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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 12 of 19 →
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Provincial.
sight and hearing ofthe ceremony , stood a number of well-dressed and respectable ladies of the town and nei ghbourhood , and the reporters of the press . The ceremony commenced b y Dr . Hall presenting the glass box containing gold , silver , and copper coins , to the Deputy Grand Master , who having spread upon the sides of it a quantity of cement , deposited it in a cavity prepared for its reception in the side of the keystone . It was then secured by a brass plate , rivetted and cemented over
the mouth of the cavity , and bearing the following inscription : " The Key-stone of the Centre Arch of this BRIDGE , was laid by Le Gendre N . STARKIE , ESQ ., P . G . M . W . D . L . 22 nd December , 1836 . " The mortar was then spread upon the sides of the stone , and it was deposited in its final position under the superintendence of Brother George Gannon , when the Rev . James Wright pronounced over it the following prayer : — " May the Great Architect of the Universe grant a blessing on this key-stone which we have now laid , and by His Providence enable us to finish this and every other work which may be
undertaken tor the embellishment and advantage of this town ; " to which one of the brotherhood responded— " So mote it be . " The corn , the wine , and the oil , were then thrown over the stone in succession , the chaplain repeating this prayer : " May the all-bounteous Author of Nature bless this toivn with an abundance of corn , wine , and oil , and with all the necessaries , conveniences , and comforts , of fife : and may the same Almighty power preserve this bridge from ruin and decay , to the latest
posterity . " The Masonic response , " So mote it be , " was then added , and the minister having retired , Brother Bullough advanced to the foot of the stone , and in an address to those around him on the use and meaning of the Masonic emblems , spoke most eloquently . At the conclusion of this address , the bands struck up "God save the King , " and the assemblafter giving three hearty cheersagain
y , , formed in the same order of procession in which they had walked to the bridge , and proceeded to the parish church , where the Rev . T . B . Bayne , M . A ., delivered an appropriate sermon . After divine service the procession was again formed at the church door , and paraded the town , headed by their respective bands of music . The Brethren of
the Masonic Order adjourned to the Lion Hotel , where they sat down to an excellent dinner , at which Deputy Provincial Grand Master Drinkwater , of Liverpool , presided . The company enjoyed themselves till about seven o ' clock , when the Railway Company having prepared a train expressly at that hour , for the accommodation of gentlemen returning to Manchester , Liverpool , and other toivns on the fine , the company broke up in excellent order . A handsome subscription was made at the brid
ge and at the church , from the proceeds of whicli the Blue Coat boys were regaled with refreshments . The day continued tolerably fine , and the town presented an appearance throughout of joy and festivity . MACCLESFIELD . —The members of the Union Lodge of Masons , No . 372 celebrated the anniversary of StJohn ' day Wednesday lastat
, . s , on , the house of Brother Newton , at the Childer ' s Inn , Brunswick-street , where a dinner was provided for the occasion . The customary Masonic toasts and sentiments were given , and the evening was spent with the greatest harmony . VOL . iv . ,,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
sight and hearing ofthe ceremony , stood a number of well-dressed and respectable ladies of the town and nei ghbourhood , and the reporters of the press . The ceremony commenced b y Dr . Hall presenting the glass box containing gold , silver , and copper coins , to the Deputy Grand Master , who having spread upon the sides of it a quantity of cement , deposited it in a cavity prepared for its reception in the side of the keystone . It was then secured by a brass plate , rivetted and cemented over
the mouth of the cavity , and bearing the following inscription : " The Key-stone of the Centre Arch of this BRIDGE , was laid by Le Gendre N . STARKIE , ESQ ., P . G . M . W . D . L . 22 nd December , 1836 . " The mortar was then spread upon the sides of the stone , and it was deposited in its final position under the superintendence of Brother George Gannon , when the Rev . James Wright pronounced over it the following prayer : — " May the Great Architect of the Universe grant a blessing on this key-stone which we have now laid , and by His Providence enable us to finish this and every other work which may be
undertaken tor the embellishment and advantage of this town ; " to which one of the brotherhood responded— " So mote it be . " The corn , the wine , and the oil , were then thrown over the stone in succession , the chaplain repeating this prayer : " May the all-bounteous Author of Nature bless this toivn with an abundance of corn , wine , and oil , and with all the necessaries , conveniences , and comforts , of fife : and may the same Almighty power preserve this bridge from ruin and decay , to the latest
posterity . " The Masonic response , " So mote it be , " was then added , and the minister having retired , Brother Bullough advanced to the foot of the stone , and in an address to those around him on the use and meaning of the Masonic emblems , spoke most eloquently . At the conclusion of this address , the bands struck up "God save the King , " and the assemblafter giving three hearty cheersagain
y , , formed in the same order of procession in which they had walked to the bridge , and proceeded to the parish church , where the Rev . T . B . Bayne , M . A ., delivered an appropriate sermon . After divine service the procession was again formed at the church door , and paraded the town , headed by their respective bands of music . The Brethren of
the Masonic Order adjourned to the Lion Hotel , where they sat down to an excellent dinner , at which Deputy Provincial Grand Master Drinkwater , of Liverpool , presided . The company enjoyed themselves till about seven o ' clock , when the Railway Company having prepared a train expressly at that hour , for the accommodation of gentlemen returning to Manchester , Liverpool , and other toivns on the fine , the company broke up in excellent order . A handsome subscription was made at the brid
ge and at the church , from the proceeds of whicli the Blue Coat boys were regaled with refreshments . The day continued tolerably fine , and the town presented an appearance throughout of joy and festivity . MACCLESFIELD . —The members of the Union Lodge of Masons , No . 372 celebrated the anniversary of StJohn ' day Wednesday lastat
, . s , on , the house of Brother Newton , at the Childer ' s Inn , Brunswick-street , where a dinner was provided for the occasion . The customary Masonic toasts and sentiments were given , and the evening was spent with the greatest harmony . VOL . iv . ,,