Ireland.

Minor—that is to say , about half a century before the building of Solomon's Temple . The Fraternity was established in Tyre , when King Hiram was called upon to assist King Solomon in his design . Accordingly a number of them were sent from Tyre , at the head of whom was Hiram , the widow ' s son , correctly known and styled in the Lutheran version of the Scriptures as Hiram Abif . To this band of workmen many attributed the origin of Freemasonry . In 926 A . U . the English Freemasons met at York , and under the title of the " Gothic Institutions " they

adop ted their rules and regulations . Io this Cralt they owed thc magnificent Gothic religious edifices of the middle ages , such as the Cathedral of Strasburg , built between 1015 and 1349 , and that of Cologne , founded in 1248 . The abbey of Kilwinning in Scotland was raised by this Fraternity in thc 13 th century , and the Kilwinning and York lodges are held to be or to have been the most ancient on record . About the year 1714 the privileges of the Order were no ionger restricted to operative masons , but extended to men of various professions ,

provided they were regularly approved and initiated . Sir Christopher Wren , architect of St . Paul's Cathedral , is said to have been at one time Grand Master . The Dionysiac Fraternity settled , as I have said , in Asia Minor about 50 years before the building of Solomon ' s Temple . Thence they made their way to Tyre , and thence sent help to build the Temple . Proceeding , Bro . tbe Rev . Turner gave a description of Solomon ' s Temple , which was one of the roost magnificent structures of the ancient world . He drew particular

attention to the methods pursued in the building of it—to the awful , the reverent silence which pervaded the work . No doubt thc world had listened to a great deal of noise in the name of religion , but it was , perhaps , so-called religion , and one should discriminate between the reality and the semblance . In conclusion , he said he had to ask for their alms in the interests of their

Masonic Institution in the village of Templepatrick . He need hardly point out that Masonry meant the greatest goodwill and Charity ^ so he asked them that afternoon to be as good and as liberal as they thought God had been to them . The collection , which was then taken , amounted to £ 30 ios . 5 d . The service concluded with devotional exercises .

Scotland.

Scotland .

P > MBva ____ M THE RESTORATION OF BRECHIN CATHEDRAL

The memorial stone in connection with the restoration of the venerable Cathedral Church of Brechin , was laid on the 22 nd inst . by the Hon . James Hozier , M . P ., Grand Master Mason ol Scotland , with full Masonic honours . There was a large deputation from the Grand Lodge , among them

being Bros . John Graham , Dep . G . Master ; James Berry , P . G . Master of Forfarshire ; Col . Lumsden , P . G . Master of Aberdeenshire ; VV . J . Sandford Thomson , P . G . Master of Kincardineshire ; the Hon . C . S . Ramsey , S . G . W . ; Major F . W . Allan , P . S . G . W . ; the Rev . Colin Campbell , D . D ., G . Chap . ; and D . Reid , G . Treas .

After luncheon , the deputation from Grand Lodge were admitted into the Prov . G . Lodge , and thereafter the large procession was formed , the brethren marching to the Cathedral , all parts of which were crowded . The G . Master , accompanied by Bros . James Berry , Prov . G . Master of the province ; the Hon . C . M . Ramsay , S . G . W . ; and Major Allan , acting

j . G . W ., took their places on the p latform , and a silver trowel and fine mallet having been presented to the G . Master , the ceremony was carried through in true Masonic form . After a short address by the G . Master , Hro . the Hon . James A . Campbell , M . P ., on behalf of the Executive Committee , thanked Bro . the Hon . James Hozier and the members of the Craft for their attendance .

The movement for the restoration originated with the late Rev . Alex . Gardner , one of the ministers of the Cathedral , who , hov ever , died before anything was done . The proposal was revived by Mr . James A . Campbell , of Stracathro , M . P ., who offered a subscription of £ uwo ; and a committee was then formed , and plans prepared by Mr . John Honeyman , who is an authority on Gothic architecture , and carried out a similar restoration of the

ancient Collegiate Church of Linlithgow . I hc cost vvas estimated at £ 10 , 000 , towards which the Baird Trustees agreed to give a grant of £ 1500 . Subscriptions came in freely , and the whole sum vvas soon raised . But it was deemed advisable to make an addition to the scheme , involving a further cost of £ 2100 . Towards this , / " 200 has been subscribed , and no serious difficulty is anticipated in raising the balance . The work of

restoration has therefore been begun . Brechin is a very interesting old place . In thc " Pictish Chronicle " il u described as having been a " great city " in 990 . It is believed that previous to the introduction of Christianity into Scotland , Druidical rites were celebrated on the rocky knoll on which the present cathedral stands ; and the disciples of St . Cotumba at a later date founded a cell there , and also a training college for priests and missionaries .

The buildings then erected were probably mere wattle huts , similar to those which were put up at Iona and elsewhere . They would be superseded by more permanent buildings , but the only existing relic of the Culdees is the wonderful Round Tower , which has long been a subject of inquiry , and also of controversy , among arch . uologists . Thc only other Round Tower in Great Britian is at Abernethy , in Perthshire , but both bear a resemblance to the Round Towers of Ireland . The Bishopric of Brechin was founded

Scotland.

about 1150 , by David I ., the monarch who was characterised by his descendant as "asair sanct for the Crown ; " and the present church was probably begun about that time . But the work in connection with the present restoration has proved that the building stands on the foundations of a much older edifice .

Unlike most of the ecclesiastical buildings of Scotland , Brechin Cathedral did not suffer much at the time of the Reformation . The inhabitants of the town were but cold Reformers , and were evidently not inspired by the iconoclastic frenzy which fired so many of their countrymen at that time . It was not till a later date that the cathedral was seriously damaged . According to a local tradition it was injured bv the soldiers of Cromwell , but

this legend is not trustworthy . What seems to have happened was that the cathedral was neglected , and fell into disrepair , and that , in Brechin , as elsewhere , the stones of the decaying parts were carried off for the erection of other buildings . This was quite common during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries , and even later . Arbroath Abbey , Dunkeld Cathedral , and many of the great ecclesiastical buildings of Scotland were

long utilised simply as quarries . The most serious damage to Brechin Cathedral , however , vvas done in the beginning of the present century , when the church was " reconstructed . " Philistinism then ran riot . The one object of the scheme vvas to make the building suitable for a parish church , and to secure the largest possible amount of sitting accommodation . No regard was paid to antiquarian or historical sentiment , to beauty of design ,

to style , or to a sense of proportion . The inner walls of the side aisles were removed , and the outer walls built up higher , the transepts demolished , and the clerestory -windows in the nave hi-Hen . The chancel arch was closed up , and some of the stones of the chancel utilised in the ' reconstruction " of the edifice . Galleries were put all rounu the church , the pillars and walls of the nave being cut and defaced to admit the voodwork . To complete the destruction , a plastered ceiling was put across the whole building , hiding

the roof and the beautiful tracery of the large west window , and the stonework of the nave was coated with plaster . The sapient architect who was responsible for this scheme even proposed to demolish the famous Round Tower and use the stones . But this economical proposal was prevented from being carried out . A neighbouring landed proprietor interfered , and threatened to hang from the top of the tower the first man who touched a stone !

The church consisted , in its original state , of a choir without aisles , and a bay , with five bays and side aisles . There is reason to believe that the first plans were not carried out fully , but what remains of the building shows that it had been designed on very tasteful lines . Tlie chancel is now an ivy-covered ruin , but what is left is sufficiently well preserved to show that it was a line example of Early English . Fortunately , sufficient

remains , not only to prove its beauty , but also to serve as a guide in the restoration . The object of the present scheme is to preserve what is lelt al the old edifice , and bring back , by judicious restoration , as much as possible of its pristine beauty . Mr . Honeyman ' s plans provide for the complete restoration of the choir , the rebuilding of the aisle walls , the roofing of the

aisles , the removal ot the plaster floor , & c , and of the north , south , and east galleries , re-roofing the nave , and building a north porch and small south transept . The operations are already fairly well advanced . The plaster ceiling has been taken down , and it has been found that the old-clerestory is , happily , almost uninjured . In the foundations of the west gable of the south aisle a number of carved stones have been found , which are believed

to have formed part of a Norman building which stood on the site of the cathedral . Other pieces of Norman work have been found which still retain traces of coloured decoration . Several interesting relics , such as stone coffins , have also been discovered .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

De Grey and Ripon Lodge , No . 1161 . The regular meeting of this prosperous lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Wednesday , the igth inst ., when the following brethren were present : Bros . Walter Cockerham , W . M . j J . T . C . Blackie , S . W . ; Saml . Richards , J . W . : J . Schofield , I . P . M . j J . M . Moss , P . M ., P . P . D . G . S . B ., Sec . ; O . M . Jones , P . M .,

Treas . ; Buckley Carr , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , D . C ; J . Brownhill , S . D . ; George J , Critchley and W . Clevvlow , Stwds . ; E . Zoebell , P . M . ; H . M . Massingham , P . M . ; J . Irlam . P . M . ; J . R . Ashworth , P . M . ; R . Dattie , P . M . ; W . Arnold , G . H . Tyler , E . A . Harrison , T . Thrutchley , C . G . Balls , and J . W . Whalley . Bro . Greenhalgh , 1126 , vvas a visitor .

The lodge was opened and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bros . Thrutchley and Arnold having expressed their desire to be passed to the Second Degree , and having answered the usual questions satisfactorily , retired . The two ceremonies of passing were performed by Bro . Hugh Mortimer Massingham , P . M ., in a most able manner . Bros . Harrison and Tyler having answered the usual questions , they were raised to the sublime Degree of M . M . b y Bros . J . Irlam , P . M ., and J . M . Moss , P . M ., & c , who each performed a ceremony in their usual masterly style .

" Hearty good wishes" were expressed by the visitor , and the lodge was closed . Th : brethren adjourned to the social board , where the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . Bros . Schofield , Richards , Blackie , Bills , Thrutchley , and Greenhalgh contributed to the harmony .

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