Correspondence.

or a Past Provincial Superintendent of Workseither will do for the purpose of the inquiry . It is for the purpose of settling a question of dispute as to who shall take precedence of rank . A reply will much oblige . Yours fraternally ,

A PEOV . G . SUIT , OF WOEKS AND SUBSCRIBER . [ Answer . —In Grand Lodge neither of such Provincial Grand Officers haA'e precedence over a Past Grand Steward . In all Craft lodge meetings a Past Grand Steward should take precedence of all Past Provincial Grand Officers . —ED . F . M . l

THE MAGAZINE IN SCOTLAND . TO TTTE ED 1 T 0 B 0 ? Till ' . l'BEEilASOSS * MAGAZINE A ^ D MASONIC M 1 BR 0 R . DEAE SIE AND BKOTHEE , —The error that in 173 S Avas committed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland ¦ when it neglected to place in the first foundationstone laid under its auspices—that of the Eoyal

Infirmary at Edinburgh—any documentary records of a Masonic chapter , has Avith comparatively exceptions been perpetuated till the present day . In the earlier years of the Grand Lodge ' s existence , it Avas : ± he custom to have medals and coins placed iu cavities cut in the several corner-stones that Avere planted

with Masonic ceremony . As time progressed , " writings" were assigned a place in these depositories ; and it is recorded that among the memorials of the time placed in the foundation-stone of the University of Edinburgh , laid in 17 S 9 , AA-as a roll of the office-bearers of the Grand Lodge of Scotland .

Since that period wherever Grand Lodge has officiated in laying with Masonic honours the foundation-stones of public edifices , care has generally been taken to have some record of the Craft deposited therein . [ But when Ave turn to the provinces , apart from the

msenption-plate setting forth Avhen and by Avhora the stone was laid , we seldom discover the presence of anything calculated to shed light upon the history of the Craft , should any fortuitous circumstance happen at a subsequent era to restore to posterity the long-concealed landmarks of a bypast age . Among

"the articles deposited in the corner-stone of the new Episcopal Church at St . Andreivs , planted on the 31 st ult ., by the Most Worshipful "Bro . J . Whyte-Melville , there Avas an appropriately-bound number ¦ of the FEEEAIASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBEOE , containing a sketch of the Masonic career

of the late Bro . Sir Archibald Alison , presented ¦ through Messrs . W . E . M . Thomson and Co ., of Glasgow , the representatives in Scotland of this Magazine ; and as these gentlemen have expressed their willingness to present , for a like purpose , to all applying for the samegratuitous copies of the

, Magazine , we have thought it right that our Scottish ¦ brethren should be reminded of this , in order that the liberal offer to which we have referred should be 'fully taken advantage of .

Without undervaluing the services which , in the publication of Masonic intelligence , the neutral press has rendered to Freemasonry , Ave Avould humbly direct ¦ attention to the practice now too prevalent of discussing in the columns of newspapers subjects that , being purely Masonic , could be ventilated Avith greater freedom , and with better results to the fraternity , within the pages of a purely Masonic journal , than

can be expected to flow from an indiscriminate use of the public press in the discussion of controverted points of Masonic action . In the absence of a Scottish Masonic periodical , and in consideration of the very limited space at the command of the comilers of the annual issued by the Grand Lodge , the

p exertions at present being put forth to secure for the London FEEEAIASONS' MAGAZINE intelligence of everything noteworth y in Scottish Masonry , are well calculated to foster a taste for Masonic literature , and if duly appreciated Avould tend to advance the best interests of the fraternity . It is matter of

regret that so few of our Scottish brethren should hitherto have availed themselves of the Masonic press , as the medium for the communication of information anent the transactions of the lodges that at present exist , or of the result of their researches anione : the Masonic records of the past . We would

fain hope for the speedy inauguration of a better state of things : indeed , from the elaborate reports of Masonic eA'ents iu different parts of Scotland that have recently appeared in these pages , coupled with the retention of our excellent Bro . James Stevenson of a portion of the editorial functions so well exercised in

his direction of the Magazine , prior to his coming to reside in Glasgow ( and who will g ladly take charge of , and prepare for publication , any reports of Masonic proceedings in Scotland Avith Avhich he may be favoured ) , we anticipate the near approach of a brighter epoch for the literature of Scottish Masonry ,

and as a natural consequence a greatly extended circle of Intelligent Masons upon Avhich to draw for that wisdom to instruct , that strength to uphold , and that beauty to adorn , which ought ever to characterise the office-bearers of our ancient Institution . Yours fraternally , D . Mr BEAT LYON . Ayr , Aug . 27 th , 1 S 67 .

INSTALLING BY PEOXY . TO Till ! EDITOn OS TnE T-lll' . EMASOSS' MAGAZIXB AXD HASOXIC MIEEOE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —A correspondent at the C . G . H . has Avritten to me to answer the following questions , and I shall feel obliged by your doing so for meknowing your authority Avill more likely

, be acted upon than my Avritten communication : — 1 . Can a Warden of a private lodge be legally installed by proxy ? 2 . Supposing a brother to he so installed , can he be legally elected to the chair of of K . S . ? Yours fraternally ,

EICITAED SPENCEE . 26 , Great Queen-street , W . C . [ 1 . Yes ; if by the expression "installing" is meant being inducted into office . 2 . Although the Warden may not have been present on the occasion of the installation of the W . M . and

the appointment of officers , and some brother performs the duties for him , he is not disqualified thereb y from being elected to the chair of W . M . The election depends upon the votes of the members of the lodge . If a brother does not attend during hia year of office as S . W . or J . W ., and perform the duties thereof , his election to the Master ' s chair would be discreditable to the lodge . —ED . P . M . ]