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

has , I am sin- ? , realised the prediction of the Grand Lodge in the circular announcing it , that ifc has been a matter of deep regret to the Freemasons of Scotland in every part of the world . So various , indeed , have been the merits to our Craft of our late Grand Master , that we can scarcely hope to see his place adequately supplied . It is no sinecure which has devolved upon the nobleman who is nominated to that high and dignified

office . In a word , a Grand Master who really discharges the duties of his office must live moro for others than himself . And it is fitting that it should be so , for what is the spirit of Freemasonry but a constant readiness to sacrifice self to others ? and what can be so good a model for its head as that which embodies its spirit ? It is not surprising that our late Grand Master took such an interest in the proceedings of our fraternity , and was so active in discharging its duties . Ho belonged to a

race which , for more than a century , had repeatedly given a Grand Master to the Freemasons of Scotland , and had never ceased to feel a great interest in their proceedings . His own disposition rendered him peculiarly open to its influences . Afc once energetic and active , patient and enduring of suffering , resolute and humane , his spirit was unwearied , his heart was warm , his disposition was chivalrous . His ear was ever open to the tale of suffering , his hand ready to assuage it . He was

liberal without ostentation , hospitable without prodigality . Many of you , brethren , can testify how ably , and with what heartfelt benevolence , he laid aside his rank , and joined in the social festivities of the Craft in this city and neighbourhood . But , most of all , on the approach of death , did his character shine forth with peculiar lustre . AA hen the inevitable hour approached to him , as it must do to us all , he awaited it in a noble spirit . His was neither the blind stoicism of the sceptic ,

nor the rapt enthusiasm of the fanatic—it was the intrepid demeanour of the Christian . His firm reliance was on his Saviour , and when at length the silver cord was loosed , and the golden bowl broken , ' he yielded up his last breath with the hope of a Christian , and in the spirit of a Freemason . " Such are a few of the sentences he spoke in the course of the ceremony , and they are the outgoings of a true and manly naturetbe utterances of a generous heart , fully alive to all that is frnrnl . nnrl nnhlrv nnrl trim in nnnflipv . Wp wnifc fn ,. nn prmnllv

eloquent tribute to his own memory . The next event takes us to the close of the year 1 S 64 , when he presided afc the consecration of the Glasgow Lodge , No . 441 . In the course of his address to the brethren ho said : — " It is with the greatest pleasure that I see the progress of Freemasonry in this city . This is the eighth lodge which it has been my good fortune to consecrate since you did me the honour to place me in my present position , and I believe there is no city ,

not excepting the capital of the empire , which can boast of a similar increase of Freemasonry within the same period . It is pleasant to think that the increase of Masons in the eastern quarter of this city has produced the demand for this lodge , in order to enable the citizens residing here to meet together in social enjoyment under the principles of Freemasonry , aud to cultivate those principles of harmony , benevolence , and universal charity under which we are united . "

In tbe yearlS 65 he laid the foundation-stone of a new School and Hall at Renfrew . Last year be appeared at tbe quarterly communication of fche Grand Lodge of Scotland , and proposed , in an able speech , Bro . Colonel Campbell , of Blythswood , as Prov . G . Master for Renfrewshire East ; and at tbe close of tbe year he laid the foundation-stone of the New Bank at Govan . To the very last , ifc thus appears , he was fully alive to the importance of the high position he occupied in the Masonic world ,

and was diligent in the discharge of every duty which that position necessarily entailed upon him . He was justly revered when living in the west of Scotland , and his death is universally lamented . In token of the esteem in which he was held by the brethren , six hundred of their number mustered in mournful procession at his funeral . He was tho beau ideal of a good Mason , inasmuch as he was the patron of every good and useful work—theprotector of the Craft , and the expositor of its noble

principles . His Masonic career was long and brilliant , and we feel , as the varied i . iciuents of that active and useful life crowd upon our recollection , that Death may rob us of those we most esteem arid venerate , but that Masonic virtue and Masonic principle stand firm for ever . His stately form , noble countenance , gentlemanly bearing , and genial manners will be contemplated by us no more ; but the recollection of all ho lawyer , a judge , an historian , a citizen , and a Mason , cherished by his admiring countrymen for many

Such a loss as we have sustained is not felt immediately in all its force—not , indeed , is it realised till time has gathered up for us and condensed the labours of so long a life , and placed the record of them to his accuunt in the history of his country . Peguiescat in pace .

WELLINGTON A MASON . —The Duke of AVellingtou was made a Mason in the Castle of Dangan , his birthplace , in Lodge 494 . He was then Colonel of the 33 rd Regiment of Foot . The duke's own father was at that time Master of the lodge . The record is that "he was duly passed , after the usual examination , and entered at the southern gate , and afterwards raised . " Somerville , North , Marquis AA ellesley , Percival , Waller , and Leslie were present . Sir Robert Peel was a Mason . —National Freemason .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Queen , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princo and Princess Louis of Hesse and Princess Louise , drove on the 19 th inst . down to Frogmore , to visit Prince and Princess Christian . Her Majesty afterwards drove out with Princess Louis of Hesse . Her Majesty , with Princess Beatrice and P-ince Leopold , went ont in the grounds on the 20 th inst . The Queen , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses

Princess Louis of Hesse and Princess Beatrice , drove out in tbe afternoon . The Queen , accompanied by their Royal Hignesses Princes Louis , Princess Beatrice , Prince Leopold and Prince Louise of Hesse arrived at the Castle at half-past seven o ' clock , from London . The Queen , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise and Prince Leopold , drove in thegrounds on the morning of the 24 th inst . Her Royal Highness Princess

Beatrice rode in the Home Park . The Queen drove in she afternoon down to Frogmore , and took leave of Prince and Princess Christian . Her Majesty and the Queen of Prussia drove out oa the afternoon of tho 25 th inst . Countess Blucher bad the honour of accompanying their Majesties . The Queen , accompanied by Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice , drove in the grounds on the morning of the 26 th inst .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* £ * All communications to bo addressod to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , AA . O . S . H . —We should scarcely have supposed any Mason who had attended to the duties of his lodge or the business of the Craft , would have been in ignorance of the existence of such an Institution as tho Royal Benevolent Institution for Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons . Let us hope they willnow

, they are made aware of the fact , at once become subscribers to that excellent Charity , and by the extent of their contributions make up for their neglect in the past . Some day we may perhaps give a brief description of the Institution and tbe advantages in time of need that may be derived from it . A SENIOR DEACON . —Before we can insert our brother's letter , as ifc contains some very serious charges against the

individual referred to , as well as impugning the credit of the Master and Officers of the lodge , we should like to be furnished privately with the fullest information and authority upon which such charges are made . ERRATUH . —In the report of Lodge La Ce ' saree , in our last number , an error occurred in the report on the condition of reau ^ y Bro . Schmitt . Twenty-two lines from the page 476 the word " important" occurs . It should , " which will materially alter the

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