Freemasonry Over The Border.

and by enforcing a uniformity of ritual as far as possible . The Grand Lodge of Scotland was constituted in 1736 , and has since that time , continued to grant charters not for Scotland alone , but to the

colonies and foreign possessions of the Crown ; and many sister Grand Lodges OAve their first charters to Scotland , who has at all times possessed a succession of earnest and enthusiastic Masons , who , actuated by the true spirit of our noble

Order , have done all in their poA ^ er to extend the benefit of its sublime teachings over all the world .

To those brethren who are interested in the antiquarian part of Freemasonry as connected with Scotland , allow me to recommend Bro . Laurie's Avork "The History of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . "

The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter , separate and distinct from the Grand Lodge , and not as in England , in connection Avith it , was erected in 1818 , and since that time has exercised supervision over all subordinate chapters both at

home and abroad . In Scotland as well as in America , a Royal Arch Chapter is empowered to give the preparatory degrees of Mark Master , Past , or Chair Master , and Most Excellent Master . The charter or warrant also enables them to confer

the degrees of Royal Ark Mariner , and the Babylonish Pass , consisting of three points , viz .. Knight of the SAVord , Knight of the East , and Knight of the East and West . I am not aware of the former of these degrees

being given in England , but the Red Cross of Babylon , is worked at Rochdale , and at the encampment of Redemption at Hull . En passant , I may remark this degree of the Red Cross of Babylon is very different from the spurious ^ degree , lately sprung up—the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine .

The Supreme Chapter of Scotland is in charge of all the legal Mark Lodges , in England and the Colonies , in consequence of being the only governing Masonic body in Great Britain recognizing this degree .

With regard to the Ancient and Accepted Rite in Scotland , I have much pleasure in testif ying to its flourishing condition . The head of the 33 ° is Bro . AVhite Melville , P . G . M . who is also the Grand Master of the Chapter General of the Temple , and Most Worshipful Governor of the Royal Order of Scotland .

This latter Order is composed of two parts , viz . H . R . M . and R . S . Y . C . S . The tradition is that after the dissolution of the Order of the temple , many of the Knights fled to Scotland , and placed themselves under the

protection of King Robert the Bruce , who joined them to the Masonic fraternity , and after thebattle of Bannockburn in 1314 , instituted the Royal Order of H . R . M . and Knights of R . S . Y . C . S-..

The Grand Lodge can only be held in Scotland , and Provincial Grand Lodges must be especially chartered by the Grand Master , or his Deputy . Of these Provincial Grand Lodges , there are nine held severally at Rouen , Sardinia , Spain ,

Amsterdam , Calcutta , Stockholm , St . John's , N . B ., Shanghai , and Glasgow . The office of Grand Master is hereditary , aud is vested in the person of the King of Scotland ( HOAV of Great Britain ) , and one seat is invariably kept

vacant for him , in every lodge or chapter , and , must not be occupied by any other member . The organisation of the religious and military Order of the temple , is very different in Scotland from that in any other country , where this ancient

and honourable Order is found . Scotland , claims to be the country in which the Order of the temple flourished , when trampled out in every other country in the world , on this , she founds her right to hold the Chapter General , or Supreme Body of

Templars alone in Scotland , and maintains the power possessed by that Chapter General of instituting priories , or preceptories in any other nation colony or langue .

The clothing worn by the Order in Scotland is exactly the same as that used by the ancient Knights , previous to the dissolution of the Order in France by Philip le Bel and Pope Clement V ., and I understand it is about to be adopted by the

Masonic Knights Templars in England . Thus so far as in my power as regards a short paper like this , I have endeavoured to show that " Freemasonry over the Boi'der " is not quite so contemptible a thing as a feAv of our brethren in

England Avould lead us to think . I am happy to say that those brethren who have visited the " Land 0 ' Cakes , " and " Auld Reekie " in particular have , to the best of my belief , never gone away dissatisfied , but will always be glad again and again

to revisit their Scottish brethren , who are linked with them in one common bond of friendship and brotherly love .