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That body may be a very fit one to consider questions of Masonic discipline , not as regards points of taste . We should be sorry to intrust them with tbe selection of a carpet , and we are quite sure the G . M . would feel the some about a race cup . We wish it were not our duty in connection with this subject , to refer to the ruling of the G . M . upon the

appointment of a committee of taste . It will be remembered that Brother WHITMOBE carried a motion in September , permitting any brother to move an amendment to any recommendation of the Board of General purposes . The Board on the present occasion , recommended that the subject should be referred back to the

Board , with directions to report thereon to the next Grand Lodge . To this Bro . WHITMOBE moved as an amendment , that the subject be referred to a committee of six brethren , who , with an equal number to be selected by the Board should report to G . L . This amendment the G . M . refused to put .

" Antient Landmarks" are certainly a great safeguard to' tbe wandering mason—they remind us of a floating light that has broken away from its moorings . In the face of such ruling as this , however , we venture to hope that the craft at large ( or at least the independent portion of them ) will pausebefore it endures

, the somewhat ludicrous assertion of the partizans of the Executive at Oxford—that the G . M's . constitutional authority is in danger ! Unless , indeed , a distinction worthy of Juvenal , is drawn between constitutional and arbitrary power .

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"THE SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OP EOYAL ARCH MASONS IN SCOTLAND , " is rather an imposing title , and tbe Grand Chapter itself is , in truth , a somewhat imposing body . Some of its impositions are simple and local , as its imposition of condign punishment on a certain chapter , No . 70 , at Aberdeen , without any defence being heard , or opportunity for any defence being allowed . Other of its impositions are

compound and foreign , as when it deliberately issues certificates , stating as facts , things which are not , with the notable object of seducing English Lodges from their allegiance , and inducing their Members to become vassals of Scotland . The notorious case of tbe false certificates , and pretended warrant for the Kent Mark Lodge has been already sufficiently exposedand the part taken therein by an officer of hih rank

, g , clearly brought home to him . There the matter would have rested had not this unfortunate officer provoked further attention to his conduct , by a recent letter to the Masonic Magazine , signed with the initials D . E . A . T . N . These initials , to the writer's eye , have betrayed a secret , but the Royal Order of Scotland ( our brother will understand this allusion ) , shall not be made the cloak of such an unworthmatter .

y It is plainly our duty as English Masons , to oppose to the utmost of our power the imposition of any foreign Masonic authority within this kingdom , more especially when accompanied with such peculiar circumstances , and such corrupt motives . There appears to be a very legitimate mode of exercising this opposition , namely , by an attempt to open the eyes of our brethren to a comparison of the pretensions and actual

position of this very imposing body . In May , 1858 , tbe Chapter bearing the highest number on the roll of the Grand Chapter of Scotland was No . 81 . But of the previous numbers nine had then disappeared from the roll , leaving seventy-two as the apparent number of

Chapters accounted for . Of these seven were in arrear of returns , liable to be erased from the roll . Thirty-two were in arrear of their returns , and considered dormant . Four had returned their Charters ; amongst which is the chivalrous No . 70 , of Aberdeen , which refused to submit to the outrageous injustice and overbearing of the Grand Chapter officials . This shows that out of the apparent list of seventy-two Chaptersno less a number than forty-three

, were ineffective . Deducting which , we arrive at twenty-nine as the actual number of Scotch Chapters in all parts of the world , working , and in regular communication with the Scotch Grand Chapter . Now of this number ten are in various foreign parts . Three out of the ten were new warrants , granted in May , 1857 . Deducting which , we find in that month of May no more than sixteen regularly working

Chapters in the whole of Scotland . These sixteen Chapters , with the three new ones , exalted to the Eoyal Arch Degree , during the year 1857-8 , no more than 196 Companions . We will not attempt to compare with these figures the stability of tbe Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , against which tbe attacks of the Grand Chapter of Scotland , through Bro . Gaylor , the Grand ScribeEhave for three been so harmlessly

, , years directed ; but we will compare them with those Mark Lodges which the Grand Chapter itself has originated , that the absurdity of its position may be more clearly shown . The number of warrants for Mark Lodges in England , issued by the Grand Chapter of Scotland , up to the month of May , 1858 , was twelve . Of these twelve , seven alone appear to have made their

returns , but these returns show no less than 202 Mark Masters advanced in the year 1857-8 , being just eight more numerous thrn the Royal Arch Exaltations in the Scotch Chapter . It thus appears that these nineteen Scotch Chapters , with their 196 candidates , and paying , as will be shown , £ 112 lis ., are the lords paramount of the twelve Lodges in England , with their 202 candidates , paying £ 81 10 s .

A position very creditable to tbe shrewdness of the former , but suggesting many considerations on the part of tbe latter . Next in respect to Finances . The whole twenty-nine Chapters working under the Grand Chapter of Scotland , contributed in 1857-8 , £ 138 13 s . Of this sum the ten Chapters in foreign parts contributed £ 26 2 s . Leaving the quoto of Scotland itself on account of her 196 Exaltations , and other

dues £ 112 lis . On the contrary , the amount of the dues paid to the Grand Chapter of Scotland , by the seven Mark Lodges in England , for their 202 candidates , together with the warrant fees paid by the remaining live Lodges , was £ 81 10 s . Showing a difference between the latter and the former of only £ 31 Is . In other words , tbe Scotch Mark Lodges in England , contributed to their Scotch superiors , a al to nearlthreefourths of what the

sum equ y - Royal Arch Chapters in Scotland itself contributed . This statement simpl y applies to the year 1857-8 , and , of course , the large sums paid by these Lodges in previous years , for advancements and warrant fees , would greatly swell the £ 81 10 s . abovespocified . And what have they received in return ? Have any grants been made to them from the Grand Chapter funds for the purposes of charity , or for any other purpose whatever ?

Let us refer to the Accounts . Under the head " Printing" is found Mark Warrants , & c . £ 9 Is . 3 d . Mark Lodge Laws , £ 3 14 s . 6 d . Then wo have a payment to a certain Mark Lodge Kilwinning London , who appear very sensibly to have withdrawn their application for a warrant , £ 3 3 s . Showing a total of £ 15 18 s . 9 d ., which is fairly to be deducted from £ 81 10 s ., before we ascertain the exact profit made by the Grand Chapter of Scotland , upon this notable speculation , between March 1857 , and March 1858 .