Scotland.

marching of the mystic brotherhood to the inspiriting strains of the old Kilwinning baud . Returning to the hall , the business which bad brought the loelge ordinance into request was for a brief season resumed with a zest peculiar to the sons ot the presiding loelge—the communication , one of the most successful ever helel in Troon , being adjourned at a seasonable hour .

GLASGOW . PnorisciAii GRAXD LODGE . Visitations and Inspections of Private Lodges . LODGE GLASGOW ST . Jon > - ( No . 3 ' - ) . —This lodge , at its meeting on tbe 3 rd inst ., was visited by a deputation from t : ic Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , consisting of R . W . Bro * . Thos . Baker , Prov . G . 3 . W . ; Jas . SteelProv . G . J . W . ; W .

, Smith , Pro . G . Sec . ; and other Prov . Grand office bearers . The lodge books , & c , having been duly inspected , the deputation entered the lodge anel was received with the customary honours . The business before the lodge on this occasion was very heavy , i oo heavy , we should be inclined to say . judging from the numerous batch of initiates—indeed , quite a squad of Masonic recruits—who were introduced to "lig ht ; " at this

meetingpre-, sided over by the present esteemed R . W . M . Bro . Ramsay . During the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Donaldson , Prov . ( j . Dir . of Music , presided at , the harmonium , anel his rendering of Bro . Buchan ' s loelge music added materially to the impressiveness of tlie ceremonial , though we must add , with reference to portions of the working ( quite apart from the musical feature ) , we were forcibly struck with the great necessity which exists

for uniformity of working in the different loelges the ceremonials of our Order ; and that mere theatrical effect is not indispensably necessary to obtain that solemn iinpressiveuess which should ever prevail on such occasions . In the course of the evening Bro . W . P . Buchan brought forward his motion anen a committee being appointed to take the necessary steps to examine into the historical evidence and data relative to the

antiquity of tlie Lodge of Glasgow St . John ( No . 3 ' ) , so that the same may be placed upon a satisfactory and sufficient basis . Bro . Buchan , in introducing bis motion , quoted from Cosmo Junius' "Scotland in tlie " Middle Ages "—remarks appearing at page 29 S of that work , referring to the existence of one of those " enthusiastic fraternities " at the building of Glasgow Cathech'id , and the charter of protection it obtained from William the Lion , 1190—to show that St . John ' s Lodse bad

nothing to tear from any investigation into its antiquity . Bro . Walker , P . M ., considering , we presume , " where ignorance is bliss were folly to be wise , " desired to enter his protest against the proposed committee of inquiry . Bro . Barr proposed as an amendment that , although Bro . Bu . hin had stated lie had discovered mistakes in the translation of the charter , still , as these mistakes had never been discovered before , Bro . B . u-r arguedlr . it upon what basis of reasoning we are at a loss to

understand—that the old translation of the charter should still be held by , it never having been disputed before . Bro . Ban * bad for a seconder of bis amendment Bro . Dr . Moffat . Bro . Park , P . M ., said that be considered the translation must be wrong-, as King Malcolm III . had no brother named David . However , upon the original motion , as introduced by Bro . Buchan , being put by the R . W . M . to the meetingit was carried by a large

, majority . The R . W . M . proposed , and Bro . W . P . Buchan seconded , a motion that this loelge should subscribe a sum of two guineas to the testimonial to tbe R . W . Bro . Whyte Melville , P . G . M . ; tbe motion was carried unanimously . The R . W . Bro . Steel , Prov . G . J . W ., in responding to the toast of Provincial Grand Lodge Deputation , said that he was happy to find the books ofthe lodge so well kept , that the lodge was iu suuh

a prosperous condition , and working so harmoniously . LODG-E GLASGOW KILWINXISG ( No . 4 ) . —A meeting of tins ancient lodge , which continues to prosper under the present respected R . W . M ., Bro . James Lillie , was held on tire 4 rh inst ., upon tbe occasion of the visit and inspection by the abovenamed Provincial Grand Lodge Deputation . Tho chair was fii ' ied bBro . T . A . BroadbentD . M . ; supported bBros .

y , y A . Tirorbtu-n , S .. U ., acting S . W . ; J . Bruce , J . 1 V ' . ; It , J . Teaie , acting Chaplain ; A . R . Wilson , acting S . D . ; T . D . Humphreys , Treas . ; Bro . I . N . Johnson presiding at the harmonium . A candidate was introduced and initiated into the mysteries and privileges of tbe Order , the ceremony being impressively worked by liro . A . Thorburn , S . M . Tho Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lo . lge expressed themselves as being much

Scotland.

pleased with the efficient manner in which the Treasurer and Secretary kept their books , and complimented the brethren of the Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge upon the steady progress their lodge is making . After the departure of the Prov . G . L . deputation , the acting R . W . M ., Bro . Broadbent , delivered to " tbe last link" a most impressive and eloquent charge , dilating on the beauties ofthe Order , responsibilities attached to those who enter into ittheir duties to themselves , to

, society , and to the Craft . He also commended to the earnest attention of the newly-initiated brother the three great lights of . Masonry , ilro . Broadbent also referred in very feeling terms to the great loss the Graft in this province had sustained by tbe death of Bro . Sheriff Strathern . The following is a correct list of the present office-bearers of the Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge : —Bros . James Lillie , R . W . M . ; J . Bruce , S . W . ; R . J .

Teale , J . W . ; Thomas Si-inner , P . M . ; T . A . Broadbent , D . M . ; A .. Thorburn , S . M . ; John Biiiuie , P . M . ; T . D . Humphreys , Treas . ; F . C . Keicl , Sec ; the Rev . J . W . W . Penny . D . C . L ., Chaplain ; J . Steel ( Prov . G . J . W . ) , S . D . LODGE THISTLE AXD ROSE ( NO . 73 ) . —At a meeting of this old ami ' lard-working lodge , held OH the 3 rd i'Mt ., presided over by the present popular R . W . M ., Bro . Thomas McRobert ,

the death of Bro . Sheriff Strathern was regretfully alluded to in most feeling and appropriate terms . The Thistle and Rose being the mother lodge of tbe lamented deceased brother . AU business before the lodge was upon this occasion suspended , with the exception of tbe reception of tbe abovenamed Provincial Grand Lo . lge deputation , who pronounced themselves well satisfied with tbe result of their inspection of tbe lodge books , etc ., which showed that the lodare was in a healthy and

prosperous state . LODGE ST . MARE ( XO . 102 ) . —This flourishing lodge , which bas for some time past been ruled most judiciously by tbe present highly esteemed R . W . M , the R . W . Bro . Major B . u-bor , Depute Prov . G .. M . of the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire , was honoured on the 2 nd inst . with a visit by a deputation of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Glasgow , consisting of the R . W . Bros , Thos . BakerProv . G . S . W .: Jas . SteelProv . G . J . W . ; W .

, , Smith , Prov . G . Sec . ; and other Prov . Grand office bearers , who were received with the customary honours on entering the lodge , after having satisfactorily concluded their examination of the lodge books . The chair of K . S . was upon this occasion , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Major Barbor , very ably filled by Bro . Barradalc Amongst the visiting brethren ou the platform we notice , ! Bros . Capts . McAusland and McCulioch . The Pi'ov . Grand Lociiu Denutation bofore leaviucr expressed

themselves much pleased with the result of their inspection . LODGE USIO" ( NO . 332 ) . —This prosperous lodge—tbe present esteemed R . W . M . of which is Bro . James Balfour , Prov . G . I . G ., and who , though but a young , is a very accomplished Mason—was visited on the 2 nd inst . by the above-named Pro . Grand Lodge Deputation , who , after having examined the lodge books and found everything quite satisfactory , entered the lodge

and were received with tlie customary honours . One brother was admitted to the mysteries and privileges of our Order , tbe ceremonv beinsj- worked in a master ! v and impressive manner by Bro . Thos . Mcfc . Campbell , P . M . ot the Lodge Clyde ( Xo . 403 ) .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

THE GEOGRAPHICAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE PROViNCIAL GRAXD LODGES OF IRELAND . This subject , which has for some time past been under the serious attention of the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , has at length received a solution , in the shape ot a report which has just been issued upon the subject , by the Committee of Provincial Grand Ledges , addressed to the M . W .

the G .-M . and the Grand Lodgo of Ireland . We append the report , prefaced by the circular letter in connection with it , issued by the Deputy Grand Secretary . Grand Secretary ' s Office , Freemasons' Hall , Dublin , 13 th day of December , 1 S 67 . Sir and Brother , —Some months since the Board of General Purposes appointed a sub-committee "To take into consideration tlie existing geographical arrangement of the Provincial Grand Lodges , with a view to adopting an improved arrangement of them . "