Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
its Deputation , headed by the Substitute Grand Master , " was given by Bro . Scott , R . W . M . No . 262 , in a few appropriate remarks , in the course of which he referred to the readiness of the Grand Lodge in acceding to the wishes of No . 262 . and tbe kindness shown by the members of the Grand Lodge in honouring their meeting with their presence . Bro . INGLIS , on rising to reply , was received with great cheering . He said—Brethren , I need not tell you that the Grand
Lodge of Scotland is always glad and gratified to attend the daughter lodges upon occasions of interest aud importance ; and the present occasion possesses features of Masonic interest and importance which are rarely surpassed . It is well known that , previous to the institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , in 1736 , Masonry was on the decline in this country ; and the appeal which was then addressed to the brethren by the lodges of Edinburgh was felt to be irresistible , and resulted in that institution .
It was felt that union was strength , and that isolation in Masonry was weakness , narrow-mindedness , uucharitableness , bad fellowship , misgovemment , and ignorance . One after another , the numerous lodges of Scotland followed the example of the thirty-three lodges who instituted the Grand Lodge of Scotland upon that memorable St . Andrew's Day of 1736 ; and now in this year of 1868 there is but one single and solitary exception , and that exception is the Lodge St . John , Melrose . AVby this
is so I may regret but cannot explain . AVhether it was that the Grand Lodge declined their claim of antiquity over all other lodges , or from what other reason it was that they remained , and yet remain , in single blessedness , I cannot say . But this I can say , that when two or three years ago I came here , on their own invitation , as Master of the Province , to endeavour to arrange terms for their admission into the Grand Lodge , I found them , at least the majority of their representatives who met me
, labouring under those chronic diseases of isolation which I have described . Be that as it maj-, however , the colours of the Grand . Lodge of Scotland , or indeed , as far as I know , of any Scottish lodge other than the Melrose Lodge , bave never been displayed in this romantic town before to-day . Tbe credit was reserved to my friends of 262 Galashiels to petition the Grand Lodge for permission to open their regular and loyal lodge in this place , and it the unanimous
was pleasure of the Grand Lodge to accede to the prayer of that petition ; and so , after the lapse of 130 years , the Grand Lodge and her attendant and dutiful daughters have shown themselves to the citizens ot Melrose . Now , brethren , this of itself is a subject for Masonic interest , and a subject for Masonic congratulation . But we cannot divest ourselves of another consideration . This town of Melrose iu which we are met is no ordinary town . No true Scotchman , whose pride is his country's glory , can stand in the shadow of " St . David's ruined pile , " and fail to look back
" on the days tbat are long gone by , AA'hen the limbs were strong , and tlie courage was high " of those heroes to whom Scotland owes her place in history . For does he not stand bard by tbe holy ground , "Around tbe screened altar ' s pale , And wbere the dying lamps did bum , Before thy low and lonelurn
y , 0 gallant Chief of Otterburn ! And thine , dark Knight of Liddesdale . " Yes , brethren , this is one of the temples of Scottish fame ; and we passed to-day reverentially before the dust of the Douglas and the heart of the Bruce , and we felt all a Scottish Mason ' s pride in the saviours of our native land ; but we were conscious , too , of the righteousness of the cause which brought us here , and we
felt , too , that the emblems of order which we displayed would not have disgraced the banners of hero or king . Tbe next toast was "The sister Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , " which was drunk with all honours . " The Provincial Grand Lodge of Peebles and Selkirk " was given by Bro . Dr . M'Cowan , and acknowledged by Bro . K . Sanderson , P . G . Secretary . "The Lodge , No . 262 , Galashiels , " was given by the chair , and
acknowledged by Bro . Scott , R . W . M . " The Lodges sending Deputations " was given from the chair , and acknowledged in the order of seniority by the masters present .
The "Town of Melrose" was given by Bro . Spence , of Ladhope . In his remarks he referred to tbe historic lame of Melrose —its ancient and noble ruins—to the heart of the Bruce which lies enshrined within the venerable pile—and commenting upon
Scotland.
tbe incident related in the above legend , he urged upon all the brethren as Masons , as Christians , to emulate tbe conduct of the gallant Douglas , who , Hinging the golden casket into the thickest of the battle , said"Pass on , brave heart , as thou were wont , Th' embattled hosts before , Donglas will die or follow thee ,
To conquest , as of yore . " Let such be our watchword in following all that is good , noble , and holy . "The Clergy of all Denominations " was given very appropriately by Bro / Dr . M'Cowan , and acknowledged by Bro . Spence . " The Ladies " and " Happy to meet , sorry to part , happy to meet again" were given from the chairaud met with an
en-, thusiastic response from the brethren . During the evening excellent songs , recitations , & c , were given by Bros . Scott , Kay , Dykes , Hendrie , Macdonald , and Mercer ; the entire proceedings , which passed off very successfully and harmoniously , were brought to a close in good time to allow the brethren of tlie Grand Lodge and the deputations to depart by tho express train for Edinburgh .
West Indies.
WEST INDIES .
TRINIDAD . ( From the Port of Spain Gazette , 11 th April , 1868 . ) On Wednesday , the Sth April , a deputation of several members of the Masonic body under the Grand Lodge of England , waited on the District Grand Master , Bro . Daniel Hart , and presented that gentleman with tlie following address , to which Bro . Hart made the accompanying reply . Bro . Hart was
appointed District Grand Master in 1859 by patent of the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , most Worshipful Grand Master of the united Grand Lodge of England : — " Trinidad , 7 th April , 1868 . " To the Right Worshipful Bro . Daniel Hart , District Grand Master for the Province oi Trinidad , Grenada , St . A incent and St . Thomas .
"Right AVorshipful Sir and Bro .: —Ave are deputed by the District Grand Lodge to convey to you the expression of their sincere congratulation upon your recovery from your late severe and painful illness . " While doing so they cannot but at the same time also express their gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe that He has been graciously and mercifully pleased to spare you to them .
" They feel that had it been his will to have decreed otherwise the Fraternity must have sustained a severe and almost irreparable loss , ere it liad recovered the calamity which has so recently befallen them , in the utter destruction of their Temple , while Freemasonry wherever your name is known would long have had to deplore the departure from this scene of one of its brightest luminaries .
" l our recovery they humbly acknowledge as a mark of Divine favour and affection and their unshaken faith in His goodness and mercy inspires them with the hope , that as he has not permitted to fall the column on which is supported Freemasonry among them He will stretch forth His healing arm , and speedily restore you to a greater enjoyment of the blessing of health and strengthas well for the beinfifc of the
, Craft as for the happiness of your family . " In conclusion , they beg to assure you that their constant prayer will be , that it will not be long ere they will again experience the deep pleasure and satisfaction of receiving in the bosom of their lodge their devoted and worthily esteemed Right Worshipful District Grand Master .
AA ' e remain , Right AVorshipful Sir and Bro . Yours fraternally . " [ Here follow the signatures . ] Port-of-Spain , Sth April , 1868 . To the Worshipful Brother Robert Scott , and other Members of the District Grand Lodge , & c . Worthy and esteemed brethren , I cannot adequately express to you the gratification I have experienced by the reception of your letter of congratulation oo
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
its Deputation , headed by the Substitute Grand Master , " was given by Bro . Scott , R . W . M . No . 262 , in a few appropriate remarks , in the course of which he referred to the readiness of the Grand Lodge in acceding to the wishes of No . 262 . and tbe kindness shown by the members of the Grand Lodge in honouring their meeting with their presence . Bro . INGLIS , on rising to reply , was received with great cheering . He said—Brethren , I need not tell you that the Grand
Lodge of Scotland is always glad and gratified to attend the daughter lodges upon occasions of interest aud importance ; and the present occasion possesses features of Masonic interest and importance which are rarely surpassed . It is well known that , previous to the institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , in 1736 , Masonry was on the decline in this country ; and the appeal which was then addressed to the brethren by the lodges of Edinburgh was felt to be irresistible , and resulted in that institution .
It was felt that union was strength , and that isolation in Masonry was weakness , narrow-mindedness , uucharitableness , bad fellowship , misgovemment , and ignorance . One after another , the numerous lodges of Scotland followed the example of the thirty-three lodges who instituted the Grand Lodge of Scotland upon that memorable St . Andrew's Day of 1736 ; and now in this year of 1868 there is but one single and solitary exception , and that exception is the Lodge St . John , Melrose . AVby this
is so I may regret but cannot explain . AVhether it was that the Grand Lodge declined their claim of antiquity over all other lodges , or from what other reason it was that they remained , and yet remain , in single blessedness , I cannot say . But this I can say , that when two or three years ago I came here , on their own invitation , as Master of the Province , to endeavour to arrange terms for their admission into the Grand Lodge , I found them , at least the majority of their representatives who met me
, labouring under those chronic diseases of isolation which I have described . Be that as it maj-, however , the colours of the Grand . Lodge of Scotland , or indeed , as far as I know , of any Scottish lodge other than the Melrose Lodge , bave never been displayed in this romantic town before to-day . Tbe credit was reserved to my friends of 262 Galashiels to petition the Grand Lodge for permission to open their regular and loyal lodge in this place , and it the unanimous
was pleasure of the Grand Lodge to accede to the prayer of that petition ; and so , after the lapse of 130 years , the Grand Lodge and her attendant and dutiful daughters have shown themselves to the citizens ot Melrose . Now , brethren , this of itself is a subject for Masonic interest , and a subject for Masonic congratulation . But we cannot divest ourselves of another consideration . This town of Melrose iu which we are met is no ordinary town . No true Scotchman , whose pride is his country's glory , can stand in the shadow of " St . David's ruined pile , " and fail to look back
" on the days tbat are long gone by , AA'hen the limbs were strong , and tlie courage was high " of those heroes to whom Scotland owes her place in history . For does he not stand bard by tbe holy ground , "Around tbe screened altar ' s pale , And wbere the dying lamps did bum , Before thy low and lonelurn
y , 0 gallant Chief of Otterburn ! And thine , dark Knight of Liddesdale . " Yes , brethren , this is one of the temples of Scottish fame ; and we passed to-day reverentially before the dust of the Douglas and the heart of the Bruce , and we felt all a Scottish Mason ' s pride in the saviours of our native land ; but we were conscious , too , of the righteousness of the cause which brought us here , and we
felt , too , that the emblems of order which we displayed would not have disgraced the banners of hero or king . Tbe next toast was "The sister Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , " which was drunk with all honours . " The Provincial Grand Lodge of Peebles and Selkirk " was given by Bro . Dr . M'Cowan , and acknowledged by Bro . K . Sanderson , P . G . Secretary . "The Lodge , No . 262 , Galashiels , " was given by the chair , and
acknowledged by Bro . Scott , R . W . M . " The Lodges sending Deputations " was given from the chair , and acknowledged in the order of seniority by the masters present .
The "Town of Melrose" was given by Bro . Spence , of Ladhope . In his remarks he referred to tbe historic lame of Melrose —its ancient and noble ruins—to the heart of the Bruce which lies enshrined within the venerable pile—and commenting upon
Scotland.
tbe incident related in the above legend , he urged upon all the brethren as Masons , as Christians , to emulate tbe conduct of the gallant Douglas , who , Hinging the golden casket into the thickest of the battle , said"Pass on , brave heart , as thou were wont , Th' embattled hosts before , Donglas will die or follow thee ,
To conquest , as of yore . " Let such be our watchword in following all that is good , noble , and holy . "The Clergy of all Denominations " was given very appropriately by Bro / Dr . M'Cowan , and acknowledged by Bro . Spence . " The Ladies " and " Happy to meet , sorry to part , happy to meet again" were given from the chairaud met with an
en-, thusiastic response from the brethren . During the evening excellent songs , recitations , & c , were given by Bros . Scott , Kay , Dykes , Hendrie , Macdonald , and Mercer ; the entire proceedings , which passed off very successfully and harmoniously , were brought to a close in good time to allow the brethren of tlie Grand Lodge and the deputations to depart by tho express train for Edinburgh .
West Indies.
WEST INDIES .
TRINIDAD . ( From the Port of Spain Gazette , 11 th April , 1868 . ) On Wednesday , the Sth April , a deputation of several members of the Masonic body under the Grand Lodge of England , waited on the District Grand Master , Bro . Daniel Hart , and presented that gentleman with tlie following address , to which Bro . Hart made the accompanying reply . Bro . Hart was
appointed District Grand Master in 1859 by patent of the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , most Worshipful Grand Master of the united Grand Lodge of England : — " Trinidad , 7 th April , 1868 . " To the Right Worshipful Bro . Daniel Hart , District Grand Master for the Province oi Trinidad , Grenada , St . A incent and St . Thomas .
"Right AVorshipful Sir and Bro .: —Ave are deputed by the District Grand Lodge to convey to you the expression of their sincere congratulation upon your recovery from your late severe and painful illness . " While doing so they cannot but at the same time also express their gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe that He has been graciously and mercifully pleased to spare you to them .
" They feel that had it been his will to have decreed otherwise the Fraternity must have sustained a severe and almost irreparable loss , ere it liad recovered the calamity which has so recently befallen them , in the utter destruction of their Temple , while Freemasonry wherever your name is known would long have had to deplore the departure from this scene of one of its brightest luminaries .
" l our recovery they humbly acknowledge as a mark of Divine favour and affection and their unshaken faith in His goodness and mercy inspires them with the hope , that as he has not permitted to fall the column on which is supported Freemasonry among them He will stretch forth His healing arm , and speedily restore you to a greater enjoyment of the blessing of health and strengthas well for the beinfifc of the
, Craft as for the happiness of your family . " In conclusion , they beg to assure you that their constant prayer will be , that it will not be long ere they will again experience the deep pleasure and satisfaction of receiving in the bosom of their lodge their devoted and worthily esteemed Right Worshipful District Grand Master .
AA ' e remain , Right AVorshipful Sir and Bro . Yours fraternally . " [ Here follow the signatures . ] Port-of-Spain , Sth April , 1868 . To the Worshipful Brother Robert Scott , and other Members of the District Grand Lodge , & c . Worthy and esteemed brethren , I cannot adequately express to you the gratification I have experienced by the reception of your letter of congratulation oo