Scotland.

come before the General Committee . Numbers of letters came to him privately , and he attended to them , so that his post , though unpaid , was by no means a merely nominal office . Great confusion had existed with respect to the laws ; there were additions and alterations being perpetually made , till at length the Chapters did not know what was law , and ivhat was not . Under these circumstances , at the request , and with the assistance of the Supreme Grand Chapter , he undertook the preparation of the code of laws which now existed in a printed form , and by wliich Royal Arch

Masomy throughout Scotland was governed . This was a step which had been attended with good results . ( Hear , hear . ) The Supreme Chapter and himself were naturally very much linked together by these joint exertions ; he therefore returned thanks on his own account , and on behalf of the Supreme Grand Chapter with which he had the honor to be so closely connected . ( Cheers . ) "The Army and Navy" was next given , and responded to by Comp . Taylor . The M . E Z . Donald Campbellthen gave " the Grand Chapter of England" with

, , , which he associated the name of Comp . Warren . Comp . Warren returned thanks . As an humble representative of the Grand Chapter of England , he felt gratified at the manner in which they had referred to that body , and at the same time he had personally to return thanks for tho great kindness and hospitality which he had experienced at their hands since he had been in Scotland . Their excellent Principal Z . and Companion Arnott , lie had long known by correspondence , and he was delighted with the opportunity which this visit to

Scotland had afforded him of personal intercourse with them . He had observed that though there was adiversity between theEnglish and Scotch working , the Scotch Chapters had preserved all the ancient landmarks and every essential portion of the ceremony ; but in England , the Mark Masters degree had been struck out of the Arch and dispensed with in English Chapters , though it was said there were still charters in England under which that degree might be worked . There was a strong feeling , however , in favour of the legitimate re-introduction of the Mark Degree in England , and the subject hacl quietly , if not openly , been brought before

members of the Grand Lodge ; and in fact , two or three of the Grand Officers had actually gone so far as to have themselves initiated in the so-called Bon Accord M . M . M . Lodge , the authority of which was denied , simply to see what the degree was . Their opinions not having become publicly expressed , he could not reveal them , but he believed they ivere by no means of an unfavourable kind . ( Hear , hear . ) There was a growing feeling in favour of Freemasonry throughout England . He would A'ery much like the workings of Masonry so to harmonize ,

that a brother might feel equally at home on entering a Lodge whether in England , Scotland , Ireland , Franco , or any other part of the globe . They had some differences , no doubt , in Scotland , which appeared novel and strange to theEnglish Mason ; they had also a custom of advancing candidates much more rapidly than ivas thought proper in England . But , as he hacl had no opportunity of fairly watching the influence of this practice , he should not I'enture to pronounce any decided opinion on the subject . He would only state the English practice was

thought best for England , and he agreed in that opinion . There Avas , however , one point , on which there was no difference , either of opinion or of practice , ancl that was as to the manner in which they ought to receive strangers . ( Cheers . ) He had been delighted with the cordiality with which they had received him , and he could , only say , that if any of them came to London , and asked for him at the Freemasons' Tavern , he should be glad to welcome them , and he gave them this invitation in the name of the five or six Lodges and several Chapters to Avhich

he belonged ( Cheers , ) The M . E . Z . then gave " The Grand Chapter of Ireland , and the Health of Companion Sharman . " Companion Sharman returned thanks . In the absence of any one more intimately connected with Irish Masonry , it afforded him great pleasure to thank them for their good wishes to that portion of the Craft , as ivell as for the honour they had done him in associating his name with that excellent and respected body of men the Grand Chapter of Ireland ; and for the general cordiality with wliich he had been received by