Provincial.

"Alaster , and is succeeded by the R . W . Bro . Henry Inglis , of Torsonce . Prov . G . AI . Peebles and Selkirkshire ; and Major-General Darby Griffiths , C . B ., retiring from his office of Grand Sword Bearer , is succeeded by Colonel Houston , of Clackington . The following- is a complete list of the nominations : — Bros , the Earl of Dalhousie , Grand Alaster Mason ; J . Whyte-Molville , of Bennoehy and Stratlikinness , Fast Grand Alaster ; Earl of Haddington Grand Alaster lisof

, Depute ; Henry Ing , Torsonce . Substitute Grand Alaster ; Duke of Ath ' ole , Senior Grand AVarden ; Earl of Dunmore , Junior Grand Warden ; 'Samuel Hay , Grand Treasurer ; VV . A . Laurie , WS , Grand Secretary ; Alexander J . Stewart , AA . S ., Grand Clerk ; Rev . Dr , David Arnott , and Rev . V . G . Faithfull , M . A ., Joint Grand ¦ Chaplains-. Wm . Mann , Senior Grand Deacon ; Col . Campbell , of BlythswoodJunior Grand Deacon David BryceGrand

, ; , -Architect ; Alexander Hay , Grand Jeweller ; P . Robertson , jun ., Grand Bible Bearer ; Captain P . Deuchar , R . N ., and C . S . Law , Joint Grand Directors of Ceremonies ; James Ballantyne , Grand Bard ; Col . Houston , of Clackington , Grand Sword Bearer ; Charles William AL Aliiller , Grand Director of Music : Robert Davidson , Assist . Grand Director of Alusie ; John Coghill , Chief Grand Afarslial ; John Laurie , Grand Marshal ; W . AI . Bryce ,

Grand Tyler ; and Win . Alann , Grand Clothier . Upon the mention of the name of one of the Grand Officers for re-nomination , a spontaneous and long-sustained burst of applause arose from the vast concourse of brethren assembled , showing the estimation in which that brother was still held by "them in spite of the anonymous circulation throughout ail members of Grand Lodge of certain charges against the Grand Lodge office-bearer referred to , in a missive which was characterised at the meeting as an infamous publication which had "been properly received by the brethren with the contempt it deserved .

Leaving this unpleasant subject , the R . AV . Bro . Inglis addressed the brethren upon a more pleasing subject . He bad to congratulate the brethren that there had been nominated for ¦ election as their new Grand Alaster such a distinguished brother as tho Right Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie ; but , while they all looked forward with feelings of pleasure to the future career of their newly-nominated Grand Master , he considered the brethren would not be fulfilling their duty did they not look back with

feelings of gratitude to the career of their retiring G . Alaster . Bro . Inglis , proceeding , said : It gratifies my heart to hear you receive my remarks in such a cordially appreciative manner . The name of AVhytc-AIelville has for many years past been associated with all that was dignified and honourable in tbe Craft , and that brother now left the grand chair with the good wishes , t ! ie hearty affection , and the gratitude of all . The Grand Alaster thanked the brethren for the compliment

just paid him ; and , while he congratulated the Earl of Dalhousie upon the lionour done him in being called upon to fill such a high office , he could assure his successor that he would find the appointment anything but a "bed of roses "—he would have much correspondence to read , and many difficult points to solve . Tiie Earl of Dalhoueie said it was impossible for him to find adequate terms in which to return his thanks for the hi gh

honour and compliment paid him . He believed he was not altogether wrong when he attributed the favour done him much til the name he bore . It was exactly one hundred years since Ins grandfather was elected Grand Alaster Alason of Scotland , and since that period the throne had been occupied by no less than six of his family—twice by his father , and once by his cousin , the late lamented Earl of Dalhousie . He thought , thereforeand with every deference for the remarks of Bro .

, Wilson , that from the name he bore he had some claim upon the Masons of Scotland . He would bear in mind the word of warning just uttered by the G . Alaster , and could only say that it should be his duty , in whatever condition he found the business of Grand Lodge , to forward and solve that business in a manner which should conduce to her prosperity , maintain the honour of the Craft , and promote the interests of Scots Alasonry

throughout the world . The noble earl concluded hy saying that of all the grand oflicers \\ ho had been nominated that evening there was not one to whom he could not give the right hand of fellowship . Bro . Inglis , in a speech full of pleasant humour , returned thanks for his nomination as Substitute Grand Alaster , remarking that as the Earl of Dalhousie did not anticipate to find a bed of -roses , he wondered what sort of a bed he ( Bro . Inglis ) , as his man , would fill ! —and while he fully anticipated the thorns

Provincial.

would be for him , he assured the meeting it would be his careful study to discharge the duties of the office to which he had been nominated in a manner that would , lie trusted , bo satisfactory to the brethren . Bro . Inglis mentioned incidentally that his lace lamented father had filled , under the late Earl of Dalhousie the same office as that to which he ( Bro . Inglis ) had just been nominated under the then present M . W . G . M . elect . Bro . Captain Speirs ; 1 / . P . having left the hall upon tho

, , subject of the Provincial Grand Alastership for Glasgow being brought before tho meeting , the Earl of Dalhousie then addressed the brethren as follows : I did not anticipate that I should have to address you again as the proposer , for a high office in the province , of Bro . Speirs . I anticipated that another brother would have been here to-night and performed that duty , hut something has detained him , and therefore it has devolved upon

mo . Brethren , I approach the performance of that duty with very considerable reluctance , because it is to propose the filling up of a vacancy made by the loss of a man who , as a Alason and as a distinguished Scotchman , can scarcely be replaced . I little thought when he stood upon this platform advocating Alasonic interests upon a different occasion that I should be called upon to discharge the painful duty of pronouncing that brother ' s funeral oration . I never entered upon any task which gave me

so much pain , or with so much regret . And now I have to propose to you a successor to him in his high office , and in proposing to you that successor I feel that I am nominating a brother who is entitled to the confidence of ' any province in the West . I feel that I carry with me the wishes of the majority of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow- in making that nomination . I am one of those who think that tne Grand Lodge ought on no occasion and in no way to divest itself of

the right to nominate a Provincirl Grand Alaster ; yet I think , at the same time , great deference ought to he paid to the wishes of the local brethren . It can be no interest to us in Grand Lodge who is Provincial Grand Alaster of a province , provided that brother be an honourable man and a good Mason . Individually we are little concerned in the matter , and it is by the provincial feeling itself that we ought , I think , in all cases " ¦ here there is no personal or individual objectionto be guided .

, Now , as far as I can gather , that feeling has been declared in favour of my friend Bro . Speirs , and I have great pleasure , therefore , in proposing him for appointment as Provincial Grand Alaster of Glasgow . Bro . Inglis said , that after the very able speech just made by-Earl Dalhousie , he considered he would best serve the purpose by simply , without any comment , on his part , seconding the

motion . Bro- AVilliam Alann , S . G . Deacon , said : I have to propose the name of another brother to fill the office of Provincial Grand Alaster of Glasgow—that other brother being Alexander Strathern , one of the Sheriff-Substitutes of Lanarkshire . I may be allowed to say I feel that my advocacy of Bro . Strathern must be weak , comparatively , and ineffectual , seeing from what quarter the proposal of Captain Speirs has come , and I must be

allowed to tell yon also that I have really taken no interest in this contest . I have not canvassed a single man , or asked u single brother to vote for either tho one party or the other , and , in fact , it was only this afternoon that I undertook , upon solicitation , to propose Bro . Strathern , in consequence of the . unfortunate absence from illness of the gentleman who was to do it . I will tell you why I undertook to propose Bro , Strathern , and you will believe me when I say that it is not because I do

not believe Captain Speirs to be qualified for the office . On the the contrary , I have the honour of knowing Captain Speirs , and I supported him upon the last occasion there was a contest here . I do not know personally Bro . Strathern ; I never spoke to him in my lilb ; but 1 have very carefully and candidly considered who really is in my opinion the fitter man for this office , and I must declare to you that I think Bro . Strathern , from his large experiencefrom his being an old Alasonfrom his being

, , constantly resident in Glasgow , and from his being accustomed to judicial business—from all these reasons my conviction is that he is the fitter man for this office . I am sure that we would be delighted if we had -a chair for each of them , and I am very glad to son that competitions for high offices in our Grand Lodge arc springing up in this way . I think the numerous meeting here this evening must be of some benefit to

this Grand Lodge , and I also think that whatever bo the result of this election , none of us will have cause to regret that two candidates were proposed , and that a discussion took place as to which should be elected .