Scotland.

list of alterations on the constitution which had been approved by Grand Committee . Grand Lodge approved of the appointment by Grand Committee of a Committee to consider and report upon a proposal that Grand Lodge initiate a fund to be raised by general subscriptions among the brethren of Scotland to provide at least one lifeboat to be placed at a point subsequently fixed upon , in the name of the PYeemasons of Scotland . This was all the business .

Another "Old Charge."

ANOTHER "OLD CHARGE . "

We are very pleased to announce the discovery of another Roll of the " Old Charges . " It is written on paper , and dates from about A . D . 16 70 , the document being slightly imperfect at the commencement and at the end . Bro . Hughan is satisfied that this transcript from an older scroll was made in the latter part of the 17 th century , and has entered it under the

" Grand Lodge Family as D 40 , there being now that number of MSS . of that particular text . AH information as to this " Family " and as to all the known MSS . may be obtained by consulting Bro . Hughan ' s " Old Charges of British Freemasons , " just issued , of which there are only a few copies left as yet unsubscribed for , though only published last month .

It has been decided that this Roll shall be No . 3 of the Reproductions of the Newcastle College of Rosicrucians , and the copy will be placed in Bro . George Kenning ' s hands for publication in the Christmas Freemason , on the sole condition that the reproduction shall be as well done as possible .

An introduction is promised by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . S . G . D . of England , the authority on the subject , the Transcript and notes being by Bro . F . P , Schnitger , of Newcastle , who has already done good service in the preparation and editing of the " Newcastle College MS . " and the Alnwick Records , 1701-1754 , of exceptionable value and importance .

The newly-discovered Roll is to be called " The Langdale MS ., " and measures six feet in length , the width being fully six inches . Any more particulars may be learnt by communicating with the owner , care of Librarian , Newcastle College , S . R . I . A ., Central Masonic Hall , Newcastleon-Tyne , where the document maybe inspected by previous appointment .

It is most fortunate that the Roll is in such competent hands , as the text will be done justice to and be widely known through the medium of the Christmas Freemason .

An Autumn Holiday.

AN AUTUMN HOLIDAY .

Profiting by the advice given in the Freemason last autumn that the round trip from Southampton to Rotterdam or Antwerp , and Hamburg and back , given by the Union Line in their South African boats , was a most enjoyable one , I am glad to say I had one of the pleasantest holidays I ever spent . Having more than the requisite 10 days at my disposal , I was granted the favour of breaking the outward voyage ( begun in their splendid steamer the Goth on 24 th August ) at Rotterdam , and of joining another of their steamers a fortnight later at

Antwerp , enabling me to go up the Rhine by the Netherlands Steam Company ' s boat . You can either go the entire way by river from Rotterdam , or rail across to Cologne , and embark there ; you can book at either place , but should make sure that it is with the Netherlands , as their boats are more comfortable , and are not crowded with German trippers , and if you have the longing to visit Alsace that possessed me , take your ticket to Mannheim , the terminal point of the river journey . The scenery of the Rhine between Cologne and Mayence—where the boat stops for

a night both going up and coming down— is too well known to require description , but one could never tire of its magnificence and beauty . Passengers have stopover privileges at the principal towns , with 'cave to join thc steamers of the next day , or later if required ; but I did not delay going up , being anxious to get to Strasbourg , deciding on making my return voyage the more leisurely one , which I was very glad of . There are three railway routes from Mannheim to Strasbourg , and your return ticket is good for all .

1 was fortunate in finding a delightful old Alsaeian tavern all bul under the tower of the glorious Cathedral , and it was a pleasure to lind oneself amongst French-speaking and French-sympathising people again . Of course , you hear German spoken all over the place , but in the quaint old shops of thc little crooked streets it is nearly always French ; and one word ol advice—if you avoid hotels and shops where English and American are spoken you will tare better , much

more reasonably , and , instead of being a mere number , like a convict , you are the object of numberless pel its solus . There is plenty of amusement in Strasbourg , and any amount of good music , but the authorities will not allow a play to be represented or a song to be sung in French in any theatre or cafe concert , in I had thc pleasure Cr ) of hearing " La fille du Tambour Major " in German . They are great beer drinkers at Strasbourg—Griiber ' s brew is famous , but the Alsaeian of the country justly clings to his beloved wine .

Returning to Mannheim—which is a rather Yankee-looking place ; streets at ri ght angles , the blocks lettered and numbered , not named ; very convenient , no doubt , but very horrible—you embark at 2 . 30 p . m ., and are due at Mainz at 6 . 30 . Certainly from Mannheim to Coblenz one should drink nothing but Rhine wine , and at the last-named place it would be treason to ask for any but Mosel wine .

which is a drink fit for the gods ; poured out of a big pitcher into a goblet , costing 3 d . or 4 d ., it is a wine to drink and to dream of . These lovely wines * seem to spoil in bottle , and we appear not to know how to treat white Rhine or Mosel wines here , as they should be always iced . I wonder could they be introduced in cask at some of our big restaurants and cafes—better far and more wholesome than the regulation port , sherry and champagne .

At the hotel I stopped at in Mainz they would not serve beer , nothing but wine . You leave there at 6 a . m ., get to Bingen at 8 . 30 ; Coblenz , 11 . 30 ; Bonn , 3 p . m . ; and Coin , 4 . 30 . It is a delightful city , bright and clean , with a cathedral perhaps more beautiful , if far less magnifient , than that of Strasbourg , the singing and music at grand' ' mease are sublime . I went from there to Antwerp by rail , a weary journey , and much regret I did not go down by the boat to Rotterdam , thereby avoiding 24 hours in lhat morally and physically offensive

place—Antwerp . It was a real pleasure to leave the Scheldt , and get to sea for a splendid run to Hamburg . The season had just commenced , theatres , cafes , concerts , the Circus Renz ( a splendid show ) , and the Flora Gardens in full swing , thc Alster crowded with pleasure steamers and sailing boats , and the entire city bright and attractive , three days there , with your steamer in port as your hotel , thjn two days' glorious run to Southampton , and good-bye to Captain Sylvester and thc other genial officers of the Arab , wishing them bun voyage to the Cape .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The monthly meeting of the Council was held at Freemasons' Hall , VV . C , on Friday , the 25 th ult ., Bro . Richard live in the chair . There were also present Bros . Keyser , Smithson , Cumberland , Russell , Burgess , Diamond , Imray , Pritchard , Greaves , Le Feuvre , and J . M . McLeod , Sec . On the recommendation of the Board of Management , two grants of ; £ io each were made towards the apprenticeship of deserving ex-pupils . to be

An investment of over ^ 4000 was ordered made fro m the General Funds , and the Secretary announced that the total amount of investments now reached a sum of £ 60 , 000 , over two-thirds of which had been secured during the past four years , and had been effected without charge for brokerage by Bro . Thos . Fenn , Past Pres . Bd . of Gen . Purposes . The announcement gave general satisfaction , and a cordial vote of thanks was given to Bro . Fenn .

Seven petitions were accepted for the next election , and one rejected as not being considered eligible under the objects of the Institution . It was reported that the health of the School continued most satisfactory , and that the examination of the whole School by the Cambridge University Syndicate would be held on October 28 th and following days .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE ART LIFE OK MANCHESTER . "—The admirable series of illustrated articles on " Provincial Art Galleries , " which have appeared in the "Windsor Magazine " during the past few months , are brought to an end in the November number with a valuable account of the Corporation pictures at Manchester . The writer observes — " Manchester was one of the first cities in the kingdom to recognise the advantages of a public gallery of art in the development of a municipal and commercial life . Indeed , long before any Corporation awakened to the necessity of brightening the lives of its

people by making accessible to them the attractive and never-ending pleasures of good pictures , the liberal-minded and good citizens ot Manchester established by private enterprise a noble building that has now become the home of seme of our highest national art . It is now more than 70 years ago that the wealthy merchants of Manchester decided to raise the necessary funds for the erection of an art gallery , wherein could be accumulated some examples of the works of modern British painters , as well as a satisfactory exhibition of works of art calculated to develops and stimulate

principles of good taste among the people—principles which should not fail of effect in improving the quality ot the city ' s important industries . The result of their labours was the formation of a society , under the name of ' The Royal Manchester Institution , ' which erected a large building in Moseley-street in 1 S 25 , from designs by Sir Charles Barry , and on a site in the very centre of the city , where it would be most easy of access . The wisdom of this was fully proved by the use and growth of the institution , for throughout the 70 years that have elapsed the success of the art gallery has been steady

and continuous , whilst its influence on the city ' s welfare , even in its most material aspect , can never be adequately measured . Nowadays a municipality has only to erect a suitable building to ensure a ready response of gifts and means of purchase , and by these they are rapidly enabled to cover thc walls with a display of pictures which lifts the effort to the rank of an art gallery in the best sense . But in the early days of the

twenties the taste for purchasing pictures was not so widespread amongst trie wealthy as later culture has made it . Hence the Royal Manchester Institution was mainly depe ndent on periodical exhibitions for filling their rooms , and so with them began the earliest attempts in the provinces to provide in the autumn an exhibition of those pictures that in the earlier part of the year had been first shown in the Royal Academy and other Metropolitan art institutions- "

"THE DRAPERY WORLD "—An Independent Trade Journal London : 19 , Cheap , side , E . C . ; and Manchester : York Buildings , Mosley-street . —The number issued on the gth instant is " a Christmas Noveltv Number , " and will be found of great use to those who carefully heed the time-honoured observances of Christmas and pres ; nt gifts to the members of their families and their particular friends . The body of the journal contains a considerable number of illustrations , with descriptive letter-press , of

all kinds of articles that are suitable for presents . In addition tnere is ' the usual quantum of news relating to the drapery business . It is , in fact , quite a magazine of literature cnocerning drapery and its allied trades , and will , or should , prove a great attraction as well as of great use to our fair frisnds , to whom the mysteries of the draper ' s art are a source of inexpressible pleasure .

HOOKS , tm ., uiiciiiviiu . Voice nt Masour' - ( November ) ; Masonic Tidings ( November ;; Australasian Ki'yslnnc October ) ; Toronto Freemason ( October * : ; Monist { October ) ; l'hiladelpliian Keystone ; l . e I'cniii limit-anil September ; Aniiii . il Report of Dr . llivrnarclo ' s Homes ; Suml .-iy Times ; The Country House The Military ami . Naval World Magazine ; The Hatter * ' (' nzcttc , Diary , ami Trade Diri't-lory , 1 S 11 O ; Ducky Hex iUogg ; The l . ad lrc . m London . . llo ^ g ); anil The Land oi Arthur II' -BK ) .

Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

Lodges and Chapters of Instruction .

ST . LUKE'S LODGK , No . 144 . A meeting was held on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., at the Victoria Tavern , Gertrude ' street , Chelsea , when there were present Bros . Holland , P . M ., VV . M . ; Thomas , S . W . ; Lightfoot , J . W . ; Carlstrom , Preceptorj Saunders , P . M ., Treas . ; Stut ^ field , Sec ; Austin , S . D . ; Marriott Matthews , J . D . j Nicholls , l . G . j Bradley , White , Wellcr , OHive , Royle , Cooke , Markland , and '" uckfield . and the state

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting - ment of the year ' s account wore read and confirmed . The lodge was opened in the Second and Third Degrees , and the ceremony of raising was relic \ rs , c ; d , Hro . White , who had previously answered the usual questions , being the candidate . The W . M . gave the traditional history . The lodge was closed in the Third and Second Degrees . A ballot for five guineas was taken , which proved in favour of Hro . A . W . Thompson j this being the third ballot which has occurred during the year . Bro . Thomas was elected W . M . for the next meeting . After the third rising the lodge was clos . d .

LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 53 S . A meeting of this lodge v a . held on Wednesday , the Gth inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford-street , W ., when there were present : Bros . J . Pau , P . M ., Preceptor , W . M . j F . Jackson , S . W ; G . Hill , P . M ., J . W . j J . Thorn , P . M ., Asst . Preceptor ; W . E . Willby , P . M ., and B . Dukes , Sees . ; J . J . Moar , S . D . j I . Mason , * . D . j F . A . Zeppenfeld , l . G . ; F . Jackson , P . M . ; W . M . Stiles , P . M ., G . Treas . j W . A . Scurrah , P . M . ; II . C . Parker , H . Smith , G . A . Sturgess , and W . Merrett . Visitors : Bros . J . K . Farrar , E . Uisscl , and T . C . Pratt .

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The lodge was opened in the Second and Third Degrees , and resumed in the Second . Tha ist Section of the Lecture was worked by rim . J . J . M tar ; the 2 nd by Bro . VV . K . Willby ; and the 3 rd by Bro . G . Hill . The Grand Tu-asurer here arriy . d and was received with farmal and due cerem > ny . The lodge being ru-uur-d in tne I hird

Degree , Hro F . l acksjn , P . M ., worked the ist Section »• . the Lecture ; Bro . J . Mason thc 2 nd ; and Bro . Dukes the 3 rd . The lodge was resum < -d in the First D . gre--. . ! 'he W . M . rose for the lirst time , when Bros . Farrar and Bissell , i . iVJ , were elect , d j ming members , and the dues were collected . After the second ana tm d risings ail M is . mic business being ended , the lodge was closed . The Grand Treasurer and Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes werc elected honorary members .