Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE , MIDDLE WARD . The first annual festival of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire was celebrated on the 4 th inst ., in the Masonic Hall ( Br . King ' s ) , Motherwell . There was a large attendance of brethren . The following lodges were represented : —Hamilton

Kilwinning , No . 7 ; St , Mary , Coltness , No . 31 ; New Monkland Montrose , No . 88 ; Royal Arch Cambuslang , No . 114 ; St . John Airdrie , No . i 65 ; St . James Old Monkland , No . 177 , Hamilton , No . 233 ; St . John Woodhall , No . 305 ; St . John Dalziel , No . 406 ; St . Clair Camhusuethan , No . 427 .

The chair was occupied , in the absenoe ofthe P . G . M ., Bro . James Merry , M . P ., by Bro . W . M . Gilmour , D . P . G . M ., supported by the following deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow : F . A , Barrow , D . P . G . M . ; James Steel , S . P . G . M . ; Archd . M'Taggart , M . A ., Prov . G . Sec . ; James Thomson , acting P . G . S . W ..

Jamss Wallace , P . G . S . D . ; and James Balfour , P . G . I . G . ; alsoby W . Forrest , P . G . BibleBearer ; John Currie , P . G . S ., Upper Ward ; and Bailie Kellar , No . ' 7 Hamilton . The duties of croupier were discharged hy John C . Forrest , S . P . G . M . ; Provost King , Motherwell ; James Nisbet , P . G . S . W . ; Wm . Spiers , P . G . J . D . ; A . King , P . G .

Treas . ; John Glen , P . G . S . D . ; W . M'Murdo , P . G . S . ; J . Christisou , P . G . Marshal ; Symington , P . M . 117 ; Lang , R . W . M . 88 : Baird , 88 . After dinner , Bro . Gilmour intimated that letters of apology had been received from Bro . the Eirl of Stair , Maior Barbor , Bros . Hector F . M'Lean , Henry Inglis ,

ofTorsonce , W . J . Lawrie , W . Montgomery Neilson , Col . Campbell , of Blythswood , and Rev . B . C . Brown . " The Queen , " " The Craft , " and other loyal , patriotic , and Masonic toasts were proposed from the chair . Bro . Barrow , in a few happy sentences , submitted , "Ihe Provincial Grand Lodge of the Middle Ward , " coupled

with the name of Bro . Gilmour , D . G . M . Bro . Gilmour , in acknowledging the toast , said : On behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge , Middle Ward , I beg to return you our most sincere thanks for the honour you have done us in drinking the toast . ( Applause . ) On the 15 th of March the Office Bearers commenced a series

of visitations in the province . The first lodge we visited was that of Shotts 471 , and on the 26 th April ended with the Lodge No . 7 Hamilton—singularly enough , beginning with the youngest and ending with the oldest . Between these dates we visited every lodge with the exception of Cambuslang , hut I had the pleasure to visit it so

lately as July last , when Substitute-Master . I cannot help expressing our thanks for the truly brotherly and Masonic manner wc were received in every lodge . Our visits were strictly those of a business character , and I am confident that the Masters and Oflice Bearers will bear ine out when I say we examined most carefully the books

and other details of the various lodges . With one or two of them we were by no means pleased , and at the time I painted out the defects . I feel confident , from the manner in which my remarks were received , that these defects will be speedily rectified . With the state of thc other lodges we were mttcli pleased , although there were

details in some that might be improved . I trust we will not be content to remain stationary , but that one and all of us will strive who each can perform best his part . ( Applause . ) Other toasts suitable to the occasion followed , and an agreeable evening was spent .

ABERDEEN CITY PROVINCE . The Lodges of St . Nicholas , St . George , and Neptune have closed their fortnightly meetings for the season , meeting again for the winter session early in October . Thc R . W . Masters ofthe St . George and the Neptune were re-elected on St . John ' s evening , and wc not doubt

but that they will keep up with dignity their positions as those who filled thc respective chairs ditl before them . Both lodges arc in thc highest stale of efficiency , the only cause for regret being the want of unanimity on thc part of the members of Lodge Neptune . Members ought to remember that the lodge is a bond of Brotherhood , and

that the system of debate now carried on , if persisted in , will sooner or later he the means of breaking up the lodge . Both lodges were lately visited by the P . G . Lo l ;; c on the usual periodical visit of inspection . The R . W . P . G . M . ( Dr . Beveridge ) complimented both lodges on the working and the really correct manner in which the

books were kepi . Both lodges lately entertained the P . G . Lodge in honour of the visits . The members of t ! ie St . George ' s Lodge at the same time presented their R . W . M ., Bru . George S . Forrest , with a very fine gold watch and chain in order to show their appreciation of" his services for the past three years .

A change his taken place in Lodge St . Nicholas , and the chair i *> again filled by Bro . Edward Savage , one of tiie bc .- > t working Masons in Scotland . Ur . Savage has ilivady held the chair of this lodge . When lie resigned so . ne years ago he received the thanks of the lodge with

a tangible recognition of his eminent services . In this lodge we have met many a one highly gifted and quite ¦ ' . ulifiedtobe , and have been , called to the East , but who have refused . Such parties we arc rather inclined to think look 011 Masonry as only a jargon of aprons , sashes , and jewels . The level is only a level , and the - square only a square—

Scotland.

" The primrose by the river s brook , A yellow primrose was to him—And it was nothing more . " Thanks to such as Bro . Savage , lie has , like many Masters , found in the order that which will comfort Mm in his daily walk of life , and cheer him ere he is called to the presence of Him who is the great I AM . We wish him God speed .

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . —At a special meeting of the Supreme Council of Scotland , held at Edinburgh , on Thursday , the 2 SU 1 ult ., H . I . H . The Prince Rhodocanakis was formally received , admitted , and constituted a Sovereign Grand Inspecto- General of the 33 rd and last degree , and Member of the Supreme Council of Scotland .

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

METROPOLITAN . Charterhouse Club of Instruction . —On Friday , the 13 th ult ., we derived much p leasure in attending this very excellent school for aspirants to oflice , when Bro . R . S . Hart , ( J . W . ofthe Finsbury Lodge , ) in a most creditable style opened the lodges and worked the ceremony of initiation , afterwards delivering the charge in a most

impressive manner , Bro . Franks ( 212 ) , then took the chair , opened in the several degrees , and ably worked the second ceremony . Amongst those present we particularly noticed , Bros . fas . Nicholls ( W . M .-elect 861 ) , Purdy ( P . M . and Sec . 861 ) , Forbes ( S . W . 65 ) , Woodcock ( 374 ) , Themans ( 141 ) , Simpson and Edwards ( 65 ) , Davy ( 65 , a most efficient Deacon ) , Benjamin ( S . D . S 61 ) , Webb ( 382 ) , and Vesper ( P . M . 554 ) , who was unanimously

elected an Honorary Member , as also was Bro . Wm . H . Gale , Wanbansia Lodge , 160 , Chicago , U . S . A . All business being concluded , the lodge was closed in the usual form , and the brethren spent a most agreeable hour together . We must add that the club is held in a very comfortable room , and that Bro . Simpson , the worthy host , ( who acted as J . G ., ) looked well after the happiness of the brethren present .

Pythagorean Chapter of Instruction , No . 79 . —The Pythagorean Chapter , No . 79 , which was consecrated in March last , at The Ship Hotel , Greenwich , ( under such favourable auspices , ) has already began to show some proofs of the zeal of its founders , and of their great desire to promulgate the principles ofthe R . A . in the S . E . district , for on Friday evening , the 131 I 1 inst ., a Chapter of

Instruction in connection with the above was formally opened at Comp . C . Wall ' s , The Prince of Orange Tavern , Greenwich-road , ( next the Railway Station . ) The Chapter was opened hy Comps . R . Wentworth Little , P . Z . 177 and 975 , as M . E . Z . ; W . West Smith , J . 79 , as II ., and Jas . Brett , P . Z . 177 and 975 , as J . ; and the Companions having been admitted , the ceremony of consecration was

performed by Comps . Little and Brett , in the faultless manner for which they are so famed , and to thc great satisfaction of everyone present ; after which the Patriarchal Benediction was delivered by Comp . Brett . The ceremony of exaltation was then rehearsed , Comp . Brett officiating as Z . ; W . W . Smith , II . ; Smithers , J . ; Griffin , S . W ., and J . R . Nash , P . S ., all of which . Companions

fully merited the warm approval they received from thc assembled Companions . The M . E . Z . having risen to inquire whether any one had ought to propose for the good of R : A . Masonry in general , Comp . W . West Smith proposed , " That the cordial thanks of this Chapter be given to Comps . Little and Brett , for their kindness in performing the ceremony of consecration , and also that

they be elected Honorary Members , " which was carried unanimously , and Comps . Little nnd Brett in brief , but expressive terms , tendered their thanks . A number of Companions were then elected as joining members . Comp . J . R . Nash then proposed , "That Comp . W . W . Smith be elected Preceptor , " which wascarried unanimously . Comp . Smith returned thanks for the honour they had conferred

upon him , and expressed a hope that the Companions would support him in such numbers as to make the Chapter a prosperous oue . Comp . . Smith then proposed " That Comp . J . R . Nash be elected Scribe ii .., " which was carried unanimously , and Comp . Nash in reply said that nothing should be wanting on his part to conduce lo the prosperity ofthe Chapter . Tlie Chapter was then closed , and Comp Brett delivered the valedictory

addresses . Among those brethren present we noticed : — Comps . R . W . Little , P . Z . 177 and 975 , P . G . S . Middlesex ; J . Brett , P . Z . 177 and 975 ; A . Turner , P . Z . 12 ; J . Lightfoot , P . Z . 169 ; S . Noble , P . Z . 2 o 5 ; J . II . II . Doughney , M . E . Z . 79 ; R . Boncey , II . 79 ; W . W . Smith , J . 79 ; T . Pcrridge , S . E . 79 ; J . Griffin , S . N . 79 ; J . R . Nash , P . S . 79 ; R . Trill , 1 st A . S . 79 ; E . f . B . Burnstead , 2 nd . A . S . 79 ; R . Walerhouse

( 70 ) , J- T . L . hirth 79 , II . Roberts ( 79 ) , C . M . Micnyard ( 78 ) , C . WaUl ( 79 ) , T . Smith ( High Cross Chapter ) , J . Roper ( 169 ) , C . Smithers J . ( 435 ) , W . Andrews ( 169 ) , J . Bavin ( 73 ) . T . Arnold ( 169 ) and Pulley ( 169 . ) This Chapter will hold its meetings every Friday evening at 8 o ' clock , and we can strongly recommend ihe R . A . Masons of the district to attend , as wc feci convinced it is a slep in Ihe right direction as supplying a want long felt in Ihe locality .

The Domatie Chapter of Instruction , which is the oldest in London , now meet every Friday evening , at Bro . Fisher ' s Restaurant , Metropolitan Railway , Victoria Station , and we recommend all R . A . Companions iu this neighbourhood who wish to perfect themselves in the

Ritual of this sublime degree to enrol themselves as members , where they will have the advantage of Comp . Cottebrune ' s able instruction . The room , besides being strictly private is well lit and attended , and Bro . Fisher ' s name is a guarantee as to ihe excellency of the refreshments supplied .

Jottings From Masonic Journals.

Jottings from Masonic Journals .

—•* •»—The Chaine d' Union of Paris states that Masonry continues to develop itself vigourously and widely in Hungary . The new lodge "Mathias Corvmus " at Pesth . has already 4 6 members . " The Lodge " George Washington , " at Palermo , has seceded from the Italian Supreme Council , and

declared its independence , in consequence of a sentence affecting Bro . Crispo , editor of thc Hnmanilario , being promulgated by the Council . The Lodge " Chaine d' Union , " at Beyrouth , Syria , was consecrated on the 4 th ult ., nearly 80 brethren look part in thc ceremonial . Bro . Monastercki was installed as Venerable , and Bros . Kulp and Lenir are the

two Wardens . The Ven . delivered an excellent discourse on the progress of Freemasonry in the East . The New York Landmark announces the formation of a' New German Lodge , at Paterson , New Jersey ; the lodge is named after Humboldt . For some time past the brethren of the " Goderich Union 'Lodge , " No . 490 , English Register , meeting at

Goderich , O ., have been contemplating the surrender of its English warrant , and affiliating themselves into the Grand Lodge of Canada , and we now have pleasure in chronicling the consummation of this important and satisfactory change . The M . W . Grand Master having been pleased , on the unanimously-signed memorial of the brethren composing the said lodge , to authorize the

issuing of a warrant of Constitution and Affiliation , and the said lodge will in future bc known as "Goderich " Lodge , No . 33 , the following-named brethren being the principal officers , viz : W . Bro . Harry Reed , W . M . ; Bro . Alexander M . Johnson , Senior Warden ; and Bro . Daniel Ferguson , Junior Warden . —New York Figaro . The Order of thc Red Cross of Rome and

Constantine , which had lately been introduced into this Dominion , and to which wc referred in The Craftsman of a previous number , is fast extending itself , and already wc learn of petitions having been sent to the Supreme Conclave in England from this city , Montreal and London ,

and that preparations are being inaugurated for opening Conclaves at Toronto , Kingston , Peterboro ' , Collingwood and other places . We hope to be enabled in our next to give the names of the officers and other particulars in connection with this beautiful Order . —Craftsman and Canadian Masonic Record .

The oldest member of the Masonic Craft in Jersey died on Tuesday , and was buried on Friday last in the Jews' burial place , in St . John's-road , according to the rites of the Jews , by the Rabbi , the Rev . T . L . Hanau . The subject of this notice was named Isaac Benjamin Asher , and at the time of his death was in his 88 th year . He was initiated into the Order of Free and Accepted Masons in the island of Jamaica , in the year 1809 . —Jersey Express .

The following New Conclaves of the Red Cross Order have been recently established in Canada : —St . Helena Conclave , No . 21 , at Montreal ; Harrington Conclave , No . 22 , at Hamilton ; Huron Conclave , No . 24 , at London ; Moore Conclave , No . 25 , at

Peterborough . Several others arc in course of formation under thc auspices of Colonel M'Leod Moore , 33 , C . Instructor-Gcncr . il for the Dominion , and T . Douglas Harrington , 33 , Instructor-General for Ontario and Quebec . A Conclave is also about to be started at Gibraltar .

Tin-: Kent Lodge of Instruction for Mark Masters has changed its name to " Metropolitan , " and the installation ceremony will be worked therein , at the Lyceum Tavern , Strand , on Monday evening , the 23 rd inst . The brethren of the Adams's Lodge , Sheerness , have recently subscribed the funds necessary to erect a splendid carved headstone in the Sheerness Cemetery to

tlie memory of two brothers who were killed in thc recent terrible accident on board II . M . Ship , "Thistle . " The The names of the deceased were John Dean , a fitter , and Joseph Laurence , a stoker , who lie buried side-hyside . Thus will be recorded for many years thc dreadful catastrophe which launched into eternity so many human beings , and made so many widows anil orphans .

GARIJI'N IVIKS . — -The Ivy Green appears to bc on the high road to be regarded as a fancy plant , if such a term be allowable . Al all events , as auriculas and geraniums and roses arc cultivated in endless variety , and regarded as " fancy flowers , " and flowers for "fanciers , " so thc ivy , apparently a most unpromising subject , has evidently found one advocate of its claims to be introduced

to the intellectual region in which "fancies , " "tastes , '' " passions , " and " manias " originate . In thc Gardeners ' Magazine just published occur descriptions and figures of no less than 50 varieties of ivies in thc well-known collections of experimental plants cultivated by Mr . Shirley Hibbert ) . We learn from the descriptions of these ivies that they arc various in character , some of them producing

gigantic leaves of a thick texture , some producing white or golden berries ; others , again , richly variegated , and a few that are both minute and curious , thc smallest of all having leaves of a purple colour , that in outlines resemble the foot of a bird . Few of us who look casually at common things could have had any idea that any one cultivator , however ardent and able , could have accomplished

such wonders for such a sober plant as the " ivy green ; " nor is our surprise in any degree lessened when we learn tint these 50 sorts have been actually sclecttd as thc most distinct and beautiful out of about 200 . All the best specimens , some 200 in number , in the Stoke Newington collection have lately been purchased by Mr . Charles Turner , of the Royal Nursery .