Masonic Government.

once more ! We think it highly desirable that it should be more clearly defined who rules , summonses , takes the chair , gives degrees , etc ., iu the absence of the W . M ., as the present regulations are not so distinct as to prevent a discussion

arising almost on any sucli occasion . W e do not consider that the W-M . has any right to nominate a particular P . M . to take the chair in his absence , -as the Book of Constitutions directs that the I . P . M . or in his absence the Senior P . M . shall do

so : as , however , the Senior P . M . may not be desirous of exercising his right , it is usual for the P . M . ' s to settle among themselves who shall preside , and , Avhere true fraternal feeling is prevalent , no inconvenience will arise .

Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR ,

By J . A . H . FREEMASONRY IN " MODERN ATHENS . It is not Avithout reason that Scotland is proud of Edinburgh . Loudly as the praises of "Aulci Rekie " have been sung , feAv will question that her

peculiar and never-to-be-forgotten beauty far exceeds what the imagination can describe . The " Modern Athens" must be seen to be appreciated .

From Glasgow Ave carried with us fraternal messages to brethren in Edinburgh , and among the first freres we met was the good old veteran Bro . Bryce the curator of the Freemason's Hall . Bro . Bryce is another joke-loving Scotchman ,

from whose sharp and piercing eye , the twinkle of humour is rarely absent . Under his guidance we inspected the buildings of the Grand Lodge , Avhich are well-adapted for the purposes of the Craft . As we have previously remarked the Grand Lodge is

entirely distant from the Grand Chapter , but all the great Masonic bodies meet under one roof . Bro . Bryce'is thoroughly posted up on all points connected with the history and working of tbe Craft , and we find him possessed of a store of

invaluable information which Ave were only too glad to avail ourselves of . At the kind invitation of Bro . Bryce , -we attended a meeting ofthe Rifle Lodge , of which he Avas one of the founders . This lodge like the famous

"Defence Band" was originally intended for Volunteer Riflemen—hence its name—but it has gradually become less exclusive . One of its most active members is Bro . T . H . Douglass , F . S . A . a man wliom to knoAV is to esteem . This lodge

conferred upon us the unexpected honour of electus an honorary member , a distinction which Ave shall ever prize very highly . On another evening we visited the St . Clair Lodge which at that time was presided over by a

Roman Catholic brother , whose love for the Craft was stronger than his fear of the anathemas of the Church of St . Peter . We wish we could hope for a time when the great body of our Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen will be no longer excluded from

our privileges . At the St . Clair Loclge we found another visiting brother Avho detailed some curious experiences , which unless he was in error , afford wide scope for inquiry . In the course of his

travels he had been in the interior of China , and asserted that he there found Freemasonry in full operation among the natives who had received it from their forefathers . Here Ave also greeted Bro . Charles F , Matier . Bro , Matier has frequent

opportunities of visiting lodges in Edinburgh , and his thorough knowledge of the ritual is often of essential service in emergency . Whenever called on Bro . Matier is ready to afford all the help in his power with hearty good will . Rightly or

wrongly Bro . M . has supported the Grand Chapter of Scotland in chartering Mark Lodges in England , and he is the W . M . of the new Scottish Mark Lodge recently formed in Manchester . We hope ere Ions to see the difficulties connected with the

Avorkmg of the Mark Degree adjusted . The sooner the better ! Among those brethren who are most accomplished in the working of the degrees , are Bros . Alexander Hay and Francis L . Law , both of whom

appear , especially in the higher grades , to have to undertake a great deal of labour . At a meeting of the Royal Order Ave were particularly struck with the remarkable good memories of these freres —the more noticeable because the Royal Order

only meets occasionally , and consequently the memory has no assistance from repetition . Bro . John Laurie one of the Grand Officers , and officially connected Avith the permanent staff of the Grand Lodge , to whom we carried a letter of

introduction , kindly explained to us many things " hard to be understood " by English Masons . To him ancl to the other officials of the Grand Lodge with whom we came in contact , we return our sincere thanks .

The adornments of the principal hall of the Grand Lodge are very effective , and some of the pictures are the more interesting because they are