Paisley Free Library & Museum.

PAISLEY FREE LIBRARY & MUSEUM .

MEMORIAL STONE PROCEEDINGS . On the afternoon of Tuesday , the 27 th April , the memorial stone of a building which is to contain a Free Library and Museum for the

use of the community of Paisley , was laid with full Masonic honours b y the Ri g ht Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., Grand Master of Masons in Scotland .

The history of this institution is so creditable , and so well worthy of imitation b y the affluent in other towns , that we shall indicate it briefl y before narrating the proceedings of Tuesday .

Some years ago the E . ev . William Fvasev brought under the notice of the Philosophical Society of Paisley a scheme for the establishment of a library and museum , to which the public should have free access . He had calculated that an

expenditure of about . £ 3000 would erect a building amply suited to the purpose , and he proposed that an endeavour should be made to get ten gentlemen to raise that amount by subscri p tions of £ 300 each . The scheme was

favourably received , and some progress was made ia obtaining subscribers , but as time went on interest in the matter decreased , and in all probability no practical result would have been gained had not a gentleman of more than ordinary

public spirit aud munificence come to the rescue . All the world nearl y has heard of the house of J . and P . Coats , in connection with the manufacture of threads , and now another and hi gher species of fame connects itself with the partners

of that firm . Twelve months ago we noticed the gift to Paisley by Mr . Thomas Coats of Ferguslie , of thc magnificent park known as the Fountain Gardens , and to-day wo record with equal pleasure that Mr . Peter Coats , of AVoodside , anxious ,

like his brother , to serve the best interests of his fellow townsmen , and taking up thc library and museum scheme of Mr . Fraser , has at a cost , it is said , of something like . £ 12 , 000 , procured thc establishment of an institution , which , when

completed , will stand first of its kind in Scotland . Tho site is in Hi gh street—thc main thoroughfare of Paisley—and tlio building , now far advanced towards completion , is designed in tho Ionic style of Grecian architecture . The

principal feature of the facade is a portico over thc main entrance door , measuriii ' ** 48 feet in hei ght to tho top of the pediment . An imposing fli ght of steps , extending across thc whole width of the portico , leads

up to the door . On entering , one finds on thc rig ht an apartment appropriated as a reading room in connection with tho library . In front is the museum , and on thc left a lecture hall , 50 feet long b y 35 feet in width .

Communicating with tins hall , but at the same time having an entrance at the west end of the building , are a largo committee room and retiring rooms . At the cast end is a handsome porch giving access to the lendiiig-out

department of the library , as also to a department designed for the reception of specifications . The principal room of the museum , on thc ground floor , has a length of 45 feet , and a width of 30 feet ; while above there is a gallery

measuring 102 feet by 30 feet , to which acces is provided by a spacious staircase . The latter apartment will be lighted from the roof . The work is being carried out from the designs , and under the supervision of Mr . John Iloneyman ,

I . A ., of Glasgow . Paisley held hi gh holiday yesterday in honour of so . interesting an occasion . With few exceptions business was suspended in tho town and immediate nei ghbourhood , and the community , young and old alike , concerned themselves solel y

Paisley Free Library & Museum.

with the event of the day . In the matter of decoration the grey old town presented quite a festive appearance . In the leading thoroughfares almost no house but displayed from its windows drapings of lively hue , and even in

out-of-the-way streets there were numerous indications that the inhabitants regarded the day as one worthy of being particularised in this manner . Fronts of large buildings were hidden wilh foilage , flags waved from every

available pinnacle , and triumphal arches spanned the streets at various points . Here and there a householder with the Paisley tendency to poetry , had announced to passers-by that "AVith Coat ' s thread we go ahead , * ' or that " recorded

in historic pages " the names of the donor of the Fountain Gardens and the Free Library would " "low in future ages , " while some one , liumorously given , asked the question , " AVhat would

the Seestubodies do without their Coats ? " The weather , fortunately , was of the most brilliant kind , and the effect of the decorations was very fine .

The business of the day began at one o'clock , when the Grand Lodge of Scotland met and was constituted in the County Hall . The AVorshipful Grand Master , the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., occupied the throne , aud was

supported by Colonel Campbell of Blythswood , Acting Deputy Grand Master ; Sir M . R . S . Stewart , Bart , Acting Substitute Grand Master ; AVilliam Maun , Senior Grand AVarden ; William Officer , Junior Grand AVarden ; Rev . V . G . Faithful , Grand

Chaplain ; Daniel Robertson , Grand Bible Bearer ; Alex , Hay , Grand Jeweller ; Owen Gough , President oi Grand Stewards ; J . XV . M'CulIoch , Vice-President of G . Stewards ; AVilliam L . Laurie , G . Secretary ; A . J . Stewart , Grand Clerk ; John Coghill , Chid

Grand Mareschal ; and John Laurie , Grand Marcscbal . While the Grand Lodge was being opened , the general body of processionists formed in Countysquare and the adjoining streets , and shortly after two o ' clock started in tbe following order : —

Farmers , carters , & c , on horseback ; Ritle Volunteers ; Captain Ingrain , Grand Marshal ; Ferguslie Workers ; Tinplate AVorkcrs ; Knight of Malta Lodge ; AVeavers ; Plasterers ; Bricklayers ; Plumbers ; Blacksmiths ; Oddfellows ; Clothlappcrs ;

Boilermakers ; Amalgamated Engineers ; Order of Foresters ; Operative Bakers ; Amalgamated Tailors ; Joiners ; Dyers ; United Operative Masons ; Amalgamated Slaters ; Royal St . Crispin Lodge ; Independent Slaters ; Gleufield AVorkers ;

Burgh Officials ; the Sherill and ALP . for thc Burgh ; the Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council ; the Justices of the Peace , Clergy , Physicians , and AVritcrs ; the Incorporated Societies in their order ; University Students ; the Philo .

sophical Society and Curators of Paisley Library ; the Architect and Builder of the Library ; Guard of Honour ; the Provincial and Local Lodges in their order ; the Grand Lodge ; the Earl of Dalhousie , W . G . M . ; Guard of Honour .

The following Masonic Lodges were represented —Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow ; Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire , AVest ; Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire , East ; Mother Kilwinning ; 3 , St . John , Glasgow ; 4 , Glasgow

Kilwinning ; 7 , Hamilton Kilwinning ; 8 , Journeymen , Edinburgh ; 9 , Dunblane ; 12 . Greenock Kilwinning ; 18 , Dumbarton Kilwinning ; 20 , St . John , Desmahagow ; 21 , Old St . John , Lanark ; 22 , St . John Kilwinning , Kilmarnock ; 27 , St . Mungo ,

Glasgow ; 28 , St . John Kilwinning , Kirkintilloch ; 31 , St . Mary , Coltness ; 39 , St . John , Kilsyth ; 46 , St . John , Auchterarder ; 47 , Operative , Dundee ; 01 , London Kilwinning , Newmilns ; 57 , St . John Kilwinning , Haddington ; 68 , Doric Kilwinning ,

Port Glasgow ; 69 , Alloa ; 73 , Thistle and Rose , Glasgow ; 86 , Navigation , Troon ; 87 , Thistle , Glasgow ; 88 , Montrose , NewMonkland ; 103 , Union aud Crown , Glasgow ; 109 , St . Marnock , Kilmarnock ; 117 , St . Mary , Partick ; 122 , Royal Arch , Perth ; 126 , St . Andrew , Kilmarnock ; 127 , Thistle .

Paisley Free Library & Museum.

Stewarton ; 128 , St . John , Shettleston ; 129 , St . Mirrin , Paisley ; 147 , Cadder , Argyle ; 149 , St . Andrew , Irvine ; 156 , Royal Arch , Pollokshaws ; 156 , St . Barchan , Kilbarchau ; 157 , St . Jolm , Beith ; 160 , Roman Eagle , Edinburgh ; 169 , Thistle and Rose , Stevenston ; 170 , St . John , Leven ; 171 , St .

James , Doune ; 175 , St . John , Greenock ; 177 , St . James , Old Monkland ; 178 , Scotia , Glasgow ; 179 , St . Mungo , Mauchliue ; 187 , St . John , Carluke ; 201 , St . Thomas , Muirkirk ; 202 , St . Clement , Riccarton ; 204 , St . Paul , Ayr ; 205 , Garthlaud , St . AYimioch ; 215 , St . Andrew , Strathaven ; 219 , Star ,

Glasgow ; 230 , St . Barnabas , Old Comnock ; 233 > Hamilton : 242 , Houston St . Johnstone ; 244 , Union , Stonehouse ; 250 , Union , Dunfermline ; 252 , St . John , Thornhill ; 272 , St . John , Mid-Calder ; 275 , Shamrock and Thistle , Glasgow ; 290 , Blair , Dairy ; 291 , Celtic , Edinburgh and Leith ; 292 , St . John ,

Rothesay ; 306 , St . Thomas , Larkhall ; 320 , St . John Kilwinning , Ardrossan ; 321 , St . Andrew , Alexandria ; 332 , Union , Glasgow ; 335 , Argyle , Dunoon : 347 , St . John , Rutherglen ; 354 , Caledonian Railway , Glasgow ; 360 , Commercial , Glasgow ; 362 , St . Clair , Glasgow ; 370 , Renfrew Co .

Kilwinning , Paisley ; 384 , Athole , Kirkintilloch ; 392 , Caledonian , Edinburgh ; 399 , Royal Blues , Kilbirnie ; 408 , Clyde , Glasgow ; 413 , Athole , Glasgow ; 419 , Neptune , Glasgow ; 426 , Prince of AVales , Renfrew ; 427 , St . Clair , Cambusnethan ; 437 , Govandale , Govan ; 441 , Glasgow , Glasgow ;

442 , Neptune , Ardrossan ; 458 , St . John . Busby ; 465 , St . Andrew , Glasgow . The foregoing are all the Lodges we are enabled to particularise . There were , however , several others represented . The entire number of lodges , we understand , was 109 , and the total number of brethren 4300 .

Ihe route of procession was through Love Street , AA allace Street , New Sneddon , Gilmour Street , Old Bridge , Gauze Street , Thread Street , Bridge Street , Orchard Street , Causeyside , George Street , Broomlands , and AVellmeadow to the new building . As it turned out , this route was over long , and owing to

thc crowded state ofthe streets the main body of the processionists did not reach High Street until about 4 o ' clock . The arrangements at the new building were entirely satisfactory to all concerned . The memorial stone was laid in the facade , to the right and left of which accommodation had been provided for a considerable number ot ladies and

gentlemen . The Grand Lodge took up position close to the stone , the Provost and Magistrates , Sheriff Fraser , Mr . Crura Ewing . M . P ., and others , being in the immediate neighbourhood . Tho proceedings were opened by Mr . Peter Coats presenting a handsome silver trowel to the AVorshipful Grand Master .

The Earl of DALHOUSIE , in reply , said—Mr . Coats , I have had the honour of laying tho foundation stones of various public buildings , both in Scotland and in England , but on the present occasion I feel particularly gratified at being invited , as Grand M aster Mason of Scotland , to lay the memorial stone

of a building which will convey to this town so many important benefits , and which , I am proud to say , has been presented by one whose generosity is respected wherever it is know by all . ( Applause . ) I am proud , Sir , that I have received this presentation at your hands . He assured your gifts will be

held amongst my best regarded treasures , and that so long as 1 am spared I shall remember the pleasure and the honour which has been conferred upon me this day . ( Applause . ) The Grand Chaplain then offered up prayer ; after which the Grand Master directed the treasurer , secretary , and clerk to place the coins , & c , iu the

cavity ofthe stone , and the architect to bring forward the necessary workmen . These duties having been performed , tlie stone was lowered to its bed , and the proper officers applied the plumb , level , and square , and certified that the work had been executed according to the rules of Masonry . Thereupon the Grand

Master , giving the stone three knocks , said— " May the Almighty Architect of the Universe look down with benignity upon our present undertaking , and crown tbe edifice , of which we have now laid a memorial stone , with every success . " The cornucopia was then delivered to the Substitute Grand Master ,

the vase with wino to the Senior Grand Warden , and the vase with oil to the Junior Grand AVarden , and the contents of each thrown ou the newly-laid stone by the Grand Master . The ceremony closed with prayer . The Earl of DALHOUSIE then spoke as follows : —