The Outlook.

not only for Freemasonry at large , but for each and every individual member of it .

Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

THEEE was a large gathering of members of this Province at Boscombe , on the 27 th ult ., when the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., laid the foundation stone of the proposed new church of St . John . The brethren met at St . George ' s Hall , Adeline

Boad , at a quarter to one , where a special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was held . The Prov . Grand Master was supported by the D . P . G . M . Bro . Le Feuvre

P . G . D . ( England ) , Bro . Eve P . G . Treasurer ( England ) , Bro . Goble P . G . Sd . Bearer ( England ) , and about 300 brethren , including many past and present Provincial Officers .

In opening Grand Lodge the Prov . G . M . said they were summoned on a rather unusual occasion , but nevertheless , a very gratifying one . They had been asked as Freemasons to take part in laying the foundation stone

of a building to be erected to the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe . He was sure they all cheerfully joined in such a ceremony , bearing in mind that as Masons they were identified with days and

works of antiquity . He thought it right that Provm

cial Grand Lodge should deposit some small offering on the occasion , and though at present he could make no motion on the subject , he had no doubt that if they accepted his suggestion and voted the sum of twenty guineas it would be ratified at a future meeting . As it

was announced he was to present his portrait , he might mention that all the copies were not yet ready , but he should have great pleasure in presenting one to every Lodge , Chapter , and subscriber throughout the Province and arrangements could no doubt be made with the

Provincial Grand Secretary as to the most satisfactory arrangements to be made for the distribution . Having detailed the programme for the day , the P . G . M . said he regretted to say he had received a telegram from the brethren of the Osborne Ledge , stating they were detained in the Island by fog .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master said he was sure the brethren were deeply sensible of the gracious act their P . G . M . had done in presenting them with his

portrait , which he was sure would long adorn the walls of their Lodges and help to perpetuate the memory of one under whom they had had the pleasure of serving for so many years . The Prov . Grand Secretary said the Provincial Grand Master of Dorset and his Deputy were sorry they could

not attend there that day . The brethren then formed in procession and marched to the site , where the choir sang " The Old Hundredth " and the brethren bearing the vessels containing corn , wine and oil , and the mallet and trowel , placed them on

the first stone . Psalms lxxxiv . and cxii . were sung , and Haggai I . was read by the Eev . C . Askwith . The Eev . S . A . Selwyn , vicar of St . John ' s , then

delivered an address appropriate to the occasion . The Eev . gentlemen said he welcomed the Provincial Grand Master and the brethren ; and his welcome was more hearty because he knew that many of them had come long distances to help in that most solemn enterprise .

He wished to thank and welcome others who had come to help . He drew some appropriate lessons from the passage of scripture just read , and said they heartily

hoped and believed the beautiful temple about to be reared there would bring peace to many souls . After some further observations the speaker asked the Provincial Grand Master to lay the foundation stone .

The Provincial Grand Master , facing the general assembly , said that Masons might appropriately take part in such a ceremony as that . They had secrets among themselves which could not be revealed , and which no man had discovered , but these were true and

honourable , and not repugnant to the laws either of God or man . Were it not that their Order was founded on true and honourable principles they would not include in their ranks so many illustrious men . They were that day commencing the erection of a building to

the honour and glory of the Most High ; might God

Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

prosper the work as it seemed good to Him . As their first duty as Masons in everything they undertook was to invoke Divine blessing upon their work , he would ask them to unite with the Provincial Chaplain in prayer to the throne of grace .

Bro . the Eev . F . Whyley ( Alton ) then offered prayer , after which the upper stone was raised , and the lower one was adjusted by the P . G . M ., who then delivered an address commenting on the solemn yet somewhat novel character of the ceremony . The hymn " 0 Lord of

hosts whose glory fills " was sung , and the Provincial Grand Secretary read the inscription on the stone , and the vessels containing the coins and records were deposited in a recess in the stone by the Prov . Grand Treasurer . An Entered Apprentice ( Bro . Dr . Oscar )

laid the cement on the upper face of the stone , and the Prov . Grand Master spread it , the upper stone being then lowered with three distinct stops , the Prov . Grand Master , with his Deputy on his right hand bearing the square , meanwhile standing to the east of the stone .

The Provincial Grand Wardens , bearing the level and plumb rule , went by the west , and handed their implements to the P . G . M ., who having proved tho just form and position of the stone by the plumb rule , level and square , gave it three knocks with the mallet , and in Masonic form declared it to be well and truly laid .

The cornucopia containing the corn ' and the ewers with the wine and oil were next handed to the

Provincial Grand Master , who strewed and poured them over the stone with the accustomed ceremonies—corn , the symbol of plenty and abundance , " May the seed of the Word sown in this building take root and bring forth a hundredfold "; wine , the symbol of strength and

gladness , " May everyone assembling in this building perform his allotted task with cheerfulness and gladness of heart "; oil , the symbol of peace and unity , " May all assembling here be animated with brotherly love and goodwill in the service of the Most High . " The P . G . M .

then delivered a brief address , after which one of the architects of the church was presented to the Prov . Grand Master , who received from him the plans , which he formally inspected , and then returned them , at the same time delivering the several tools used , and desiring

him " to proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work in conformity with the plan . " The Provincial Grand Chaplain offered a prayer for the benefactors and workmen , after which a collection was taken , the proceeds being deposited on the stone . The hymn

" 0 Lord of Heaven , and earth , and sea " was sung . The Eev . S . A . Selwyn then presented the silver trowel , which was suitably inscribed , to the Provincial Grand Master , who briefly returned thanks . Prayer and the Benediction by the Prov . Grand Chaplain concluded a

remarkable , interesting , and impressive ceremony . The brethren then returned , to the St . George ' s Hall , where the Grand Lodge was closed in due form . Before , however , this was done , the P . G . M . called the four " Lewises" before him and , expressing a hope that they

had been suitably impressed with the ceremony in which they had taken part , announced that a Bible would be presented to each of them as a memento of the occasion . The brethren afterwards partook of luncheon at the " Burlington , " under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master .

The architects of the church are Messrs . J . 0 . Scott , F . S . A . ( London ) , and C . T . Miles ( Bournemouth ) , and the builders Messrs . Perkins and Sons , of Bournemouth . The collection in the marquee and laid upon the stone amounted to nearly £ 100 , a sum which was more

than made up afterwards . It is expected that the church will be practically erected without the tower and spire , which are not included in the present

contract , by June 1895 , and it is estimated to cost about £ 14 , 000 . The " Lewises " who bore the volume of the Sacred Law were sons of Bros . Hawker ( 1 ) , Preston ( 1 ) , and W . H . Vye ( 2 ) . —Hampshire bidependent

The West Of England.

THE WEST OF ENGLAND .

rilHE Craft was prosperous in the West during 1893 , JL and particularly so in Devon and Cornwall , under the genial rule of the two esteemed Provincial Grand