Red Cross Of Rome And Constantine

Conclave . After a resolution to the effect that the name of the Very Illustrious Sir Knight Little be enrolled on the books as an honorary member , and the several votes being suitably responded to , the conclave was closed in due form , and the Sir Knights adjourned for refreshment . THE BANQUET . The chevaliershaving been for nearlthree hours engaged

, y in the various ceremonies of the conclave , were not without an appetite when taking their seats in the banquet hall , and after partaking a sumptuous repast , the following toasts were greeted with enthusiasm : — " The Queen and the Order , " " The Grand Imperial Council , " " Our distinguished guest , Sir Knight Inspector-General Little , " " The Visitors from the sister province , " " Our esteemed brother , Joseph A . Horner , at whose

suggestion the Doyle Conclave has been instituted , " "Past Sovereign Hutchinson , through whose visit to the metropolis and by whose zeal since his return the conclave has been established , " "The present M . P . S ., by whoso well known ability the conclave is now to be governed , " " His Viceroy the eminent Eusebius , " and " The remaining officers of the conclave . " After spending a very pleasant evening , which was enlivened at intervals with glees and other harmony , the Knights Companions separated with a firm resolve ever to remember the watchwords of the conclave—Faith , Unity , and Zeal .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

JEDBURGH . LAUSS THE FOUNDATION STONE or THE NEW COMMERCIAL BANK . On the 17 th ult . the foundation stone of tho new bank o be erected in Exchange-street was laid with Masonic honours by the R . W . M . for Peebles and SelkirkBro

, . Henry Inglis , of Torsonce , assisted by the members of the representatives of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and deputations from various lodges in the province , & c . The R . W . M . and deputations were received at the railway station by the brethren of Jedburgh Lodge ,. JSTo . 104 , who escorted them to the lodge room in Oanongate , where the lodge was opened in due form . Shortly after

one o ' clock the brethren were marshalled by the Grand Tyler , Bro . Price , and dressed in full Masonic costumethe office bearers of No . 104 carrying the emblems of the Craft . They left the Black Bull Hotel headed by the volunteer band , the Jed-Forest band bringing up the rear . The procession went down High-street , up the Canongate and Gastlegate , and entering the Abbey by Abbey-close , went through the manse garden , on leaving which it proceeded to the scene of the ceremony , where stand had been erected , and was almost completely

ccupied by ladies . The nags , which stretched from the aorn Exchange to Bro . J . Tumbnll ' s house , and those which decorated these buildings , with the many-coloured dresses of the ladies , invested the scene with a rather striking appearance . The proceedings were commenced by a prayer by Grand Chaplain French , which was scarcely heard in consequence of the noise made by the

outsiders , between whom and the police the most amicable relations did not appear to subsist ; and such was the disturbance , that the police were ordered to draw their batons , a measure which , as may be supposed , only tended to irritate the crowd , and increase the uproar . The prayer having been got through , the Grand Officer deposited the current coins in the cavity for the

purpose , and the stone was gradually lowered , the band playing " Old Hundred . " The stone was fixed with the usual formalities , the horn of plenty being emptied upon it , and wine and oil poured over the contents . Miss Turnbull , daughter of Bro . J . S . Turnbull , agent for the Commercial Bank , then presented the silver trowel with which the work had been completed to the G . M ., who , in accepting it said : — . T & e greatest favour that can be bestowed on a Mason , is to permit him to receive this from the hands of beauty .

Scotland.

Bro- Inglis then said—Ladies and Gentlemen—It now becomes my pleasing duty to address a few words to you who have honoured us with your prosenco upon this occasion- I can assure you that the Masonic Craft has had the greatest pleasure iu laying the foundation stone of a building which I believe , from a personal inspection of the plans , will

become a distinguished ornament to the ancient town of Jedburgh . There is a hill which rises in your neighbourhood , called the Duuion hill—well known to all of you I doubt not—and that hill has in the times long gone by been the witness of many an eventful and many a historic scene . It witnessed your noble Abbey when its towers and its buttresses first rose in all their solemn

grandeur and all their miraculous beauty to gladden the waters of the wandering Jed . It beheld the nuptials of one of Scotland ' s ancient kings ; it beheld the camp of the Black Douglas when that doughty warrior defended the passes of the Border in the absence of his sovereign , Bobert the Bruce ; it beheld that mortal struggle between the gallant Ferniehirst and the English Surrey in defence

of your towers , and your town , and your Abbey ; and it beheld the last sally of the Border men into England , when your " Jethart axes" for the last time went to the raid of the Eeidswire . The Dunion hill— -thanks to God and to the exertions of our noble Scottish heroes—now looks down upon a valley of peace and prosperity ; on church and spire , and school ; upon hill and market , and

garden . Year by year the town of Jedburgh is rising in wealth and importance , for the citizens of Jedburgh have applied to the arts of peace the same energy and industry which they exhibited in the fierce conflicts of war . If anything were wanting to prove the truth of this assertion , it is to be found in the proceedings of to-day . The Commercial Bank of Scotland , one of the greatest and most prosperous amongst the great and prosperous banks of Scotland , has found it necessary for meeting the increasing commercial demands of this town , to erect a

new building , a step which they most assuredly would not have taken but for the reason I have mentioned ; and it . is because we look upon this outward and visible sign of prosperity as the type and symbol of increasing industry and intelligence , and education—those things which mark the onward and the upward course of civilised man—it is because we look at it in this light , that yon

and I are here to-day to bid God-speed to the good building and the good cause . The G . M . then called for three cheers for the Queen , the Burg , the Commercial Bank of Scotland , and the ladies , which were all heartily given . Bro . J . S . Turnbull thanked the G . M . for his attendance , and expressed the hope that prosperity would ever

be within the walls of the building , the foundation stone of which had just beeu laid . Three cheers were then given for Bro . Inglis , and , after being photographed by Bro . Campbell , Edinburgh , the company separated-The brethren afterwards dined in the lodge room . The E . W . P . G . M . in the chair , when 120 surrounded the festive board . The following lodges were represented

on this occasion : —Journeymen Edinburgh , No . 8 , Bro , Barton , P . M . ; St . John ' s , Selkirk , 32 , Bro . Clapperton , E . W . M . ; St . John ' s Hawick 111 , Bro . Wilson , E . W . M . ; Tweed , Kelso 261 , Bro . Jeffrey , E . W . M . ; St . John ' s , Galashiels 262 , Bro . Scott , E . W . M . ; St . James ' s , Hawick , 424 , Bro . Laurie , E . W . M . After the cloth was removed the usual loyal and

Masonic toasts were given and responded to with much enthusiasm . The toast of " Tho Army , Navy , and Volunteers , " was acknowledged by Bro . Wilson , E . W . M . Ill " The Proviucial Grand Lodge of Peebles and Selkirk" was proposed in a few able remarks by the E . W . M . of 104 , Bro- Blackie , and replied to in some welltimed observation by Bro . Ingils , P . G . M . " Tho Town , Trade and the Commercial Bank of Scotlland Jedburgh" was given by the chair , and acknowledged by Bro . Turnbull . "The Lodge St . John , Jed-