Scotland.

in 1889 the sum of £ 12 , 000 had been paid in annuities . Eleven new charters had been issued during the year . The General Fund amounted 10 ^ 19 , 246 , the Benevolent Fund to ^ 8035 , and the Annuity Fund to £ 29 , 652 , making a grand total for the three funds of , £ 56 , 934 , exclusive of the heritable and moveable property , which was valued at . £ 25 , 400 . Including its heritable and moveable property , the assets of the Grand Lodge came to the princely

sum of . £ 82 , 334 . What a contrast to the state of affairs in 1877 , when the Grand Lodge was saddled with a debt of some ^ 20 , 000 . It had fallen to him to have had the honour to be Grand Master in the year in which the Grand Lodge had attained an unprecedented prosperity . But to Grand Committee , its Finance Committee , and other standing Committees must be attributed much of the success that had in the past 20 years attended the

administration of the business of the Grand Lodge ; and the Visitation Committee ' had wrought a wonderful improvement upon lodges in the Metropolitan District . Scottish Freemasonry was making rapid strides in the Colonies of Queensland and Western Australia . During the year two new lodges had been erected in Queensland , one in Syria , five in Western

Australia , and they had erected another lodge in India . Altogether Scottish Freemasonry at home , in India , in the Colonies , and in foreign parts was at present in a highly prosperous condition —( applause )—and it was no exaggeration to say that in this year 1900 there were upwards cf 100 , 000 Masons hailing from lodges under the Scottish Constitution . ( Loud Applause . )

The GRAND MASTER next gave the toast of " The Grand Lodge of England . " Bro . the Hon . ALAN DE TATTON EGERTON , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Cheshire , responded . Sir DAVID RICHMOND , in proposing " The City of Edinburgh , " said he came from a village in the west , where they thought they were somebody , and he was delighted to come there and express his admiration of that

beautiful and well-governed city of Edinburgh—a city of which he thought every Scotsman had good reason to be proud . A very intimate friend of his had just been elected Lord Provost of the city , and he was happy to say that Lord Provost Steel ' s predecessor in office and Sir Mitchell-Thomson ' s two predecessors in office were all intimate friends of his . He knew what it was to have a well-governed city , and he was glad to have that opportunity of complimenting the Corporation of Edinburgh on the happy and successful manner in which all their civic duties had been performed .

Lord Provost STEEL , in acknowledging the toast , said it gave those who were performing the city's duties great pleasure to be supported by such a worthy assemblage as that . Having spoken of some of the schemes which the Corporation nave at present in hand—such as the new water supply , gas and electric lighting , the cable tramways , and improved dwellings for

the poor—his lordship said the position of representatives of the citizens in the Town Council was no sinecure . He had only had experience in office for a few weeks , but although there was no end to the demands made on the time 0 . the Lord Provost , he would endeavour to overtake the duties to the best of his ability .

The other toasts were— " Deputations from Daughter Lodges " ( of which 32 were present ) , by the GRAND MASTER ; "Past Grand Masters , " by Bro . the Hon . C . M . RAMSAY , and replied to by Bro . Sir CHARLES DALRYMPLE , who proposed " The Grand Master Depute , Substitute Grand Master , Grand Wardens , and other Grand Office-bearers , " Bro . the Hon .

C . M . RAMSAY responding ; "The Guests , " by the GRAND MASTER , and acknowledged by Bros . Lord NEWLANDS , ARTHUR MORTON , M . P ., and Provost MACKIE J and " Provincial Grand Lodges at Home , Abroad , and in the Colonies , " by Bro . Sir J AMES BUCHANAN , and responded to by Bro . Colonel IVISON MACADAM .

The proceedings terminated , and the Grand Lodge was closed shortly before 10 o ' clock . During dinner music was supplied by Bro . H . Dambmann ' s band , and in the course of the evening a flashlight photograph of the company was taken .

THE GRAND SECRETARYSHIP OF SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY .

The Special Committee appointed by Grand Lodge to consider the applications for the vacant office of Grand Secretary for Scotland , in succession to Bro . D . Murray Lyon , agreed on Friday , the 30 th ult ., to present the following list of six from 16 candidates , to the special meeting of Grand Lodge called for Thursday , the 13 th inst ., to make the appointment : Bros . J . M'Naught Campbell , Past G . Bible Bearer , Prov . G . Sec . of Glasgow

City ; Capt . George Hearn , late the South Staffordshire Regiment , Past G . S . B . of Scottish Freemasonry in India , and Past G . S . B . of England ; Allan Mackenzie , Chairman of the Finance Committee of Grand Lodge ; John M . Martin , P . P . G . M . of Dumbartonshire ; David Reid , G . Treas ., P . P . G . Sec . of Glasgow City ; and D . Crauford Smith , Prov . G . Sec . of Perthshire East .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Dumbarton.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF DUMBARTON .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . COL . DENNY , M . P ., AS PROV GRAND MASTER .

On Saturday , the ist instant , there was an imposing function in the Ma-aonic HaU , Dumbarton , when a visit was paid to the Province of Dumbarton by the Grand Master , Bro . the Hon . Jas . Hozier , M . P ., accompanied by a large number of the Grand Lodge Officers , Grand Stewards , and others . The visitors were received with due honour by the

Prov . Grand Lodge , and the chair resigned in favour of the Grand Master , Bros . Munro Denholm , acting S . G . W ., and J . Carruthers , acting J . G . W . The others of the deputation included : Bros . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., P . G . M . ; David Reid , G . Treas .- , Wm . Phillips , J . G . D . * , Alex ,

Brown , G . Jeweller ; Jas . Gunn , G . D . of C . ; J . O . Stewart , G . Marshal ; and William Falconer , G . I . G . The installation ceremony was performed by the Grand Master in favour of Bro . Col . J . M . Denny , M . P ., as Prov . Grand Master ; Provost McFariane , Prov . G . Master Depute ; and David Thomson , Sub P . G . M . An adjournment was afterwards made to the Elephant Hotel , where dinner was served .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Dumbarton.

The toasts which followed , included " The Queen and the Craft , " " The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Royal Family , " and " The Grand Lodge of Scotland . " In response to the latter toast , Bro . HOZIER , G . M ., referred to the large deputation of Grand Lodge members , including Sir Charles Dalrymple , who had come as much to honour Colonel Denny as to support him in his duties as Grand Master . He expressed the special pleasure it had been to

him to be there that day and in performing the ceremony . Grand Lod ge had never been in a more prosperous position than at the present time . Amid the sorrows of the year about to close , the Grand Lodge had reason to rejoice , and in rejoicing had done much , as also her daughter lodges , to relieve the wants of those in sorrow . The Grand Master included in his reply " The Provincial Grand Lodge of Dumbarton , " and spoke in very flattering terms of Colonel Denny , and his popularity among both parties in the House of Commons .

Bro . Colonel DENNY acknowledged the compliment in a speech which was well received , and remarked that as Prov . Grand Master he had a position which had been so well filled by his predecessors , that it wouid be impossible to improve on , and difficult to equal . With the excellent staff of officebearers and the strong province placed in his care , however , he had confidence that success would follow their efforts in the interests of Masonry .

Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . I . _ An emergency meeting * of the above lodge was held recently in Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , for the purpose of conferring honorary membership on Bros . Field-Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar and Captain Hearn , late the South Staffordshire Regiment , Past G . S . B . of Scottish Freemasonry in India , and Past G . S . B . of England . There was a large attendance of the brethren , including Bros , the Hon . C . M . Ramsay , W . Munro Denholm , Councillor Inches , and Admiral Fletcher Campbell . Bro . W . W . Robertson , R . W . M ., presided .

On the motion of the R . W . M ., seconded by Bro . Dr . Dickson , honorary membership was unanimously conferred on Lord Roberts and Captain Hearn , and the latter took the customary obligation . The Secretary , Bro . R . Wood Hawks , then read the following letter from Lord Roberts : "Army Head-quarters , Pretoria , " October 21 st , 1900 . " Dear Sir and Brother ,

' * I am in receipt of your letter of September 14 th , and must apologise for being obliged , owing to press of work , to send you a dictated reply . I am much honoured by your request that I should become an honorary member of your ancient lodge , and most gratefully accept . I shall hope to be able to visit Edinburgh before vtry long , and have an opportunity , when signing the roll , of thanking the members of your lodge personally for the honour they have done me . " Believe me , yours very truly , ( Signed ) " ROBERTS . "

Bro . Capt . Hearn ( who is a candidate for the vacant office of Grand Secretary for Scotland ) afterwards delivered a lecture on " Freemasonry in Ladysmith during the Siege , and in Northern Natal . " The Captain was present at the battle of Talana Hill , and after the retreat from Dundee he was shut up in Ladysmith throughout the siege . He was Secretary of the Craft lodge there , and W . M . of the Mark lodge , which held their meetings regularly during that trying time . He narrated his experiences during the siege , and gave extracts from his diary and from the minutes of the Masonic meetings which held occasion

were . On one , he said , So members were present at the meeting , and almost all wore her Majesty's uniform . During the early part of the bombardment the charter of the lodge was left in charge of one of the office-bearers , Bro . Lieut . A . C . McLachlan , of the iSth Hussars , and the books were buried , but on a representation by many enthusiastic brethren , the books were disinterred , and meetings were held , at stated times during the siege . A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Capt . Hearn for his address . At the close of the lecture a collection was taken for the Grand Lodge Annuity Fund .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

At the meeting on the 29 th ult ., of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Bro . Charles Pulman , P . M . 720 , P . Prov . G . D . Northumberland , gave notice of his intention to submit the following motion at a special General Court of Governors , which will be convened for the purpose on an early day in January : " That the Laws relating to Election be and

are hereby suspended for the purposes of the Election , with a view to her immediate admission to the Institution , of Audrey Rennett , a duly qualified candidate , in consideration of the fact that her father died of enteric fever during active service in South Africa , and she is hereby elected accordingly , subject nevertheless to all the Laws and Regulations pertaining to Girls after Election . "

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Claremont Lodge , No . 1861 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . W . ROGERS . This lodge , is rising to be one of the largest and most influential in the Province of Surrey , and has been of good reputation since its formation in 1880 foi its working and support of the Charities of the Order . But lodges , like individuals , are liable to adverse fortune— " Now up , now down , like a bucket in a well "—and the Claremont is no exception to the rule , for it was at low ebb when the fickle dame sent Bro . J . S . Pomton to the rescue , and the lodge owes its present prosperity principally to that brother's energy , tact , and skill .

The installation ceremony took place on the 26 th ult . at the Greyhound , Croydon , when a large number of brethren gathered to greet the new Master , Bro . W . Rogers P . M ., S . W . The members present were Bros . E . W . T . Hoare , W . M . j J . R . Dickason , J . W . ; H . E . Frances , P . M ., Sec ; W . Greenland , S . D . ; H . Gurney , i-G-S B . Williams , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., D . C ; J . S . Pointon , P . M . ; Bowler , P . M . ; Underdown Portch

Philp , , A . H . , Day , Simms , Overton , Wood , H . A . Portch , Lees , and Pett . Among the visitors were Bros . Pow , P . M . lyoi ; Whimble , P . M . igoi ; F . Swinford , P . M ., P . P . G . O . Middx .: Williams , P . M . 4 63 ; Wheeler , P . M . 2054 ; Notley , 1922 ; White , 1541 ; Lightfoot , P . M . 1901 ; Bint , 1704 ; Smith , P . M . 1398 ; Hopkins , S . W . 138 ; Roberts , 1556 ; Weeden , 1597 ; Pointing , 162 * 5 Shealey , 1901 ; Pitt , 1441 ; and Rose , 619 .

After the opening of the lodge , a ballot was taken for the office of Treasurer ( vacant by the resignation of Bro . Terry Horsey , P . M . ) , when Bro . J . S . Pointon , P . M ., was declared unanimously elected . A satisfactory balance sheet was read and adopted . The chair was vacated in favour ot Bro . Pointon , P . M ., and Bto . W . Rogers , P . M ., was duly presented and installed , appointing and investing his officers as follows , viz .: Bros . T . R . Dickson , S . W . ; W . Greenland , J . W . ; J . S . Pointon , P . M ., Treas . ; II . E . Frances , P . M ., Sec . ; B . Williams , P . M ., D . C . ; Portch

H . Gurney , S . D . ; A . H . , J . D . ; A . Wood , I . G . ; A . Bridge , A . D . C ; and underdown and Day , Stwds . Bro . J . Bailey was invested as Tyler . The usual addresses were then given , the entire ceremony being most correctly and impressively rendered by Bro . Pointon , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . Bro . Pett , 212 , was elected a joining member . ' 1 he next business was the initiation of Mr . F . Bullen , F . R . C . S ., and Mr . C . Syers into the mysteries of the Order , most ably performed by Bro . Rogers , W . M ., and the Claremont Lodge is to be congratulated on placing on its roll two such worthy members . Bro .