Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New School At Wormhill.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW SCHOOL AT WORMHILL .

On Saturday last , the officers and members of the Phoenix Lodge of St . Ann , No . 1235 , Buxton , assembled at Wormhill , on the invitation of their worthy Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . A . A . Bagshawe , P . G . C . Derbyshire , Vicar of Wormhill and Rural

Dean of Buxton , to aid him in the good work of extending the benefits of education to his parishioners . There were present Bros . J . Millward , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; R . Darwin , P . M ., P . G J . AV . ; R . R . Duke , W . M . ; F . Turner , S . W . ; Josiah Taylor , T-W . ; Rev . A . A . Bagshawe , Chap ., P . G .

Chap . : P . Klitz , Org ., P . P . G . Org ., Hampshire ; W . Millward , W . E . Clayton , E . J . Sykes , J . H . Lawson , P . I . e Gtos , J- C . Bates , C . Wilkinson , W . Goodwin , W . D . Sutton , J . Bennett , S . C . Darwin , W . H . Newton , G . F . Barnard , R . H . Hyde , J . C . Hyde , 1235 ; G . Beardmore , 9 G 6 ;

J . S . Hague , H . Ffolhott , Chap . 127 Derry , G . Chap . Derry and Donegal ; W . Webbe , W . M . 884 , P . G . S . AV . ; E . J . Cullen , S . D ., Witham Lodge , 297 , Lincoln ; S . R . Ready , P . M . 654 ; P . Bramwell , 654 ; T . Griggs , architect , No . 228 , T . Bragge , P . M . 74 , P . P . G . S . D . ; C . Ferguston

654 ; and the Rev . W . Vale Bagshawe , No . 353 . The school accommodation at Wormhill being found inadequate it had been resolved to enlarge it , and the occasion offered an opportunity to lay the chief stone with Masonic honours . The permission of the Marquis of Hartington ,

Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire , having being duly obtained , the arrangements were perfected by the brethren of the Phcenix Lodge of St . Ann , who mustered in good force to do honour to the first public ceremony they have been called on to perform . Arrived at Wormhill , the Lodge

met , by adjournment from the last regular lodge , at the Hall , where every preparation had been made for the comfort of the visitors and the proper carriage of ihe duties undertaken . After the reading ofthe Authorization from the Grand Officer named , the brethren , reinforced by arrivals

from Wirksworth ar . d other lodges , former in procession , and attended divine service at the quaint and pretty little church , near the Hall . The service was most suitable , and was impressively rendered by the host of the day , aided by his son , the Rev . W . Vale Bngsha . ve . ' We must

here note , too , that Bro . P . Klitz , had kindly volunteered to aid the ceremony by the introduction of suitable music , and , with a select portion of the Masonic choir , added to the service an interest which otherwise would have been wanting . Service ended , the brethren proceeded to the site in the following order : —

The Tyler . j Trumpeters . Brethren of the Lodge . The Stewards ; Com , AViju \ and Oil . Architect with Plans . Inner Guard . Organist .

Director of Ceremonies . Secretary with Book of Constitutions . Treasurer , with coins to be desposited in . Stone .

Visiting Brethren . Junior Warden . Standard Bearer with Banner of Lodge . Senior Warden . Junior Deacon . Chaplain with Volume of Sacred Law . Bro . Darwin , P . M . Bro . Luke , W . M .

Bro . Millward , P . M . Senior Deacon . Sword Bearer .

Arrived at the site the beautiful work of laying the stone , with the touching lectures on the various tools by which an operative mason perfects his work , was impressively and solemnly performed hy Past Master Millward , a Masmi of more than sixty years' standing , assisted by Bros . R . Darwin and R . R . Duke . A Masonic ode ,

arranged and adapted for the occasion by Bro . P . Klitz , was then sung , and Bro . A . A . Bagshawe delivered an oration on tlie blessings of education , concluding with the benediction . A collection was made in aid of school furniture and fittings , ami the ceremonies , in which a considerable number of the parishioners had , by th $ ir presence in church and at tjie site , shpwn

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New School At Wormhill.

great interest in the good work of their incumbent , terminated . The brethren , returning to Wormhill Hall , closed the lodge , and on their return from labo ' ur were received by their Chaplain and his son at the Vicarage , where a sumptuous collation

awaited them . Conversation and croquet filled up the time ere the return train arrived to convey the brethren back to Buxton , the host terminating an agreeable as well as useful day in a manner befitting a Mason , a Chaplain , and a

noblehearted English gentheman , in his intercourse with men whose principles are Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth ! The inscription on the stone was as follows : — "Laid the 19 th August , 1871 , by the ' Phcenix Lodge of St . Ann , Buxton . ' No . 1235 .

Bro . R . R . Duke , W . M . Bro . R . Darwin , P . M . Bro . J . Millward , P . M . Bro . A . A . Bagshawe , M . A ., P . G . C ; Vicar . Bro . R . Griggs , Architect . " The new banner purchased by subscripton was used on this occasion for the first time , and was much admired .

Poetry.

Poetry .

—«—THE LAST LODGE . [ Prom the German . } When the last of the stars , dimly flashing . See old Time to its end hasten on ; When planets to ruin aie dashing ,

And the sun ' s light is pallid and wan ; Through the halls where the Masons are founding Their Temple , majestic and grand , - Shall be heard that last cry loudly sounding : Hasten , brothers ! the morn is at hand !

East and west , north arc ) south , through all l . ations The work at that call will have ceased , And the brethren , observing their stations , Shall leak in calm faith to the East :

Joining hand over valleys and highlands Where each stands , in the land o ( his birth , Shall be seen o'er all continents and islands But ONE LODOE on the face of the earth .

To the Masters stern voice loudly crying : Have the Masons obeyed My commands ? Comes the voice of the Craftsmen replying : _ . Look with grace on the work of our hands !

In our feeble and poor earthly fashion We have sought to hew out the rough stone , Let the depth of eternal compassion For thi ; faults of our labour atone !

What ' s the hour ? cries the voice of the Master ; They answer : Low Twelve , but behold , The rays of Thy morning come faster , To our eyes all its glories unfold !

At His nod sec the veils rent asunder , And , while earth sinks to chaos and ni ght , 'Mid loud peals of the echoing thunder Shall the brethren be brought to pure fi ght . '

1 HE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION .- At the museum , opened under the auspices of this association , Mr . M . A . Verkriizen , of Fell-street , Woodstreet , London , exhibited samples of bis now somewhat famous wines . The visitors tn the exhibition paid marked attention to this branch o ( die

interesting collection , and a close and comparative analytical examination of the wines took place at the testing counter , conducted by Mr . G . Cory , London , who is connected with . Mr . Verkriizcn ' s firm . Subsequently , the following testimony lo the efficacy of these wines was presented in the name of the

association , and signed by many ofthe principal members present : " Royal Hotel . Plymouth , August , 1871 . —We , the undersigned members of the British Medical Association , having tested the various wines exhibited by Mr . M . A . Verkriizen , of 3 , Fellstreet , Wood-street , London , namely , Palatinate wines . Moselle and Sarr , red hocks , champagnes .

& c , teel pleasure in testifying to their excellent character for purity , and wholesoincness especially . These wines we can strongly recommend for invalids , possessing as ihey do all the invigorating and exhilarating properties , and , being purely natural wines , contain no alcoholic or other dangerous adulteration . " - " Western Daily Mercury ,

The Plain Of Philistia.

THE PLAIN OF PHILISTIA .

BY CAPTAIN WARREN , R . E . ( Concluded from page 542 . ^ June 22 . —From Nigid I wishpd to take a straight cut east to Dwaime through the deserted hills south of Wrfdy Hessy . A villager volunteered to

accompany us , our baggage going round by the royal road , the distance in a straight line 18 miles . Leaving at 7 . 10 a . m ., we saw from the top ofthe first eminence the ruins of Zeil , Bableyeh , Aran , and Beit Duas , on the hills- above Simsim . Leaving this point at 7 . 45 a . m ., we passed to east through hills of

intimated shells , and leaving caves to our right arrived at K . Kums at 8 . 7 a . m . ; left S . io . Viewed Neby Hud on W . Mehowrch 8 . 11 , and at 8 . 22 came on K . Jelameh , a ruined site , 130 yards by 40 yards , with cisterns . At a . io a . m . we got down into W . Husv . A fantasia was here enacted for our benefit .

Two Bedouins came up and robbed a camel-driver , but we did not see the joke in the way it was intended . At 11 . 5 a . m . wc arrived at Tel Hessy , an artificial mound to S . W . of Wddy , elliptical N . W . to S . E . ; water running in AVddy ; left 11 . 23 . We now found a beautiful stream of brackish water in

W ; idy Hessy , and turned south to Tel Nargily . At 12 . 30 passed a hard clay threshing floor , and at 12 . 40 arrived at the Tel . Here there is a spring of fresh water welling out of the rocks in the midst of a salt and barren land . The Tel is artificial ; a great

deal of cut stone and concrete about , and graves on top ; extensive ruins on all sides , but of no decided character . Left 1 . 10 p . m . ; passed Arab camp , where they wished us to pass the night , and passing by some ruins and caves arrived at Dawaimeh at sunset .

June 24 th . —From the wcly near this town observations could be taken of the most important points to the north . We left at 7 . 45 . for licit Ulla ; and at 9 . 50 a . m . passed Tel ed Dewar , and oblong mound 50 ft . high , close to the village of Lukbeibeh , one of those villages which the Government have

caused the Bedouins to establish . At 11 . 5 passed a crusaders' ruin , and at 11 . 45 arrived at Santa Hannah , close to Beit Jcbrin , an artificial mound . I here broke the glass of my prismatic compass , and found the instrument useless for the remainder of the day . AVith the aid of a ruby , however , . which I

had purchased at Askalon , one of the photographic plates was cut down in the evening to the required size , and made to replace the broken glass . June 25 th . —Several ruins were examined , but nothing of importance . AVe encamped in the AV . idy es Sumt ( the valley of Elah ) under a large Butm

tree , probably the largest in Palestine . ( See photograph No . 275 , ) To give an instance ofthe adroitness of the Arabs I may mention a scene which took place here . On arriving' at our tree we found the cook and a fellah struggling violently , and each with a stone in his hand cracking into the other's

head . Alter separating them J inquired the cause of the disturbance , and the cook said the fellah had kicked dust into the soup , but the man asserted that the wind had blown it in . They were both very violent in their movements , and the fellah accused the cook of having pulled his beard , and after several

absurd gesticulations , he picked up a tuft of hair from the ground and showed us the place where it had been plucked from his chin . This , of course , was a very serious offence—only the cook denied having touched the man's beard . The dragoman at last came up , who soon settled the matter , for he

recollected that the cook had just cut off some huge locks from his head , which the fellah had made use of by declaring they were part of his beard . ' On looking at him closely we found that his beard had never been touched , but was one of those which do not grow luxuriantly just under the chin . The man

had been rather badly cut about the head by the stone the cook had wielded , and was bleeding profusely , but he would not allow his wounds to bc dressed , as then , he said , the sheikh of his village would not see how lie had been treated , and he marched off indignantly to call on his friends to

to attack us during the night . AVe were just now in the track which the Bedouins use on their marauding expeditions , so wc found ourselves threatened on two points ; all we could do was to keep strict watch during die night and hope that the villagers would cross the Bedouins and keep clear of

us . AA e awoke in the morning without any mishap , but not by any means due to our watchers , for on waking once near dawn , I found all snoring fast , and could not disturb them by sticks or stones . Near this tree probably took place the combat between David and Goliath . Suwaikeh ( the ancient

Sokop ) is on the hills to the west by one mile . From here we made our way surveying to Beit Atab and IJcir al Howa , both pro ' uiinent points in the hills of Jiiclea , 1790 and 17 S 0 ft . above the level of the sea . From here we observed to the points where wc had observed from in the plains . Tiu } o 33 th we arrived in Jerusalem .