Grand Masonic Ceremonies At Albany.

bless . That which wc offer , do Thou accept . Those who shall assemble here , do Thou visit graciously and enlighten , now and for ever , even unto the Great Accounting Day , when we shall receive the due reward of our labours in the Grand Lodge above . "

The following ode was then sung : — TUNE— " Sparkling and Bright : ' From the noble rest of our mountain crests , From the forests grand and hoary , From tlie rivers , bright in their liquid light ,

We come in the Summer ' s glory , With hearts so fraught with the swelling thought Of the crowns our Age is weaving , We stand in hope on tlie century ' s slope , A loftier labour daring . Chorus—The future hears thro' listening years ,

In chorus loud and lusty . Our Royal dome , our patriot home , I Veilformed , and true and tmsty . Our storied past was proudly cast i To this high and holy keeping .

And gladly lay on its stone to-day The fairest sheaves we're reaping . So the record true that the Old State knew , Her lives of brave endeavour , Shall stand secure while its walls endure , The corner-stone for ever !

Chorus—The future hears , & c . May the marble white prove a symbol bright Of whiter deeds unfolding , While stronger far than her pillars are The nation ' s life is moulding .

So its towers shall glow in their sculptured snow , Our happy hills adorning , Till the workmen wait by the Temple's gate , Beyond the golden morning . Chorus—The future hears , & c .

The audience united in the chorus . The corner-stone being raised , the Grand Master said : The Grand Treasurer will place in the corner-stone the memorials prepared for that purpose , and the Grand Secretary will read the list of what is so deposited . The Grand Treasurer thereupon took formal

charge of the massive box ( made of highly-polished copperand hermetically sealed ) , and it was deposited in the place provided for it . This ceremony was accompanied by music from the band , the Grand Lodge standing during the ceremony . When this was done , the Grand Master spread the cement on the stone , and it was lowered , with

. The Grand Master seated the Grand Lodge , and proceeded as follows : — Grand Master : Bro . Deputy Grand Master , what is the proper jewel of your office ? Deputy Grand Master : The square .

Grand Master : What does it teach ? Deputy Grand Master : To square our actions by the square of virtue , and by it we prove our work . Grand Master : Apply your jewel to this cornerstone , and make report . Deputy Grand Master : The stone is square ; the

craftsmen have done their duty . Grand Master : Bro . Senior Grand Warden , what is the jewel of your office ? Senior Grand Warden : The level . Grand Master : What does it teach ? Senior Grand Warden : The equality of all men ,

and by it wc prove our work . Grand Master : Apply your jewel to this cornerstone , and make report . Senior Grand Warden : The stone is level ; the craftsmen have done their duty . Grand Master : Bro . Junior Grand Warden , what what is the jewel of your office ?

Junior Grand Warden : The Plumb . Grand Master : What does it teach : Junior Grand Warden : To walk uprightly before God and man , and by it we prove our work . Grand Master : Apply your jewel to this cornerstone , and make report ? Junior Grand Warden : The stone is plumb ; the the craftsmen have done their dutv .

The Senior and Junior Grand Deputies , bearing the trowel and gavel , then approached the stone .

The Grand Master , preceded by the Grand Marshal , advanced to the stone , spread mortar upon it , struck . three blows with the mallet , and returning to his place , said : I , J . H . Anthon , Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York , declare this stone to be plumb , level , and square ,

to be well-formed , true and trusty , and duly laid . The Grand Stewards then proceeded to the stone , followed by the deputy Grand Mastcr . Senior Grand Warden , and Junior Grand Warden , bearing the corn , wine , and oil .

The Deputy Grand Master scattered the corn , saying : May the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe rest upon the people of this State , and the corn of nourishment abound in our land . The Senior Grand Warden poured the wire ,

Grand Masonic Ceremonies At Albany.

saying : May the Great Architect of the Universe watch over and preserve the workmen upon this building , and bless them and our land with the heavenly wine of refreshment and peace . The Junior Grand Warden poured theoil , saying : May the Great Architect of the Universe bless our

land with union , harmony , and love—the oil , which maketh men to be of a joyful countenance . The Grand Master returned to his place , when the Grand Marshal presented the Architect , as follows : I present to you , Thomas Fuller , the architect of this . building . He is ready with craftsmen

for the work , and asks the tools for his task . The Grand Master then gave him a square , level , plumb , and plan , saying : Labour on this task , and be blessed , my brother , in the work . May it be blessed with wisdom in the plan , strength in the execution , beauty in the adornment ; and , when

complete , may wisdom be still within its walls to enlighten , strength to encourage and sustain our rulers , and the beauty of holiness to adorn all their works . Then followed the benediction by the Grand Chaplain , when the Grand Marshal made the following proclamation : In the name of the Most

Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York , I proclaim that the corner-stone of the new Capitol of the State of New York has this day been found square , level , and plumb , true and trusty , and laid according to the old customs by the Grand Master of Masons . The following ode was sung by the Fraternity in full chorus , when the assembly dispersed : —

CLOSING ODE —( Selected ) . Tunc— " America . " Let notes of gladness tell Thoughts that each bosom swell ,

The work begun ! Hope's joyous thoughts we bring , While to our Heavenly King Friends now united sing , Hearts joined as one .

Where laid the corner-stone Ever in kindness known Be man ' s best good ! Though years shall pass away , Though human works decay , Ever by Heaven ' s own ray Be Truth renewed .

May , in proportion true , Kising to grateful view , The work ascend ! Long may it safely stand , Untouched by ruthless hand , Till , true to Heaven's command , All time shall end .

This terminated the proceedings , and umbrellas were soon seen vanishing in every direction . We just stayed to personally congratulate the Most Worshipful Grand Master on his successful Freemasonry under difficulties , and then adjourned to the Delaware House Hotel , which was all the day

crowded with Templars and craftsmen . Wc found all whom wc met to be " worthy Masons , " as far as brotherly courtesy was concerned ; and notwithstanding the miseries of a wet day , we feel that we were highly privileged in being able to attend one of the greatest events in the memory of

Freemasonry in the State of New York . We had several invitations to join the ranks of the Masons for the day , but wc declined them all , preferring as your correspondent to range ourselves with the " gentlemen of the' press . " As far as we could ascertain , no other English brethren were present .

Laying The First Stone Of A Masonic Temple At Hasskeui.

LAYING the FIRST STONE of a MASONIC TEMPLE at HASSKEUI .

[ From the Levant Times £ - » Shipping Gazette , July 5 . ] To the British colony in Hasskcui , and especially to the Scotch clement which predominates in that community , belongs the honour of founding the first Masonic Temple ever erected in any part of the Turkish Empire . The establishment of a Masonic

Lodge in Hasskcui , under the Scotch Rite , was in itself an event in the annals of Freemasonry in this country , and , considering the many members of the fraternity resident in that suburb , was a really important addition to the group of social institutions which the Hasskeuitcs have planted in their own

midst within the last few years . Such was the success of the " Caledonian Lodge" that in a very short time the £ 200 expended in lodge fu'niture , officers ' clothing and jewels , & c , was paid off . The accommodation the lodge had obtained in an upper room of the Mechanics' Institute soon became inadequate , owing to the continuous accession of members ; and

it was not long before the idea was broached among the members of providing a building for themselves , so desirable on Masonic grounds us well as for convenience and economical reasons . Convinced , as they soon were of the financial as well as other advantages of the undertaking , the brethren , with that unity of purpose which characterises the Hass-

Laying The First Stone Of A Masonic Temple At Hasskeui.

keuites , at once resolved upon carrying it out by subscribing among themselves for £ T . 5 shares bearing 7 per cent , interest—to be derived from the rent payable by the lodge itself and from the letting of part of the premises—the shares to be purchaseable by the lodge at parso that the building should

, eventually become the property of the " Caledonians . " Within a few weeks only , a capital of nearly a thousand pounds was subscribed for , on that basis a site in the Jews' Quarter , a few hundred yards above the Mechanics' Institute , was purchased ; a contract was made for the erection of a suitable

stone and brick building ; the ground was at once levelled and the foundations made ; and on Saturday , July the 1 st , the corner-stone was laid with full Masonic " pomp and circumstance" by the Right Worshipful Bro . J . P . Brown , District Grand Master for Turkey under the English Constitution ( Charge "

d ' affaires of the United States at Constantinople ) , who was requested by the Master and brethren of the Caledonian Lodge to officiate on the occasion . The event brought together an assemblage of the Craft which would have been considered large and imposing on any similar occasion at home . More

than 156 , including many brethren of foreign lodges , mustered in the Recreation Hall , where the District Grand Lodge was opened at four o ' clock by the R . W . District Grand Master , who was supported by his present Deputy , V . W . Bro . Thompson , and his late Deputy , V . W . Bro . G . Laurie , the Warden ' s chairs being filled by W . Bro . J . Bcvan , P . M .

Caledonian and Lcinster Lodges , and Bro . Temple , S . W . of the Oriental and Bulwcr . The lodge having been opened in due form , the officers and brethren of the Caledonian saluted in turn , according to seniority , all the other lodges of the District , and the compliment was returned by the members of the latter .

The lodge was then adjourned , and a procession was marshalled by W . Bro . G . Warren , who acted as Director of Ceremonies , assisted by W . Bro . G . Mcars . The cortege was conducted by a circuitous route over the Ok-Mei'dan to the site , with a view , no doubt , of giving Hasskcui a good opportunity of

witnessing the disciples of the mystic art in all their glory of purple and gold and blue and silver . There was a great number of spectators , principally the Jewish inhabitants of the quarter , few , if any of whom had , perhaps , an idea that the spectacle they were witnessing was one at all connected with their own race and religion .

The brethren having formed in square round the foundations of the building , R . W . D . G . M . opened the proceedings by stating that he had been particularly fla ' . tered with the request of the Worshipful Master of the Caledonian Lodge to lay the foundationstone of this edifice , and he assured him and his brethren that he accepted the invttation with much

pleasure . He then called upon the Rev . C . Ii . Gribble , H . M . Embassy Chaplain , to open the proceedings with prayer , and the rev . gentleman offered up the following prayer , which wc give entire as an excellent model of Masonic composition appropriate to such an occasion , though the author , Mr . Cribble , himself is not a member of the Craft : —

"Almighty Father , accept , wc pray Thee , the humble tribute of gr . itit'idc which we Thy children and servants now offer to Thee . We derive from Thee our life , our reason , our faculties , our senses , and all things contributory to the enjoyment of our existence . From Thee , O Lord , cometh every virtue ,

the power to observe Thy laws , the will to do good , patience in well-doing , and the strength to suffer , to submit , and to revive when adverse advents , all ordered in Thy providence , occur to try our faith and to test our confidence in Thy mercy . Wc address Thee as our Creator ; for Thou , O , Lord , hast

made the heavens , the earlh and all that is therein , the sea and all that is therein . Thy wisdom and vast designs in the structure of the universe and the laws by which all nature is regulated would have been unknown by us but for Thy goodness in giving streams of light to our darkened intellect . It is of

Thee that we learn to adore the majesty of Thy government in the realm of material nature ; itisfrom Thee that we learn the inner law of love to Thy creatures . which we Thy creatures arc duly bound to obey . Thou hast bestowed on man the power to found , to raise , and to consolidate states , societies ,

and brotherhoods for the welfare of our race . We lament our failure ; we confess that the great law revealed from heaven—glory to God , peace on earth , and goodwill to man—has been neglected , and that its observance is our duty . To discharge this duty , we meet to consecrate to Thee a building devoted

to philanthropy , the love of God to man , and of man to man . Deign then , Almighty Architect , framcr of the world , and beneficent Creator , to bless our enterprise . Prosper Thou our handiwork . Enable us to complete it without accident or injury

to the workmen , and , when ihe house shall be finished , be pleased to give wisdom to our deliberations , soberness to our judgment , prudence to our measures , energy to our action , and an untiring benevolence in helping the poor and afflicted , so thai