New Masonic Temple At Reading, Pennsylvania.

NEW MASONIC TEMPLE AT READING , PENNSYLVANIA .

WE are indebted to the Reading Times and Dispatch for the following particulars respecting the laying of the foundation stone of a new Masonic Temple in that city . As far back as 1865 a Masonic Hall Association for the city of Reading was incorporated , but though the need of a building large enough to meet the ever increasing wants of the

Masonic community was conspicuous , no active steps appear to have been taken till April 1873 , when a considerable plot of ground was purchased . Iu July following the ground was broken , and subsequently the cellar walls were set up . In August 1874 work was recommenced , and so vigorously

pushed forward that , on the 8 th ult ., the important ceremony of laying the corner stone was enacted , under the auspices of Grand Lodge Pennsylvania , and in the presence of some five hundred members of the Craft . The hour fixed was noon , and at that time the procession

was formed , and moved off in the direction of the New Temple , in the following order . First came the Grand Marshal Jacob Laudenslager , with Assistant Marshal George W . Grant , and the following as aids : Bros . Jacob C . Hogg , 62 , F . S . Bernhart , Chandler , 227 , Peter Qnaring ,

Teutonia , 367 , and William A . Runkle , St . John ' s , 435 . The Ringgold Band came next , and then the Lodges in their order , namely : St . John's Lodge , 435 , Franklin Weaver , Marshal ; Vaux Lodge , 406 , Hamburg , J . Jerome Miller , Marshal ; Teutonia Lodge , 367 John H . Fett , Marshal ;

Williamson Lodge , 30 / , Womelsdorf , William G . Moore , Marshal ; Chandler Lodge . 227 , John T . Craig , Marshal ; Lodge 62 , Levi Moyer , Marshal . Each Lodge marched as follows : Marshal , the Tyler , Entered Apprentice Masons , Fellow Craft Masons , Master Masons , Past Masters ,

Pursuivant , Deacons , Secretary and Treasurer , Senior and Junior Wardens , Worshipful Master . Then came Bro . E . H . Shearer , Assistant Marshal , Grand Lodge , preceding the officers of the Grand Lodge , who were G . M . Alfred R . Potter , D . G . M . Robert Clark , S . G . W . M . Nesbit , J . G . W . S . E . Ancona , G . T .

Thomas R . Patton , G . S . Charles H . Kingston , S . G . D . A . Robeno jun ., J . G . D . H . P . John , G . M . Jacob Laudenslager , G . S . B . Henry J . White , G . M . C . James Morrell , jun ., A . R .

Hall , G . P . Horace Fritz , G . T . H . G . Clarke , G . C . Rev . Giles Bailey . On reaching the Temple the Lodge opened ranks and the Grand Officers were escorted to the front , the Ringgold baud playing meanwhile a grand march .

The ceremony , which was very impressively rendered , was then begun , and lasted about an hour . When this was over , the G . M . introduced Bro . Hon . Richard Vaux P . G . M ., of Philadelphia , who delivered a very appropriate oration , pointing out the connection between Freemasonry

and the mysteries , Egyptian , Greek and other , of theancienfcs , the objects it has in view , and the grand work it achieves so unostentatiously so and continuously . The benediction was then pronounced by the Grand Chaplain , Bro . Rev . Giles Bailey , after which the procession marched back , and

the several Lodges were dismissed . The following , inclosed in a tin box , were placed in the centre of the corner stone : — Copy of Holy Bible , donated by Ringel and Richards . Copy of the Ahiman Rezon . List of officers of the Grand Lodge of F . and A . M . of Pennsylvania . List of officers

and members of Board of Trustees of the Masonic Hall Association of Reading , Pa . List of Committee of Arrangements for the laying of the cornerstone . Copy of Charter , By-Laws , and sketch of the origin and early history of the Association . Copy of ceremonies of laying of the corner

New Masonic Temple At Reading, Pennsylvania.

stone . Copy of proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Pa ., for 1874 . Copy of Masonic Register for 1875 . Copy of Keystone . Copy of proceedings of Grand H . R . A . Chapter of Pa ., for 1874 . Prospective view of the Temple building . Working implements of silver , made and presented

by Rhode and Waterman . United States Coins : lc , 2 c , 3 c , 5 c , 10 c , 20 c , 25 c , 50 c , 1 . 00 dols . By-Laws and lists of members of Lodges , Chapters , Conimauderies , as hereinafter , namely : Lodges No . 62 , A . Y . M ., Reading , Pa . ; Chandler Lodge , No . 227 , A . Y . M ., of Reading , Pa . ;

Teutonia Lodge , No . 367 , A . Y . M ., Reading , Pa . ; St . John ' s Lodge , No . 435 , A . Y . M ., Reading , Pa , ; Williamson Lodge , No . 307 , Womelsdorf , Pa . ; Vaux Lodge , No . 406 , Hamburg , Pa . ; Mt . Lebanon Lodge , No . 226 , Lebanon , Pa . Chapters : —H . R . A . Chapter , No . 152 , Reading , Pa . ;

Excelsior H . R . A . Chapter , No . 337 , Reading , Pa . ; Weidle H . R . A . Chapter , No . 197 , Lebanon , Pa . ; of Creigh Council , of R . S . E ., and S . M ., No . 16 , Reading , Pa . ; and of Commanderies : —De Molay Commandery , K . T ., No . 9 , Reading ,

Pa . ; and Reading Commandery , K . T ., No . 42 , Reading , Pa ., together with a Register of stated meetings of Masonic bodies stationed at Reading , and copies of daily and weekly papers published in Reading , Pa .

Our Literary Brother.

OUR LITERARY BROTHER .

IT has been truly said that the world knows nothing of its greatest men . Genius is often hidden in obscurity , and some of us , at least , are disposed to lament with the poet , over the mute inglorious Miltons who have lived and died without dropping one spark of their concealed fire . The anonymous system upon which journalism is conducted

in this country is rather prejudicial to the interests and the fame of writers . A man may toil on the press for years , and beyond a small circle of literary men ho may be as obscure as a simple villager , buried from the world in the heart of an agricultural district . Anonymity , indeed , has

its advantages , and under its veil a journalist may write as an advocate , and hold a brief for the public , without fear of being charged with inconsistency . Bnt there are scribblers amongst us who , in spite of the anonymous system , appear to make themselves tolerably well known to

the public for whom they cater . False modesty is not one of their failings ; they are not ashamed of confessing the authorship of an article or a paragraph , and are very willing to take all the homage a discerning- circle of readers may feel inclined to lavish upon them . Such fame as this

would be the death of us ; but Ave are , perhaps , too sensitive of the shortcomings of our lucubrations , and too impatient of the half sneering adulation of our friends . We are glad to know that some of the scribblers of the press are possessed of an epidermis that is proof against

the shafts of ridicule , and taste broad enough to be pleased with flattery , even when it is laid on with a trowel . The subject of this slight sketch is , in many respects , a remarkable man . Possessed of indomitable perseverance and amazing industry , and sheathed in triple steel , which no

arrow of satire can pierce , he is ever ready to push himself to the front , and to spend and be spent in the cause he has at heart . Our Masonic friends would miss him sadly if , by any chance , he were to absent himself from an

important anniversary . He is present at every Masonic event of any importance , and usually contrives to push himself into the higher circles of the brotherhood with a display of " cheek " which would be amazing to us if anything our