Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Surrey Masonic Hall.

many thanks to them for having contributed so very largely to the enjoyment of to-day ; and , perhaps , you will allow me to put that toast in a manner in which I once heard it put on the other side of the Atlantic , in thc United States . A srentleman on that occasion who had given the

toast of "The Ladies , " concluded by saying . " And now , gentlemen , I give you the toast of 'The Ladies , " the most enduring tribunal , who rule without law , decide without appeal , and are never wrong . " ( Laughter . ) Bro . Bethell responded .

The Chairman in proposing " The Health of Bro . E . Clark , the Architect , " said they could not do less than drink the health of one who had been instrumental in carrying out the proceedings and the works before them which they had seen . They ought thoroughly to study

plans , specificalions , elevations , and so forth , in order to understand the real value of the architect ' s work . The building of the place was a minor consideration ; it was on the architect ' s portion of the work that the greatest amount of intellectual labour was expended . He

must mention that Bro . Clark was a P ; : st Superintendent of Works in his own Province of Middlesex , and he was most proud of having him in that position . He was also a Past Master of his ( the chairman ' s ) best lodge , he was

going to say , but that would be hardly right , as they were all best . They were all working equally well , but he might say that Bro . Clarkwas one of the best working members uf the whole ofthe province , ( cheers ) .

Bro . Clark in reply said that although he had been much praised by the Chairman for his work , that work had been to him a labour of love . Ha could only add that this was one of the few efforts which would be brought before thc notice of the public to rescue the Craft in general from the influence of the taverns . Most

working Masons were very desirous their meetings should be free from what he must term the taint of the tavern . As a rule it was not a fit place for Masons to meet in . It certainly had some small amount of bad influence on the brethren ; at any rate

their wives were happier when Masons met at Masonic Halls . This small work would be a very great success ; to his mind it was bound to be so . They could isohte their Masonic meetings and go on with their working without any disturbance . With regard to this locality ,

it especially required such an establishment , for he thought they hail not anything of the kind nearer than a mile oil . The Morns was neaily a mile—a most respectable house—but still it was some distance away ; but in other directions there was not a good-sized place within from

perhaps two lo three miles in which general meetings and entertainments could be hehl . Bro . Stevens proposed " The Health of the Chairman and Lady Burdett . " Having alluded to the hig h estimation in which he was held by

the Masonic world he expressed his gratification at seeing him amongst them on this occa .-aon . He also spoke of the great honour which the Grand Master had conferred upon him in deputing him to be his representative at the laying of this memorial stone .

The Chairman in reply said he felt great difficulty in responding to the toast , which hail been so kindly and flatteringly brought forward by Bro . Jas . Stevens- He knew he had done a great de . il in Masonry , but still if it had not been for the support he had received from such brethren as Bro . Stevens and other brethren of

the Province to which lie belonged , he should never have held lhe ollice he now did . Masons always supported their Grand Oflicers , and he himself felt very much flattered by the way in

which he had been received and supported , and especially in being then present . He would never forget this event in his life . It would be an event which would be maiked in i ed letters hereafter . Me did what he could for

Fieemasonry , not from the mere simple fact of being brought for waul as Provincial Grind Master , but to advance the interests of lhe Masonic Charities and Masonry in general . If it were not for the Chanties , the Order would not be looked upon asan ; , thing at all . In the Girls' School there were 12 S or 130 girls clothed , educated

Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Surrey Masonic Hall.

and supported , in the Boys' School 146 Boys , and in the Benevolent Institution for old men and women , who had served their time in Masonry , a long list of recipients of bounty en the oooks . Masons must be proud of what they were doing . Masons not only did this but

they had their convivial meetings , all of which tended to the cause of the charities , and he looked on the whole of Masonry as tending towards faith , hope , and charity , and he trusted that every member not only there present but who must be initiated into the order in the srrand

temple which was going to be erected , would be induced not only to look to his own preferment in the Order , but also to his preferment in the Masonic Charities , that he would be hereafter enabled to wear what was called the Masonic

jewel , that individuals only obtained b y certain subscriptions to the charities and by assistance given to the charities , which they believed to be the foundation of all Freemasonry . Tho ladies were not forgotten by the Order , but were upheld as the principal patrons and supporters , and in any case where they could do anything in the Benevolent Institution for ladies connected with

the Oi- 'ler to whom anything unfortunate had happened , they always did it . He hoped that none present would think that the Masons were present merely to take part in a ceremony or banquet , or something of that sort , but that they wished by this means to encourage others to come to them , and he hoped assist in the

Masonic Charities , and to help those who were really in want . They did not come in their gold collars and aprons merely to shew themselves , but for some really good Masonic purpose . Wherever he found the brethren he was happy to meet them , and wherever he met them he found a cordial reception . He also thanked them for their kindness in not

forgetting his wife . Bro . Oliver , in replying to the toast of " The Health ofthe Builder" said he had done all he possibly could to render this building a success . He and Bro . Clark , the Architect , had been up till twelve o ' clock the night before about it , and again at six that morning . He was very much

pleased that the allair had gone off so well , and that the Chairman and brethren approved of their efforts . ( Cheers . ) The company then separated . The luncheon was supplied by Messrs . J . and T . Hannan ( Littlejohn ' s ) , King William-street , City , under the superintendanee of their chef , Mr . T . W . Phillips .

Presentation Of An Address To The R.W. The J.G.W. Of England.

PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS TO THE R . W . THE J . G . W . OF ENGLAND .

On Wednesday , the 20 th instant , a lodge of emergency was held b y command of the W . M . of the St . Oswald Lodge No . 8- ; o , in the Lodgeroom , Town Hall , Ashbourne , Derbyshire , The lodge was opened in due form at two p . m ., by Bro . Hornsey Casson , W . M ., I' . l' . G . O .

of Derbyshire , who stated to the brethren present that the special object of their meeting that day was to present the congratulatory address to their acting P . G . M ., Iho . Okeover , who , as they all were aware , had lately been raised to

the dignity of J . G . Warden of England . For this purpose , he proposed , now , to adjourn the lodge to the Museum , at Okeover , whither , in the name of their R . Worshi pful brother , he now had the pleasure to invite all the biethren present .

The Museum had been fitted up by Bro . Okeover as a most convenient and pleasing lodgeroom , and when all the brethren were duly assembled , the W . M . resumed the lodge , and the Right Worshipful the Prov . D . G . M . was received with the honour due to his exalted

station . The W . M . then stated to Bro . Okeover the object of their visit , and thanked him in the name of all the brethren for the opportunity he

had afforded them of presenting this address at his own house , where so many evidences were afforded , that he and his predecessors had indeed made the " liberal arts and sciences " their especial care and study . By command of the W . M .,

Presentation Of An Address To The R.W. The J.G.W. Of England.

Bro . Holland , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., of Derbyshire , rose and said , that as mover of the address from thc lodge , it was his pleasing duty first to addiess the R . W . brother . He was , at the same time , proud and somewhat sad to remember that he was at present the only subscribing member of the St . Oswald lodge who was a member

when Bro . Okeover was initiated , now some ten years ago . He would not take up any more valuable time , but simply say that he trusted Bro . Okeover would consider that every word in the address now about to be presented was the heartfelt feeling of every brother in the lodge , and not a mere formal expression of congratulation .

Bro . Lister , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., the seconder of the address , spoke in similar terms . The Worshipful Master then said that nothing remained to be done , but to beg Bro . Okeover ' s acceptance of the address of congratulation , which he assured him , speaking as the

voice of the whole lodge , was the unanimous expression of the feelings of the brethren . It gave him great pleasure to inform Bro . Okeover that it was signed by every present subscribing member of the lodge , and he could assure the Right Worshipful Bro . that the absence of the

few brethren who were not present on that occasion was in every case the result of very urgent and unavoidable circumstances . It would ill become him , in Bro . Okeover ' s presence to say all that the brethren thought with regard to their newly-honoured D . P . G . M ., but he could assure

him that had he been present at the lodge when the address was voted , he would at any rate have proved the fallacy of the adage , that listeners never hear any good of themselves . Bro . Okeover had endeared himself to every brother with whom he had come in contact , and he ( the

W . M . ) held up the career of Bro . Okeover as a high example to every young Mason . Well had he carried out all the principles , as taught him by the different degrees through which he had passed . His true Masonic Charity , his cultured mind and devotion to the liberal arts and

sciences , and his willingness and desire at all times to lend himself to the instruction and welfare of all his inferior brethren , proved him a just and upright Mason , who had profited by the teaching of each successive degree . In the name of the St . Oswald Lodge , he begged Bro .

Okeover s acceptance of the congratulatory address . Bro . Okeover said that " out ofthe abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh , " was not literally true in his case , for out of the abundance of his heart at that moment he found it very difficult to speak . He could assure the brethren

that nothing in the whole course of his life had ever given him greater feelings of gratification than receiving that kind expression of the congratulations of his brethren . He felt that he was unworthy of the flattering terms in which he had been spoken of that day , but he

assured the brethren one and all that the high honours conferred upon him , foremost among which he esteemed that expression of feeling on the part ofthe brethren of his Mother Lodge , would have the effect of making him more zealous in his Masonic duties , and more

anxious to make himself worthy of the good opinion which it gratified him to find the brethren of his province had of him . He could only thank the brethren for the beautifully executed work of art in which their sentiments were expressed , and he could assure them that it would be treasured up by himself

and his children as one of the most valued of their heir-looms . After labour comes refreshment , and he hoped that all the brethren present would now adjourn to the dining room , where they would find something which he hoped would prove acceptable to them after their long walk .

1 he W . M . then thanked their host for his hospitality , whicli they all accepted with pleasure . The brethren after partaking of an excellent collation , enjoyed a walk through the picture galleries , which contain many well known master

pieces , and after spending a most pleasant afternoon adjourned back again to their lodge-room , when the lodge was closed in due form . The address , which is , in the form of an album is a very beautiful specimen of the highest style