Distribution Of The Honours Of Freemasonry In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

attend the meetings of Grand Lodge ; whereas , if their proper place and influence were granted to them , they would probably make an effort to attend as frequently as possible , and would carry home to the most distant parts of the country an

increased knowledge of Freemasonry , and impressions highly favourable to its interests . The existing state of things is utterly contrary to that great principle of equality amongst brethren which is the boast of Freemasonry . It is not , indeed , to be supposed that each lodge ought to

have the same number of office-bearers m the Grand Lodge as another ; but it might be expected that a rule should be adopted for the representation of the lodges in something like proportion to the number of their members . A rude approach to this is made in the

representation of the British people m the House of Commons , and in the representation of the citizens of our towns in Town Councils . The Presbyterian Church also proceeds upon this principle in the representation of Presbyteries in their General Assemblies . The principle is one evidently

right in itself , and which commands approbation whenever it is stated . It is a princi ple which seems especially to accord with the fundamental laws and principles of Masonry , and the onl y wonder is that it has been so long and so much disregarded . A complete practical

acknowledgement of it could not fail to have most beneficial results . It is worthy of notice that the present state of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is an anachronism . Freemasonry has of late years made great progress in Scotland , but the management of affairs

in the Grand Lodge has remained unchanged . Not very many years ago there were sometimes only a few members present at a meeting of the Grand Lodge , and it was a thing to be talked of among the brethren if there were more than thirty . Now there are often 300 present , and

often there are many more . 'When only a few members were present—all , or almost all , resident in Edinburgh and its immediate neighbourhood—it was only to be expected that they should elect each other to all the honourable offices at their disposal . It was almost

impossible for them to do otherwise . But the state of the case is now changed , and a greater liberality of spirit displayed towards brethren belonging to all parts of the country would redound to the honour of the Order , would aid in elevating the Grand Lodge to that high position which it

ought to hold , and would promote brotherly feeling among all the Masons of Scotland . A proposal is about to be made , in the form of a motion , at the approaching Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lod ge , " That no officebearer shall hold office for a longer period than

threeyears , and on the expiry of his term of office shall not be eligible for re-election to the same office , and that at least three years must elapse before he is appointed to it again . " This , however , is not to apply to the Grand Master or paid officials . This of itself would go far to cure the

evils of winch there is so much cause to complain . Honours would be more extensively distributed among brethren , and a better and more kindly feeling would bc promoted ; and if , at the same time , a more equal system of

representation were adopted , brethren would feel—as they do not at present—that their attendance at the meetings of the Grand Lod ge was not a thing of mere formality and sociality , but that they were called upon to take a real part in the concerns of the Grand Lodge and of the Brotherhood .

The great facilities of communication by railroad and telegraph make it possible for Masons in all parts of the country to maintain an intimacy of fellowshi p formerl y unknown . It would be for the advantage of the interests of Freemasonry that full use were made of theseand

, that the management of the affairs of the Grand Lodge were accommodated to them , instead of continuing to be such as it was when the whole state of things was very different , and when the presence of a member from Stromness or Stornoway was hardl y to be expected .

THE BEST I-IHST . —Turner's Tamarind C 01 H 1 Emulsion for lhe Throat and Bronchia , 13 /^ 1 . and 2 / 9 per hot . —Alf wholesale houses in London and Liverpool , and any respectable Chemist . —[ Advt . l

Encyclopedia Metropolitana.

ENCYCLOPEDIA METROPOLITANA .

BY BRO . C . G . FORSYTH . ( Continued from page 3 6 . ) In consequence of these advantages , the Fraternity called themselves Free Masons , claiming to be exempt from the laws which regulated common labourers , and to be

exonerated from the burdens thrown upon the working classes of the community , whether in England or the Continent . They consisted in a great measure of Italians , with some Greek refugees , French , Germans , and Flemings , and roamed from one country to another to build churches and

other edifices . A Surveyor governed in chief , and every tenth man was called a Warden , overlooking the other nine . Persons of rank frequently gave materials from feelings of religion or charity , or as a commutation of penance . That part of the Fraternity which passed into

England would be more stationary and of a more permanent duration than their brethren on the Continent , being in a country less liable to the distractions occasioned by becoming the seat of war ; and in consequence of its insular position offering less facility for

removing . In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries , a considerable number of churches and ecclesiastical structures were built , including several of the colleges at Oxford and Cambridge . In the reign of Henry III ., alone , upwards of 150 abbeys and priories and other religious edifices

were erected . The style became highly ornamented in the fifteenth century , finishing with thebeautiful specimens of St . George ' s Chapel at Windsor , King ' s College Chapel ( Cambridge ) , and King Henry VI I . ' s Chapel ( Westminster ) , which was not finished until the beginning of

the sixteenth century in the reign of Henry VIII . After that date the Pointed Architecture declined , and the Grecian Orders were introduced under the skilful conduct of Inigo Jones . Records may be found of several contracts with Masons for the performance of work . In 1306

the dean and chapter of Lincoln contracted with Richard de Stow , Mason , to attend and employ other Masons under him for the new work , with additional east end as well as tlie upper parts of the great tower and transepts , which were done in the time of King Edward III ., in the

twentyfourth year of his reign , when founding the College at Windsor : "Granted to John de Sponlee the office of master of the stone hewers , and gave him power to take and press both within and without the liberties so many artificers as were necessary , and to convey them to

Windsor to work at the King ' s pay , but arrest such and imprison such as should disobey or refuse until the King took other order : with command to all Sheriffs , Mayors , Bailiffs , and I to be assisting on the King ' s behalf . " Itappears that the Masons , being dissatisfied at the

"Kings pay , " entered into a combination in many places to evade the writs issued—in consequence of this charter or grant ( and this description of grants was not singular in former times ) availing themselves of their peculiar signs and tokens to recognise and assist each other

from being pressed into the service . The Masonic Constitutions mention , among others , an architect called Henry Yevele , the King ' s Freemason . Weaver ( 582 ) mentions an inscription in St . Michael ' s Church , St . Alban ' s , on Thomas Wolver ( or Wolvcn ) , Master Mason or

Surveyor to the King ' s stone works in the time of Richard II . By an indenture dated 5 th of June , twenty-first of Heury VIII ., fohn Hylmcr and William Vertuc , Freemasons , undertook the vaulting of the choir of St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , for seven hundred pounds , and to

finish it by Christmas A . D . 1508 ; and in Dugdall's " Monaslicon " is an agreement between the commissioners of Richard , Duke of York , and William Harwood , Freemason , for rebuilding of Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire . In

the fourth year of Henry VIII ., Mr . Robert Hacomblein , Provost of the " Kynge Colledge Royal at Cambrydge , and the scolars of the same with the advise and agrement of Mr . Thomas Larke , Surveyor of the Kynge's works there , " entered into a contract with " John Wastell ,

Encyclopedia Metropolitana.

Master Mason of the said works , and Henry Severick , should set up a vault for the church , to be completed in three years' time , for ^ 1 , 200 , " and in the following year AVastell contracted to set up the vaulting of two porches and seven

chapels in the body and nine chapels behind the choir of the church and battlements , & c , and undertook to keep forty Freemasons on the same . Other examples might be given , if necessary . The next will be a few extracts of law enactments respecting Freemasons . ( To be continued )

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

A Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers was held at Freemason ' s Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monday , the 16 th inst ., Bro . John Hervey , V . P ., in the chair . The minutes of the last Quarterly Court were read and confirmed , and the minutes of the various meetings of the General Committee were read

for information . The minutes of the Special Court of Sth December last were also read and confirmed ,

viz : — " Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , St . John ' s Hill , Battersea Rise , S . W . " Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Wood Green , N . " At Special General Courts ofthe above

institutions held simultaneously at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Thursday , Sth December , 1870 , John Hervey , Esq ., V . P ., in the chair , the report of the Committee appointed at the last Quarterly General Court of each Institution—as embodied in the minutes now read—was received , viz .: — " Special Joint Committee , Wednesday , 7 II 1

December , 1870 . "John Symonds , Esq ., V . P ., in the chair , R . M . I . G . " R . W . Stewart , Esq ., V . P ., in the chair , R . M . I . B . " Proposed by Henry Browse , Esq ., V . P .,

seconded by Major Creaton , V . P .: —'" That in the opinion of this Committee the privileges now enjoyed by lodges , chapters , and societies , under Laws 8 , n , 17 , be restricted , in future , to a term of twenty years . ' "' On amendment proposed by Joseph Smith ,

Esq ., L . G ., seconded by John Chadwick , Esq ., L . G ., put , carried , and subsequently adopted unanimously as a substantive resolution" ' Resolved , —That while recognising the justice of Bro . Browse ' s proposition asa matter of principle , it is inexpedient , at present , to make any alteration in the qualifications of donors , subscribers , & c . '

" Resolved unanimously , —That the minutes just read , and received as the report of the Committee , be adopted . " Resolved , —That , having reference to the resolution preceding , these Courts earnestly hope that the friends of both institutions will use their influence to increase the number of individual subscribers . "

In accordance with the recommendation of the General Committee , it was resolved that the list of candidates as now read , in number 58 , including 37 unsuccessful from the last election , and 21 new cases , be approved as the list from which 14 boys shall be elected at the Quarterly Court on 17 th April , that being the number of vacancies as now declared .

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injured parts , extracts all unwholesome humours , and so purines the blood in the nei |; hl _ oiirinj ; vessels that sound flesh soon displace !; all injured or unhealthy tissues livery household should have these rem : diesat hand In the ulcerated throat , now named diphtheria , this ointment rubbed on the throat is wonderfully effective . In all chronic or constitutional ailments , Holloway ' s pills should be taken whilst applying the ointment . —[ Advt . J

" 1 \ v . \ : i -. w . ' .-riiig greatly a _ lew ULXLS ago from severe pains about the kidneys and excessive weakness in the back , accompanied with nauseous sickness , confined to my bed , when ' a friend who had long known and experienced great benefit from the use of your Vegetable Pain Killer brought mc a bottle which I used with the best results . —A . SHERREFI- 'S , Aberdeen , October , 1867 . —To Per y Davis & . Son . "