District Grand Lodge Of South Africa , Eastern Division (E.G.).

Bro . H . T . Tamplin , 828 ... ... ... Dist . G . Reg . „ C . Gillbank . 1800 ... ... ... Dist . G . Treas . „ R . J . Dick , 853 ... ... ... Dist . G . Sec . „ C . J . Tate , Rising Star ... ... ... Dist . S . G . D . „ C . A . Carter , 86 3 ... ... ... Dist . J . G . D . „ C G . Goodwin , St . John ' s ... ... Dist . G . S . of W . „ H . Forbes , 711 .., ... ... Dist . G . D . C

„ T . O . W . Harvey , 863 ... ... ... Dist . A . G . D . C „ G . Brown , 86 3 ... ... ... Dist . G . S . B . " n' ^ n V \ 1 D ist . G . Std . Brs . „ B . Attwell , 828 ... ... ... ) „ H . Wurdeman , 1469 ... ... ... Dist . G . Org . „ G . H . Ball , 853 ... ... ... Dist . A . G . Sec . „ D . C . Macdonald , 2089 ... ... Dist . G . Purst .

„ M . Rothschild , White Hope ... ... Dist . A . G . Purst . „ J . C . King , 86 3 ... ... ...- ) „ W . Griffin , 863 ... ... ... " W . C Johnson , 863 ... L Dist . G . Stewards . „ J . Donaldson , 711 ... ... ... | „ J . H . Wilson , 1 S 00 ... ... ... | „ E . M . Searle , 711 ... ... ... J „ A . Masterson , 711 ... ... ... Dist . G . Tyler . The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Lodges of Good

Will , Good Hope , and Southern Cross , for the arrangements made for the entertainment of the District Grand Lodge . In the evening the District G . M ., D . D . G . M ., and officers of District Grand Lodge were entertained at a banquet in the Liedertafel . There was an unusually large gathering of brethren . Bro . Dr . Wirgman , W . M . 711 ( E . C ) , D . J . G . W ., presided .

A very substantial repast was provided , and the attention shown to the guests was highly appreciated . The toasts were of the usual order—first the loyal and then the Masonic . "The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having been honoured ,

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed " The R . W . D . G . M ., " and alluded to the long period during which Bro . Dr . Egan had ruled the district to the honour and well-being of the Craft . The DISTRICT GRAND MASTER , in responding , spoke of the support he had received from the Craft in the district , and also " mentioned that of the very few appeals from his rulings that had been taken to Grand Lodge none had ever been sustained .

Bro . MOUAT , Deputy D . G . M . of the Western Division and P . S . G . W . of the Eastern Division of South Africa , proposed in graceful terms the toast of "The D . D . G . M . and Officers of District Grand Lodge , " which was responded to by the D . D . G . M . and D . S G . W . Bro . Ven . Archdeacon GRANT , D . G . Chap ., next proposed "The Retiring Officers of District Grand Lodge , " to which B-o . A . WALSH ,

P . D . S . G . W ., responded . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed " The District Grand Lodge of the Western Division Natal and the Transvaal , " arid in so doing spoke of the necessity of sympathy and fraternal working between the four District Grand Lodges of the English Constitution in South Africa , which would

obviate any movement towards a South African Grand Lodge , which after the experience of New Zealand would , in his opinion , prove a Masonic calamity . Bro . MOUAT , D . D G . M . of the Western Division , replied . The DISTRICT GRAND MASTER proposed "The Lodges Nos . 711 , 863 , and 1590 , " who had entertained the District Grand Lodge .

Bro . AUSTEN , D . D . G . M ., in an admirable speech proposed " The Masonic Charities , " and gave statistics as to the progress of the District Grand Lodge Educational Fund . Bro . WYATT , 711 , in an excellent and humorous speech proposed "The Ladies . "

Bro . WALSH proposed " The Visitors , " which was responded in eloquent term * - by Bio . H . T . TAMPLIN , M . L . A ., D . G . Reg . The Tyler ' s toast completed the toast list . An exce'lent musical programme , both vocal and instrumental , had been arranged by Bro . P . Quarterman , Org . 711 . On Thursday the District Grand Lodge was invited to luncheon on the

Currie Mail S' . eamer , Dunottar Castle , which was the weekly miil boat lying at the time in the harbour of Port Elizabeth . The hospitality dispensed on Sir Danald Cu-rie s magnificent steamers is proverbial , and was suitably acknowledged by the D . G . M ., Bro . D-. EGAN , in a few well-chosen words . On Thursday evening the local lodges entertained the District Grand Lidge with a Masonic ball , which was opened by a grand procession headed by the Rose Croix Chapter and closed by the D . G . M . and Grand Lodge .

About 200 brethren in their regalia took part in the procession which marched into the ba'I room ( whxh was tastefully decorated ) to the strains of a grand march played on ihe magnificent town organ by Bro . Waltham Baker , formerly Town Organist . The ball room is the largest room in South Africa and provided ample space for the 500 guests who were present . The greatest praise is due lo Bro . Walsh , President of the Entertainment Committee , and to B-o . Atkinson , P . M . 711 , its indefatigable Secretary .

Lying The Memorial-Stone Of St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Port Elizabeth.

LYING THE MEMORIAL-STONE OF ST . MARY'S COLLEGIATE CHURCH , PORT ELIZABETH .

On Thursday , the 12 th ult ., the District Grand Lodge met again for the purpose of performing one of the most important and impressive Masonic functions that has ever been witnessed in South Africa . St Mary ' s Collegiate Church , the oldest in the Eastern District of the Cape Colony , was totally destroyed by fire oi March 9 th . Bro . the Rev . Dr . Wirgman ,

rector of St . Marys , is W . M . of No . 711 and D . J . G . W ., and it was natural that the sympathy of his brethren in the Craft should take the form of laying the memorial-stone of the restored building . The District Grand Master consented to lay tbe stone , and when District Grand Lodge had been opened , B > -o . Forbes , 711 , D . G . D . of C , marshalled the procession as follows :

Two 1 ylers , with drawn swords . Visiting B . B . The lodges according to their numbers . D . G . Stewards . Cun-ticopia with Corn , by the W . M . of i 5 yo . liner with Wine , by the W . M . of 863 . Ewer with Oil , by the Senior P . M . of 711 .

Lying The Memorial-Stone Of St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Port Elizabeth.

D . G . Pursuivant . D . G . Organist . D . G . Sword Bearers . Grand Director of Ceremonies . D . G . Superintendent of Works . P . D . Grand Deacons .

District Grand Secretary—( with " Book of Constitutions " on a cushion ) . District Grand Treasurer—( with phial containing coins and roll to be deposited in the cavity ) . The Corinthian

Lightsome by a P . M . ) . The Column of District Junior Warden—( borne by a P . M . ) . The District junior Grand Warden , Bro . Dr . Wirgman—( with the Plumb Rule ) . The Doric

Lightsome by a P . M . ) . The Column of District Senior Grand Warden—( borne by a P . M . ) . The District Senior Grand Warden , Bro . Newing—( with the level ) .

The District Junior Grand Deacon . ( The D . G . Chap ., Bro . Archdeacon ) D . G . Steward , j Grant , bearing the vol . of the > D . G . Steward . ( . Sacred Law on a cushion . J The Deputy District Grand Master , Bro .

Austen—( with square ) . The Ionic Light—( borne by Bro . Miles , I . P . M . 711 ) . Bro . Mouat , Deputy D . G . M . ( Western Division)—( bearing the mallet and trowel ) . D . G . Steward . D . G . Sword Bearer . D . G . Steward . The District Grand Master , Dr . C . J . Egan .

The D . Senior Grand Deacon . The D . G . Tyler , with sword . When the procession of District Grand Lodge reached the platform they were met by the Very Rev . the Dean of Grahamstown , representing the Bishop of the diocese , as Vicar-General , the Archdeacon of Grahamstown , Canon Wharton Smill , and Canon Wallis , of Grahamstown Cathedral , the Rev . T . F . Sinder , and the Rev . Precentor Mayo and the Rev . J . E . Davies ,

of St . Mary ' s Collegiate Church , the Rev . G . Smith , Rector of St . Peter's , the Rev . Dr . Husilt , of Holy Trinity , the Rev . J . H . Carter , Rector of St . Paul ' s , the Revs . P . Mallett , H . Morgan , and Momoti , curates of St , Paul ' s , which made up the total list of the Port Elizabett clergy . The Mayor of Port Elizabett , Bro . the Hon . H . W . Pearson , P . M . 711 , was present in his robes of office , and { was attended by the Town iCIerk and the Town Council . The Harbour Board and Divisional Council were

represented by their Secretaries . When the D . G . D . C had called for silence , the Rev . Precentor MAYO gave out Hymn 215— "The Church ' s one foundation "—which was beautifully rendered by the surpliced choristers of the Collegiate Church , accompanied by the excellent military band of Prince Alfred ' s Guard , the Port

Elizabeth Infantry Volunteer Regiment . The DISTRICT GRAND MASTER then gave the customary address— "Be it known to you all assembled here to-day , that we appear before you as true and lawful Masons , " & c , after which Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon GRANT , D . G . C , read certain passages from the Volume of the Sacred Law and offered prayer .

Bro . the Rev . J . F . SINDER then read that most appropriate section from Haggai II . which is familiar to companions of the H . R . A ., and which describes the restoration of the second Temple after the destruction of the Temple of Solomon by fire . Many ol those present felt that the words " the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the glory of the former " expressed their hopes for the restored fabric of St . Mary ' s .

Precentor MAYO then said a collect alluding to the restoration of the Second Temple by Zerubbabel , Haggai , and Joshua , which has been in use at the services held during the restoration of the building . The DISTRICT GRAND MASTER then said : I declare it to be my will and pleasure that this memorial-stone of St . Mary's Collegiate Church be now laid . Before the stone was laid , the DISTRICT GRAND SECRETARY , by order of the District Grand Master , read the inscription on the scroll which was to be deposited in the cavity and which ran thus :

I . T . N . O . T . G . A . O . T . U . On the 12 th day of September , A . D ., 1895 . A . L . 5895 , and in the 58 th year of the reign of our Most Gracious Sovereign Victoria , by the Grace of God , of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , and of the Colonies and Dependencies thereof—Queen , Defender of the Faith , and Empress of India . The Right Hon . Sir Hercules Robinson , G . C . M . G ., etc ., etc ., being Governor of the Colony of South Africa , . ..

The Right Hon . Cecil John Rhodes , P . C , M . LA ., being the Premier of this Colony of the Cape of Good Hope . This memorial stone of the Collegiate Church of St . Mary the Virgin , Port Elizabeth , was laid with Masonic honours by the R . W . C . J . Egan , A . B ., District Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons under the Eng lish Constitution ( Eastern Division ) , South Africa , in the presence of a large concourse of citizens . . .

The foundation-stone of this church was laid in 1825 ; it was opened for Divine Service in 1831 ; completed in 1842 , enlarged in 1858 , and destroyed by fire on the 9 th of March , 1895 . Of this Collegiate Church the Right Reverend Father in God , Allan Becher ,

fourth Bishop of Grahamstown , is Provost ; the Rev . Augustus Theodore Wirgman , B . D ., D . C . L ., is ViccProvost ; the Rev . John Fitch Sinden , Vicar ot St . Cuthberts , and the Rev . Cuthbert Edward Mayo , Precentor of St . Mary ' s , are Priests Associate ; Joseph H . Drury and Henry Forbes , Churchwardens ; Jo »" Horton , John Hodgson , Henry Jenkins , Wm . H . Edwards , M . D ., Robert K . Perrott , Charles Cowley , John A . Chabaud , and Edmund R . Smyth , members or the Vestry ; Herbert J . Cooper , Vestry Secretary .

The scroll and the current coins of the realm of the present reign having been duly deposited , Bro . Mouat , D . D . G . M ., handed a silver trowel to the DISTRICT GRAND MASTER , who spread the mortar , saying , " As tne cement is spread with the trowel , so may brotherly love and harmony " spread amongst all who worship the Most High in this holy p lace . " , The stone was then lowered into its place . Having received the p ' | P ° rule from the District Junior G . Warden ( Bro . the Rev . Dr . Wirgman ) , t » e DISTRICT GRAND MASTER said : "I declare that this stone is plum "' and has been prepared true and trusty by the craftsmen . "