Freemasonry In Queensland.

been regarded as a labour of love , and at the end of six months the lodge thus consecrated bids fair , as our correspondent tells us , to be one of the most prosperous in Queensland . We in England with our network of railways spread all over the surface of the country—except of course in the remotest districts—can

form no adequate idea of the difficulties which colonial enthusiasts in Freemasonry encounter in their desire to win a name for regularity and punctuality in attendance , nor we imagine are there many cases here in which a candidate travels I 50 or 160 miles on horseback or by buggy in order to be initiated into our

mysteries or have the further degrees conferred upon him . However , the facts recorded by our correspondent fully justify his statement that Freemasonry must have established a firm hold in Queensland , and is extremely fortunate in having plenty of excellent material from which to recruit its strength . We

congratulate our brethren in this distant colony on the zeal and determination with which they perform their Masonic duties , and we are especially glad to hear that the Aramac Lodge is loyal , as indeed are the English lodges generally , in its attachment to our United Grand Lodge .

The Lord Mayor In Scotland.

THE LORD MAYOR IN SCOTLAND .

[ F ROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT . ] One of the most important , and from a Masonic point of view , certainly the most interesting incident of the Civic visit to Scotland was the affiliation of the Lord Mayor to the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 on the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which occurred on Saturday afternoon .

The Lodge of Edinburgh is a very old institution . So far as authentic records go it is the oldest Masonic body in the world with a continuous history . The records open with a " Minute of convention" of the Lodge of Scotland held at Edinburgh in 1597 . That minute is signed

by William Shaw , the King ' s "Maister of Works "—an office of State similar to that now held by the Chief-Commissioner of Woods and Forests . Bro . Shaw was a cadet of a noble family holding large estates in the neighbourhood of Stirlingand he formed one of the Embassy which was sent b y King

James VI . of Scotland , to negociate his marriage with the Princess Anne of Denmark , and afterwards he was despatched with other persons of distinction to bring the Princess to Edinburgh , where she was married to the King . The minute of the convention , signed by Bro . Shaw , explains that his signature was affixed

in consequence of the King being out of Edinburgh , from which it is deduced that the King himself was in those days the head of the Masonic Fraternity in Scotland . Perhaps it is from this that he originally derived his title of the " Modern Solomon . " The minute also appoints the next convention to meet

at St . Andrew ' s on the 27 th December , 1598 . Under date of 1600 the minute book also records the fact that a Mr . Boswell—a laird of Auchinleek—was a member of the lodge ; the first record of a non-operative being admitted to the Order . This Mr . Boswell was a direct ancestor of Dr . Johnson ' s

biographer . There are several other minutes of interest , and about 16 35 several young noblemen appear to have joined the lodge , while in 1641 there is a curious record of the lodge having met at Newcastle when the Rt . Hon . Robert Moray , Master of the Ordnance of the Army of Scotland , was admitted

by the Masters a member of the Order . He was a man of the highest distinction , the founder of the Royal Society of Scotland , and became Lord Provost of Edinburgh and its representative in Parliament . He was subsequently associated with the various uprisings of that period , and took part in the

rebellion headed b y Viscount Middleton in 168 7 . Among the other eminent men connected with the lodge there was recorded in 166 7 the admission of Sir Patrick Hume , of Polwarth , one of the most distinguished Scotsmen that ever lived . He was then Sheriff of Lanarkshire ( practically a county court judge with

criminal jurisdiction ) , and became one of the judges of the Supreme Court . After this he vvas raised to the peerage , and ultimately created Earl of Marchmont , with the office of Lord Chancellor of Scotland . Among the eminent members of the Craft who have joined the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) ,

No . 1 , are enumerated the late Earl of Zetland , G . M . Eng . ; the late Earl of Dalhousie , Dep . G . M . Eng . ; the late Duke of Athole , G . M . Scotland ; the late Earl of Haddington , Dep . G . M . Scotland ; the present Earls of Rosslyn , Crawford , Northesk , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , and other distinguished personages .

The lodge wields a very high influence in the Masonic circles of Scotland , and was perfectly justified in assuming the position of exponent of the sympathy and rational feeling of Scottish Masons with their * English brethren by affiliating the Lord Mayor on his State visit to Edinburgh .

The Lord Mayor In Scotland.

I must keep his lordship still outside the lodge while I explain to your readers how the assembly was constituted . The Grand Lodge Room of the Masonic Hall , where the convention was held , is a large elegant room of considerable architectural pretension—lighted from the top , and having the sides decorated

with pictures of various incidents of Scottish history , many of which have furnished names to lodges . Along one wall are ranged the busts of various modern Grand Masters—Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , the Earl of Rosslyn , Bro . Whyte Melville , and the Earl of Mar and Kellie . To welcome their distinguished

guests , the brethren of the Lodge of Edinburgh had invited deputations from all the lodges in Edinburgh and from all the others , so that no less than 14 or 15 lodges were formally represented . As the clothing of lodges in Scotland is varied instead of being our uniform light blue , it will easily be understood how

strange ancl striking was the sight . There were present No . 1 , Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , in light blue ; No . 2 Canongate , Kilwinning , in crimson ; No . 8 Journeymen , in dark blue ; No . 3 6 , St . David ' s , in green ; No . 44 , Holyrood House , St . Luke ' s , in crimson ; No . 48 , St . Andrew ' s , in scarlet ; No . 226 ,

Portobello , in dark blue ; No . 270 , Thistle , West Calder , in green ; No . 291 , Celtic , in Royal Stewart tartan ; No . 392 , Caledonian , in McKenzie tartan ; No . 405 , Rifle , in dark green ; No . 429 , St . Kentigern ( so called after the patron Saint of Glasgow , and not as the ribald have it , because they " can ' t

adjourn " ) , Penicuik , in dark blue ; the Defensive Band in yellow ; and the Royal Order of Scotland , whose distinguishing badge isa green band on the arm with the motto , " Silentio et Prudentia . " Here was a sufficiently varied mass of colour—but there were differences of shape and fashion also . Some wore collars as we

do , others had sashes either inside or outside their coats—from right to left or left to rig ht—according to no rule that I could discover . As is well-known , the Scottish Grand Lodge recognises all the associated Orders up to the 33 , and we had the jewels or distinguishing badges of nearly all present . The lodge

was presided over by Bro . Gilbert McDonald , W . M ., having Bro . Bell for S . W ., and Bro . P . L . Henderson as J . W . On the dais sat Bro . Chrichton , I . P . M ., Proxy Prov . G . M . Canterbury , N . Z ., Convenor of the Visiting Committee for the Metropolitan Province ( as there is no Provincial Grand Master , he virtually fulfils

his duties ); Bro . Dr . Sanus Middleton , Prov . G . M . Roxburgh ; Bro . Murray Lyon , G . Sec . and Historian of the lodge ; Bro . VV Officer , P . M ., P . G . D . ; Bro . David Reid , G . Cashier ; Bro . Lindsey Mackesey , 111 . Gen . G . Sec . H . E ., 33 ; Bro . Major Allen , P . P . G . M . Gibraltar ; Bro . Morn , P . M . ; and Bro . Abbott , P . M .

In addition to these were Bro . Col . Harding , P . G . D . C . ( who , as he was in plain purple , did not receive ihe honours due to his rank ); Bro . Dr . Taylor , P . G . W . Yorks ; Bro . A . S . Tomkins , P . G . D . Surrey ; and a large number of distinguished brethren . The Lord Mayor , P . G . W ., and his party , consisting of Bros .

Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., Sheriff Harris , D . G . D . C , and a number of other guests , were ushered to the door of the lodge by a small army of Stewards , bearing wands . After the usual formalities , the doors were thrown open , and the party proceeded up the lodge . The brethren , ranged at four long tables ,

two on each side , the hall received them standing , chanting a strain of welcome to the tune of the Entered Apprentice ' s song , and keeping time with rhythmatic beating of the hands . The effect was most striking—the novelty of the ceremony , the variety of the costumes , greatly impressing the English visitors .

Arrived at the pedestal , the W . M ., Bro . GILBERT MCDONALD , after bidding the Lord Mayor welcome in the name of his lodge , proceeded to affiliate him to the Scottish banner with all due

ceremony . His lordship was invited to the dais and then the W . M . called attention to the presence of Bros . Sir John Monckton and Sheriff Harris , Grand Officers , and proposed that a similar honour should be accorded to them .

This was carried by acclamation , and they , too , were duly affiliated . The lodge was then called off , and a banquet of cake and

wine—a well known institution in Scotland—was served . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed " The Queen" in a few words , and then "The Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , " both of which were heartily received . He next

gave " The Three Grand Lodges , " pointing out that they lived in amity , pursuing the same noble ends , regulating the affairs of the Craft for the general good without undue interference . They could not compete with English- Masons in great works of Charity , but they were not behind them in Masonic spirit .

Bro . Sir J MONCKTON , replying for England , said that though humble as a man he was proud as a Mason . He loved the work—and was proud of his English honours—and very

proud of the day ' s ceremony . As a Mason of nearly 40 years standing , having had an almost unique experience among the lodges , he congratulated the brethren on the order and propriety of their Masonic conduct that day .