Burns And The Poet Laureateship Of Canongate Kilwinning.

two other similar paintings—that of the Knight Templars and Supreme Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland in conclave , both of which , except as regards the features of the members portrayed , are purely imaginative .

In a notice in the "Freemasons' Quarterly Review" of December 31 , 1845 , the artist is reported as being engaged on a " painting of the Poet Burns in the act of being received into membership with the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge . " When the

p icture was finished it was reviewed in the columns of the Scotsman on the 25 th March , 1846 , and the Reviewer then seems to have been imposed upon by interested parties , for under the

heading , " The Inauguration of Burns , " he then described the occurrence as " one of the few occasions on which , during his lifetime , his poetical genius was publicly acknowledged and proclaimed . "

While preparing my "History of Freemasonry" in 18 / 3 it became known that I discredited the story of the inauguration . Statements were then made to me by the office-bearers of the lodge , which I unfortunately believed—assertions which subsequent investigation showed had no foundation in fact .

Attached to the original Painting presented by the family of the late Chevalier James Burnes to the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1863 is the inscription : "The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , ist March , 17 8 7 . " This date is accepted by the lodge as correct .

In all statements and discussions in support of the story of the inauguration the minute of the meeting at which the event is alleged to have happened has been studiously kept out of sight . It had better be published , and here it is :

"St . John ' s Chapel , 1 March , 17 87 . " The lodge , being duly constituted it was reported that since last meeting R . Dalrymple , Esq ., F . T . Hammond , Esq ., R . A . Maitland , Esq ., were entered apprentices , and the following brethren

passed and raised : R . Sinclair , Esq ., A . McDonald , Esq ., C . B . Clive , Esq ., Captn . Dalrymple , R . A . Maitland , Esq ., F . T . Hammond , Esq ., Mr . Clavaring , Mr . McDonald , Mr . Millar , Mr . Sime , and Mr . Gray , who all paid their dues to the Treasurer . "No other business being before the meeting , the lodge adjourned ;

"Entries ... £ 3 13 6 " ALEXR . FERGUSSON , M . "P . & R . ... 6 6 6 "CHAS . MORE , D . "Collected ... 1 1 0 "J o . MILLAR , J . W . 11 £ \\ 1 o " The concluding sentence of the foregoing minute proves

beyond question that no such event as the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate of the Canongate Kilwinning took place at the meeting of ist March , 1787 .

Hogg , the Ettrick Shepherd , was the first of its Poets Laureate , and he was made so in 1835 . D . MURRAY LYON , Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Scotland .

Consecration Of The Unity Chapter, No. 1247.

CONSECRATION OF THE UNITY CHAPTER , No . 1247 .

A special Provincial Grand Chapter of Devon was held on the 12 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , to constitute a new chapter , entitled the Unity , to be attached to the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 1247 . Comp . W . G . Rogers , P . G . H ., officiated as the Grand Superintendent , supported

by—Comps . J . R . Lord , P . P . G . T ., as P . G H . ; Rev . Dr . Lemon , P . P . G . J . and P , P . G . P . S ., as P . G . J , j Major G . C . Davie , P . G ; S . E . ; E . Aitken-Davies , P . P . G . Reg ., as P . G . S . N . ; K C . Frost , P . G . Treas . ; J . B . Govef , as P . G . P . S . ; VV . L . Lavers , as P . G . ist A . S . j U . Banks , P . G . 2 nd A . S .: R . Hambly , as P . G . S . B . ; I . Hammond . P . G . D . C : I .

^ 'f'ey , as P . A . G . D . C . ; A . Andrews , P . G . C ; H . Shooter , P . G . Janitor ; V . Bird , P . P . u ^ , V S-Jew , P . P . G . T . ; J . W . Cornish , P . P . G . T . ; W . Gregory , P . P . G . D . C ; H . M , lier , P . P . G . S . B . ; VV . Allsford , P . P . G . P . S . ; R . Pike , P . pfc . O . ; J . Wallis ! P'VS A . W . Spinney , Z . 105 ; J . Parkhouse , P . Z . 156 ; N . Radmore , Z . 1511 ; J-- A . Nicholson , P . Z . I . TO ; VV . H . Williams . P . Z . i-ro : A . S . Henrlrv . Z . iSn r P . R .

1 nomas , P . Z . 189 ; R . Pengelley , P . Z . 70 ; J . Leonard , Z . 202 ; A . Trout , Z . 223 ; M H * . Littleton , P . Z . 230 ; C . G . Withell , Z . 2025 ; T . K . Peek , P . Z . 1205 : G . Horswill , P . Z . 105 ; H . J . Kitt , P . Z . 105 ; R . VV . Pitcher , P . Z . 230 ; F . hooper , 1 . 2025 : W . J . Sweet , ! . 105 ; W . F . Westcott , J . 70 ; J . Maton , P . Z . o ; G . "unsterv , lle , S . N . 18 9 ; W . Wallis , S . N . 1 255 ; W . H . Phillips , Janitor 1255 ; and vv -Loath , 2 nd A . S . 230 .

Comp . Major Davie , P . G . S . E ., reported the petition for the constitution ° * the new Unity Chapter , which was signed by Comps . J . R . Lord , J . G . Severn , G . II . Selleck , J . Kinton-Bond , P . P . G . T . ; and J . Maton , Past j ; irst Princi pals of 70 ; T . Goodall , P . Z . 954 , P . P . G . O . ; and J . H . Page , « ; J . 1 'irks , A . Davis , W . H . Mayne , G . Helson , T . S . Eyre , and A . Roberts , < W of 70 .

11 li warrant for t ,, c constitution of the chapter , signed by the Grand Z ., ' < -H . the Prince of Wales , and the officers of the Supreme Grand Chapter , vas aIS 0 read b y P . G . S . E . The Principals named in the warrant—Comps . J- K- Lord , Z . ; G . J . Firks , H . ; and T . S . Eyre , J . —were then examined ,

Consecration Of The Unity Chapter, No. 1247.

and they having expressed their approbation of the constitution of the chapter and their willingness to undertake the offices for which they were named , the acting P . G . Principals proceeded to constitute the chapter with the usual ceremonies . This having been completed , Comp . J . R . Lord , being a P . Z ., was obligated to the duties of Z . of the new chapter . Comp . Lord next installed Comps . G . J . Firks , as H ., and T . S . Eyre , as J . The Prov . Grand Principals then closed the chapter .

Comp . W . G . ROGERS , in so doing , congratulated the members of the new chapter on their very satisfactory prospects , and the ability displayed by their first Z ., Comp . Lord , in conducting the duties of the chapter . The officers of the new chapter will be chosen and instituted at its next meeting .

A Fraternal Congress.

A FRATERNAL CONGRESS .

The Grand Master of Canada , M . W . Bro . J ROSS ROBERTSON , in his address to the Grand Lodge , at its recent Communication in Toronto , alluded to the subject of " A Fraternal Congress " in these words : " The general good of the Craft in every jurisdiction concerns all who desire to see Masonry retain its place in the front rank of fraternal associations . Perfection in government is the ambition of all who have a part in

guiding the affairs of governing bodies , and yet none assume the position that they have attained , the summit towards which they strive . Differences of opinion exist in all jurisdictions . There are varying views concerning Masonic jurisprudence . There are differences in the ritualistic work . The forms of the government of the Craft are diverse . The drink question agitates some jurisdictions ; the colour question others . The recognition of

the higher rites is in the arena of debate . The powers and prerogatives of a Grand Master have led to animated discussion , and the question of territorial jurisdiction might be argued to advantage . Many other points as well occupy attention in at least our English-speaking jurisdictions . With so much food for reflection , will it be considered beyond the line of diffidence if I advance the thought that a representative gathering

of delegates , composed of leading men in all jurisdictions , should meet in fraternal congress—if you like at Toronto , next year when we celebrate our Centennial—or at any other centre on this continent , and deliberate on the questions alluded'to , arriving , if possible , at results which would serve as guide marks—as suggestions—offerings of advice , which should be accepted

in the true spirit of fraternity by the jurisdictions of this continent . Conventions and congresses seem to be the peculiar feature of this age . Societies of all kinds , religious , political , and literary , are organising such gatherings , both on this continent and in Europe . Why Masons should not follow their example is a natural question to ask .

" There is nothing improper or un-Masonic in their doing so , provided the true objects of a Masonic convention be constantly kept in view and steadfastly pursued . Those objects are : to enquire and determine as to what the ancient landmarks of the Order really are , in what respects we have departed from them , and what course we must take to return to them . "Whenever a discussion comes up for discussion , the only point for such a

congress to decide will be , what has been the established usage and custom of the Craft , operative and speculative , in this particular ? When it is found that the practice prevailing in some jurisdictions is different to that followed in others , then the aim of that congress must be to discover whether the founders of our Order did or did not lay down any rules or laws for our guidance in the matter . If they did , all that remains for us is to receive and

obey them . If they did not , then the next inquiry will be , what course was pursued and what regulations were prescribed b y our operative predecessors , before the establishment of speculative Masonry as a distinct and separate science ? Thelandmarksarethestandard by which the work of the Craft must be tried . In no other way can uniformity be prescribed . Supposing that bands of workmen in different and distant localities were engaged in building a

number of distinct structures , and that it was required that those structures should , when completed , resemble each other exactly . How could this be accomplished unless each and every band copied the same model and made no deviation from it in any particular ? And so it is with Freemasonry . If lodges , either Grand or subordinate , were permitted , under the pretext of making improvements , to make alterations and innovations in the laws and

customs of the Order , then its grand and boasted universality would disappear , and a different kind of Masonry would be met with in every country , State , and province . The legacy our fathers have bequeathed to us we must preserve pure and entire . Nothing must be added to it , nothing must be taken away from it . If we are to have a congress—and I hope that we may— -then the great

business of its members will be to discuss , revise , and restore the ancient usages and customs of the Craft , not to put forward their own individual ideas of what is to be considered proper or desirable . Reverence for antiquity is the feeling which should pervade every Masonic assembly . All talk of live issues and of keeping pace with the progress of the age is entirely out of place there . All talk of relegating some of the ancient landmarks to the

ancients , and of retainingonlysuchasaresuitedtothe times , must of all things be avoided , for it is not in harmony with the spirit which should there prevail . If those who sometimes discourse in this strain were to study Masonry more thoroughly , they would soon see how false and how untenable is the position they take . The landmarks and princi ples of our Order are among the things that do not wax old or decay . Like the sun in the heavens , theirs is the

gift of eternal youth . They are as new and as living to-day , as dear and as precious to the human heart , as ever they were in those far-off days when the patriarchs of our race raised their first altar to their God , and learned those great lessons of reverence for the Creator and love for His creatures which have been the food and the solace of the soul through so many successive generations , and whose pristine freshness and beauty time hath never been able to dim or efface . "

BOAZ . —The name of one of the well-known pillars at the entrance or porch of the first temple at Jerusalem , erected by King Solomon , and which were ca = t , we are told , by Hiram Abiv or Abif . The German Steinmetzen are said to have erected such pillars as early as the 13 th century at any rate , as at Wuruburg Cathedral in Bavaria

, where ihey still are to be seen . Some have thought these pillars to be of later work , but of this there is no evidence whatever . Indeed we think it may fairly be asserted that the Operative Masons were in the haoit of erecting these pillars in churches at an early period . Boaz was on the left hand . —Kemiing's Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry .