Craft Masonry.

Officers , Present and Past , " and Bro . Dr . Forbes , W . M ., in giving it , said the Grand Officers were at all times willing and ready to take their places and do their work at the sharpest notice , and the Craft owed them a deep debt of gratitude . Bro . Edmeston , P . G . Supt . of VVks ., replying , said there was always a fraternal feeling among Masonic lodges , especially towards Grand Lodge . He thought that the

great , growing and important Scots Lodge might be better known to the leaders of Grand Lodge . Three Grand Lodge Officers who had been asked to attend that day were full up with engagements and could not come . There were only two present , himself and Bro . Walter Martin . When more Grand Officers visited the lodge it was to be hoped some of the members of the Scots Lodge would become members of Grand Lodge .

Bro . Walter Martin , A . G . P ., also acknowledged the toast , and said he had thoroughly enjoyed the working of Bro . Gellion , and , from what he had seen , he should say the W . M . was a treasure to the lodge . That augured well . for the Scots Lodge . Bro . James Thomson , I . P . M ., in proposing "The W . M ., " said Bro . Forbes was the ninth Master of the lodge , and no better or worthier Scotchman had filled the chair . Not only was he connected with the Masonic Charities and Masonic business in general , but he was one of the greatest and most energetic of the Scotsmen in London who looked after the Scottish Charities , and there was no fitter man to be entrusted with the

gavel . It was a severe accident that he was not able to sign on as a founder ; he was present at the consecration and at every meeting since , and there was no more consistent or splendid worker in the cause of the lodge . He did not now occupy the chair of a lodge for the first time ; he was one of those few Masters who had followed on two years in succession as Master of his mother lodge ; he was a great man and a good man , or he would not have such a high honour thrust upon him . He possessed the great feeling of fraternity ; he was one of the greatest , most delightful , and most energetic Masons , and when he ( Bro . Thomson ) saw him in the chair of the Maybury Lodge ,

he looked forward to the time when he should see him installed in the Scots Lodge , and should have to propose his health . It was a privilege to instal one ' s successor , but when Dr . Forbes was elected the " grand old man " of the lodge , Bro . Gellion said he should like to instal the doctor , and he ( Bro . Thomson ) replied that he would be very delighted to let him , and now he thought he did not do a bad thing for the lodge when he consented . In Dr . Forbes they had a Past Chairman of the Royal Caledonian Asylum and a Past Chairman of many years' standing of the Royal Scottish Corporation . Both of those societies had conferred upon him a mark of appreciation of his

services ; they had presented him with a list for life of 253 votes . Dr . Forbes was also a Past President of the Caledonian Society , a society which he ( Bro . Thomson ) had supported with all honesty before he became a Mason . There was everything in the Caledonian Society which was in Masonry , and when Dr . Forbes was in the chair of the Scots Lodge they might depend upon it it was a great thing for the Scots Lodge . It was a great pleasure to him to sit on Dr . Forbes' left , and he hoped Dr . Forbes would have such a year of office as would eclipse all previous years . Bro . Dr . Forbes , W . M ., in reply , assured the brethren that he liked to hear good

old Scotch songs , for one could not help being born over the border and recollect their national history and character ; but there was one thing about the Scots Lodge , they had changed their venue from the old Scottish Corporation Hall to the Holborn Restaurant . There had been an old maxim among Scotchmen , which Scotchmen had taken much advantage of , that it was owing to an old man , who was an elder of the church , on account of the contributions he gave to the church , when he died , he turned round to his children , and said : " My dear children , I cannot give you any money , but 1 can give you good advice . " They all said " What is the good advice ? " He said "Gae

South ; keep on going South . " 1 he Anglo-Scotch had gone south , and they did not see much prospect of going across the sea . But there was another maxim they had" When ye ' ve once settled your corner , gae to the West , where the money is . " That was the point . He thanked the I . P . M . for the way in which he had glorified him . Of course , there was a little truth in the matter ; but there was one thing he should say—he never repented of doing good , nor should he ever . Bro . Forbes , W . M ., proposed "The Installing Master and the I . P . M . " He united the two for one simple reason—that to the LP . M . he was obliged for having friend

allowed his old and respected , Bro . Gellion , to instal him . He asked Bro . Thomson if he would forego the privilege in order that Bro . Gellion might perform the ceremony , and he kindly gave way , and so did the other Past Masters . The brethren of the Scots Lodge had no doubt felt that they were under a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Gellion for the grand way in which he installed him . Visitors must acknowledge that the feeling and touching way he gave the addresses was as good as they could have seen anywhere . He had never seen it better done . He had seen Bro . Gellion do it several times , and he had seen him do it better , but he had never seen anyone else do it

better . The brethren had also seen him do the Scotch reel that night—a man of 75 years of age . " Take him for all in all , we ne'er shall look upon his like again . " ( A cry— " A Grand Old Man . " ) The brethren had seen Bro . Thomson ' s working during the year ; those who had not seen him work had no idea how well he did it . Bro . Thomson had a great deal of vital energy and power in him ; he had the interest of the Scots Lodge at heart and he had tried his best to make the lodge prosper . He had handed it over to him ( Dr . Forbes ) , who acknowledged the responsibility . Bro . D . F . Gellion , P . M ., in reply , said he was very much at a loss to express

himself for what Dr . rorbes had said of him and Bro . Thomson . When he asked permission to instal his dear old friend he thought he was going to do something very grand , and in order to do so he prepared himself , but it was not to be , and he failed . ( No , no . ) If the brethren had heard him in Kensington Gardens that morning they would have said he did it well . He did not perform the ceremony that evening to his satisfaction . Although the brethren were so generous to him on all occasions , and gave him credit for doing things well , he felt that his work that evening was not what he should have liked it to be . The generosity of the brethren , and the kindness and cordiality with which

they always received him , was a proof of their brotherly love . He felt that whatever his failings might be , tkey always tolerated him , and he thanked them very much . Bro . James Thomson , I . P . M ., also replied . His year of oflice was a great responsibility to him , but he was very grateful he was able to fulfil his duties with credit to himself and the lodge . As one of the founders of the Scots Lodge , he boked upon the proceedings with the very greatest and liveliest interest , and he hoped he should live for a long time to wear the beautiful jewel they had presented to him . He had same little to do with the designing of it . He hoped to live to show it to his

grandchildren . He thanked the Past Misters for the assistance he had had from them . It was pleasant for him to see his old friend , John Imray , an initiate in that lodge . He also thanked all the officers from the bottom of his heart for the way in which they supported him ; the Secretary , perhaps , more than all the others . They had a splendid Secretary , and he hoped Bro . Ross would be Secretary for a long time . He thanked Bro . A . Ritchie , the Treasurer , for his assistance and for many kind words of sympathy at a time when he ( Bro . Thomson ) was not with the brethren . He was not present at the ladies'night , and Bro . Ritchie sent him a kind letter of sympathy

, which was in his heart , and a little picture , wh : ch was in his study . Bro . Ritchie hid always been very kind , and in him as Treasurer the brethren had an ornament to the lodge . He thanked the brethren for the good attendance during his year ; the percentage had been higher than in the previous year . It was then 27 . 9 ; in his year it was 41 . 9 . Thc financial balance came out satisfactorily , and now he relinquished the chair he felt something had b : en attempted , something done , and he had earned a genial repose . Brr . John Whitehead , P . M ., responding to the toast of "The Past Masters . "

assured the brethren that one of the happiest moments of his life was when he saw so many brethren around the table as there were that day wishing well to the Scots Lodge . It had been his ambition to see the Scots Lodge one of the foremost of lodges . He was taken somewhat aback when Bro . Thomson sa-d that was the ninth year of their incorporation , and it was a very pleasing moment to himself and the other Past Masters when they saw such a large gathering ot brethren showing their appreciation of thc Scots Lodge . It was no easy task to bring the lodge to such a condition . It was said at their first starting that they intended to try to make it one of the foremost of the lodges under the Grand Lodge of England . He thought they had done very well with the

support they had had lrom the officers and members . He assured tha brethren that the whole aim of the members was to study the comfort and interest of Scotsmen who came to London . They trusted that all those who did come to London who were Masons would not forget that there was a Scots Lodge . He had heard in his travels many say they did not know , and he hoped the gathering that night would not refrain from letting Scots Masons know there was a Scots Lodge always glad and ready to see them . They gave them a hearty welcome . In Dr . Forbes they had a Master second to none who had from the formation of the lodge its interests at heart , a man who said everything he could for Scotsmen . Bro . Gellion , too , was a great Mason , most genial

Craft Masonry.

and kind-hearted . It was very pleasing not only to him ( Bro . Whitehead ) but to every member of the Scots Lodge to meet theifdear old friend , Bro . Gellion , and witness the splendid style in which he performed the installation ceremony . The toast of " The Visitors , " was responded to by Bros . Jubal Webb and Thomas Mackenzie , of New Zealand , and after the toasts of " The Treasurer , the Secretary , the Trustee , and the Officers , " and the Tyler ' s toast had been honoured , " Auld Lang Syne " concluded a glorious evening . *

Bro . Thomas Mackenzie , who replied as one of the visitors to the toast of " The Visitors , " has been a member of the New Zealand Parliament for 10 years . He is a P . M . of the St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 4 60 , Clutha ; he is an explorer , and the Premier has just brought his explorations , which include the discovery of some of the most important passes of New Zealand , under the notice of the Royal Geographical Society .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Mount Calvary Chapter , No . 3-This chapter met at the Masonic Hall , Golden-square , on the 9 th ult ., when there were present , among others , Bros . L . Steele , 30 , M . W . S . ; Dr . Victor Jagielski , ist Gen . ; H . J . Lardner , 30 , P . M . W . S ., Treas . ; Major T . C . Walls , P . M . W . S ., Recorder ; A . W . Humphreys , R . ; Egbert Roberts , Asst . Org .: F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . M . W . S . ; Major Baldwin , Dr . J . VV . Hinton , M . A ., and II . Hills , J . P . Bro . the Rev . R . C . Fillingham . M . A ., of the lnvicta Chapter , was a visitor .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Bro . F . F . Bonney , J . W . Leigh Lodge , and he was duly perfected , the ceremony being well performed . The ballot was also taken on behalf of Bro . the Rev . R . C . Fillingham , M . A ., as a joining member . Bro . W . Maple , Prelate , M . W . elect , having resigned that position ^ in consequence of ill-health , the Recorder reported that he had communicated the circumstance to the Secretary-General of the

S . E ., and that that brother had suggested the election of another brother in Bro . Maple ' s place . The ballot was then taken for M . W . S ., and resulted unanimously in favour of Bro . V . Jagielski . The notice of motion— "That in future the installation be held in November instead of July "—was unanimously carried . The Recorder thengave a notice of motion— " That , subject to the Masonic Hall being at liberty , the July meeting be discontinued , and that the month of June be substituted . "

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Bros . W . Miple , T . E . Biddlecombe , Dr . Lott , 31 ° ; Lieut .-Col . F . J . Stohwasser , 30 ° ; Capt . Gsorge Carpenter , J . Adams , G . Grimwood , J . P ., P . M . W . S . ; George Graveley , 30 , P . M . W . S . ; and others . The chapter was then closed , after which the banquet was held at the Cafe Royale . The chair was taken by the Recorder , and , upon the removal of the cloth , the customary toasts received full justice .

During the proceedings Bros . Dr . J . VV . Hinton and Egbert Roberts instrumental ^ and vocally entertained the brethren , and Bro . F . VV . Driver read his well-known poem on the Rose Croix .

Allied Masonic Degrees.

Allied Masonic Degrees .

Metropolitan Council ( T . L ) . A meeting of this council was held at Mark Masons' Hall on the 16 th ult . Among the officers and others present were—Bros . H . J . Lardner , P . M ., as W . M ., in the unavoidable absence of Bro . E . L . Shepherd ; G . Graveley , P . M ., as S . W . ; J . J . Pakes , J . VV . ; George Powell , P . M ., Treasurer : Major T . C Walls , P . M ., Sec ; and Basil Stewart , S . D . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot

was taken on behalf of Bro . C . C . Nicols , P . M ., of Sierra Leone , and , it being unanimous , he was duly received into the three degrees of St . Lawrence , Knights of Constantinople , and Red Cross of Babylon , the ceremonies being admirably performed by the W . M ., ably seconded by the exertions of Bro . B . Stewart , as Conductor . A Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . George Powell , unable to be present at th-: last meeting . It was unanimously resolved that in future thc council meet in November instead of July as heretofore , and that the By-laws be amended accordingly . Apologies

for non-attendance were received from Bros . E . L . Shepherd , W . M . ; R . L . Loveland , J . P ., P . M . ; VV . Vincent , P . M ., G . D . C ; Rev . R . C . Fillingham , M . A ., I . G . ; and others . The council was then closed . The brethren dined together under the genial presidency of Bro . George Powell . A few of the more important toasts wcre duly proposed and honoured . The proceedings terminated at an early hour .

Unfurling Of A New Lodge Banner At Crook.

UNFURLING OF A NEW LODGE BANNER AT CROOK .

On Wednesday night , the 28 th ult ., at the Crook Ludge , No . 2019 , there was a very large attendance on the occasion of the visit of the Prov . Grand Officers of Durham , and the presentation of a new banner and certain framed portraits to the lodge . The W . M ., Bro . J . Hertford Pollard , presided , and was supported by

Bros , W . ] . Anderson ,-S . W . ; Wm . Addison , J . W . ; W . Atkinson , Treas . ; S . Barkas , Sec . ; Edward Brougham , S . D . ; Jas . H . Allison , J . D . ; G . W . Rippon , Org . ; W . Makepeace , I . G . ; and the following Prov . Grand Officers and others ; Bros . R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . England , P . G . S . ; Babin-ton Boulton , P . P . S . G . W . ; F . H . Bennett , P . J . G . W . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . J . G . W . ; John Joel , P . A . G . Sec ; C . W . Anderson , P . P . G . D . ; E . Milburn , P . P . G . D . ; and others . l

After other business , Bro . T . HAKUY , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., give a hearty welcomj to the visitors , and stated that the W . M ., Bro . Pollard , desired that the lodge should commemorate the Jubilee year and his year of office in a suitable way , and he had most generously presented a handsome new banner to the lodge . He invited , on behalf of the lodge , Bro . Robert Hudson , Prov . G . Sec , to unveil the new banner . ( Applause . ) Bro . R . HUDSON , Prov . G . Sec , who rose amid applause , then unveiled the new banner , which bore the title and number of the lodge , with an excellent

painting in oils of the Crook Parish Church in the centre , and the fact of the presentation of the banner to the lodge by Bro . J . H . Pollard , W . M . He slid it had been a great pleasure to come again to Crook , and it was a privilege to b ; invited to unfurl the new banner . It would always be a pleasing reminder to them to know that the W . M . during his year of ollice had presented the banner to the lodge . ( Applause . ) He was very gratified to see the lodge in such a prosperous condition .

Bro . E . MiuiUHN , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., proposed , and Bro . J OHN J , P . M ., P . A . G . Sec , seconded , thit the best thanks of the lodge bz tendered to thc W . M . for his generous and appropriate gift to the lodge , which was passed and ordered to be recorded on the minutes , and the W . M . briefly acknowledged the vote . Bro . R , Hudson , P . G . S ., then unveiled by request three framed photographs of Past Masters of the lodge—Bros . T . Hardy , E . Milburn , and W . T . Wanless —which was also presented to the lodge by these Past Misters ,

The lodge was afterwards closed , and the visitors were entertained in the banqueting room iu a very hospitable manner , and the usual loyil and Ma-Joiic toasts were duly honoured thereafter .