Scotland.

Passing , and Raising , and also Affiliation having been Avorked . The R / W . M . gave notice thafc at the next meeting he AVOIIUI bring under the consideration of the lodge the subject of fixing the amount of fee to be charged on conferring the Mark Degree . He also reminded the brethren , that at the next meeting , Bro . E . T . Smith the J . AV . would deliver an essay on "The Passions" and particularly requested their attendnee on the occasion . The lodge AA-BS then closed in clue form .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

LONDONDERRY . —The Brethren of " Old 407 , " Ramelton , met ¦ for the installation officers , and dined together on St . John ' s day , 27 th Dec , William Martin , Solicitor , AV . M . in the chair . In giving the usual charter toasts , the deep sympathy of the Brethren Avas expressed by the Chairman for her Majesty , under the afflictive bereavement by Avhich she has been left a widowed 'Queen , and her children have lost the valued counsel of a Avise and prudent father . In giving the health of Sir James SteAvart ,

Part ., the W . M . said—The health of Sir James Stewart , the Prov . G . M . of Derry and Donegal , is usually given here as one of our charter toasts . It is not in that capacity alone , however , that 1 noAV bring his name before you . These comfortable Lodge-rooms—in feet the entire building , with the extensive ¦ garden attached—he lately made over to us , to be A-ested in Bro . . Dr . BroAvne ( our D . Prov . G . M . ) , and myself as Master of this Lod in trust for the use of the Masons of "Old 407 " for

ge , ever , at a nominal rent . This generous gift , value in readymoney for £ 150 , is a fine testimony of Sir James's appreciation of the importance and adA-antage of our Order . Such an act by such a man is a strong argument to the uninitiated that there must be something good in the system he so sanctions ancl encourages . For upAvards of forty years , much of his time , his talents , and his purse , have been devoted to the advancement of the cause . I myself haA'e been the medium of conveying some

of his liberal donations to the aid of the Craft in remote districst , Avhere neither the locality nor the parties had any claim upon him , nor other argument to urge , save that of benefitting society by the spread and promotion of Masonic principles . HOAV ¦ different his conduct from those Avho , Avithout proper inquiry , take it for granted that the institution is a bad one , and then , in ignorance of facts , seek to establish their presumption . They say a man nrast be a Mason before he can knoAV anything of the system , and then it is too late to object to or expose its « vils . This Ave knoAV to be a mistake . AVe are aware that no

man is ever made a Mason Avithout those broad fundamental principles which regulate and govern all others being first clearly and freely explained to him . This much every man may knoAv of Masonry . By Avisdom based upon a pure morality , its strength is truth , its beauty love—in it there is nothing inconsistent with man's duty to his Gocl , his sovereign , his neighbour , or himself—nothing incompatible Avith his moral , civil , or religious obligations : but , on the contrary , the strongest sanctions to

their promotion . Why is it that men Avho prize tho salvation of the immortal soul infinitely above all the honours and emoluments the world can bestow , adhere to its society , and advocate its principles ? Not becsuse there is any arbitrary bond or obligation binding them to do so , but because of tbe inherent excellency of its precepts , by whose teaching the mind , being freed from the dominion of pride , and released from the thrall of prejudice . Mason sees in Mason a brothercreated b

, y the same Almighty power , for the same great purpose—the honour and praise of God—and living in hope of the same glorious fruition—the beatitude of heaven—ho realizes in the system that unites them a bond of happy union , sanctified by virtue , truth , ancl concord , illustrated by those symbolic illustrations , beneath AA-hich lie veiled the secrets of our art— -secrets profound and sublimely beautiful , threading tho Avhole system of moral and intellectual science , from the atom of earth to the

throne of tlie Eternal—not mere stupid signs and passAvords , Irat secrets that arrest the intellect and reward the industry that penetrates their depths . As respects the moral . stan cling of our Institution , I am aware tbat the uninitiated mock at our high pretensions , as they point to exceptional instances of drunkards , liars , and blasphemers , bearing the name and Avearing the badge of Masonry . There was once a small band of twelve , and , from the intuitive Avisdom and perfect purity ot the mind Avho chose them as His folloAvers , the precepts He inculcated , and the examples He set , one ivould have expected to discover in them the

Ireland.

nearest approach to perfection the human famil y could furnish but Avhat do Ave find ? Two of them are reproved for selfish ambition , one lies , and supports his falsehood Avith blasp hemv and one sordid wretch sells his Master's life for thirty pieces of silver , ancl in remorse for his perfidy , dies a suicide . Nor can Masonry make its members perfect . It cannot change the depraved heart of man , nor does it pretend to do so ; bufc every precept in its code points and guides to the Omnipotence Avho

can . Then Ave are told , if the secrets of Masonry are fraught Avitli such advantages , Avhy not unmask its mysteries and bestow its benefits on the Avorld . A great mystery has been revealed to the world . God immortal and mortal man , retaining their distinctive natures , stood upon our earth in one and the same person . As the babe of Bethlehem , angels herald His obscure birth ; and in His deathan eastern mid-day clothed herself in

, the sable habiliments of night to mourn the martyr of Calvary , A \ 'ho , in the interim , exhibits such miracles as the Avorld else ne . A-er saiv . At His mysterious touch , the deaf are made to hear , the blind to see , the dumb to speak , the lame to Avalk , the dead are raised , and the lepers are cleansed . The pulpit orator proclaims abroad the Gospel of this Avondrous incarnation—its life and blessing—its curse and death—ancl with glowing eloquence

he enforces the aAvfully solemn truth , that to every man Avho hears it , its inevitable consequence is life eternal or death unending . Yet see 1 IOAV many sit beneath this thrilling revelation , Avith heads like bullrushes , their senses wrapped in sleep . Ancl why is this ? Ah 1 ifc is an oft-told tale , and they can hear it again at any time , and thus familiarity with the most solemnly sacred subject breeds in many naught but indifference and contempt . And , therefore , Avhile the law by which man must be

judged ought to be proclaimed to all , Avhether they will hear or Avhether they Avill forbear , I believe the private parabolic teaching of Masonry is calculated to do more good than if its rinci pies Avere unreservedly disclosed to the A'tilgar Avorld . The v r mystery that veils it creates the interest of inquiry ; and as those secrets must nofc be communicated at once , ancl can only be acquired by the gradual teaching peculiar to the science , the moral truths developed by progressive illustrations ,

becomeimperceptibly inlaid in the constitution of the mind , ever increasing as inquiry advances , Avhile the beauty of the discoveries made , and the interest excited after those to be acquired , keep alive in the breast of every Mason unfading respect for our ancient and honoured Institution . Fault has been found with our system on another ground—namely that men of exalted position and refined manners are thereby brought into contact Avith men of rude and uncultivated habits . It is true that the monarch , uncrowned

and unrobed , does step from his throne to mingle in our assemblies , there to feel that , though a king , he is but a man ; ivhile the peasant comes up from the toil and sweat he inherits from the curse , to feel that he also is a man , and there , upon the same Masonic level , forgetful of their antecedents and their earthly circumstances , prince and peasant realize their position as man beneath the ever-open eye of an omniscient God—the distinctions of mind their only difference—and are reminded

that upon the same level they shall again meet , where small and great shall stand before the great white throne for judgment . Ours is not the level of communism , that Avould rob industry of its wealth ancl intellect of its reAvard ; no , it is the equality that shall reign above , Avhere the redeemed , stripped of the circumstances and distinctions of time , shall shine as the stars , graduating in glory according to the magnitude of their intellects .

India.

INDIA .

LUCKNOAV . TESTIMONIAL TO CAPT . T . N . YOUNG , AA . M . LODGE MORNING STAR ( NO . 810 . ) < A special meeting of the members of this lodge was held at the lodge-rooms on Saturday evening , the 30 th November , 1 S 61 , present •— -Bros . Young , AV . M . ; Macgrennan , P . M . ; Buckley , as S . AA . ; Hollingbery , as J . AV . ; Torrens , I . G . ; AVard ,

Tyler ; Blemnan , Sec ; AVriscon , Capper . " Bro . BUCKLEY regretted the paucity of attendance on the present occasion , ancl requested Bro . Young to make over the Hiram to Bro . Macgrennan for s short time , Avhich was accordingly done . Bro . MACGRENNAN , P . M ., said he was also sorry to see so scant an attendance of the brethren . ' ; but he AV . IS afraid thafc the notice Avas circulated rather late , and that the paucity of