Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

Grand Lodge of Scotland .

THE quarterly meeting of the Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemasons was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 4 th February . There was a crowded attendance , the hall being filled to its utmost capacity . Bro . the Hon . Chas . Maule Ramsay , the Grand Master , presided .

The following visitors were introduced from lodges abroad , and were cordially welcomed by the Grand Master : — Bros . H . F . E . Pistorius , District Grand Master of the Transvaal ; James O . James , R . W . M . of " Thistle " Lodge , Bloemfontein ; and the Rev . A . Chisholm , Depute Provincial

Grand Master of Manitoba . The Grand Master , in addressing the South African representatives , said they were always very pleased to see present those who worked for the Craft at a distance , and who showed their zeal for Freemasonry , by sacrificing their own convenience for the 'purpose of

informing them with regard to the success of Freemasonry in other parts of the world . It was not a very long time since Grand Lodge had appointed Bro . Pistorius to the office of District Grand Master of the Transvaal , and they had clone so with the full assurance that nothing would be wanting on his part to cement that bond of union which should subsist between all connected with Scottish Freemasonry . The

Grand Master also congratulated Bro . James on being the R . W . M . of a nourishing lodge in Bloemfontein . Bro . Pistorius , in returning thanks , said their lodges in the Transvaal were making immense progress , and as they accepted as members no one who was not likely to be a credit to the Craft , they were doing what they could to

establish Scottish Masonry on a sound footing in the newcolonies of South Africa . Bro . James expressed the great pleasure it afforded him to be at a meeting of Grand Lodge for the first , but he hoped not for the last , time . He knew they were

all interested in South Africa , especially after the great war , and he could assure them that many on both sidesof that terrible conllict had good cause to thank Freemasonry for the assistance rendered them in many ways during the struggle . They had only two lodges in the Orange River

Colony—the " Victoria " at Kroonstad , and the " Thistle " at Bloemfontein—but they were progressing , and would soon have a much larger Masonic strength than they had now . The Grand Master , in inviting Bro . the Rev . Chisholm to a seat on the dais , assured him that , although in a sense he

was far from home , he would find himself at home there , for they were proud to have his presence amongst them . The Grand Master next referred to the loss which the Craft had sustained by the death of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart . He moved that an expression of regret and condolence be

sent to Sir Michael's family . Bro . James Caldwell , Paisley , seconded the motion , which was unanimously agreed to .

The report of the auditor showed that the income for the year ending 26 th November last was ^ 1895 3 s . 3 d ., being an increase on the previous year of ^ 787 16 s . 7 d . The heritable property of Grand Lodge was valued at ^ 23 , 500 , and moveable property at ^ 1900 . The funds and estate to Grand at 26 th November last amounted

belonging Lodge to ^ 53 , 597 5 s . 6 d . ; there was at the credit of the Scottish Masonic Benevolent Fund . £ 8585 14 s . 8 d ., and at the credit of the Annuity Fund ^ 3 6 , 35 6 7 s . 4 d . It was reported by the Grand Secretary that the number of entrants registered last year was 12 , 035 , being an increase of 540 on the preceding

year . From the beginning of 1800 till the close of 1903 there was a grand total of 307 , 3 68 , being an average annual registration of 2955 during the one hundred and four years embraced in the return , so that last year ' s total is more than four times the average for the period dealt with . During the

quarter grants were made to the amount of . £ 279 iSs . Eight annuitants died during the year , and the number now on the roll is 175 , the value of the annuities being ^ 1830 .

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