assumed in late years (under the management of Br. W. Smith, C. E.) a somewhat better standing and is supported by the valuable and interesting labours of brethren like W. J. Hughan, Truro, W. P. Buchan, Glasgow, D. Murray Lyon, Ayr, and others. Further improvements and new vigour are to be hoped for, since it has gained a rival in a new Masonic Paper. "The Freemason" published by Br. Kenning, and contributed to by the brethren we have already named, by Br. R. W. Little, and other Masonic writers of note.

The different Benevolent Institutions have in the course of late years received considerable additions to their funds, and have, in consequence, increased the sphere of their operations. A proposal for greater unity in the working system was brought forward again, but came to nothing: the operations still continue to be hemmed in and embarrassed by formalism and ceremonialism, hindering a more stirring and animated intellectual life. One material improvement has been adopted, however, and that is that several Lodges by the erection of their own. temples, have precluded the necessity of holding their meetings in taverns, hotels, &c.

The United Grand Lodge of England, under which are about a thousand Lodges, with above sixty Provincial Grand Lodges, is the chief Masonic community. There are besides a Grand Chapter for the Royal Arch Degree, a Grand Lodge of the Mark Masters (Grand Master Br. Holmesdale), a Grand Conclave of the Knights Templars (Grand Master Sir William Stuart), and a superior Grand Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of the 33 Degrees (Grand Commander: Br. H. B. Leeson); and all imaginable High Degrees.

IRELAND.

The information relating the history of Irish Freemasonry is so scanty that a few remarks are all we have to offer.

We have already mentioned that the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland have made it a custom of sending Representatives to each other. The Irish Brethren have established annually in Cork a fancy dress Ball for the benefit of the Masonic Female Orphan Asylum, which in 1840 realised a sum of £ 100. This same year, too, a newly erected Freemasons' Hall was consecrated in Dublin, in the presence of the Grand Master, the Duke of Leinster.

The predilection for high degrees has very much increased of late years. The Irish Rite, Br. Oliver informs us, consists of 15 degrees in 4 orders or classes, which are: 1. Class: (a) Apprentice, (b) Fellow-Craft, (c) Master; 2. Class: (d) Royal Arch, (e) Past Master, (f) Excellent Master, (g) Supreme Excellent Master; 3. Class: (h) Knight of the Sword, (i) Knight of the East, (k) Knight of the East and West, (1) Knight Templar; 4. Class: (m) Rosicrucian or Mason Prince, (n) Kadosh or Philosophical Mason, (o) Knight of the Sun, (p) Grand General Inspectorthe 33d. Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite.

The undue assumption of superiority of the Grand Chapter and the Grand Consistory in Dublin have been productive of great discord amongst the Irish Masons, which was continued throughout the year 1855. Both parties laid each other under the ban, and at first repelled all overtures to effect an accommodation, but at length through the representations of the Grand Lodge a reconcilation was effected. The causes of the rupture were the distinctions in the High Degrees, and an ambitious spirit awakened, totally opposed to the genius of Freemasonry.

May 15, 1847, one of the most gifted men of his time died at Genoa, the Irish Agitator, Daniel O'Connell. It

is not our province here to estimate his worth and services, but merely to communicate a few particulars about his Masonic life and actions 1. He was made a Mason in 1799 at Dublin, in the Lodge No. 189, and in the succeeding year was chosen Worsh. Master. It is certain that no one ever carried out the duties of his office with more brilliant success than he did. He himself acknowledged that he felt deeply interested in his work, and this was plainly proved by his unceasing activity. It is easy to conceive with what skill a man so highly gifted as he was handled the rituals of the different degrees, and how attentively the Brethren must have listened to that fascinating voice, which afterwards bewitched his hearers in public assemblies, in the court of justice, and in the senate, carrying them away with him; but even this zealous Br. O'Connell lent an ear to the tempter, and in 1838 the insinuations of two Roman Catholic priests led him to withdraw from the Fraternity. In a letter to the "Pilot" he alleged as a reason for this proceeding that though in a former period of his life he had been a Freemason and had presided as the Master of a Lodge, that was when he was ignorant of the existence of an ecclesiastical prohibition against the Freemasons, but since he had known this he had given up attending the meetings of the Society.

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland is the Duke of Leinster, who has held office for fifty-six years consecutively. The Grand Lodge has 300 Lodges under her, and six Provincial Grand Lodges. Besides, or rather within the Grand Lodge is a Grand Royal Arch Chapter, Grand Conclave of Knights Templars, and Supreme Grand Council of Rites.

1 From the Freemasons' Quarterly Review, 1847.

SCOTLAND.

(From 1789-1869.)

The Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Lodges under her continued to move on in the even tenor of their way without interruption, and working according to the laws of the Craft, until the end of the last century. There is therefore not much of general interest to be related of this period. The events recorded by Br. Laurie1 are confined to the names of the Grand Masters, of the newlyestablished Lodges, the solemn laying of foundation-stones, the appointment in the Grand Lodge that no other Master, but the elected Grand Master of Scotland should assume the title of Grand Master, the opening of a brotherly correspondence between the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Berlin in 1786, and the like. August 1, 1791, the Grand Lodge declared that difference of political opinions was no impediment in the way of Masonic fellowship, and that the Lodges must put this regulation in practice. In 1797 and 1798, addresses of congratulation were forwarded to the King on the occasion of the naval victories of Camperdown and the Nile.

and the Act of

The Grand Lodge At the Quarterly meeting held Aug. 5, 1799, Parliament. allusion was made from the chair to the Act of Parliament issued for the more effectual suppression of insurrectionary movements, in which it was declared illegal for any society to exact an oath from its members, or a promise in form of an oath, or any of the like declarations, which had not been permitted by law; but it remarks at the same time that, under certain restrictions, an exception

1 Laurie, History of Freemasonry and of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, &c. 2d Edit. page 137.

2 1784. Royal Scotch Lodge at Petersburg 1795, Pyth. Kilwinning in Antigua 1787 la Douce Harmonie in Aix in Provence Rouen and Marseilles.

-

1788 in

is made in favour of the Freemasons. After the Grand Lodge had taken this Act under their serious consideration, they unanimously resolved that they, as the head of the Masons in Scotland, from whom all the other regular Lodges derived their right to assemble by letters patent, were in duty bound to make stringent regulations for the better observation of this law which, silencing as it did all calumniators, and being an honourable testimony to the purity of intention of the Brotherhood, could not be otherwise than very flattering to them. They therefore recommended to all Lodges the strictest adherence to these regulations, which ordained that two members should appear before the justice of peace, or some other magistrate, and there take oath that the Lodge in question had existed before the issuing of the said Act, under the name of a Freemasons' Lodge, and according to the rules laid down in this kingdom for the direction of such Freemasons' Lodges, &c.

And the Grand Lodge, responsible for the regular conduct of the Masons of Scotland holding of her which, she is firmly persuaded, is almost without exception entirely consonant to the principles of the Craft; yet anxious to guard against every intrusion on their ancient and respectable Order, or upon its established and accustomed forms, unanimously resolved: (1) That every Lodge holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland shall, within six months from this date, apply for a certificate from the Grand Lodge; which certificate shall bear an express renewal of power to hold masonic meetings under her sanction and authority; and which shall not be granted without production of evidence to the Most Worshiful the Grand Master, his Deputy, or Substitute, that the Act of Parliament above mentioned has been literally complied with. And every Lodge which shall not, within the said space, demand and obtain such certificate, shall be expunged from the Grand Lodge Roll, having consequently no right hereafter, by its presiding officers, or by proxy, to