Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
returned to the hall , where , in the interval , dinner had been laid in Bro . Dickson ' s usual tasteful and substantial style . The Chaplain asked a blessing , after which ample justice was done to the viands . When the cloth was removed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given from the chair , which was ably filled by Bro . Brownlee , R . W . M . The remainder of the evening was passed in a very agreeable and happy manner , the brethren with toast , song , and sentiment , vying with each other to make the meeting enjoyable . After the torchlight procession the lodge was closed in ample form , and the brethren separated .
GLASGOW . 810 in ANNINEESAEY OE THE LODGE G LASGOW . ST . JOHN , No . 3 lis ¦ . AND AFFILIATION OP THE R . W . BEO . CAPTAIN Srams , P . J . G . W ., ES & IASD , AND PROV . G . M ., GLASGOW , AS AN HONOEAKY MEJIBEE .
It was with no ordinary interest that we looked forward to the opportunity afforded us of availing ourselves of the card of invitation politely sent us to attend such an important Masonic event as that indicated by the above heading , " Antiquity ' s pride we have on our side , " might appropriately be used as the motto of a Masonic lodge ; i . e . a lodge of free and accepted or Speculative Masons , —who can unblushingly and evidently , in sober earnestness , announce that in the year 1867
she held her 810 th anniversary 1 a very simple process of arithmetic thus brings the date of the foundation of this lodge to be A . D . 1057 . Doubtless many of our readers , and especially those who , like ourselves , hail from the Grand Lodge of England , would like to know something about the allegations upon which such an extraordinary assertion is based . One of the most reliable and uubiassed of Masonic historians of the present day has very tritely remarked that the history of the world
begins with a legend ; and so does the history of Masonry ; and we are also informed by the same authority that English Masons have their York legend , dating as far back as the year 926 ; the German Steinmetsen ( stone cutters ) reply to any queries referring to the origin of their art , by pointing to the erection of the Cathedral of Magdeburg ( S 76 ) , and the Scottish Mason is satisfied with transferring it to the year 1140 , the date of the building of the Abbey of Kilwinning . How are we then to
account for the announcement put forth by the Glasgow St . John ' s lodge , No . 3 bis . ? These prefatory remarks formed the subject of our ruminations as we wended our way to that time honoured institution , or what was once the heart and pride of the Tontine Hotel , the place appointed—and most appropriately so—for the festive meeting of such an ancient lodge ; feeling assured that doubtless , in the course of the evenings
proceedings , some light would be thrown upon what appeared to us then —and as the sequel proved—still appears au inexplicable assertion . However , of this more anon : by the time we had finished our cogitations we were in the room in which the officers and members of the lodge were , with numerous visiting brethren assembled , awaiting the arrival of the Provincial Grand Master , who , upon entering the lodge , accompanied by Bros . F . A . Barrow , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; W . Smith , Prov . Sec . ; Robb ,
Prov . Mareschal and others , was received with tiie cordial greetings of the brethren present . The R . W . Prov . G . M . was then affiliated as an honorary member of tho lodge ; the ceremony being very impressively and gracefully performed by Bro . Thomas Ramsay , the- R . W . M ., who has been recoutly re-elected to the chair of this ancient lodgo . The Prov . G . M . having returned thanks in a few appropriate remarks for tho honour just conferred upon himthe soveral
, office-bearers of the lodgo wore installed by Bro . F . A . Barrow , Sub . Prov . G . M . Tho lodgo was then closed aud tho brethren adjourned to tho banqueting hall . The chair was occupied by the Prov . G . M ., supported on his right by Bros , Thomas Ramsay , R . W . M . of tho lodge : J . Steel , Prov . G . J . W . ; Leith , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . Anderson , R . W . M . 3 G 2 ; Ex-B-aillie McCulloch . Robb . Prov . G-. Mareschal ;
and other brothron . And on the loft by Bros . F . A . Barrow , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; W . Smith , Prov . G . Sec . ; Cruikshanks , P . M . of No . 3 bis and P . Dep . Prov . G . M . On the platform we also noticed as a visiting brother , Bro . Alfred Davis , P . Prov . G . D ., Durham . Tho duties of the Croupier were discharged by Bro . J . McMillan , S . W ., supported by Bros . Gavin Park , Walker , Captain BairfJ , R . Donaldson , P . M . ' s , and others . The J . W . ' s chair was efficiently filled by Bro . McAuley , supported by Bro . Buchan ,
P . S . W . There was an unusually strong turn out of visiting brethren , including deputations from sister lodges . The Prov . Grand Lodgo of Renfrewshire ( East ) was also represented by a deputation headed by Bro . W . Snodgrass , Prov . G . Treas . Tho FBEEJIASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRKOR was represented by Bro . James Stevenson . After the dinnor the chairman , tho R . W . Prov . G . M ., proposed "Tho Queen and the Craft , " which was drunk with due honour and
by the brethren . The next toast was " Tho Army , Navy , Volunteers , which was responded to iu a similar spirit . Bro . Captain Speirs , P . G . M ., proposed " The Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , " coupled with the names of Earl of Zetland , Duke of Leinster , aud Earl of Dalhousie . Bro . William Trimble , replied , amidst somo very unseemly and un-Masonic interruption , overruled by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., on behalf of the Grand Lodgo of Ireland .
The R . W . Prov . G . M ., in proposing- " Tho Lord Provost , Magistrates ,, and Town Council of the City of Glasgow , " good-humouredly remarked that he thought it might possibly add to their popularity and influence if they were all Masons . Ex-Baiilie M'Culloch having replied , The R . W . M ., Bro . Ramsay , in proposing "The Provincial Grand Lodge and Bro . Captain Speirs , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , " said he had heard Masons remark upon the eloquent
speech delivered in the City Hall last Friday night hy the gallant brother that through his exertions Masonry in the West of Scotland would be one of the brightest jewels in the Grand Lodge , and he had great pleasure in endorsing that remark . The R . W . Prov . G . M . in replying to the toast , said that in the name of his colleagues and himself in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , he returned his and their most sincere thanks for the kind manner in which the brethren had responded to the toast . He would now proceed with the next toast on the list , which he supposed had fallen into his hands because he was the
youngest member of the lodge . The toast was "The Lodge of Glasgow St . John . " He felt a certain amount of diffidence in proposing the toast , because it was only last Monday that he thought he had the greatest possible honour conferred upon him iu being affiliated in what he believed to be the oldest lodge in Scotland . But since that time , having carefully and witli great pleasure perused a small volume that was placed in his hands by the Right Worshipful Master , he came to the
conclusion there was a lodge in which he hoped at some future time to be affiliated , and then he might flatter himself to belong to the oldest lodge in Scotland . That object of his ambition it had been their kindness to confer upon him . He hoped they would not find their last and youngest brother was less willing and less able to assist them than any other member . A document , or rather a piece of parchment , had been placed in his hands , which , he was told upon the very best authoritywas written and
, signed hy royalty in the year 1057 . He regretted that his eyes were not so good that he could read it , else he should have valued it still more ; but from the assurances he had received , he felt confident that although their lodge ranked 8 ; j- in the Grand Lodge of Scotland , it was not in its right place . He did hope at some future time—which was not far distant—when the Grand Master came to visit this his largest aud most promising child in Scotland , they should be able to
demonstrate the rights of their lodge , and have themselves put in their right and proper position . * The oldest lodge in Scotland at present on the roll , or rather the lodge that claimed to be the first , was the lodge of which he should speak with all due respect , St . Mary ' s Chapel , Edinburgh , which was his mother lodge in Scotland . But still , with all his affection and zeal for that lodge , he could not allow—considering it to be the true spirit of Masonry to be straightforward and true—that she was the oldest lodge—for the oldest title in their possession bore date of 1598 . When they came to the next lodge upon the list at present , they found that their records only went back as far
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
returned to the hall , where , in the interval , dinner had been laid in Bro . Dickson ' s usual tasteful and substantial style . The Chaplain asked a blessing , after which ample justice was done to the viands . When the cloth was removed the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given from the chair , which was ably filled by Bro . Brownlee , R . W . M . The remainder of the evening was passed in a very agreeable and happy manner , the brethren with toast , song , and sentiment , vying with each other to make the meeting enjoyable . After the torchlight procession the lodge was closed in ample form , and the brethren separated .
GLASGOW . 810 in ANNINEESAEY OE THE LODGE G LASGOW . ST . JOHN , No . 3 lis ¦ . AND AFFILIATION OP THE R . W . BEO . CAPTAIN Srams , P . J . G . W ., ES & IASD , AND PROV . G . M ., GLASGOW , AS AN HONOEAKY MEJIBEE .
It was with no ordinary interest that we looked forward to the opportunity afforded us of availing ourselves of the card of invitation politely sent us to attend such an important Masonic event as that indicated by the above heading , " Antiquity ' s pride we have on our side , " might appropriately be used as the motto of a Masonic lodge ; i . e . a lodge of free and accepted or Speculative Masons , —who can unblushingly and evidently , in sober earnestness , announce that in the year 1867
she held her 810 th anniversary 1 a very simple process of arithmetic thus brings the date of the foundation of this lodge to be A . D . 1057 . Doubtless many of our readers , and especially those who , like ourselves , hail from the Grand Lodge of England , would like to know something about the allegations upon which such an extraordinary assertion is based . One of the most reliable and uubiassed of Masonic historians of the present day has very tritely remarked that the history of the world
begins with a legend ; and so does the history of Masonry ; and we are also informed by the same authority that English Masons have their York legend , dating as far back as the year 926 ; the German Steinmetsen ( stone cutters ) reply to any queries referring to the origin of their art , by pointing to the erection of the Cathedral of Magdeburg ( S 76 ) , and the Scottish Mason is satisfied with transferring it to the year 1140 , the date of the building of the Abbey of Kilwinning . How are we then to
account for the announcement put forth by the Glasgow St . John ' s lodge , No . 3 bis . ? These prefatory remarks formed the subject of our ruminations as we wended our way to that time honoured institution , or what was once the heart and pride of the Tontine Hotel , the place appointed—and most appropriately so—for the festive meeting of such an ancient lodge ; feeling assured that doubtless , in the course of the evenings
proceedings , some light would be thrown upon what appeared to us then —and as the sequel proved—still appears au inexplicable assertion . However , of this more anon : by the time we had finished our cogitations we were in the room in which the officers and members of the lodge were , with numerous visiting brethren assembled , awaiting the arrival of the Provincial Grand Master , who , upon entering the lodge , accompanied by Bros . F . A . Barrow , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; W . Smith , Prov . Sec . ; Robb ,
Prov . Mareschal and others , was received with tiie cordial greetings of the brethren present . The R . W . Prov . G . M . was then affiliated as an honorary member of tho lodge ; the ceremony being very impressively and gracefully performed by Bro . Thomas Ramsay , the- R . W . M ., who has been recoutly re-elected to the chair of this ancient lodgo . The Prov . G . M . having returned thanks in a few appropriate remarks for tho honour just conferred upon himthe soveral
, office-bearers of the lodgo wore installed by Bro . F . A . Barrow , Sub . Prov . G . M . Tho lodgo was then closed aud tho brethren adjourned to tho banqueting hall . The chair was occupied by the Prov . G . M ., supported on his right by Bros , Thomas Ramsay , R . W . M . of tho lodge : J . Steel , Prov . G . J . W . ; Leith , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . Anderson , R . W . M . 3 G 2 ; Ex-B-aillie McCulloch . Robb . Prov . G-. Mareschal ;
and other brothron . And on the loft by Bros . F . A . Barrow , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; W . Smith , Prov . G . Sec . ; Cruikshanks , P . M . of No . 3 bis and P . Dep . Prov . G . M . On the platform we also noticed as a visiting brother , Bro . Alfred Davis , P . Prov . G . D ., Durham . Tho duties of the Croupier were discharged by Bro . J . McMillan , S . W ., supported by Bros . Gavin Park , Walker , Captain BairfJ , R . Donaldson , P . M . ' s , and others . The J . W . ' s chair was efficiently filled by Bro . McAuley , supported by Bro . Buchan ,
P . S . W . There was an unusually strong turn out of visiting brethren , including deputations from sister lodges . The Prov . Grand Lodgo of Renfrewshire ( East ) was also represented by a deputation headed by Bro . W . Snodgrass , Prov . G . Treas . Tho FBEEJIASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRKOR was represented by Bro . James Stevenson . After the dinnor the chairman , tho R . W . Prov . G . M ., proposed "Tho Queen and the Craft , " which was drunk with due honour and
by the brethren . The next toast was " Tho Army , Navy , Volunteers , which was responded to iu a similar spirit . Bro . Captain Speirs , P . G . M ., proposed " The Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , " coupled with the names of Earl of Zetland , Duke of Leinster , aud Earl of Dalhousie . Bro . William Trimble , replied , amidst somo very unseemly and un-Masonic interruption , overruled by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., on behalf of the Grand Lodgo of Ireland .
The R . W . Prov . G . M ., in proposing- " Tho Lord Provost , Magistrates ,, and Town Council of the City of Glasgow , " good-humouredly remarked that he thought it might possibly add to their popularity and influence if they were all Masons . Ex-Baiilie M'Culloch having replied , The R . W . M ., Bro . Ramsay , in proposing "The Provincial Grand Lodge and Bro . Captain Speirs , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , " said he had heard Masons remark upon the eloquent
speech delivered in the City Hall last Friday night hy the gallant brother that through his exertions Masonry in the West of Scotland would be one of the brightest jewels in the Grand Lodge , and he had great pleasure in endorsing that remark . The R . W . Prov . G . M . in replying to the toast , said that in the name of his colleagues and himself in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , he returned his and their most sincere thanks for the kind manner in which the brethren had responded to the toast . He would now proceed with the next toast on the list , which he supposed had fallen into his hands because he was the
youngest member of the lodge . The toast was "The Lodge of Glasgow St . John . " He felt a certain amount of diffidence in proposing the toast , because it was only last Monday that he thought he had the greatest possible honour conferred upon him iu being affiliated in what he believed to be the oldest lodge in Scotland . But since that time , having carefully and witli great pleasure perused a small volume that was placed in his hands by the Right Worshipful Master , he came to the
conclusion there was a lodge in which he hoped at some future time to be affiliated , and then he might flatter himself to belong to the oldest lodge in Scotland . That object of his ambition it had been their kindness to confer upon him . He hoped they would not find their last and youngest brother was less willing and less able to assist them than any other member . A document , or rather a piece of parchment , had been placed in his hands , which , he was told upon the very best authoritywas written and
, signed hy royalty in the year 1057 . He regretted that his eyes were not so good that he could read it , else he should have valued it still more ; but from the assurances he had received , he felt confident that although their lodge ranked 8 ; j- in the Grand Lodge of Scotland , it was not in its right place . He did hope at some future time—which was not far distant—when the Grand Master came to visit this his largest aud most promising child in Scotland , they should be able to
demonstrate the rights of their lodge , and have themselves put in their right and proper position . * The oldest lodge in Scotland at present on the roll , or rather the lodge that claimed to be the first , was the lodge of which he should speak with all due respect , St . Mary ' s Chapel , Edinburgh , which was his mother lodge in Scotland . But still , with all his affection and zeal for that lodge , he could not allow—considering it to be the true spirit of Masonry to be straightforward and true—that she was the oldest lodge—for the oldest title in their possession bore date of 1598 . When they came to the next lodge upon the list at present , they found that their records only went back as far