Scotland.

necessary to explain hoiv it is . The Lodges St . James and St . David ivere both held in Tarbolton , and the members saiv fit to make a junction of the two . This ivas accordingly effected , under the appellation ofthe St . David's , Some years after Bro . Burns ' s admittance some matters in connection with their internal government caused them to bo disjoined , and Burns left it , aud associated himself ivith those AA'ho resuscitated the St . James , most probably from the circumstance that those who seceded wore his personal friendsivith whoso opinions ho coincidedand

, , Avith ivhom , while resident in that part of the country he ever remained in close connection . He was , at tho period of bis initiation , tiA'cnty-thrce years of age , and took , 1 warm interest iu everything relating to the Craft . He became expert and zealous in tbe ceremonials of the Lodge , and the first person brought by him from tho darkness of the outer ivorld into Alasonic light was MattheAV Hall , a musician who AVIIS wont to accompany a noted character , James M'Lachlan , in his excursions over tho country . Burns never appeared to have attained hiher

g rank in the Lodgo than that of Depute Master ; but during his visits to Edinburgh he was made poet laureate of the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , of which honour he ivas very proud . Many of you must have seen engravings from the beautiful picture painted by Bro . Stewart A \ r atscm , the present highly esteemed Secretary of that Lodge—the scone of ivhich is laid in the St . John ' s chapel , ancl is familiar to every Mason . Burns is seen standing on two of the the steps in front of , and leading up to tho altar , with his right hand placed on his left breastclothed ivith his

, ajiron , on the ihip of ivhich is his Fellow daft mark ; the Master , at that tiuie Bro . Alexander Ferguson , of Craigdarroch , being about to encircle his noblo biw with the ivreath of laurel . AVhile lately at Eyemouth , I learned that Burns had been made a Royal Arch Mason . Since then more ample information has been obtained by a zealous Brother iu Edinburgh , the facts of ivhich he has noiv placed in the hands of the public . In his own Lodge he was the able , acting head ; and from his wit , his intelligence , his zeal , and his capability of expressing his ideas with elegance and propriety , he Avas universally beloved and admired by tho Craft . In conclusion , allow me to use our bard ' s own words—¦

"' A last request permit me hero , When yearly ye assemble a ' , One round I ask it ivith a tear , To him , the bard that ' s far aiA ' a ' . " The toast ivas then pledged with all the honours , tho Brethren remaining upstanding , amidst continued cheering and ivaving of handkerchiefs . Song by Bro . David AVinton— " A man ' s a man for a' that . "

Bro . J . AV . McGregor gave , "The . descendants of Bro . Burns , the bard o Scotia , " in a feiv eloquent and pithy remarks , which elicited loud approbation . Song by Bro . A . G . Bums— " 0 a' the aires the win can blaw . " Bro . McCulloch then called upon the Scottish Craft to toast " The Poets of England . " The Chairman next gave "The Spirit of the Craft , " apologising for the absence of Bro . the Rev . Dr . Graham , who was to have given this toast . He alluded

to the universality of Masonry , tho unbounded influence which it possesses , the bonds of affection ivhich it cements , regardless of tbe country or the clime to which the brother belongs , or ivhat sect of religion he professes . Bro . Thomson gave the " St . James ' s Lodge , Tarbolton . " He said , in the combined Lodge of St . David aud St . James in 1781 , Robert Burns first saw the light of Masonry . Harmony seems not to have existed in that body , for they agreed to differ , and the dormant Lodge of St . James was resuscitated , to AA'hich Lodge and number

Burns a of others adhered . It continued to exist up to the present time ; but the St . David ' s , Tarbolton , ivas struck off the roll of the Grand Lodge in tbe year 1 S-13 . You will see from this that the first is last , and I take it IIOAV to be that the last is the very first Lodge now in existence , for when I look around mo hero , I can see a Lodge which toasts of its high antiquity , having got a charter from Malcolm Caumore , in the year 105 .. If ive wove to investigate , I have no doubt but we should find in every Lodgo a somewhat , a distinctive mark that no T 2