood Masons are due to Bros .

Forrest and Nelson for their unwearied exertions on behalf ofthe Lodge . It may be here stated that the Lodge continues to prosper , and that its membershi p is steadily increasing . We may add that there was a large attendance of the elite of the district , and every one seemed to enjoy

themselves in the most harmonious maimer , all the office-bearers seeming determined that nothing should be wanting on their part to give an air of homeliness and freedom to the whole proceedings . Refreshments were served in one ofthe ¦ wings by Bro . Ferguson , iu the course of which

the greatest good humour ancl order prevailed . Before separating , Bro . Forrest explained the object of these assemblies , namely , the raising of a small sum annuall y to enable the Lodge to hand over the proceeds to charitable objects in Wishaw , an object which cannot be too much commended .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

BRITISH , FOREIGN , ANO COLONIAL . The following obituary notice appears in the Montreal Herald of April 4 th . "A few clays ago , we noticed the death of a fellow-citizen , who for many years had had

business transactions in this city , namely , Mr . Joseph T . Clayton , but who hacl lately been engaged extending his business in the neighbouring Republic . In doing so , he hacl to travel over a very large tract of country , and in his tour he reached Omaha , where he was seized with a

sickness which proved fatal . Though a stranger he was not uncared for , having long been a member of a Masonic lodge in this city ; in travelling he made himself known as such wherever he met with members of the fraternity , and at his death was buried with Masonic honours , as the following resolutions will show : —

" Omaha , Nebraska , March 16 th , 1872 . "TothcW . M ., Wardens , and Brethren of Kilwinning Lodge , No . 124 , R . C , and No . 14 , R . Q ., Montreal . " At a regular communication of this lodge ,

held on the 13 th March , the following resolutions of sympathy and respect were unanimously passed , relative to the death of Bro . Joseph T . Clayton , late a member of your lotlge , who was buried with Masonic honours b y Capital Lodge , No . 3 , and Covert Lodge , No . 11 , in the city ,

on Sunday , February 25 th , 1872 . " Whereas—It has pleased an all-wise Providence to summon from his labours to the eternal rest , our late Brother , Joseph T . Clayton , of Kilwinning Lodge , No . 124 , R . C , and No . 14 , 1-v . Q ., located at Montreal , —Therefore be it ,

" Resolved—That , while we deplore the loss entailed on the fraternity in the removal of our brother , yet we bow in humble submission to the will of Him' who doeth all things well , '

Masonic Tidings.

consoling ourselves with thc hope that our loss is our brother ' s gain . " Resolved—That v . 'e tender the immediate friends ancl relatives of our deceased brother our deepest , sincerest , and most heartfelt sympathy

in this their hour of bereavement , praying that He who has promised to be a ' Father to the fatherless , and a husband to the widow , ' may extend to them his power of love , protection , and condolence in this their deep affliction .

" Resolved—that the Secretary , in the name of Capital Loelge , No . 3 , ancl Covert Lodge , No . 11 , furnish the widow of our deceased brother , ancl the lodge of which he was a member , a copy

of these resolutions . "Signed—A . Atkinson , Capital Lodge , No . 3 , J . Greentree , Covert Lodge , No . 11 , Committee By order of the lodge , A . M . TILTON , Secretory .

At a meeting oi Kilwinning I _ . odge , A . r ., and A . M ., No . 14 , R . Q ., held in this city on Thursday evening last , the above resolutions were receiveel , and the following resolution was unanimously adopted in reply -.

—" Moved by Bro . William H . Hall , Secretary , seconded by Bro . R . Cuthbert , Treasurer , anel " Resolved—That while we deplore the death of our late Brother , Joseph T . Clayton , we have sincerely to thank our Brethren of Covert and

Capital Lodges , of Omaha , Nebraska , for their Brotherly J ^ ove , in having given to the remains of Brother Joseph T . Clayton , the last respect which it was possible to show to a departed brother : anel that the Secretary be instructed to

convey to the foregoing lodges the sincere thanks of this lodge for the kind ancl brotherl y love shown to the remains of our brother , far from home , in a strange city—but not among strangers—although thousands of miles from his family circle . "

NEW MASONIC HALL AT }*> ERWIOK-ONTWEED . —The brethren of St . David ' s Lodge of Freemasons , No . 393 , E . C , have now secured a site for the better convenience and comfort of the Craft . The members have recently had plans of

the proposeel building under consideration , ancl have now definitely resolved to proceed with the erection of the building . The design of the proposed building is French Gothic . The entire length from wall to wall internall y will be •*¦ * ¦ *;

feet by 25 feet . The principal entrance , which will face the Parade , is ornate in the most artistic degree . Highly decorated shafts are to flank the doorway ; these ornamental columns terminatintr in a beautiful masonic emblem

carved out on the keystone—a pair of c'ompasses , a square , and five stars , with the motto , " Audi , Vide Tace . " Two highly-ornamented niches are to be placed on either side of the doorway , ancl a large tracery window * will be erected in the

centre of the gable , over the entrance , to aid in lighting up the main hall . A seconel beautiful emblem peculiar to the fraternity will adorn the gable in proximity to this window . The gable will finish with a neat gilded terminal . Five

windows are to he ranged on either side of the building , and at the foot of these windows there is to be placed a carved string with a grotesque at each end . To complete the external appearance of the building , four carved terminals resting upon skew blocks are to be placed at the

four corners ol the building . The interior will be in keeping with the exterior as to richness of design . The Masonic Hall proper is on the first floor . This hall will be 44 ^ , feet b y 1 $ feet , and 21 feet in hei ght , with an open timbered roof restimr on carved stone corbals . There is to be

a commodious ante-room on the saine floor . On the ground floor will be a spacious coffee-room , 20 feet by 19 feet , and u feet high ; also a library , 19 feet by 12 ^ feet . There are iu addition commodious cloak rooms , Ike . A corridor ,

__ feet in width , will extend from the front entrance up the right side of the entire building to the stair leading to the main hall ; and the lobby , we may mention , is 17 feet by 8 ^ feet .

The whole building is to be enclosed b y a low parapet wall ami railing . To meet the probable expense several of the more influential brethren , headed by the Worshipful Master ( Bro . Chalmers I , Paton ) have given handsome donations ,

Masonic Tidings.

and it is expected that the foundation-stone of the new building will be laid with masonic pomp and honours early in the summer .

Poetry.

Poetry .

ODE ON THE DEDICATION OF THE ST . ALBAN'S LODGE , No . 1294 . [ The St . Alban ' s Lodge , No . 1394 , Great Grimsby , was dedicated by His Grace the Duke of St . Albans , I ' rov . Grand Master of

Lincolnshire , and the following Ode was written on the occasion by one of the members of the Loelge , and read before His Grace , at the banquet following the ceremony . The brother has been prevailed upon to send it to the Freemason . " ]

Hail ! thou first of Christian Martyrs on Britain ' s roll ; Hail ! thou first of Masters on the British Mason ' s scroll—St . Alban . Thou who , in they great love and

intellectual might , To this , our Isle , first showed the Masonic light . What thou then diffused , still in worthy Masons shine ,

Though fifteen centuries have passed to time . All hail thou great prototype ! Here thou hast a noble Son , Continuing the work by thee so gloriousl y begun So brotherly and good—St . Alban ' s—for he has

to-day , In dedicating the St . Alban ' s , thrown forth another ray , Which will lighten the dark depths ofthe Widow ' s grief ,

The Orphans' sorrow soften , and to misfortune afford relief . As thou , Albanus , in thy day cherished Masons well , And for a Christian ' s secret under cruel

Diocletian fell ; So we , thy antitype , St . Alban ' s , love : to him we dedicate This , our lodge , that therein his virtues we may imitate .

The world may sneer , ancl at us throw the jeering shaft , What matter , when truth ancl noble patrons protect the Craft . Let Roman Pontiffs fulminate their bulls and allocutions

Against us , we laugh at such ink-and-paper executions . As Citizens and Brethren , no fear we shall perform our duty , Whilst supported by the pillars of Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty .

Masonic Ode.

MASONIC ODE .

Composed expressl y for the Centenary Fcstiva 1 of the Royal Gloucester Lodge Southampton , b y Bro . R . Sharpe , Prov . G . O . ; wortls by J 3 ro . G .

M . Passenger , P . Prov . G . S . W . In days of old , the Mason ' s hand Did high on Mount Moriah raise A temple , solemn , vast , and grand ,

To echo forth Ins Master s praise So let each hand and heart unite , To raise a superstructure here , Of goodness , till the sons of li ght Shall everlasting wisdom share .

( Treat Architect and God divine , Rend thou the veil of passion ' s night In truth and love each heart enshrine , And robe in universal light

Each child of earth , till Adam s seed , From strife shall cease , and fruitful toil To every colour , clime , and creed , Yield peace and nlenty , wine anel oil .

And when this temple formed by lliee Shall fling its portals open wide . And this poor erring spirit flee , lo seek what Thou dost wisely hide . Free and accepted may we prove ,

When we new supplication make , And stand in th y Grand Lodge above Our last sublime degree to take .