Scottish Constitution.

SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION .

EDINBURGH . STOW . —St . John's Logde ( No . 216 ) , —The brethren of this lodge held their first monthly meeting for instruction this year in the lodge room on the evening of Friday , the 1 st inst . Bro . Henry Kerr , R . AV . M ., occupied tlie chair . Bro . Robert Sanderson , P . G . S ., gave a short address on the " Advantages of Masonry , " which was well receiveci and hierhly appreciated hy all present . At the close Bro . David Scott , Sec , in a few remark-, proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Sanderson , after which the lodge was closed .

GLASGOW GLASGOW . —Athole Lodge ( No . 4-13 ) . —The meeting of this young and flourishing lodge was held upon Tuesday , the 22 nd ult . The lodge having been duly opened , the Provincial Grand Lodge office-bearers—who are at present systematically visiting all the lodges in the province—headed by Bro . Walter M . Neilson , Prov . G . M . were then admitted . Bro . Raynham having been

, elected Chaplain , was duly installed . The formal finding of the Provincial Grand Lodge , as to the manner in which tlie Athole kept their books and conducted their affairs , was then read by the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . A . McTaggart , jlI . A ., such finding was very favourable , the affairs of the lodge being said to have been " conducted in strict harmony with Grand Lodge laws , and in accordance with the ancient usages of the Order . " The Prov .

G . M ., who had examined the books personally , then addressed the lodge ; he cautioned them to he very careful whom they admitted , " vouching" should not be a mere matter of form but a reality . He remarked , " instead of a large , I would prefer a select number . " He then proceeded so tlie effect— " We are desirous to have men who are more independent , who have more money and time , so as to have a better appearance to the outer

world . " In regard to the projected Freemasons' Hall , for Glasgow , the Prov . G . M . observed that at present they were just at the taming point as to whether it was to go on or come to a standstill ; at present he said , " the hall committee were hanging on their oars to see how they were to bo supported , " etc . It would be a disgrace to the fraternit y if this new Masonic Hall scheme should fall through . Bro . F . A . Barrow , D . Prov . G . M . also addressed the meeting , and after some remarks from the R . \ A . M ., the Prov . G . Office-bearers then retired in a body while the lodge was still on labour .

GLASGOW . —Thistle Lodge ( No . 87 } . —The 108 th anniversary of the bretliren of this lodge was celebrated on the evening of the 16 th ult ., in the Hall , Croy-place , Bro . J . Frazor , R , AA ' . M ., presiding . An excellent supper was provided by Bro . Forrest , to which the brethren did ample justice . The various toasts incidental to such occasions were given in the course of the evening , and were duly honoured and responded to . A number of excellent songs , glees , etc ., were contributed by the brethren , and a pleasant evening was spent .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPOLITAN . PRUDENT BRETHREN CHAPTER ( NO . 145 ) . —PUBLIC NIGHT . — Freemasonry was in the ascendant last week , for immediately following the great gathering of the Craft on AVednesday came the public night of the Prudent Brethren Chapter , of which there has been so much talk amongst R . A . Masons , and which we alluded to in our last impressionWant of then

-. space pre vented our going further into detail ancl giving a more lengthened report . Large as was the assemblage of tlie Craft on Wednesday it was far exceeded on Thursday by the R . A . Masons , considering tho relative numbers of the Craft as compared with those of the Arch ; and we may venture to say that those of the provincial companions who hud determined to stay over Thursday for this meeting were fully rewarded for their second devotion to

evening ^ Masonry . Never was applause more freely given or with greater sincerity , and , we may say , never more deserved—for , from , the reading ofthe summons convening the convocation by Comp . G . S . States , Scribe E ., to the closing address by Comp . Brett , everything went on smoothly , evenly , perfectly without the slightest bitch . The various explanations ,

Royal Arch.

illustrations , descriptions , whether mystical , symbolical , historical ceremonial , scriptural , or mathematical , reflected the highest amount of credit to every one who took part in this most intellectual Masonic treat , and most sincerely do we hope that the Chapter of Prudent Brethren will not , after so great a success , allow this to bo the last public night as well as the first , but that before long we shall hear from them again . Uniformity of working has been much talked of in the Craft of

lite , but as regards the R . A . let the members of that body continue their exertions , and probably Grand Chapter will give them an opportunity of showing their working at a less expense than was entailed upon them on Thursday , and from tho expressions anel remarks we heard from London as w-ell as Provincial R . A . Masons , we have no hesitation in saying we shall in future hear very little about want of uniformity of R . A . working . DOMATIC CHAPTER ( NO . 177 ) . —The regular convocation of

this chapter was held on Thursday , the 24 th ult ., at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-stvcet . Comps . 11 . AV . Little , M . E . Z . ; J . Coutts . H . ; AV . J . Gilbert , J . ; and P . Z . ' s J . Smith , Treas . ; II . G . Buss , Scribe E . ; J . Brett , Payne , Carpenter , Sissons , etc . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , and a ballot was taken for the admission of Bro . Harrison , of Lodge No 27 and he was duly exalted . This beingthe night for the

. , , installation of the M . E . Z ., Comp . John Coutts , who had on a former meeting been unanimously elected , was duly installed by Comp . Brett , P . Z . ; Gilbert , H . ; AVilson , J . ; J . Cubitt , Prin . Soj . ; H . G . Buss , Scribe E . ; J . Smith , Treas . ; Bradley , Janitor . The chapter was then closed , and the companions adjourned to the banquet , a very excellent dinner having been provided by Bro . Clemow .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . R . D . HOLMES , P . G . M . NEAV YORK .

The melancholy tidings of the death of our lamented Bro . Holmes , P . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of New York , and Masonic Editor of the Dispatch has just been received . He was most estimable and agreeable , of fine culture , devoted to Proemasonry , and while Grand Master , won the highest esteem of the brethren of New York . His editorial labors were severe , and his views received the respect of tho Craft . Always able , kind and fraternal , he has left behind him sincere and sorrowing Mends .

Bishop Chase.

BISHOP CHASE .

The Right Rev . Carlton Chase , the distinguished and universally beloved Bishop of New Hampshire , ( U . S . ) died at Olaremont on the 18 fch of December , and was buried on the 25 th . The funeral was largely attended , and the ceremonies were solemn and imposing . He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity , and the Lodges and brethren in the vicinity attended the furneral .

Bro. John Witten.

BRO . JOHN WITTEN .

On Tuesday morning last , were interred in the churchyard of Lexden , near Colchester , the remains of Bro . John Witten , an old inhabitant of the parish , who succumbed to a painful disease on the 23 rd inst ., at the advanced age of 76 years . The deceased was ( with one exception , we believe ) the oldest Mason in this neighbourhood , and he had occupied the oflice of Tyler of the Angel

Lodge , No . 51 . for a very long period , and of the United Lodge , No- 697 , ever since its formation . The regular , yet unassuming , manner iu which he performed his duties won for him the esteem of all the members of both lodges ; and his death has produced a universal feeling of regret among the brethren . At the interament of the deceased on Tuesday about 20 brethrenincluding

repre-, sentatives of the two lodges , attended as a mark of respect to his memory . The burial office was impressively performed by the Rector ( the Rev . John Papillon ) , who at its close expressed the pleasure he felt at witnessing the regard in which Bro . "Witten was held among his Masonic brethren . —Essex Standard .