Scotland.

Lyon—Ifc is with feelings of unfeigned pleasure that , in name of the subscribers , embracing nearly all tbe brethren within hail of the lodge , aided by Bros . Stewart , our Prov . G . M . ; Sir J . S . Menteatli ; Bennoch , poet laureate of ' Twa-Hundred-Tiva and Fifty "; and om- Proxy-Master , Bro . F . A . Barrow ; and hy Bro . Smith , P . G . S . of the Grand Lodge of England , and P . Z . of Britannia Chapter , No . 33 , and other distinguished brethren , I beg your acceptance of this scroll , along with this

purse of sovereigns , presented in acknowledgment of your distinguished services as Historian of St . John's , Thornhill , No . 252 , and in token also of our esteem for you as an honourably prominent member of the fraternity of free and accepted Masons ; and may the Great Architect of the Universe be graciously pleased long to spare you to your family , and for further usefulness in the sphere in which your lot has been cast . "

[ The scroll , of parchment , beautifully illuminated by Muirhead of Edinburgh , is mounted iu oak—a piece of that recently found in the ruins of Tibbers Castle , Dumfries-shire , at a depth of 84 ffc . from the surface . The Castle of Tibbers , referred to by Blind Harry in his metrical history , Avas destroyed by King Robert Bruce , in 1211 . ] , Bro . Lyon , in a few suitable remarks , tendered his warmest

thanks for the testimonial . Bro . C . Howitt then gave " The Newly Initiated Brethren , " felicitously ; and the toast Avas acknowledged by Bro . J . L . D . Steivarfc . Bro . W . Brown proposed " The Poet Laureate of the Lodge , Bro . Bennoch ; " which was followed by a song from Bro . Lorimer , " Clink your Glasses , " composed by Bro . Bennoch . Bro . Stewart , Prov . G . M ., in complimentary terms , proposed

" The Eight Worshipful Master , Bro . A . C . Hislop . " The R . G . Master , in reply , said : Right Worshipful Sir—Nest to our jubilee , the present I deem the most interesting reunion of the members of St . John ' s , at Avhich my health lias been proposed as tbe Master of my mother lodge . Apart altogether from your high social position , your Masonic rank and attainments are sach as to give force and value to any remarks of a Masonic character Avhich may fall from your lips . I cannot , tbevefore , feel otherwise than gratified with the favourable and

kindly expressed terms in Avhich you have introduced the toast —to which the brethren have given such a hearty response . It has been my happiness to be honoured to preside in this lodge during an epoch the most interesting in its history—at a time in which , for numerical strength and for other evidences of prosperity , it has never at any former stage of its existence been equalled . I do not claim for myself tbe credit of having , unaided , brought St . John ' s Lodge to the honourable position

ifc now occupies . No , Right Worshipful Sir , for the medal of the Order of Masonic merit , presented by you to this lodge , testifies to the proud position to Avhich it had attained years before I crossed its threshold . To my predecessors in the chair , and to their assistance and mine , are the brethren indebted forthe excellent condition of " Twa hundred , twa , and fifty ; " and to yourself , Sir , and to the prolific pen of our Historian , aided by the Masonic press—foremost of Avhich is the London FBEE

ITASOifs' MAGAZINE ( a journal which ought to be in the hands of every Mason)—is St . John's Lodge indebted for its widespread fame . In expressing my thanks to the present assemblage , permit me to say that , in the retrospect of my career as the Master of St . John ' s Lodge , my gratification will be increased by the recollection that , in relinquishing the badge placed by you , Right Worshipful Sir , upon the breast of a former Master , it left my bands untarnished or undiminished in any degree of

its genuine lustre . Bro . P . Brown , Secretary , in proposing " The Memory of the Constituting Jlembers , " said : " Upwards of fifty years ago a few Avarm-hearted , well-meaning Christian men banded themselves together for the purpose of erecting the Masonic standard in this locality ; and after the usual preliminaries , a Avorking order Avas obtained from tbe Grand Lodge of Scotland , and soon after

there followed thafc charter w-hich bangs suspended under that canopy , with a few of the names of the founders of this lod ge recorded on its pages . With a scanty exchequer , and amid the scoffs of the scoffer , they struggled on and on , for they had bravo hearts and willing bands . Then , the monster clerical intolerance raised its hideous form , and threatened in all its majest y to extinguish for ever in this locality the glorious light of Masonry . All the pains and penalties of excommunication Avere threatened ; elaborate discourses were delivered from the pulpit ; and all against what : against a society which embodies

Scotland.

in its rites all that is pure and amiable , all that can tend to elevate tho judgment , reform the principles , or amend theheart ; in short , a society which embraces all the finer virtues and graces thafc can adorn the Christian character . Yes , to aid the right , restrain tbe strong , to chase the tear from tho eye of beauty , to soothe the wailing cry of the orphan , and to cause the w-idow ' s heart to sing for joy , this is the bond of Masonry —with its symbolical ladder of three steps : the first

representing faith in a risen Saviour , the second hope in a blessed immortality , and tbe third , which reachetb to tbe very heavens , in charity to all mankind ! The constitutingmembers had difficulties to contend -with of which we as a lodge practically know nothing How different their circumstances compared with ours . Our roll-book counts its hundred of members , good and efficient , and our exchequer its hundreds of pounds in cash and value . The

flood-gates of education have been set open , and the mighty stream is sweeping before it bigotovy , superstition , and intolerance . Under these favourable circumstances , let us be careful to transmit , unimpaired , from sire to son , and from generation to generation ( so far as ive go on the journey of life ) , the glorious principles of our Order , so that there may never be want of

evidence to record the ancient and sublime mysteries of Masonry . I ask you , in closing , to pledge a bumper to the memory of the constituting members oi our lodge , not in solemn silence , but with a fire that will cause the roof and rafters of our Masonic temple to re-echo the sound . Song , by Bro . R . Brown , — "Auld lang Syne . " Bro . T . Kellock then gave " The Sister Lodges in the Province . " He referred in terms of bigb eulogium to the Avay in

Avhich some of the sister lodges had by the presence of their deputies that night responded to the . invitations addressed to them , dwelling especially on the capital deputation sent from the Thistle Lodge , Dumfries . The toast was warmly received by the meeting . Bro . J . M'Caig gave " The Memory of Burns , " dear to all Scotchmen , and especially suited as a toast on this occasion ,

whether we regard ifc as a great Masonic event or as an assemblage met to mark its sense and appreciation of literary talent . That our deceased brother had a great regard for and abiding faith in the teachings and principles of Freemasonry , and that his mind was deeply imbued with the beauty of its signs and symbols , Ave find in bis Avorks abundance of evidence . For Avhat nobler aspiration of tbe human heart could be uttered , and one which Freemasonry teaches in its broadest and fullest sense , than to long for the time to come ,

" As come it will for a that , When man to man tbe warld o'er Shall brithers be for a' thafc . " After dilating upon the genius and characteristics of the bard , Bro . M'Caig went on to say : It is a matter worth knowing afc the present moment thafc our distinguished brother , Bro . Lyou , ivas reared on the same soil , Avalks the same streets , as did our national bardand I believe studies those "hieroglhics bright

, yp with nane but crafsfcnien ever saw , " beneath the same rooftree that witnessed the deep and , for the time being , joyous carousals of the two world-renowned droufchy cronies , Tam o'Shanter and Souter Johnny . I am happy to say , that , though we are not all Scotchmen met here to-night , yet we are countrymen and brothers ; and I am sure that our brethren from over the border will be second to none in responding to the toast of The

" Memory of our National Bard and Immortal Brother , Robert Burns . " Bro W . Brown followed up the toast with the song of Burns' " Farewell to St . James's Lodge , Tarbolton . " Bro . J . P .. Wilson , solicitor , gave " Masonic Literature and the London 'FREEMASONS MAGAZINE , ' " which Avas acknowledged by Bro . Lyon . Other songs Avere sung besides those mentioned b

y Bros . Glendinning , W . M'Caig , P . Brown , se » ., and R . Brown ; and the entire proceedings Avere pervaded by a fraternal spirit thafc rendered them exceedingly enjoyable .

Colonial.

COLONIAL .

VANCOUVER'S ISLAND . 'Vlomsii .. —Zia't > guratiO ' ii and Consecration ofthe Hew Masonic - Hall . On Monday the 25 fcli June , the New Masonic Hall in Govern , ment-street , to be occupied jointly by the brethren of Victoria