Scotland.

the Brethren so chosen must be members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , by being Masters or AVardens of lodges within the province . The Committee , however , express this opinion with some diffidence , as sees . 2 and 3 of the Chapter of Grand Lodge Laws referred to , which bear upon this point , are somewhat ambiguous , in so far as they bear that a Provincial Grand Lodge is formed by the Provincial Grand Master , with all the Provincial Grand Office-bearers , and the Masters and AVardens

of the several lodges in the province which have complied Avith the regulations of Grand Lodge , all of them being Master Masons , on the Roll of the Grand Lodge , and Members of lodges within the province . It will be observed that it is not here expressly stated that the Provincial Grand Lodge is formed hy the Master and Wardens of the various lodges in the province , and that out of this body the Provincial Grand Office"bearers are chosen : yet the Committee are humbly of opinion

that this is implied , and that this is the proper interpretation to be put upon the Sections in question , and what the Grand Lodge contemplated in framing the Laws , —1 . Because this view is in strict conformity , the Committee believe , Avith the practical Avorking of the Grand Lodge itself ( which is governed hy a similar law , ) in this particular ; and 2 . Because it would he an anomalous proceeding , they humbly submit , to confer a Provincial Grand Master the of introducing to a

upon power ^ Provincial Grand Lodge various Brethren , none of whom possed the qualification required from all other members of Provincial Grand Lodge , —that of being a Master or AVarden of a lodge in the province , —more especially as it might happen that some of these brethren , if elected to the office of Provincial Grand Depute , or Substitute Masters , or AA- ' ardens , might , although only Master Mason , be called upon to preside over ancl

take precedence of the whole Masters and AVardens in the province . " The PEOV . JUN . GEAND WAEDEN demurred to this interpretation of Grand Lodge Laws , and pointed to the law which defined in clear and unmistakeable language tbe qualifications necessary to be possessed by those appointed by commission or otherwise to office in Provincial Grand Lodge ; these qualifications were , the being a Master Mason , on the Roll of the Grand lodge , member of a lodge , and having a residence within the

province . The finding ofthe Sub-Committee which had just been read , and which the Committee themselves told them had been " expressed with some diffidence , " was totally at variance with sec . 2 and 3 of the 13 th chapter of the laws of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and with the rule and practice obtaining in other provinces . Besides it impugned the validity of the agreement " solemnly ratified and approved of by the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Mother LodgeKilwinning" when the latter

, , , renouncing the right of granting charters , went into the bosom ¦ ofthe Grand Lodge . By the "Agreement" referred to the appointment of the seven principal offiae-bearers in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire was virtually vested in the bands ¦ of Mother Kilwinning : for the R . W . M . of that ancient lodge , and his successors in office , " in all time coming , " are and shall he , ipso facto , Provincial Grand Masters for Ayrshire District ,

with full power to " choose proper persons to act as Grand Wardens , . . . and in general to do , execute , and perform , ¦ everything which , hy the rules of Masonry , is known to belong to the duty and office of a Provincial Grand Master . " In virtue , then , of his office as R . W . M . of Mother Kilwinning , Bro . Sir James Ferguson was their Provincial Grand Master , and all the sophistry they could bring to bear upon the interpretation of Grand Lodge Laws would not prevent him from exercising the

right of choosing from among the Masters Masons of his own province brethren . to fill the Provincial Grand offices in his gift . Exceptions had been taken by those opposing the installation to the monopoly claimed by Mother Kilwinning in the appointment of Provincial Grand Office-bearers , but was there no monopolizing spirit and thirst for power displayed by those Masters and Wardens , who advocated the exclusion from office in the Provincial Grand Lodge of brethren , however well qualified in

¦ every other respect , merely because of their not happening to hold either of the chairs of a lodge . Bro . ROBEET CEAIG , R . AV . M . of Beith St . John , had no doubt whatever as to the right of the Prov . Grand Master to select his Grand AVardens from Master Masons within the province . Mother Kilwinning possessed peculiar privileges , and they might talk to doom ' s day and never be able to reduce the Mother Lodge to a level with the daughter lodges . He was in favour ofthe installation of the brethren to whom Sir James Fergusson had granted commissions as officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge .

Scotland.

In reply to the Prov . Grand Secretary , who adverted to the terms ofthe "Agreement" existing between Mother Killwinning and the Grand Lodge . Dr . GEAY remarked that he had watched the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire for more than thirty years , and was sure that that way of appointing Office-bearers and consequently of making them members of the Prov . Grand Lodge , was of very recent date , and that the late Bro . John Boyle Gray was the first Master of

Mother Kilwinning who had attempted to introduce parties b y commission , but none of them had ever presented their commission : the Masters and Wardens of the lodges Avithin the province were always considered the only members of Prov . Grand Lodge , Avithout any commissioned Office-bearers . The Prov . Grand AVarden insisted that Bro . Sir James Ferguson , as the R . AV . M . of Mother Kilwinning , and as such as the Prov . Grand Master of Ayrshirehad the undoubted right of

-, ap pointing his Grand AVardens . He therefore appealed from the decision of Prov . Grand Lodge to the Grand Lodge . The folioAving will shew the result of the appeal : — Excerpt from minutes of Grand Lodge of Scotland , of date February 3 , 1862 ( the M . AV . Grand Master , Bro . the Duke of Athole , occupying the Throne . ) . In re—Petition and Complaint from Brother David Murray

Lyon , against the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire . "Grand Lodge then took into consideration Petition and Complaint from Bro . David Murray Lyon , the Provincial Grand Junior AA arden of Ayrshire , and Report of Grand Committee in relation thereto , Avhen , after a few observations from the Depute Grand Master , the following resolution was moved by Bro . L . Mackersy , seconded by the Depute Grand Master , and unanimously carried—Findsthat on a sound interpretation of

, , the laws of the Grand Lodge , a Provincial Grand Master has power to appoint by commission from time to time a Provincial Grand Depute , and a Substitute Master , two AVardens , a Secretary and Chaplain—all of whom must be Master Masons having a residence in the province , but not necessarily Masters or AYardeiis of lodges withing the province , —therefore sustains the appeal of Bro . David Murray Lyon , and reverse the finding of Grand Committee of date June 5 I 860 and of the

Pro-, , vincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire , with instructions to receive and instal Bro . David Murray Lyon as Provincial Junior Grand AVarden of Ayrshire , should his commission he in all other respects regular . " Certified by ALEX J . STEAVART , Clerk , Grand Lodge of Scotland . Edinburgh , Sth February , 1862 .

China.

CHINA .

HONG KONG . On the evening of the 7 th October , a banquet Avas given in Freemasons' Hall , Hong Kong , by the Zetland Lodge ( No . 768 ) , to the R . AV . Bro . the Hon . John Dent , Deputy Provincial Grand Master for China . By special invitation the Hon . AV . T . Mercer , Provincial Grand Master , presided on the occasion , and in giving the toast of the eveningsingularly adapted his

ex-, pressions to the cordial good feeling of the brethren , ivho were most enthusiastic in their reception of Bro . Dent , aud sincere in their regret at his approaching departure from the Province . The Provincial Grand Master passed a glowing eulogy on Bro . Dent , and summed up a very effective speech in these words : " And so , brethren , let him go forth from among us to-night honoured as the man of the kindly heart and liberal hand ;

honoured as the brother whose fraternal friendship we have enjoyed , whose geniality we appreciate , whose long labours in the service of our Craft we readily and gratefully acknowledge , and whose boundless charity from time to time we have Avitnessed . " The way in which the toast Avas received by the assembled brethren must have been highly gratifying to Bro . Dent , Avho

takes his final fareivell of China after a residence of over twenty years . Bro . C . AV . Murray , P . M ., Avas particularly happy in returning thanks on behalf of the visiting beethren . About 75 brethren sat down to the banquet , among whom were Bros . Clevely , P . M ., Captain the Hon . G . Keane , R . N ., Captain Day , J 2 . 1 V ., V . C . Percival , Pollard , Baldwin , P . M ., Captain Taylor , P . M ., 5 th Bombay N . I ., & c .