Consecration Of The St. Pancras Lodge, No. 2271.

ho was deeply indebted to Masonry , because , though he did not say no man had had more honours , no man had had honours which he so little Reserved . He could not say that he was well up in the rule of the Order ; hut at all events , though probably most of those present would be better ble to get through the work of the Order , he had endeavoured not to distrorp it . That was the fourth time he had been in the chair of K . S . In a

ountry lodge he was in the chair some time ago . He had been placed in the chair of a London lodge , and the Grand Master had done him the honour to put him in the position of one of the Grand Wardens . Then he had been attached to a lodge in connection with the University of London , to which he had the honour to belong ; and now the brethren of that lodge

had done him the high honour to place him in the chair of St . Pancras Lodge . It only showed that they had been kind enough to overlook his defects , and he could assure them that he deeply appreciated the very great kindness he had received from his brethren in every part of the country , and osneciallv to his brethren in the St . Pancras Lodge .

Several other toasts were proposed , including "The Health of the Visitors" ( to which Bros . PHILBRICK , G . Reg ., WHITE , IRVINE , and others responded ); " The Health of the Treasurer and Secretary" ( to which Bros . WEBSTER , M . P ., and SCURRAH responded ); and " The Officers of the Lodge " ( which was responded to by the S . and J . WARDENS ) , before the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings of the evening . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A Ouarterly Communication of the above Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the afternoon of the 2 nd inst . Bro . Sir Archibald C Campbell , Bart ., M . P ., G . M ., occupied the chair . Bro-Villiers , of Closeburn , Prov . G . M . of Dumfries , acted as Depute G . M . ; Bro . Lord Saltoun , as S . G . W . ; and Bro . J . Dalrymple Duncan , as J . G . WAmong others present were—Bros . Dr . Murray Lyon , G . Sec ; David Kinnear , G . Treas . ; Rev . R . Henderson , G .

Chap . ; George Fisher , acting S . G . D . ; James Drummond , W . S ., acting J . G . D . ; Major F . W . Allan , Past and acting G . Bible Bearer ; George Dobie , G . Bard ; Provost Brand , G . D . C . ; James Crichton , G . S . B . ; H . J . Blanc , G . Architect ; R . Davidson , G . Org . ; Colin Galletly , G . l . G . ; John Graham , of Broadstone , Proxy Prov . G . M . of Bermuda ; Dr . James Middleton , Prov . G . M . of Roxburgh and Selkirk shires ; Brodie , Past G . M . of New York ; James Caldwell , P . G . D . ; David Hume , P . G . Bible Bearer ; W . Officer , P . G . D .: and H . G . D . Copland , P . G . S . B .

Apologies for absence were intimated from , amongst others , Bros . Professor Story , G . Chap . ; Col . J . Clark Forrest , Past G . M . of Mid-Lanark ; J . T . S . Elliot , S . G . W . ; and Lieut .-Colonel John Campbell ,

J . G . D . It was reported that the income of Grand Lodge for the first six months of this year amounted to ^ , 28 94 , and for the first six months of last year to £ 2879 , being for this year an excess of £ 15 . For last quarter the income had been ^ 1129 , and the expenditure ^ 606 , showing an excess of income to the amount of ^ 523 . During the same period X 105 had been voted from

the Fund of Scottish Benevolence as grants to distressed Freemasons or the widows of Masons . A report was submitted from the Prov . G . M . of Glasgow , Bro . Sir W . Pearce , Bart ., M . P ., stating that in May the annual visitation of the 33 lodges in his province had been completed , and that the lodges on the whole had been found to be in a healthy and satisfactory condition , the

number of entrants during the year having been 590 . On the unanimous recommendation of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Forfarshire , Grand Lodge appointed Bro . James Berry , Prov . G . M . Depute , to the office of Prov . Grand Master , in room of Bro . the Hon . Frank Lyon , resigned . The Sub-Committee appointed to visit Aberdeen City Province , and to

exercise therein all the powers of Grand Lodge , gave in a report of their proceedings . They had held sittings in Aberdeen during four days , and had several conferences with the Committee of Masters of the lodges , which by direction of Grand Lodge had been formed to manage the financial affairs both of the Provincial Grand Lodge and its Benevolent Fund . As

aresult , they had a Chairman , Vice-Chairman , Secretary , and Treasurer ; and they stated their reasons for expelling a member from the Order , and said there was reason to believe that their action would tend to a speedy restoration of harmony in the province . Approved . It was reported by Bro . J M . MARTIN , of AuchendenuanProv . G .

, Master of Dumbartonshire , that a most satisfactory visitation of the 12 lod ges of the province had been made by visiting deputations from the " rovincial Grand Lodge . All the lodges had been found to be in a vigorous

condition , working not only in accordance with the laws and constitution , ut in such an intelligent and correct manner as reflected credit on the Craft and the province . In nearly all there was a gratifying accession to Nembershi p .

Bro . FRED . E . VILLIERS , of Closeburn , Prov . G . M . of Dumfriesshire , ported as follows on his province : " I have great pleasure in stating for e information of Grand Lodge , that I have every reason to feel quite jshed with the work which is going on in my province . I observe with 'staction the introduction by some lodges of a regular system ot

instructor junior members of the Craft . Another distinctive feature of pro . S ssin a health y direction is the more frequent discussions that have taken j-e with regard to the raising and administration of Benevolent funds , a view to increase them and make them of a more extended use H , f tmn S a" point to life and energy in the province over which I have

c nonour to preside . " Edinh ' ' was SUDm ' ttecl f ° charter for a new lodge to be erected in the v , £ n < The petitioners stated that they were " desirous of extending { - enen ts of the Craft in this part of the country , especially among promUsj . ° j tne various forms of art , viz ., the drama , painting , sculpture , aSsur' '' terature , architecture , and kindred professions , having the in \^ tnat a lodge specially identified with art and artists would result ar ge and worthy accession to the Brotherhood . " When the petition

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

was before Grand Committee , a petition signed by 11 Masters of Edinburgh and Leith Lodges , was presented to have it refused , but that was negatived by 11 to five . Grand Lodge unanimously , on the motion of the Grand Master , granted the charter . It was reported by Grand Committee that they had remitted to the Hall Committee to arrange for making the library available to the

members of Grand Lodge . This is to be done by utilising the presses in the room next the board-room , and having the room to be known as the library comfortably and suitably fitted up for the purpose , and for the convenience of members of Grand Lodge and the various Committees coming from a distance . The catalogue is meantime not to be printed . This was approved of by Grand Lodge .

Bro . VILLIERS proposed that on the occasion of the visit of her Majesty to the Glasgow Exhibition a humble address should be presented by Grand Lodge as a token of the loyalty and respect of the Masonic body , and as honouring the Grand Master with her Majesty ' s presence at Blythswood . In the event of her Majesty granting permission , he proposed that the address should be presented by a small deputation to be nominated by the Grand Master .

This was seconded by Bro . GRAHAM , of Broadstone , and unanimously carried , and it was remitted to Grand Secretary , under the directions of the Grand Master , to prepare the address . This was all the business .

American Notes.

AMERICAN NOTES .

The " Freemasons' Repository " for the month of June has its usual budget of readable matter , together with an excellent portrait of Bro . Sererio D . Nickerson , Past G . Master and Recording G . Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . The following excerpts from the number will , no doubt , interest our readers .

SILENCE AND CIRCUMSPECTION are specially enjoined by the teachings of Freemasonry , and brethren receive many a reminder in their progress through different departments of the Craft ceremonial of the demand that is laid upon them in this respect . Speech is a blessed gift , and there is a time to speak as well as a time to keep silent . Sometimes bold , earnest words must be uttered for truth ' s sake ; sometimes an expression must be made of the heart ' s feelings , and to refrain from speech would be foolish ,

perhaps sinful . But there is a tendency to use the tongue too freely ; to speak hastily and unjustly ; to gush and effervesce , multiplying words that are without profit . Let restraint therefore be exercised . Put a bridle upon the tongue . Learn how to be silent even under strong provocation to utter unkind and bitter words . To have the strong feeling and yet be silent is significant of moral force . Let us not cry out every time we are hurt , but learn to keep still even if the thrust goes deep . It is silence which is golden .

WE HAD . THE PLEASURE of making the acquaintance of Bro . J . Ross Robertson , of Toronto , Canada , when he was in Providence recently attending to a matter of business interest . Bro . Robertson has held many important positions in the various Masonic organizations . He is now the District Deputy Grand Master of the Eleventh Masonic District , within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Colorado . In performance of the duties of this office he has travelled long distances—several thousand miles

in the aggregate—and taxed himself considerabl y in the way of individual expense ; but he has done his work thoroughly and has enjoyed it . Bro . Robertson is a positive , progressive Mason , who believes heartily in Freemasonry as an agency of education , relief and blessing in the world . To some extent he is a reformer , favoring changes in rules and methods to make more effective the desired ministeries of the Craft , and to remedy acknowledged evils . We hope that he may again visit Providence and make a longer stay .

GRAND MASTER BLACKMAR , of Iowa , in his address to the Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction , at its last communication , reports his action on the vexed question of ' * Physical Qualifications . " He says : — " Finding this to be a matter of continual enquiry , and there being no express provisions of law in this jurisdiction upon the subject , I finally deemed it advisable to issue a circular-letter to all the lodges , defining what I

conceived to be the common law on the subject , as interpreted and promulgated by our Grand Lodge at various times , and adhered to not only here but almost universally . I therefore sent a circular to each lod ge , in which I quoted from the 'Ancient Constitutions' the law as therein expressed , and added my own interpretation of its import , in the following language : 'That all such maims or defects in the physical organization of the man

, whether it be a natural deformity or the result of accident or other misfortune , in consequence of which he is incapable of conforming to the requirements of all our ceremonies , would render him unsuitable material . ' I also stated that' the right to interpret the law is unquestionably vested in the Master and his lodge ( subject to discipline for an erroneous

interpretation thereof ) , and if they err therein , by accepting as proper material a man so defective as to debar him from performing any part of the ceremonies or lodge work , they alone must suffer the consequences . ' I further stated that , in my opinion , the Grand Master has no power to authorize by special dispensation , a disregard of the law as thus interpreted . "

We have not at hand the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa at its latest session , but we assume that the sensible definition of the law given by the Grand Master was approved . There is a physical requirement , but it should not be made a mere technical test . The law ought to be construed in a large and not a narrow way .

HEXAGON . —A good deal of slipshod exegesis has been made use of with reference to this figure , which has been called Hexagram , Hexapla , " Solomon ' s Seal , " and is in fact a very old Cabalistic Hebraic symbol , subsequently made into a Christian emblem . It plays a conspicuous part in all magical formulae . It has been said by some writers that it is a pure Masonic symbol representing universal creation , but this we doubt . It answers to

the Pentalpha , or Pentagon , or Pentagram , has , no doubt , been a mystical symbol of very early use , and is found nearly everywhere . It is fonr . ed , geometrically , of six sides and six angles . There is another figure in use in some of the high grades , which is the junction properly of two triangles , but this is not the same as Hexagon or Hexagram . —Kenning ' s Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry ,