Scotland.

We should make ourselves felt as the ministers of good throughout the country / if we were to carry out most thoroughly the principles of the Order , and I am sure that , instead of Freemasonry being a name , as to some extent it is at present , it would then be felt to be a reality . Our lodges would be largely augmented in numbers , and we would discover that we existed for a great purpose—that 1 reemnsonry was an Order which was blessed largelbGod for the good of our fellowmen . I

y y trust , right worshipful sir and brethren , that I am not using too great liberty in speaking these words just now , for I feel that Freemasonry is an Order to which anyone may be proud to belong ; and I think were we really to live out those principles we would confer a blessing upon ourselves , and a blessing upon others—for all good when it comes out comes out to relieve want , but it returns again into ourselves to foster a spirit of

holiness . Let us then , right worshipful sir and brethren , whilst consecrating this hall for the Lodge St . John , resolve that our Masonry shall became a living principle of our lives , and that we shall not only be distinguished for our charity , but for the other virtues which should adorn the Masonic character . The consecration was then proceeded with , the service being of the most religious character . At its close ,

P . G . M . Depute , addressing the . brothron of St . John ' s Lodge , congratulated them on tbe possession of such an elegant hall , and trusted that they might hold many happy aud profitable meetings within its walls . R . W . M . Baird , after thanking the P . G . M . Depute and the brethren who had assisted him in consecrating the hall , referred to the period when entrance to the St . John ' s Lodge could only be obtained by those who were members of the incorporation of

Masons . Tho Lodge at that time was necessarily limited in number , but when in 1846 the Incorporations lost their privileges in this respect , the Lodge applied to the Grand Lodge of Scotland to take jplace with the daughter lodges under its constitution . That application was granted , the . St . John's getting the high position of 3 bis in joining the Grand Lodge . Since then the membership had gradually increased until now , and the Lodgo had been able to purchase the property in which they were at that time assembled . In the decorations of the hall , he might

add , the stereotyped Masonic emblems had been departed from ; but whether they had succeeded in making it what a Masonic lodge-room ought to be , must remain for the brethren to determine . In conclusion , ho hoped that all the good wishes expressed might be realised , and that in passing years the St . John ' s Lodge might be able to give increasingly of that bounty which it was alike the duty and the privileges of Freemasons to dispense . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . We may

mention that during tbe-servico the music , selected and partly composed by Bro . Halkett ; was efficiently rendered by a choir , Bro . Haydock presiding at the harmonium . A meeting of the Lodge St . Join , was afterwards held , at which the office-bearers were appointed as follow : —Br . John Baird , R . W . M . ; Br . Robert Neilson , D . M . ; Br . James M'Millan , S . M . ; Br . William Kyle , jr ., S . W . ; Br . Thomas Fletcher , J . W . ;

Br R . D . Samuels , Treasurer ; Br . Thomas J . Smillie , Secretary ; Br . John Dick , S . D . ; Br . Jas . Kyle , J . D . ; Br . James Hamilton . Architect ; Br . David S . Henderson Jeweller ; Br . David Walker , Director of Music ; Br . Alexander Guthrie , chaplain . The office-bearers were afterwards duly installed . On the motion of the R . W . M . Baird , Br . Barrow , D . P . G . M ., was affiliated an honorary member of St . John ' s Lodge . In the evening , tbe members of the Lodge St . John and

visiting brethren , to the number in all of about 100 , dined together in Oarrick's Royal Hctel , The chair was occupied by R . W . M . John Baird , who was supported by P . G . M . Depute Bro . Barrow ; P . G . M . Substitute Bro . Steel ; Bros . Rev . Alex . Guthrie , Chaplain ; James Gilfillan , Deacon of Incorporation ; James Cruickshanks , Donald Campbell , Thomas Halkett , A . . M'Tnggart , and Granger . Bros . William Kyle Jim ., and Thomas Fletcher officiated as croupiers , and amongst the brethren present

were—Bros . Gavin Park , J . B . Walker , Peter Shannon , James M'Millan , Substitute Master , T . J . Smillie , Sec , and R . D . Samuels , Treas . After an excellent dinner , the ordinary loyal and constitutional toasts were given from the chair and cordially responded to , "The Army , Navy , aud Reserve Forces" being associated with the name of Bro . Capt . Burn , who responded . The Chairman , in next giving the " Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , " referred to the presence of the

Grand Master Mason of Scotland , Bro . the Earl of Rosslyn , at the Masonic Festival in the City Hall on Friday evening , the 23 rd ult ., He remarked that it was greatly to the credit of the newlyelected Grand Master that he had shown so much courtesy towards the Western Province , and if the Grand Masters of England and Ireland were equally earnest in doing their work , there could be no doubt that the lodges in both these countries were well ruled .

Bro . Cruickshanks next gave , "The Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , " and Bro . Deacon Gilfillan proposed " Tbe Lord Provost and Magistrates , " coupled with the name of Bro ; Councillor Steel , who replied ; while , on the invitation of the chairman , the brethren pledged the health of " Our newly-installed Chaplain , " the Rev . Bro . A . Guthrie . Bro . the Rev . Mr . Guthrie , in responding , said Freemasonry in some respects afforded an example to our Christian

denominations . Amongst Freemasons all was harmony and unity . They were the only body who experienced the blessedness of those who dwelt together in unity . Looking round upon our Christian denominations , they were seen to be all jealous of each other . They were full of petty jealousies . Their work was more taken up with building walls of separation , one denomination against anotherthan in doing the great work of their

, Master and Founder . Was that not the case ? They looked forward to the Millenium , and many of them might be disposed to say , " When the Millenium comes it will be a U . P . Church , a Free Church , or an Established Church . All the other denominations will be swamped into one , and of course that one is tho denomination I belong to . I shall not move one step to the right or to the loft , but just stand where I am , and all the others will

come and join me . ' I see things in the right light , I put on my spectacles and other people must put on my spectacles and see things in the same light . If they are green spectacles , everything will appear green , " and so on . People who thought and spoke in that way should refrain from making any attack on our friends the Roman Catholics on account of the doctrine of Papal infallibilityforthey were just claiming that iufallibilit

, y themselves . Mr . Guthrie went on to expross the pleasure which it would afford him to discharge the duties of Chaplain of St . John ' s Lodge . Bro . Barrow , P . G . M . Depute , then gave "Our Worshipful Master .

Br Baird , R . W . M ., in reply , said that during the past year the Lodge had had its fair share of prosperity , about 50 new entrants having been added to the roll . An unfortunate episode however , took place in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the Albert Bridge . The members of the Lodge considered that they were put ont of their proper place on that occasion , and they thought so still . The matter he thought would come before the Grand Lod at Edinburgh in the month

ge of February next , and he trusted the result would be such that no Lodge would attempt to over-rido the St John ' s Lodge again . The E . W . M . went on to allude to the important foundation-stone ceremonials in which their Lodge had been engagod in bygone years and remarked that up till the withdrawal of the exclusive privilege of the incorporations in 1846 the Grand Lodge of Scotland even dared not lay a founuation-stone in Glasgow without the

consent of tbe St John . With the exception of tho above episode , everything had boen pleasant and harmonious during theyearand he trusted that at the end of other twelve mouths when he quitted the chair in which they had kindly placed him on three separate occasions he might leave the Lodge to his successor in as flourcondition as it was at present . Several other toasts were proposed and a number of capital songs were given by the brethren .

AYR . GAiOTOsa—A grand torchlight processiou of St . Peter's Lodge took place here on Thursday night , 22 nd ult ., on the occasion of the anniversary of the installation of tho Officebearers of the Lodge . Deputations from Kilmarnock and Newmilns Lodges were present ; the Newmilns brass band was in attendance , and contributed much to the success of the affair . STIRLINGSHIRE .

GRANGEMOUTH . —Zetland Lodge ( No . 391 ) . —On Monday evening tho 26 th ult ., the brethren of this lodge met in the New Hall , for tho purpose of installing those members wdio had previously been nominated for office—viz ., Bro . E . Christensen R . W . M . ; J . Munro , P . M . ; A . Cowie , S . M . ; A M'Culloch , D . M .