Scotland.

JIackey , in his "Lexicon of Freemasonry , " an admirable work , which should be in the hands of every Mason , in speaking of this Order , says as follows : —¦ "Itis composed of two parts—H . R . JI . and R . S . Y . C . S . The former took its rise in the reign of David I ., King of Scotland , and the latter in that of King Robert the Bruce . The last is believed to have been originally the same as , the most ancient Order ofthe Thistle , and to contain the ceremonial of admission

formerly practised in it . "The Order of H . R . JI . had formerly its seat at Kilwiming , and there is reason to suppose tliafc it and the Grand Lodge of St . John ' s Masonry were governed by the same'Grand JIaster . The introduction of this order into Kilwinning , appears to have taken place about the same time , or nearly the saaie period , as the introduction of Freemasonry into Scotland . The Chaldees , as is well knownintroduced Christianitinto Scotlandand

, y , from their known habits , there are good grounds for believing that they preserved among them a knowledge of the ceremonies and precautions adopted for their protection in Judea . In establishing the degree in Scotland , it is more than probable that it was done with the view to explain , in a correct Christian manner , the symbols and rites employed by the Christian architects and builders ; and this will also explain how the Royal

Order is purely Catholic—not Roman Catholic—but adapted to all who acknowledge the great truths of Christianity in the same way that Craft or symbolic Masonry is intended for all , whether Jew or Gentile , who acknowledge a supreme God . The second part , or R . S . Y . C . S .. is an order of knighthood , and perhaps the only genuineone in connection withMasonry , there being in it an intimate connection between the trowel aiid tho sword , which others try to showThe lecture consists of a figurative

. description of the ceremonial , both . of H . R . JI . and R . S . Y . C . S ., in simple rhyme , modernised , of course , by oral tradition , and breathing the purest spirit of Christianity . Those two degrees constitute , as has been already said , the Royal Order of Scotland , the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Lodges or chapters cannot legally meet elsewhere , unless possessed of a chapter from it , or the Grand JIaster , or his depute . Tho office of Grand JIaster

Is vested in the person of the King of Scotland ( now of Great Britain ) , and one seat is invariably keptvacant for him in whatever country a chapter is opened , and cannot be occupied by any other member . Those who are in possession of this degree , and the so-called higher degrees , cannot fail to perceive that the greater part of them have been concocted from the Royal Order to satisfy the morbid craving for distinction which was so characteristic of the Continent during the latter half of last centurv .

There is a tradition among the Masons of Scotland that after the dissolution of the Templars many of the knights repaired to Scotland , and placed themselves under the protection of Robert Bruce , and that after the battle of Bannockburn , which took place on St . John the Baptist ' s Day , 131-1 , this monarch instituted tho Royal Order of H . R . M . and Knights of the R . S . Y . C . S ., and established the chief seat at Kilwinning . From that Order it seems by no means improbable that the of Croix de

present degree Rose Heretlom may have taken its origin . In two respects , at least , there seems to be a very close connection between the two systems . They both claim the kingdom of Scotland and the Abbey of Kilwinning as having been at cue time their chief seat of government , ° and they both seem to have been instituted to give a Christian explanation to ancient Cr . i / t Jlasonry . There is , besides , a similarity in the names of the degrees of Rose Croix de Heredom and H . R . JI . and R . S . Y . C . S ., amounting almost to an identity , wliich appears to indicate a very intimate relation of one to the other . "

The Royal Order is , however , much more exclusive than any of the degrees below the 30 ° . AVe believe the number in the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Glasgow is limited to some sixtv members , and the Grand Lodgo itself can admit but a few over that number . The present Grand JIaster of Scotland is Deputy Grand Master and Governor of this Order , Lord Loughborough is Deputy Governor , and the Earl of Haddington is one of the Grand Guardians .

LAYING THE FOITSDATIOX-STOXE OP A JIOXU- IIENT TO THE LATE JIAEQTJIS OF "E-USTLX . On Saturday , the 18 th ult ., the foundation-stone of a monument to be erected in memory of Charles , tenth JIarquis of Hantly , who died m 1 S 63 , was laid with much pomp and

ceremony . The proposal to erect the monument originated with the tenantry on the Aboyne estates some twelve months ago . Jlr G . II . Smith . London , was chosen architect , and a site selected on the hill of Jlortlach , near Aboyne . It was felt by severa , of the JIason lodges in the province that the laying thefounda tion-stone of a monument , commemorating one who all through life took an active interest , and held an honourable post in , the Grand Lodge of Scotlandwas a suitable occasion for

attend-, ing and rendering any service they could out of respect for the memory of the late JIarquis . Arrangements were made accordingly , and the whole proceedings passed off very successfully . Representatives of the several lodges in Aberdeen , upwards of one hundred in number , left by first train for Aboyne , accompanied by the band of the loth Highland Depot Battalion . They were joined by the members of the local lodge , and also by

the brethren of St . Nathalan's , Ballater . Attired in their full uniform , with the distinctive badges , scarfs , and other insignia of the Craft , tho brethren had a very imposing appearance . Immediately on arriving at Aboyne the Provincial Grand Lodge was formed in the hall aud opened in due form . Afterwads the procession was marshalled by Quartermaster-Sergeant Stephen and Sergeant-Major Wkittakerof the depot battalionand

-, , pro ceed to the stone in the following order : —21 st A . R . V . ( JIarquis of Huiitly ) , tenantry and subscribers , band : Lodge St . Ternau , 343 ; Lodge Neptune , 375 ; Lodge Aboyne , 285 ; Lodge St . Nathalan , 259 ; Lodge St . George , 1 S 2 ; Lodge Old Aberdeen , 190 ; Lodge Operative , 164 ; Lodge St . Nicholas , 150 ; Lodge St . Jfachar , 93 ; Provincial Grand Lodge . In the above order the procession , accompanied by a good many

spectators , including several ladies , marched to the hill of Jlortlach , about three miles to the north-east of Aboyne . The hill is the hig hest for many miles around , and is seen from , a great distance . On its summit the monument is to be erected , and there the ceremony took place . The monument , when finished , will have a commanding appearance . The design is a plain obelisk , sixteen feet square at the base and six at the top , with

a pedestal of nineteen feet . It is to be built of rough blocks of granite , taken from the hill , and on the top is to be placed an iron ornament , facing north and south , very much resembling tho Dagmar Cross of Denmark . The extreme height of the

monument will be sixty feet , and it is to bo built by Jlr . R . Diiraie , Aboyne , The site , which is exactly the boundary line between the property of the Earl of Aberdeen and the Huntly estates , commanding an extensive view ofthe valley ofthe Dee , was reached shortly after noon , and the ceremony was proceeded with . Dr . Robert Beveridge , R . AA . G . JIaster of Aberdeen ( City Province ) officiated . A circle was formed round the base of the monumentand the Provincial Grind Lodpassed

, . ge ou to the platform , the band playing the National Anthem . The place of honour was given to tho Charleston of Aboyne Lodge , who had taken the initiative in the matter , and the other lodges formed one half to the north of the stone and one half to the south . After a suitable prayer by the Rev . Andrew Gray , parochial schoolmaster , Aboyne , tho R . AA . G . JIaster directed the Secretary and Architect to place the stoneandin

, , a cavity before prepared , to deposit the current coins of the realm , newspapers , copy of the rules of the Charleston of Aboyne Lodge , and a photograph of the late JIarquis . This being done , the usual formula was gone through satisfactorily . The hammer used on the occasion , it may be mentioned , is a very old one , having done similar service in laying the foundation-stone of Jfarischal-street BridgeAberdeen . It bears the following

, inscription : — " With hammer in hand , all arts must stand , 1751 . " The hammer is at present in the custody of the St . Nicholas Lodgo . On the oil and wine being poured on the stone the formal ceremony ended by the benediction being pronounced-Tbe Provincial Grand JIaster then addressed the assemblage . After thanking the various lodges for their assistance on tlie occasion—an occasion in one respect which was pleasing , and in

another respect painful—pleasing inasmuch as it led them to reflect on the merits of ono who had endeared himself to all around him , painful inasmuch as it reminded them that he had passed away from amongst them . The late JIarquis of Huntly , to whose honour the monument was about to bo erected , was a member of a family long known in this part of the countryknown not onlto those around as a member of a familv Ion"

y holding a prominent station among those more immediately connected with them , but throughout the length and breadth , of the land as statesmen , as senators , as men who had taken a part in the defence of Scotland while as yet it was an insignificant nation- There was no one of the long line of ancestors of