Scotland.

dormant as well as irregular chapters . But happily this state of things is passing away , great improvements have , and are being made by your indefatigable exertions , and on this ground also , we are glad to meet with you at St . Rollox , and to promise you our best support .

The want of success in lodges and chapters has not laid so much in themselves as to the want of proper supervision by the governing bodies . It is our wish that you may long be spared to come amongst us , and that you may yet enjoy the fruits of your toils and responsibility . It is

gratify ing also to see here so many learned , energetic , and disinterested Masons who are so able and so willing to aid both you and us in our noble work , which has for its object the good of all . I have , therefore , much p leasure in welcoming" you into our chapter , and handing over to you the emblem of authority to rule this

young chapter , 144 . The P . G . Superintendent expressed the pleasure he felt at the cordial reception he had now received , but would decline to deprive Comp . Bell of the honour he had so well won , and which he so worthily deserved . When he remembered that it was not nine months since he had attended in that hall to

open and consecrate their chapter , he could not refrain from praising , not only their excellent Z ., but also the officers and members , on the progress they had made , but he knew they were composed of the rig ht sort of men to succeed . He could not boast , like the G . S . E ., of manv years

acquaintance with Comp . B . Bell , but from what he had seen of him in this and other orders of Masonry , his only regret was that he had not sooner became acquainted with him . It was gratifying to himself and officers , when they visited a chapter , to meet with so hearty a

welcome and so cordial an appreciation of the object of their visits , this cheered them in the work , and it was no easy task , for , between lodges and chapters he had ten visitations to make next week . He then went into the reasons why , for

some years previous to his recent appointment , the province had been without a Superintendent . The Chapter having been closed , the companions entertained the deputation with a slight collation , when the usual Roval Arch toasts were responded

to . GLASGOW . —The Supreme Chapter General of Knights Templar met at Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on Wednesday , March nth , the Grand Master , J . W . Melville , Esq ., of Benodry , presiding . The Grand Registrar Major W .

H . Ramsay , read the minutes of the last annual meeting , and also of two council meetings held to receive two deputations from the St . Mungo Encampment , also an application from the encampment at Muirkirk , asking to be received into the Chapter General . He was then instructed to

inform them that they could be received on the same teims as those on which the St . Mungo had been received . Favourable reports had been received ftom the three foreign priories , The next busiress was the election of the Grand office bearers for the ensuing year . The Grand

Master proposed there-election of the last year ' s officers . Sir Kt . Douglas proposed an amended list . After somt discussion the election took place . The following Is the list of the officers of the Chapter General for 1874 : —J . Whyte Melville , Esq ., of Benocly , Grand Master ; Viscount

Strathallan , Senes-. hall ; Earl of Rosslyn , Preceptor ; Colonel Kinlock , Constable ; Lord James C . P . Murra ; , Admiral ; G . H . Harriott , Hospitaller and Almtner ; Major Wm . Hamilton Ramsay , Treasurer aid Registrar ; Rev . V . G . Faithfull , M . A ., Ptmate ; H . Ingiis , of

Tarsonce , Provost ; J . Lavvrie ; Beaucennifer , or Bearer of Great Staidard ; H . D . Copland , Bearer of the Vexilluti Belli ; T . H . Douglas , Chamberlain ; Robet Bell , Steward . Sir Knight J . G . Shanks , l . E . C , and P . G . S . B ., ( E . G . ) , applied for leave toopen an encampment

in Greenock . Applica : ion leferred till he could obtain the requisite nunber ~> f fraters to properly constitute the same . Prater Bell , E . C , of St . Mungo ' s , tabled a moton that in future each encampment or priory bt allowed to send three

representatives to the SipremeChapter General . Frater Shanks supportid the motion , as did Frater G . W . Wheeler , vho also urged on the Chapter General the desiability of their taking Steps to secure the adhtsion not only of the

Scotland.

Muirkirk body , but also that of the other nine independent bodies at present existing in Scotland . This being all the business , the Grand Master declared the Chapter-General closed .

Consecration Of A "Melrose" Lodge At Greenock.

CONSECRATION OF A "MELROSE " LODGE AT GREENOCK .

On Thursday , 12 th inst ., a deputation from Melrose Grand Lodge visited Greenock , and , after an excellent dinner at the Wheatsheaf Hotel , with some of the Greenock brethren , proceeded to consecrate the Melrose St . Andrew No . 3 . Bros . Robert Renton , M . VV . G . M .

Andrew Hart , P . G . M . ; Frank Hart , R . W . G . S . Warden ; and John Pringle , R . W . G . J . Warden , opened the lodge , in the large room of the hotel , at three o ' clock . The M . W . G . M . delivered a very impressive address to the brethren , dwelling particularly on the virtue of " charity in secrecy . "

Bro . Thomas Stratford ( R . W . M . Melrose St . John ' s No . 1 , and member of Mother Melrose No . o ., Maniton , 106 , New York , Glasgow j . 41 , & : c . ) , read the charter . Bro . Andrew Hart , P . G . M ., delivered the charges , and ina short address gave some excellent advice . Bro . Renton then

installed Bro . James Sutheiland , R . W . M ., and Bro . Stratford installed and invested the other office-bearers . Bro . Donald Henderson , S . W . ; Murdock Mathieson , D . M . ; John Mackenzie , S . W . ; David Stewart , J . W . ; Robert Jamieson , Sec .: Alex . Bunting , Treas ., & c . Bro .

Jamieson presided at the harmonium . The R . W . M . and M . W . G . M . addressed the brethren , and the lodge was then closed . Visiting brethren were present from Lodges No . o , 1 , and 2 ( Melrose Constitution ) , and from Nos . 68 , 173 , 182 , 441 , and 443 ( Grand Lodge of Scotland ) .

Refreshments were liberally supplied . " The Queen " was given with hig hest honours . Bro . Sutherland then gave " The Ancient Melrose Lodge , " which was replied to by Bro . Andrew Hart , P . G . M ., who said that the antiquity of the Melrose Lodge was unquestionable . They had always endeavoured to forward the interests of

the Craft ; they studied economy and practical charity ; they had members in every part of the globe ; they had plenty of cash in hand , and had never been in debt . They had always tried to be just and honourable , as they were ancient . They dated from A . D . 1136 , and had documents several hundred years old . The Grand Lodge of Scotland had made overtures for them to

amalgamate , and they had often discussed the matter themselves , but the terms and conditions were such as could not well be entertained . He thought it was not just for the Grand Lodge of Scotland to tax so heavily the lodges of working men . The Grand Lodge of Scotland charge

£ 10 ros . for a charter , 5 s . 6 d . each for registering names of intrants , and j S . for diplomas . But the Melrose charge only £ 5 for a charter , the deputation each pay their own travelling expenses , and 2 s . 6 d . pays for both registration of

intrants and diploma . And yet they were comparatively rich , whilst the Grand Lodge of Scotland was worse than poor—they were heavily in debt . He had no ill feeling against the Grand Lodge of Scotland or their members , but these were facts which could not be denied .

The Melrose Lodge welcomes all good Masons from wheresoever they may come . They had visitors from all parts of the world . Bro . Renton felt great pleasure at all times in promoting the welfare of the Craft . He thanked the St . Andrew ' s brethren for the hearty welcome they had extended to , and the

splendid entertainment they provided for them on the present occasion . He wished them every prosperity . A vote of thanks was given by the lodge to the Melrose brethren , who then left by an early train . The pleasures of the day were continued into the evening , and in reply to "The Melrose Lodges , Nos . 1 and 2 , " Bro . Stratford said : —The " third " time was said to be " never

like the rest . " He thought the old saying was applicable to the present occasion . A Mason could not properly be called a Mason until he had received the " third " degree ; nor could a P . G . L . well be formed without a " third " lodge . The Melrose St . John ' s , No . i , was the first important step , the St . Mungo ' s , No . 2 , the second , and the St . Andrew ' s , No . 3 , capped the climax .

Consecration Of A "Melrose" Lodge At Greenock.

With 300 members of No . 1 , 71 of No . 2 , and 200 of No . 3 , he thought a Provincial Grand Lodge quite necessary—more particularly so when the three contemplated new lodges were

started in Anderston , the West-end of Glasgow , and Kirkintilloch respectively , which would certainly be done within a month or two . He believed the cases of Nos . 1 and 2 , were unparalleled in the annals of Freemasonry . No . 1 had

been in existence less than 18 months , and numbered some 300 members , whilst No . 2 had only existed five months , and numbers 71 . If they continued to make such gigantic strides , they must soon be heard of and their influence be felt . He was proud of their new ally , ( No . 3 ) ;

hoped they would go on and prosper , that the three lodges may always work up to the strictest Masonic rules and princip les , and in unison with each other . He complimented No . 3 on their past achievements , their present flourishing condition , and their brilliant prospects for the

future . They would never regret going under the Melrose body . He had himself traced the minutes of the Ancient Melrose Lodge as far back as 1674 . There were many documents there of a much earlier date , and he had been told that some would be found as far back as about 1300 .

If so , Mary ' s Chapel would be put in the shade . How was it that Scotch Masonic authors so studiously avoid mentioning Melrose . Was it because they are afraid of revealing the truth ? Or was it because they are too narrow-minded and prejudiced to do her justice ?

" St . Andrew ' s , No . 3 , was then given and in his reply Bro . Sutherland said that the Grand Lodge of Scotland , would not have granted them a charter for less than sQio ios ., and 8 s ., or ios . per head for their 200 members . He thought the sSSo or £ 100 was quite as well

in the St . Andrew ' s funds . They had received a charter from Melrose for £ 5 , and he was sure Melrose was the best of the two . Bro . Stratford said he had gone over to the Melrose Masons , and espouse ! their cause , purely as a matter of principle . He found them injured ,

and cheated out of their rightful position . Although he had suffered much at their hands for the step he had taken , he felt no unfriendliness towards the Brethren under the " Grand Lodge of Scotland . " He still had a tender feeling

towards them , and was glad to see that body so well represented there to-night . He felt quite sure they were most of them right enough at heart , and that the existing bitterness towards the "Melrose Masons" was more the

result of ignorance of the subject than anything else . If they would only enquire into it , and view the matter in the proper light , they would soon gladly extend the right hand of fellowship . Several had already seen their error , and had come over to our ranks . He was sure a . better

feeling would soon exist between the two conflicting jurisdictions . The present stir must lead to enquiries . Let the case be tried on its merits . The storm would soon pass , and we should be all the better of it . He would always welcome visitors from G . L . of Scotland . If we

are to forgive a natural brother " 71 times 7 surely we should forgive a Masonic brother 71 times 77 . We can do more by a good example than anything . We must judge them charitably . We were none of us perfect . He could forget

the treatment he had received at their hands , and look forward to a bright and happy future , when we shall be united , at least in the bonds of" Brotherly love . " He had very much pleasure in giving "The Grand Lodge of Scotland , " with the highest Masonic honours .

The toast was most warmly responded to , and a visiting brother replied . He said he hoped the day was not far distant when we shall open all our lodges to and welcome each other . He was quite sure if all Masons in Scotland would cultivate and practice what Bro . Stratford had so

earnestly advised , and act in a truly Masonic spirit , all discord would soon cease , and the prosperity of the fraternity result thereftom . Several other toasts were given , and replied to in regular Masonic style , and finally the meeting

broke up , after one of the most enjoyable days ever experienced in the " St . Andrew ' s " No . 3 . [ The report of the consecration of another Melrose Lodge in Glasgow will be given in our next . ]