Ireland.

IRELAND .

OMAGH . OMAGH . — Omaqh Lodge ( No . 332 ) . —This lodge held its usual monthly meeting on Tuesday , the 14 th inst . at 7 P . M . The following brethren were present : Bros . Capt . Robert Saunderson Hamilton , J . P . ; Thomas Coulten Dickie , AV . M . ; M . Anderson , S . AV . ; H . R . Harris , J . AV . Thomas AVavdvop , J . D . ; Lieut . Col . Richard Dawson , Sec . ; Mansergh G . Buchanan , AVilliam Hunter , AV . Beatty , Dr . W . S . Love , Dr . F . John AVest , Dr .

Thomas Leary , Cecil Moore , Crown Solicitor , Georgo Quaile , Thomas Collins , O . G . The lodge having been opened in tbe first degree , Surgeon Andrew Mullin , Royal Navy , was initiated in due form . Bro . Anderson then called the lodge to refreshment , and a few merry hours were passed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly honoured , and after a very pleasant and harmonious evening had been spent , the brethren separated .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

METROPOLITAN . SOUTHWARK LODGE OE MARK MASTER MASONS ( NO . 22 ) . — The installation meeting of this old establiehed and prosperous lodge took place on Saturday , the 18 th inst ., at the Bridge House Hotel , London-bridge , S . E . Bro . Meggy , P . G . M . O . in the unavoidable absence of the AV . M . Bro . J . Sabine , opened the Lodge at 5 p . m . The minutes of the previous meeting were read aud confirmed . Bros . Dr . DixonMeggyShaw and

, , Cottebrune were balloted for as honorary members and unanimously elected . Bro . Henry Massey , S . W . and W . M . elect , was then duly installed into the chair of Adon Hiram , and appointed the following officers : Bros . A . D . Loewenstark , S . W . and Treas . ; R . Ord , J . W . ; W . Noah , M . O . ; T . H . Meredith , S . O . ; E . Harris , J . O . ; J . Terry , S . D . ; S . Harman , J . D . ; M . A . Loewenstark , Sec . ; J . W . AVheeler , R . of M . The AV . M . then in the name of the lodge presented the retiring Master Bro . T . J . Sabine , with

a small but neat and handsome gold P . M ' s . jewel , consisting of a Square and Key Stone the block of tbe square exquisitely enamelled , Grecian pattern and the blade elaborately engraved , manufactured expressly by Bros . A . D . Loewenstark and Sons , Devereux-court , Strand . Bro . Sabine returned thanks in au effective speech , and was warmly applauded by the brethren . A cordial vote of thanks was carried with acclamation to Bro . F . AValterson his retiring from the secretaryshiof the

, p lodge which he had performed so ably and courteously for many years past , and notice of motion was given to present him with a jewel at the next lodge meeting . A letter of condolence was ordered to be sent to the widow of the late Bro . II . AV . Goulty , of Brighton . The lodge was then closed with solemn prayer , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet tablewhere a most pleasant evening was spent . Alsitors :

, Bros . Meggy and E . lumber . The following brethren were present : Bros . H . Massey , G . S . ; T . J . Sabine , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; A . D . Lceweiistark , P . G . S . ; E . Harris , J . Terry , S . liarman , J . AV . Wheeler , T . H . Meredith , and others whose names we were unable to learn .

Royal Order Of Scotland.

ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND .

EDINBURGH . A special meeting of tbe Grand Lodge and Chapter of the Order was held on Friday evening , tbe 17 th inst ., at tbe Masonic Hall , Edinburgh . Knight Companion Lindsay Mackersy , occupied the throne as Acting Grand Governor , and was supported by Kt . Comp . William Haye , as acting S . G . W ., and Kt . Comp . C . Fitzgerald Matier , as J . G . W . A ballot was then taken for

Bro . Frederick Binckes of London , secretary to the Masonic Boy ' s Schools , who was unanimously elected . Bro . Binckes was then introduced and according to ancient custom , was advanced to the degree of H . R . M ., and passed through the ceremonies appertaining to this Order . He was then promoted to Kni ghthood of the R . S . Y . C . S ., and there being no further business before the Grand Lodge , it was duly closed . At refreshment Bro . Binckes responded in appropriate terms to the toast of his health , which was proposed by Comp . AViUiani Mann , 32 ? ,

Royal Order Of Scotland.

J . G . AV . of Scotland , and J . G . AV . of the Royal Order . After several songs from Comps . H . R . Kay , G . Corgiases and Matier ,. the brethren separated having spent a delightful evening . We sincerely wish the English members of this noble and ancient Order , would unite in applying to the Grand Lodge for a charter for England , as from its extreme beauty and undoubted antiquity , it would command a high , if not the highest position in the chivalric degrees as now conferred . AVe trust the knights companions will take this hint , and not let the matter rest , until they obtain this boon .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

"Constitutions of the Freemasons . " By WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , Prov . G . Sec , Cornwall , & c . London : R . Spencer , Great Queen-street . Truro : William Lake . 1869 . { Continued from page 238 . ) APPENDIX B .

" At tlie building of York Minster the ' Pledge Day ' ' was observed at least once a year , wben tbe workmen swore to observe tbe orders which the Chapters had ordained for their management . On the 31 st of October , 1370 , Master Robert de Patrington , * and twelve other masons , came before the Chapter , and swore to observe these rulesin the following terms : — ' Lordesif it

be-, , your wyles , we grant for to stand at our werkes truly at our power , etc . This circumstance is recorded by the antiquary , Matthew Hutton , among his extracts from some of the books at York , which are now missing . They may be found in MS . Harl . 6971 . ' "

APPENDIX C . " The Office of Master Mason under the Operative Constitutions was not so common or general as the degree by the same name is now in connection with the Society of Free and Accepted Masons . In olden time , a Master Mason represented a combination of several officials employed at the erection of modern edifices , and no doubt

was frequently the Architect as well as ' Maistyr of ye werko . ' The Rev . James Raine in the Preface to the xsxv . volume of the ' Surtees Society Publications , ' observes that , ' It has been frequently asked , How is it that we know nothing of the medi _ eval architects ? Did modesty constrain them to conceal their names , or were the plans executed by several persons , so that it would

be invidious , if not impossible , to particularize any one ? It is by no means easy to give an answer to this question .. I am inclined to think , at York , a great share of the responsibility fell upon the Master Mason , but he was probably assisted to a certain extent by the keeper of the fabric and the treasurer . '

"The Rev . James Dallaway , inf 'An Historical Account of Master and Free Masons , ' considers that the honour due to the original founders of our noble Edifices during the middle ages is frequently transferred to the ecclesiastics under whose patronage they rose , ' rather than to the skill and design of the Master Mason or professional architect , because the only Historians were

monks . ' ' The Masons rejected history , as their system allowed oral tradition only , and it is from their contracts , or epitaphs , that we can rescue any individual name . That the original plan , or the details of it , was often suggested by one of the more ingenious of the ecclesiastics , cannot be candidly doubted ; but that in more instances the master-mason had the exclusive execution , is not less an approved fact . '" ( To " be continued . )