Scotland.

GLASGOW . —Si . Rollox Chapter ( No . 144 ) . — The first meeting of this chapter since its consecration was held in the Masonic Hall , Garngad-road , on Friday , the 1 , 3 th inst ., D . Bell , Z . j J . Dunbar , H . j J . McLeish , J . j and D . Reid , Scribe E ., were in their places . A lodge of Alark Masters

was then opened , and Bro . D . Smith was proposed for advancement . At the request of the M . E . Z . the degree was worked by Comps . J . O . Park , Z . 122 , and G . W . Wheeler , H . 7 , 3 . Comps . Bell , Dunbar , and McLeish , though new to their work , were very efficient as Al . O .,

S . O ., and J . O . Being much wanted in the north end of city , there is no doubt that the new chapter will soon gain a "firm footing . GLASGOW . —Royal Ark Alariners' Lodge ( No . 7 , 3 ) , met at 7 , 3 , Buchanan-street , on Thursday , the 12 th inst ., under the command of Bro . J . Balfour , N . j J . O . Park , T . ; G . McDonald , S . j

and G . W . Wheeler , Sec . Four gentlemen were received on board , namely , Bros . G . Bitdams , T . Aliddlechip , D . Douglas , and T . Boyde , and were very ably instructed in their duties by F . N . Balfour and his officers , G . W . Wheeler acting as the Pilot . The ark was again moored in safety .

A Masonic Hall In Tasmania

A MASONIC HALL IN TASMANIA

lhe Hobart Town Alercuri / makes thc following editorial remarks on the occasion of the laying the foundation stone of a new Alasonic Hall in that city , on the 20 th Alarch last : — " Yesterday the intercolonial cricket match had , in the minds of the sight-seeing public of

Hobart Town , to give place to the interest felt in the ceremony attending the laying of the foundation stone of the new * Alasonic Hall . The absence of the fair sex from the cricket ground seemed to have made the players relax their energies , for several of the best men put

in an appearance simply to retire , as if theii thoughts were with that ' galaxy of beauty ' that lent a lustre to thc Town Hall and to the site of the new building , though their presence at the latter vvas not sufficient to induce several of the brethren to make themselves heard . Tlie

ceremony of yesterday , so creditably , nevertheless , carried out , may be looked on as one of good omen . AVe regard it not from the Alasonic standpoint alone . But it should be matter of congratulation to all who value the exercise of some of the nobler qualities of human

nature , that an institution seeking to do good should be in so flourishing a condition as to be able to build for its own use a hall that must add so materially to the attractions of Hobart Town . Another handsome structure vvill be added to our buildings , and

the interest attached to it vvill be increased by the fact that its walls are an evidence of personal care and thrift on the part of a body of men who , seeking to do one another good , find special merit in aiding a needy brother . It is not our intention to enquire into the secrets of the

' brethren of the mystic tie , ' nor to discuss the issue raised by many , that the secret is so well kept because there is nothing to conceal , lt is certain ! )* impossible to conceive that successive . generations of men , many of them of the highest intelligence and unblemished probity , should for centuries have lent themselves to a fraud

by pretending to a mystic bond of union , while the whole affair is but a piece of masquerade aud mummery . Yet a well-informed writer has said that 'the deep symbolical meaning supposed to be couched under the jargon of the Alasonic Fraternity is , probably , as apoehryphal as tlie

dangers of Alasonry to government ami order , ' which at various times were considered grave enough to subject the Graft to the anathemas ol lhe Church , and to civil pains and penalties . The minority of Henry VI . was , 011 file suggestion of Henry of Beaufort , Cardinal of

Winchester , remarkable for the passing of an Act ol Parliament prohibiting the Alasons from holding their wonted chapters and assemblies . But Henry VI . himself , on becoming of age ' , became a Alason . Henry VII . was their Grand

Alaster in England , a precedent , however , whicli was not followed in the case of George IV ., who when Prince of Wales , succeeded to the oflice on the death of the Duke of Cumberland , and held it till he became Regent , when he took the title

A Masonic Hall In Tasmania

of Grand Patron , it having been considered improper that he should longer exercise personal superintendance . Whatever Alasonry may be . it has at various periods of England ' s history had Royal members . Besides those we have named , Charles II . and William III . were Alasons . Within the memory of the elder brethren , the Dukes of Kent and Sussex were Grand Alasters

of rival lodges , and brought about an union of the two , since known as the " United Grand I . / odge of Ancient F ' ree and Accepted Alasons of England , " of which , in our day , the Prince of Wales is a member .

"Alasonry can certainly lay claim to high sanction , and yesterday its lights were not hid under a bushel . The Rev . R . D . Poulett-Harris , while iu his sermon lie eschewed all tangible reference to the ' ceremonies and traditions of

Alasonry , claimed for it the title to be recognised as ' a peculiar system of morality , veiled allegory and illustrated by symbols , the moral system of Alasonry being founded on the Divine law ; ' and he added : — ' One of the very first injunctions which a lirother receives at

his entrance into Alasonry is to study the sacred Scriptures , to regulate his actions by the Divine precepts therein contained , and to seek in them a knowledge of the duties which he owes to God , his neighbour , and himself . As regards his duties to himself , he is enjoined to cultivate

a spirit of prudence , temperance , and fortitude ; so to discipline his bod y as may best conduce to the preservation of his mental faculties , and to exercise those faculties in such studies as may best enable him to use them to the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow-creatures .

In respect to this duty to his neighbour , it is impressed upon the Alason that the principles most dear to the Craft are love of the brethren , relief of the distressed , and truthfulness in word and deed . ' His Excellency the Governor , who —a singular admission in the face of such

acknowledged obligations—took blame to himself for having forgotten those inner mysteries and ceremonial observances known only to the initiated , declared lhat 'whoever reads and acts up to the constitution and charges of the ancient fraternity cannot fail of being a good , useful ,

and honourable member of the community in which he lives . ' His Excellency added , as showing the special claims of Alasonry , " I find myself bound , as a Alason , in the first instance , to fear God and honour the Queen , to aid all works of genuine charity and philanthropy , to be

a good man and true , and strictly to obey the the moral law . 1 find myself bound scrupulously to obey dictates of my own conscience , but at the same time equally scrupulous to respect the consciences of others , and to interfere in no way vvith the religious or political opinions

professed by any individual . " With all due deference to both the preacher and the repentant Alason , all these duties have been better expressed when it vvas said , ' Thou shah love the Lord th y God vvith all thy heart , and wilh all thy soul , and vvith all thy mind . ' This is the first and '' rent

commandment : and the second is like unto it , ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . ' The initiated may better know the hi gher claims of Alasonry to the parentage of even * virtue , but to the uninitiated the Rev . Air . Poulett-Harris ' s definition of Alasonry ai ' a peculiar system

of moraility ' is regarded as an exaggerated estimate of its influence . Such claims put forth in its behalf , and the language of the anthem lhat sings of 'Masonry divine' are to the uninitiated ils weal-: point . There vvas not one single ellcct on the life and conversation

dwell upon yesterday as emanating from Masuury that has not a hi gher claim on the Christian to whom ' pure religion and undeliicd before God and the Father , is ihis , to visit the fatherless and widows in their ailliction , and to keep liimsch ' unspotted from the world . ' We advance the

arguments of the Alason and of the sceptic . While we oiler no opinion , we may not wonder at the unbelief of those who say that , since Masonry is represented as capable of ell ' eeting so great a good , it is to be regretted that there is so much secrecy maintained as to the means of clleetinsr that trood .

" There is no probability thatanv discussion ou the subject vvill lead to li ght being let in where darkness has beeu so long , and on such high

A Masonic Hall In Tasmania

authority , maintained , though the mysteries of the Craft have within the past few years been so far enroached on , that the Grand Alaster has given leave to publish reports of the proceedings of giand and private lodges . Nor , perhaps , is

an adherence to the practice of the past much to be regretted . The known things of Alasonry give it a strong claim on the respect and approval of the well wishers of mankind . Alasonry , what ever the scource of its action , has unquestionabl y done , in times past , much good , and is as

capable of beneficial results now , as ever . A writer , by no means an admirer of Alasonry , has sail ! : ' A set of passwords , and a peculiar grip of the hand , enable the initiated to recognise each other , and give a zest to their convivial meetings ; and if the institution possesses any

practical utility , it is m enabling a Alason , in a place whereheisa stranger . to make himself known to his brother Alasons , and claim their protection and assistance j' a practical utility the ralue of which can be hardly over-estimated , when it is remembered that , however much fable and

imagination may have enshrouded the ori gin of Freemasonry , tracing it back to the time of the Pharaohs , the Temple of Solomon , and even the building of the Tower of Babel , its spread has been so very great as to make its existence almost universal . The Gr . ind Lodge of

England , that has given away huge sums for philanthropic * purposes , has upwards of a thousand lodges under its protection . A large family claims the parentage of tlie Grand Lodge of Scotian . 1 antl Royal Order of Kilwinning . But Freemasonry is not confined to Great Britain .

For a century and a half it has flourished in France , though discountenanced by Louis XV . and the clergy . There it now numbers upwards of 300 lodges . Freemasonry spread from England to Russia , where it was patronised by Catherine IL , the Emperor Alexander having

been ' a I * ree and Accepted Alason . ' In America its ramifications are widespread . The ' grip of the hand ' will give pass to the hearts of brother Masons in Germany , Holland , Denmark , Sweden . The iron hand of Russia has not crushed it out in Poland . The opposition of Governments , and

even the ban of the Inquisition , have not been able to keep it out of Spain and Italy . In India , in the Colonies it flourishes . In fact , whereever else Freemasonry may be , it is s . ire to find genial soil in every clime and country in which Englishmen congregate ; and in every such

conn tiy , therefore , as well ai at home or in the colonies , the British Freemason who may be in distress is sure of succour and relief . Whether Freemasonry is or is not founded on the ' practice of moral and social virtue , ' its distinguishing

feature is most unquestionabl y charity , and in its widest sense ; and therefore its increasing prosperity among us as an Order is a matter of congratulation . 'I'he ceremony yesterday performed is the beginning of a work which the philanthropist may well bid ' God-speed . ' "

1 ue statue of the late Prince Consort , for the Albert Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle , has irnved . It is of white marble , and has been exe-¦ uted by Baron Tn \* ueti . It represents the Vince in full uniform , in a recumbent position . \ ngels support the head , aud a favourite do" *

lies at the feet . The inscription is , " Albert , the Prince Consort , born August 26 , 1 S 19 ; died December 14 , i . S ' n ; buried in the Royal . Mausoleum , Frogmore . I have fought the good fight . I have finished my course . " The statue has been placed 011 the sarcophagus for the (• ilieeu to view it .

Lord Carnarvon , on Tuesday , presided over a conference at the Albert Hall , with a view of promoting improvements in the silk manufacture . A resolution vvas passed recognizing the value of such discussions in connection with the series of annual international exibitions which were inaugurated two years ago at South Kensington .

A boos 10 Kv' -itv IIOI ' SHIHU * . —Hoots , with the itlc-\ milo \ wire .-iuilinl Mile ., , wc-i-in * , ** I . vice as Ion ,-, - * as ordinal v leather , lor all , * i *; cs ; an , I chiMo-n ' s boots with metallic tips , which newi * wear out at the toe .-, ni . iy hi * Ii .-itl at most shoe , ¦ lealcis . Insist « n ^ -iiiiiy tli <* sc a trial , ami jud ^ con thcit merits .