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The Masonic Temple At Canterbury.

THE MASONIC TEMPLE AT CANTERBURY .

THURSDAY tho 11 th inst . was a red-letter day in tho annals of Freemasonry in tho City of Canterbury . On tho afternoon of that clay was laid tho corner-stono of tho now tomplo . Tho Craft having passed through various vicissitudos in tho City , may now bo said to have been launched on tho full tido of prosperity , and the hopos of its most faithful adherents will doubtless culminate in making Canterbury tho metropolis of Freemasonry , if not for tho

wholo pi'ovinco , at any rato for East Kent . This supposition is not without warranty , inasmuch tvs , in addition to threo Craft Lodges thero havo been consecrated R . A . and Roso Croix Chapters in tho City , whilo a Mark Lodge and a- K . T . Encampment aro in contemplation . The new temple , which will bo 41 ft . in length , 24 ft . in width , and 23 ft . to tho principals of tho roof , ia connected by a lobby

with an ante-room 30 ft . in length by 14 ft . Gin . in width . There will bo also a commodious instruction-room , committee-room , and Tyler ' s-room . Tho plans were prepared gratuitously by Bro . J . Green Hall , P . M . ( tho City Surveyor ) , and tho building will bo erected by Bro . J . E . Wiltshier , and tho brethren feel thoy owo Bro . Wiltshier a debt of gratitude for tho truly fraternal spirit in which ho has undertaken the task .

Tho whole of tho arrangements have been carried out under tho direction of a Building Committee elected from tho threo Lodges , with Bro . G . Pilcher P . M . 972 P . G . D . C . for Chairman . Bros . H . T . Sankey P . M . 81 , H . Ward P . M ., J . E . Wiltshier P . M ., J . F . Cozens P . M ., W . Tico W . M . 31 , H . Miskin W . M . 1419 , and othor brethren have also rendered valuable assistance .

Tho ceremony was performed with fall rites by tho Right Worshipful tho Mayor of Canterbury , Bro . J . Heraory P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . W ., in the presence of the V . W . the D . P . G . M . Bro . Eastes and several P . G . Officers , on tho premises , 38 St . Peter ' s Street . A united Lodg 3 of tho brethren of Nos . 31 972 and 1449 was called for 3 . 0 p . m ., and the following , among others , wero prosent : —Bros . W . TiceW . M . 31 in the chair of KS ., W . H . Yile W . M . 972 acting S . W ., H . Miskin W . M . 1449 acting J . W ., T . H . Walkley S . D ., A . W .

Cattelle J . D ., F . Horner I . G . ; the following brethren of tho United Industrious Lodge 31—W . II . Longhurst S . W ., F . Finn J . W ., P . Higham P . M . P . P . G . W . and Treasurer ., H . Ward P . M . P . P . G . W . Wilts , A . E . Gathorne-Hardy P . P . G . D . C . Oxon ., J . Mangan P . M . and Chaplain , C . Holttum P . M ., H . T . Sankey P . M ., P . H . Knight P . M ., J . Hemery P . M ., J . E . Wiltshier P . M ., John R . Hall P . M . and

Secretary , J . Green Hall P . M ., J . Plant P . M ., J . Coppin P . M ., H . Ingram P . M ., F . W . Cross , F . Wacher , R . Rhodes , W . G . Pidduck , W . D . Young and J . Bateman ; the following brethren of St . Augnstine No . 972—G . Pilcher P . M ., R . Blake P . M ., A . Pierce P . M ., A . J . Beer P . M ., John F . Cozens P . M ., S . F . Pringuer S . D ., T . B . Rosseter J . D ., H . F . Pringuor Secretary , G . Holloway , E . Ayre , F . Clarke , G . Down ,

T . Crump , A . Pi \ ch , S . Newman , A . Potter , W . H . Tboma 3 , A . W . Goldsmith , A . J . Pelling , J . Wilson , J . H . Higgins , J . Probert , R . Wostwood , S . Hyde , S . E . White , W . Plant , F . Scoones , G . Hart , H . Tnrner , G . Farley , and J . Holness ; tho following brethren of tho Royal Military No . 1449—T . Blamiers S . W ., 3 . Vantior S . D ., W . Price Sec , Edwin Beer I . P . M ., H . S . Naylor P . M . P . G . S . B ., H .

Minoll P . M ., E . Plume P . M ., F . H . Widgery , J . Stewart , H . Carter , H . Hammond , A . Johnson , 0 . Davies , B . W . Martin , J . Menagh , H . Bellinger , W . A . Pardoe , and W . Harnefc ; and the following visiting brethren—Bros . Z . EmmersonP . P . G . S . D ., L . Finch P . M . P . P . G . D . C , W . Elcombe S . D . 1 G 92 , T . Graham 291 , H . Porter 552 , J . Wood 730 , C W . Fewson 65 , E . R . Conner 908 , F . Losth P . M . 109 G , James Suttio

225 S . C ., J . MacCormack 91 Ireland , & c . Tho Lodgo having been opened in due form , a procession was formed , and on reaching the site tho brethren filed off right and left . Tho D . P . G . M . the Mayor , and those assisting in tho ceremony , passed between tho open ranks and took up their places round the stone . The procession passed and tho brethren took up their positions , to the

strains of tho March of the Priests from Eli , and during tho ceremony Bro . Dr . Longhurst presided at tho harmonium , while mombera of tho Cathedral choir rendered tho vocal portions . Tho Choir having chanted Psalm exxii . — " I was glad when they said unto me , " the President of tho Building Committee , Bro . Pilcher , in presenting tho trowel addressed tho Mayor , who wore his robes and insignia of office , as follows : —

Worshipful Sir , —It is with more than ordinary feelings of pleasure that I , as tho representative of the Building Committee , havo com-Plied with the request to ask you this afternoon to lay the cornerstono of this building which it is intended to erect and dedicate solely fjnd exclusively to Masonic purposes . You , Sir , appear among ns today in a two-fold capacity . First , as the Chief Magistrate of our ancient city , and I assuro you that it has been a sonrce of considerable satisfaction to thoso among us who aro Masons to think that ono of

our own Order should thus have been selected to fill so high and honourable a position ; and next , a 3 Past Master of the oldest , or , rather , I shonld say , the oldest Lodgo in the city of Canterbury—a Lod ge of which I never hear mention but , I am free to confess , I unci my organ of veneration pretty considerably developed . Established , now considerabl y moro than a century , it reminds ono of tho sturd y oak , which after having withstood many a wintry blast , still

The Masonic Temple At Canterbury.

rears its head erect , having como unscathed out of them all . Representing thus iu your own person two such exalted positions , that of Chief Magistrate of tho City , and Past Master of tho oldest Lodgo , I am snre tho brethren will ngreo with mo that tho laying of this stono

could not havo boon entrusted to moro worthy , or moro competent hands , and wo highly appreciate tho hononr yon have dono us to-day by consenting to perform this ceremony . Standing hero as I do among an assemblago of Masons , it is quite unnecessary for mo to dilate on tho excellencies of our Institution . Wo aro not of thoso who

compass sea and land to mako ono proselyte , and whether wo aro anathematised by tho Popo of Rome or by Popes of an inferior degree—of whom I regret to say thoro are many yet—still wo are qnito content , through good report and evil report , to pnrsuo tho oven tenour of our way . " Deeds , not words , " is our motto , and by onr actions , or rather tho results of thoso actions , wo aro perfectly willing

at all times to abido . Worshipfnl Sir , permit mo to presont yon with this trowel . Intrinsically it is of littlo worth , but connected as it will bo with tho proceedings of this day , I feel qnito suro that in years to como , if it please tho Great Architect of tho Universe to sparo your valnablo life , you will look npon it with a certain dogree of ploasnrp , while to thoso who follow after , ib may servo as a reminder of tho

excellont service yon will havo this clay rendered to tho Masonio cause in tho good old city of Canterbury . Tho acting Chaplain , tho Rev . Bro . Mangan , D . D ., ab tho request of his Worship , offered tho following prayer : — "Almighty God , Groat Architect of tho Universe , send Thy blessing , wo pray Thee , on this our present convention ; and as Thou didst fulfil tho devotion of

David by tho work of his son onr Grand Master , King Solomon , so vonchsafo to accomplish our doairos ; that as wo hope to raiso on this Cornor-Stono a Temple in which the great mysteries of onr Sacred Order may bo duly performed , wo may bo evermore established iu Thy strength and be found moro worthy hereafter to enter into Thy Temple not made with hands , eternal in tho heavens . So mote ifc be . "

Tho Mayor dirocted a bottle containing a copy of tho Masonio Calendar , a copy of Bro . Warno ' s Freomasons' Manual for tho Province of Kent , and other doenmouts , together with sundry silver coins of the prosent year to bo placed in a cavity beneath tho stono . Ho then , assisted by an E . A ., spread tho mortar and gavo tho order to lower tho stone into its proper place , during which tho choir chanted

the anthem " Blessed is tho man . " ( Goss ) . Tho Mayor , recoiving tho plumb rule from Bro . Higham , proved tho stono perpendicular ; tho level from Bro . H . T . Sankey , declaring it to bo level , and tho square from tho hands of tho D . P . G . M . Bro . Easfces , proving it to bo square . Having thus , with duo skill and care , tested the work , ho was handed tho mallet by Bro . Holttum , with which tho stono was

struck in the regular manner and declared to bo well and truly laid in the name of the G . A . O . T . U . Corn was sprinkled upon tho stono as an emblem of plenty , with tho words , " May tho blessing of bounteous heaven be showered clown upon us , and may onr hearts be filled with gratitude . " Wino was also poured on as an emblem of joy and gladness , with tho words , " May our hearts be mado glad by tho

influonce of Divine Truth , and may Virtue flourish as tho Vino , " and Oil , as an emblem of peace and . consolation , with tho invocation , " May Peace , Harmony , Good Will , and Brotherly Lovo ever abound , amongst us . " Tho choir having chanted " So mote it be , " Bro . the Rev . Dr . Mangan , who wore his Doctor of Divinity robes , then ascended araisedplatformanddeliveredanoration . He had been desired ,

he said , to address tho company that afternoon in reference to tho solemn and most interesting event that had brought them together . In so doing ho felt himself embarrassed by certain circumstances , because he was reminded that trains wero inexorable , and would not wait oven for freo and accepted Masons ; also of work to bo dono yefc in one of the threo Lodges ; of tho imperative punctuality demanded

by tho banquet which was to tako place presently , and of the restrictions necessarily imposed upon him by the ancient landmarks of tho Order ; therefore his observations mnst necessarily bo brief . They had that day assisted in tho laying of tho corner-stone of their Masonio Temple , and those his non-Masonic friends wero , ho was suro , equally interested with his Masonic brethren who had followed the ceremony

in all its Masonic details , and who were able to interpret tho mysteries connected with the ceremony . Afc the same time ifc would bo admitted by even an experienced Mason that ifc was not ; an every day matter to bo present at the laying of the corner-stone of a Masonic Temple . Therefore on that day they were beginning a very important event in tho annals of Masonry in that ancient city—plainly stamping tho

impress of Masonry among the inhabitants of that place by exhibiting tho strength and beauty of Masonry , to be handed down to brothren of generations yet to como . Of conrso Masonic Lodges wero being formed every clay , and they thanked tho Great Architect of tho Universe that they wero being so continually formed that ifc was now a mere matter of form to seo mention of them in tho

varions reports of their ancient Order . Bnt tho erection of tho material edifice specially set apart and dedicated for Masonic purposes , was not an event usually experienced in tho annals of Masonry ; and therefore thoy conld not but congratulato themselves at having placed ono additional mark in tho country to prove how thoroughly identified with Masonry were tho hearts and

affections of the brethren ; and their devotion and self-sacrifice were shown in the present instance . But when he read tho history of tho past ho was not at all astonished that in Canterbury they should be preparing to rear up a stately Masonic Temple to tho service of tho Great Architect of tho Universe , for enshrining within its dedicated walls thoso mysteries and traditions inseparably connected with their Grand Master , King Solomon . He remembered ho

had read that some 400 years ago a Masonic Lodgo was in existence m that ancient city of Canterbury , and that King Henry VI . himself sought and gained admittance amongst tho brethren . Ho read farther , and found that some 150 years ago thero was a Lodgo in tho city also , and after tho stirring vicissitudes of a century and a half that Lodge had revived again , and showed its renewed and refreshed growth , and was now known as tho United Industrious Lodge , 31 . Therefore , under theso circumstances , it was not afc all wonderful