A Masonic Tour.

old York Rite is worked , considered the chief tool of a M . M . The Masons of Queenstowni Cork , and Limerick are not numerous , but they are respectable ; like the brethren in other parts of Ireland , they reflect credit on the Craft . As at Dublin , there is no

display of Masonic insignia on house or person . I was much disappointed in not witnessing any working , but from enquiries I am led to believe that , next to the Americans , the Irish brethren are the best and strictest working in the world . I had a pleasant trip from Queenstown to New

York , and was exceedingly pleased with everything I saw in the New World — the noble well-guarded entrance to the harbour or bay , with its thousands of shipping ; the immense grand palace steamers , boats , & c , continually passing between New York , Brooklyn , and Jersey cities , & c , & c , much surprised

me , and on landing ( Dec . 10 ) , the beautiful streets , fine marble-fronted houses , immense shops , wellstocked markets , omnibuses and fine hack-coaches , but above all , the numerous splendid street cars , or tramway omnibuses , pleased and astonished me . A trip through the Broadway ( five miles long ) , Fifth

Avenue , the Central Park , the immense hotels each of which can accommodate iooo people , the Grand Opera , and other buildings demand more than a passing glance here ; and the City Hall , with its noble paintings , & c , the New Post Office , Masonic Hall , & c , & c , would each require a better pen and more space for description than this poor brief

account . I can only say that I spent an exceedingly pleasant week in New York , and was delighted with all I saw . I boarded at the Bellmont Hotel ( Bro . Richards , proprietor ) , visited the opera , & c , and lived as cheaply and comfortably as you can in London . As to kindness , civility and attention , I never experienced great or better . I must now turn to Masonic matters . On the

nth , I visited Lodge Amencus , No . 535 . How shall I describe the scene , the work , & c , witnessed in this splendid lodge ? Well , sir , I'll try—your redaers must excuse defects . The Masonic Temple is a fine , large , and not over-ornamental building ; it accommodates numerous lodges and chapters ,

and the several rooms are named " Corinthian , " " Grecian , " & c , according to their style . The lodge I visited ( Americus ) met in the former , and was open » d at half-past seven o ' clock , the W . Bro . Fitzpatrick presiding . The names of the other ofiicers are similar to ours , but their duties differ

considerably . When I entered there were about 100 members present , by the time it opened this number was doubled , and ere it closed there were 300 brethren present , nearly all wearing plain lamb-skin aprons . There were few jewels , those and superior aprons being only worn by Grand Officers . The gathering

was really fine ; and as to the hall , I must say that , with the exception of the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , it is the largest and finest I ever beheld . The room is about 70 ft . by 40 ft ., handsomely carpeted , with fine paintings , banners , transparencies , and numerous lamps adorning thc walls . There are

two 10 ft . pillars at the entrance ; the great light is placed on a handsome altar , with three other lights flanking it . The seats all round ( benches and chairs ) are covered with blue velvet , and a splendid organ graces the north side , the powerful music of which added greatly to the charm of thc

ceremonies . W . Bro . Fitzpatnck administered the O . B ., & c , & c , in the second degree , and W . Bro . Selmes , in the third degree . Never have 1 seen such splendid working ; from the W . M . to thc junior officer , all performed their task admirably—all perfect . The work was old-style York Rite , and was full ,

rich and perfect in all its details . I have visited numerous lodges in many different countries round the world , but I have never seen anything to compare with thc splendid working of "Americus . " From what 1 saw in New York , Philadelphia , and this place ( Washington ) , I must say that we at

home are put in the shade by our brethren of the United States . Masons and Masonry in America eclipse the Old World—from top to bottom we arc excelled by America . At " Americus" 1 had thc pleasure of meeting several officers of thc Grand Lodge of New York ,

amongst them being thc R . W . Bro . J . W . Simons , Past Grand Master , ancl a Masonic writer of great ability and worth . I also had thc pleasure of meeting thc R . W . Bro . Robert Macoy , the renowned Masonic author . To those gentlemen , and to Bros . Fitzpatrick and H . Lark ( of the Sun office , N . Y . ) ,

I am much indebted for thc very pleasant and instructive hours I spent amongst thc brethren of New York . " May their shadows never be less . " Whilst in New York it was my good fortune to visit a Lodge of Lady Feeemasons , ancl as the wives of many brethren at home may feci some interest

in their sisters in America , I will now give a short account of thc lodge , & c , so far as permissible . The sisters , under thc title of " Eastern Star " Chapter , Alpha , No . 1 , meet in a splendid hall ( 594 , Broadway ) , 60 ft . by 40 ft ., beautifully carpctted and fitted up in splendid style , thc walls adorned with fine lamps , paintings , transparencies , & c .

There is a good organ , which , played by one of the fair sisters , adds much to the really impressive ceremonies , prayers , & c . The lodge has over fifty lady members ; the duties , form of lodge , & c , resemble our own . The following is a list of the present officers : —

Mrs . E . F . Johnson ( presiding ) Worthy Matron . „ M . A . Warner Assoc , ditto . „ A .. C . Asten Treasurer . ,, C . H . Butrick Secretary . ,, C . Quimby Conductress . ,, E . L . Chipman Assoc , ditto . „ M . A . Waring Ada . ,, C-Dilks Ruth .

,, E . A . Macoy Esther . „ C . M . Crawford ... Martha . ,, C . Walker Electra . Miss M . A . Johnson Warden . Mr . Robt . Macoy Patron . ,, John Osborne Sentinel .

Thus it will be seen that all the offices are filled by ladies , except the Patron and Sentinel . The lodge was duly opened with prayer ; the several reports were read and passed , as in our own lodges , save that the ladies , as might be expected , manage the charity and sick matters far better than we do . It was really pleasing to hear the sisters of the various

committees report their visits , aid , & c , to the sick and poor of their several districts : " Visited Mrs . ( or family of so-and-so ) , on ( date ) , found a little improvement , consoled ( or gave so much relief ) , and promised to call and see them again on . " " Made enquiries concerning , we

found her ( or him ) deserving of aid , and recommend , " & c . ; and thus arc many kind Masonic acts reported and recorded . After all the reports had been received , a sister notified that a lady was in attendance for initiation . A committee was sent to

examine and report , which proving favourable Mrs . ( just then returning home to Scotland ) , was introduced and admitted to the degree . I must injustice say the ceremony of initiation was really well rendered by the several sisters . The beautiful lessons of "Ada , " "Ruth , " "Esther , " "Martha , "

and Electra" were respectively delivered by the ladies in an unusually eloquent manner . The origin and aim of the Order , as well as its signs , passwords , & c , were elegantly and impressively explained by the Worthy Matron . After the initiation the Patron delivered a lecture , and the lodge

was duly closed . I had the pleasure of being introduced by Bro . Macoy , the founder and Patron of this excellent chapter , to the Matron and officers of the lodge , as also to several other sisters , and by all I was warmly welcomed . I received several kind invitations—one to their Chapter Ball—but

unfortunately , time pressed , and I could only call on the Matron . I may mention that Bro . Macoy offered to aid in establishing a similar chapter in England or India ( where I hail from ) . I may also add that the wife , sister , or mother of a Mason arc eligible , and that any Master Mason belonging to thc Order

can confer the degree ; but to open a chapter a warrant from the Grand Chapter U . S . America is necessary . When at Mrs . Johnson ' s , I saw a pretty little girl whose mother ( a Mason's widow ) died in the city about two years ago . The little orphan , being friendless and penniless , was adopted by the

sisters of " Alpha chapter . A young son of Bro . Lark , of New York , was also , on the death of his mother , adopted by thc chapter . These and numerous other cases of kindness to the distressed fully prove the excellence of the Lady Masons of America , and will in time , 1 hope , move our brother Masons

of England to follow thc example of their cousins in the West—find some kind charitable work for their wives , sisters , and others . W . Bro . R . Macoy , 432 , Broom-street , and Mrs . E . F . Johnson , 16 , Vandam-strect , New York , will afford jail information on thc matter .

1 now conclude with a verse I heard sung in the " Alpha . " It forms part of one of their lodge hymns , and as sung by fifty ladies , aided by a fine organ , was , I assure grand , ancl particularly pleasing to mc—a . poor wanderer from Old England : —

Stranger , on a rocky strand , Longing for thy fatherland , Through llic gathering clouds that rise , Veiling thy natal skies , Lojk beyond- —there ' s hope for thee , Dawning o'er a tranquil sea ; Softly it smiles , though distant far , The beautiful Eastern Star . " F . J-

1-AITII LODGE OK INSTRUCTION . — The above Lodge of Instruction is held every Tuesday evening at 8 o ' clock , in the spacious and commodious rooms at Bro . Fisher ' s Restaurant , Metropolitan District Railway Station , Victoria , S . IV . Ceremonies and lectures worked every Tuesday , except the third Tuesday in the month , when the ceremonies alone arc rehearsed . Th-i DOMATIC CHAPTER OF IN

STRUCTION IS also held in thc above rooms every Friday evening , at 8 o ' clock , from October until April inclusive .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

SCOTLAND .

The various lodges in Dundee met within their own respective halls on the 27 th ult ., when the following Worshipful Masters who had been elected on St . Andrew ' s Day were duly installed into office for the ensuing year : — Operative Lodge , No . 47 , Bro . W . F . Longmuir .

Ancient Lodge , No . 49 , Bro . Alexander Kelt . St . David ' s Lodge , No . jS , Bro . James Berry ( Past Master 375 , Aberdeen ) . Thistle Lodge . Bro . W . Cells tely . Forfar aud Kincardine Lodge , No . 225 , Bro . Geo . F . Roger .

Caledonian Lodge , No . 254 , Bro . John Forbes . Albert Lodge , Bro . James Cant . Broughty Castle Lodge , Bro . James Scott . And thereafter under their presidency celebrated the Festival of St . John , exchanging during the evening the usual fraternal visits at which the

greatest cordiality prevailed . St . David's Lodge . —Since St . Andrew ' s Day numerous meetings of this lodge , under the presidency of Bro . Berry , have been held ; fourteen initiations having taken place . Operative Lodge . —A meeting in committee of

the members was held on Wednesday se ' nnight , Bro . Longmuir , presiding , when it was resolved in recognition of the eminent services rendered to the lodge by Bro . John Logic , the Immediate Past Master , to present to him a gold watch , with the usual appendages .

Turkey.

TURKEY .

« The members of the Oriental Lodge , 687—the " mother lodge " of Turkey—celebrated the great annual masonic festival of St . John the Evangelist , patron saint of the Order , on Tuesday evening last , when the W . M . for the ensuing year , Bro . J

Laffan Hanly , was duly installed , the ceremony being performed by W . Bro . H . Newbolt , P . M . of the Lodge , and W . M . of the Bulwer Lodge , assisted by probably the largest Board of Past Masters ever assembled here on such an occasion , the twelve present including thc R . W . District Grand Master

of Turkey , Bro . J . P . Brown , and several of his officers and past officers , and representatives of all the other lodges of the capital , under the English , Irish , Scotch , French , and Italian Constitutions . After his installation , the new W . M . invested the following brethren as his officers : —Bros . W .

Temple , M . D ., S . W . ; Louis Blair , J . W . ; Mountain , P . M ., Treasurer ; Jas . Morrison , Secretary ; A . Kanuna , S . D . ; Wait , J . D . ; Allan Harms , I . G . ; Green , Tyler . One candidate was elected , out of four who had been proposed , but his initiation had to be postponed through want of time . Thc lodge

having been closed , the brethren present , numbering 60—an unusually large attendance , and comprising many visitors—adjourned to the Hotel du Nord ( late Baltzer ' s ) , whU has just been re-opened by Bro . Franz Appcl , whei cthe Installation Banquet was prepared . Thc W . M . Bro . J . Laffan Hanly ,

presided , and was supported by the R . W . G . M . and several of his officers and other brethren of high rank in thc craft . Thc provision made was of the very best , but thc excellence of thc dinner was much marred by the long intervals between the courses , which was served , as was afterwards

explained , in German fashion , with the notion that thc eating was to last the whole night , and the toast-drinking ancl speech-making to be interspersed between the dishes . This little misunderstanding , perhaps , extinguished a good deal of masonic eloquence which otherwise might have gratified—or

bored—the brethren ; but the company had the pleasure of hearing at least one admirable address , which was from thc W . M . of the Italian Lodge " Risorta , " in response to thc toast of the " Visiting Brethren of the Foreign Lodges , " in which the speaker broached , with much

force and feeling , the idea that masons , irrespective of their different "Constitutions" and rituals , ought to form , in something more than their signs and secrets— which are , of course , uniform and immutable—a united creed and nationality , so to speak , and thus give stiil greater effect to the

benelicicnt principles of the Order . Among the toasts proposed during thc evening—immediately after " the Queen , thc Sultan , and thc Craft" and the "Grand Master of England , and Past Grand Master H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales "—the health of the R . W . Bro . Brown , District Grand Master of Turkey , was drunk with great cordiality , and was

suitably acknowledged by that distinguished brother , who concluded by proposing thc health of Bro . Hanly , the new W . M . of the Oriental Lodge . These and other toasts were drunk with thc usua 1 masonic honours , W . Bro . Warren , P . M ., officiatin g as he had previously done in lodge , as Master of thc Ceremonies .