Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
honours of their Craft , on the 24 th May , the anniversary of her Majesty ' s birthday , the Worshipful Master and Brethren of the above Lodge , in number about thirty , accompanied by several visiting Brethren , started for Pedro Branca on the morning of the 24 th in the H . C ' s steamer Hooghly and the barque Ayrshire , in tow of her Majesty ' s steamer Fury . Several distinguished visitors , including his Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir F . AustinC . B ., naval
commander-in-, chief and suite , the Hon . Thomas Church , Lieutenant-Colonel Mesister , several of the foreign consuls and merchants of Singapore availed of his honour the governor ' s invitation to witness the ceremony , and accompanied him in the Hooghly . The party arrived at Pedro Branca about half-past eleven A . M ., and having disembarked , the Masonic body marched in procession to the summit of the rock , where they were received by the governorwho requested them at onceto proceed with
, _ the ceremony . The AVorshipful Master having taken up his position on the east side of the stone , with the Lodge Chaplain , the Rev . Bro . F . AV . Linstedt , on his right , and on his left the Past Master with the Senior and Junior AVardens , Treasurer , Secretary , and other office bearers immediately around him , requested the Chaplain to open the ceremony with prayer , which he did in a suitable and appropriate form . The architect of the
building , J . T . Thomson , Esq ., now submitted his plans of the construction for the Worshipful Masters inspection , and having received his approval , they were returned to the architect for his guidance . The AVorshipful Master received from the Treasurer and Secretary a bottle containing the current English coinage , also an original edition of
" Horshurgh Directory / ' a copy of the " Straits Times , " and the other publications at Singapore ; he deposited the bottle with the coins in the cavity prepared for its reception . The Inner Guard then presented the Worshipful Master with a copper plate bearing an inscription , which having been placed in the cavity , the Worshipful Master received from the architect a silver trowel , with which he proceeded to close the cavity ; this having been done , and the stone lowered into its bed , he directed the architect to see that it was properly adjusted . The squarelevel
, , and plumb rule , were then handed to the AVorshipful Master , who applied each instrument successively to the stone , and having struck it three times with his mallet , said , " May the Great Architect of the Universe grant a blessing on this stone which we have now laid , and by His Providence enable us to finish this and every other virtuous undertaking . " The Brethren replied , " So mote it be , " and gave the usual Masonic salute . The Worshipful Master next called for the cornucopia
containing corn , and the cups with the wine and oil , and having poured the contents of each successively over the stone , said , " May the All Bounteous Author of Nature bless our island , of which this rock is a dependency , with corn , wine , and oil , and with all the necessary comforts and conveniences of life . " The Brethren again responded , "So mote it he , " and saluted as above . The Chaplain pronounced an appropriate prayerand the Worshipful Master then addressed the governor and
, gentlemen present in a neat speech , to which the governor replied in appropriate terms ; after which the party embarked at two P . M . on board the Hooghly , where a sumptuous dejeuner was prepared , of which his Excellency the naval commander-in-chief and the governor and his guests partook , after whicli her Majesty ' s steamer Fury took the Hooghly and Ayrshire in tow , and brought both vessels into harbour
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
honours of their Craft , on the 24 th May , the anniversary of her Majesty ' s birthday , the Worshipful Master and Brethren of the above Lodge , in number about thirty , accompanied by several visiting Brethren , started for Pedro Branca on the morning of the 24 th in the H . C ' s steamer Hooghly and the barque Ayrshire , in tow of her Majesty ' s steamer Fury . Several distinguished visitors , including his Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir F . AustinC . B ., naval
commander-in-, chief and suite , the Hon . Thomas Church , Lieutenant-Colonel Mesister , several of the foreign consuls and merchants of Singapore availed of his honour the governor ' s invitation to witness the ceremony , and accompanied him in the Hooghly . The party arrived at Pedro Branca about half-past eleven A . M ., and having disembarked , the Masonic body marched in procession to the summit of the rock , where they were received by the governorwho requested them at onceto proceed with
, _ the ceremony . The AVorshipful Master having taken up his position on the east side of the stone , with the Lodge Chaplain , the Rev . Bro . F . AV . Linstedt , on his right , and on his left the Past Master with the Senior and Junior AVardens , Treasurer , Secretary , and other office bearers immediately around him , requested the Chaplain to open the ceremony with prayer , which he did in a suitable and appropriate form . The architect of the
building , J . T . Thomson , Esq ., now submitted his plans of the construction for the Worshipful Masters inspection , and having received his approval , they were returned to the architect for his guidance . The AVorshipful Master received from the Treasurer and Secretary a bottle containing the current English coinage , also an original edition of
" Horshurgh Directory / ' a copy of the " Straits Times , " and the other publications at Singapore ; he deposited the bottle with the coins in the cavity prepared for its reception . The Inner Guard then presented the Worshipful Master with a copper plate bearing an inscription , which having been placed in the cavity , the Worshipful Master received from the architect a silver trowel , with which he proceeded to close the cavity ; this having been done , and the stone lowered into its bed , he directed the architect to see that it was properly adjusted . The squarelevel
, , and plumb rule , were then handed to the AVorshipful Master , who applied each instrument successively to the stone , and having struck it three times with his mallet , said , " May the Great Architect of the Universe grant a blessing on this stone which we have now laid , and by His Providence enable us to finish this and every other virtuous undertaking . " The Brethren replied , " So mote it be , " and gave the usual Masonic salute . The Worshipful Master next called for the cornucopia
containing corn , and the cups with the wine and oil , and having poured the contents of each successively over the stone , said , " May the All Bounteous Author of Nature bless our island , of which this rock is a dependency , with corn , wine , and oil , and with all the necessary comforts and conveniences of life . " The Brethren again responded , "So mote it he , " and saluted as above . The Chaplain pronounced an appropriate prayerand the Worshipful Master then addressed the governor and
, gentlemen present in a neat speech , to which the governor replied in appropriate terms ; after which the party embarked at two P . M . on board the Hooghly , where a sumptuous dejeuner was prepared , of which his Excellency the naval commander-in-chief and the governor and his guests partook , after whicli her Majesty ' s steamer Fury took the Hooghly and Ayrshire in tow , and brought both vessels into harbour