Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

' The No . 2 "Proceeding's , Grand' Lodge of Scotland" is even more interesting than its immediate predecessor . , ' The Grand Lodge of -Tasmania was recognised , all - financial matters ftivihg been settled on mutually satisfactory terms . An . important report on Proxy Masters' Commissions was agreed to by

the Grand Committee , for approval of the Grand Lodge , and was duly confirmed accordingly . The ' exhaustive report by Bro . D .. Murray Lyon , the Grand Secretary , is of a most valuable ; and instructive character ,

beginning as it docs with the year 173 6 , thus proving that antiquity , at all event ' s , is on the side of this custom , unknown to the Grand'Lodge o f England . The present system in the northern' body is based upon the Laws as ; revised in 1 S 72 and 1877-7 S .

The fact that this system of representation is based upon " the principle that every lodge ,: whether at home or abroad , is entitled to an equal , voting power , and to the selection of its own representatives , " entitles it to due consideration , at least , but with all , or any , of its advantages , the plan does

not appear . to commend itself to England , or to other Grand - Lodges , who have long preferred the simple method of personal voting , in lieu of proxies . It is undoubtedly "a strong bond of union" between colonial and foreign lodges and the central governing body , but though such is the . case , it is not likely it will ever be adopted in this country .

The Grand Visitations , with the popular Grand Master , the Earl of Haddington , are doing much good in certain localities , and will "bear fruit after many days . " The Grand Secretary i . s an able reporter of all such matters , and / never loses an opportunity to say a . word in season .

Ars Quatuor Coronati.

ARS QUATUOR CORONATI .

The second part of the present volume ( VI . ) is a good average number , and of considerable interest and valute . Bro . L . de MaTczovich continues his important " Sketch of the earlier history of Masonry in Austria and Hungary . " It is a very lengthy and exhaustive contribution , and needs , now , that he has arrived at a later period in his researches , to be rigidly

condensed , so . as to bring the scries of articles to a conclusion as soon as possible . Ordinary details might be dealt with in brief articles , but wc all want to read the complete series shortly , so as to judge of the general value of this most exhaustive and ori ginal treatise on the Austrian and Hungarian Craft from early times—Bro . Malczovich has done yeoman service as to this matter .

"The Tau as a Key-stone" opens up an interesting inquiry , introduced by our lamented friend , Bro . H . J . Whymper ( our late member ) . ( The note-by Bro . 'W . Simpson , I '; M ., should also be : carefully studied , as it is an aid of a welcome character in obtaining a clear view of the matter . The " A ' rrh in principle" is the form of construction in which Mark Masons are concerned , as , if the key-stone is removed , the whole structure collapses . The use of different kinds ol binding or Avi' -slones is a curious feature in the'inquiry .

Bro . Gould's and my own tributes to the Masonic and general worth of Bro . Henry Josiab Whymper will doubtless be read by many brethren , and will , I hope , ' afford them an insight of the unselfish and most useful life of our de * r departed friend . The portrait reproduced is from one of the latest taken , but his face did not lend itself to photography as some do , and he required to be seen to be appreciated , especially when defending his view of a knotty question or propounding an original theory .

The paper by Bro . (' . Purdon Clarke , C . I . I ' .., \ c . ; Inner Guard 207 ( 1 , on " The "Tracing Board in Modern , Oriental , and Medieval Operative Masonry " is by a master hand , and fully deserves the encomiums passed upon it by such experts as Bros . Rviands , Speth , Gould , and Professor

Hayter Lewis , the esteemed W . M . 1 he plates are exceedingly curious and suggestive , but neither these nor the paper can be described herein , for to condense the latter or explain the former would do justice to neither , and , as both can be perused through procuring the part , I leave them untouched .

' My article cm " The Ancient Stirling Lodge " will interest all Masonic students , who will be especially glad to find that I have at last obtained a sight of the celebrated " Brass Plates " which have so long eluded discovery . Bro . Speth has ablv reproduced the obverse and reverse of the important one , from p hotograp hs taken for me of the original by liro . Dinham , of Torquay . The W . M . kindly lent me the original volume of the

Recordsthe earliest preserved—beginning on 28 th December , 1741 , and so I took the opportunity to copy all the minutes of particular value for this paper . Freemasonry , in Stirling is wholly Icrrn incognita , and it is to be hoped that the publicity now given to this ancient lodge will secure its being placed much higher on the roll , in accordance with its great age , instead of remaining at No . 30 .

• Bro . Gould's a-ticlc on " I'rccmasonry in Mexico' gives us a view of the Craft in that country , which is far from pleasant or assuring , but none the less needful , and especially welcome considering we know almost absolutely nothing as to the actual state of the Fraternity in that part of America . Grand Secretaries and all writers o ! reports on iorci ^ n correspondence for Grand Lodges will do well to carelully read the reliable evidence he has gathered and now made known .

Bro . Speth reviews most pleasantly Bro . Bain's Masonic catalogue ( which is a grand addition to that class of literature ) , Bro . I . cighton ' s ' jTcniplc Lodge and Chapter , No . 51 , Belfast" Cof which I should ninth like ' a copy ) , and my friend Ferry ' s excellent : "History of the Lodge of Prosperity , No . 65 , London , " for which 1 wrote an introduction . Copies may still be had from the author , Crown-court , Old Broad-street , E . C . Bro . Speth stales that " the book liom beginning to end is a credit to all concerned , " to that is praise for the author he will appreciate . . .

Ars Quatuor Coronati.

Bro . Gould ' s paper on Dr .. Plot is tantalisingly brief , though it is supplemented by an able addendum by ' Dr . Begemann , whose article on " ' Masonic history and usages " during the 17 th and iSth centuries is most opportune and valuable . The portrait of this celebrated man , from a scarce engraving in the possession of Bro . William Watson , of Leeds , tdds much to " the interest of this important contribution .

The paper , however , of this part is on "The Rev . William Stukeley , M . D ., " by Bro . Gould , being No . 5 of his invaluable series of " Masonic ' Celebrities . " It is , to my mind , one of the most original , interesting , and valuable articles relating to the transition period of the Craft—1717-1730- - which lias ever been written , and , personally , I thank the gifted author for this additional contribution from his prolific pen . Doubtless it will be

eagerly read by our 1500 members of the " Correspondence Circle , " and I trust will obtain a still wider circulation , because of the thorough attention Bro . Gould has paid to the matter arid the extraordinary side lights he has contrived to throw , on the subject . Whether all his views are adopted or not there can be but one opinion as . to the worth of this admirable paper , which , though it covers some 15 pages , is nothing like long enough .

The short papers on the old lodge ; chairs of No . 39 ? i by my friends Andrew Hope and James Jerman , of Exeter , with capital illustrations ; the old lodge chairs also , at Coventry , by our esteemed Bro . W . F . Lamonb y ( with p late ) , and sundry items as to the tombstone in Shane ' s Castle , Ireland , ' ¦ the Masons' Lodge , Portsmouth , and the venerable Masonic Statuette ( by Bro . M . C . Peck , of Hull ) are all interesting ; as also queries

propounded . and partly answered by Bro . John Yarker as to certain " Old Charges " celebrities . The Masonic J ug , noted by Bro . Dr . W . Hammond , of Liskeard , is not at all of ordinary design , and I should like to know as to its a « c . The " Chronicle " of events is always a welcome contribution from the Secretary , Bro . Geo . \\" . Speth , as the chief Masonic news is abl y summarised by an " old hand " at that sort of work . I presume the portrait of the W . M . will be inserted in this part , but my sheets are in advance , and await a few illustrations in completion . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reading Masons.

READING MASONS .

The Masonic Brotherhood ought to be made up of reading people , and Masons are supposed to be a select people , chosen with much care from the common mass of mankind ; sound in body and mind , who have a desire for knowledge , that they may be serviceable to their fellow men . And our art is ' calculated to stimulate rather than stultify a growth of intellect and foster

a love for learning . Now , in order to acquire knowledge , study is requisite ; hence it might be readily inferred that Masons would be students—not only readers of books , but students ol them , and o ( that class of books which afford food for the intellectual faculties . That they would devote at least some time to those works of science which are calculated to reveal the

hidden truths of nature , and lead the mind up through nature into communion with the Great First Cause—the God who dwelleth in secret , and yet He is not far from him who searcheth after Him . But it is a lamentable fact that multitudes of the members of our Institution are not reading men . If they ever had any . ' thirst for knowledge it must have died out , or it lies as dormant as does thelatent heat iti a bat

of frosted iron , and requires quite as hard blows to incite it to action . Ask them to subscribe for a journal or purchase a book , and they show no interest whatever . Press ihe matter and you will soon discover that they have no interest in journals or books . It is true that they will tell you that they arc fully . supplied—have even more than they can possibly find time to read .

But converse with them on topics of interest to the man of intelligence , and you will Soon discover the utter bareness of their minds . If they read at all , theif reading is made up oi the light , frothy fiction which affords no work for the intellectual faculties , and is not calculated to improve either mind or morals .

Now we do not mean to insinuate that there are no reading Masons , far from it . There are not a few who are students indeed . They are often found among the most busy of men ; those who rise early and retire , and cat not the bread of idleness . But they rightly divide their time , and sacredly set aside a portion for mental and moral culture ; and thus they

find time for business , for society , for the study and reading needful in ordei to their keeping pace with the intelligence and progress of the age . Ant they find time to read a Masonic journal also , and therefore know some thing of what is transpiring in the Fraternity at home and in sister juris dictions . . They arc enlightened Masons . — Ex .

The Whole Duty Of Masons.

THE WHOLE DUTY OF MASONS .

H is a matter for deep regret that of late the idea seems to be gamin ; . ground amongst us that the obligation of a Master Mason does not extend to and cover his relations with the brethren in private life , but only extends to the converse and work of the lodge room—that work of brotherly love , and unkindncss and injustice amongst the brethren in their relations as

private citizens , is a matter entirely beyond and outside Masonic cognizance . If this view is correct and should become generally adopted and acted upon , it must surely eventually tend not only to render the terms of a m ° solemn obligation unintelligible and foolish jargon , but also in a very great

measure nullify the principle of brotherly kindness , which is as strictly enjoined as any other of the tenets to which we g ive assent in that obli gation . If brethren are only to be kind , just and true to one another when in lodge assembled , and when unclothed are absolved from their obligation in tins respectthen will we in vain seek to impress the profane that thcic

, upon can be in our system consistency , integrity , and stability . But do most earnestly contend , in the words of one of the most al ) lc living exponents of the tenets of Masonry , "that the brother 1 ) love inculcated by Masonry is no such mere abstraction , nor is its charactci left In vjnv wner .-il am ] / vir /» 1 / . ss nnrlprslnnrVnio- nf a Mason who may W-

disposed to give much or little to his brethren , according to the pcc ulia constitution of his own generous or selfish disposition . It is closely deluie ' i the mode and manner and extent of its practice detailed in words an illustrated in symbolism , so that there can be no excuse for error nor apojoSJ for indifference . " It is but necessary to mention the live points of i ' clw *

ship , once and for ever to stamp out the idea that a Mason can ever , at a ' , time , or in any place , or in any way , wilfully injure a brother Mason , ant ' the same time maintain unsullied his own honour and reputation , or ^ . . ^ true either to the spirit . 01 " the letter of his obligation . —Rev . Bro . t " Cully , in . Toronto Freemason .