Scotland.

of Installed Masters had been constituted , the Master received the chair degree . The following were subsequently named and invested in their respective offices : —D . Connel , D . M . ; N . Gillies , S . M . ; P . Strachan , S . W . ; D . Beid , J . W . ; A . Heron , Sec . ; S . Stewart , Treas . ; T .

Colquhoun , S . D ; J . Aitken , J . D . ; A . Lindsay , S . S . ; J . Lindsay , J . S . ; R . M'Mutrie , I . G . ; and J . Armour , Tyler . At the close of the installation ceremonies , the Provincial Grand Master delivered an eloquent address on the nature and principles of the Order , paid a passing tribute to

the memory of the many distinguished brethren who had been removed from amongst the Craft since he ( Colonel Mure ) was last in lodge assembled , and alluded to the bright future that was before the Order , with the Prince of Wales at the head ofthe Craft in England . His address

was replete with sound advice , and listened to with marked attention by all the brethren present . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form . The brethren afterwards had a torch-light procession , accompanied with an instrumental band , creating no little stir and excitement in the village .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

HIGHBRIDGE- —Vali of yehosophat Chapter ( No- 291)—The quarterly convocation of this chapter was held on Friday , the 27 th nst-, at the Masonic-room , Highbridge , at 2 o ' clock , when there were present : —Comps . R- C . Else , Z . ; FR . Prideaux , H- ; J . B . Marwood , J . ; J .

Burnett , E . ; R . Salisbury , W . ; F . Cornwall , P . S . ; Lieut . Gen . Mumbee , PZ- ; R . Heriman , P . Z . ; W . H . Davies , Z 1 , 222 ; T . Thwait , P . Z . ; and a number of other companions of the chapter . The business upon the agenda paper was transacted , and Bro . W . M . Forty of the Rural

Philanthropic Lodge , dul y exalted . The Principals for the ensuing year were then installed in ancient and proper form , viz ., Comps . F . R . Prideaux , Z . ; J . B . Marwood , F . ; J . Burnett , J . ; the ceremonies of exaltation and installation being performed by the M . E . Z . and P . Z ., Comp . R . C . Else , in the most impressive , solemn , and effective

manner . The companions afterwards partook of a banquet at the hotel , presided over by the M . E . Z , Comp . F . R . Prideaux , and separated in great harmony , the only mar to their enjoyment being the absence , through severe illness , of their beloved companion , Capt . H . Bridges , P . Z .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

Red Cross of Constantine .

One of the most successful gatherings of the members of this Order , held of late years in the metropolis took place on Monday the 30 th ult . at the Regent Masonic Hall , Air-street , Regentstreet , upon which occasion ( St . Andrew ' s Day ) , the Premier Bective , ( No . 2 A ) , St . Andrew ' s

( No . ij ) , and Bard of Avon ( No . gg ) Conclaves met together , represented amongst others b y the following Knights , Colonel Burdett , G . Viceroy ; John Heney , P . G . H . C . ; R . Wentworth Little , G . Treas . ; W . H . Hubbard , P . G . Treas . ; H . C- Levander , M . A ., G . H . C . ; R . W . Stewart , G . H . A . ; J . G . Marsh , P . G . A .- . Angelo I . Lewis ,

G . C . ; T . Cubitt , G . O . ; T . W . White , G . P . ; W . Roebuck , G . Prefect ; Rev . J . M . Vaughan , M . A ., G . S . P . ; Rev . P . H . E . Brette , D . D ., G . A . Rec ; H . A . Dubois , G . S . A . ; G . Kenning , G . I . of R . ; Lieut .-Colonel J . Peters , G . S . B . ; T . Burdett Yeoman , G . A . M . ; J . T . Moss , G . U . ; S . Rosenthal , Int . Gen . ; Rev . P . M . Holden , F . Binckes , Int . Gen . ; D . M . Dewar , Int . Gen . ; W .

Jones , P . Sov . 15 ; G . A . Ibbetson , M . P . S . 2 . ; Charles Horsley , Int . Gen . 2 A . ; F . W . H . Ramsay , M . D . P . Sov . V . gg ; Rev . A . Bruce Frazer , 99 ; C . Duke , 2 A . ;; A . Moore , P . Sov . ; T . Massa , W . Chillingworth , 15 ; W . Smale , 15 ; G . Lambert , P . Sov . ij ; C . Sanders , M . D ., 15 ; T . Kelly , 2 A ; W . Hyde Pullen , P . Sov . V . 2 A ; T . King , ston , P . Sov . ; Rev . A . Hall , J . E . Symons & c .

, The Conclaves having been opened , and the several minutes read , the following brethren were duly constituted and installed Kni ghts of the Order , viz .: — For the Premier Conclave of England , Bros .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

William Winn , P . M . 6 57 ; J . Adams , Acton , Lodge— ; Robert Gresley Hall , Lodge 1347 ; and Horatio H . Shirley , M . A ., ex-High Sheriff of Monaghan , Lodge 1491 .

For the Bective Conclave ( No . 2 A . )—Bro . Edward J . Southwell , Lodge 1293 . For the St . Andrew ' s Conclave ( No . 15)—Bros . George Taylor and Henry Baron Taylor , Lodge 192 .

For the Bard of Avon Conclave ( No 92)—Bros Sir Charles T . Brig ht , T . E . Webb , M . D ;

Vincent Ambler , M . D . ; Charles H . Driver , and Charles Grillion , Lodge 778 . St . Andrew ' s Conclave elected Sir Knights W . Roebuck , M . P . S . ; D . M . Dewar , V . ; and R . Kenyon , P . Sov ., Treasurer .

Sir Knight Hyde Pullen was enthroned as M . P . S . of the Bective Conclave ; C . Horsley was inducted as V . ; the rest of the officers being Sir Knights W . Stephens , F . Kelly , C . Duke , R . W- Little , E . Roberts , J . H . Tyler , W . W . Tyler , and G . Moren .

Propositions having been made , the united conclaves were closed , and the Knights adjourned to the banquet , under the presidency of Colonel Burdett , who was supported by Sir Knights Hyde Pullen as M . P . S . 2 A ; S . Rosenthal , as M . P . S . IJ ; ; Hervey , Levander , Little , Lewis , and about forty Knights already named .

During the evening , between the usual toasts , several songs were exquisitely sung by Madame Thaddeus Wells and Miss Julia Barnett . accompanied by Mrs . Jenkins on the pianoforte , and the entire proceedings gave great satisfaction to all present .

PLANTAGENET CONCLAVE ( NO . 2 ) . —This conclave met at the Regent Masonic Hall , on the 23 rd ult ., to consider proposals for its future place of meeting , when it was resolved to hold the conclave at the above premises for the future . Sir . Knt . G . A . Ibbetson , M . P . S ., presided , and

was supported by Sir Knts . C . Hammerton , V . ; J . Lewis Thomas , G . A . P . Sov . as S . G . ; H . Dicketts , Treasurer ; T . W . White , Recorder ; R . Wentworth Little ; J . G . Marsh , P . G . A . ; E . S . Norris , J . Boyd , P . M . P . Sov . ; T . Last , T . P . Parker , and C . J . Hogard , G . Herald . Two brethren were proposed for installation , and

the conclave having been closed , a very agreeable evening was spent under the sceptre of thc M . P . S ., Sir Knight G . A . Ibbetson . The customary toasts were given and received with great cordiality , and the fratres separated , well pleased with their first meeting under the roof of Sir Knt . D . Nicols .

LIVERPOOL . —Walton Conclave ( No . 97 ) . — The recent visit of the Grand Council to Liverpool and the holding of Grand Conclave there , has already borne fruit , inasmuch as No . 97 was obliged to summon a conclave of emergency on Friday , 27 th Nov ., to instal some brethren as

knights of this order . The conclave was opened in Imperial form b y Em . Sir Knight Jesse Banning , M . P . S . ; Em . Sir Knight J . C . Lunt , P . S . as V . ; Sir Knight W . Quayle , S . G . ; Sir Knight G . E . Hanmer , J . G . ; Sir Kni ght Rev . C . R . Hyde , L . L . D . H . P . ; Sir Knight Hayner ,

Rec- ; Sir Knight N- Turner , P . ; and others-The MP-S- then explained to the conclave the reasons for summoning an emergency meeting so soon after their assembly , only a fortnight previously , and the ballot proving clear , Bros . James Hetherington , 310 , and Thos- Howell ,

l 3 S ° > were admitted into the mysteries of this degree , and were duly dubbed and installed Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine- The Historical Lecture was most eloquently delivered by thc Rev . Dr . H yde , H . P ., and the M-P-S . then called upon Sir Knight N- Turner to

deliver the Oration , which he did in a faultless manner . Great credit was given to each of them for thc promptitude in which they had respectively mastered their duties , because they were only appointed to office on the last assembl y and had had but short notice of the emergency . The conclave was then closed and the kni ghts

adjourned to the refectory , where the newly-installed knights worthily won their " spurs" by the happily chosen yet simple and brief responses to the toast ofthe evening- We understand that possibl y yet another emergency may have to be called , still leaving plenty of work for thc next regular assembly .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Right Hon the Lord Mayor ( Bro- David H . Stone ) , P . M . No . i . and Past Grand Steward , has consented to preside at the 87 th anniversary of this institution , which will be held on the 12 th of May next .

Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE AND ART .

( COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES ) . BY BRO . GEORGE MARKHAM TWEDDELL . For the purpose of protecting Westminster Abbey from fire , a large tank , capable of

holding 6 , 000 gallons of water , has been placed in one of the towers of the edifice , at a cost of upwards of £ 2 , 000 . The new works have been tested and found efficient .

By the recent death of Thomas Miller , English literature has lost one of its purest and ablest contributors . In his truthful delineations of rustic life and scenery , he has been unsurpassed , from the days of William Shakspeare ' s

truly pastoral contemporary , William Browne , whom Selden , and Drayton , and Wither , and Ben Jonson could not love more than the poetical Nottinghamshire basket-maker did , to the Howitts and Charlotte Phillips . The soul of

Theocritus , or of Vigil , did we , ( like our ancient brother Pythagoras ) believe in the transmigration of souls , might have taken up its temporary abode in his body . His earlier writings , though needing pruning , as those of most beginners do ,

are full of the fragrance of the woods and fields , and his later productions show a mastery in the high art of reproducing literary landscapes for readers in populous cities pent . At a time when we seem to be making mere material pros . */ ri ty

too much the object of our research , when ui e n and women are less esteemed for their own safe es than for the worldly wealth they possess , or which too often possesses them , when even ths high teachings of Speculative Masomy are

considered unnecessary by certain superficial thinkers , we cannot sufficientl y appreciate the work of writers like Thomas Miller , who help to keen alive in our hearts a true love of nature , nnd it ia a disgrace to all who have had to do with the granting of pensions , that one who had done so much

forourgloriousEnglish literature should have been allowed to live and die in poverty . Surely so rich a country as England could well have spared a paltry pensionof sSioo a year for one whose numerous and elevating writings had so well merited it .

SPARKLING WINES FROM SAUMUR . —An interesting article has just appeared in thc Medical Times and Gazette on Sparkling Wines- In consequence of the recent rise in the price of Champagnes it appears that attention has been directed to the district of Saumur , in the

northwestern portion of France . Dr . Druitt , the author of the article in question , remarks;—" Both in society and in medical practice the use of Sparkling Wine is largely on the increase . Nothing is so exhilirating with so small a quantity of alcohol in it , " and adds that the wines of

Saumur , " although perfectly familiar in London , have hitherto been decorated with other names than their own , '' and that" every year 4 , , 000 bottles of wine from Saumur are sent to this country , whsre it has been ticketed with any name thc purchaser chooses to give

it . " He concludes the article with the followadvice : — " It surely is foolish to give 4 s . or 5 s . for a second-rate Champagne , when a wine which is either the same identically , or rather one better than the second-rate brands of Champagne , may be had for less money . " One firm ,

the Messrs . W . & A . Gilbey , of London , are introducing these wines through the medium of their Agents in every town , under what Dr . Druitt , calls " the modest and true appellation of Sparkling Wines of Saumur . " — Morning Post , December 2 nd , 1874 .

The upper current of society presents no certain criterion b y which we can judge in what direction the undercurrent flows . —MAC- AULA . Y .