Church Services.

turned . Masonry was said to be as old as the world , and to some extent that was true , as where symmetry began and harmony displayed her charms their Order was in being , but doubtless the system of Masonry was the outcome of the wisdom of King Solomon , who formed that system to keep in peace and harmony

one with another the thousands of men of all nationalities who were drawn together in the forests and quarries of Lebanon in the preparation 'of the materials for the building of that great temple , the results of their labour being taken to the site of the building .

That beautiful story had not been placed in the Bible merely as a tradition , but was typical of the great work which should be carried on in this world in the preparation of the souls for admission to the Grand Lodge above . In everything they did there was something behind it which taught them truths that they were but preparing for the grand building which was prepared

by an Architect greater than even King Solomon . In the cultivation of their tastes for science and art they were but polishing the rough beams and preparing the hewn stone for the building of the temple above . Whatever were the failings or the beauties of their Institution as something of human origin , there was no greater society on earth for the helping of the poor and

distressed and the extending of the hand of charity to those who needed it than the Brotherhood of Freemasons . They maintained a grand Institution for the aged , and that evening he had to commend to their notice the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , which was now 100 years old . In that Institution 2 , 300 boys had been trained to become useful members of society , and out of

50 applicants last year only 16 could be admitted . It was hoped that at least 100 boys would be admitted this year , as a result of the appeal which was being made for funds . No less that 250 boys were being maintained and instructed under masters in that Institution , and he hoped that liberal contributions would be forthcoming from those present at that service .

The service closed with the hymn " Lord keep us safe this night . " The collection amounted to £ 5 12 s , and it is intended to utilise it for the purpose of giving the Vicar a life vote in the School . The local Brethren are much indebted to the authorities of St . Thomas ' s Church for the excellent arrangements made for the Service . — "Rhyl Record . "

New Hall At Chipping-Norton.

NEW HALL AT CHIPPING-NORTON .

ON Friday , 13 th ult ., there was a large gathering to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of this new Hall , which was conducted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxfordshire , and performed by the Prov . Grand Master the Earl of Jersey , assisted by his Deputy Viscount Valentia . The Co-operative Hall was fitted up as a Lodge room , and

Brethren from every Lodge in the Province assembled there at a quarter past four . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , and a procession formed , the Brethren proceeding to the site of the new Hall , which is next to the tennis courts in the Over-Norton Road . On . a dais by the stone were the Provincial Officers and

the Officers of Bowyer Lodge . After the hymn " 0 God our help in ages past" was sung , the W . M . of the Bowyer Lodge Bro . W . N . Rowell said—Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire , the Brethren of the Bowyer Lodge have found the accommodation in their present building too confined and

inconvenient , and have decided to build a new Hall to be used solely for the purpose of Freemasonry , and you , Sir , have graciously consented to honour the project by laying the foundation stone . I have only to ask you , in the name of the Brethren of the Bowyer Lodge , whom I have the honour to

represent as the Worshipful Master , to perform that ceremony , and while presenting you with this trowel to assist you in your work , and as a memento of this auspicous event , I can only express the hope that from this building the light of Freemasonry may shine bright and clear for generations .

The silver trowel had an ebony handle , and bore the following inscription :

Presented to fcbo Right Honourable the EARL OF JERSEY , by the Bowyer Lodge , May 13 th , 1898 . The foundation stone having been raised , the Provincial

Grand Master addressed the assemblage . He said—Men and Brethren here assembled to behold this ceremony , be it known unto you that we be lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of our country , and engaged by solemn obligations to erect handsome buildings to be serviceable to the Brethren , and to fear

God . the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may not be revealed and which no man has discovered , but these secrets are lawful and honourable , aud not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They were entrusted in peace and honour to the Masons

New Hall At Chipping-Norton.

of ancient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Graft were good and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted for so many centuries , nor should we have had so many illustrious Brothers in our Order ready to promote our laws and further our interests . We are assembled here to-dav in

the presence of you all to erect this building to the honour and glory of the Most High , which we pray God may prosper as it seems good to Him ; and as the first duty of Masons in any undertaking is to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe on their work , I call upon you to unite with our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace .

The Grand Chaplain then offered prayer . The Prov . Grand Master declared it was his will and pleasure that the stone should be laid , and called upon the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . Morgan G . D . to read the inscription on the stone , as follows : —

This stone was laid by the Right Honourable the EARL or JERSEY , on the 13 th day of May , MDCCCXCVIII . W . N . Rowell Worshipful Master . A . J . Rowley , Architect . Alfred Groves , Builder .

He then called upon the Provincial Grand Treasurer Bro . F . M . Davies to deposit the coins and other articles in the cavity under the stone . The hermetically sealed glass bottle contained certain coins of the realm , the circulars of the Provincial Grand and Bowyer Lodges , convening the meeting , copies of the London

" Times " and " Oxfordshire Weekly News , " and an inscription stating when and by whom the stone was laid . The Provincial Grand Master spread the cement , and the stone was lowered in Masonic manner , and after it had been proved by the plumb , level and square , handed to his Lordship by the Junior and Senior

Grand Wardens and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , he said , " I find this stone to be plumb , level , and square , and I declare it to be duly prepared and truly laid , and that the Craftsmen have worked well . " He then struck the stone three times with the mallet handed him by the Provincial Director of

Ceremonies Bro . Schofield P . M . After he had scattered the corn and poured out the wine and oil handed to him in the respective gold cornucopia and ewers , which have been used on similar occasions by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , handed to him by the

W . M ., the Senior and Junior Wardens of the Bowyer Lodge ( Bros . Palmer and Austin Webb ) he said , " May prosperity , happiness , and good-will ever prevail amongst those who will assemble in . this Hall , to the glory of the Most High , until time shall be no more . "

The architect Bro . A . J . Rowley Provincial Grand Organist of Oxfordshire was then presented by the W . M . to his Lordship , who addressed him : I now place in your hands the plans of this intended building , together with the necessary tools , not doubting your skill and ability as a Craftsman , and I desire that you will proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work , in conformity with the plans and designs now entrusted to you .

The hymn " All people that on earth do dwell " was sung , and then one verse of " Gqd save the Queen . " The procession was then reformed and returned to the Co-operative Hall . The Bowyer Lodge meeting was held here , when the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Lord Valentia installed Bro . the Rev . D . H . W . Horlock as W . M . for the ensuing year , and he invested his Officers .

The banquet was held in the Town Hall , under the presidency of Bro . D . H . Horlock , and about a hundred sat down . The usual Masonic toasts were honoured . Special trains carried the Brethren respectively to Oxford and Banbury at the conclusion .

It only remains to be said that the whole of the arrangements were carried out in the most perfect manner , and a verylarge crowd of people assembled to witness the interesting ceremony .

New Hall At Rotherham.

NEW HALL AT ROTHERHAM .

ON Thursday afternoon , 2 nd inst ., the members of the Phoenix Lodge , No . 904 , dedicated their new Lodge Room in High Street , Rotherham . The new home , which it is hoped will be a permanent one , consists of a comfortable suite of rooms in the new block of buildings erected by Mr . Hy . Gough , on a site which previously belonged to the Corporation , and adjoined the old

Bank in High Street , having been purchased by the local authority in the negotiations for street improvements . On account of the diversity of purposes for which the building' is to be used , it was imposible to hold a Masonic

Consecration , and it had therefore been decided to hold a dedication ceremony of the rooms which are devoted solely to Masonic purposes . This ceremony was performed in the presence of a representative gathering of West Yorkshire Freemasons , by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . J . Cooper Malcolm