Scotland.

you would remember that tins is one of the most grave , and one of the most solemn ceremonies affecting the heart of a desolated widow . That being the case , I hope you will concur with me in the opinion , that although there may be some toasts which it may be necessary for me to communicate to you , you should be guarded—I appeal to the feelings of all present—that you should be most guarded iu not construing this meeting as a . scene of festivity . ( Applause . ) There is one toast—it is the

first one- —which I am sure , in such a large meeting of my fellow-countrymen , will always command attention , and that is , 'The Health of our beloved Queen , and the rest of the-Royal Family . " ( Loud applause . ) The toast was responded to with all the honours . The noble CHAIRMAN then said , I now request you to drink to the memory of the ' late Duke of Athole . 1 need not say

that it- should be drunk iu solemn silence , because , if I appeal to the heart of every man whom I have now the honour of addressing , I am sure they will respond to those sentiments which are uppermost in my heart -. that we have all lost a good and a kind friend—one who was a friend alike not only to his relations and to his own immediate relatives , but to the rich man and the poor man he presented an equal front . ( Suppressed

cheers . ) Beloved as he was by all , esteemed by every member of his family , cherished by those who were in more immediate relation to him , ho discharged his duties as a good landlord—( suppressed cheers)—as a faithful husband , as an affectionate father , and as a true friend .. ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Perhaps I may be the only person in this room who will be able to say that I was at his christening . I was present as a boy at school

at tho time when he was presented at the font , and obligations were taken by his godfathers and godmothers that he would discharge his duty to his God , by discharging his duty to bis fellow creatures . ( Suppressed cheers . ) These obligations ho lived to fulfil ; and the memorial that wo are about to raise to him this day evinces far more strongly than words can express , that the opinion of his fellow-countrymen has been that his

duty has been fulfilled . ( Cheers . ) It would be rude in me , considering the short time that we have to occupy in this room before your departure , to take up much of your time ; but I am sure I appeal to the heart of every Mason when I ask vou , bow

did he discharge his duty to you as your Grand Master ? ( Cheers . ) I have often known in private life—he has told me himself—that although there were certain things that he wanted to do , yet his time was fully occupied —( cheers)—because from the moment- that ho held the office of Grand Master Mason , Lis time was devoted to them ; and , indeed , I have known him to forego many of those harmonising and social meetings at his own house , and at the houses of his friendsthat he might

, 3 ttend to your interests . ( Cheers . ) And therefore , perhaps , it may bo right that you should at this time join with all those who have been his friends and relations , in paying this last Iribute of respect to his memory . ( Suppressed cheers . ) I call upon you to drink , " To the Memory of the Duke of Athole , " in solemn silence . The noble CHAIRMAN then rose aud said , —Having drunk to

the memory of the late Duke of Athole , the mind naturally recurs to her whom be has left behind him ; and therefore I am sure that in the mind of every one of you it has been suggested that the next toast that would have come from the chair would have been that of " The Duchess-Dowager of Athole . " ( Cheers . ) The manner in which she discharged the obligations of a wifethrough the course of four-and-twent

, y years , elicited from all classes of society the highest approbation . It was not that she moved in the highest sphere in Avbich Providence could have placed her , but that she was aware , and fully aware of this , that the same duties appl y equally to those iu the highest as well as those in the lowest situations of life , when placed in the situation of wife and man . Tho simple cottar in this districtthe richest in the land

, person , equally was aware that a more excellent wife never existed . ( Loud cheers . ) A sharer in the labours of her husband , a comforter in his sorrows , a participator in his joys—iu whatever relation of life you find her , she shone beautiful and resplendent . ( Loud cheers . ) Is not her character remaining exactly the same ? Though sorrows weighed her down , she has looked to the great source from whom comfort alone can be derivedshe

; has prayed to the Almighty to support her in her distress , and God has heard her prayer , and she is now fulfilling her duties with her original energy . ( Cheers . ) At the same time she looks around—having received comfort and solace from aboveshe looks around to the kind assistance of the many friends

who have known her for years , and I may , I think , class you , gentlemen , as among those who will hasten to extend their hands to support the lonely widow —( cheers)—support her in her onward course , and assist her in the discharge of those duties which are yet left to her . ( Cheers . ) The day would be long , and I would still continue on that theme . ' It is one that would be almost inexhaustible . ( Hear , hoar . ) But as the hour approaches when we must part , I think you will now

join with me in drinking to the future happiness of the Dowager-Duchess of Athole . ( Loud cheers . ) The noble CHAIRMAN , after the subsidence of the cheers , then said , —1 must now call upon you to drink to a health which , I am sure , will be received with universal enthusiasm , and it is that of the " Grand Master of Scotland . " ( Loud cheers . ) I had the honour of stating to him , at the close of the ceremony to-dnj'how much wethe subscribers , were

, , indebted to him and to the Grand Lodge , and to all those members , for their kindness in coming here and assisting us in laying the foundation stone to-day . I know that you haA'e come here with much personal inconvenience . But we Avho , perhaps , have prejudices—at least I have , but I know that every one cannot understand these things—would not have been satisfied if this memorial had been erected in a

commonplace manner , or if we had not had the assistance of the Masonic body . ( Cheers . ) I may be prejudiced myself , being a Mason —( hear , hear ) - —but as I am here answering not for myself only , but also for the Dowager-Duchess of Athole—I fear the lady subscribers to this memorial cannot possibly be suspected of being Masons —( loud laughter and cheers ) ' —I may say the subscribers feel deeply indebted to them and to you ail

for coining here to-day . ( Hear , hear . ) This is to many of you a duty which should bo discharged , and I appeal to every man of you whether I am not correct in stating , that on thi 3 occasion the duties of tho Grand Master have been discharged in a discreet , able , and efficient manner . ( Loud cheers . ) It is very difficult always to repeat exactly the same speech that was made half an hour before in different Avords , and I therefore think that the wisest course that I can adopt would be to convey the feelings of every man of you by making a bow to the Grand Master , exnressive of the deeo obligations we lie

under to him . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Bro . J . Win . 'TE-MELA'iLLE , who Avas received Avith loud applause , in acknowledging the toast , said , —My Lord Mansfield and gentlemen , I beg to express to you , in the warmest maimer which it is possible for words to convey , my sense of tho very kind manner in which your lordship has proposed the toast with which my name is submitted to your recommendationand for the kind manner in wdiieh it has been received . I

, bi-g to assure Lord Mansfield that if , in his estimation , the duties which devolved upon me to-day were perfectly performed , I feel perfectly satisfied . The M . W . G . M . then concluded , by thanking those of the brethren who had responded to his call , and had turned out to do honour to the memory of their late Grand Master , and to pav a tribute to his worth . ( Cheers . )

Captain DEUMMOND , of Megginch , proposed " The Health of the Duke of Athole . " Having for so many years known the late gallant chief , the father of the present duke , he was all the more able to express their feelings in proposing the toast . He could express no hotter wish for the duke than that he should emulate the conduct and life of his gallant father . The gallant officer then briefly referred to the services of the

duke in connection with the | regiment in which he was an officer , and concluded by proposing the toast , which was enthusiastically received . Bro . Colour-Sergeant MACKENZIE , of the Scots Fusilier Guards , asked , as a soldier , and as an humble member of the regiment in which tho duke was so prominent an officer , to be allowed , in a few words , to offer them the grateful thanks and

the kindly feelings that should be returned to them for the great compliment which had been paid to the duke and to the service on that occasion . He certainly would say the Guards were " aye ready" to do whatever their noble Queen and country required of them ; and he knew that , while they had such officers as his Grace to lead them , they need not fear any foe which might come against them . He was sure there was no

soldier , to whatever regiment he might belong , who would not be highly gratified to know of the great compliment which bad that day been paid to the duke as an officer in her Majesty ' s service . ( Loud applause . ) The other toasts which followed were , " Lord Mansfield and