The Aberdeen Records.

the minute of the Mother Lodge , Kilwinning , o ^ which we are one of the honorary members , and a diligent student of its records , never once alludes to any authority given it by the Grand Alaster or

Scotland prior to tho last century to constitute lodges . ( g ) If Bro . j . S . B . will turn again to William St . Clair ' s deed of resignation ( at page ut Alasonic

News ) , dated 4 th November , 1736 , he will find that that distinguished brother does not refer to the Earl of Orkney , but onl y to his own immediate predecessors . William and Sir William St

Clairs , in whose favour the docti ments were drawn of 1600-1 and 1628-9 , never once mentions the Grand Alaster as being hereditary in his , the younger branch of the Roslin family , and simply

resigns the hereditary appointment for himself and his heirs of Patrons , Protectors , Judges , or Alas , ters of the Alasons of Scotland . He resigned the office , but not in any one ' s favour .

I think , then , brother J . S . B . will see he has not submitted any proof that the member of tho "German Alasonic Union" was wrong in his statement , but , on the contrary , the " deed of

resignation " of 1736 establishes the fact , that there was no " Hereditary Grand Alaster , " such ns is understootl by so grand a title . WILLIAM J AMES HUOHAN .

Circular Issued To Freemasons Under The Scottish Jurisdiction.

CIRCULAR ISSUED TO FREEMASONS UNDER THE SCOTTISH JURISDICTION .

THE EVILS OF THE PROXY SYSTEM IN THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND AND THEIR REMEDY . Nothing has been more detrimental to the interests of Freemasonry in Scotland than

the Proxy System in the Grand Lodge . What this system is may be made clear by a very brief statement ; and that statement will of itself sufficiently show that great evils might very readily arise from it , as in fact they have arisen

and long prevailed . Theoreticall y , the constitution of the Grand Lodge is this , that it consists of the Alasters and Wardens of all the lodges holding charters from the Grand Lodge , three representatives from each lodge , viz ., thc Master ,

the Senior and Junior Wardens . Were this the actual constitution of the Grand Lod < e , the Freemasons of Scotland would be fairly represented in it , and their interests would be safe under it . But its actual constitution is very

different ; because any lodge that chooses to do so is permitted to appoint a Proxy Alaster , instead of its actual Alaster , to be one of its representatives in the Grand Lodge , and the Proxy Alaster , so soon as he is appointed , has power to

nominate two Proxy Wardens , who , with himself , become members of the Grand Lodge . Any Alaster Alason holding diploma of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is eli gible as a Proxy Alastei or Proxy Warden ; and thus a loelge may be

represented—and this is very often the case—b y brethren who are in no way connecteel with it , who never were present at one of its meetings , and who are personally unknown to any of its members . It is easy to see that this ' system

opens a wide and ready door for great abuses ; and it is hardly possible to imagine any greater than those which have actuall y grown out of it , and now exist , as they have existed for many years . It is worth y of observation that , in the Grand Lodge of England , than which no Grand

Lod ge has ever been better worked , there is no Proxy System , but it consists of actual Alasters , Past Alasters , and actual Wardens only . Were the Proxy System abolished , a new character would be given to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and new life to Scottish Freemasonry . We have given notice of a motion for its abolition ,

Circular Issued To Freemasons Under The Scottish Jurisdiction.

which will come on for consideration at the next Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge , to be held in Alay 1873 , in terms as follows : — "That the Grand Lodge * of Scotland , from and after the beginning of the next Alasonic year , be composed entirely of Rig ht Worshipful

Masters , Past Alasters , and actual Wardens only . " But the number of Proxy Alembers in the Granel Lodge is so great , that we can hardly hope for its immediate success ; and look for the accomplishment of this great and most desirable

object to the combined action of the Freemasons of Scotland , and their assertion of their rights in securing the representation of their lodges by their actual Alasters and Wardens . So deeplyrooted is the Proxy System , and so long continued has it been , that many lodges elect their

Proxy Alaster ejuite regularly , and as a matter ot course—their members seeming to think that it is a Alasonic duty , like the election of the Officebearers of the lodge . Other lodges , however , often make no such-appointment for many years , and only do so when specially invited to do it by

some one who has an interest in carrying some question in the Grand Lodge , and suggests to them for election a brother on whose vote lie knows that he can depend . Thus it sometimes happens that the probable votes of the members of the Grand Loelge being considered , and it

being found that some votes are wanted to turn the scale , letters are sent to brethren in different parts of thc country , suggesting the appointment of Proxy Alasters by the loelges to which they belong , anel giving the names eif the persons whose appointment is desired . The wish

expressed is generally complied with ; all the more readily , because the Proxy Alaster is expected to pay the annual fee to the Grantl Lodge for the lodge which he represents . A law recently passed by the Grantl Lodge , that the Alasters and Wardens of lodges must pay the Grand

Lodge fees , whether present or absent , whether represented or not , may , perhaps , slig htly abate the existing evil , by securing the constant representation , in one way or other , of almost all lodges , so that it will not be so easy , as it has hitherto been , to pack the Grand Lodge bv

sending down to fifteen or twenty loelges in towns or villages , getting as many Proxy Alasters appointed , and bringing them with their thirty or forty Proxy Wardens to the next Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge , feir the sake of their votes on a particular question . But only

the entire abolition of the Proxy System can effect a thorough cure , and place Freemasonry in Scotland in a position worthy of its ancient reputation . The Grand Loelge can never be , properly speaking , the representative body which it ought to be , so long as its members are mostly members

of Edinburgh Lodges , and a large proportion of them members of one particular lodge . Were the Alasters and Wardens eif Provincial Lodges to attend its Quarterly Communications in person , they would carry with them to their own lodges new information and new ieleas , the affairs

of the Grand Lodge woulel become known throughout the whole country , and the general opinion of the Brotherhood would be brought to bear on thc determination of all important tjuestions coming before it . It could no longer be

ruled by a small clique , concocting measures 111 private , counting votes , writing letters to all parts of the country to secure the appointment of new members , anel virtually nominating them . For the honour of Freemasonry we almost hesitate to state— and if it were anv secret we

would not state—that it has been common , not only for Proxy Alasters , appointed by Country Lodges to represent them in the Grantl Loelge of Scotland , to pay the fees due for the lotige , but also for the money to be supplied for this purpose by those whei hael need of their

services in the Granel Lodge . Thus it has been managed : —A brother , liaving a particular purpose in view , attends the meeting of a leielge . He mentions the subject which he has at heart in private and coiilidentai communication with a

few brethren . He finds their views accordant with his own , anel says— " Woulel you like to be a member of the : Granel Lodge ? " Receiving a reply in tlie affirmative , he says that the thing can be accomplished immediately . . Brother

Circular Issued To Freemasons Under The Scottish Jurisdiction.

A . B . may be at once appointed Proxy Master of Ochterbury , but Brother A . B . must pay the fees for the Ochterbury Lodge . Brother A . B . has not a well-replenished purse , but his friend helps him . He will pay the fees . And so the little matter is adjusted . Brother A . B . becomes a

member of the Grand Lodge , and votes there , according to the vote ofthe Brother to whom he is indebted for this honour . He sees that Brother hold up his ri g ht hand and holds up his own rig ht hand accordingly . This it was stipulated that he should do , and this he does . He is a

member of the Grand Lodge , and all men—particularly all Freemasons—must honour him . It may be , however , that he has never been elected to the lowest office in his own lodge—never has been thought worthy of it . And , in fact , many men have been made members of the Grand

Lodge whom their own lodges never thought worthy of election to any office . A man may be made a Alason to-night , and , after being made , may be asked if he would like to be a member of the Grand Lodge ; and on his replying in the affirmative , he is made a Proxy Alaster or

Warden at once , with the condition , however , that he is to vote in a certain way , and to hold up his rig ht hand when he sees a certain right hand heltf up . Yet this man in called to judge in the most difficult and important emestions , of Freemasonry , although he is a novice and utterly

ignorant of all that concerns these questions or the interests of the Order . The worst of the matter is , that his fees are paid for him , so that votes in the Grand Lodge are really purchased by those who have an interest in so doing . It is impossible to imagine any abuse worse than this ; and yet this has existed for a longtime , and

may neit , perhaps , be very easily done away with . We have heard of cases in which a Freemason could not answer the most simple questions , so as to become admissible to any lodge , and yet he was a member of the Grand Lotige . We need not say more to show the badness of the present system , which we hope will soon be reformed .

We hope you will consider these things , and do all you can to support and assist us in the object we have in view , and especially by attending in person at the Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge in Alay , that you may vote in favour of our motion . We suppose you are

aware that , if your lodge , is at present represented by a Proxy Alaster and Wardens , you have the power of cancelling their appointmentgiving one month ' s written notice to the present Proxy Alaster , and also to the Grantl Secretary of the Granel Lodge—and then you are entitled

to take your own place in the Grand Lodge , to vindicate ytiur own rig hts for the present time , and to secure feir yourself and your successors the enjoyment of them for the future . Yours fraternally , ( Signed ! I . T . DOUOLAS , R . W . M . No . 48 .

Masonic Presentation.

MASONIC PRESENTATION .

' 1 he presentation of an address and tcstunonia to Bro . Francis Quin , Past Grand Organist of the Alasonic Body in Ireland , took place on the ist inst ., in the Freemason ' s Hall , Alolesworth-street , Dublin , in acknowledgment of his lengthened services as Grand Organist to the Alasonic Oreler

in that city . There was a numerous and hi ghly respectable attendance of the subscribers . At live o ' clock , on the motion of Bro . Warren , D . L ., High Sheriff " , seconded by Bro . Lucius H . Peering , Rep . from the G . L . eif Lousiaua , the chair was taken by The Hem . [ udgc Townshend , P . D . G . M .

There were also present—Lore ] Athlumney . S . G . W . ; Alaster Burke , G . T . ; John Dunn , Mus . Doc , G . O . ; C . T . Walmsley , D . G . S . ; George A . Stephens , G . S . W . ; Dr . Cameron , S . G . D . ; S . 15 . Oldham , A . G . S . ; E . II . Kinahan , ex-High Sheriff ^ City of Dublin ;

Charles Capel MacXamara ; Robert Warren , High Sheriff , County Dublin ; G . Alexander , No . 4 , ' Arthur Andrews , N 0 . 4 ; R . O . Armstrong . G . AI . L . ; George C . Armstrong , G .. M . L . ; E . J . Armstrong , J . P ., No . XII . ; Ii . O . Barber , LL . D ., No . 143 ; Archdeacon Butson , G . ALL . ; R . W .