Ears Of Wheat From A Cornucopia.

Grand Master ( the Duke of Athole ) Avho was standing Avithin ear-shot of the altercation that Avas being carried on between the disputants . His Grace , after a brief consultation with his officers , decided that Mother Kilwinning should

take precedence of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , aud gave directions accordingly . Although giving tacit compliance to this decision , the party by Avhom it had been provoked afterwards addressed the Grand lodge " as to the

place and precedency of Provincial Grand Lodges in processions at places other than in their own provinces . " In answer to this , it ivas ruled by the Grand Committee '" that Avherever the Grand Lodge is present all Provincial Grand Lodges are

absorbed in the higher body—the members comprising the Provincial being likeAvise member sof the Grand Body . " Thus Avas confirmed Mother Kilwinning ' s claim to rank next to the Grand Lodge in all processions at which the Supreme Body is present . THE ORIGINAL SEAL OF BURNS' MOTHER LODGE .

Some time ago Ave presented a fac-simile of the seal of Burns' Mother Lodge , but in subsequent gleanings Ave have stumbled upon the original seal of that now defunct body . It was adopted in 1775 , and in its design harmonises with the name

of the lodge ; but that it should bear only one Masonic emblem is suggestive of the primitive character of the lodge's knowledge of the symbolism of Freemasonry , as contrasted with its subsequent acquaintance with the mongrel system of

Degrees depictured in its diploma-plate , of Avhich it is recorded that it Avas " engraved at Dublin , in the most fashionable stylo , in 17 S 5 . " The Irish metropolis was at that period regarded by the brethren in the West of Scotland as the chief

seat of " Sigh Masonry . " The seal as now shown was that of Tarbolton St . David ' s at the time of , and for twenty years subsequent to , Bum's initiation .

Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR .

By J . A . H . ( Continued from page 46 ) . No . 13 . —MASONIC EAU DE COLOGNE . Cologne—Avhat a flood of memories the name

recalls ! Cologne—the gate of the far-famed Land of the Ehine—the entrance to that enchanted region Avhich facts and romances have peopled with the creatures of fancy—the last glimpse of the Avonder-teeming country of castled crag ,

quaint old cities , luxuriant vineyards , curious churches , Hying bridges , and all the other characteristics Avhich have made Old Father Ehine glorious throughout the Avorld . As we sit in the Hotel de Hollande , glancing ever and anon at the curious visions Avhich float past us on the waters , we dreamily remember

how many great souls have sought inspiration in Ehineland , and we reflect that perhaps future generations of American pilgrims may invest even the hospitable hotel in which Ave find our shelter , with historic interest , because Henry Wadsworth

LongfelloAv made it his home Avhen he sojourned here , and possibly polished some poetic gem Avhile resting Avithin the rooms Ave occupy . Perhaps there is no greater sign of modern progress than the fact that our Avorthy host , Herr Krone ,

derives greater jjleasure from the presence of the great " Excelsior" than from a retrospective glance at the pomp and retinues of all the Serene Highnesses who have bestowed their patronage upon him .

Probably the name of Cologne is better known in England than that of any other continental city . Few are the rustics AVIIO have not " heerd as how Acldy-go-long is the tip-top thing for pocket-hankerchers , " and feAver still of the

boarding-school misses , fresh from the hands of a French master , and rejoicing in their " Perishyen " accent , AVIIO do not value the virtues of Soiv-deecow-long . Who is there that has been to the Rhine who has not found on his return , fair friends

eager to know if he has brought back some bottles of the famous Eau ? and luckless is he who forgets such an indispensable duty . He may at once retire into private life . But the hero of the hour is the person Avho has contrived to " smuggle " a

feAv bottles . As " stolen pleasures are sweet , " so Eau cle Cologne which has been smuggled , is in the estimation of ladies , incomparably superior to any Avhich has passed through the Custom House .