The Gift.

THE GIFT .

Sweet Kate upon her faithful Ned , As parting gift , bestowed A portrait , where the painter ' s skill Her beauteous image showed . And " Oh ! " she cried , " when far away In foreign climes you roam , Think as you view it ; think on her Who sighs for thee at home . "

" Farewell , my love , " the sailor cried , And pressed her to his heart ; " This precious gift , so dearly prized , Shall never from me part ; Though absent , I shall see thee still , Traced in the picture here , And gazing , feel fresh courage rise , When battle's strife is near . "

One parting kiss ; the fond adieu Is spoken , and amain The gallant ship , with sails unfurled , Speeds o ' er the trackless main . Her voyage performed , with joyful heart , His course Ned homeward steers ; When lo ! unwelcome sight , the foe ,

With threat ' ning lorce appears . Triumphant !—Ned drew forth to kiss The picture Kitty

gave—Which , charmed by love in danger s hour , His life had power to save ; Placed near his breast , a bullet struck—But ah ! propitious fate , The faithful shield had , all unharmed , Preserved Ned ' s life for Kate . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M . 62 , Lancaster-road , Notting Hill , W .

Freemasonry In Scotland.

FREEMASONRY IN SCOTLAND .

One of those ceremonies which do much towards the propogation and advancing of Masonry in Scotland , took p Uce on the 17 th inst ., at Dumbirton . The occasion was the installation of Bro . Francis Christian Buchanan , of Clairnesh , as Provincial Grand Mister of Dumbartonshire , by the Most Worship ful the Grand Master Mason of Scotland , Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Saltoun .

The Grand Master was accompanied to the town of the Rock by the office-bearers of the Grand Lodge , and the ceremony took place in the very neat lodge room belonging to St . John ' s Kilwinning , No . 18 , in the presence of the members of the Provincial Lodge , representatives from daughter lodges , and quite a host of the members of the local lodge . The ceremony throughout was most impressive and successfully carried through by the Grand Master .

After Bro . Buchanan had been duly installed , the Grand Master performed a like function upon the Commissioned Provincial Grand Officebearers . Having concluded the ceremonial part of the proceedings , the GRAND MASTER addressed the Provincial Grand Mister and brethren , and expressed

the pleasure he had in visiting the province and installing the officers . While hehad pangs of regret at losing the services of Bro . J . M . Martin , who had held the office for the last 16 years , he ( Lord Saltoun ) was happy to think that he ( Bro . Martin ) was being succeeded by one who had begun at the lowest rung of the ladder and had mounted from step to step , and now atained to the position of Provincial Grand Master of a province which had ever been one of the most enthusiastic in Masonry .

Bro . BUCK ANAN , in reply , thanked the G . M . for visiting Dumbarton and installing him into office , and in installing his Depute and substitute into their office . Referringtohimself and to theduties incumbent upon him , he said it was not for him to say what he was going to do ; but he had the interest of Masonry at heart , and he could only adopt the motto of the Flemings of Cumbernauld and say " Let the deed show . "

A pleasing feature of the proceedings was the presentation of an illuminated address in a silver casket to the retiring Prov . Grand Master , Bro . J . M . Martin . Bro . MARTIN made a most appropriate acknowledgment , and asked the brethren to extend to the new P . G . M . that cordiality and support they had bestowed upon him .

On the invitation of the P . G . M ., the office bearers ol the Orand Lodge , Provincial Grand Lodge , representatives from daughter lodges , and a few invited guests dined together in the Elephant Hotel . After dinner the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were duly acknowledged .

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

GENERAL COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The quarterly meeting of thc General Committee of Grand Lodge and the monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence , were held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . J . H . Matthews , President of the Board of Benevolence , presided . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , occupied his usual post , and Bro . C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . P ., filled the chair of Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President , who was absent . Bros . W . Like , Asst . G . Sec . ;

G . S . Recknell , Cook , and Henry Sadler , G . Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department . The other brethren present were Bros . William Vincent , George Graveley , W . Fisher , Henry Garrod , George B . Chapman , James Boulton , S . V . Abraham , George Read , John Strachan , George Mickley , J . Mason , T . W . Whitmarsh , E . W . Nightingale , H . Sutherland , Walter Martin , Robert Gowan , James Bunker , E . C . Mulvey , F . W . Horn , H . Massey , ] . Harri-

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

son , T . J . Mercer , J . Kilvington , George Inglish , M . Speigel , H . W . Wybourn Charles Smith , Henry John Kimbell , J . Barry , Fred . Mills , H . J . Gregory , S . C Bateman , Charles H . Bestow , William Gower , Louis E . Wilson , C . J . Axford , George White , William Thomas Legtf , Major H . Vane Stow , John J . Olley , John Holding , A . Davidson Kemp , R . C . Klyne , C . Harrison , Isaac Rosalkc , Charles Smales , Ernest Davy , John Hills , and William Ham .

At the Hoard of Masters the agenda for Grand Lodge of September 1 st was submitted to the brethren . At the Board of Benevolence the brethren first confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master made at the July meeting , to thc amount of £ 305 . The new list comprised the names of 19 petitioners , who were qualified through lodges in the London District , from the Irish Constitution , St .

John s , Antigua , Torquay , Brentford , Colchester , Harwich , Carlisle , North Walsham , Norwich , Cape Town , Sutton , Hawthorn ( Grand Lodge of Victoria ) , Thornton Heath , and Bath . The total amount voted was . £ 535- One case was recommended to Grand Lodge for C 75 ; four petitioners were recommended to the Grand Master for . t ' 40 each , seven for C 30 each , and one for C 25 . Two immediate grants were made of . G 20 each , one of . Gio , and three of . C 5 each .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

ANTIGUA .

The following is the address voted to the Queen on the o ccasion of her Jubilee by St . John ' s Lodge , No . 492 , Antigua : " To Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria , by the Grace of God , of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen , Defender of the Faith , Empress of India . " Most Gracious Sovereign ,

" We , your Majesty s dutiful and loyal subjects , being the Master and Wardens of the Siint John ' s Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons , No . 492 on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England , on behalf of ourselves and the Freemasons of Antigua , humbly present to your Majesty our hearty congratulations upon the completion of

the oolh anniversary of your accession to the Crown and Throne of Great Britain and Ireland , assuring your Majesty that none of your subjects entertain towards your crown and person deeper or truer sentiments of loyalty , affection , and obedience than do the members of our Order . And we humbly pray that the Almighty Architect , who has watched over and

guided your Majesty throughout the whole of your long and glorious reign , will continue to preserve you to rule over an empire which has so greatly expanded and flourished under your benign and peaceful sway . " Dated at Antigua , West Indies , the 9 th day of June , 1897 . " R . WARNEFORD , W . M .,

" R . H . KoRTRIGHT DVETT , S . W ., [ L . S . ] " G . T . GALLWEY , J . W . "

The members of the Avondale Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 460 ( E . U . ) , St . John ' s Antigua , West Indies , voted the following : " Whereas owing to the severe and depressing industrial crisis through which these islands are now passing , we as a community are precluded from joining in any popular demonstration , however at heart we may be in sympathy therewith , on this occasion of the 60 th anniversary of the accession of our Most Gracious and beloved Queen ; under whose peaceful and benignant rule Freemasonry has throughout her mighty realm flourished ;

"Re it resolved that his Royal Highness , the Grand Mister of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , be humbly approached by the Worshipful Master , officers , and members of this the Avondale Lodge of Mirk Master Masons , No . 460 ( E . R . ) , asking him to present to our Most Gracious Oueen the

hearty felicitations oi the lodge on this auspicious event in the nation ' s history , and to assure her Majesty of tin loyalty , integrity , and fidelity the Freemasons in Antigua ' cherish towards her crown and parson , which actuate them always in prayer that her life and rule may in the wisdom of the Great Architect of the Universe bs prolonged for many years .

" Passed the lodge with acclamation the 12 th "day of March , 1 S 97 . . " [ L . S . ] R . H . KoRTRiour DYETT , W . M . " P . J . O'LEARY BRADBURY , Secretary . " Moved by Bro . J . T . TRIBOU . "Seconded by Bro . R . A . L . WARNEFORD .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Duke of Edinburgh , No . 1182-The installation meeting of the above lodge was held on Thursday , the 12 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , when there was an attendance of more than 100 brethren , several of the visitors being brethren of distinction . Amongst the chief of these were Bro . Edward Terry , Past G . Treas . of England , whose presence was warmly welcomed ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., Prov ., G . Sec . West Lancashire ; S . B . Fraser , P . G . S . of W . ; T . J . Jarman , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . SavageP . P . G . Treas . ;

, J . Scott . P . G . S . ; J . C . Robinson , P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . B . Sweetmin , P . P . G . D . ; C . Fothergill , P . P . G . D . ; J . R . Bottomley , P . P . G . D . C ; and S . Jones , P . P . G . DCheshire . The chair at the commencement of the proceedings was occupied by Bro . Thomas Holme , the retiring W . M ., and subsequently liro . Andrew Morris , P . M ., efficiently installed Bro . 11 . U . Wright as W . M . for the ensuing year . The following ollicers were invested : Bros . Thomas Holme , I . P . M . ; R . Wright , S . W . ; Isaac

Grace , jun ., J . W . ; John Kdwards , P . M ., Treas . ( re-elected ); David Robertson , Sec ; Richard Johnson , S . D . ; Waller Allison , J . I ) . ; J . Starkey , l . G . ; T . Burrows , P . M ., J . C Bowman , and fl . G . Grace , Stwds . ; and ! ¦ ' . Du Chemin , Tyler . Bros . Richard Tunnicliffe , P . M ., D . C , and J . Edwards , P . M ., werc again elected Charity Representative . In the course of the proceedings liro . Thomas Holme , I . P . M ., was presented with a Past Mister ' s jewel in recognition of his valuable services .

The banquet was provided by Bro . J . Casey , and in the course of the evening a musical programme of excellence was given by Bros . G . Green , J . Lane , F . E . M ; rry , E . Clayton , E . Edwards , S . Kirkham . W . Lewis , Griffiths and E . Pugh ( accompanist ) .