Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on Thursday , the 7 th instant , when Bro . Lord Blvthswood , P . G . M ., presided , in the absence , on Parliamentary duty , of the Grand Ma-ter Mason Bro Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., M P . There was a large attendance ol brethren , owing , no doubt , to the fact of there being 16 candidates for the 12 vacancies in Grand Committee . The

Acting Grand Master was supported by B rs . John Graham , of Broadstone , Sub . G . M . ; Lieut .-Col . John Campbell , S . G . W ., Major F . W . Allan , acting J . G . W . ; D . Murray Lvon , G . Sec ; David Reid , G . Cashier ; J . Bdfour Melville , the Hon . H . Dalrymple , Dr . J . Middleton , Ex-P'ovost Christie , Prov . Grand Masters of Fife and Kinross , Wigtown and Kirkcudbrighuhires , Roxburgh , Peebles and Selkirkshire , and Stiringshire , respeciively ; A . A . Spiers , of Elders ! e . Proxy Prov . G . M .

Queensland ; Rev . | ohn Glasse . G . Chap . ; W . Officer , S . S . C . ; Colin Ualletly , James Caldwell , and E . C . H . M Naught , P . G . D-acons ; R . M . Cameron , G . Arrhitrct ; R . K . Inches , G . Jeweller ; J . MacN-iught Campbell , G . Bible Bearer ; T . Halkett . P . G . Bible Bearer ; J . Muir , G . D . C ; Lieut .-Col . Ivison Macadam , G . S . B . ; Emile Berger , G . D . of M . ; R . Davidson , G . Org . ; W . M . Denholm , G . Marshal ; Robert Kennedy , G . I . G . ; and others .

The G . D . C . introduced the following brethren , who were welcomed from the Throne : B-os . A'thur Hodge , of the Lodge Pilgrim , South African Republic ; H . D . Robeitson , Southern Cross , Cape Colony ; J . Davidson , Burnie ; and A . Foreman , Melb > urne . Apologies for absence were intimated from Bros , the Grand Master , Lord

Saltoun , the Earl of Hadding on , the Earl of Rosslyn , the Marqui- of Breadalbane . Sir Alex . Mackenzie of Glenmuick , Major the H » n . North Dalrymple , the Hon . C . M . Ramsay . M . P ., the Hon . T . Cochrane , M . P ., Sir James Buchanan , Col . Stirling of Kippendavie , Captain Hope , M . P . ; Hugh Shaw Stewart , M . P ., James Hozier , M . P ., and others .

The annual accounts were submitted , and showed the income of Grand Lodge had been for the year ending 29 th November , £ 4564 , and the expenditure £ 2339 , showing a surplus of £ 2224 . The funds and estate amounted to £ 34 S 70 . The fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence amounted to £ 7161 ; the annuity fund to £ 22 , 455 .

Grand Lodge accepted the resgnation , on account of ill-health , of Bro . Bro . Major James Johnston , of Newmill , of his office as Provincial Grand Master of Elgin and Morayshires , cordially thanked him for his services , and expressed regret that he should have felt it necessary to retire from the post he had for several years so worthily filled . It was resolved to grant charters to the following new lodges : Braemar , Red Hill , Gympie .

Queensland ; St . Andrew , Pitlochry ; Breadalbane , St . Fillans , Killin ; and Blythswood , Glasgow City . The election of members of Grand Committee was then proceeded with . There were 16 cand dates for 12 vacancies , and the following we-e el-cted : Bros . J . Caldwell . Paisley , 263 votes ; Lieut .-Col . J . Campbell , Perth , 260 ; Bailie E . C . H . M Naught Glasgow , 243 ; Lieut .-Col . W . Ivison MacaHam ,

228 ; Lieut . George R . Wishart , Hamilton , 208 ; W . Officer . S . S . C ., Edinburgh , 207 ; Robert lOnnedy , Glasgow , 203 ; George Crauford , Edir burgh , 1 S 8 ; William Phillips , Glasgow , iSS ; James Thomson , Edinburgh , 137 ; James Jack , Paisley , 134 ; John Maclachan , of Maclachlan , W . S ., 123 . The new members are Bros . Wishart , Crauford , Phillips . Thnm'on , and J ack .

A letter was submitted which had been addressed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Grand Master with reference to Freemasonry in Japan . It was in the following terms : — " The Earl of Kimberley has had uno » r his consideration your letter , in which you forward a memorial from the Freemasons of Yokohama explaining that , as the law of Japan forbids secret societies the Masonic body in that countryappr . hend interference with

their work , when under the provisions of the treaty ncently conclud-d British subjects become amenable to Japanese jurisdiction . I am directed by hi * Lordship to state that the new treaty will not come into force for at least five years , by which time the Japwes * law quoted in the memorial may be so modified as not to affect meetings of Freemasons . When the qiesiion becomes a practical one it mav possibly be desirable to make friendly representations to the Japanese G wernment aj to the philanthropic objects of

freemasonry ; but in Lord Kunberley ' s opinion it is not advisable , tor Her M-jesty ' s Government to take any steps at present for endeavouring to obtain a modification of the Japanese law . In any case it is not a matter which could in his Lordship ' s view be properly made the subject of a treaty stipulation . " The Grand Master was thanked for his diligence in this matter . The other business was disposed of , and Grand Lodge was closed .

The District Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons Of The Punjab.

THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS OF THE PUNJAB .

The Installation of R . W . Bro . E . Woodall Parker as District Grand Mark Master of the Punjab look place at Freemasons' Hall . Lahore ( the capital of the Punjab ) , on December the 27 h , 1894 , when some 40 Mark Masons assembled to do honour to tie occaion . inis District Grand Lodge was formed in June last , in response to a Petition from a large number of Mark Masons in the Punjab Lodge 1 the

, actual order forming the District bemg convened in a letter from the Grand secretary , dated June the nth , 1894 , 10 the effect lhat "the Dis'rict of jwgal as at present constituted shall be divided into , first , the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , which shall consist of the Lodges situated in the Worth West Provinces , Oudh , and the lower Provinces of Bengal , and , second , the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab , which shall consist of the

lodges situated in the Punjab and Beloochisian . " Ihe Installation Ceremony was performed by Wor . Bro . the Rev . H . J . gpencer Grav , the Chaplain of Lahore , and Past Senior Grand Warden of "'¦ "gal , and thus the District Grand Mark Lodge of the Punjab wis at last "mpleted , and another very notable addition made to the existing Masonic U'ganisationof this kvge and flourishing District .

R q , / - ' LJistrict Grand Officers appointed are : *> ro . Ihe Rev . H . J . Spencer Gray , 219 and 221 ... Deputy Dist . G . M . 11 Dhanj . bhoy F . Camadore , K . B ., 219 ... Dist . S . G . W . .. I-Fisher , 429 .., ... ... Dist . J . G . W . " W . Bull , 98 ... ... ... ... Dist . G . M . O . » Major H . F . Lyons Montgomery , 219 ... Dist . S . G . O . S . M . Mercer , 392 ... ... ... Dist . J . G . O .

The District Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons Of The Punjab.

Bro . The Rev . T . C . Shepherd , 13 S ... ... Dist . G . Chap . „ Dr . Bnj Lai Ghose , R . B . 98 ( elected ) ... Dist . G . Treas . „ Colonel A . G . Yateman-Biggj , C . B ., 279 ... Dist . G . R . of M . „ Capt . J . H . Leslie , 219 ... ... ... Dist . G . Sec . „ Lieut .-Col . C . F . Massy , 9 S and 219 ... Dist . S . G . D . „ E . Van S . Cullen , 279 ... ... ... Dist . J . G . D .

„ J . McDermoit , 279 ... ... ... Dist . G . I . of W . „ M . Carroll . 221 ... ... ... Dist . G D . of C . „ Captain W . A . Mu-ison , 138 ... ... Dist . A . G . D . of C . „ Lieutenant L . C . Dunsterville , 221 ... ... D st . G S . B . „ Lieut .-Col . C . M Kei ghley , D . S . O ., 465 ... Dist . G Sid . Br .

„ J . A . Clarke . 25 S ... ... ... Dist . G . O g . „ R . Burton , 279 ... ... ... Dist . A . G . Sec . „ D . Bridgman , 429 ... ... ... l . „ „ C . Buterbury , 201 ... ... j Dist . G . Stwds . „ Fazl Din ... ... ... ,. ' . Dist . G . Tyler .

The R . W . DISTRICT GRAND MASTER delivered the following address on the occasion : " Brethren , — I shall ttll you nothing new when I tell you that the Mark Degree is really a part of the Fellow Cralt Degree leading up to the Master ' s Degree . In the Degrees of Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft , we deal with the pillars on which a perfect Arch should rest . The pillars of Masonry are its Strength of Purpose and its Beauty of £ ¦ ecution .

The rough hewn Ashlar is first finished into a perfect shape and then fitted in its place , and so the edifice grows . In the Master ' s Degree , and in the Royal Arch , we typify the completion of that strongest and most beautiful architectural work , a perfect Arch , and in this—the Mark Degree —we profess to typify the Keystone of the Arch which holds all together in perfect symmetry and proportion . Applying this to ourselves , no one should be admitted to the Order of the Mark Degree until he has proved himself

fit to occupy the position of ihe hi ghest importance in Masonry . He should , in theory , have attained to such moral and intellectual perfection that he is fit to represent the Keystone of that edifice which in Masonry we use in such beautiful metaphor . Ihe stone , which the Builders in their ignorance refused , becomes the chief stone of the edifice . That ideal of perfection which even the initiated often fail to attain must be attained b y him who wishes to reach the ideal of Mark Masonry .

Every English Mark Mason must first take the three Degrees of Craft Masonry , and must then show himself fit for selection as a Mark Mason . Brethren , as a token of our selection , as a token of our fitness not only to regulate ourselves but to guide and control others in Freemasonry ( and Freemasonry represents our whole conduct in life ) , we are each given a Mark by which our work is known .

Whether we will or no—in our smallest and most secret , as well as in our greatest and most public acts—each of us sets his M irk . It is not only on the work which he is proud of , and on which he gladly and openly sets the seal of that Mark , that the Mirk exists . Everyone of our actions , however insignificant it may appear to us at the time , bears our Mark . It has far-reaching results which none of us can foresee or fathom . It may mean

happiness or destruction to those whom we influence , or whom we bring into the world , and to those who are influenced by them in their turn . Our lives , our actions , our words , our example , live on after us—euher for good or eviland it is ( or ought to be ) the hope and pride of every Mark Mason that his Mark may have influences for good , and good alone , and that the G . O . O . T . U . may approve his work here below .

Selected as we are , or ought to be , from the body of the Craft , for our efficiency , it behoves us not to belie our professions ; not to bring disgrace on our Order ; not to leave a mark wnich those who see may turn away from with scorn or disgust . Every Mark Mason has accepted a special responsibility which should not be forgotten . He bears a special mark as being fit to set an eximple to

Freemasons of lesser degree . He is bound to justify that position so far as in him lies ; tocultiva e and deve'ope his powers ; to show himself worthy of his position by using those powers to the best advantage . His talent must be us d , not put away and n glecte . d . 1 call upon every Mark Mason to make good his Mark ; and the Mirk itselt should be tne prosecution of all lhat 1- , good and uietul and m be .

I rtquire each of you in this D strict to r-nder some account of his Stewarusni p once in each year and to let the District G and Lodge know , and myselt know , how you have made your Mark good . I want eicn ot you to conliibute some of your lime , or your talents , or \ oir money , or all three , to ihe good work which lies belore you in Mark Masonry . You can , or should , as selected men , be able to do something for the profit , progress ,

relief , or amusement in healthy ways , of your brethren . You can aid us intellectually , socially , and pecuniarily , or in one or other of these ways at least , if you desiic to do so , and if you have not that desire you disgrace your Mark . You may not be able individually to do much . Out you can all do something V > make our Order a living force and earnest reality , and I call upon you 10 do that something .

Be assured I shall watch you with friendly interest and note what you do or do not do , but the good work rests with your own conscientious des re to do right . Tne spontaneity of the work done is of more value than the work itself . Let us in this District set an example not only to those who are not Mark

Masons , but to others elsewhere wh 1 are , and who throw away the opportunities which they possess . Mark Well the fleeting time ; mark well your every action , and mark well ihe wants of those around you , so that when the time comes you may look back on your past with pride and satisfac . ion and know that all triat oears y ur mark is good .

Turning from generalities to a few points in regard to which specific advice seems needed at the present tune I notice : 1 st . —That Members and Officers of Lodges do not make themselves acquainted witn the Constitutions of our Order , and disregard them from ignorance or carelessness . Since the District ^ has been formed , various Lodges have been found to have

disregarded well known Articles . 2 nd , —Little or no attention seems to be paid to District Grand Lodge Circulars . In six instances tvso reminders were sent betore Circular No . 7 was complied with , and in two of the six instances a third reminder was necessary . This is not as it should be .

3 rd . —Great delay occurs in submitting returns and replying to correspondence , and this causes inconvenience . It should be understood that the W . M . ( with whom alone the Dist . G . Lodge corresponds ) is responsible for submission of returns and replying to correspondence with promptitude . Even when a lodge is closed for the winter under the By-Laws , current