Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Academy At Kilmarnock.

LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE OF THE ACADEMY AT KILMARNOCK .

In accordance with previous arrangements the memorial stone of the New Academy Public School was , on Saturday afternoon , the 20 th ult ., laid with Masonic honours , in the presence of several thousand spectators . The brethren met in the Corn Exchange Hall and Butter

Market , and , having been formed in order , marched along King-street and St . Marnockstreet to North Hamilton-street . There were deputations from the following lodges : —Mother Kilwinning , o ; St . John , Glasgow . 3 % ; St . John , Kilmarnock , 22 ; Navigation , Troon , 86 ;

St . Marnock , Kilmarnock , 126 ; Thistle , Stewarton , 127 ; St . John , Kilwinning , Beith , 157 ; Thistle and Rose , Stewarton , 167 ; St . Mary ' s , Mauchline , 179 ; St . Clement ' s , Riccarton , 202 ; St . Peter ' s , Galston , 331 ; Neptune , Ardrossan , 442 ; St . John , Catrin ,

497 ; Burns , St . Mary , Halford , 505 ; Clydesdale , Glasgow , 556 ; and Dramatic , Glasgow , 571 . There were also present and assisting R . W . Cochran Patrick , Trearne , D . P . G . M . ; W . Ralston Patrick , Sub-Pro G . M . ; J . G . Halket , P . S . P . G . M . ; D . Murray Lyon , P . S .

G . W . ; John McKay , acting Prov . G . J . W . ; Rev . Alex . Inglis , Kilmaurs , P . G . Chaplain ; Robert W yllie , J . P ., Prov . G . S . ; and John Whinton , P . G . T . All the preparations being complete , Provost Sturrock presented Bro . C . Patrick with a handsome silver trowel , bearing the following

inscription : — " Presented to Bro . R . W . Cochran Patrick , Esq ., of Woodside , D . P . G . M ., on the occasion of the laying of the memorial stone of Kilmarnock Academy Public School with Masonic honours on the 20 th November , 1875 . " The usual ceremony of applying the plummet ,

level , and square , and pouring the wine and oil , and inserting a bottle with various papers and documents , was then gone through , ' and the Grand Chaplain , the Rev . Bro . Inglis , offered an appropriate and impressive prayer . The Grand Master then , amid three cheers , declared the

memorial stone duly and properly laid . Bro . Patrick then gave a short address . Seventy years ago the provost and magistrates of Kilmarnock , assisted by the Masons , laid the foundation stone of the old Academy . More than two generations have passed since that time ,

and the School Board , assisted by the Masons have met and assisted in laying the foundation stone of a larger , more commodious , and handsome building . It was right and proper that Masons as a body should be present on such an occasion , as one of their great objects as a body

was to make men better . And on no occasion did they come with more alacrity than to promote education . Time was when Scotchmen were found to till any situation where honesty and integrity were required to fill them , and it is so still . For this they were doubtless much

indebted to their peculiar national character , but more so to the system of education which prevailed , and which was the glory of the country . Circumstances have now greatly changed . The population was now gathered in great centres , and there was a fear lest the national character should

deteriorate . Hence the necessity of better and more extended means of education , and so the Education Act was passed . By its operation we find large numbers ot buildings similar to the one they were now in being erected to provide elementary education for the young . It must

be very gratifying to the School Board of Kilmarnock to know that now there were 750 more children receiving education than there were two years ago . Bro . Patrick then urged the need for theestablishment throughout the country not only of elementary but of secondary schools , where

our youths could be trained to pass into our universities , and where a hi gher intellectual training could be given than in ordinary public schools . He was sure there was in the country vast numbers who , if properly trained , would be able to sift truth , and be able to guide in a right

direction that popular opinion which ruled the country . He was glad the Board had appointed a gentleman who would be a finished teacher of the young , and he hoped their successors in office would see to it that the hi gher branches of education would not [ suffer ,

Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Academy At Kilmarnock.

and the Academy Public School would raise and send out men who would prove a credit to the town and to Scotland . ( Applause . ) Mr . James Blackwood , convenor of the Building Committee , in thanking the D . P . G . M . for coming to take part in the proceedings , expressed

the hope that the Kilmarnock New Academy would excel the old one , and that in time it would be the great centre of education in A yrshire . The proceedings then terminated , and the procession marched backed to the town , when the lodges separated . The members of the School Board , the Town

Council , and the members of the P . G . L . afterwards dined in the George Hotel . In the unavoidable absence of ex Provost Dickie , Mr . James Blackwood occupied the chair , and Provost Sturrock officiated as Croupier . After dinner and the usual loyal and constitutional toasts , " The Health of Bro . C . Patrick , D . P . G . M . " was given by the Chairman .

Bro . Patrick , in his reply , again urged the necessity for establishing secondary schools throughout the country , and the founding of bursaries to assist the clever sons of working-class men . There was no fear of such education ever injuring the country or the men in it , as they had Christian truths and Christian

doctrines to guide them , and to enable them at all times to separate truth from error and humbug . " Success to the New Academy " was proposed by the Croupier , and replied to by Mr . Logan . Mr . Shaw proposed "The School Board , " which was replied to by the Chairman . Other toasts were given and replied to , and the meeting broke up .

Consecration Of The St. Ninian Lodge At Nairn , N.B.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . NINIAN LODGE AT NAIRN , N . B .

The Masons of Nairn and neighbourhood assembled together at two o ' clock on Friday , the 19 th ult ., for the purpose of consecrating a lodge , which was dedicated to the patron saint of the town , viz ., St . Ninian . The consecrating brother was Bro . J . Davidson , P . G . C . of Banffshire ,

who is held in the hi ghest esteem by all the brethren in the Highlands . The ceremony , which was performed in the most impressive manner , elicited the warmest expressions of approbation from the brethren present . The consecrating brother was well supported by Bro . W . M . ' s

Guyere , Harris , Mackenzie , Mackintosh , Simpson , and others . Bro . T . B . Pegler , first Principal of the St . Andrew ' s Chapter ( the oldest ) of Banff , then delivered a very eloquent and masterly oration on the great principles of Freemasonry , which was much approved by the

brethren present . Bro . Davidson then proceeded to instal Bro . T . B . Pegler , of 52 , 92 , 339 , 837 lodges , the latter ( Marquis of Ripon ) being his mother lodge . His election met with the heartiest approbation from all present , and it is only just to add that few if any brother has done so

much to perfect himself in all our ceremonies during his residence of 47 years in the Highlands . His Ripon brethren may be justly proud of their young son , for all the honours he has received he justly merits . Bros . Morrison and Simpson were appointed Wardens ; Mackintosh , Treasurer ;

Howard Harris , Secretary , who with the W . M . have done mnch towards establishing this lodge . At the conclusion , 10 gentlemen were proposed for initiation , and Bro . Davidson , P . G . C ; Wm . Guyere , of Kingussie ; and Bro . C . Pegler , of 52 , 304 , 837 , 1036 , and 555 were elected

, honorary members , the latter having exercised his good offices in assisting in the formation of the lodge . The brethren adjourned for dinner to the Havelock Hotel , presided over most ably by the W . M . elect . After the usual loyal toasts , Bro . Howard Harris proposed " Success to the

St . Ninian Lodge , and gave a history of the ancient lodge , going back to 1608 . In a minute book of that date it is stated that the two previous minute books are in the possession of Bro . . Deputy Master Mackenzie then

proposed " The W . M ' s Health , " abl y supported by Bro . Davidson , who said that he had known the W . M . since he first came amongst them , and had watched his advancement in Masonic knowledge with much interest , and he could assure the brethren of jj ? that"jthe / ichoice

Consecration Of The St. Ninian Lodge At Nairn , N.B.

they had made that day would afford them every opportunity of being second to none in the Highlands . The toast was received with Masonic and real Highland honours . Other appropriate toasts then followed , including " The Health of

Bro . C . Pegler of Leeds , ' father of the W . M ., who is a most liberal , kind-hearted brother , ready to help those in need . The brethren retired at 11 o ' clock upon Forbes Mackenzie ' s name being introduced .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THECOMMENCEMENT OF THE 2 NDCHRiSTr . \ N EPOCH . " We do not ordinarily review books of religious teaching in the " Freemason , " but we confess we have been so much struck with this little work that we cannot forbear saying a few words about

it . The writer is anonymous , but calls himself a " Christian . " We do not exactly know to what special denomination he belongs . He is apparently a " nondescript , " and also—we say it very kindly and respectfully—a little " off the nut . " The truth is , that his work is nothing but a

reproduction of " Fourierism , " with a peculiar colouring of a very peculiar Christianity indeed . His aim is apparently to revive the theories of that amiable , and probably well-intentioned , but mistaken visionary , " Fourier , " and to reproduce his " Utopia , " which is not and could not be an Utopia at all , but only a complication of benevolent aspirations and impossible contrivances .

Indeed , the whole theory of Fourier becomes grotesque from its almost puerile absurdity of detail , its incongruous arrangements , and its hopeless proposals of alteration and revolution of social existence . The world may have many anomalies

inconsistencies and inequalities , no doubt it has many wrongs to redress , and many reforms to witness in the tone and system of society generally j but , we are sure of this , that among the many chimeras of the world , and of reformers , few have been so idle as those of the benevolent but mistaken Fourier .

This work has two parts—one religious , the other social . The religious is very painful to read ; the social is , as we have said , an expanded Fourierism , and perfectly unpractical and impracticable .

A more hopeless- - effort of the human brain , a more unreal chirograph of the human pen we have never perused . It is indeed " chaos " from beginning to end . The only one page in the book we agree with is the last , and A'hich we commend to the notice of

many now-a-days who will force their painful platitudes and weary and dreary essays on an ungrateful public . " The writer of this little book having now accomplished the mission . . . entrusted to him will write no more , and hencefotth will remain uuknown , . . .

will keep his mouth shut , and lay aside his pen . Therefore , should any one say he has again written , or has said so , believe it not , but consider the teller of the untruth an impostor , and make the teller amenable to the criminal law . " How many unprofitable writers might well

imitate the example of this shrinking and selfdenying author ? Indeed , Praed , in one of his witty couplets , even gives the same advice , though in a different way , to the softer sex , to which we yield our bachelor assent to-day : — " I wish some girls that 1 could name Were half as silent as their pictures . " W .

Mrsii :. —We have much pleasure in calling attention to the advantages afforded hythe London Organ School and International College of Music , Estahd . 18 ( 15 i Patron , His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury ; Principal , the Rtv . Scotson Clark , Mus . 13 . Established for the purpose of encouraging music in all its branches . The board of Professors include the Rev . the Principal , George S . Liihn Esq ., 1 st prize , Leipsig Conservatory ; John Cheshire , Esq .,

( Harp ) , Herr A . Lummer , ( Violin ) , late Professor Leipsig Conservatory ; W . Pettit Est | ., Principal Violoncello , Old Philarmonic Society ; Hamilton Clark , Esq ., Mus . B ., eX-Organist , Queen ' s College , Oxford , and others 5 assisted by competent Professors . The numerous advantages are fully expressed in a detailed prospectus , obtainable on application at the central office , 13 , Vigo-street , W . The fees for instruction are extremely moderate . We heartil commend the college , and wish it the success it deserves .