Masonic Ceremony At Reading.

go , as it were , together . Both aro equally important . Bnt , perhaps , some may ask what tho meaning of this is . I believe it means a much truer souse of beauty , in tho first place , growing up among onr people than has cxiste I for many generations past . T believe it is also connected with a nobler and , shall I saw a freer , idea of public life . It is a feeling bv which great cities havo grown

famous . It is a feeling with which I , for one , most heartify and entirely sympathise ; and move than that , it is a feeling which is very nearly akin to a form of public education , first of all in art and tasted and then in the highest form of political life , the highest because the greatest . I know there aro somo who tell us that these things , such as the creation of schools of science and nrf ,

free libraries and museums , add nothing to the happiness of the people ; that they create tastes which tho condition of the circumstances of those people never allow to be realised ; that tho savage or a semi-civilised savage is probably a happier man than the man of education , of mind , and of formed tastes . Cultivation , tho moro it is developed , tho more also it becomes fast idions of all snrrormclings ,

and in tho greatest of philosophical romances , written many years ago , tho author says perchance such a man of cultivation will bo unhappy , but ho says , what of tbat ? If inevitable , tho penalty of learn , ing and of edncntion must bo abided by . Sir , intelligence , apart from mero happiness , I do believe is a good in itself . It satisfies a man . It fulfils the conditions of tho ago in which we live . We

have moro to gain , I believe , from light than wo have from darkness ; and I « . m satisfied that , term it as you will , the opposite doctrine loads to a sort of obscuritanism , in the end involving much greater nnhappinoss than in tho other case . I spoke of philosophical romances . I remember one somo three hundred years old , written by tho great Sir Thomas More—his well-known

" Utopia . " In that yon may remember how ho describes tho wido streets and spacious houses , and the health and comfort in his imaginary city . At that time the Italian cities were rising and building their stately edifices ; aud by inspiration gained from Italy , Sir Thomas Moro so contribnted to tho revival of that learning , which from this dav never ceases to grow . Tho doctrine is

applicable in onr day . I look round upon the work of to-day , and in the remarkable group of public buildings of which it has been my high privilege to lay the foundation stone , in that remarkable group I see as it were a picture of the best form of English civilisation . I sse a school of art and science , a museum and a free library , forming part , so to speak , of a special education , all

culminating in and crowned by that Town TFall , which to mo symbolises the freedom of tho life of Engl \ sh self-government . Tin growth of modern liberty is a very interesting story for many centuries . But there was a timo , before our clay , when a free people , as Free as ourselves in many ways , existed ; and to that free people one of the greatest orators—the < nvntc ? b orator of Jiis iimc , perhaps—in a

speech which has come down to ns through all tho chances and changes of fortune , ho praised tho popular Government of liis time . He praised if , for its union of public and private polities . He praised it , for its noble use and worth . Tie praised it for the absence of jealousy and snspicion , for its courage in war , and its refinement and arts in time of peace . Thai noble culogv , spoken more than 2 , 000

years ago , which has furnished thoughts and aspirations to hundreds and thousands who have lived since then , was pirnounced for ever . At a time under different conditions those words , spoken in the mi-Ist of stately buildings , to a people whose like intellectually has never been seen npon the fane of tho globe , these words have a full sense for ns . We cannot rival the matchless architecture that adorned that State ; wo cannot even achieve some of tho mental triumphs

which they achieved ; but I venture to'think- 'that tho buildings of to-day , in our own plain , homely fashion , preach pretty much tho same sermon—teach ns the value of self-government . They speak of tho happiness and cultivation of thousands , and they adorn a town of which its citizens have every reason to be proud . Mr . Walter M . P ., in replying to the toast of " The Connty Members , " referred to the progress the town had made . In the construction of this new gronp of buildings he said the Shaksperian maxim ,

How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Makes ill deeds done , was jnst reversed iu this instance ; for the good example set by other municipalities had been followed at Reading . A toast , " In Memoriam Sir J . If . Goldsmidt , Bart ., M . P ., was acknowledged by Sir J . Goldsmid , Bart ., M . P . Mr . Shaw-Lcfcvre , in responding for

tho health of tho borongh members , dwelt upon tho importance of free libraries , and said that in towns where such libraries existed the average daily attendance of readers was 500 , while at Walsall , a place only a little larger than Reading , the number was 1 , 200 daily . He believed that the existence of a free library in that borough would be amply justified by the use that would bo made of it . Mr . Palmer

M . P . also spoke in reply to the toast . The Earl of Carnarvon proposed " The Mayor and the Building Committee . " The Mayor and Mr . W . I . Palmer responded . The Inst toast set down on tho list was that of " The Visitors , " proposed by Mr . J . B . Motick , and with whi' -h the name of the Right lion . Sir 11 . J . Phillimore was associated . Lord and Lady Carnarvon , on quitting tho Town Hall ,

icceivcn an ovation OJ cheers . Most of tho Masons -.-ubseqiiriifly partook of luncheon together , at the Foresters' Hall , —there not being sufficient agcoiliritodiiticu at the Town Hall , —tinder I he presidency of Uro . W . V , " . Moxhny I ' . l ' . G . S . W . The usual toasts were proposed , m . d a good selection of music was rendered under the din . ction of Leo . Stiicklnml P . G . Or ; -ar . ist .

.. no corn r . seil in the ceremony way ] . ivsen ' ed by P . m . T . Poller of Sonthseu . and forwnided through Pro . f ' odjuni , of Newbury , to the Provincial Grand Secretary . It ; is a , samob of the " Royal " Masonic I ' odieee V . 'h" ; . f , " and possesses a hi ^ o -.-v of some interest ! Bro . welh r ai leaded the laying of the stone of the . ilea . liY : ; Grammar School , performed some years sir . ee v . ito Masonic iir . es , by H . 11 . 11 . the i ' rii ce of Wales , the Most Woishipful the Grand Master of the Order , and a

Masonic Ceremony At Reading.

grain of wheat which fell during the ceremony , being picked up by Rro . Dellor , was planted by him , and in three years tho produce amonnted to 7 ' gallons . Tho Prince accepted the wheat , which was grown on the Sandringham Estate , and in two years it produced 500 bnshels . In October 1 S 77 , his Royal Highness sent eight bushels to Bro . Deller , who grow it two years , and he has now in bis possession

tho yield of 50 acres , grown from tho eight bushels . Tho wheat is of fine quality aud yields well , and it is certainly an interesting circumstance that tho wheat used at tho ceremony by the Pro Grand Master should havo decended from a grain of that used by tho . Royal Head of the Craft on the last occasion when an important work in this town was inaugurated under Masonic auspices .

New Masonic Hall And Club At Kidderminster.

NEW MASONIC HALL AND CLUB AT KIDDERMINSTER .

A MOVEMENT is on foot in Kidderminster to supply what has long been felt to bo a most pressing want ; viz ., a club-house where gentlemen may enjoy the nnmotons comforts and conveniences for which such places are celebrated . Tho scheme is fast approaching maturity , and we believe it will not be long before the inhabitants of tho town will possess a clnb , modelled upon tho well-known pattern of the principal metropolitan ones ; the only difference being that instead

of its being reserved exclusively for any particular " set , " it will embrace as wido a range as possiblo , consistent with the character and position of the institution . The great object will be to make it as cosmopolitan as possiblo , and although the new club will take its title from the Masonic body , by which it has been promoted , the members of tho Craft will claim no privileges or rights over any other

members of the club . Wo hail with pleasure the wise determination of the members to throw open the benefits of club membership and shareholding to others , as well as to the Freemasons . We have been showu the promises acquired by tho company , and explanations havo been given us as to alt it is intended to do and to provide , and wo wero struck with the thoroughness with which the Masonic body , in

their ideas and intentions , sink all that con id savour of self-interest or advantages in arranging for tho wants and conveniences of tho general body of clnb members . Indeed , there is nothing which all tho members may not enjoy and sharo on the premises . The happy blending of accommodation is favoured very much by tho peculiar formation of tho premises , which aro situato in Mill-street , and which

allow of the Masonic Hall and ante-rooms being entirely detached from tho club . On either side of tho front entrance hall , on tho ground floor , is situated a commodious wclf-h ' ghtcd apartment , each of whicli it is intended to let for an office . Besides the front entrance , there is also a side entrance , from the carriage drive , so that those offices will bo

entirely separate from too rest of the building , although tho members of tho clnb will have tho right of going throngh the front entrance . Jn a small closet near the back kitchen it is intended to place a hoist and speaking tubes , communicating with tho ante-rooms of the Hall at the back . Masonic dinners will be given in the Hall , so ns not to interfere with the apartments which are open to those who aro not

Muse ns . Between the front and back kitchens is a still room , and tho front kitchen is supplied with a very fine cooking range , and all tho most modern appliances for the practice of tho cnliuary art . There is an entrance to tho cellars from this apartment , and in a small recess near will bo placed another hoist and set of speaking tubes , the former to convey dinners into the dining rooms

and the latter for the convenience of giving and receiving orders , & o . The same hoist and speaking tubes will also communicate with the billiard room on tho third floor . A very handsome room on the ground floor , 22 ft . Gin . by 17 ft . 6 in ., will be appropriated as the morning and evening room , for the reading of newspapers , smoking , & o . At one end of the room is a large bay window opening on to a small lawn ,

where those who prefer to do so may sit on summer evenings . On the first floor is the dining room for tho use of the members , which is a commodious and cheerful apartment ; and on the same floor , having a window facing the front street , is the card room , with a small room adjoining , lavatory , & c . Another room on the same floor will be appropriated to tho committee , and another to the secretary . On

the second floor are rooms for the servants and managers of the club . The greater portion of the third storey is taken up by the billiard room , which is 32 feet long by 17 feet wide , with a lantern re of . Lavatories and other conveniences will also be placed upon this floor . The Masonic Hall is completely separate from the rest of the building , and Masons can gain access to it without

going through the frotit buildings . A broad staircase leads up into the robing room , and other offices . Underneath the hall arc largo premises , which it is intended to let for store rooms . Tho Masonic flail itself will bo , when finished , a splendid room , 5 b * ft . long 22 ft . wide , arid 20 ft . high . Adjoining will be a room for the purpose of storing the furniture of the Lodges . Tho whole of

tho premises will be well-lighted , ventilated , and warmed . It , would have been impossible to find premises more suitaide for the peculiar requirements for which they are needed , and the shareholders arc to bo congratulated on having , for tho comp- 'iatively low figure of £ 1 , 100 , obtained so central and eligible a , property . The alterations :, which will cost about £ 100—and which

comprise the- transformation of trie warehouse into the hall , with i ! "ces , sary lighting and heating apparatus , suitable auto-rooms and other conveniences , the taking down of intermediate walls and lighting from roof to form billiard room , thccoustruction of hoists , speaking tu ; es , &' . ' . —arc in full operation . The builder bids fair to complete

ids work well within tho limit of the timo allowed , which will permit of the building being opened about tho middle of December . While contracts for furnishing , < tc , are in a forward state , and in accord with tbe general promise of affairs in connection with tho undertaking . Vv ' c understand that 3-4 ttis of the sharo capital has already been