Curious Certificates.

2 . In MS . ; Seal , in three places , in ink , the legend being " Royal Arch Lodge . 8 oth Regt ., " the circle enclosing a number of emblems appropriate to the degree , and " No . 176 " being- prom i nently decided . Thedocument recites thqt Brother fohn Toulon '' hath gone thro' the several Degrees of a Muster Mason and Past the Chair judiciously and Performed all his works with Affection , Integrity and Diligence Among us . '' In conseq'ipnce of

Mich exemplary conduc the brother was then admitted into the " Sublime De- 'rees of Rxcellent . Super Excellent R . A . Masonry . " After a " severe ex ^ min-ilii-in " he was found worthy " to merit the Highest rank in Masonry , " and as such was recommended accordingly " to all the Sublime Lodges and Brethren who understand 'he Arwles and Squares of lit . by III . " The

Hate is ' 12 th day of March , in the year of Masonry 5825 , and of Royal Arch " -268 and of Grace 1825 . " and there are seven names signed , being tbe offi ers of the Royal Arch Chapter No . 176 . Dublin . The official seal (• amp design ) is attached to a broad rose pink ribbon , inserted between cuts in the parchment .

3 . In MS . The certifiate is dated 24 th April , 1825 . & c , and indicates that ( ihe now ) Sir John Toulson has been " admitted , initiated , and confirmed in all the Rights , Titles , Ceremonies , and Mysteries of the Most Noble and Christain Order of High Knights Templars and Knights of Malta in our Encampment , " No . 176 , Dublin . The seal ( size of a double

florin ) is impressed in ink , the legend reads—Knights Templars , 88 th Regt . within the circle being the motto , " In hoc signo vinces , " around a triangle , which encloses an eight-pointed star and the emblems of mortality , and at the foot of the figure is No . 176 . The seal , of wax , is attached to a long black ribbon , arranged , as on the former certificate , and is of the same design as the other noted .

4 . The seals are the same as the former , only the official one is attached to a ribbon of black and royal blue stripes . It is headed— " We the Arch Bishop , & c , & c , & c , of the Royal Congregation of Phillipi Knights of Death and the Grave , under the sanction of Lodge No . 176 , " and describes "Sir John Toulson , " K . T . K . M ., & c . as having " renounced the world and all its pomps , " & c . had been " Installed Emperor of the Royal Order of

Phillipi , Death and the Grave , " on the 24 th August , A . D . 1832 , and of Phillipians , Knights of Death and the Grave , 1432 . " The signatures describe the officers as " Arch Bishop , Arch Deacon , Bishop , Sub Deacon , Clerl . Tonair , Lectr . and Reader , Door Keeper , and Grand Scribe . " Under John Toulson ' s signature are the words— " We stop at Death and the Grave . " The Degrees are stated to have been conferred "at Corfu in the Royal Cathedral , " the meeting is styled "our Royal Congregation . "

5 . The seals are again as those of the Knights Templar , only the ribbon is of the rose pink colour , with a narrow strip of white down the centre . The certificate is addressed " To all the Elect , Select and Sublime Knights of the White Cross and Knights of the Roads " [ not Rhodes ] , and the

Degrees were conferred on the same Bro . " Sir" John Toulson , K . T . K . M ., & c , at Corfu , under " sanction of Lodge No . 176 , on the Grand Register of Ireland , " held in the 88 th Regt ., the chief officers being "High Priest , R . A . Captain and Pursuivant , " with , of course , the " Grand Scribe , " the date being 24 th day of August . 1 S 32 , as No . 4 , of the series .

6 . No lack of Degrees are enumerated on this document , and the three seals impressed in ink on the parchment vary , viz . ( a ) Royal Arch Lodge , No . 176 , as No . 2 ( b ) , Knights Templar No . 176 , as No . 3 , and ( c ) circular , as the others . Title within the first circle "Red Cross Council , No . ij 6 , 88 th Regt ., " enclosing a cross , with three points to each of the four arms , surmounted by a crown , around being the motto Veritas et libertas . The

long wide ribbon to which a seal of wax , from the same die , is attached , is composed of three colours , one over the other , narrower as required to show all as if of one piece only , viz ., rose , pink , green , and yellow . The curious document certifies that "our Cousin , Sir Knight Councillor , Sir John Toulson , Crossed the Bridge of the Selected faithful , and was Dubbed Knight of the Red Cross , passed the Holy Mountain and Received the Golden Craft ,

and was by us Installed Prince of the magnanimous and invincible Orders of Masonry , and also Received the Ark , Mark , and Link , Mark 'd Mason and Persian Blue ! " According to the testimony of the officers who signed the diploma , styled " Kings" and " Lords , " the candidate must have been a truly wonderiul man , " superfluous and unrighteous thoughts have never

defiled his heart . The conclusion runs " given under our hands and seals of our Royal Prince Mason ' s general Council , held at Corfu , the 24 th day of August , in the year of our Lord 1832 ; and of Ark , Mark , and Link Masonry 3837 , and of the Red Cross , Golden Craft and Prince 2367 , and of Masonry , 5832 . "

7 . 'Ihe last of the series , and oh ! so grand ! The document is headed " Union Band of Corcyra , " and bears eight seals , six in ink and two of wax , the ribbon of the two latter being of scarlet , purple (?) and white , the three bars ( made by incisions in the parchment and putting the ribbons at the back ) having the words thereon in each case , on either side , " Infinite , Eternal , Unchangeable . " The wax seals are as ( d ) in following list . The

seals are ( a ) twice impressed ( b ) ( e ) as of No . 6 , but ( d ) is special , same size as the others and likewise circular , having emblems appropriate to the Degree ( triangle with lights , 12 ) , surmounted by a cross , ladder on left side and star on the right , with emblems of mortality below , the title being " Union Band Corcyra , 176 . " There are the seven pillars depicted of " Wisdom , Strength , Beauty , Truth , Power , Glory , and Light , " numbered

one to seven , having thereon the signatures of the officers . Single pillars are also on either side , with these names inscribed thereon , having the letters at foot " E . H . E . J , E . II ., " and a verse of scripture written on the pedestals . On the left and right also are the names of the 12 tribes and the 12 Apostles ( Mathias instead of Judas ) . The certificates issued by authority of the "Grand Pillars of the Corcyra Band of Royal Arch Knights Templars

High Priests after the most noble , Ancient , and Christian Order of Melchesedeck , " the candidate being duly admitted to the privileges of a Priest in the Tabernacle as afoiesaid , the date being " 20 ih day of September , 1832 , and of Masonry 5832 . " The members present are styled " Most Reverend" in the endorsement , giving an account of the " general assembly , " at which the Degree was communicated and duly attested by two seals .

The wax seals of certificates , two to seven , are protected , by leaden covers at the back , by which means they have remained uninjured to this day . In each case George Faulkner , the presiding officer , and several of the officers else were at all the meetings , and signed the certificates accordingly , save No . 1 , which was issued by authority of the Grand Lodge of Ireland .

According to Bro . Gould ' s History , vol . 3 , the " Royal Arch Lodge " ( not named by him ) was constituted in 1821 , and ceased in 1840 , having been held under the wing of the 88 tn Regiment .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

On Thursday afternoon , the 3 rd inst ., a Quarterly Communication the above Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , George . stre ? Bro . Sir Archibald C . Campbell , of Blydiswood , Bart ., M . P ., Grand Mast oresiding . Bro . Villiers . of Closeburn , acted as Grand Master Denni " ' Bro . F . S . Elliot , of Wolfelee , as S . G . W ., and Bro . Lieut . -Col . ]^' Campbell , as J G . W . Amongst others present were : — n Bros . D . Murray Lyon , G . Sec ; David Kinnear , G . Cashier ; Rev . Thos . Som-mii

G . Chip . ; James Webster , acting S . G . D . ; Junes Drummond , acting jr . if ' H . Y . D . Copland , acting G . D . of C . ; David Reid , G . Bible Bearer ; Jas . Cricht ' ' G S «> d . Br . ; Colin Ga'letly , G . l . G . ; James Fleming , jun ., Proxy Prov . CM " -vmth-Eas- Africa ; Divid Hume and Thomas Halket , Pa ^ G . Bible Bearers ; VV Edwards , President , and Jas . Melville , Vice-President of the Board of Grand Steward ' and others . as

Apologies for absence were intimated from Bros , the Earl of Haddington Grand Master Depute ; the Earl ol Kintore , Substitute Grand Master ' Lord Saltoun , J . G . W . ; and others . ' Bro . VILLIERS , who was in the chair at the commencement of the pro ceedings , intimated that the reason why he occupied that position was that the Grand Lodge might have the honour and gratification of being present at the installation of the Grand Master Mason of Scotland . The

Grand Master being in attendance , the proper officers were sent to wait on him and conduct him to Grand Lodge . Tne Grand Master-Depute congratulated him on his election ior the third time , and said that Grand Lod ge felt that it reaped a benefit and gratification of the intensest degree from his acceptance of the office . He also congratulated the Grand Master on his return after a long absence from amongst them , and expressed the most

sincere hope of Grand Lodge that his sojourn in foreign parts has restored him to , and will enable him to continue in perfect health and happiness . The Grand Master then took the oath de fideli , and thereafter thanked the brethren for the honour conferred upon him on his re-election , and for their many kindnesses to him during the past six months ; and he expressed the hope that during his period of office he mi ght be able to do his duty for the benefit of the Craft , and to the members of Grand Lodge .

The Committee of the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence reported that during the past three months they had voted £ 160 as grants to necessitous Masons and Widows of Masons . The Finance Committee reported that the income of the Grand Lodge for the first five months of this year amounted to £ 2295 , and for the corresponding period of last year to £ 2375 , or an access lor last year amounting to ^ So . On 21 st April there was £ 1140 . at credit with the bank .

GRAND SECRETARY reported that , as authorised by Grand Committee , he had lent to the International Exhibition at Glasgow , for the Archa- ' logical and Historical Section , the following articles , viz .: The St . Clait Charters , 1600 and 1628 ; the minute-book of the Roman Lodge of Freemasons existing at Rome in 1735-37 , ° which the Earl of Winton was

" Grand Master " at the date ot its suppression by Pope Clement the Twelfth ; the minute-book of the St . Andrew Lodge , Dumfries , of which Burns was an office-bearer , bearing the poet ' s signature to by-laws , and containing the minute of his affiliation in December , 1788 ; also the Master ' s mallet and apron used in the lodge in Burns' time .

The Grand Committee reported that upon a petition by the Master of Lodge Peebles Kilwinning , No . 24 , as to the alleged appropriation of heritable property of the lodge by a benefit society in connection therewith , they had now acquired a thorough understanding of the case from a clear , personal examination of the records of the lodge between 1771 and 18 / 8 . The Committee for the visitation of the Metropolitan lodges had conlerences

with both parties , and at their request the Chairman had agreed to act as arbiter , and , after a full discussion by a large meeting of the members of the lodge and the society , his decision was accepted by a large majority—to the effect that the lodge pay the society £ 80 , on condition that the society relinquishes all claim to the heritable and other property of the lodge , and restores to it all its books , papers , and records . The minority had acquiesced . This was approved of by Grand Lodge .

The Grand Committee submitted a report from a sub-committee appointed to formulate a scheme in detail for the working of the Extended or Annuity Fund ol Scottish Masonic Benevolence , and they moved Grand Lodge to adopt and sanction regulations to the following effect : — 1 . The present Fund of Masonic Benevolence and the Extended or Annuity Fund shall be kept separate and distinct . 2 . A Board , consisting of the Grand

Master , Past Grand Masters , Grand Master Depute , Substitute Grand Master , and 36 elected members , shall have the management of both funds —seven to be a quorum . All qualified members of Grand Lodge elig ible for election . Twelve elective members shall annually go out of office , but shall be eligible for re-appointment . The manner of nomination and election shall be the same as that observed in the appointment of Grand Committee . 3 . The Annuity Fund , formed by subscriptions from lodges and

individual brethren , shall be immediately taken charge of by the Board and invested . The amount subscribed shall be capitalised , and the half of the free income of Grand Lodge , which , by resolution of Grand Lodge , is to be devoted to the purposes of the fund , shall be divided—one-hall being

annually added to capital , and the other half , less necessary expenses , together with the interest on the accumulated capital , shall be distributed in annuities—thereb y providing for an annual increase in the number of pen * sioners . 4 . The annuities shall be of the value of £ 10 each , but the Board shall have power to grant ten annuities of /" i *; and five of / . 20 each m

cases deserving special treatment . 5 . Applications lor the benefit of < - hind must be by petition sent to the Board through Provincial Grand Lodge by the lodge from which the appplicant derives right . 6 . Every Master Mason registered in Grand Lodge books , and their widows or the " children , are qualified to be placed on the roll of annuitants . 7- $ P t notices of the number of vacancies in the list of annuitants to be sen ' each lodge and member of the Board , and to Provincial Grand Loa % - 8 . The Grand Secretary shall be Secretary , and the Grand Cash '

Treasurer to the Annnuity Fund , at such remuneration as the Board sna fix . 9 . The Finance Committee of Grand Lodge shall have the direc supervision and management of the capital and income of both funds . . Bro . CALDWELL of Craigielea said he thought the action as to u

scheme was somewhat hasty , pointed out several alterations which neS " ° gested would be beneficial , and proposed that the scheme should be s down to the Presbyteries and to Provincial Grand Lodges for their conside t tion . The Convener of the Sub-Committee , Bro . James Crichton , said 1 the Committee had intended to include most of the points referred to , acquiesced in the delay of the consideration of the regulations . - ^ 'f" ^ d it was resolved to send down to the daughter lodges and Provincial w