Recollections Of The Lodge Of Freemasons At Thornhill.

fine view of the procession was got as it moved doAvn the slope leading from the town , and a most comprehensive survey of it was obtained from the rising ground near Login ere , as it SAvept along the GlasgOAV-road , past MeadoAvbank . On the right

hand side of the road was a bosky coppice of young oak , beech , and other trees ; while on the other the sunlight was uninterrupted by tree or bush , and the eye wandered over pastures and corn lands ivaving- ivith ripening- grain , and stretching

away to the banks of the Nith and policies of Drumlanrig . Far as the eye could reach along the road streamed the motley array . In the van Avere well-dressed men , women , and children ; these Avere followed by the Freemasons , about 400

in number , inarching tAvo and two , gaily bedight in sashes of rainboAV hues , ancl glittering with valuable ornaments . On either side of them was

a miscellaneous crowd , and a host of stragglers brought up the rear . A dozen flags of various colours and bearing quaint and curious devices floated out to their full extent on the breeze , and the woods echoed the music of

half-a-dozen instrumental bands . The Masons formed a beautiful display , the members of each lodge beingdistinguishable from those of another by their adornments . Good-looking , hearty fellows were the Carlisle brethren , and splendid with their

ornaments and apparel . None , however , looked better than the members of St . John ' s , Thornhill . They were about 120 strong , and having acquired the use of Grand Lodge ornaments and symbols for the occasion , they presented a fine show . The

silver-lipped horn of plenty—cornucopia—filled with beautiful flowers , silver vases , gilded plumbrules , & c , added much to the attractiveness of their

appeai-ance . Hemmed in by wondering and admiring crowds , and gazed at from many a bank ancl brae , the procession wound along through Carronbridge , and along the Glasgow-road till within a short

distance of Drumlanrig toll-bar . Here a turn to the left led the pageant doAvn a rough steep road to the north avenue to Drumlanrig Castle . At this point again the scene Avas lively and beautiful . Parties of dwellers on the Drumlanrig estate were

clustered on the rising ground of the demesne , or threaded their Avay among the trees to some coign of A antage Avhence a comprehensive vieAV of the moving- panoramic display might be had . The sun now shone brightly . Far beloAV in its shingly bed the Nith stole sloAvly to the sea , nor heeded

Recollections Of The Lodge Of Freemasons At Thornhill.

the din and bustle on its banks . Troops of West Highland cattle , out to graze in the chase , attracted and alarmed by the music and the croAvd , galloped to and fro , tossing their heads and throwing out their heels at stray collies that ran yelping after

them . Slowly the procession crept up the brae , and at last formed a straight line in the principal approach , shaded and sheltered on each side by magnificent lime trees . Opposite the front of the Castle a turn to the

left brought the " merry Masons" to the high gate of the flower gardens , and by a small portal they entered the pleasure grounds on the west side of the Castle . Here the beauties of the region over AA'hich Mr . M'Intosh presides with so much skill

and taste , Avere unfolded to the vieAV , and struck the stranger with admiration and delight . One had hardly time to admire the beauty of the parterres to the Avest or the lordly pile , before the grand display beloAV the terrace burst upon the

sight . The scene at this point baffles all description : the flower beds laid out with an ingenuity and beauty quite incomprehensible ; the gay and rich colours of the plants occupying them : and the grace and splendour of the surrounding

shrubberies and forests , formed an eyefill of loveliness that cannot Avell be imagined or described in Avords . The procession , which was admitted first to the grounds , shoAved to great advantage , as , with colours flying and cornets bloAving , it wended along

the walks of the flower land . From the high garden , hy paths where art hacl not confined nature to its designs , the array moved to the low garden , where fruits , flowers , and kitchen vegetables were in luxuriant profusion , and along the

front of the conservatories . Returning along between the forcing pits and the bothies , a halt was called about three o'clock , in the park immediately adjacent . Here the R . W . M . of St . John ' s relieved the brethren from duty for half-an-hour . ( To be continued ) .

Ar00802

PoA'EltTY . —That condition rightly weighed , is not so very sad ; for what is poverty ? What but the absence of a few superfluous things , which please wanton fancy , rather than answer need ; without which nature is easily satisfied ; what is it , but to wear coarse cloth , to feed on plain and simple fare , to work and take some pains , to sit , or go in a lower place , to have no heaps of cashov hoards of grainto keep no retinueto

, , , have few friends , and not one flatterer ; ancl what great harm is this ?—Dr . Isaac Harrow . HAPPINESS . —Our happiness cannot be perfected here below ; : for at what degree soever our ills seem to stand , they may still increase ; whereas , every one of our pleasures is circumscribed by certain limits .