The Privileges Of Exclusion.

upon those dues for its every day needs . And if a man is excluded by a Lodge from Masonry , thafc Lodge , and no other , should possess the right of receiving him back . — Soidh African Freemason .

Masonic Ceremonial At Musselburgh.

MASONIC CEREMONIAL AT MUSSELBURGH .

ON Saturday , 24 th alt ., the foundation stone of a new hall for Inveresk Parish Church was laid , with Masonio honours , by the Substitute Grand Master of Scotland , Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., M . P ., assisted by tha Master , Wardens and Office-bearers of the Lodge St . John ' s , Fisherrow ( No . 112 ) . The Substitute Grand Master was also supported by deputations from most of the Lodges

in th & Mutropolitan Province and a large body of Grand Office-bearers . The Freemasons met at the Lodge-room of the St . John's , where tbe Lodge was opened . Afterwards a procession was formed , whioh walked through the principal streets of Musselburgh , by a circuitous route to the site of the hall . The hall will accommodate about 750

persons , and the cost of it will be about £ 2000 , the greater part of whioh has been subscribed , including a sum of £ 500 generously given by Mr . John Livingstone , Strathern Road . The style adopted by tho architect is fourteenth century Gothic , as exemplified in many of our Scottish ecclesiastical buildings of that period . The front

gable is flanked by two buttresses and wings containing tbe gallery stair , waiting rooms , & o . The main entrance door , in the centre of tbe front , has a richly moulded and cuped pointed arch , the mouldings dying out against a deeply splayed jamb , instead of being continued to the ground . There are to be some richly traceried

windows . The exterior hewn work is being formed of red sandttone from Corncockle , Dumfriesshire , and the rubble of blue Hailesstcne , the two forming a very pleasant contrast , which will be further enhanced when the roof is on and covered with the pale green slates which are to be used . The architect is Mr . J . Macintyre

Henry , Edinburgh , Grand Architect in the Grand Lodgo of Scotland , whose plans were selected in competition . On arriving at the hall the procession opened up , and the Substitute Grand Master , the Grand Lodge deputation , and the members of Lodge St . John , carrying the working tools , passed through to the platform . The

National Anthem was rendered by a choir and the band of the 6 th V . B . Royal Scots , and then the Rev . James Sharp presented to Sir Charles Dalrymple a silver trowel bearing his crest aud motto ( "Firme" ) and a suitable inscription . Iu doing so he spoke of the honourable and active part whioh the baronet had taken in the

welfare of the Church of Scotland aud the community of Inveresk , and said the enthusiasm with which the movement for the erection of this hall had been taken np was proof of the need for such a building , and that the completion of tho hall would centralise their forces and perfect to a great extent the organisation of their growing

congregation . The hundredth Psalm was sung , the Rev . John Glassp , Acting Grand Chaplain , led in prayer , and then the stone was lowered and laid , with corn and wine , with the usual Masonic ceremonial . The Substitute Grand Master , in a short address , said the stone was encompassed with well-wishers , and those present

hoped tho work which had advanced thus far would speedily pass to a safe and successful completion . The minister and kirk-session of Inveresk wero to bo congratulated on the favour which had attended tho undertaking , initiated as it had been by the excellent friend of the parish Mr . Livingstone . It was known to many of

them that the project of a parish halt was started and discussed in the year before last , but it was in the brief ministry of Mr . Sharp , the first year of which has not yet completed , that it took definite shaf , e and had made the progress of which they were witnesses . The erection of that hall was typical of a great revival and develop .

ment of parochial work all around them , and he looked for great tliags in the parish of Inveresk in the years to come . He was quite sure that that parish hall would be of tho greatest use to the parish and district , and that , if it were so , they would not only icjoice at being permitted to -witness this ceremony , but would be

glad to bear their part in completing the important and beneficent work . At the call of Colonel Aitchison of Drummore , thanks were awarded the Substitute Grand Master for his services thafc day and bt all times to tho pariah . The band played " Rule Britannia , " and this closed the ceremony .

Tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcester will be held on the 11 th of September , afc the Town Hall , Sfcourporfc . The Great Western Railway Company , with their wonted liberality , have made a concession for the occasion . " Six brethren from any Station will be allowed to travel

lirst-class at a fare and a quarter for the double journey Secretaries of Lodges are requested to give a few days ' notice at their respective railway stations . " The Prov .

Grand Lodge will be presided over by the R . W . Brother Sir Edmund A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . Grand Master , and will meet under the auspices of the Yernon Lodge , No . 560 . The banquet will be served afc the Swan Hotel .

Tbe session of the East Surrey of Concord Lodge of Instruction , No . 463 , was commenced on Tuesday , the 3 rd instant , afc the Greyhound Hotel , High-street , Croydon . The memters meet every Tuesday evening at 8 , until May 1800 . The Preceptor is Brother H . M . Hobbs P . P . J . W . Sun ey .

Bakewell New Town Hall.

BAKEWELL NEW TOWN HALL .

ON Wednesday , the 21 st nit ., the corner or memorial stone of tbe New Town Hall , Bakewell , now in course of erection , was laid with full Masonio ceremony by the R . W . Bro . Haughton Charles Okeover , P . J . G . W . England and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire , assisted by the Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Derbyshire . The scheme for the erection of the building originated

about last Christmas with the members of the Dorothy Vernon Lodge of Bakewell , whioh had then only recently been formed . At first it was intended to erect simply a Masonio hall , but after the matter was discussed the need of a larger building , whioh should answer the purposes of a town hall , was so generally felt , and promises of

support being forthcoming , the present building was resolved upon , and a company , under the Limited Liability Act , was formed to carry it into effect . The building , when complete , will comprise a large hall , suitable for public meetings and entertainments , a room for the accommodation of the Freemasons , Magistrates' and County Court

room and offices , and retiring rooms for witnesses , & c , and every other necessary convenience . The estimated cost ia £ 3 , 500 , which has been fully subscribed . The event has been looked forward to with some curiosity by the public , as ifc is probable no similar cere , mony has taken place in Bakewell for a great number of years ,

perhaps not within the memory of the oldest inhabitant . The brethren assembled at the Old Town Hall , where a procession was formed , and they walked from thence to the Parish Church , preceded by two Tylers with drawn swords , and the Birohover Brass Band , under the leadership of Mr . Marsden , conductor . Afc the church a

short service waa held , and an address delivered by one of the Provincial Grand Chaplains ( Rev . E . E . Morris ) . After the service the procession re-formed and proceeded to the site of the new building . Here tha officiating brethren took up their positions round the stone , and a hymn was sung , commencing :

" Except the Lord conduct the plan , The best concerted schemes are vain . " The stone was then raised , and a prayer offered by the Provincial Grand Chaplain . Upon the stone was the following inscription : — " This stone waa laid 21 st August 1889 , by the R . W . Bro . H . C . Okeover P . J . G . W ., D . P . G . M . Derbyshire . "

A bottle containing the coins of the realm for the present reign was then deposited by the Provincial Grand Treasnrer in a cavity in the stone , after which the stone was slowly let down into its place , and the various Officers having applied the plumb-rule , the level , and the square , according to tho ttaual ceremony , the architect handed

the Provincial Grand Junior VVartleu a mallet ( prepared for the occasion ) , and the stone was declared well and truly laid . Corn as an emblem of plenty , wine as an emblem of joy , oil aa an emblem nf prosperity and happiness , and salt as an emblem of wisdom , fidelity nnd perpetuity , wero then sprinkled npon the stone , tho

Deputy Provincial Grand Master concluding this portion of the ceremony with the following benediction : — "And may the all bounteous Author of Nature bless this district , this ancient town and comity , and the kingdom at large with abundance of corn and wine and oil and all the necessaries , comforts , and conveniences of life .

And may the samo Almighty Power preserve the inhabitants in peace and unity and brotherly love , " to which the brethren present responded , " So mote it be . " Tho " Old Hundredth Psalm " was then sung , and tho "National Anthem" concluded the proceedings , which were witnessed by a large concourse of people . The brethren

and friends subsequently dined together at tho Rutland Arms Hotol . At tho luncheon Bro . Okeover presided , and amongst the company who wore not Masons were Lord Denman , Mr . S . Taylor Whitehead , J . P ., Mr . Slater , Mr . Fenton , J . P ., and Dr . Wrench . Mr . Whitehead , on behalf of the Directors of the Town Hall Company , thanked the

members of tho Masonic body for their attendance , and for lending so much eclat to the ceremony of the day . Tho Chairman suitably acknowledged the toast , expressing gratification at tho progress of Freemasonry in the district , and trusting that tho new building wonld prove to be the centre of much that was good and useful in tho old town of Bakewell .

Inquisitive Norton.

INQUISITIVE NORTON .

WE read , in the Ghaine D'Union of Paris : — " In response to an inquiry emanating from Bro . J . Norton , of Boston , the Masonic sheets of Germany and of Austria-Hungary have observed that the Bible figures in none of the Lodges in either of these countries . As far as investigation has been pressed , says in this connection the Hajinal of Perth , no traces of the Bible can be discovered . "

For what reason our antiquarian friend , unintentionally ennobled by the suffix de Boston to his plebeian name , desired to snuff out one of the Great Lights of American Masonry , we are unconscious . Still he has tho satisfaction of having undermined the prevalent fallacy , among Americans , thafc the Bible should universally be

considered as an inseparable companion to Lodge furniture . Heretofore our anathemas have been levelled solely against France for encouragement of atheistical tendencies through the refusal to exact an implicit belief in the Deity as a preliminary authorizing admission to the mysteries of Masonry , but now we ascertain that the major

body of the Craft in Continental Europe have openly repudiated the teachings of their English brothers touching the sanctity of the Scriptures . And consideration of this admitted fact must be

important at this moment , when some of our Grand Lodges are inclined to promulgation of declarations that a disbelief in the inspiration of the Bible incapacitates admission into the fraternity of Freemasons . —Masonic Chronicle , New York , March 1887 .

Ifc is reported thafc the Queen . Regenfc of Spain intends to be Grand Mistress of the Freemasons .