Scotland.

I say inspired by these feelings , and encoinaged by the most liberal offers of financial support from several gentlemen who had not at that time seen the "light , " but who , I am now proud to say , have joined the brotherhood , and are an ornament to the Craft . We petitioned the Grand Lodge and obtained our charter in February last . I cauuot allow this opportunity to pass without bearing testimony to the cordial assistance we received from the neihbouring Lodges Nos 17 and 69

g . , who not only signed our petition , but , as I understand , instructed their proxies to give it their unqualified support at the quarterly meeting of Grand Lodge . You , Right AVorshipful Sir , have perfected the elevation of our temple by the admirable manner in whicli you have performed the ceremony of tho consecration . I trust that the many virtuous precepts that you have so impressively inculcated will long be remembered and acted upon bthe officers and brethren of the Zetland Lod I

y go . have only to add that , iu tbe name of our Lodge , I again beg to return you our best thanks for your presence on this auspicious and memorable occasion , aud I assure you that , whenever opportunity presents , our brethren will be happy to renew the bond of brotherhood either in your Lodge or that of our own .

Bro . Denovan said—I beg to propose the health of the AV . Alaster , who has presided witli so much ability , and that in a manner both courteous and dignified , and who , from his skill and intimate acquaintance with Freemasonry , has dispensed so much "light" and information among the Craft . This is a day that our Lodge will mark with a white stone , a day that will always be remembered amongst the proudest of our annals . The grace and dignity with which Bro . Dj ^ on has presided at the ceremony of the consecrationhas given the greatest satisfaction

, to the brethren of our Lodge , ancl I may add to the brethren of all the Lodges present . _ Being but a young Lodge , we trust we shall often have the benefit . ' of his admirable instructions ; and we are assured from the courteous maimer with which he has presided this evening , that w-e will meet with a brotherl y reception whenever we shall have occasion to ask for further instructions .

The R . W . M ., Bro . Dyson , in a neatly worded speech , feelingly replied , and expressed his thanks for the truly Masonic maimer iu which his health had been proposed and responded to by the brethren , and his gratification to be assured that they were satisfied with the manner in which he had performed his duties as representative of the Grand Lodge . The chairman gave the different Lodges , according to seniority , \ vlio had honoured the Lodgo with their presence , aud which were in succession very ably replied to by their R . AA . Alasters . Bro . Law , in reply to No . IS , was peculiarly happy in his remarks , ancl by the witty and humorous allusions in his address , contributed a great deal to the hilarity of the brethren .

The R . AA . Alaster shortly afterwards rose , and said the honour of proposing the next toast devolved on hiin , and requested the brethren to fill up a bumper to the health of tho " Visiting Brethren , " who , although not forming deputations , were there as representatives ol their Lodges , and begged to couple it with the name ol Bro . G . F . Adamson , of the Lodge St . Andrew .

Bro . Adamson having returned thanks , the health of tho ' ' Ladies " was drunk , and the Prov . Grand Alaster then gave the last toast of the evening , " Happy to meet , sorry to part , aud happy to meet a ^ aiii , " which closed the proceedings of a day , the like of which the youngest inhabitant in Grangemouth may never live to see again . The arduous duties of Grand Alarslial and Director of Ceremonies were performed by Bro . AV . Al . Bryce , Grand Tyler of Grand Lodge in a manner which elicited the approbation of every brother present . '

India.

INDIA .

LAHORE . LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A MASONIC HALL AT AJfAUKULI . EE . THIS ceremony took place on the 6 th of September , and was a great success ; the weather is described as delightful , and through the exertions of the managing committee accommodation was plentifully provided for European ladies ancl gentlemen on the one side , and for the native chieftains and notable townsmen of Lahore the otherThe

on . station baud was in attendance aud enlivened tiie scene by playing some very pretty selections and airs while the company were assembling . If the brethren of the Lodge took pains to render the ceremony a pleasin « one , they were certainly well rewarded by the vast concourse of specta ° tors who graced it with their presence . Among the native chiefs , who were about one hundred aud fifty in number , we observed the son of Nawab Imam-ood-deenDeivan Ajoodia PershadSirdar Jyemul Sinh

, , ^ Sirdar Nehal Singh , Bhaee Chanmjeet Singh , Bhaee Nundgopal , the Nawabsof Aluudote and Alooltan , Ali Reza Khan , Ahmed All Khan & c , & c . ' A form of divine service was prepared for the occasion by the Prov G . Chaplain , printed both in English and Oordoo , aud distributsd freely to all . J Punctuallat the hour which had been fixed for the commencement

y ot the ceremony , the brethren of the Lodge , accompanied by their caaptam occupied the space which had been reserved for the purpose between the long hues of seats under the Shumeanah and in front of tho atone , which was now swinging from its blocks in mid air .

Tho Senior Warden , Bro . AA . E . Ball , addressed the Worshipful Alaster as follows : — " Right AVorshipful Brother Sandeman , —On behalf of the Alasons of Lahore , I request you to commence this building , which is to be dedicated to the purposes of Alasonry at Lahore . The brethren feel that to no one could this task more appropriately fall than to yourself , not only on account of your high Masonic rank , but

because you have already founded the Lodge in their hearts . They therefore hope you will complete the good work by presiding at the material establishment of the temple—which they trust may long stand as a memento of its founder and as a token of their Alasonic faith . The Right AVorshipful Alaster replied : — " Brother Senior Warden , I have pleasure in acceding to your request , I feel it a high privilege to be thus permitted to commence a building , which will I trust form a lasting monument of Alasonic zeal and enterprize at this station .

Before , however , proceeding with the ceremony , it behoves us to seek the blessiug of the Great Architect of the universe upon our proceedings , for except " He build the houso , we shall but labour in vain . " The Prov . G . Chaplain , the llev . C Sloggett , then commenced tho ceremony in the- following terms , the responses being made by the brethren : — " Our help is in the name of the Lord , " Who hath made heaven and earth . "

The earth is the Lord ' s , and all that therein is : the compass of tho world , and they that travel therein . Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord , or KIIO shall rise up in his holy place ? Even he that hath clean hands ancl a pure heart : and that hath not lifted up his mind unto vanity , nor sworn to deceive his neighbour . He shall receive the blessing from the Lord : and righteousness from the God of his salvation .

The Lord God is a sun aud shield - . the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly . 0 Lord God of Hosts , blessed -is the man that trusteth in thee . Glory be to the Father , and to the Son , and to the Holy Ghost . As il was in the beginning , is now , and ever shall be , world without end .. So mote-itbe .

Ibis prayer followed : — "Prevent us , 0 Lord , m all our domgs with thy most gracious favour , and further us with thy continual help , that in all our works begun , continued , aud ended in thee , we may glorify thy holy name ; and , finally , by thy mercy obtain everlasting life . 0 eternal Lord God , our only help and strength , without whose blessing no work of human device can prosper , be ready , we beseech thee , to bless this work in which wo are now joined : give to all engaged in promoting it , and to all who may hereafter assemble within the completed

fabric of its building , a spirit of obedience and of lovo to thee , that through the language and by the acts of outward symbols , they may bo able continually to lift up their hearts to thee , and studiously to avoid whatever may be inconsistent with their Christian feelings and profession ; that so they may be able to 'hope and persevere' to the end in the way of eternal life , through Jesus Christ our Lord . —So mote it be . " The plans of the intended building wero then delivered to the R . AV . Alaster , who spoke as follows -.

—" Brethren , it is a gratifying thing to us to be here assembled to commence a building which is to be dedicated solely to the purposes of Alasonry , that mysterious system which has stood from the foundation of the world , and which rests on tbe secure basis of brotherly love , relief and truth , aud the practice of every social and moral virtue . It is gratifying to think that so small a body of men should have so willingly and cheerfully come forward to aid in this good work , and it is a sure earnest , under God ' s blessing , of the future welfare and prosperity of the Graft at this station . And yet we have performed no more than a duty , for with the knowledge that it is irregular , indeed wrong to hold a

Alasonic Lodge in any place that is , at other times , used for secular purposes , it was our duty to make an effort to raise for ourselves a suitable building in which we might uninterruptedly , hold our mysterious ancl exemplary meetings . "From the plan of the building , whicli has been so tastefully designed by our excellent Bro . Stone , it appears that it will comprise , besides the Alasonic Temple , every convenience that is absolutely necessary for the comfort of the brethrenand even for the entertainment of aud

hos-, pitality towards strangers , while by an admirable arrangement on tho part of our brother architect , additional rooms can be added , without injuring the symmetrical appearance of tbe whole , and with very little additional expense . The principal features iu the building , as it will at first stand , are—a capacious Lodge room or temple , with side rooms attached to it for the observance of certain forms which I am not at liberty now to explain , and a large banquetting hall with necessary and funds

appurtenances : also a very handsome entrance portico . As will permit , it is hoped that the building will be enlarged by the addition of rooms for the accommodation of a serving brother ( to live on the premises ) , aud perhaps of a reading room and other desiderata . I hope that , from the foundation laid to-day , we may , ere long , see a superstructure perfect iu its parts and creditable to its builders . " At the conclusion of this address the architect presented the R . AA . Alaster with a handsome silver trowel , bearing the following inscription : " Presented to R . AV . Bro . II . D . Sandeman on tho occasion of laying the first stone of Lodge Hope and Perseverance , No . 1 , 081 , of which Lodge he was the founder and first Alaster ; Lahore , September 6 th , 1859 , "