Scotland.

Welcome , thrice welcome , to our board , And to the best we can afford ; With joy we greet your knightly band , On your arrival in our land ; With love your proffered hand we take , Ancl welcome you for friendship ' s sake ; With joy we recognise each other , And hail each true Masonic brother .

From Alleghany s sides you come , We welcome you to Scotia ' s home , Five thousand miles o ' er land and sea , Then cordial let our greeting be . You come to us with sword and spear , Yet not as foes do you appear ; Fraternal greetings here you bring , Fraternal greetings , too , we sing .

At home , abroad , on land , on sea Our mystic brethren we see ; In every clime throughout the world Our Craft's broad banner is unfurled , The flag whose colour is light Blue—Emblem of all that's just and true . Beneath its ample folds , I ween , True men of every rank are seen .

The pride of caste is here unknown—Merit's the only rank we own ; As Widow ' s sons we help each other , We ' re bound to always greet a brother . But hailing from a distant land , With extra zest we take your hand , With heartfelt joy we hail your trip And , joyful , give the Mason ' s grip .

Then , as Companions of the ARCU , We greet you on this friendly march . Sojourners in our land awhile , We meet you with a friendly smile ; We know that in your train you bring The Priest , the Prophet , and the King , And Scribes , expounders of the Law From whence we inspiration draw .

The Master s Mark and the Keystone To you alike are both well known ; You ' ve passed the Chair , likewise the Vail , And know what mysteries they reveal , And kindred Orders too , no doubt , The world would like to know about : Companions of the Red Degree , It is with pride we welcome ye .

All Masons learn from early youth " Brotherly Love . Relief , and Truth , " Of these , no doubt , you are bright exemplars , But something more ' s required of Templars ; And still as brighter grows your sight , The less you need of outward Light ; Upon your arms we trace with glee , The emblems of the Blacl ; Decree .

We own those claims to our goodwill , As proof of something nobler still : You a more Holy cause espouse , You all have taken deeper vows , A longer pilgrimage have ta ' cn And washed your hands from earthly slain , Have been engaged in solemn rites . And pledged yourselves ns brave Sir Knights ;

Have girt upon yonr thighs the sword To bravely battle for the Lord , His cause and Temple to mantain Till all His foes are crushed and slain . The virgin and the widow , too , Succour and help may claim from you . Then enter onr tent awhile , my son , Rest and refresh , then travel on .

As all are pledged to serve the Lord , , Apostles of His will and word , Upon this consecrated ground , May ne ' er a Judas e'er lie found , But each , like taper firm and blight , Shed a pure calm refulgent light , That all the world may plainly sec How Templars dwell in unit )' .

Then drink to Hiram King of Tyre , Who fed the true "Masonic fire ; Another cup then let us bring To Solomon , the wisest king , Who the first temple built to God , And all who have his footstep trod ; Then a libation let us pour To him , the Widow ' s son of yore .

Now pause awhile , and let us think Ere wc the next libation drink ; Let no vain idle thought intrude , The drink be pure , the cup be rude , Now take the draught with bended knee , In His name we shall conquerors bc ; But sacred is the Templar ' s vow , Ancl I no more dare utter now .

When you return across the main , May this one feeling slill remain : — In England , Ireland , Scotland too , We found the brethren firm and ( rue , Lodge and Encampment all ( lie same , Each warmed at a Mason ' s name , With open hand and kindly heart , Masonic knowledge to impart .

Scotland.

While in our tent refresh awhile , Then travel on through Britain's Isle . Where ' er you go , I dare be bound , A kindly welcome will be found—But none mora coijfial , while you live , Than what the Girvan Knights now give . So I'll conclude as I begun : A hearty welcome to each one .

Sir Knight Gardner said their M . E . C . Hamilton had requested him to reply , for he was something like Granta fust-rate commander , a good man , and also a Scotchman—hut also like Grant , he would always shirk a speech if possible ; but he ( Sir Kt . Gardner ) felt it a pleasure , as well as a privilege , to respond on behalf of the American Commanderies . The task was large , for their camp was

vast , but after the excellent poem they had just listened to he was inspired to speak . He should not dwell on the wonders of his great country—its thousands of miles of telegraph wires ; its railways , 3000 or 4000 miles in length without a break ; its chains of mountains , 2000 miles in length ; its rivers , lhat run as far as half the distance he was now from home ; its cities , that spring up as if by

magic , some of which could vie in architectural beauty with Glasgow , Edinburgh , London , or other cities in the old country , and they must remember that their sites , in many instances , 30 , 20 , or even 10 years ago , were portions of the howling wilderness , wilh not a single dwelling near them . It was a marvel to many how this was accomplished ; how men from the east and the west , the north

and the south , should meet together , coalesce , organise and build cities . But he would explain the mystery . It was "Masonry , to a very great extent that caused it . We got Masonry ( he proceeded to say ) , and Knight Templary too , from you , but like everything else , in that prolific soil they have grown to gigantic proportions . Do not think I am speaking in . a boasting spirit , for if there is a boast ,

you arc entitled to sharp , as the authors of it . I boast of Masonry not for myself , but our commercial interest is due to the same cause . Correspondence with you have known Masons with us , and opened up new sources of trade and commerce . So in building up our cities ; men from all quarters meet there with honoured brethren , and immediately there is an electric current rises , not only to the

head but to the heart . That is the grand secret of our great success . I claim the honour of it for Masonry , and on behalf of the Commanderies of that great continent , as well as in the name of us present , thank you for the reception you have given us , and the way you have received this toast . ( Cheers . ) " The Lord Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council of

Glasgow was then given by the Croupier ; followed by "The Commercial interests of the British and American Dominions , " proposed by Sir Kt . F . G . Dougal , and responded lo by Sir Kt . Robert Mitchel . Sir Kt . M . Wilson , in a brief but eloquent speech , proposed " The health of the Visiting Sir Knights , and the Alleghany Commandery , No . 35 . "

The S . W ., Sir Kt . D . A . Cook , replied , expressing the great gratification they all felt at the noble reception they had that day met . It was far in excess of what they had anticipated , though he must confess that when they organised this trip they fully expected to meet with a fraternal welcome from all Masonic bodies they might come in contact wilh , but on their very arrival at Queenstown they

found the Glasgow invitation awaiting them . They gladly accepted the invitation , and this night would live in their memories long after their return to America . The Croupier then gave " Freemasonry all over the World , " which was responded to hy Sir Kt . John Scott . Sir Kt . Thos . rainier , P . K . C . of the Alleghany Commandery proposed "The Girvan Encampment , No . 32 . "

He said the proposing of this toast was both a pain and a pleasure . He had found the Girvan brethren true Masonic knights . Knight Templarism was increasing in England , though not so rapidly as with them in America ; but here in . Scotland , the former home ami refuge of the Order , most of the Priories and Encampments were either dormant or met so seldom as to bc little belter . All the more

credit should therefore be given to the Girran Encampment for the way in which they had kept up monthly meetings , while more pretentious bodies could not once in a quarter gel enough knights lo open an encampment . He had examined into the matter and looked at their charter , which proved that they were the oldest regularly-constituted body of Knights Templar in Scotland , working under the

old Constitution and in accordance with thc ancient landmarks of the Order . They ought to lie the governing body in this kingdom , and if he returned in a few years he should be more than surprised if he did not find them the Grand Commandery of Scotland . These reasons , in addition to the kindness shown lo himself and coadjutors , made him ask them to do full justice to the toast . ( The E . C . led thc

American fire of 9 in a way that nearly electrified their hosts . ) It was then proposed , anl caried 11 cm . con ., " That the whole of the members of the Alleghany Commandery now present be at once affiliated as honorary members of lhis encampment . " The N . C . requested Sir Kt . T . Clanachan , P . N . C ., as

thc oldest member of the encampment , lo administer the obligation , and also respond to the toast , which he did . The remaining toasts were : "The health of the Chairman , Commander l ' cll" "The E . C . Hamilton , " "The Croupier . " and " I Iappy to meet , & c , " all of which having been duly honoured ami responded to , Sir Kt . E . C .

Hamilton led the company in a hearty rendering of " Auld Lang Syne , " and thus ended this fraternal meeting . During the evening a variety of songs were sung , those of I ' rofessor Slack , of Alleghany , eliciting loud applause . The members of the two encampments attended Divine service at the C . ith . dral .

DUNDEE . The committee of Lodge Ancient , No . 49

Dundee , have been doing a good work , and have just brought it to a very agreeable termination . For a long time back a desire has pervaded the brethren of this lodge that the services of their RAV . M . ( Bro . Kelt ) to his mother lodge should not be allowed to remain acknowledged—he having filled

several offices with acceptance , but with special reference to his long term of presidency , being unanimously returned to the chair no less than five successive years . It was therefore arranged that Bro . Kelt should give sittings to one of our best photographers , with the view of presenting him

with a full life-size photo on canvas , and finished in oil . Bro . G . F . Rogerwas entrusted with the work , and has even excelled his usual success in producing a decidedly fine picture . Bro . Kelt is represented in the full regalia of office , wearing thc jewels of the various degrees he has attained to . In

the meantime such unlooked-for liberality manifested itself on behalf of the subscribers that it became evident the committee would have more than sufficient for their purpose . A very handsome sum in sovereigns was thereafter placed in a purse for Mrs . Kelt , to bc presented at the same time with

the portrait . The meeting for presentation was called in the Lodge Hall , Murray-gate , Bro . Alex . Robertson , Deputy Master , presiding . There were present : Past Masters Ritchie andDickson ( of 49 ) , R . W . M . ' s Longmuir ( 47 ) and Roger ( 225 ) , as well as several

Past Masters of other lodges , and a number of distinguished brethren . Thc lodge having been placed under the care of the J . W ., and thc usual loyal and patriotic toasts given and responded to , the Acting Master then desired Bro . Buick to give the toast of the evening

and make the presentation . Bro . Buick alluded , in a few well-chosen sentences , to Bro . Kelt ' s lengthened connection with Lodge Ancient , the healthy state of its funds , and recent additions to the property , which , he said , were mainly due to Bro . Kelt ' s excellent generalship . He

concluded by reading the . inscription on the picture , and asking Bro . Kelt ' s acceptance of it . Before sitting down , he also presented a purse of sovereigns , requesting Bro . Kelt to place the same in Mrs . Kelt ' s possession . Both of which were

gracefully acknowledged by Bro . Kelt . The remainder ofthe eveningwas spent inamost enjoyable manner , thc Acting Master calling to labour at the accustomed hour— " all happy to meet , sorry to part , and happy to meet again . "

KELSO . A meeting of the members of Tweed Lodge , No . 261 , was held in the lodge-room , Cross Keys Hotel , Kelso , on Thursday evening last week , for the purpose of initiating a number of gentlemen who had come forward to enroll themselves as

members ofthe Order . The office-bearers ofthe lodge had some lime previously invited Bro . J . S . Macgregor , Past Master of St . David ' s Lodge , Berwick-on-Tweed , to pay them a visit , along with as many brethren of his lodge as might find it convenient to attend with him , for the purpose of

working the lodge and the degrees in thc same manner as done in England . Accordingly a deputation came from Bcrwick-on-Twccd , consisting of Bros . Macgregor , Gibson , Hopper , Struthers , Scott , Moor , Moffat , ancl others . The members having assembled , the Right Worshipful Master requested

Bro . J . S . Macgregor to occupy his seat and work thc lodge , which was done in a manner not to be excelled , thc entire degrees being gone through . After the business of the meeting was finished , thc brethren , to the number of forty , sat down to an excellent supper . After doing full justice to the

repast , Bro . J . S . Macgregor proposed " The Health of thc Oueen , " and afterwards "Thc Prince of Wales , Patron of thc Craft in Scotland . " Ncxt proposed in succession was " Thc Grand Lodges of Srotland , England , and Ireland ; " then "The Provincial Grand Lodges of Scotland , " coupled with

thc health of Bro . Gibson , Provincial Grand Warden of East Lothian , who replied . The Acting Master next gave " Thc Tweed Lodge " ( 261 ) , and coupled the toast with thc name of thc Right Worshipful Master , Bro . James Steel , who replied , and expressed the great pleasure they all had in being

visited by the deputation . He begged to propose "Thc Healths of thc Brethren from Berwick , " and he hoped it would not bc long until a similar deputation would visit them from Kelso . He coupled the toast with the name of Bro . J . S . Macgregor .

liro . Gibson proposed "The Absent Brethren , " and other toasts followed . Some excellent songs were sung by several ofthe members during the evening , and the brethren broke up after spending a very happy night .

The following reports stand over for want of space : — Lodges 597 , 779 , 863 , 1107 , 1154 , 1275 , and ' 3 ' 4 * Chapters 148 and 619 ; also a report of "Grand Masonic Ceremonies at Albany , " from our own Special Correspondent .