New Temple At Ilfracombe.

Grand Master explaining their significance , after -which he ably gave the prescribed oration . After the invocation , the Brethren , led by Bro . J . T . Garden Prov . G . Organist , sang the Masonic National Anthem , and the procession returned to the Ilfracombe Hotel , where the banquet was held .

Laying Of Foundation Stones At Oldham

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONES AT OLDHAM

A VERY interesting and imposing ceremonial , and one which will add considerably to the structural beauty of the town , took place at Oldham , on Saturday , 29 th ult ., in connection with the laying of two foundation stones of St . Peter ' s new Parish Church , one function , that at the south-west-corner being undertaken by Lady Elliott Lees , of South Lytchet Manor , Poole ,

Dorset , wife of the member of Parliament for Birkenhead , and formerly a representative for Oldham ; and the other , that at the north-east-corner , being performed with full Masonic solemnity by Brother Captain Clement Eobert Nuttall Beswicke-Eoyds Deputy Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , acting as Provincial Grand Master .

Although the morning had been dark and gloomy , with heavy clouds hanging above , which broke into a thunderstorm shortly before noon , yet the weather ultimately cleared , and the sun shone forth most brilliantly before the commencement of the proceedings , to the manifest delight of over 200 Brethren , representing neighbouring towns , who assembled at the Masonic Hall , Union Street .

Provincial Grand Lodge was opened by Bro . Beswicke-Eoyds , and the Brethren were afterwards regularly marshalled by Bro . Walter Packman . P . M . 1012 Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies .

A procession , headed by the Blue Coat School Band , and consisting of scholars , teachers , congregation , friends , choir , clergy ( including the Eev . Philip Lancashire , vicar of the parish ) , guests , trustees of rebuilding fund , Church Officers , and Sir

Elliott Lees , Bart ., M . P ., left the schools in Union Street , and filed past the Masonic Hall , where they were joined by the members of the Craft . A distance of something like a mile was traversed , the streets being densely lined with spectators .

Immediately the j > rocessionists had taken up their positions on a large improvised platform , the vast concourse of people , including those who had gathered in adjacent streets seemingly in one solid and compact mass , lifted up their voices in singing

the hymn " All people that on earth do dwell . " Mrs . Lancashire , wife of the vicar , presented to Lady Lees a magnificent bouquet of red and yellow roses , which her ladyship courteously acknowledged .

Mr . Lees Firth , a churchwarden , then gave a short history of the church , which appears to have been consecrated in 1768 , and enlarged in 1804 . The structure having grown old and being too small for its number of worshippers , a subscription list was opened some nine years ago , the present contributions amounting

to £ 8 , / 23 , of which £ 8 , 299 is paid , the amount required being £ 12 , 000 . The new church is to be built on the perpendicular style of English architecture , of polished flecked Runcorn stone . It will accommodate 684 persons , and there will be 184 of these

free seats . It will be well lighted , the windows beiug in varied tints and patterns of Cathedral glass . A handsome reredos , carved oak communion table , carved oak pulpit , a font , and carved oak lectern have already been promised by members of the congregation .

The vicar having recited the Apostle ' s Creed , which was taken up by the vast concour . se of people , Canon Rountree , Eural Dean , proceeded to the south-east corner , and in the absence of the Very Eev . the Dean of Manchester ( Dr . Maclure ) , placed a hand on the stone and repeated the words of a prayer . The

hymn " In Thy dear name , Lord , we are met , " was sung , after which another churchwarden , Dr . Piatt , J . P ., handed a silver trowel , with a mallet , to Lady Lees , the former being inscribed " Presented to Lady Lees , of South Lytchet Manor , Poole , Dorset , on the occasion of her laying the corner stone of St .

Peter ' s Church , Oldham , April 29 th , 1899 . " Lady Lees having returned her thanks to " everybody for this pretty gift , " placed a vessel containing copies of the local newspapers , and other documents in the cavity of the stone , which the architect olosed with a brass plate recording the fact .

The vicar proposed a vote of thanks to Lady Lees for her kindness in laying a corner stone to the new St . Peter ' s Church . He did so with every pleasure , not only because of the event itself , but also because he could nob be ignorant of the fact of the family connection of Sir Elliott and Ladv Lees with the church

and parish , which was of long standing , and , as they had already heard , one of the ancestors of Sir Elliott added a portion to the end of the old church . And now they were attempting to carry on in the future the connection of the Lees family with their church and parish . It was clearly impossible for him to speak to such a large number of people in the open air , for there was

Laying Of Foundation Stones At Oldham

little chance of his being heard , so that he would content himself with asking them to show their appreciation of the gracious way in which Lady Lees had performed her duty by giving three hearty cheers for Lady and Sir Elliott Lees , and let the cheers and ' their tone be to both evidence of Oldham ' s hearty welcome to them that day .

Sir Elliott Lees , Bart ., M . P ., said his wife had entrusted him with the duty of thanking the audience for their welcome . It had been a pleasure , indeed a very gteat pleasure , for both of them , a pleasure for which they needed no thanks , to be able to be present upon that very interesting occasion . Every family which had been connected with Oldham for the past few generations

was interested in old St . Peter ' s . The history of old St . Peter ' s was intertwined with the history of Oldham , and as they had heard several times that afternoon , his own people had been very closely associated with St . Peter ' s in the past . They had been churchwardens here , had been married here , and taught in the Sunday School , and in many other ways had been connected with the place , Therefore it was a pleasure for him to hand down

the traditions of the old St . Peter ' s to the new , and they both felt very much hououred by the opportunity that had been given to them to assist in the ceremony of that afternoon . They hoped that the new St . Peter ' s might live as warmly in the affections of the Oldham people in the future as the old St . Peter ' s did in the past . On behalf of Lady Lees he cordially thanked them .

A hymn , " The Church ' s one foundation , " was sung , during which a collection was made on behalf of the building fund , the sum amounting to upwards of £ 89 . The Masonic portion of the ceremony was then proceeded with , under the direction of Bro . Walter Packman Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . The vicar , addressing the Brethren , said it gave him very

great pleasure to welcome them there that afternoon , and also to welcome the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . With regard to the Society or Brotherhood of Masons , of which he was not a member , although some of his own people were , he acknowledged that it was associated with all that was essentially good and philanthropic , and they helped others in time of pressing need ,

not exactly by stealth , but quietly and unostentatiously . It was an auspicious event to see they attended in a body at the Service that day , and he offered to all his heartiest welcome , hoping that the work which they were beginning might prosper , and that they might all be present when the church was erected on its present

foundation . Might the stone which they were about to lay at the north-east corner be laid not only to the glory of God , but for the benefit for all time to come of the people of Oldham and district . He asked them to proceed with the ceremony , assuring them that he would be a very interested spectator .

After a flourish of trumpets had been given Bro . Beswicke Royds addressed the spectators according to ancient custom , and Bro . Eev . W . W . D . Firth P . M . 633 Provincial Grand Chaplain offered prayer . The stone was lowered nine inches , during which the Brethren sang the first verse of " Prosper the Art , " the solo being capitally rendered by Bro . Charles Walton . A bottle which

contained copies of the local newspapers , programme , coins of the realm , & c , was placed in the cavity of the stone by Bro . Walter Alcock P . M . 191 1012 Provincial Grand Treasurer , and a brass plate bearing an inscription similar to that on the first plate was produced by Bro . James Newton Past Grand Sword Bearer of England Provincial Grand Secretary East Lancashire and placed by him over the cavity . The words on the plate were : "To the

honour and glory of the Most High , this corner stone of St . Peter ' s Church was laid with Masonic ceremony by Bro . Clement R . M . Beswicke-Royds , W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , acting as Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , April 29 th 1899 . " The stone was again lowered about nine inches , during which the second verse of " Prosper the Art" was sung , Bro . Walton taking the solo part as before .

A trowel was presented to the acting Provincial Grand Master by Bro . John Chadwiek P . M . 277 , who said it was his privilege on behalf of the Masonic Brethren of that town to ask him to accept from them the trowel with which to perform the interesting and laudable ceremony of laying the corner stone , which he had so kindly consented to do . As a member of the

Masonic Brotherhood , and also as one of the Trustees connected with the rebuilding of that church , he felt a double pleasure in having this duty placed in his hands . It was very gratifying that Bro . Beswicke-Eoyds and the Brethren of the town and Province should show such an interest in the good work . Masons from remote ages had ever been ready to assist in great and noble undertakings , and he ventured to say that the ceremony of that

day was but ' adding one more link to the chain of evidences to this truth . They were hoping to build the church , not simply for their own convenience , or their own pleasure ^ or benefit , not simply for the convenience , the pleasure or the benefit of those who would come after them , though these alone might be thought sufficient reasons , but they were hoping to build it to the " Honour and glory of the Most High , " and in this spirit he was