Dedication Of The New Masonic Temple, New York.

ceremony attending the late Installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M . of England . On the latter occasion there was no public procession , no public display of Masonic emblems . The brethren found their way to the Royal Albert Hall in the manner most convenient to themselves .

Once there , and proved , they arrayed themselves in the Masonic clothing to which their rank in the Order entitled them , and found their way , as noiselessly as possible , to the places assigned to them . But in New York a grand procession of over 25 , 000 of the Craft marched in serried ranks

through some of the leading thoroughfares of the city , and naturally enough there were tens of thousands assembled all along the line of march to witness so imposing a spectacle . At 8 a . m . the brethren fell in ; at 9 the firing of three guns in rapid succession was the signal for the head of the

column to move . There were in all twenty-six divisions , of these the first seven were Templars , in their bravest apparel , with banners waving and plumes nodding . The eig hth division comprised the Supreme Council , Ancient and Accepted Rite , Grand Chapter , & c , together with aged and

infirm brethren , all m carnages . Divisions nine to twentyfive , both inclusive , were composed of Blue or Craft Lodges , while the twenty-sixth division , before whom all the others filed past in review , was confined wholly to the Grand Lodge of New York State , headed by R . W . Charles Roome ,

Grand Marshal , and his aids . Every division had its band—in some cases more than one—and the van and rear of the whole consisted of platoons of mounted police . From a few minutes after the hour appointed , till past two o ' clock , the processional part of the pageant lasted , and then

the several divisions having been dismissed , the Grand Lodge and brethren invited to be present entered the Temple , and the more important ceremony of the day commenced . M . W . Elwood E . Thorne , preceded by Grand Marshal Roome , took his place on the throne , and

while the brethren were seating themselves , and the visitors were paying their respects to the G . M ., first a number of pieces were played on the organ , at which Bro . George W . Morgan presided , and then followed a selection from "I

Martiri , " for orchestra , organ , and chorus , under the direction of Bro . P . S . Gilmore . The Reverend J . P . Webster , one of the Grand Chaplains , then offered up an appropriate prayer , which was followed by sacred music , including a Grand Masonio Hymn for baritone and full chorus : —

Thou who art God alone , Accept , before Thy throne , Our fervent prayer .

To fill with light and grace This house , Thy dwelling place , And bless Thy chosen race . 0 God , draw near .

As through the universe , All nature ' s works , diverse , Thy praise accord ,

Let faith upon us shine , And charity combine With hope , to make us Thine , Jehovah , Lord !

Spirit of truth and love , Descending from above , Our hearts inflame ,

Till Masonry s control , Shall bind in one the whole , A templo of the soul , To Thy Great name !

The Grand Master next addressed Grand Lodge briefly , but in most eloquent terms , justly laying great stress on the fact that the Hall " is not so much for the convenience and comfort of our working , in the ordinary acceptation of the word , as it is for the benefit of the aged and needy

brother , the destitute widow , and orphans of our household . " Deputy G . M . James W . Husted then advanced , and , on behalf of the trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund , requested the G . M . to " Dedicate and set apart this Hall to the uses of the most ancient and honourable

fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , and its revenues to the endowment and perpetual maintenance of our system , for the relief of the poor , oppressed , and distressed of the

Brotherhood . " The architect and master builder , Bros . N . Le Brun and John T . Conover , having been formally presented , a procession was formed by Grand Marshal Roome , in the following order : —

Grand Pursuivant and Grand Tyler , with Drawn Swords , Grand Sword Bearer , with the Sword of State , Grand Standard Bearer , Four Past Masters , with Great Lights ,

Dedication Of The New Masonic Temple, New York.

Four Past Masters , bearing the Ark , Grand Chaplains , Senior Grand Deacon , Junior Grand Deacon , Grand Lecturer , Grand Librarian , District Deputy Grand Masters , two abreast ,

Grand Secretary , Grand Treasurer , Grand Junior Warden , with Vessel of Corn , Grand Senior Warden , with Vessel of Wine , Deputy Grand Master , with Vessel of Oil , Two Grand Stewards , with Bods Crossed ,

THE GRAND MASTER , Grand Steward , Eod Erect , Grand Steward , Eod Erect .

The procession having moved slowly round the Lodge , returned to the dais , when R . W . Bro . Rev . R . L . Schoonmaker , Grand Chaplain , offered tho Consecration prayer . The nsual form of service was then performed , and Bro . M . W . John L . Lewis , D . G . M ., delivered the dedicatory

address . This is too long to give in extenso , but one or two passages are worth quoting . Thus , as to the time when the first decisive steps were resolved upon , and the proposed scheme for building the Hall was settled , Bro . Lewis said : —

" It was on the 7 th day of June 1843 that the first decisive and finally successful step was taken . On that day a memorial was presented in Grand Lodge , praying that measures might be taken for the creation of a fund for the purpose of erecting a Masonic Hall and Asylum .

This memorial was subscribed b y 100 brethren , each of whom pledged himself to pay the sum of 300 clols ., and a continuous annual contribution . For ever honoured be their names and memories by all , and they should be inscribed the first and highest upon tho sacred roll of honour . "

As to the first dollar subscribed , Bro . Lewis narrated tho following : — " It has been said that an humble brother , of limited means , and dependent upon his daily labours for his daily bread , inaugurated this enterprise , by laying a silver dollar

upon the altar , as the first gift to the Hall and Asylum Fund of the Grand Lodge of New York . If this be so , deaf must be our ears , mute our voices , and deadened our hearts to every generous emotion , if we do not , on this clay of jubilee , pronounce the name of Greenfield Pole , of the

City of New York , then Grand Tyler , as the first truehearted donor of that which equals the widow ' s mite , sinco expanded into thousands upon thousands of dollars . " Comparing Masonry now with its condition a quarter of a century ago , the orator remarked : —

" At the period denoted there were about 100 Lodges in the State , with a membership not exceeding 15 , 000 , including the large number of unaffiliated within their range ; to-day there are about 700 Lodges , with a

registered membership of over 87 , 000 . Then there were differences among the Masons of our State , as to the question of regularity and jurisdiction ; to-day there is cordial and unbroken union . "

As to the scope and aim of Masonry , the justice of Bro . Lewis ' s observations is to be commended . " With questions of State , or the administration of governments , and with religious sects or their peculiar creeds , our institution in its sphere of duty has no part or lot . Tolerance to all and

bias towards none are its cardinal principles of belief and action ; leaving every brother free to act according to the dictates of his own conscience , only requiring him to be loyal to his country , true to his fellow-men , and obedience to his God . But we are deeply concerned in that which

affects the character and stability of Governments , and the peace and purity of Churches , in their effects upon the happiness of mankind . The advocates of peace , we havo avowed before high heaven that the sword shall not devour for ever ; that toleration shall be the practice , as itis the rule

in this free land , and that art and science shall receive that protection and encouragement which they so eminentl y require in their struggles with a worldly spirit . " After a few closing sentences , in which the orator

fervently besought the blessing of the G . A . O . T . U . upon the solemn labours of the day , the Grand Master directed the Grand Marshal to make proclamation , in South , West , and East , as follows : —

" In the presence of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , whose unnumbered blessings we humbly acknowledge ; by Order of tho M . W . Elwood E . Thorne , Grand Master of Masons ; under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and

Accepted Masons of the State of New York , and tho