Laying The Foundation Stones Of The Public Library And The Freemasons' Hall At Watford.

foundation-stone of a building where we shall be able to celebrate our peculiar rites and ceremonies with more comfort than we have been able to do during the last three of four years . Some of you may feel curiosity , perhaps as to the nature of the rites and ceremonies which we

profess , but I can only say that it is not in my power to gratify you fully on this occasion as to the nature of those mysteries . If you wish to make acquaintance with them , I say that any worthy man among you , who really joins us from no interested motives , will come among us and

receive a hearty welcome , and we shall teach him all we know ourselves . But I may assure you in the words of an old song well known to us" There ' s nought but good to be understood In a free and accepted Mason . " And the fundamental principle of our order must

commend themselves to everyone . They are " Brotherly love , loyalty , and charity . " I am afraid that I cannot extend the same invitation to the fair sex present ; because YVC have it on record that there Yvas once a fair lady who Yvas . I was going to say , a brother of our craft

( laughter ) , but I suppose I must say a sister . This lad y was determined to find out what took place , and concealed herself in a clock , where she Yvas discovered after the conclusion of the ceremonies , and as she had seen all , there was

nothing for it but to admit her into the fraternity . I must , therefore , ask the ladies to accept her as their representatives . But I can assure you in the words of the same song to which I have

alluded" No mortal can more the ladies adore , Than a free and accepted Mason . " I , therefore , conclude now by wishing prosperity to this hall , which we are about to lay the foundation-stone of , and I cannot do better than

conclude in the Yvords of a brother mason whose name is well known in this land , and Yvho has secured for himself a lasting name in the temple of fame . I mean Robert Burns , who Yvrote for the lodge to which he

belonged" Within this dear mansion may YY'ayYvard Contention Or withered Envy ne ' er enter ; May Secrecy round be the mystical bound , And Brotherly Love be the centre . " The ceremony then proceeded with the Chaplain

offering a prayer as follows : — " Almighty and eternal God , Architect and Great Ruler of the Universe , have respect unto the prayers of Thy servants Yvho call upon Thee . Prosper the Yvork which YVC this day begin , and enable us in due time to bring it to a happy conclusion . Here may YVC learn the things which belong to our

perfecting . Here may true faith , the fear of God , and brotherl y love remain , and every moral and social virtue cement and unite us in one brotherhood of peace , truth , and charity , through , & c . " The members of the Craft responded " So mote it be , " and the interesting ceremony concluded as before .

At 5 o ' clock , more than 50 of the gentlemen who assisted at the ceremonies dined in the Corn Exchange , The dinner was excellent and well served ; it Yvas supplied by Air . Neary , of the Essex Arms Hotel , and Mr . Buck , confectioner . T . F . Halsey , Esq ., presided , supported

by Dr . Brett , Mr . J . Sedgwick , Dr . lies , Mr . C . F . Humbert , Mr . S . Camp , Rev . N . Price , Rev . B . J . Warren , Mr . C . Heaton , Mr . J . Benskin , Mr . J . Benskin , jun ., Mr . H . C . Finch , Rev . G . Finch , Mr . A . O . Sedgwick , Mr . J . T . Christopher , Mr . G . Lambert , Mr . Marnham , Mr . W .

H . Hubbard , Mr . W . R . Williams , Air . J . Terry , Mr . G . H . Haydon , Mr . G . Alickley , Mr . A . Godson , Mr . William Cutbush , Mr . T . "Margrave , Mr . J . Hart , Mr . E . HayYvard , Mr . W . Wilson , Mr . G . Henry , Mr . Syme , Mr . T . Bodimeade , Air . Miskin , Air . Pratt , and others .

Bros . G . T . Carter , John Hodges , and Theodore Distin , were engaged , and enlivened the proceedings by some songs excellently sung . The toast master Yvas Air . Turner of London . On the Yvithdravval of the cloth , the Chairman

proposed the " Queen and the Craft , " Yvhich was received in the usual loyal manner observed b y a 'l assemblages of Freemasons . A similar reception was also accorded to the next on the list , viz ., " Bro , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the

Laying The Foundation Stones Of The Public Library And The Freemasons' Hall At Watford.

Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " Some other toasts having been proposed and responded to , the Chairman proposed " Success to the Watford Public Library and School of Science and Art , " coupled with the name of Dr .

Brett , the Chairman of the Committee , Yvho responded in eloquent terms . Bro . Lambert said , Mr . Chairman , brethren , and gentlemen , Yvhen I entered this room I had little idea that any toast would have been awarded to me , but I am delighted to accept that task , for

I am Yvilling to do anything that I possibly can for the good of this town , the Public Library , or the Watford Lodge . You have talked about debateable ground , and Yve have heard about science and art , but what is their progress attributable to but to the old Roman guilds laid down

so well in the imperial city , and which pervaded this country and Yvere laid down with most admirable laws by Julius Agricola ? And what have these guilds resulted in ? In the various academies—the academias . And call them ivhat you will ,, I will sum them all up in one word

—the Iodge ( loud cheers ) ; for it is the factthe school of Athens , with Plato for the philosopher , was nothing but the Freemasons' Iodge It is what the Freemasons' lodge ought to be . We ought to eschew everything bad and cling to that which is good . This is Freemasonry in the

fullest extent . It is the casting to the wind all old women ' s fables and rubbish of that kind . Let superstition fly before us ; stick to the truth , for in that ] you have pure unsullied Masonry—the VolumeoftheSacred LaYv unfolded . It is on these terms and on these alone that I accept the toast

and wish success and prosperity to the Watford Lodge and their new hall . I am sorry that the old hall YY * as burnt doYvn ; but as the phoenix rose from its ashes , so we hope to have another hall , like another phcenix , rise upon the ashes of the old one . I call upon you , gentlemen , to rise

and drink prosperity to the Watford Lodge of Freemasons , because in that must be centred and pervade everybody and everything which should have good attached to it . It is the adoration of the Most High , the volume ofthe Sacred Law unfolded , education spread wide , so that we

should have no sectarian nonsense of any kind , and be able to preach that which we can perform , the laYV of lights and the prophets ( cheers ) . Bro . Steavenson ( W . M . ) said . Worshi pful Past Master , brethren , and gentlemen , it is indeed a proud moment in which I rise to return

my sincere thanks , both for myself and the lodo-e represented in me on this occasion . I am a very unworthy member of the Craft , but to you gentlemen Yvho are not Masons I need not say that . But I have to return thanks for the very kind manner in which you have drunk prosperity

to our neYV undertaking , the new hall Yve are about to inaugurate . Freemasonry is well known to ourselves , but to those who are not Freemasons I trust it will be known . It contains virtues which you are not perhaps aware of , but they are nothing but goodness . There is no

trickery , nothing but what is good , in Masonry . I have myself reached the head of this lodge after a short apprenticeship , and I assure you it is , as I said before , the proudest moment of my life that I am in this position- I have known Watford all my life , though I am not a resident

here , and therefore I can wish success to that institution , the Public Library , which has been so ably responded to by our brother on my ri ght , Dr . Brett . I can Yvish prosperity with all my heart to any institution Yvhich can be of any service to Watford . I knew the town when I Yvas

five years old , and have therefore known it half a century , and , in consequence I can , Yvith heartfelt sincerity say that I have an interest in Watford . I have , gentlemen , to thank you most sincerel y for the honour you have done your brethren of the Watford Lodge by your presence here this day , and for the manner in which you

have drunk to its prosperity . Bro . J . SedgYvick said : Brethren and gentlemen , a very onerous duty has been cast upon me , but it is one of those duties Yvhich I feel to be a sincere pleasure ; the only alloy in the purity of the metal is that I do not feel myself quite capable to do that justice to it Yvhich I feel it deserves nevertheless , I have manned the yards , and am

Laying The Foundation Stones Of The Public Library And The Freemasons' Hall At Watford.

going into the battle . Having seen the way in which our Chairman , whose health I am going to propose ( loud cheers ) , has performed his duties in the ceremonies which we have gone through to-day , I say , as an old Mason of forty years standing , I have never seen the

like—certainly he could not be superseded . Therefore , my strongest feelings were aroused with regard to the first ceremony , and also in my capacity as a Mason , identified in the prosperity of that building which we last laid the foundationstone of . M y Brother Brett has to-day , as Chairman ofthe

Committee , mentioned and set forth the particulars concerning the Library in a manner 1 do not think 1 could have done . I recollect that a gentleman came here a few years ago to advocate a public library , and he told us a wonderful fact that there was only about one man

in thirty or forty , who could make a door unless he had a model as large as the door itself , in fact that he could not work to a scale . It was a fact that impressed itself very much on my mind at the time , and I was further impressed by the statment that there was not a mechanic in France

or Germany who could not do it , because in those countries schools were provided in which they taught it . This gave me an interest in the matter , and I feel extre . rrel y gratified in seeing the foundation-stone of the Public Library laid ^ and in having such a gentleman as the Chairman to

lay it . As regards Masonry , I am old enough to recollect the laying ofthe foundation-stone of the old Freemason ' s Hall that was burnt down . About the third of a century after that we laid the foundation-stone of the hall in which you are now assembled . Subsequently the old hall was

burnt down , and that circumstance , probably , has led to our being here together at this time , and t am quite sure that all those whom I represent , the Corn Exchange Company and the Freemasons , feel a debt of gratitude to the Chairman for having this day consented to perform a ceremony

Yvhich those who are not Masons must admire , and those who are Masons must appreciate the manner of . I also feel , that in having the opportunity of Yvitncssing that ceremony , we have been exceedingly fortunate , as the Watford I . nrW in

having Brother Halsey to lay the stone . This is not his mother lodge , but his foster-mother ; his first lodge he has left and has become a brother of ours . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Sed gwick concluded by proposing the health of the Chairman .

The Chairman ( who Yvas received with loud cheers ) said : Brethren and gentlemen , on their own merits modest men are dumb , and , therefore , you Yvill not expect many words from me in response to this toast . I was called upon by the undivided voice of the lod ge to which I belomr

to lay the foundation-stone . In the ordiinary course of things such a duty as this would devolve upon the Grand Master of the Province . Unfortunately , we have no Grand Master in this province ; the brother who has so Yvell and so worthily rilled that position ( hear , hear ) for , I

believe forty or fifty years , Bro . Stuart , of Aldenham Abbey , after sticking to his post to the last , has recenly been compelled , I believe from failing ' health , to retire from that post , and no successor has been appointed . The brethren therefore met and chose me to lay the stone ; why , I tlo not

know , for I feel that some older and more experienced brother would have performed that duty in a much better and more efficient manner . The brethren , having called upon me , I had no alternative but to respond to the call , and I can only say that I have felt the greatest satisfaction

to-day Yvith the reception given mc , and onl y hope that I have carried out the duties placed upon me , if not with satisfaction to you—for I think that it mi ght have been done much betteryet so as not merit your disapprobation . ( Cheers . ) Several other toasts Yvere given and responded

to , comprising , "The Architects ; " "The Visiting Brethren , " coupled Yvith the name of Bro ! Terry , Secretary Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , who responded ; " The Local Board of Health ; " and "The Ladies , " which latter toast brought to a conclusion what must be considered as a very happy as well as profitable meeting .

We have pleasure in stating that Mr . G ; AO Sala is restored to health , and is again engaged in his ordinary literary and journalistic pursuits .