Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

The letter wmch we published from a Past Master" brings to the surface a very important point in connection with Scottish , and also particularly with English , Freemasonry . To many persons the mysteries of the craft are but

another means for occasional opportunities of extra self-indulgence . There is , indeed , a too common heresy abroad that Freemasonry has no other meaning than the inauguration of fanciful shows and secret festivities , the true

nature of which are hidden under the pretence of a wide-spread spirit of benevolence . The opinions of people who are not Masons have , naturally and very properly , not the slightest influence with those who , besides being

members of thc Mystic Brotherhood , hold—some from personal experience , others from convictions based upon well and easily-ascertained factsthat the vulgar belief is very far from being well founded . Writing simply as journalists , and

without any pretence to previous or future initiation in Masonic secrets , we believe that a society which has so long existed with the special object of spreading abroad a love of philanthropy and a desire lo bene / it unibrtunaie .

though well deserving members , of society cannot but have founded an immense claim on the respect of the world in these particulars . We may perhaps put aside remarkable anecdotes , the staple commodity of which consists in the

manner m which on . the battle-field , and in other scarcely less probable circumstances , the mere revelation of brotherhood has unnerved the arm of the assailant , and , as a consequence , caused thelifeof agallantsoldierto be spared even

/// extremis . We do not deny the ( ruth of thes . evidences in behalf of the all pervading inllu ence of Freemasonry . But without rejectim

these , we believe that the simple annals of every day life will suffice to prove , if proof were necessary , that Freemasonry is a vast and beneficent power in the community .

That being so , we regret lo find that in Scot land , at least , the Grand Podge , and , as such , the Grand Centre or very Mecca , of Freemasonry , is likely to lose its hold upon thc affections and loyal feelings of the "daughter

lodges . That the Grand Lodge is , and has for some lime been , deeply , if not hopelessly , in debt , appears to be undeniable . Indeed , in so far as the provincial lodges are concerned , the fact has made itself painfully and materially

apparent . We have not the slightest dedre to accuse "Grand Lodge " —( we understand that in Masonic parlance the definite article is seldom , if ever , used)—of over-indulgence in social or ceremonial observances . Wc quite

admit that a vast and powerful society such as that of Freemasonry must have certain well defined centres , from which not only the authority but the dignity of the Craft emanates . We do not in any sense desire to accuse " ' ( . ' rand

Lodge" of neglecting thc interests of Freemasonry as an above all charitable institution , in favour of mere display and extravagance . On tlie contrary , we believe that , especially under the regime of the present noble Grand

Master , the real objects of Masonry are being steadily kept before the brotherhood , even perhaps to a greater extent than has hitherto been

the case . But the question for immediate consideration , and that which is raised by the letter of a " Past Master , " is whether the obligations of " Grand Lodge , " for whatever purpose they

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

may have been incurred , form necessarily a legacy of debt to be discharged by the participation of every Freemason throughout Scotland ? No doubt the problem for tlie decision of Lord ROSSLYN and his advisers was a difficult one .

It is right to be just before you are generous , and although charity and philanthropy are virtues eminently characteristic of Freemasonry , it was ( dear that before ( hey could be indulged in with a clear conscience , the weight of debt must be

got rid off . We believe that thc amount ol debt standing for clearance is something like , - £ 13 , , which , in one shape or another , falls to be liquidated by 30 , 000 Scotch Freemasons . Now , if tlie payment of debts incurred by

' •' Grand Podge , " for the incurrence of which , be it observed , provincial masons are in nowise responsible , being , indeed , for the most part entirely ignorant of the fact that they are

responsible for any debts but their own , were the only impost placed upon individual Freemasons throughout Scotland , we should have little or nothinr- to saw But this is not the

case , as appears from the following sentence quoted from a Past . Master ' s ' letter : — ' ' At the last quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , it was enacted that tlie registration and dip loma of entrants shall be

1 cs . od . each , instead of 8 s . as hitherto ; also that on the 24 th of June annually the contribution of one pound sterling must be remitted in Mdition to the fee of 5 .. for the annual certili-•¦ . •i ! e . This has been done with a view to the

extinction of the debt of the Grand Lodge and the application of its surplus revenues to charitable purposes . " Now , we lake leave lo say that such an impost as this—every penny ol which must , in one shape or another , come out

of the pockets of individual masons , many ol whom are poor , hardworking men colliers , weavers , artisans , and so on--must lend not only to diminish the iniluence of "Grand Lodge , " but of Freemasonry generally . As a

matter of fact , 111 half the villages ol" Scotland , especially those remote from the capital , "Grand Podge , " is but a myth , or , if something more , then another name for a gigantic debt whieh

poor Freemasons , who profit nothing from processions and banquets , are expected , lo pay , The first idea of " ( irand I . odge '' which presents itself to tlie neophyte is that she is a beneficent mother : the second , that instead of , like tlie

pelican , wounding ner own breast to sustain ner young , she freely bleeds her progeny in order to clear herself of her 'pecuniary difficulties . Provincial lodges are asking ; very freely—and it is as well that the truth should be

known-where does the money which we annually send to Edinburgh go to ? W ' e agree with our correspondent , " A Past . Master , '' in holding that whatever work has to be done by ••'Grand

Lodge" in a purely business direction , should . be well and duly paid for . But we cannot help thinking , without the least reflecting on last night ' s proceedings , that if " ( Irand Podge'' has lived beyond its income in times past , a

circumstance which , if true , clear !) ' shoy / s that the true and pious objects of Freemasonry have been strangely neglected , it is rather hard dial innocent working men throughout Scotland should be expected to pay the expense of feasts

and ceremonies 111 winch they have never participated except in the most vaguely vicarious manner . Considering that there are some 30 , 000 Masons throughout the length and breadth of Scotland , all paying not only their own lodge fees but those of " Grand Lodge "

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

into the bargain , it is evident that the latter must be a corporation which may fairly be called rich . It is certainly high time that some distinction should be drawn between expenses in the benefits arising from which all

Freemasons participate and those which arc purely personal to the holders of office in Grand Lodge . That Freemasonry in Scotland should not suffer in comparison with the Craft in England or elsewhere , in the matter of

suitable accommodation , et cetera , we cordially admit , But even on this point "A Past Master ' s " letter affords little satisfaction . He says— " The foundation-stone of the "Masonic Hall was laid on the 24 th of June 1858 , and at

what cost the structure was raised , or what may be tlie present amount of debt upon tlie properly , are matters on which I regret to find 'the Grand Lodge of Scotland's reporter , April , 1872 , ' is singularly silent . " Thus at last the

real question presents itself , and will not suffer evadement . The debt exists—who is to pay it ? Wo answer without scruple , those persons , or their immediate representatives , who incurred it . The idea of spreading the debt over a wide

community , and thus making it appear smaller than il really is , was an ingenious one , but it has failed to deceive the vast majority of workingmen Masons throughout the country . Retrenchment may no doubt tlo much , but if Grand

Lodge is to start with a clean slate , it can only be by the richer members of the Craft paying off tlie del . u , assisted by such contributions as provincial lodges may be in a position voluntarily lo subscribe without unduly visiting the sins of

unknown fathers upon equally unacknowledged children . We speak in the interests of Freemasonry itself , and we trust that under the truly wise rule of the present Grand Master , oilier

means of extinguishing Grand Podges debt may be devised than that which is at present pressing so unfairly upon Freemasons in every corner of Scotland . —Edinburgh Couranf .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

Gr . Asnow .- — Thistle and Rose , No . 73 . —Tin ' . ' old anil flourishing lodge held their annual meeting on Tuesday last ; the chair being

occupied b y G . McDonald . R . W . M ., who proceeded to initiate , in his usual careful manner , three candidates , Messrs . James Mel ' ulloch , Alex . Cammeii and Thomas Yule . The election then took place , when the following brethren were unanimously chosen to fill the

respective offices :--Bros . George . McDonald , Iv . U ' . M . ; W . Donaldson , S . W . ; A . Mc / . eod , J . W . ; \ Y . Walton , Treas . : J . Ambridge , Sec . ; J . Kay , S . D . ; J . Richardson , j . D . ; , S . Young , Chaplain : W . Gullen , S . S . ; | . Hamblug , | . S . ;

J . Anisdcn , J eweller ; J . McGregor , Standard-Bearer ; T . Murray , I . G . ; John Kay , Tyler . The W . M . then appointed Pro . Medic as D . M ., and lire . P-alanline as Ski ., the lodge being resumed in the second degree , Bro . llalket , P . M .

ol 102 . took ihe chair as Installing Master , when Bro . J ordan , P . M . oi' 73 . presented the re-elected Master for obligation , ( hereafter a board of Installed Masters was formed , and afterward the Master was regularly proclaimed in the East , West anil South . The ceremonies were very

impressively rendered bv Bro . Halket . to whom great praise is due for his careful rendering of the ceremony ; this being' the first time that the chair degree has been given in the lodge by tlie authority of the ( irand Lodge of Scotland , the ceremony being adopted after a conference

with tile Grand Podges of England and Ireland . The newly-installed . Master thanked the brethren for having thus for the third time placed him in that chair , and this lime with reverend solemnity . A hearty vote of thanks to the Installing Master concluded the business .