The Sanatorium At Weston-Super Mare. Masonic Ceremonial.

The SANATORIUM at WESTON-SUPER MARE . MASONIC CEREMONIAL .

The . West of England Sanatorium—an institution destined , without doubt , to win for itself a position in the first rank amongst the great philanthropic establishments of which we are so justly proud—last Tuesday advanced another step in the gratifying course of progress which has marked its history since its humble beginning in a house in a back street in the town of Weston-super-Mare only

some two years ago . The ceremonial of Tuesday inaugurated an important era in its history , and established on the enlarged and complete form contemplated at present , the building itself will be one of the most imposing edifices in the favourite watering place , while the work of philanthropy carried on within its walls will be united by special ties with the time-honoured charities of Bristol and

many other places in the West of England . The architect is Mr . Hans F . Price , and his design , when completed , will have a very pretty effect . The whole , building , with the land , will cost about £ i 1 , 000 , but only the first three sections—the wings devoted to children and women , and comprising about one-third of the entire structure—will be at

present proceeded with . These three sections will accommodate sixty patients , making with the thirty for which there is room in the old building , provision for 90 persons . When completed , however , the new building will give accommodation for 100 persons , and the old structure will then be removed . The portion now about to be built will cost / 4000

and it will be composed of local stone lined with brick , and having freestone dressings . It will be in the domestic Gothic style , with pavilion roof in the centre . The contractors are Messrs . J . Harvey and Sons , of Torquay . The laying of the foundation-stone ofthe new building on a site by the side of the present Sanatorium , facing the Strand , on

the road midway between Weston and Uphill gave rise to the imposing ceremonial of Whit-Tuesday . The brethren of the district , always so prompt to assist in noble and generous works of this character , lent a deep interest to the proceedings by undertaking the ceremonial , their Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , consenting to lay

the stone . Thc volunteers , engineers , and rifles , the clergy , the town commissioners , members of the medical profession , and the residents of the town also assisted , and Weston-super-Marealways such a popular place of resort during thc Whitsuntide holidays—presented yesterday a more

than holiday gaiety with its festive dressing of banners and flags , thc bright uniforms of the Weston and Nailsea , companies of the ist Somerset Volunteers , thc brilliant badges of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons , and the many thousands of visitors who crowded the principal streets and thronged thc beach .

The procession , comprising in addition to thc volunteers and others a strong body of the Freemasons of different lodges of Somersetshire , was an imposing spectacle . It was formed on the Southparade , where many hundreds of spectators assembled about twelve o'clock . The various lodges of Masons met at the Assembly-rooms , and

thence they proceeded to . the parade , where thc magistrates , Town Commissioners , & c , joined them , and they were headed by the Fife and Drum band ofthe Bristol Engineer Volunteers ; and the procession was arranged in accordance witli thc following official programme , Captain Naish commanding the Volunteer Engineers , and Captain Whining the Rifles : —

ORDER OF PROCESSION : Fifes and Drums of Bristol Engineer Volunteers . Engineer Volunteers . Rifle Volunteers . Workmen . Contractors and Clerk of Works . Architect and Assistant . The Committee of the Sanatorium .

Members of the Staff . Two Tylers with drawn swords . Brass Hand of liristol Engineer Volunteers . Prov . Grand Steward . Union Flag . I ' rov . Grand Stewar Visiting Brethren . The Lodges of tlie Province in the following order : —

Vale of Brislington , liristol . Lodge of Science , Wincanton . Lodge of Agriculture , Congresbury . Nyanza , Ilminster . Royal Clarence , Bruton , Royal Somerset , Frome .

Royal Albert Edward , Weston ( Bath ) . Parrett and Axe , Crewkcnie , Pilgrims , Cilastonhury . Benevolent , Wells . Lodge of Honour , Bath .

Brotherly Love , Yeovil . Rural Philanthropic , llighbridge . Love and Honour , Shepton Mallet . Unanimity and . Sincerity , Taunton . Perpetual Friendship , Bridgwater . Royal Sussex , Bath .

The Sanatorium At Weston-Super Mare. Masonic Ceremonial.

Royal Cumberland , Bath . St . Kew , Weston-super-Mare . The R . W . and V . W . the Prov . Grand Lodges of other Provinces . Cornucopia with Corn , and two Ewers , containing Oil and Wine , borne by Masters of Lodges . Provincial Grand Pursuivants , Past and Present .

Provincial Grand Organists , Past and Present . Past Provincial Grand Directors and Assistant Directors of Ceremonies . Past Provincial Grand Superintendents of Works . Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works , with the Plans

of the Building . Past Provincial Giand Sword-Bearers . Past Provincial Grand Deacons . Past Provincial Grand Secretaries . Provincial GrandSecretary , with the Book of Constitutions

on a cushion , And Plate bearing the Inscription . Provincial Grand Registrars , Past and Present . Provincial Grand Treasurer , bearing a Phial containing the Coins to be deposited in the Stone . Visitors of Distinction . Past Provincial Grand Chaplains .

Past Provincial Grand Wardens . The column of P . G . J . W ., borne by the W . M . of a Lodge . Provincial Junior Grand Warden , with a Plumb Rule . The column of P . S . G . W ., borne by the W . M . of a Lodge . Provincial Senior Grand Warden , with the Level .

The P . S . Grand Deacon , with the Trowel . Provincial Grand Chaplains , bearing the Sacred Law on a Cushion The V . W . D . P . G . M ., with the Square . The R . W . P . P . G . M ., hearing the Mallet . Union Flnrr .

Provincial Grand Sword-Bearer . P . G . Steward . The Rt . Wor . P . G . M . P . G . Steward .

The P . J . Grand Deacon . Two Provincial Grand Stewards . Provincial Grand Tyler . The Clergy . The Magistrates . The Town Commissioners . Members of the Medical Profession .

Gentry and Tradesmen .

We should add that amongst the visiting lodges from Bristol were the following : —The Colston Lodge ( 610 ) , Bro . Gullifer , W . M . ; Beaufort Lodge ( 120 ) , Bro . Hatherley , W . M . ; MoiraLodge , Bro . G . Gay , W . M . ; The Clarence , Bro . Coaffer , W . M . ; and the Jerusalem Lodge .

The Uphill-road from the town to the Sanatorium was lined with crowds of sightseers , and the neighbourhood of the site of the old Strand-house itself was thronged with visitors . The grounds on the beach side of thc present building were gaily decorated with coloured flags floating over the awning ,

beneath which were scats reserved for thc numerous ladies who graced the ceremonial by their presence .

THE CEREMONY . On thc arrival of thc procession at the entrance to thc enclosure , thc volunteers filed off and formed three sides of a square , thc brass-band of thc Bristol Volunteer Engineers occupying the centre to the south of the raised dais around the spot where the

stone was to be laid . The Executive Committee took up a position to the west of the dais , and the brethren of the different lodges formed an avenue , through which the Provincial Grand Lodge passed to the platform , where the Provincial Grand Master , thc Right Worshipful and Right Hon . Earl of

Carnarvon , Deputy Grand Master of England , and President of the Institution , together with Grand Officers who were to take part in thc ceremony , assembled . Amongst them were thc Ven . Archdeacon Browne and many of the clergy of the diocese , with some visitors from Bristol , amongst

whom wc noticed the Rev . D . A . Doudney and others . When all had taken up their position , the spectacle within the grounds was brilliant in the extreme . The foundation-stone formed the focus of an imposing display of the rich insignia of office and jewelled emblems for which the Ancient Order

of Free and Accepted Masons are so celebrated . The Provincial Grand Master was of course the centre ofthe brilliant spectacle , and by his side was a lady , thc richness of whose dress fairly challenged comparison with that of the members of the Order . She wore over an elegant silk train a superb shawl

of crimson , exquisitely embroidered with gold . The Provincial Stewardsand the Pursuivants who waited upon his lordship were gorgeously appareled , and the blue , purple , and scarlet scarves , edged with gold , which distinguished the various grades of ofiicers of thc Grand Lodge , gave ample variety to

the centre-piece ofthe picture ; while the surroundings , filled in with detached groups of the brethren , and thc whole enclosed by a cordon of " citizen soldiers , " presented a picturesque scenc . upon which the mid-day sun shone with the brilliancy of a Julv

morning . The ceremony commenced about one o ' clock by the singing of the Old Hundred Psalm . The Ven . Archdeacon Wells having offered up prayer , Mr . R . A . Kinglake , as Vice-President of the sanatorium , asked his lordship to lay thc stone . In

The Sanatorium At Weston-Super Mare. Masonic Ceremonial.

a pertinent speech he heartily thanked his lordship for sacrificing his parliamentary holiday to take part in the ceremonial . The presence of the noble earl to Englishmen was always acceptable , and still more acceptable was it to Somersetshire people , to whom he was closely allied , and he had no doubt

that his lordship ' s name had that day been successful in bringing f jrth that galaxy of the beauty and grace of Somersetshire . ( Laughter and cheers . ) A hymn having been sung and prayer offered by the Rev . J . C . Pigott , Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . Prideaux , Provincial Grand Secretary , read

the following inscription that appeared on a brass plate covering the hole in the stone in which were deposited the local papers , with some coins of the realm :- " On Whit Tuesday , May 30 th , A . L . 5871 , A . D . 1871 , and in the 34 th year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Oueen Victoria ; theDivine

blessing having been implored , by the Ven . Archdeacon of Wells , the foundation-stone of this building , designed for a home for 100 convalescent patients , and known as the West of England Sanatorium , was laid according to ancient Masonic custom by the M . W . and Right Hon . Earl of

Carnarvon , D . G . M ., P . G . M . of Somerset , assisted by the Grand Officers ofthe province . Glory be to God on' high . " The Earl of Carnarvon , after the stone had been laid in due formduringthe playing of solemn music , and the oil , corn , and wine had been poured upon it

by the Masters of lodges , said they had now laid that stone of the new institution between the site of the chapel and that of the hospital for the reception of patients , and it was fitly laid there as representing the work for which that institution was destinedthe service of God and the comfort of suffering

mankind . That bright day , that beautiful sun on the land and the sea , that great concourse of people around them , all bore witness to their proceedings that day , and made them hope that that great undertaking was launched happily— ( applause ) — and he asked all of them to say " Good speed to this undertaking . " ( Applause . )

Other Masonic forms were complied with , and the Rev . W . Hunt then delivered a telling oration , in which he spoke in eloquent terms of the ceremonial that day being a proof that every true Freemason had the welfare of his fellow-man nearest and dearest to his heart . A collection closed the proceedings at the stone .

THE BANQUET was held at the Town-hall , where upwards of 300 ladies and gentlemen sat down , under the presidency of the Earl of Carnarvon . Amongst those supporting thc chairman were Mrs . Long , Mrs . Rawlins , General Munbec , R . E ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev .

W . Hunt , Past Grand Chaplain ; Ven . Archdeacon Browne , M . A . ; Captain Townsend , R . N . ; Capt . Irwin , P . P . G . J . W . ; Mr . E . P . Payne . Grand Treas . ; Rev . C . R . Davy , P . G . Chaplain ; Capt . Whitting , Mr . W . Ash , Mr . R . L . Jones , Rev . W . Hunt

( Trinity Church ) , Major Allen , M . P . ; Bro . Bridges , D . P . G . M . ; Mr . A . Kinglake , Col . Rawlins , Mr . J . Cox , the Rev . G . S . Symes , Captain Bramble ( ist Somerset Engineers ) , Bro . R . C . Else , P . S . G . W . ; and Bro . B . Cox , P . G . S . On the removal of the cloth ,

The Noble President , in giving the first toast , " Thc Queen , the Craft , and the Royal Family , " took occasion to contrast the happy condition of England with the present lot of France . Alluding to the recent events in Paris , he characterised the proceedings of the insurgents as tlie most horrible

and detestable conspiracy against law and order and everything that made human society good and noble and generous . ( Cheers . ) He thought these events had read us the melancholy lesson that , however great our civilisation , unless there were morals and religion all that civilisation failed .

( Loud cheers . ) In conclusion , he advised them to cling to our oJd institutions , and foremost among them all , the ancient and hereditary monarchythc Queen and Crown . ( Loud and enthusiastic cheering . ) The President next gave the " Prince and Princess of Wales and all thc members of the

Royal Family . Coming to the toast of the " Bishop and Clergy , " the President congratulated them on the position which the English clergy held as part of the people of this country—coming from them , mixing with

them , and returning to them again —( cheers)—sympathising with them in all tlieir pleasures , sympathising with them also , as it was their boiindcn duty to do , in all their distresses . ( Hear , hear . ) He rejoiced to see them on the ground that morning , and around that board . ( Applause . )

The Ven . Archdeacon Browne , in responding , alluded to the unavoidable absence of the Bishop ; and then , contrasting the position of the clergy of England with those of Paris , he said on the one hand they saw the Venerable Archbishop of Paris carried to execution as a common criminal , surrounded by his own zealous brethren—thus persecuted , not from any personal hatred to him , as