Recollections Of The Lodge Of Freemasons At Thornhill.

lias the second Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire been immortalised from his connection with Burns * , although the character in which the graphic pen of the Bard has depicted him is anything but a Masonic one . He was the successful

combatant at the shrine of Bacchus for the possession of the relic of the drunken courtier of Anne of Denmark , contended for at Friar's Carse in 1790 , as related in the ballad of " The Whistle . "

Mr . Campbell of Fairfield succeeded to the Provincial Grand Mastership of the Southern District on the death of Mr . Fergusson of Craigdarrocha post which he held till his transference in 1801 to the Masonic Lieutenancy of Ayrshire . The

Agreement betiveen the Grand Lodge ancl Mother Kilwinning rendering the Provincial Grand Mastership of Ayrshire hereditary in the Master of the Mother Loclge , Bro . Campbell was superseded in November , 1807 . He Avas made in the Lodge

Ayr KilAvinning St . John , on the 1 st of January , 1771 , in company ivith James Dalrymple of Orangefield * and Dr . Patrick Douglas , and in the year immediately following his initiation Avas the Acting Senior Grand Warden at the laying of the foundation stone of certain neiv Avorlcs at Ayr

Harbour by the M . W . Grand Master , Patrick Earl of Dumfries ; he AA as also a member by affiliation of Canongate Kilwinning—his adoption into that famed lodge taking place in 1780 , the night also of Burns ' s first appearance in the lodge in which

lie was afterwards to find so many Avarm-hearted patrons . Bro . Campbell Avas Senior Grand Warden in 1790-91 , the year in which his friend Bro . Fergusson , Avas empowered to visit the lodges in Dumfriesshire , and procure payment of their

arrears to Grand Loclge . If , as we have seen , the second and third Provincial Grand Masters of Dumfriesshire have been immortalised by their connection Avith Burns , the first , Bro . Crosbie , has been rendered perhaps still more famous by the pen of Sir Walter Scott —he being the prototype of Plydell , the advo-

Recollections Of The Lodge Of Freemasons At Thornhill.

cate of Bertram , in " Guy Mannering . " By a successful professional practice Mr . Crosbie amassed a considerable fortune , which he subsequently lost in the ruinous bankruptcy of Messrs . Douglas , Heron , & Co ., bankers , Ayr , of which firm he was a partner .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Nova Scotia.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOVA SCOTIA .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was held on St . John's Day , 27 th December , 1865 , at the Masonic Hall , Halifax , the R . W . the Hon . Alex . Keith , Prov . G . M . in the chair , and the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Masters , Past Masters , officers , and members of the several lodges in Halifax , and of

lodges throughout the province , and a large number of visitors from the lodges under Scottish authority , and transient brethren being present : — The Grand Lodge was opened in due form and with solemn prayer .

The minutes of the last Grand Lodge were read and confirmed . The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to nominate and appoint the following brethren to be Provincial Grand Lodge Officers for the ensuing year ,

Avho were thereupon invested and proclaimed according to ancient custom : — Bros . Porman , D . G . M . ; Blair , S . G . W . ; Benjamin Curren , J . G-. W . ; Rev . Theophilus Eichey , G . Chap . ; W . Twinning , G . Treas . ; H . C . D . Twinning , G .

Sec . * , AVilliam Holloway , S . G . D . ; Henry W . Johnston , J . G . D . ; W . Ward , G . Dir . of Cers . ; W . M . Adams , G . Supt . of Works ; C . . F . Busfield , G . Org . ; George Gowans , G . Sword Bearer ; O . A . McPaden , G . Standard Bearer ; W . Graham , G . Pursfr . ; J . M .

Taylor , G . Tyler . The folloAving brethren Avere then appointed Stewards for the Provincial Grand Loclge for the

ensuing year : — Bros . Thomas Wilson , J . S . Cochrane , A . C . Cogswell , Thomas Barrett , Thomas E . Everett , Charles T . Biddle . The folloAving brethren were announced as constituting the Committee of Charity for the ensuing

year . Bro . Thomas Annand , P . M ., St . Andrew ' s Lodge ; Henry C . D . Twinning , P . M . St . John's Lodge ; W . A . Hesson , P . M . Virgin Lodge ; Thomas Mickle-Avright , P . M . Royal Standard Lodge ; Charles

Blackadar , P . M . Royal Sussex Lodge ; Charles R . Morris , P . M . Union Lodge . Tho ceremonies connected ivith the installation having been concluded , a committee , consisting of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Senior and Junior