A New Masonic Hall For Barton-On - Humber .

brethren in fnll Masonic attire attracting considerable attention . On their arrival at the site tho brethren filed to the right and left , and faced inwards , the W . D . P . G . M . of Lincolnshire and other officers of rank passing into the centre of tho square formed round the stono . The service , as arranged , was thou proceeded with . The architect having handed the plans to the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Smyth expressed his

approval of them , and informed tho architect that , having inspected the drawings , he was able to compliment Bro . Wollsted upon tho skill and care ho had evidently bestowed upon them . He felt sure that under his supervision such a structure would bo raised as would answer in every respect tho purposes for which it had been designed . The secretary then read a copy of the document which , together with

some coins and a copy of the Hull and Lincolnshire Times , had been placed in a phial and secured in tho cavity of the stone ; and the duo preparations having been made , the stono was lowered to its place and duly proved by tho W . D . P . G . M . with square , level , and plumb rule . Tho silver trowel used in the ceremony was beautifully engraved , and on tho blade was tho following inscription : —

" Presented to Bro . W . H . Smyth , W . D . P . G . M . of Lincolnshire , on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hall at Barton-on-Humber . 19 th May 1875 . " The Chaplain having offered prayeiv the cornucopia and various elements were severally handed to the W . D . P . G . M ., who completed the ceremony according to ancient usage . Before returning to the Lodge room ,

Bro . W . H . Smyth W . D . P . G . M . addressing the assembly said : —It is always customary , at this stage of the proceedings , to make a short address to the brethren , but , on this occasion , I shall so far deviate from the ordinary custom as to address myself to the ladies and the other ¦ visitors who are not Masons , who havo honoured us with their presence to-day . They may have come here to see a sight , as they

would go to see a play , and to criticise the actors . But wo , as Masons , know-perfectly well that everything we do hero has a deeper significance . Every letter and character of onr proceedings , every legend we have in our Lodge lectures , every emblem which you have seen used to-day , has a significance of deeper import , and reminds ns of certain things which are here unseen . What is Freemasonry ? and

who are Masons ? I would answer , with regard to the second question , Freemasons are a band of men bonnd together by a bond of unity to make each other happier , better and wiser than they could otherwise be . ( Hear , hear . ) And what is Freemasonry ? The neophyte is told it is a peculiar system of moralitv , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols ; but this I consider most cold and

uninviting . I am not satisfied with it . Certainly it is a peculiar system of morality , but it is moro than that , it is deeper than any system of morality ; it is a handmaid , an assistant to religion . ( Applause . ) A really good Mason cannot carry ont the principles inculcated within his Lodgo without being a better man than ho would have been otherwise . ( Hear , hear . ) It is " veiled in allegory . "

We all know what an allegory is , and , as I have already told yon , we havo , in our ceremonies , many stories aud legends , told by way of allegory . Wo are not bound to accept them all as facts , but each has a meaning , to tench us some groat truth ; and , I believe , really do BO . ( Applause . ) It is "illustrated by symbols . " Yon have had , on this occasion , a number of symbols brought before yon ; so many ,

indeed , that time will not permit of onr going through them all , or to explain their meanings . In the first place , there is tho symbol of tlie lewis—a little implement by which tho stone is lowered down into its place . It consists of three pieces of metal , and tho two pieces could not perform the service required without the piece placed inside , which renders tho whole perfect . That

represents that a son ought to assist his parents in their old age . Tho stone itself was not dug out of the quarry in tho state yon see it now ; it was a ron ^ n , unpolished , massive stone that nobody could bnild with . This represents the mind of man in the savage state , before it has been converted and taught by education , and other means , to make itself useful to society .

But the perfect ashlar , as yon now see it , represents tho man polished and educated , and fitted to take his place in society . ( Applause . ) The corn , wine , oil and salt , which yon have seen placed ou tho stone , arc emblems of abundance andprosperity . of cheerfulness and joy , of peace and love , of purity and perpetuity . I have now done . Before the procession returns to the Lodge and I closo this meeting , I will ask my brethren to join with me , according to ancient

custom , in the prayer to the Great Architect of the Universe , that their work thus begun in order might be concluded in peace and closed in harmony ( So mote it be . ) The National Anthem was then sung , and throe cheers given , after which the brethren returned to the Lodge , and concluded the business . Subsequently a banquet was provided at the George Hotel , when over 100 brethren sat down under the presidency of tho W . M . Bro . Swallow , and the customary Masonic toasts were honoured .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Freemasons For Berks And Bucks.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF FREEMASONS FOR BERKS AND BUCKS .

THE annual Grand Lodge of Freemasons for the province was held at Aylesbury , on Friday , 14 th inst . The Lodge opened for business in the Corn Exchange , at half past one , under the presidency of the Right Worshipful tho Provincial Grand Master , Sir Daniel Gooch Bart ., M . P ., a good muster of the brethren from all parts of tho Province being present . The accounts having been

passed , the Provincial Grand Officers were duly appointed and invested , as follow : —Bros . W . W . Moxhay 414 S . G . W ., R . Hayles 810 J . G . W ., Rev . F . W . Harnett 810 Grand Chaplain , Rev . W . F . Campbell 574 A . G . C . H ., Geo . Chancellor 1101 Grand Treasurer , W . Biggs 574 . Graud Secretary , C . V . Childo 1101 Grand Registrar , J . Bunce 574 S . G . D ., Tolley 771 J . G . D ., Captaiu Brownrigg 1410 Snpt .

Works , Dixon 209 G . D . C ., Ballard 915 A . D . C ., J . T . Stransora 1101 G . S . B ., T . Cook 918 G . O ., S . G . Payne 591 G . Pur ., C Nowell Assistant ditto , S . Bradley 414 Grand Steward , Freeman 1101 ditto , George I . Cosbnrn 574 ditto , Bro . E . Baker 414 ditto , Ferguson 1101 ditto , C . W . Carter 771 ditto . The banquet afterwards took place at the George Hotel , and was attended by a numerous party of the brethren .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

THE Annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxfordshire was hold on Tuesday last in the Apollo ( University ) Lodgo Room , Oxford , under the auspices of the Bertie Lodge . Bro . iEncas J . Mclntyre , the Grand Registrar of England , who is in charge of the Province , presided , and was supported by Bros . His Royal Highness Princo Leopold , R . J . Spiers , D . P . G . M ., P . G . S . B ., R . Havers , P . S . G . D .,

F . P . Morrell , J . G . D ., many past and present officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , & c , & c . Tho minutes of tho last Annual Provincial Lodgo and of the Lodge of Emergency having been read and adopted , Bro . Randall , the Provincial Grand Treasurer , read his report , which was a satisfactory one , and was carried . Tho Charity Report was read and approved , £ 10 was voted to tho

Masonic Charities , and £ 10 to tho Oxford Charities . A Charity Jetrel was presented to Bro . F . P . Morrell , and a bar to Bro . Rev . H . Adams Pickard , and it was announced that jewels and bars were duo to other members but had not yet been received . Bro . R . J . Spiers resigned his office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master after a service of upwards of 20 years . A vote of thanks

proposed to him by Bro . the Rev . H . Adair Pickard , tho W . M . of the Apollo ( University ) Lodge , . and seconded by Bro . Walter Thompson , tho W . M . of the Alfred ( Oxford ) Lodge , was carried with enthusiasm . The acting Provincial Grand Master then invested his officers for the ensuing year , as follow : — Bros , the Rev . Reginald Bird , Deputy Prov . Grand Master ; Galpin

Prov . Senior Grand Warden ; H . R . Cooper Smith , Prov . Junior Grand Warden ; Rev . R . W . Pope , Rev . A . Ayton , Prov . Grand Chaplains ; T . Randall , Prov . Grand Treasurer ; Williams , Prov . Grand Registrar ; Sinclair Franklin Wood , Prov . Grand Secretary ; W . H . Horn , Prov . Senior Grand Deacon ; Jason Saunders , Prov . Junior Graud Deacon ; C . Bishop , Prov . Grand Sup . of Works ; Julius

Sladden , C . J . S . Spadding , Prov . Grand Directors of Ceremonies ; W . Eaglestone , Prov . Grand Sword Bearer ; Pluniridgo , Prov . Grand Organist ; II . Williams , Prov . Grand Pursuivant ; J . Jenkins , Prov . Assistant Grand Pursuivant ; H . R . H . Prinae Leopold , Gordon Campbell , C G . Paget , Walter Peppercorn , J . E . C Bodley , Prov . Grand Stewards ; W . Stephens , Prov . Grand Tyler ; G . Norwood , Prov . Assistant Grand Tyler .

Bro . F . P . Morrell proposed a resolution , of which he had given notice at a previous meeting , that the present Charity Committee , which consists of representatives of each Lodge with the addition of the Provincial Grand Wardens and tho Provincial Grand Chaplains should be a committee for the purpose of carrying ont the election

of any candidate from this province to either of tho Charities . This was seconded aud carried unanimously . Tho members of the Provincial Grand Lidgo and ni-my other Masons afterwards dined in tho Council Chamber , under the presidency of tho Acting Provincial Grand Master . Tho dinner was an excellent ono , and tho wines very fine .

CLUB HOUSE PIATHTO CABDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , 113 per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen pucks . Ifhy post Hd per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , Beziqne , EcnrttS , & c , Mogul Quality lOd per pack , 9 s per dozen packs . —London : W . W . Morgan . 07 Barbican , E . C .

Ad01403

THEHOLBORNRESTAURANT,218HIGHHOLBORN ONEOFTHESIGHTSANDONEOFTHECOMFORTSOFLONDON. Attractions oi the chief PARISIAN ESTABLISHMENTS , with the quiet and order essential to English customs DINNERS AND LUNCHEONS FROM DAILY BILL OP FARE . ATableclTloteeveryeveningfrom6to830.Price3s6cl, INCLUDING SOUPS , FJSH , EMTBEES , JOINTS , SWEETS , CHEESE , SALAD , & e ., WITH DESSERT . This FAVOURITE DINNER is accompanied by a SELECTION of High-class INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC . COFFEETEACHESS AND SMOKING ROOMS .