Laying Of The Foundation Stone Of The Passmore Edwards' Convalescent Home For Railway Men.

let that occasion pass without drinking his health . Bro . Edwards , he believed , had amassed a very considerable fortune , but the use made of that fortune was what appialed to them all . He ( his lordship ) was very much struck by a pamp hlet which had rfached him from which was seen the number of homes founded by Bro . Passmore Edwards during Her Majesty's Diamond jubilee . Not only in Cornwall , but in various other parts of England , he had come forward with the necessary funds and the necessary energy in carrying out the

endowment of many home ? . That day they had met together to lay the foundation stone of another Home—for railway men —( cheers)—a Home which especially appealed to all interested in the railways ot England . It was his contention the Home for railway men would appeal to the whole of England . ( Cheers . ) His great hope was that the bright omens attendant upon the function would be fulfilled ; they had had fine weather , the whole ceremony had been carried through with great regularity , which , he considered , were good omens for the success of that institution .

Bro . J . PASSMORE EDWARDS , whose rising to respond was the signal for a loud and continued outburst of cheering , said : Mr . Chairman , my Lord Amherst , and gentlemen , I can only say that I am particularly pleased at the ceremony which has been performed to-day . It has been my privilege to see many similar ceremonies performed in Cornwall , in Buckinghamshire , and in other places , but

I never saw it performed with such perfection and satisfaction as it has been to-day . ( Cheers . ) You have before you to-day a peculiar blend , a blend of the old and new ; of the old—Masonic growth—and the new—the railway interests ot the world . We Masons think that we are connected with an institution that dates back not only beyond Solomon , but has its roots in the dim distance of the past . Whether it is so or not , this I do know that to-day this old Masonic institution is blended with a great revolutionary power—that i .=, the railway

enterprise . These two influences are for the . moment united in Heme Bay , and they are united on one thing , that being in particular the personal interests we have in the 250 , 000 railway servants—united in order to promote the general good of the universe and mankind . ( Cheers . ) If you see an institution like the old Masonic institution united with the railway interest , and thus uniting their

interests for the general community , the great England of ours , which has done so much in the past , and is doing so much in the present , is destined to do more in the great and mighty future . ( Cheers . ) In Kent you have between four and five thousand Masons , in London we have a similar number , and in England some 100 , 000 ; but there is something greater ; there is something more expansive than Masonry , and that is the railway interests

INSTALLATION 01 ? THE liARL 01 ? LATHOM AS PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , PRESTON , JUNE IST , 1899 . Photo by Brown , Barnes , and Bell , 31 , Bold Street , Liverpool ,

Laying Of The Foundation Stone Of The Passmore Edwards' Convalescent Home For Railway Men.

of the world . ( Hear , hear . ) Did I say there were 100 , 000 Masons in England ? there are more than 350 , 000 men interested at the present time in the development of the great railway interests . But what is the railway interest of England compared to the railway interest of Europe , and that of Europe compared to Asia in the far future ? Brother Masons and representatives of the great railway interests , I can only say I am delighted to meet you to-day for more than one reason . I am delighted to meet you ; you represent two great interests ot British

civilisation . Also I am delighted for the manner in which this ceremony has been performed . I never felt a greater flush of pride—of pride that I was an Englishman—than in witnessing the performance of that ceremony to-day . Now , my lord ( addressing Earl Amherst ) , I am not in the habit of paying compliments , but I do say you performed that ceremony to-day with dignity and

perfection—( applause)—and what struck me particularly was the tremulous interest and anxiety you put into the performance . ( Cheers . ) I have now to thank you all for your presence to-day , and I can only hope that this institution , the foundationstone of which has just been laid , will by-and-bye be successful , and contribute materially to the physical and moral health of the great railway interests . ( Loud and prolonged cheers ;) The CHAIRMAN at this point announced , in regard to the Right Hon . A . Akers Douglas , M . P . ( Director of L . C . and D . R ., and Deputy Chairman of S . E .

and L . C . and D . Railways Managing Committee ) , that he had received the following telegram : " Very sorry that I am detained here , much wished to have come . —Douglas , Offi : e of Works . " The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Health of the Guests and Visitors , " coupling the names of Earl Amherst and Bro . John Morgan . His lordship , who

on rising to respond was received with loud cheering , expressed his obligations to them for the kind manner in which they had received the toast , and the visitors on their part thanked them for the great trouble that had been taken to ensure their comfort . They , as visitors , were glad to be present to take part in a work which was to benefit generations of railway servants at present unborn . He could only wish prosperity to the Institution . ( Cheers . )

Bro . MORGAN , who was also accorded a hearty reception , spoke in high praise of the _ day ' s arrangements , first of all in the provision of the marquee they were then sitting in , and also for the contents of the marquee . ( Loud laughter . ) The visitors fully appreciated all that had been done for them . He then briefly submitted " The Health of the Trustees , " which was drunk with enthusiasm . The proceedings terminated by a presentation of a silver and ebony level suitably inscribed to the chairman , who briefly acknowledged the gift .