"Fano Ne Profano."

unseemly and irreverent prayers so often used in certain ceremonials , and which are even more objectionable than the religious plays of Catholic countries , which used to be called " Mysteries . " £ n my opinion there should he appointed a Grand Committee , selected from the general Masonic body ,

to investigate these abuses , and to suggest a Masonic Eeform Bill , which should place Freemasonry on a basis in harmony with the intelligence of the age . Yours fraternally , L . ( E . A . ) P . S . —I may take this opportunity of calling the

attention of Bro . Buchan and others to the " Squairmen " of Scotlandinthe 16 th and 17 th centuries . In Dumfries , the Deacon of the Squirmen ( square-men ) was at the head of a confraternity of Operatives (?) who used the SQTJAEE in their crafts , and included carpenters as well as masons . In fact , "Square-men" is a name very

much to the point , and if it had been originally adopted in Speculative Masonry , would haA r e obviated many subsequent misconceptions . " Squairmen" will be found amongst the testators whose names are recorded in the Commissariat of Dumfries , Eeg . Ho . Edin ., but I need not give their names . — -L . ( E . A . )

" Glasgow Freemen Operative St. John's Lodge.

" GLASGOW FREEMEN OPERATIVE ST . JOHN ' S LODGE .

[ From the Glasgow Herald . " ] " Sir , —Permit me to say a few words in regard to the tempest in a teapot raised by ' Masonieus , ' in your journal ofthe 14 th aud prior dates , anent the procession at the foundation stone-laying of the Albert Bridge on the 3 rd June , and the unhappy misunderstanding that

took place between the St . John's and the Grand Lodges . Having acted at the laying the foundation of the former bridge about forty years ago , I fully intended to have taken my assigned place in the Grand Lodge , which I have clone at the following ceremonies , viz .: —The Hutchesontown Bridge , the

Jamaicastreet Bridge , the Victoria or StoelcAvell-street Bridge , Sir Walter Scott ' s Monument ( if I recollect aright ) , also the Eoyal Lunatic Asylum ( Gnrtiiavel ) , and tho Barnhill Poors' House . Iu all of these I acted as one ofthe Grand Lodge , Avearing its clothing , & c . Being all practical as Avell as speculative Masons , a certain number of the St . John ' s Lodge were requested , throuoli our own E . W . M .. bv the Grand Lodsre to

carry the tools used at the ceremony , which we did unanimously , and as to Avhich there was never any hitch the same as took place on the 3 rd ult . We attended tho opening of the Grand Lodge in the Chapter House of our noble old Cathedral , heard sermons aftei-Avarcls , walked Avith the Grand Lodge ,

completed our work at the building , and ' refreshed in the light' with our brethren and the civic authorities on all the occasions Avhich I have referred to ; but while I state that there Avas no hitch so far as being requested b y the Grand Lodge to carry the tools , there was a most unbrotherly attempt made several times

at the processions to shift the St . John's Lodge from its proper position , which Avas next to the Grand Lodge , and place it in a lower place . If I mistake not , the Edinburg St . Mary ' s Lodge Avas the delinquent more than once , but tlie attempt was frustrated by the firmness of the St . John ' s Lodge , backed and supported as they were by their brethren of tbe other lodges in the west ; and while they have never de-

" Glasgow Freemen Operative St. John's Lodge.

sired to obtrude themselves at Edinburg , & c , in the province of Glasgow they never submitted , nor , I trust , will ever submit , to he trampled upon by any of the Eastern lodges . I don't know whether there is any express law warranting the St . John's Lodge to act as to the tools carrying ¦ but surely 40 years '

' use and wont' is sufficient title . As for ' breakingout into open mutiny' that is simply absurd . The Glasgow Freemen Operative St . John ' s Lodge is the senior lodge in Scotland even to the Grand Lodge ; and had onr predecessors in office done their duty , every lodge in Scotland would haA'e required to get a

charter from them , and the St . John ' s would now be in the receipt of a large income , which I suppose the Grand Lodge now enjoys . As to the conduct of the St . John's members being uncourteous aud ungentlemanly , there are two opinions as to that ; and so highly do the office hearers and members of the St . John ' s Lodge appreciate the spirited conduct of their Avorthy E . W . M ., Mr . John Baird , that they are to giA e him a testimonial in the Eoyal Hotel , Greorge-square , this

weeks . "As to the Grand Lodge giving our lodge the high position Ho . 3 bis , the roll being ihe Grand , Mother Kilwinuing , Edinburgh St . Mary ' s , aud another lodge , Avhich I forget at this moment , our position ought to have been in ' tlie roll No . 2 ; and as to the patronising way in which the affiliation of St . John ' s Lodge took

place , I can state , if 'Masonieus' does not know already , that ib was the subject of deep regret to many ofthe best aud most enthusiastic Masons in Scotland that the old St . John ' s could not bo induced to enter the fold , where she would be received with optyn arms . JMegociatious Avere accordingly gone into , and being

supported by such worthy brethren as Professor Arnott , the late distinguished E . vF . M . of St .- Mark ' s , and many others in Glasgow , and the Duke of Athole ( who was Gf . M . ) , Whyte Melville , and others in Edinburgh , the matter was arranged , as . now settled , ns to the roll number . I was one of tbe deputation who went to Edinburgh at the conclusion of tlie buaaass ,

and those AVIIO Avere present at tlie sumptuous banquet which took place in Ea . ; iip ! iii ' .-3 Hotel , opposite th ; .:-oh ! post-olilce there , will iruc icoii forget the haraiouy that existed on that splendid occasion . "As for proof of the genuineness ol ih < J charts : ' granted by our Scottish King , Malcolm Canmore , it

is not worth spending time to prove to ' Mr . ronicus ' that it is so . The document was produced iu a civil action many years ago before the Lords of Council and Session , and its authenticity is admitted . The myth as to the forgery in 1 S 0 S is all ' bosh . ' " As my letter is already too long , and ' Masonieus '

fond of hiding his literary abilities under a Latin mask , I will conclude by quoting two Latin sentences—Nemo me impuno lacessit and Se crepiilam ullra sulor , which , being very liberally interpreted , means ' May we always do as Ave ought to do . ' —I am , yours respectfully , THOMAS M- 'GLTFIE , LA ., 101 , West ^ tilestreet . "

Glasgow St. John's And The Masonic Processios.

GLASGOW ST . JOHN ' S AND THE MASONIC PROCESSIOS .

j From the Glasgow Herald . " ] " June 17 , 1870 . " gj V )—Erom first to last , the GlasgoAv St . John ' s have put their foot in it in regard to this matter , and