Scotland.

and the procession re-formed , and marched back to the church , where the lodge was closed . Bro . Edward Bell , R . W . M . of the St . James ' s ( Coatbridge ) , Lodge , in a brief speech , thanked Colonel Muir and the other office-bearers of the various lodges for their presence that day , and intimated that if any demonstration were required for any part of the country , he was sure , from what he heard of old Monkland that they would not be wanting . The brethren then anjourned from labour to refreshment , after which the company dismissed .

THE DINNER . In the afternoon the members of the Church , Masonic brethren , and friends dined in Mr . Clark ' s Coatbridge Hotel . About 100 gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner . Bro . E . M . Bell , Esq ., occupied tbe chair , supported by Bros . Col . Mure , P . G . M . for Ayrshire ; Eev . Mr . Stirling ; Eev . Dr . Aikman , of Glasgow ; Eev . Mr . Bell , Gartsherrie ; Captain Neil , of SwinridgemuirSP . G . M . for Ayrshire ; Bobert AVlieEsq . P . G .

, y , , Sec . tor Ayrshire ; J . G . Halkett , Esq ., A . D . P . G . S . for Ayrshire ; ~ W . Ralston Patrick Treame , Esq ., Beith ; J . A . Ferguson , Esq ., P . S . AV ., Mother Kilwinning ; Robert Thomson , Burns , Esq ., of Mother Kilwinning ; John "Veitch , Esq ., Mother Kilwinning ; Eobert Bell , Esq ., Mother Kilwinning ; John Thomson , Esq ., Hother Kilwinning ; John Harrison , Esq ., Mother Kilwinning ; G . Campbell , Esq ., Inspector of Poor , Old Monkland , & c .

Archibald Reid , Esq ., officiated as Croupier , aud was supported by Revs . Dr . Joseph Brown , Glasgow ; Mr . Henderson , Coatbridge ; J . AVisson , Bellshill ; John M'lntyre , Baillieston ; John M'Euckie , Uddington ; AVilliam J . Andrew , Esq ., Solicitor ; H . Symington , Esq ., Messrs . Purdie , Draffen . Johnston , & c . The cloth having been removed , The Chairman proposed in succession , " Her Majesty the Queen , " " The Prince and Princess of AA' ales , and other Members of tbe Eoyal Family , " aud "The Army , Navy , and Volunteers . "

Eev . Bro . Stirling said , m proposing the next sentiment , he would just say a word—not the word , however . He proposed " Freemasonry . " He referred to the superstition of early days regarding Freemasons which had prevented him from joining thafc body ; but now that he was a Master Mason , he found that his early impressions had been wrong . One fine principle of Freemasonry was its universal love , and that was the great principle of the Bible . The toast , which was coupled with the

name of Captain Neill , was received with enthusiasm . Captain Neill said he felt a little awkward in responding to the toast which had just been proposed , because , while he had many times responded to all sorts of toasts , he had never replied for this toast before . A great deal had been said for and against Freemasonry . Ifc was brought to their ehirge that there was nothing tangible in it that they kept all their good deeds , or it miht be their evil deedsin darkness , they did not allow

themg , selves to see tho light , that everything was concentrated in themselves . Something had been said that day of wise men coming from the AA est , but be bad to inform them that they had not come to educate , hut to assist . If they would pardon him , he would tell them of a small thing they were attempting in

Ayrshire , About a fortnight ago Lord Eosslyn , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and Lord Dalhousie , attended the centenary of St . Andrews' Lodge , Kilmarnock . Ifc was there taken into consideration the propriety of establishing bursaries , by each lodge in tho province paying a small annual subscription . He hoped if they wero able to do this , that the Masons in other provinces would not leave them singular in this respect , but would go along with them in such a movement . He alluded to

what was done by Masons in England in the cause of education . Five hundred girls and nearly as many boys received a free education at the expense ofthe Freemasons . No doubt they iu Scotland were not so rich , but still bo thought it was the duty of their little to do a little , He had , on behalf of himself and his brother Masons , to thank them for the toast . Tho Chairman proposed "The U . P . Congregation of

Coatbridge , " and congratulated the minister , session , managers , and members , upon the elegant and noble place of worship in course of erection for them , and in connection with which they had that day met . Ifc was destined to be a landmark in Coatbridge , and certainly it spoke a great deal to the praise of the congregation . He coupled the toast with Mr . Eeid .

Scotland.

Mr . Archibald Reid , in replying , adverted to the origin and progress of the church . Originating in an open-air meeting place , they next moved to a four-loom shop , then to the upperroom of a house , and there Mr . Stirling was ordained , and afterwards to the church then built for them , and now to be vacated in a short time . ' The Chairman proposed a special bumper to Colonel Mure of Caldwell .

Colonel Mure , in replying , said it was not often a man ' s good fortune to have his health proposed twice in the same evening and in the same company , but such had been his happy lot this evening . He had come into Coatbridge a total stranger , but his welcome had been of the warmest kind , and now he would return home , leaving many true friends behind him—friends whom he hoped often to meet ; but even though ho should never meet them againyet he trusted true friends for ever

, . Mr . AA . J . Andrew proposed " The Architect aud Contractor of the new church , " coupled with Mr . Purdie , builder , who replied . The other toasts were "The Ladies , " "The Chairman , " and " The Croupier , " and these having been honoured , the company separated .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

CEYSTAL PALACE . Many important improvements , suggested by past experience , contribute to render the Handel Festival of 1871 unsurpassed in the musical annals of this or any other country ; the most prominenfc of these is the rapid , advance in the knowledge , culture , and musical taste of the vast chorus of singers . The great gatherings which have been so frequent since the establishment

of these triennial commemorations at Sydenham have been so many field days , and have produced a perfection of organisation which could have been accomplished by no other means . Under the able generalship of Sir Michael Costa , this army of musicians has been weeded , recruited , and periodically drilled , and each member must have a certificate , which represents a hi gh status of musical proficiency , before he can he enrolled in the ranks as an effective . The result of recent rehearsals , if we are

informed aright , tends to the belief that the commemoration of 1871 will produce no mere mechanical rendering of the great composer ' s works , but an absolutely perfect and intellectual exposition , by a highly-trained , experienced , and accomplished body of artistes , produced with the assistance of extraordinary resources , never on any former occasion brought into such perfect and gigantic combination . The Directors have reason to be in the highest degree satisfied with tho improved acoustical

qualities of the Centre Transept , which will tend very materially to enhance the general effect of the Solos , not less than that ofthe Choruses . No one who has heard the opera concerts of the present summer can fail to have been struck with a very perceptible improvement in the clearness of the tone . Even at the extremity of that immense hall the solos of both voice and instrument are heard with remarkable distinctness . This is probabl

y as much the result of some natural process of adaptation in the materials to the often recurring influence of the sound as it is of any improvement in the arrangements themselves . Messrs . Gray and Davison ' s Organ , in view of the aproaching event , has been proportionately enlarged , iu fact , for the first time completed , according to the scale ofthe original design , so thafc its accompaniment may he in every respect worthy of the

. The liberal arrangements of the Executive , supplemented as they have been hy an equally liberal tariff on the part of the Eailway Companies , induce us to recommend those of our readers who do not wish fco miss the opportunity of being present—only afforded , be it noted , once every three years—to apply forthwith for their tickets , which , in anticipation of the importance of the event we understand are being rapidly bought up .

A Great Full Rehearsal will take place on Friday , June 16 . On Monday , June 19 , the " Messiah " will be performed . On AVednesday , June 21 , a Selection . On Friday , Juue 23 , " Israel iu Egypt . "