The Prince And Princess Of Wales At Reading.

seats were placed in the east , and chairs for the Royal suite were arranged in front of the tiers which were occupied by the Freemasons . The Prince and Princess evidently appreciated the warm reception accorded to them , and repeatedly acknowledged the cheers which were given ,

and frequently smiled . The whole assembly , which rose on their Royal Highnesses entering the tent , remained standing during the ceremony . The Mayor ( having received from the hands of the Provincial Grand Master the trowel ) , in the name of the School Trustees , asked the Prince to

proceed with the ceremony of laying the stone , handing the trowel and presenting the same on behalf of the Freemasons of Reading . The architect presented to the Prince a plan of the buildings , after which the Grand Chaplain advanced and offered up prayer . The Grand Secretary deposited a vessel containing specimens of all the gold , silver ,

and copper coins of the present reign , and tne Town Clerk deposited a vessel hermetically scaled , containing records , & c . When both were deposited , the following hymn , composed for the occasion by Mr . W . Blake Atkinson , and set to a chorale of the late Prince Consort by Mr . W . H . Strickland , was sung by the Philharmonic Society : —

O Lord , to Thee our prayer addressing , We , here assembled , humbly ask That Thou wilt grant Thy fruitful blessing , Henceforth to rest upon our task . Throughout this work , Thy care extending , With ever watchful eye look down ; Its progress , from all harm defending , With Thine almighty favour crown .

Upon this spot both sow and nourish , Within the heart of early youth , The seeds of learning that shall flourish In harvest-fields of golden truth . May they , to manhood's year ' s attaining ,

Their country ' s welfare keep in view ; Her virtue and her right maintaining , In distant days her fame renew . Be it their best , their sole endeavour Thy will to do , Thy will to love ; Till all their labours end for ever , Within thy realm of rest above . Amen .

The plumb-line was then applied by His Royal Highness , and having done so , the Prince said : — " Alay the Great Architect of the Universe enable us successfully to carry on and finish the work of which wc have now laid the principal stone , and every other undertaking which may tend to the

advantage ofthe Borough of Reading and this neighbourhood , and may this school be long preserved from peril and decay , diffusing its light and influence to generations yet unborn . " The brethren responded , " So mote it be . " The Grand Master then delivered to the Prince a Cornucopia , and the

Senior Grand and Junior Wardens , the Golden Ewers , with wine and oil . The Prince having spread corn on the stone , poured out wine and oil , conformably to ancient custom , saying : " May the bountiful Hand of Heaven ever supply this country with abundance of corn , wine , and oil , and all necessaries and comforts of this life . " The brethren

again responded , ' So mote it be . " Prayer was then offered by the Lord Bishop of Oxford , the Philharmonic Society repeating the responses . The ceremony concluded with the " Hallelujah Chorus , " performed by the band of the Grenadier Guards and the members of the Philharmonic

Society . The Treasurer to the school then presented to the Senior Master Builder ( Mr . Parncll ) a purse of gold , saying that it was the pleasure of the Prince that those who have hewed the stones , and those who have laid them , and all who have assisted , should " rejoice in the light . "

A recherche repast was served up at the Townhall by Mr . George , confectioner , King-street . The tables were loaded with every delicacy , and on the Royal table was placed a handsome massive silver gilt service , gratuitously supplied by Mr . Brachcr ,

jeweller , Minster-street . On the arrival of the Prince and Princess at the Town Hall , their Royal Highnesses were loudly cheered , and were received by the Mayor and Mayoress . The Mayor had the honour of escorting the Princess to the dining hall , and the Mayoress

was graciously led by the Prince , followed by the distinguished visitors . During the luncheon the band of the Grenadier Guards performed a choice selection of music . After the luncheon grace was said by the Lord Bishop of Oxford .

I he Princess of Wales was so pleased with the ice biscuits set before her by Mr . George , that her Royal Highness recpiested him to furnish her with the recipe , which he accordingly did , and the Mayor intends forwarding a supply to Marlborough Honse , for her Royal Highness ' s use .

The Prince And Princess Of Wales At Reading.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE Was attended by several hundred members of various Provinces , and presided over by the R . W . the Pro . Grand Master of Berks and Bucks ( Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ., M . P . ) , who thanked the brethren who had come from a distance to be

present on this auspicious occasion . He also referred to the handsome arch at the railway gates , as reflecting great credit upon the Masons of Reading , at whose cost it had been erected . Bro . Weightman , MAV ., handed to the Grand Master the silver trowel designed by Br . Biggs , P . G ., Sec ,

and manufactured by Br . Botly , requesting him to present it to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as the gift of the Freemasons of Reading . The officers and brothers present in the Pro . Grand Lodge , whose names wc were able to glean , included His Grace the Duke of Manchester , "

P . G . M . of Hunts and Northampton ; Colonel Burdett , P . G . M . for Middlesex ; Bros . W . T . Mercer , Past P . G . M . ( China ) , Bagshaw , P . G . M . Essex ; Perkins , P . G . Warden of England ; Rev . C J . Martyn , P . G . Chaplain of England ; also Past Grand Chaplains Bros . Ross , R . J . Simpson , Drs .

Cox and Ravenshaw ; Bros , the Rev . J . R . D . Fidler , P . G . C ; Rev . T . Barton , Assistant Grand Chaplain of the Province ; Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , Chaplain of 'Union Lodge ; J . Harvey , Grand Secretary of England ; Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart , ill . P ., Grand Master Berks and Bucks ; Rev . Sir

John Warren Hayes , Bart ., Deputy Prov . Grand Master Berks and Bucks ; S . Wittey , D . P . G . M . of Wiltshire ; Capt . Brydges , D . P . G . M . Somerset ; D'A ' miine , S . G . W . Berks and Bucks ; W . Biggs , Provincial Grand Secretary Berks and Bucks ; Holden , G . Treasurer ; Weightman , S . G . D . ;

Pennicott and Wise , G . Stewards ; R . Bradley , P . G . P . ; R . Gibbons , P . M . ; W . PI . Cave , P . M . ; F . G . Hall , G . Boycr , G . Purs . ; G . Botlv , P . G . D . ; J . Blowers , P . G . S . B . ; Belcher , P . P . G . W . Oxfordshire ; Rev . S . M . Barkwork , Rev . J . N . Palmer , P . P . G . Chaplain Oxfordshire ; W . Smith , P . P . S . England ; W . C .

Bland , P . M . ; J . W . Hounslow , P . M . ; A . Beale , P . M . ; B . Fielder , S . W . 574 ; G . J . Cosburn , Sec . 574 ; Morland , P . M . ; Hodges , P . M . ; Tombs , P . G . Sec . Wiltshire ; Strickland , P . G . O . ; Dyson , P . G . O . ; Smith , P . G . S . W . ; C . Wheeler , S . D . ; R . Johnston , J . W . ; J . Banco , J . D . ; A . Burns , Steward 574 ; H .

E . Astley , Trended , Rogers , & c . The whole demonstration was , without doubt , one of the grandest , viewed in a Masonic light , which has ever been witnessed in this country . The entire Masonic arrangements devolved upon

Bro . W . Biggs , of 6 , Dukc-strcct , Reading , the energetic Prov . Grand Secretary Berks and Bucks , and they were certainly carried out in a manner that reflected on him the greatest credit . —Extracted from the Reading Mercury .

Summer Banquet Of Lodge Sincerity. No. 180. Plymouth.

SUMMER BANQUET OF LODGE SINCERITY . No . 180 . PLYMOUTH .

On Friday evening , the 24 th ult ., the members of this lodge lick ! their customary summer banquet at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel , Plymouth . The W . M ., Captain Shanks , R . M ., presided , ami there were present the Kcv . John Huyshe , M . A ., the Prov . Grand Master of Devon ,

Bro . Metham , D . P . G . M ., and several visiting brethren , and most ofthe members of the lodge . The toasts were the customary toasts of Freemasons' banquets , anil they were pleasantly given from the Master ' s chair , and by the several brethren to whom some of them were confided . In proposing "The Prince of Wales and the Craft , " the W . M . threw out a suggestion that it would be a gratifying

tiling to Plymouth if His Royal Highness could be induced , as he was Lord Hi gh Steward of the Borough , to lay the foundation-stone of the new Guildhall . The suggestion was received with cheers . Captain Shanks hoped it would not be unacceptable to the Mayor . The W . Master next proposed "The Right Worshipful the Prov . Grand Master of Devon " in terms warmly

eulogistic , antl the toast was received witli enthusiasm . The R . W . Grand Master , in reluming thanks , expressed his gratitude , because theirs was the first lodge in the province which met together for the purpose of discussing the very important movement lie meant to bring forward in the Provincial Grand Lodge . He might , perhaps , be excused if he adverted to a matter of some

impoitancc which would have to be discussed in the Provincial Grand Lodge . Hitherto there had not been more than a certain sum subscribed to the Grand Lodge . The Grantl Lodge of England received 2 s . a year for every member , and the Provincial Grantl Lotlge could not demand more than the same amount . He had been a Fi crimson getting on for fifty years , and he had always

been told that the grantl object of Freemasonry was charily , and he believed there was more charily exercised by them than by any other body in England . But when ihey came to be told that the whole of their organised charily consisted of a subscription of less than id . per week , they woultl think that a very small sum indeed . Yet every small sum , when distributed over a large community ,

made , 111 the aggregate , a large stun . Hitherto in litis province they had only paid three-farthings a week to the whule of their charities , antl he intended to propose at the next meeting of the Gland Lodge to make a subscription of one penny a week . That would be one shilling a year more for each member , and if that were multiplied by 1 , 700 , the number of members in the province , it would make a large sum . Freemasons were not men in the

Summer Banquet Of Lodge Sincerity. No. 180. Plymouth.

humblest slate of life ; indeed , it had been remarked that it was a great luxury for a man to be a Freemason , and it was not much to ask him to pay a penny a week . in the enjoyment of that luxury . Half of this sum would go to the Grantl Lodge of England , and half to the Grand Lodge of Devon . Should this proposal be assented to , they might distribute the funds in any way that might be

acceptable . Freemasonry was progressive , as it ought to be . Formerly they had had charity by hundreds , but now the } ' had it by thousands ; and he gave as an instance of this progress the fact that , during the last two years , £ 23 , 000 had been subscribed for the boys' school alone . He was anxious that the provuv-. c of Devon should not be Uuntcd with doing less for the charities than any other

province , in proportion to its numbers , in the kingdom . If the province decided to subscribe the additional farthing , it would enable them to elect at least two , and probably three annuitants , at ten shillings a week , on the Fortescue annuity fund . If they could do that , he should have an answer to give to all those in London who now taunted them with the backwardness of their

subscriptions in Devon . ( Applause . ) The Right Worshipful Master concluded by expressing an earnest hope that the brethren would give his motion their cordial support at the forthcoming meeting of the Grand Lotlge . Bro . C . Gibson , P . M ., next proposed the health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon , Bro . L . P . Metham , in warmly eulogistic terms , briefly descanting 011 the great services that he had rendered to

Freemasonry . Bro . Metham , having acknowledged the compliment , urged the brethren to support the P . G . Master in his proposition , not only out of regard to him personally and respect for his opinion on a subject of which he was completely master , but for the honour of the province , and for the relief of the poorer brethren , their widows and

orphans . He remarked that in this utilitarian age the public would not be satisfied with mere professions , but had a right to expect , looking at the number and respectability of the members of the lodge , that they should do more in support ofthe great principles of the Order than they had yet done . Although they had done more for the aged Freemasons and their widows than for the other

charities , yet what they had done was little indeed when weighed against the benefits which their distressed brethren in ihe province had received . He showed that they had now twelve annuitants on the list receiving nearly £ 400 a year between them —( hear , hear)—and that , as a province , they had absolutely done nothing whatever for the boys' school , while for that of the girls they had only two

votes previous to his stewardship in May last , when five votes were added . Yet they were never without candidates , and the number was certain to increase . ( Applause . ) lie protested that it was not true , as had been stated , that there was the shghte . t desire on the part of the Prov . Grantl Master , or his Deputy , to do away with the festive board ; on the contrary , they both supported

refreshment in moderation , as a means of bringing those brethren together who might never otherwise know each other , antl of creating a kindly feeling . That it had been a pleasure to him to accept the invitation of every lotlge , whether after lodge or at the annual festivals , and so had the Provincial Grand Master , thus showing that they cordially almittcd the principle . He contended ,

however , that refreshments ought to be secondary to the great object of Mascnry , charity ; that they would be reduced in a very small degree , antl their enjoyment would be enhanced by an additional shilling being added to the provincial dues from each member , to be given to great Masonic charities for the reliefof their distressed brethren , their widows and orphans . At the same time the

brethren woultl understand that , under no circumstances , would the Provincial Grand Longe fees be increased beyond the additional shilling now asked . He laid great stress on this point , as the only argument used by the leader ofthe opposition to the Provincial Grand Master ' s proposition , Bro . Walts , rested solely on the fear that this was a covert attack on refreshments altogether . Bro .

Metham then warned the brethren that ihe opposition to the plan of the Provincial Gram ! Master was but the stepping stone to a wider and wilder scheme for the division ofthe province into two parts . He informed the brethren that liro . Watts , at the meeting recently held , read a resolution lo that effect , which lie pledgctl himself to support in Grand Lodge . He concluded by avowing

his bedef that the brethren of Devonshire woultl support their Provincial Grand Master , whom they had so much cause to revere ; and by supporting him , show their attachment to the principles of the Order . He also corroborated what the Provincial Grand Master had stated , as to the complaints that were made in honaon ofthe low position the province of Devon held on the list of Masonic

charities . The remarks of Bro . Metham were exceedingly well received . He then proposed the health of the W . Master , which was drank amidst the warmest applause . The W . Master returned thanks , and expressed the gratification he felt in presiding over the lodge . Although he had more than 350 miles to travel , he meant to be present on every occasion of business that he possibly

could , and he woultl carry out the duties of his office to the best of his ability . Other toasts followed . Bro . Latimer proposed " The LP . Master anil P . M . ' s ofthe Lotlge , " and , in doing so , expressed the sali-faction of the lodge at the earnest and faithful manner in which Bro . F . P . Palkwill bad performed the duties of his office . With regard to the

question of the charities , he was glad to hear the proposal of the Provincial Grand Master , and it would have his warmest support . Bro . Ualkwill very ably responded , and a number of other excellent speeches contributed to a pleasant and we 11 spent evening . The arrangements at the hotel were in every respect satisfactory , and reflected credit on its management .