Sketch Of The Masonic Career Of Bro. Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., Prov. G.M. Glasgow.

historian , and a man , cannot be altogether shut out ) , but to giv e a succinct account of the principal Masonic events in which he Dore a prominent part . Tho Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge ( No . 4 ) , on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , has the honour of being his mother lodge , he having been admitted a member of it in tbe year 1 S 37 , and through all the years that followed his initiation he never forgot his early allegiance , and to the

end cherished a strong attachment for it . He was unanimously elected Prov . G . Master of Glasgow in the year 1 S 47 . Ho was duly installed at a special meeting of tho Grand Lodge of Scotland , held iu Glasgow , on Tuesday , the 1 st of June . Tho Most Worshipful Grand Master alluded to tho proceedings afc a pro re mat a , meeting of the Grand Lodge , held in Edinburgh the cloy previous , and announced to the assembled

brethren . " That the office of Prov . G . M . of Glasgow had then been conferred on Bro . Sir Archibald Alison , the Historian of Europe . " His Grace said that "it afforded him great pleasure to present that distinguished brother with his commission , and personally to instal him into office . " The ceremony was then proceeded with , after which tho Prov . G . M . returned thanks to the Grand Master and Grand Lodgo for the hih honour

cong ferred upon him . and assured tho brethren of his anxious wish to promote the best interests of Freemasonry in the province now entrusted to his management . The first great public occasion on which Bro . Sir Archibald Alison appeared , was at the laying of the foundation-stone of the Barony Parish Poor ' s House , with Masonic honours , when he officiated with much ability . There were present to witness

the ceremony a large concourse of the brethren , and an immense multitude of spectators , and the effect on the whole was grand and imposing . The learned Brother , at the close of the proceedings , delivered an able , eloquent , and appropriate address , breathing the true Masonic spirit ; in reference to such institutions as they had been called upon that day to consecrate . An eventthat cannot be overlooked in this sketchwas the laying

, , of the foundation stone of the A ictoria Bridge , Glasgow , iu the year 1851 , under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . His Grace the Duke of Athole , the Grand Master of Scotland , supported by the Grand Lodge , performed tho ceremony . Bro . Sir Archibald Alison , acting Grand Steward vro temnore . Ifc is

worthy of remark that the greatest muster of lodges which ever rallied together at one time , under the banners of the Grand Lodge , took place on this occasion . The procession had a very imposing appearance ; the members who took part in it being computed afc between Ct , 000 and 7 , 000 . In the evening a Masonic Festival was held in the Trades Hall , under the auspices of the P . G . Lodge , at which the Grand Master , accompanied by tho Grand Office Bearerswas present . Tho

attend-, ance was very numerous , and comprised deputations from thirty-two out of the seventy-two lodges , which had taken part in the brilliant pageant of ' the day . On the ISth January , 1 S 56 , a brilliant assembly of the craft took place under the auspices of the P . G . Lodge , and the presidency of Bro . Sir Archibald Alison . About 450 of the brethren were present . The proceedings were of the most harmonious and pleasant

description , and the Prov . G . Master iu the course of the evening made several speeches of a loyal , patriotic , and Masonic character . On Thursday , 31 st July , 1 S 56 , the foundation stones of the Court Houses , the Market Houses , and Railway Station of the town of Airdrie were laid with Masonic honours . Bro . Sir Archibald Alison officiated at the former of these , with the accustomed ceremonies . At the conclusion of the proceedings

he addressed the assembled multitude , and in the course of his remarks observed : — " As a Freemason he experienced a feeling of gratification in beholding the universal feeling of sympathy , of concord , and of Christian charity , which he knew animated that great assembly . He would tell them how there could be no civil disputes between man and man . That would be tbe case only when all the world embraced the principles of

Freemasonry , or those principles which teach justice , love mercy , and to walk humbly with God ; and whoever did that would never bo involved in civil broils , nor be brought to the bar of criminal justice . " Ou the evening of tho same day ho presided at a dinner given in honour of the occasion by the Provost , Magistrates aud Town Council , and the Monk ' lands Railway Directors . At the communication of the Grand Lodof Scot

quarterly ge - land held on the ' 3 rd May , 1858 , the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Freemason ' s Hall of Scotland was fixed for the 24 th of June , Summer St . John ' s Day , which was looked forward to with great interest , and afterwards took place

with extraordinary splendour and success . Of the speeches delivered on the occasion , none wore so effective , so full of suggestive thought , so magnanimous , so truly Masonic in expression and spirit as that of the Frov . G . M . of Glasgow , in the course of which he related the following striking anecdote : — "There no individual who has so great a reason to say that he is grateful to Freemasonry ; for I question whether there is any one who now hears me who has a family anecdote so interesting to

narrate , or which shows how much the principles of Freemasonrymay surmount even the animosities and the anger of war . In the American war there was a young English officer who was wounded , and had a bayonet pointed towards his breast in one of tbe intrenchments that he was storming in the United States . When the bayonet was at his breast he saw a young American officer to whom lie gave tbe Freemasons sign- The

American officer knocked up the bayonet and saved the Englishman ' s life . He brought him to his own home and treated him as a brother ; and for two or three months he lived in his family . That young officer , thus saved by Freemasonry , came back to Scotland , married a young lady , a relative of the noble family of Erskiue , and the issue of that marriage was Lady Alisonmy wifeand mother of two sons who have bled for

, , their country , in India . " In the following year , July , 1 S 59 , he laid the foundationstone of the Court House at Wishaw , with full Masonic honours . The next occasion of importance on which he appeared was at the funeral lodge held by the Lodge Glasgow , Kiln ' * lining-,, No . 4 , in memoriamof tha \ ata Bro . John Pringle Nichol , LL . D . Professor of Astronomy in the University of Glasgow , and P . M .

of that lodge , at which meeting he presided . The sentiments ho then expressed in the oration which be delivered , on the virtues and greatness of the deceased , are painfully recalled by us at the present time , even on the eve of our paying a like tribute to his own memory . On occasions private , as well as public , our departed Bro . was ever ready to lend his aid ; and iu the social gathering , as well as in the discharge of public

duties , he displayed the same noble spirit of self-sacrifice , and the same ardent desire for the happiness of those by whom he was surrounded . Actuated by such feelings , he readily acceded to the renuesfc of the St . Mark's Lodae , No . 102 , of which he

was at that time AA . M ., to preside at their annual festival , which was held on tho 24-th of April , 1 S 60 , and on that occasion he discharged the duties in a very felicitous manner , and by his condescending and gentlemanly deportment , and happy humour , promoted the utmost concord and harmony . In December of the same year he took part in the consecration of the Athole Lodge , No . 413 , and at the close of the ceremony he was affiliated as the first honorary member of that lodge . On

Monday , the 24 th June , 1861 , on the five hundred and fortyseventh anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn , the foundation-stone of the Wallace monument was laid with full Masonic honours by tho M . W . Grand Master . In the procession Bro . Sir Archibald Alison headed the representatives of the Prov . G . Lodge ot Glasgow . The brethren present amounted to nearly five thousand . Our Prov . G . Master delivered an eloquent and

highly patriotic address , rich in historical allusions , and unbounded in its praise of Scottish enterprise , Scottish valour , and Scottish patriotism . The address throughout was loudh / and enthusiastically cheered . In the year 1 S 61 Bro . Sir Archibald Alison laid the foundation-stones of Hamilton and Rutherglen , then in the course of erection . The next event in the series , calls for a more lengthened

notice , and refers to tbe lamented death of the Duke of Athole , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , which took place on the 16 th January , 1864 , in memory of whom the Prov . G . Lodge of Glasgow held a funeral lodge , one of the most solemn and imposing of the many that were held throughout Scotland . The lodge was held on this occasion in tie City Hall , which wa 3 thronged with tbe brethren of Glasgow and the adjoining districtswho showed the greatest desire to pay their last mark

, of respect to the departed , and betokened sincere grief for the loss they had sustained . The accustomed ceremonies were performed in a highly decorous and becoming manner , and the perfect stillness that characterised the audience enhanced the solemnity of the proceedings . It was a season for mourningan hour for the deepest reflection , Bro . Sir Archibald Alison presided , and paid an eloquent tribute to his grace ' s memory , from

which wo venture to extract a few sentences : — "We are mot to celebrate , " he said , " a solemn funeral service to the memory of the late Duke of Athole , Grand Master of the whole Scotch Freemasons , and whose premature decease , iu the prime of life ,