Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

LONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 13 , 18 G 2 .

( From our Scottish Correspondent . ) " While all Scottish Craft Lodges are , or ought to be , dedicated to " God and the Holy Saint John , " an indefinite number of minor saints divide tEe honour of guardianship over the lodges worked under our Northern Constitution ; indeed , our patrons are

nearly as numerous as our clothing is varied in hue . The Ancient , or Mother Lodge of Scotland , established at a period in the history of the Order when the patronage of canonized fathers of the Church was very , much sought after and prized , chose the once doubting * Thomas for her protector , and for a

very long period has she continued to celebrate the festival of that saint . The present Grand Lodge of Scotland has no tutelar saint ; but , although it had long been customary among the fraternity in Scotland to hold their principal assemblies on St . John the Baj > tist ' s day , she has since 1737 held her annual

election of office-bearers on the birthday of St . Andrew—the tutelar saint of Scotland . We are not aware that any Masonic tradition points to St . Andrew as having been a member of the Order , and are consequently ignorant of the precise grounds upon - which Grand Lodge determined to hold their annual meeting on St . Andrew ' s day ; or that the figure of the sainted fisherman of Galilee should grace

the diploma of every M . M . raised under a Scottish charter . The 30 th of November falling this year upon a Sunday , the election of Grand Officers took place on Monday the 1 st December , on which evening also was held the Grand Banquet of the Scottish Craft

under the auspices of the Grand Lodge . Precisely afc half-past six , the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . J . Whyte Melville , ascended the dais , and , in ample form , proceeded to open Grand Lodge in the first degree ; and having formally declared the several offices in the same to have become vacant , begged to propose His

Grace the Duke of Athole for re-election as Grand Master Mason of Scotland . The applause with which tbe motion was greeted and agreed to , showed how highly the fraternity in Scotland appreciate the presence in the Grand East of so distinguised a Craftsman as His Grace has ever proved himself to

be . At this stage of the proceedings the Grand "Wardens and the Grand Stewards withdrew , and shortly afterwards returned , conducting the Grand Master to his place in front of the altar , where , after the music had ceased , the oailt fidele was administered to him b y the Depute Grand Master . The Duke then took the chair , and was saluted with the private grand honours

of Masonry . The names of the other brethren previously nominated to office were then read from the throne , and , as a matter of course , all were elected , and those of them who were present were immediately installed into their respective offices . The following are the Grand Officers for 1862-63 : —

His Grace the Duke of Athole , K . T ., Grand Master . His Grace the Duke of Harnilfconand Brandon , P . G . Master John White Melville , Esq ., Depute Grand Master . Lord Loughborough , Substitute Grand Master . Sir P . A . Halket , Bart ., Senior Grand Warden . Geo . Home Drummond , Esq ., Junior Grand Warden . Samuel Hay , Esq ., Grand Treasurer .

William A . Laurie , Esq ., Grand Secretary . Alex . J . Stewart , Esq ,, Grand Clerk . Eev . David Arnott , D . D , 1 Joint Grfmd Chapla ; ng . Rev . A . It . Bonar , ) l Sir Alex . P . Gordon Gumming , Bart ., Senior Gd . Deacon . Charles AV . E . Eamsay , Esq ., Junior Grand Deacon . David Bryee , Esq ., Grand Architect .

Charles Mackay , Esq ., Grand Jeweller . John Deuchar , Esq ., Grand Bible Bearer . Chariot Law 'j Joint Gd ' ' ectOTS of Ceremonies . James Ballantine , Grand Bard . Colonel H . D . Griffith , C . B ., Grand Sword Bearer . Charles W . M . Muller , Grand Director of Music . John Ooghill , Chief Grand Marshal . John Laurie , Grand Marshal . William M . Bryce , Grand Tyler .

Grand Lodge having been closed , the newly appointed officers passed down to the great Hall in the usual order , the organ meantime playing the Masonic anthem . When the procession entered the banquetting hall , there could not havo been less than five hundred brethren awaiting , on tiptoe of expectation ,

the arrival of the Grand Master , whom they received standing . Grace having been said by the Eev . Dr . Bonar , Grand Chaplain , the banquet was served . It is superfluous to say that ifc was one of the richest description , and seemed to be much enjoyed by all present ; by its luxuriance dyspeptics ivere tempted

to forget their infirmity , and partake of dishes to which their palates had for long been involuntary strangers .

In the absence of Bro . Sir P . A . Halket , Bart ., Bro . Mann , of St . Mary ' s Chapel , iS o . 1 , acted as Senior Grand Warden , Bro . George Home Drummond being in his p lace as Junior Grand Warden , as was also Bro . Sir Alexander Gordon Gumming , Bart ., as Grand Senior Deacon . IsTot until the removal of

the cloth was Grand Lodge re-opened , and instead of the " Queen and the Craffc , " being the first toast given from the chair , as is fche custom at similar meetings of daughter lodges in the provinces , the toast " The Holy Lodge of St . John , " was that to which the brethren were first called on to drink .

Having made the acquaintance of the Grand Bard , Bro . James Ballantine , that brother courteously presented us with a copy of the song he had made in honour of the comin g of age ofthe Prince of Wales ,