Opening Of New Masonic Hall At Sittingbourne.

. nted the appearance of a quadrangle , for there were it P reSL jcs rising by three graduated elevations , the " many t ! ' ' ons of the Heavenly Father ' s House , " which were the mansi ¦ , . roon 1 S ) the offices and apartments of the c •tsand servants of the Lord , who dwelt in His Temple by fr ' , j ,,, ni < rht . These side buildings made its breadth and ''^ Jth equal- '' internally the place of worship was 60 cubits ' " % - but there was no appearance of narrowness , or

disnortio ' n , because the Holy ot Holies , a perfect cube ot i " ubits was separated off by doors and a veil , so that the 7 ? ] ace was an oblong , or double cube , like the lodge in h c \\ we are , whilst outside separated by a marble ballistic and reached by the staircase of 15 steps ( eight of " h ' ch were within the Holy Place and seven without it ) was the magnificent portico of Solomon , which was 10 by 20 I ' ts " These three divisions exhibit to us the three theohVi ' cai virtues of Faith , Hope , and Charity . Faith is the fibule throug h which every worshipper must first

V n ;< rh to God ; then Hope casts its anchor I m the " Holy Place , sure and steadfast , on to the Mercy seat within the Veil ; and this last is the dwellinglace of Love , for God is Love . In the Vestibule , or Portico stood the two great pillars of brass , the Masterie ' ces ' of Hiram Abiff ' s work , supporting its entablature , f hese symbolised the two tables of the Law , identical in

their nature , but separate in their objects—Love to ( jodand I ove to Man . In a line with these pillars , within the Temple , according to the best authorities , were eight similar nillars ' not of brass , but of marble , which , with Boaz and lachin , made up the ten words , or commandments , of the Two Tables . In this case , the fifth commandment must be

placed in the first table , as the best Rabbis place it , for it only > 't ' ower aspect represents the duty to our neighbour , but in its higher sense it forms the great duty which we owe to God by obedience to all lawful authority , which represents Him , whether in Church or State . These other pillars bore up the roof of the Temple : even so Heaven

itself rests on God ' s words . The walls throughout were ¦ aaiiiscotted with cedar , and the pavement with fir , or rather cypress ; also the door of the Holiest with cedar , and of The Holy Place with cypress . These were carved with exquisite devices of Cherubim , palm trees and their fruit , pomegranate trees and their fruit , flowers ( such as

lilies ) and foliage of all kinds , chain work , net work , and other symbolic devices ; but none of the wood was visible ; it was all covered with thin plates of gold , the work of the Goldbeater ; and we know well enough what all this represents . The wood of the Ark and of the Temple represents man ' s corruptible part , his present Body ; and the gold

represents the incorruptible nature of the Godhead , of which , as an immortal spirit , he is also partaker . Like the cedar and cypress , overlaid with gold , so are the Temples of our bodies—if overshadowed and dwelt in by the Holy Spirit—well pleasing to God , and of a sweet-smelling savour , and they bring forth both fruit and

foliage ; for in Scripture good words and profession are the leaves , and the fruits are the good works , all said and done to the honour and glory of the Great Builder . With one last reference I close . The windows of the Temple , like dormer lights , are high up in the roof , and serve the twofold purpose of supplementing the artificial light of the

temple , and of ventilating it , and letting the Frankincense go upwards . Symbolically , this shows that man in this world must ever walk by faith , an artificial light , which , like that of the Temple , needs constant trimming and dressing , and must never be allowed to go out hy day nor night . These lights of Faith represent the three great lights of our

Masonic lodge— "Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth" —in other words , Benevolence in the Heart , Beneficence in action , and Truth in all our communications . Truth is that attribute of God on which rest all His promises to usward , and that virtue in man which is the basis of every other Masonic virtue . Hypocrisy and deceit are foul blasts which

extinguish the Temple Lights , and leave the soul of man in darkness . Walking in obedience to these three lodgelights of Faith , we may cast our eyes above , and see the windows of Heaven opened , " shedding their benign influence oyer us , and enlightening us in the paths of virtueand science " ( knowled ge ) ; we may feel that the all-seeing Eye of the Great

Geometrican looks graciously and complacently on our fervency and zeal ; we may see the incense of our prayers and alms wafted , like those of Cornelius , to the 1 hrone uf the Most High ; we may rest peacefully assured that His best blessings of corn , and wine , and oil in their niffliest , truest sense , will be poured out on us ; and we may , 1 ,, ~~ ....... ,,,,. uv . [ . uuii-u uui yjn us , emu we may nimbl that the Hol

y hope y Spirit will season with salt all tne sacrifices of our Charity , and preserve them from all M-msn and impure motives ; and that , when we are summoned to the Great Lodge above , the voice from heaven na \ be heard over our open graves : " Blessed are the dead inch die in the Lord , even so saith the Spirit , for they rest fm „ , a ¦ V , ' "'" 1 , 1-cn = u sarin cue opine , ior iney rest nor thenlabours

, - , and their works do follow them . " imim ' " , GRAND MASTER then proceeded with the whirl , T - beautiful ceremony of consecration , and mi ,,, ' , S , , eedless t 0 sa >'> was rendered in a faultless in- h ' c ^ U - ° -G - - concluded the ceremony by declardc-dir- ? 1 '"" Gael's Masonic Hall duly consecrated and tim ^ cording to ancient form , to Masonry , for all

mo Urw ' , ° ' " ' P-P-J-G . W . Kent and Wilts , acted W" K '' ^ ly , XC - * and Bro - W . H . Drake , P . P . G . O ., direction , ° ^ e duties o £ Organist , and under whose anthems d 01 r of the members of the lodge gave the BroH SanCtl ' ' d , ants > and h y ""* . P -G M flf ' fi M . 0 RRIS > W . M ., rose and expressed to the tenclin . r'J thanl < s of the brethren for his kindness in at-Th , Vr A , rform the ceremony . , , - ' U . lYI . llH . M ,-., ^ . . . J Ii- - _ . _ . 1 , , , ITT IT ., ¦¦ ciumcu to tne ivitne

' otlirewiu 1 " "" K ' rne gavei vv .., " * orde-i ! . ' the P-G'M- and procession retired in Th' 1 e ,, tered . and perfectw ° l Iasonic llall > which consists of a beautiful VCI ' ycomn , f , rl- , 0 lnted lodge room , good reception room , l erected l ,, ? n il l , et room > kitchen , lavatory , & c ., & c , fer the & I 3 ro - Charles B"rley , P . M ., P . PiA . G . D . C , and built LR ° most 1 , beral terms > and was designed •rhis happy " prance Seager , S . W . of the lodge . tne

- ' . "ctiael ' s Lc-fl " - "opicious aay ror brethren ot bt . aded over hv fif' ^ , ? ffnt : to a close by a banquet , prethe P -G . M V , 1 y ^' " - Henry Morris > supported by '' Larl A '" herst , the P . G . Officers , and brethren .

I v u - ' Kcyser ' w ; ni his usuaI custom , Bro . Alderman Sir r hc , d at the i ,, P , sent a t the annual garden party to Green ' on Tuescla Charitable Institution , Walham

Province Of Staffordshire.

PROVINCE OF STAFFORDSHIRE .

LAYING A FOUNDATION STONE AT NORMACOT . On Thursday , the 27 th ult ., the foundation stone of a new Cottage Hospital was laid at Normacot by Sir Smith Child , Bart ., on behalf of the town of Longton . Memorial stones were also laid by the Mayor ( Alderman J . Aynsley ) , Mr . W . Webberley , Mr . A . G . Prince , and by Mr . VV . J . Dawes ( on behalf of the medical staff of the hospital ) .

The present hospital was founded in 1865 by the late Rev . Adam Clarke , and about seven years after was conveyed to several trustees for the benefit of the manufacturing , labouring , and other classes of the borough of Longton and neighbourhood . As time went on , however , it became manifest the present building was too small to meet the growing requirements of the district , and a strong desire

was evinced to obtain a building which , besides affording increased accommodation , would be more healthily situated . The unlooked-for success of the Christmas Supply Fair of 1 SS 7 , which was held for the purpose of raising funds , and the generous support given by friends , encouraged the promoters in their undertaking , and a splendid site being offered at Normacot by the Duke of Sutherland , it was at

once decided to erect the new building there . Col . Foster Gotigh , P . G . M . of Staffordshire , having undertaken to assist in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone , there was a large muster of members of the Craft present on the occasion . The brethren from a distance were welcomed by the members of the Etruscan Lodge , No . 54 6 , their place of meeting being the Wesleyan

School Rooms , which were lent for the occasion . The P . G . M . was accompanied by Bro . Col . J . A . Bindley , D . P . G . M ., and the following Present Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge : Bros . W . T . Copeland , 637 , P . G . Reg . ; F . Mountford , 4 60 , P . S . G . D . ; James Powell , 347 , P . G . S . of Wks . ; G . H . Stanger , 419 , P . G . D . C ; J . Stevenson , 1942 , P . G . S . B . ; Charles Lee , acting P . G . Chap . ; E . H . Thome , P . G . Sec . ; E . W . Taylor , 726 , P . G . Org . ; S .

Watson , 2064 , P . G . Purst . ; W . D . Batkm , 726 , E . J . Mousley , 72 G , and J . Godwin , 9 S , P . G . Stwds . There were nearly 200 brethren present , including Bros . W . H . Hales , 418 , P . P . S . CW . ; J . Bromley , 41 S , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . B . Piercy , 41 S , P . P . S . CW . ; W . R . Blair , 54 6 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . O . Briggs , 4 G 0 , P . P . J . CW . ; J . L . Broad , 4 60 , P . P . J . CW . ; T . Turner , 460 , P . P . G . Reg . ; F . Brandon , 41 S , P . P . G .

Reg . ; R . 'Tooth , 2214 , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Webberley , 54 6 , P . P . G . Reg . ; E . E . Scrivener , 41 S , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . G . Ainsworth , 460 , P . P . S . G . D . ; F . W . Grove , 6 37 , P . P . J . CD . ; A . G . Prince , 54 6 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . Ingamells , 4 60 , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . Bentley , 9 S , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . Webberley , 546 , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . Bennett , 9 S , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; B . H . Brough , 54 6 , P . P . G . S . of Wks . ; E . V . Greatbatch , 41 S , P . P . G . S . of Wks . ; T . E . Storey , 1914 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; G . C . Kent , 54 6 , P . P . A . G . Sec ; W . T . M'Neale , 45 6 ,

P . P . G . S . B . ; F . Weston , oS , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . B . Cull , 15 S 7 , P . P . G . P . ; T . Umvin , 6 37 , P . P . G . P . ; E . Heelis , W . M . 662 ; Thomas Barker , W . M . 1942 ; and others . The brethren , having formed procession , marched to the site , preceded by Chief .-Supt . Hill ( mounted ) , the Longton Borough Prize Band , the choir , and clergy , and followed by visiting gentlemen , the medical staff of the hospital , the

trustees , directors , and Treasurer of the hospital , visitors from other towns , magistrates , aldermen , town councillors , borough officials , School Board , Dresden Military Band , fire brigade , Supt . Evans ( mounted ) , and the g-eneral public . The Lewises who accompanied the Masons , and carried the Volume of the Sacred Law were named Bennion ,

Brough , Griffiths , and Webberley . When the procession arrived at the site , a large number of ladies and gentlemen had already assembled . Amongst those present when the proceedings commenced were Sir Smith Child , Bart ., the Mayor of Newcastle ( Mr . Whitting-ham ) , the Mayor of Longton ( Mr . J . Aynsley ) , the Mayor of Hanley ( Mr . H . Palmer ) , the Mayor of

Stoke ( Air . VV . Boulton ) , the Chief Bailiff of Tunstall ( Mr . T . G . Booth ) , the Chairman of the Fenton Local Board ( Mr . G . Hallam ) , Dr . Arlidge , & c . A hymn was sung , and it was followed by prayer offered by the Rev . C F . TAMPLIN , the Mayor ' s Chaplain . The Mayor then presented to Mr . A . G . Prince a trowel and mallet with which to lay the first memorial stone , and

that ceremony having been performed , and the foundation stone having been laid by Sir Smith Child , Bart ., the Masonic portion of the ceremony was proceeded with . Col . Go UGH said it afforded him satisfaction to respond to the call of Sir Smith Child , observing that he and his brethren who were present from the various lodges in Staffordshire were lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws

of the country , bound by solemn obligation to assist in the erection of handsome building-s , to be serviceable to mankind , and to serve God , the Great Architect of the Universe . He explained that their Masonic secrets contained nothing that was repugnant to the laws of God , but these secrets had been transmitted to them , and it was their desire that they should be handed down unimpaired to posterity .

Unless their Craft was good and honourable it could not have existed for so many centuries , and had so many illustrious brethren ever ready to promote their Institution . Bro . LEE , acting G . Chap ., invoked the blessing of the Almighty Architect on the proceedings . Bros . VV . Hales , acting J . W . ; VV . R . Blair , acting S . W . ; and Col . Bindley , D . P . G . M ., handed the plumb

rule , the level , and the square to Col . Gough , while Bro . P . Bennion presented to him the gavel . The P . G . M . having tried and proved the stone and found it correctly laid , presented to Mr . Inskip , as the builder , the plans of the structure and also 20 hitherto unissued shillings to be spent in refreshment for the workpeople at the close of the labours of the day .

Bro . Charlesworth , VV . M . 2149 , presented the cornucopia containing corn , which the P . G . M . scattered on the stone as an emblem of plenty . Bro . Windle , W . M . 41 S , carried the wine , which was poured on as an emblem of joy and gladness ; and Bro . F . Skerrett , W . M . 460 , oil , which was poured on the stone as an emblem of peace and unanimity .

Col . GOUGH said he could not conclude that Masonic ceremonial without , on behalf of himself and the Freemasons of Staffordshire , expressing his hearty congratulations to them upon the auspicuous commencement of that excellent work . As Freemasons they fraternally offered their services on all proper occasions in assisting any good work of public importance and utility . He had pleasure in placing on the stone , on behalf of his brethren and himself ,

Ar01902

their contributions towards the building fund , which amounted to £ 50 . Other contributions , amounting in the aggregate to about £ 460 , were then laid on the stone , and the procession was shortly afterwards re-formed , and returned to the market place . The Freemasons returned to the Schoolroom , where lodge

was temporarily held . Col . Gough received a very gratifying souvenir of his first visit to Longton since he became the ruler of the Craft in Staffordshire in the form of a handsome P . G . M . 's jewel , which was presented by Bro . P . BENNION on behalf of the Etruscan Lodge . Col . GOUGH very heartily thanked the brethren for their

kindness . The jewel bore the following inscription : " Presented to Rt . Wor . Bro . Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., P . G . Std . Br ., P . G . Master of Staffordshire , by the brethren of the Etruscan Lodge , Mo . 54 6 , on the occasion of his assisting Sir Smith Child , Bart ., in laying the corner stone of the Longton Cottage Hospital with Masonic ceremonial . 27 th June , 1 SS 9 . " It was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .

Bro. Hughan's Forthcoming Work.

BRO . HUGHAN'S FORTHCOMING WORK .

Bro . Hughan , of Torquay , is now writing a history of the "Apollo" Lodge , York , which bids fair to be one of the most interesting of his valuable series of Masonic works . The full title is "Historical Sketch of the 'Apollo' Lodge , in relation to Craft and Royal Arch Masonry , with brief notices of its local Predecessors and Contemporaries . " The author hopes to be able to issue the volume to subscribers at five shillings each , but the edition will , as usual ,

be limited . The last work , containing a facsimile reproproduction of the unique copy of the " Engraved List of 1734 , " with numerous interesting notes of the old lodges from "Time Immemorial" to 1734 , " is still to be had at 5 s ., post free , from the author , Grosvenor House , Torquay , or the publisher , Bro . George Kenning , London . Only a few are left for sale , and it is already being quoted at a premium in book catalogues .

Bro. Jehangir H. Kothari.

BRO . JEHANGIR H . KOTHARI .

The Sind Gazette , published at Karrachi , India , in its issue of April 30 th , announced the departure from that province on a tour round the world , of Bro . Jehangir H . Kothari . It has recently become so general for natives of India who possess the necessary means and desire for world-wide knowledge and experience , to journey in distant lands , that

it would hardly require special notice but for the fact that Bro . Kothari is a man of mark , not only in Masonic circles , but as a student of the manners and customs of the lands visited by him , and of cosmopolitan institutions generally , his main object being to render himself useful to his countrymen by imparting- to them on his return the results of his

observations . Bro . Kothari arrived in London this week , but his stay is very short . He leaves to-day ( Friday ) , and travels first through France , Germany , Italy , Russia , Norway and Sweden , taking in on his return Spain , whence he will embark for Liverpool . He will leave that port for Australia via the Cape , visiting the most important

colonies , the Sandwich Islands , and then on to San Francisco , from which place he will go to South America , viewing all the chief cities in that part of the New World , finally returning to London . Bro . Kothari will probably complete his tour and return to London within a year , when we trust he will prolong his stay sufficiently to enable him to revisit many of the lodges which welcomed him on his former visit about three years since .

An Explanation.

AN EXPLANATION .

We have taken the opportunity of explaining to Bro . Godson the circumstances under which his letter , which appeared in our issue of the 22 nd ult ., was presented in an incomplete state , and that , in doing so , we had not the slightest intention or desire to mar the general effect of the explanations which he was desirous of laying before the

Craft through the medium of our columns . He has this week been kind enough to recognise our wish to give every one a fair and impartial hearing , and is chiefly anxious it should be understood that the two copies of his letter which were forwarded to the Masonic press were identical , and that he is , therefore , not responsible for any omissions or alterations that were made by the printer .

The London Scots Lodge.

THE LONDON SCOTS LODGE .

We announced in our last issue that Grand Lodge had granted the prayer of the petition for the above lodge , and we are now in a position to state that the consecration will take place on the 29 th inst ., at the Hall of the Royal Scottish Corporation , and that the ceremony will be

performed by the Grand Secretary , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . We avail ourselves of this opportunity to correct an error that had crept into our first announcement , viz ., that R . W . Bro . Lord Euston was ineligible for the position of first Worshipful Master , whereas it should have been stated that

Sir Michael Robert Shaw Stewart was the brother disqualified by reason of his not having filled the office of Warden in an-English Lodge . We desire to express our regret to the W . M . designate especially for this error . The officers designate are Bros . Lord Euston , W . M . ; Vero Shaw , 753 , 11 S 5 , 2054 , S . W . ; John Whitehead , P . M . 1425 , J . W . ; George Henderson , 3 60 ( Scotland ) , Sec . ;

Geo . Shaw , P . M . 59 , I ' reas . ; John Page , S . W . and W . M . elect 753 , S . D . ; Thos . Grant , J . D . ; H . Campbell-Beaver , 753 , I . G . Amongst the other names on the petition are Bros . Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , P . G . M . Scotland , and Prov . G . M . Renfrewshire ; Charles F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . England and Scotland , and Prov . G . Warden Aberdeenshire ; D . F . Gellin , P . M . 1425 ; D . Charteris , 177 ; and others .