Scotland.

steps of many honourable and devoted sons of St . Johns , Thornhill , who have long toiled in the mystic quarries , and whose upright walk aud conversation has induced many a cowan to think well of Masonry , and to seek to be participants in its privileges . I must confess that in attempting to reply to your remarks I approach a subject of considerable difficulty , inasmuch as my humble labours as Master of my mother lodge have formed the theme upon which you have so

eloquently dilated . You , sir , and the brethren here present , will , I feel . certain , believe me when I say that in all my exertions , my anxieties , and my success in connection with my discharge of the high office to which by your suffrages I was thrice elected , my constant aim was to promote the prosperity and increase the fame of "Two hundred Two and Fifty . " This splendid testimonial which Bro , Milligan , in your

names , has just presented to me , is the best exemplification that I have done so . Permit me to say that it is not to me alone that credit is due for the unprecedented success in point of numerical strength and Masonic proficiency with which , during my presidency , this lodge was favoured . My efforts would have been fruitless had they not been warmly seconded and generously supported by the office-bearers and members , with a unanimity

of feeling and determination of purpose that it was impossible to withstand . I need not recapitulate what all of us know about the greatest of our local Masonic demonstrations—viz ., the celebration in 1864 of our first jubilee . That is now a matter of history , and having , along with the other eventful proceedings of this lodge , been embalmed for preservation in " Recollections" traced by the hands of a distinguished brother , now united to ns by the ties of honorary membershipwill

re-, dound to the praise of St . John's , Thornhill , for many generations to come . Brethren , viewing these beautiful pieces of plate , and looking back upon the past , I feel I have done little to merit them , but I have done what I could . I do assure you , brethren , you could not have presented me with a more acceptable gift—a gift that will be cherished by me to the latest hour of my existence ; and when the purposes of the Great Architect

of the Universe are finished with me here below , my children will cherish these as the most valuable heirlooms I can leave them , and think that their father in his day and generation had not lived for himself alone . Brethren , I shall not further trespass upon j our time than in a single sentence to assure you that this mark of your kindness and approbation is received with a thankfulness aud gratification impossible for me to describe—its value being in my eyes greatly enhanced by its having been also

contributed to by so many brethren belonging to other lodges . It is enough for me to say that , while religiously preserving these costly mementoes of my Masonic career , I shall never forget the consideration you have all along paid to me , notwithstanding the defects which I am sensible have mixed up with my efforts to advance the interests of my mother lodge , and of the fraternity with which it is connected . Then , brethren , if I have failed inadequately conveying to you my heartfelt

thanksat-, tribute it , I beseech you , to want of ability—not to want of gratitude . Accept then , my imperfectly expressed thanks . Bro . P . Brown , Sec , in presenting the silver cake-basket and correspondence , said -. Bro . Hisiop , you have this evening been jiresented with a handsome and elegant testimonial in appreciation of the valuable services rendered by you to the cause of Freemasonry . Your exertions have been great ; and , while the brethren thus show their respect to you , they at the same time

have not forgotten your beloved wife . No doubt much of your precious time which ought to have been spent in your family circle has , in your zeal for promoting the principles of our Order , been withdrawn from that quarter ; yet it must be very gratifying to Mrs . Hisiop and to yourself to know that your exertions have been appreciated , and that your time has not been misspent . I have much pleasure in presenting to Mrs . Hisiop , through you , her husband , this silver cake-basket , with the

compliments of the brethren , and with it our best wishes ; and may she long be spared to be an ornament to your home and to society , snd to guard the interests of yourself and family . I have also much pleasure in presenting to you the correspondence which accompanied the contributions " to the testimonial fund . Allow me , in conclusion , to reneat to vou the . wish of a subscriber : — ¦ ' May the ancient and honourable badsre whicli we wear Be never dishonoured by thee ; May the - rule of our faith be the square of your life , The compass the hounds of your charity .

May your feet ever haste to the call of distress , And your thoughts in devotion oft bend ; Keep sacred thy trust , and shed sympathy ' s tear , And the right may you ever defend . May the Great Architect of His goodness vouchsafe His wisdom thy ways to direct , May His beauty encircle thy pathway through life

, And His strength ever shield and protect . May the friends of thy youth be the friends of thy age , And at last when thou treadest alone Through the dark vale of death , may thy faith and thy hope Be built on the sure corner-stone . Bro . Hisiop replied on behalf of Mrs . Hisiop in the following

terms : — Right Worshipful Master Wardens and Brethren : You have , in the exuberance of your fraternal kindness , as exhibited in the very chaste and valuable gift now entrusted to me for presentation to my wife , deepened the obligations under which I have already been placed by your generosity this evening . Permit me to say that Mrs . Hisiop has for several years felt

interested in the prosperity of 252—particularly so during the period in which I had the honour of holding- its chair when the lodges' demands upon my time often drew me from the domestic circle- It cannot be otherwise than gratifying for her to know of the signal proof you have just given of your satisfaction with the way in which I discharged the duties which your partiality imposed upon me—but for herself to be the recipient of a token of esteem from a body of Freemasons is a thing that on her part

could never have been expected . In accepting on her behalf this elegant present , I feel justified in saying that she will hold it in high estimation , both as to its intrinsic worth , and in consideration of the circumstances under which it has been given to her ; and she will ever entertain pleasant remembrances of

her husbands connection with St . John ' s Thornhill . Right Worshipful Sir and Brethren , bear with me while in a sentence I refer to the letters which have just been read , aud which , with the list of contributors to the testimonial , you have most considerately presented to me . The fraternal regard for me breathed through these epistolary messengers to your worthy secretary excites my warmest gratitude , and fills me with astonishment at the extent and value of the friendship that I have

been privileged to form within the mystic circle- Some of these letters have been penned by brethren whose Masonic fame is not confined to this country , but whose friendship is prized by the great and the good of this order in many lands : all of them are worthy , and as in my hours of retirement I scan this subscription sheet and peruse these letters , my heart will flow with gratitude to the Great Architect for having helped me with so many kind friends . I thank you , Bro . Peter Brown , for the kind

and affectionate manner in which you have proposed Mrs . Hislop's health , —aud you , brethren , for the hearty response you have given to bis sentiments . I return you all on her behalf my warmest thanks , and beg to assure you that this eventful evening shall long be remembered by me aud my beloved wife as one of the happiest of our life . Bro . W . Brown proposed " The Proxy Master . " Bro . Sibbald gave the next toast , " The Nithsdale Royal Arch

Chapter , No . 52 . The toast was coupled with the name of Bro . M'Caig , who returned thanks . Bro . P . R . Brown , S . D ., proposed " The Absent Subscribers . " Bro . M'Farlane acknowledged the toast . Bro . T . Keilock gave " The Committee . " Bro . Wilson having replied , and other toasts having followed , the closing toast was given by the Chaplain . Songs from Bros . Cook , M'Lauehlan , Geddes , W . Brown , Sibbald , and T . Keilock , gave an additional charm to the proceedings .

EDINBURGH . S ' JWE . —St . John's Lodge ( No . 216 ) . —Friday ,- the 27 th ult ., being the anniversary of St . John , the brethren cf this lodge met in their lodge room at the Town Hall to celebrate the occasion by the annual festival . About fifty of the brethren assembled at noon , when the usual business of making reports , collecting quarterly dues , and the installing of the officebearers for the ensuing year took place , after which a procession was formed , and headed by the flute band . The brethrou , arrayed iu full Masonic costume , marched through the village , and