Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Tlie following brethren were then appointed to Avork in a chapter of instruction AAwdev the supervision of the M . W . S . Ex . and P . P . S . Chappie , 18 ° Most Wise Sovereign . „ W . J . Hughan , 17 =... M . Ex . Sov . Prin . Master . „ F . M . Williams , 16 ° M . Ex . Sov . G . Master . „ T . Heath , 15 ° Sov . Master . „ J . Brown , 14 ° Thrice Potent G . Master .

„ R . H . Rae , 13 ° Thrice Puisst . G . Master . J . Merrifield , 12 ° ... Most Powerful Master . „ G . Nicholls , 11 ° Thrice Puisst . Master . ' „ J . Hawton , 10 ° Most 111 . Master . „ W . Poxwell , 9 ° Most Wise Master . „ R . Brown , 8 ° Thrice Puisst . Master . „ M . Paull , 7 ° Thrice Puisst . Master . J . Flanagan 6 ° Most 111 . Master .

„ , W . J . J . Spry , 5 ° ... Et . Wov . Master . „ J . H . Trounce , 4 ° .,, Most Powerful Master . There being no further business before the chapter for consideration , it was closed after collecting the alms for the poor and distressed , according to ancient usage .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

PEESENTATIOS - TO BEO . D . MUEEAX Lroy . A communication of Freemasons on a grand scale took place in the Soutb-Avest Province of the sister kingdom , on the afternoon of the 28 th ult . The business coming before the Lodge St . John , Thornhill , No . 252 , on this occasion , ivas of a threefold character , to wit—the reception of the Right Worshipful Bro . J . Stewart , of Nateby Hall , Lancashire , Provincial Grand Master of Dumfries-shireon his return from a lengthened tour

, in South Africa;—the initiation of John Leveson Douglas SteAvarfc , tbe younger , of Nateby Hall , and other eight candidates , six of whom ( Whitehaven gentlemen , led by Bro . T . Cockbain , of Dunfermline St . John ' s Lodge , No . 26 ) , having been attracted across the border , by the fame of Lodge No . 252;—and , thirdly , the presentation of a testimonial to the Historian of St . John ' s Lodge . Seldom indeed has the famed Lodge of Thornhill been graced by a display of perfect ashlars equal to that which met

tbe eye as ib instinctively turned to tbe Orient on the night in question—the disposition of rough ashlars in the north , tending greatly to enliven the aspect of the lodge , as viewed from tbe south , —a region Avhence , under the genial influence of Bro . B . Brown , flowed a sufficiency of oil to keep alive the hilarious flame wbicli seemed , after labour , to have taken possession of the happy fiaters . To complete our circnmition of the lodge , and ere Ave return eastward , Ave must pay our respects to the occupant of tbe Tyrean throne ( Bro . J- Smith , of Carron-hill ) —a brother Avith whose powers for endurance of labour are coupled a concentration of head and heart qualities which

render his presence at refreshment quite indispensable . Grouped in tbe east were the Prov . G . Master ; Bro . F . A . Barrow , Prov . S . G . W . of the province of Glasgow , on bis maiden visit to tbe lodge of Avbicb lie is the esteemed and liigbly efficient Proxy-Master ; the guest of the evening ; the ever-ivelcome Bro . W . M . Brice , Avho attended by special request of the Pi-ov . G . M ., with the regalia of the Grand Lodge ; Bros . A . Glendinning , and J . M'Caig , Past Masters ; W . and P . BI-OAVU , Treas . and

Sec;the united band serving , like branch and petal to beautify the pillar Avhich tbe Right AVorshipful Bro . A . C Hislop so admirably personifies . Among the other component parts of the oblong square formed that night under the roof-tree of St . John ' s , tlle folloiving are Avorthy also of special ¦ mention : —tbe oldest surviving member of the lodge , Bro . A . Lawson , of Keir Mill , bending under the load of more than threescore and ten years ; C . Howitt ( Master of Works to His Grace the Duke of

Buccleugb ) , a brother Avidely known and highly esteemed ; T . Kellock and other Past Masters ; and representatives of the Thistle Lodge , No . 62 ; St . Paul ' s Lodge , No . 204 ; Peace and Unanimity Lodge , No . 348;—the angular approaches to the lodge being guarded by the vigilant and venerable Bro . R . Muirhead . And did mortals possess tbe power of rendering themselves ubiquitous , we should doubtless have had to record the presence on this occasion of the guest ' s intimate friend and

associate in Masonic purposes , Bro . A . 0 . Haye , Avliose apology for absence Avas couched in language highly sympathetic with the object of the meeting , and laudatory of tbe spirit by which tho ° lodge Atas actuated towards its Historian . Domestic affliction

interposed to prevent tbe attendance of the Depute-Master , Bro . R . Burgess . The meeting Avas one of the most social and happv that could Avell be imagined—the only jar observable in the lodge being that from wliich the jolly god distilled the spirit which had rendered animation more animated . The following

is a report of tlie proceedings .- — The W . M ., ns chairman , gave " The Queen , " then "The Grand Lodge of Scotland ; " Bro . A . Glenilmmv . g followed \\ -itU the toast of " The Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , " the toast being suitably prefaced and cordially responded to . Tbe W . M . then rose to propose " The Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire . " In doing so , be said ; R . W . Prov . G ., Sir—So indelibly are the recollections of your last visit to St . John ' s

impressed upon the minds of tho other members of tbe lodge , and so favourably impressed are tbe younger portion of the brethren with what , through Bro . Lyon ' s excellent history , they have learned regarding the interest you have in former years taken in St . John ' s , thafc your presence amongst us this evening is to all of us a soAu-ce of much delight , a feeling Avhich is intensified in a high degree by the additional token of your iven in

favour for St . John ' s which you have g recommencing your son , now onr brother , to receive at our hands the vile of initiation . In your attention to this lodge , both in your official and in your private Masonic capacity , you have laid us under a deep debt of gratitude , and at the same time presented to lis an incentive to greater exertions in the development of Masonic principle . You and your amiable son , and the other members of your family , ; have our best Avishes ; and it shall- be tbe

endeaA'our of this lodge so to comport itself as to merit a continuance of your fraternal regard . Wardens in the south and west ; let the brethren prepare to pledge a bumper to tbe next toast . All charged , & c , join me in giving "LongLife , Health , and Prosperity to the R . W ., Bro . Stewart of Nateby Hall , and G . M . of Dumfriesshire : may the everlasting arms of the Great I Am ever encompass him . Tbe toast was responded to in true Masonic styleand duly

, acknoAvledged by the P . G . M . The Proxy Master was then proposed by Bro . J . Smith . Bro . Barrow , in reply , made a few chaste and highly appropriate remarks . The Worship ful Master again rose to discharge a peculiarly interesting part of the duties devolving upon him , namely , to present Bro . D . M . Lyon Avitb a token of their regard . He

sard -. — " W . Prov . G ., Sir , W . Wardens and Brethren , —None should be more forward than members of the mystic tie in appreciating worth and reAvarding labour more especially when the meritorious one is a brother whose labours have tended to the advancement of Freemasonry . Did not you , brethren , heartily endorse tbe sentiment I have just given expression to , the pleasing duty Avhich now devolves upon me would not have

fallen to my lot . It is patent to all of us that a history of Thornhill St . John ' s has lately emanated from tbe press , and it is an equally Avell-known fact that the gifted author of that to us highly interesting sketch is acknowledged on all bands to have accomplished his task in such a way as that on the application of the plumb , square , and level of Masonic criticism , it has been found perfect in every part , the reviewers of tbe work in question accompanying ( . heir expression of approval Avith

remarks eulogistic of the author . Brethren , it was important , that in agreeing to have the history of our lodge prepared for publication the work should be committed to competent bands , and that our confidence in Bro . Lyon ' s abilities was not misplaced , the history itself affords tho proof ; it is undoubtedly the Avork of a master hand , and its chief and most valued characteristic is its truthfulness ; it is a faithful pourtrayal of Avhat in our lodge proceedings is commendable equally with what

is at variance with Masonic principle ov- Masonic usage . I must not omit to mention that the appearance of the author ' s name ou the title of our history has been the passport to its favourable reception , not only by Masons of distinction in England , but also in America and Germany . Bro . R . Morris , Prov . G . M . of Kentucky , and Bro . Findel of Leipzig—giants in Masonic literature—have , in their respective spheres , warmly commended " Recollections of tile Lodof Freemasons afc Tboi-nlnll" as a production

creditge , able alike to the author and bis constituents ; and in similar terms have the "Reminiscences" been spoken of by Bros . A . O'Neal Haye , of Edinburgh ; P . Bennocli , of London ; Sir J . S . Menteatb , and by another distinguished hrotbur , the Prov . G . M . of Dumfries-shire . Well may the sons of St , John ' s , Thornhill , feeliproud of its history and of its Historian . Bro ,