Scotland.

Scotland .

MASONIC SERVICE IN ST . GILES ' CATHEDRAL , EDINBURGH . For the first time for upwards of 30 years a Masonic service was held in St . Giles' Cathedral , Edinburgh , on the afternoon of the Sth inst ., and it was-of such a successful character that the probability is that a similar

service will be held , if ' not annually , at least more frequently than hitherto . The suggestion of the service orig inated with the Dramatic and Arts Lodge , almost the youngest and one of the most vigorous in the Metropolitan province , and the object was to aid the new Benevolent Fund , towards which a bazaar is to be

held in December . The members of the Craft assembled in the Parliament Hall at half-past two o ' clock , where they assumed their regalia , and were marshalled by Bro . G . Christie , Stirling , Grand Marshal . Close upon a thousand brethren were present , representing nearly thirty lodges , including , in

addition to representatives of Grand Lodge , the following : —Lodge of Edinburgh , Mary ' s Chapel , No . 1 ; Canongate Kilwinning , 2 ; Canongate and Leith , 5 ; Journeymen , Edinburgh , 8 ; Dalkeith Kilwinning , 10 ; St . David , Edinburgh , 3 6 ; St . Thomas , Arbroath , 40 ; Lodge of Holyrood House , St . Luke ' s , No . 44 ; St .

Andrew , Edinburgh , 48 ; St . James , Edinburgh , 97 ; St . John , Fisherrow , 112 ; St . Stephen , Edinburgh , 145 ; Edinburgh Defensive Band , 151 ; Roman Eagle , Edinburgh , 160 ; Trafalgar , Leith , 223 ; Portobello , 226 ; Celtic , Edinburgh and Leith , 291 ; St . Clair , Edinburgh 349 ; Caledonian , Edinburgh , 392 ; Rifle , Edinburgh

405 ; St . Kentigern , Penicuik , 429 ; Kirkliston Maitland , 482 ; St . Leonard , Loanhead , and Lasswade , 580 ; North British Railway , Edinburgh , 597 ; Roslyn St . Clair , 606 ; Buchan St . John , Broxburn , 636 ; Royal Filey ( E . G . ) , 643 ; Dalhousie , Bonnyrigg , 720 ; and Dramatic and Arts , Edinburgh , 757 .

The procession marched by the south-east end of the Cathedral and along High-street to the west door , its progress being witnessed by large crowds . Three o ' clock was the hour fixed for the service , but shortl y after two the north entrance , by which the public were

to be admitted , was beseiged by a large crowd , and before the doors were opened that part of the Hi ghstreet was completely blocked by ticket holders , while hundreds of others gathered in the vicinity of the west entrance and the Parliament House to witness the

procession . The arrangements were anything but perfect , and a good deal of confusion was caused inside the church before the people who had been admitted could be got to their seats . The passages leading from the north door were soon blocked , and the west door was then

thrown open to the public , but the congestion again became great , and many ticket holders , wearied of the struggle to obtain admission , left . Owing to the difficulty experienced in regulating such a large audience , the opening of the service was delayed half-an-hour . The members of the Craft , on entering the church ,

marched along to the chancel , where seats were reserved for them , and after they had been accommodated , there was another crush of ticket holders , many of whom were content with standing room . When all had assembled there would be about 3500 persons present .

The officiating clergymen were the Rev . John Glasse , of Old Greyfriars , Grand Chaplain , and Chaplain of the Dramatic and Arts Lodge , and the Rev . P . Macadam Muir , Morningside , Past Grand Chaplain , both of whom wore their Masonic regalia over their pulpit gowns . The devotional part of the service was

conducted by the Rev . P . Macadam Muir , and the sermon was preached by the Rev . J . Glasse . Taking as his text Hebrews xiii . and ist—'' Let brotherly love continue , "—Mr . GLASSE briefly sketched the history of the secular guilds of the Middle Ages , and said that never had the artisan enjoyed more

comfort , freedom , and dignity than in that period , and never had the world had more reason to rejoice in his labour . Being delivered from want , he could revel in art . Whatever his hand touched he adorned , and in stately buildings as well as gorgeous fabrics , in hammered metal as well as painted canvas , he had left us things

ot beauty to be inspirations for ever . Having traced the downward course of the Craft guilds till the end of the seventeenth century , when the practice of admitting noblemen and gentlemen into the lod ges of Freemasons was introduced , and the old syslem passed away , the preacher said the decay of the guilds was soon followed

by the institution of other combinations better adapted to the altered circumstances , and foremost among these was Freemasonry . It was conservative in the best sense , and not only endeavoured to carry out the purpose , but preserved many of the ceremonies and ordinances familiar to the old Crafts . It

managed , however , to escape their errors by transforming their character , so that what originally was Operative now became ethical , and applied not merel y to a body of workmen , but to the famil y of mankind . It sought to lay up the Divine temple in the earth by laying the plummet of righteousness to the edifice of society , and inducing all its members to act on the

square and level towards each other . The organisation might not yet have rendered to humanit y all the service they desired , but it would be long before it could exhaust all the service of which it was capable . They might glory in the persecutions endured at the hands alike of Church and State , but they preferred rather to rejoice in the generosity of their objects and the

Scotland.

innocence of their methods . They did not merely hold aloof from parties , but stood above them . The elements of strife were banished from their midst . They knew neither politics nor theology , but were not , therefore , indifferent to either . Life could not be expressed in a creed . Humanity was never synonymous with party .

Never , perhaps , was there a greater opportunity for their organisation than at present . Institutions once rooted in the affections of the people were threatened , and the jealousy of classes was on the increase . The passions of men were being stirred within them , and the princip les of justice were in danger of being

ignored . What need at such a time for some body of men to restrain the violence of their fellows and remind them of their relations to each other ! One of the most beautiful sig hts the world had seen in recent years was the white flag of their French brethren trying to mediate between the contending parties in the

terrible struggle during the Commune . They unfortunately failed , but the mission covered them with glory . Be it theirs , therefore , everywhere and always to make for peace . The result of experience was surely to make them more charitable , to convince them that love was larger than their idea of good , and truth wider than the

limits of their creed . But while they were urged by it to become more catholic , it would not permit them to continue less earnest . The two qualities must be preserved , and it seemed to him the special function of their Order to accomp lish that union . One might have little dogma and yet much relig ion . They could hardly

have less dogma , and yet have more religion . 1 hey had sometimes , indeed , made too much of the Fatherhood of God , and often too little of the brotherhood of man . It was much easier to do the one than the other ; but " he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen , how can he love God whom he hath not

seen " They remembered with shame and confusion the indigence of their aged members , but were resolved to suffer no longer from that reproach . It was very hard indeed that any one should have to end his days in a workhouse , and not be able to die in peace under his own roof and among his own folk . They might

not be able to secure that for all , but they ought to rest satisfied with nothing less for their own . It was for that purpose the Benevolent Fund had been started . They desired to rescue the members of their Order from pauperism , and felt confident of gaining the sympathy and support of many not connected with

themselves in that endeavour . They could not otherwise look the world in the face and continue their profession of Fraternity . If they did not thus provide for those of their own household , they had denied the faith and were really worse than the infidel . They were , however , happily in no mood to rest under such an

accusation . When the relig ion of humanity was growing popular , they were not going to surrender their doctrine of brotherhood , and in the purpose of that benevolent fund they could only recognise a minimum of its practice . Let it be theirs , therefore , in the spirit of the old Craft guilds , to whose traditions they considered

themselves heir , to prove a blessing to society and a support to each other . The musical part of the programme was of a high class , and was admirably rendered . The choir , which was under the conductorship of Bro . J . A . Moonie , consisted of members of Hope Park Musical Association ,

St . Giles' Choir , and different church choirs in the city . Mr . Durward Lely and Madame Constance Bellamy proffered their services , the former singing the solo " There is a green hill far away , " and the latter the solo " Angels ever bright and fair ; " while Miss Mackenzie , of St . Giles' Choir , sang the solo in the anthem ,

" Hear my prayer . " In the course of the service a Masonic hymn , written by Bro . Alexander Anderson ( "Surfaceman" ) , Bard of Lodge Dramatic and Arts , and set to music by Bro . J . A . Moonie , was rendered . The orchestra , which comprised several members of the London Military Band was under the direction of Bro .

Carl D . Hamilton , Past Grand Director of Music . The arrangements , although latterly in the hands of Grand Lodge , was largely carried out by the Dramatic and Arts Lodge and by Bro . W . A . Davis , Secretary to the Bazaar Committee . The following is an analysis of the coins contributed to the " gold and silver" collection : —2 £ I notes , 3

sovereigns , 8 half-sovereigns , 2 crown pieces , 52 halfcrowns , 90 florins , 300 shillings , 649 sixpences , 439 threepenny pieces , 328 pennies , 88 half-pennies , 3 foreign coins , value about od . ; total collection , ^ , 73 6 s . The Rev . John Glasse intimated to the congregation that those whom the plates could not reach might send in their contributions to the Grand Secretary , Freemasons' Hall , George-street . —Scotsman .

Australia.

Australia .

MELBOURNE . Combermere Lodge ( No . 752 , E . C . ) . —The annual festival of this lodge was held on Thursday , April 17 th , in Freemasons' Hall , Collins-street , when there was a very large attendance of the members , including the VV . M ., Bro . R . B . A . Virgoe , and his Wardens , Bros . W . R . Virgoe and J . B . Simmons ., and the whole of the Past Masters of and in the lodge , ranking inseniorityas follows : Bros . R . J . VV

Cartwright , Sec ; F . B . Force , Dr . J . J . E . Willmott , VV . F . Lamonby , T . Haydon , J . F . Crane , " Dr . J . T . Brett , and Dr . G . Annaud . The visitors were also present in force , several Present and Past Oliicers ofthe Grand Lodge of Victoria being announced and received with honours . An apology was received from Bro . Sir VV . J . Clarke , Grand Master of Victoria , who is a member of the lodge . The minutes having been read and confirmed , Bro . Dr . Willmott , P . M ., P . G . D . Eng ., took the chair , and installed

Australia.

Bro . W . R . N . Virgoe , P . M . St . John's Lodge , Deniliquin , New South Wales Constitution , the VV . M . elect , the second part of the ceremony being performed by Bro . W . F . Lamonby , P . M . The following officers were invested : Bros . R . B . A . Virgoe , I . P . M . ; j . B . Simmons , S . VV . ; A . Knight , J . W . ; C . B . Williams , Treas . ( re-elected ); R . J . VV . Cartwright , P . M ., Sec ( re-appointed ); C . Brown ,

D . C . ( re-appointed ); FitzSnowball , S . D . ; A . Thomson , J . D . ; C . Dumergue , Org . ( re-appointed ); Carl Hesselmann , I . G . ; and J . Paul , Tyler ( re-elected ) . A proposition for a joining member was handed in . Notice of motion was given that the sum of £ 20 be devoted towards a presentation jewel to the retiring W . M . The timehonoured English custom of tendering " Hearty good

wishes " by the representative visiting brethren individually to the W . M . having been observed , the lodge was closed . The brethren , to the number of over 150 , then adjourned to the supper room , where a sumptuous repast had been prepared by Bro . J . Wheeler . Bro . VV . R . Virgoe occupied the chair , faced by his Wardens . The usual toast list was gone through , prefaced by "The Queen and the

Craft , " "The Grand Master of England , " "The Grand Master of Victoria . " Between the toasts vocal selections were contributed hy members of the choir ; but the attraction of the evening was a fantasia on the violin by Bro . Max Klein , accompanied by Bro . Dumergue , the lodge Organist . A very pleasant and highly successful and harmonious anniversary was brought to a close before

midnight . The Combermere Lodge is one of the two English lodges in Melbourne that decided last year not to sever its connection with the mother Grand Lodge of the world , when the independent and local Grand Lodge was organised . The other is the Meridian Lodge of St . John , No . 727 , whose

VV . M ., Bro . Dr . Balls-Headley , was present at the festivities . The wisdom of the step taken by the Combermere Lodge is borne out by the fact that it has now more than 120 members in good standing on the roll ; in fact , the old lodge is in as flourishing a condition as ever it was in its best days .

Straits Settlements.

Straits Settlements .

SINGAPORE . St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 1152 ) . —The annual installation of this lodge was held on St . George's day , when the following brethren were appointed to offices : Bros . G . A . Derrick , W . M . ; C . G . Garrard , S . W . ; V . H . S . Charlwood , J . W . ; E . J . Khory , Treas . ; A . Knight , Sec ; C . D . H . Currie , S . D . ; S . B . Bailey , J . D . ; VV . Makepeace , I . G . ; and J . Lannon , Tyler .

An Unusual Masonic Ceremony.

AN UNUSUAL MASONIC CEREMONY .

A singularly interesting ceremony in connection with Freemasonry was witnessed on Sunday morning , April 13 th , at the Freemasons' Hall , Barberton , South Africa , when William Lewis Smith and Herbert Alban Liddle , infant sons respectively of Bros . W . H . Smith and

H . A . Liddle , were admitted , according to Continental custom , Lewises of the Lodge Jubilee , East of Barberton , under the Grand East of the Netherlands . There was a large attendance of brethren and of guests . Amongst the latter were a very large proportion of ladies , attracted , no doubt , by the novelty

as well as the domestic and social interest attached to the ceremony . The service commenced at 11 o ' clock , the lodge being all the time duly " tyled , " whilst visitors remained in the vestibule " imagining vain things . " All that the uninitiated were privileged to hear was the organ

voluntary played by Bro . Leslie Martyn and the hymn sung by the Jubilee Lodge choir , " I will wash my hands in innocence . " The Jubilee Lodge being in order , the officers of the lodge in their proper positions , the Lewises were admitted with their respective sponsors . ( Bro . Steeds

for H . Alban Liddle and Bro . Suter for W . Lewis Smith . ) The Masonic rites having been performed , the lodge was untyled , the gates thrown open , and the guests invited to enter the Temple . This they did under an archway of floral boughs ' or wands borne by the

brethren , whilst Bro . Leslie Martyn at the organ played the March from " Eli . " The lodge furniture was tastefully wreathed or otherwise decorated with bri g ht and various coloured flowers , but the gay embellishments were considerably subdued in consideration ofthe mournful proceedings to be observed at a later hour of the day . Everyone being duly seated and in order , the

service—conducted in accordance with the customs oi Continental Masonry—continued . In the absence of the Chaplain , Bro . P . O . Wilson officiated as Orator , and offered up a prayer . Hymn 273 , from Hymns Ancient and Modern , with organ accompaniment , having been sung by the entire congregation , including the guests , the D . W . M ., Bro . Chesterton , read the Bible lessons .

The R . W . M ., Bro . J . C . VKKEV , then delivered a short address , in which , for the information of enquiring brethren , he described the nature of the obligations that had been entered into by them as a lodge , and by Bros . Suter and Steeds as sponsors for the newlyadmitted " Lewises . "

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER also explained the derivation and meaning of the word Lewis , and its signification in Masonry . With regard to the orig in of the word , he said : It is said , but at the moment I cannot quote the authority , that the instrument is named after

a certain Lewis , or Louis , King of trance , who is supposed to have been its inventor ; but we have no record of its use in connection with Masonry before A . D . 1734 , and it is still a question with some of our brethren whether its introduction into that part 01 Masonry , which is supposed to have been unvaried