Glasgow.

GLASGOW .

PROVINCIAL GRAXD LODSE . On tho evening of tho 12 th inst ., pursuant to summons , a pro-re nata mooting of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo was hold in tho Hall , 213 , Buchanan-street . The D . Prov . G . Master , Bro . James Cruickshanks , presided , supported by tho Substitute Prov . G . M ., Bro . John Binnio ; tho Prov . G . Treas ., Bro . Sutherland ; Bros . James Lillie , R . AV . M . Xo . 4 , Acting Prov . S . G . AA . ; A . McTaggartM . AR . W . M . No . 27 Acting Prov . G . J . AV . ; James

, , , Anderson , Prov . G . J . D . ; W . Smith , Prov . G . See , & c . Despite tho unfavourable state of tho weather , the hall was Avell filled with members of Provincial Grand Lodgo and a fow visiting brethren , including , amongst tho latter , Bro . James Stevenson , representing tho FREEMASONS' MAGAZIXE . On tho opening of Provincial Grand Lodge , tho Prov . G . Soc . road extract of niiuuto of . Graud Lodgo of Gth May , 18 G 7 , anont tho appeal of tho Clde LoclgeNo . 408 referred to in tbo report

y , , of tho last mooting of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo , already noticed in tho FREEMASONS' MAGAZIXE , and removing tho suspension of tho office-bearers of that loclge . Tho Prov . G . Secretary having next road tho summons calling the meeting , tbo D . Prov . G . Master introduced tho subject of tho special business for which tho mooting had boon called , namelyas por tbo summons"To recommend to tbo Grand

, , Lodge of Scotland a candidate for tbo offico of ProA-incial Grand Master of this Province , " and observed , in tho course of a fow woll-chosen and unbiassed remarks , that ho was pleased to learn , and to be ablo to announce , that Bro . Capt . Speirs , M . P ., hael consented to allow himself to bo put in nomination as a candidate for tho Provincial Grand Mastership , and added that ho felt

assured , from the opportunities ho bad had of personally witnessing tho ready manner in which Bro . Capt . Spoil's had como forward to assist tho brethren of this province , and had promptly placed his services at their disposal in attending upon tho occasion of tho funeral lodgo in memory of their late lamented Provincial Graud Master ; and , generally , for tho assiduity with which ho had devoted himself to studying tbo wishes of tho brethren iu ovory way in his power upon tho sad occasion referred to ; that

from thoso facts , coupled with his largo-hcartod bonovolonco , integrity , aud affability and suavity of manner , ho ( tbo D . Prov . G . Master ) folt no doubt in his mind but that Bro . Capt . Speirs was well worthy to stand as a candidate for the A'acant Provincial Grand Mastership . It was , however , for this meeting now coolly to decide upon tho candidate of their choice , and ho would himself fool suificiout reliance upon the intelligence of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo of Glasgowthat whoever tbo candidate miht bo

, g upon whom tho majority of their votes might bo disposed , ho would bo such an one as would reflect credit upon this Provincial Grand Lodgo , and whoso recommendation would receive endorsement by tho Grand Lodgo of Scotland at tho now fast-approaching quarterly communication . Tho D . Prov . G . Master concluded by stating that while ho hoped the brethren would freely and unreservedly express all they had to say with reference to whatever candidates miht bo nominated that eveningho trusted that

g , no display of over zeal , however well intontioiiod , would take place , and that nothing should occur to mar that dignity and docorum , that love and harmony which should over prevail at Masonic meetings , and which should especially distinguish tho proceedings of Provincial Grand Lodgo on such an occasion as tho present .

Bro . A . McTaggart , M . A ., R . W . M ., St . Mungo Lodge , 27 , in a very able speech , then proposed that Bro . Capt . A . A . Speirs , M . P ., of Elderslie , bo recommended by this Provincial Grand Lodge , to tho Grand Lodge of Scotland , to fill the office of the vac . int Provincial Grand Mastership . Bro . McTaggart spoke to the following eft ' ect : —I have a proposal to make , and I approach the subject of it under a sense of the greatest responsibilit y ; for I doubt not that the prosperity of Masonry in tlie province

and in tbo AA est of Scotland , for some years to come , will very much depend upon tho reception it meets Avith at your hand-. It is a grave proposal , and I trust the brethren present will follow me , as far as possible , with unprejudiced minds , in the consideration of what it includes . From the moment I learnt that a contest for the office of Provincial Grand Master was inevitableI set myselfwith much care

, , and anxiety to consider the individual merits of the two candidates and their respective claims to the high honour to which they aspire ; and after mature deliberation , and with the case in all its details clearly before me , I have come to the conclusion that the candidate alone suitable for the office is Bro . Speirs , 31 . P ., of Elderslie . I wish it here distinctly to be

understood , ancl especially by those Jwith whom I may have the misfortune to differ in opinion , that in coming forth now to give expression to an earnest conviction , I court no man ' s favour . I take an independent stand ou the merits of my proposal alone , and am entirely uninfluenced by public feeling or sentiment . In giving utterance to the opinions I entertain I consider alone the good of the province and the elevation of Freemasonry in our midst . It is a fact that wo all regretwhatever

, may be the opinion we have adopted as to who should be Provincial Grand Master , that Freemasonry in this province has not reached that pinnacle of excellence that we should all like to see it occupy . It stands on the lower platform as yet of professing principles that are barren of result . It may be , indeed , that these principles are . believed ancl well enough understood : but that they are appreciated to the lull extent , I very much doubt ;

elso why this entire absence of all benevolent aud philanthropic institutions—of all schemes for the relief of the distressed and the amelioration of suffering—of all sources from which aid might be systematically distributed for the temporary comfort of the sick , or the benefit of the casual ancl impoverished wanderer . Tlie absence of these desirable objects is a matter of regret to every right-thinking brother in the provinceand has

, led , no doubt , to a very general desire to see some of them inaugurated forthwith . The interest Avhich has been shown in reference to this very election , I think , augurs well for the future of Masonry in the province ; and I hope ere long to see some decided action taken , to 'bring the schemes I have just referred to prominently before the public . Nay , I am persuaded that if you support the proposal I now advocate will secure the

, you assistance of a brother , eminently qualified in every respect to do battle , in such a glorious cause , and whose love of the Order and thorough appreciation of its principles , mark him as a fit exponent of objects so extensive and praiseworthy . My duty , then , entertaining , as I do , such opinions , leads me formally to propose that we recommend Bro . Speirs , of Elderslie , to the Grand Lodge as a suitable candidate for the office of Provincial

Grand Master . I shall endeavour to support this motion , trusting to your kind indulgence , by various arguments . And , first of all I would urge that he is suitable for this office because of his social uosition—and rav oninions on this -joint are

too well known in this Provincial Loclge to be misunderstood or misinterpreted . I take the social position of the man in this case to prove his moral ancl intellectual worth . You are all aware , brethren , from what the records of our Masonic history teach , that it has been customary to confer the highest Masonic offices in our gift , on men in good positions in life , and I take history as my guide in proposing Bro . Speirs , because I believe that in reference to tlie present electionit teaches wisel . Bro .

, y McTaggart , alluding to an unseemly interruption at this part of his speech , said : The brother who has so unceremoniously interrupted me entirely misunderstands the tenor of my observations , and appears to be wholly ignorant of the point at issue . What I have said has been tlie custom , and the records of our history prove it—and not only so , the history of every Grand Lodge proves it : and I defy any brother present to gainsay or

disprove the statement . I believe that no brother could be justly elected to any Masonic office on the ground of worldly position alone , but it is a fact that cannot be denied , that it is almost invariably brethren in good social position who are chosen to fill such offices as we have now to bestow . Bro . Speirs is of an ancient and honourable house , and is now its representative . He is an extensive landowner in Renfrewshire , and his mansion

house is within easy distance of Glasgow . He takes great interest in the progress of this great city , and seeks a closer alliance with it , that he may do whatever lies in his power in his private as well as his public capacity , to increase its prosperity , and to give stability to its many noble institutions * Bro . Speirs' local distinction is very great . In Renfrewshire ho is regarded as a rising man—one who is likely ore long to take a leading position in all that concerns the well-being of tho

country . 8 o thoroughly wero its inhabitants convinced of the moral rectitude of Bro . Capt . Speirs , of his high aims , and intellectual mid business qualifications , that they elected him to represent the county in the House ol Commons ; and so faithfully has he discharged his duties—so consistently throughout has ho adhered to his principles—so honestly has he fulfilled all his pledges , that they iiave had good reason to bo

proud of their choice . At no time during the last two years has his reputation stood so high as a conscientious , high-minded , trustworth y representative . Tho speaker again experiencing violent interruption remarked .- The brother who speaks so