Distribution Of Honours In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

their disposal as if there were no brethren worthy of regard but those resident in Edinburgh ; and , in fact , even of these , none have had the least chance of being elected to any high office but those of a certain very small and select circle , who

can hold a private meeting before the meeting of the Grand Lodge , and arrange all that is to take place in ifc . It is not to the honour of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , nor of Freemasonry in Scotland , that

the Grand Lodge has come to be commonly spoken of as the Grand Lodge of Edinburgh , instead of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . But there is no wonder that this is the case , when it is considered how exclusively the honourable

offices of the Grand Lodge are filled by brethren resident in Edinburgh , and to how great an extent the Grand Lodge itself is composed of the members of Edinburgh Lodges . One Edinburgh Lodge sends no fewer than twelve Grand

Stewards as its representatives to the Grand Lodge , which is out of all proportion beyond the representation of any Provincial Lodge . The

Provincial Lodges are thus discouraged , and their representatives do not care to attend the meetings of the Grand Lodge ; whereas , if their proper place and influence were granted to them , they would probably make an effort to attend as

frequently as possible , and would carry home to the most distant parts of the country an increased knowledge of Freemasonry , and impressions highly favourable to its interests . The existing state of things is utterly contrary to that great

principle of equality amongst brethren which is the boast of Freemasonry , It is not , indeed , to be supposed that each Lodge ought to have the same number of office-bearers in Grand Lodge as another , but it might be

exnected that a rule should be adopted for the representation of Lodges in something like proportion to the number of their members . A rude approach to this is made in the representation of the citizens of our towns in Town Councils . The

Presbyterian Churches also proceed upon this principle in the representation of Presbyteries in their General Assemblies .

The principle is one evidently right iu itself , and and which commands approbation whenever it is stated . It is a principle which seems especially to accord with the fundamental laws and principles of Masonry , and the only wonder is that it has been

Distribution Of Honours In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

so long and so much disregarded . A complete prajtical acknowledgment of it conld not fail to have most beneficial results . It is worthy of notice thafc the pcesent state of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is an anachronism .

Freemasonry has of late years made great progress in Scotland , but the management of affairs in the Grand Lodge has remained unchanged . Not very many years ago , there were sometimes only a few members present at a meeting of the Grand

Lodge , and it was a thing to be talked of among tho brethren if there more than thirty . Now there are often three hundred present , and often there are many more . When only a few members were present , all , or

almost all , resident in Edinburgh ancl its immediate neighbourhood , it was only to be expected that they should elect each other to all the honourable offices at their disposal . It was almost impossible for them to do otherwise . But fche state of the

case is now changed , and a greater liberality of spirit displayed towards brethren belonging to all parts of the country would redound to the honourofthe Order ; would aid in elevating the Grand Lodge to that high position which it ought to hold , and promote brotherly feeling among all the Masons of Scotland .

A proposal is about to be made , m the form of a motion , at the approaching Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge , "Thafc no officebearer shall hold the same office for a longer period than three years , and , on the expiry of his

term of office , shall not be eligible for re-election to the same office , and that at leasfc three years must elapse before he is appointed to it ap'ain / This , however , is not to apply to tho Grand Master or paid officials .

This , of it-elf , wou'd go far to cure the evils of which there is so much cause to complain . Honouis would be more extensively distributed , among brethren , and a better and more kindly feeling would be promoted ; and if , at the same

time , a mo '* e equal system of representation were adopted , brethren would feel—as they do not at present—that their attendance at tlio meetings of the Grand Lodge was not a thing of mere formality aud sociality , but that they were called

upon to take a real part in the concerns of the Grand Lodge and of the Brotherhood . The great facilities of communication by railroad and telegraph make ifc possible for Masons