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his parents did not affect his moral and religious qualifications as a candidate for the privileges of Freemasonry , neither was his admission regarded as a scandal upon the Fraternity . As was said of him by the reverend brother who pronounced the

oration at the Grand Funeral Lodge that in 1854 was held at Edinburgh out of respect to his memory , " he was highly esteemed in all the relations of life , and was , in an especial manner , an honour to Masonry , —by his conduct reflecting back the

honour it had conferred on him , in his elevation to the supreme dignity of Grand Master of Scotland . "

A Masonic character as fair and unblemished as that of the illustrious brother alluded to has been and is still borne by other brethren similarly situated as to . the circumstances of their birth . No principle of Freemasonry as recognised in

Scotland , was violated by the admission of such men ; for in its dealings with bastards the lodge has never presumed to raise itself above the Christian Church . In the installation service the Master of a Scotch Lodge is asked to give his assent to the

charge which makes it imperative to institute due inquiry into the character of a man before he can be made a Mason ; but no information is required as to his parentage . With every disposition to believe in the truth of

the statement above quoted anent the rejection by a Scotch Lodge of two men on the ground of their supposed illegitimacy , we hold that it is an isolated instance of a Scotch Lodge adopting a custom that is repugnant to the feelings of Scotch Masons , as it is unauthorised by the Scotch Masonic Constitution .

On the part of Scotchmen and Scotch Masons , therefore , we repudiate the dogma of the "ineligibility of bastards as Freemasons , " as in any respect applicable to lodges working under the Grand Lodge of Scotland .

THE ORIENT IN THE OLDEN TIME . Brethren in whose mind Solomon ' s Chair ancl its belongings are associated wiih the commonplace furniture of a Scotch " public-house , " may

from a perusal of the following " estimate , " which was supplied to Ayr Kilwinning in 1778 , form some idea of the taste displayed by the Craft in the ornamentation of the Orient a hundred years affo : —

" A platform with three steps to the front and two on each side , and Indian Canopy with a gilded

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bell ancl gilded mouldings on each corner to the top , ancl back to carry the canopy from the platform . The pannels of the canopy painted white ,, and the bottom of the canopy covered with cloth that the inside may not be seen . Will cost £ 5 10 s .

sterling . "It would be more elegant not to cover th & bottom of the canopy , but to paint the inside of the same colour of the cloth , with a gold golassrunning up each corner on the inside to the top ,

and a piece ornament hanging down in the middle ; . the outside pannels painted green , with a festoon hanging from the top in each hollow pannel ; with gold mouldings and gilded bells on each corner as above . "Will cost £ 8 sterling .

" An elegant chair in the modern taste , finishedin white and gold , and covered with crimson damask .. Will cost £ 4 4 s . " Above is estimate of a Master Mason ' s seat , and canopy after the model of those in use in some

of the most respectable lodges in Edinburgh and Glasgow . As to covering the tables , Wilton carpeting isproperest . Onebreadth with borders will cover a table 4 ift . wide , and will cost between lis . and 12 s . every three feet or yard ; but if the table is not so broad the borders may be split—in which case it will only cost about 9 s . 3 d . a vard . "

Ancient Lodges.

ANCIENT LODGES .

A New and-Correct IJst of cdl the English Begidar Lodgesin Europe , Asia , Africa , and America , according to their seniority and constitution- By order of the Grand Master . . Brought down to April 19 th , 1765 . ( Continued from page 430 . ) 99 Pox near the square , Manchester , first and third

Monday , 1738 . 100 Eed Lion , Nottingham-court , Seven Dials , second ' and fourth Monday , Jan . 27 , 1731 . 101 Swan , Watergate-street , Chester , second Tuesday , Feb . 1 , 1738 . 102 103 Eed Lion , Hornchurcii , in Essex , first Friday , March 131738

, . 10-1 Bakers Ledge , St . Mary ' s-street , St . John ' s Antigua , March 14 , 1738 . 105 Kingston , Jamacia , first and third Saturday , April 14 , 1739 . 10 ( 3 April 24 , 1739 . 107 Scotch Armsthe Mother Lodgeat StChristo

, , . - pher ' s , held at Baffeterre , first Thursday , June 21 , 1739 . 108 Crown and Ball , Playhouse-yard , Blackfriers , first Tuesday , Aug . 24 , 1739 . 109 East India . Arms , John-street , Black ' s Field , Horselydovra , first and third Wednesday , October 8 ,. 1739 . 110 King ' s Arms and TunHyde-park-cornersecond

, , , and fourth Wednesday , Oct . 25 , 1739 . 111 Eed Bull , Long-lane , West Smithfield , second and fourth Monday , Dec . 7 , 1739 , 112 King's Head , in the Poultry , third Wednesday * , Jan . 10 . 1739 .