Laying The Foundation Stone Of A Town Hall For Wirksworth.

The AVorshipful Master ( Dr . AVebb ) then gave the following address : —Ladies and Gentlemen , my brother Freemasons , —It affords me very great pleasure to come forward on this interesting and important occasion , in obedience to the wishes of the Derwent Lodge , to present , in

behalf of the brethren , this trowel to our honourable member and brother , Captain Arkwright , in order that he may lay the chief corner-stone of this town-hall for AVirksworth . I say pleasure , because I believe this building , when completed and made serviceable for all classes , must benefit

this good old town . I hope , in common , no doubt , with nine-tenths of my fellow-townsmen , that it will add to its commercial prosperity , and promote the comfort , convenience , and happiness of every person living in this neighbourhood . I have pleasure also , because it gives you an

opportunity of seeing a Masonic ceremony and it enables me to say that although , Freemasons have secrets peculiar to themselves , there is nothing in those secrets at all subversive of the peace and good order of society . Freemasonry I regard as a grand Catholic benevolent society ,

whose object it is to diffuse "brotherly love , relief , and truth" throughout the world . It constantly inculcates its members to practise benevolence and charity — that charity which - ' suffereth long and is kind , " " which thinketh no evil , " that charity which not onlygiveth a cup

of cold water , but which has always an inexhaustible spring from which supplies can constantly be drawn , hidden in the innermost recesses of the heart . At one time we "Wirksworth people contemplated having a much grander and far more imposing ceremony than

the present one . AA ^ e were , indeed , ambitious enough to wish this stone laid by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Derbyshire , but insuperable obstacles presented themselves against the accomplishment of our wishes . The noble Marquis , who , as you know , is at the head of the

Craft in this province , could not be here to-day by reason of his pressing engagements as a member of the Government , and from a communication made to myself by the Secretary of the Grand Lodge , Mr . Okeover's presence seemed exceedingly doubtful ; therefore , in the face of

these obstacles , having determined to lay the stone in Masonic form , I think we are peculiarly fortunate in having secured , in the person of our honourable member , so good , so kind , so estimable , and so benevolent a brother to lay the stone in connection with the Derwent Lodge , to

which he belongs ; and apart from the many excellencies of his own character , upon which in this neighbourhood and in his presence it would not become me to dwell , I k . iow no person upon whom this duty could more fitly devolve , or by whom it could more worthily be discharged than

by one who , himself a member ofthe Legislature , is also a descendant of that great man through whose genius aud inventive skill the wealth and importance of this nation were so greatly increased ; and through whose ingenuity hundreds , thousand , aye , tens and hundreds of

thousands of our fellow-creatures were the better enabled in all time to earn their daily bread . I have , therefore , great pleasure in presenting this trowel to Captain Arkwright , and I hope it will always be to him a pleasing memento of this day's Masonic work . ( Great cheering ) .

The architect , Mr . Bradley , then handed to Bro . Arkwright the plans and mallet , after which Bro . Strutt , the treasurer , deposited the box containing newspapers and coins in the cavity of

the lower stone . Bro . Arkwright then stepped forward and spread the cement with the silver trowel , and requested the stone to be lowered . The stone having been placed in position , accordingly to Masonic custom ,

Bro . Captain Arkwright , M . P ., then said : The Craftsmen having done their part it only remains , for me to complete the work , and striking the stone three times with the mallet , said " 1 declare this stone to be well and truly laid . " (

Tremendous cheering . ) Silence being restored , the honourable member spoke as follows : Ladies and Gentlemen , my brethren : AVe have assembled in this good old town of AVirksworth to-day for a very important purpose , and I am obliged to my brethren of the Derwent Lodge for the

Laying The Foundation Stone Of A Town Hall For Wirksworth.

part they have permitted me to take in this day ' s work . I have known AVirksworth all my life and am interested in its welfare and prosperity ; and if the work in which we have this day been engaged will in any way benefit the town , promote concord and union amongst its people , diffuse happiness and increase its trade , then it will have

been the work of true Freemasonry . ( Cheers ) . Brethren , let all our dealings with each other and with the rest of the world be always on the square . I thank you all for kindly attending here to-day . It is a proof to me that you are all interested in the advancement of brotherly love , relief , and truth . ( Tremendous cheering ) .

The process of anointing the stone with corn , oil , and wine , having been gone through by the AVorshipful Master , a prayer was offered up * by the Chaplain , and the square , level , plumb , rule , and plans , were handed by Bro . Arkwright to the builder , Mr . Edwin Tomlinson , of Derby , for

his guidance . An oration was then delivered by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . A . A . Bagshawe , and the Old Hundredth havingbeen sung , and blessing given by the Rev . Bro . J . R . Porter , the Freemasons retired to close their lodge . At three oclock , a public banquet was held in

a tent erected for the occasion , on the site of the new building , where Mr . C . Low , of Derby , servedup a most excellentspread , whichappeared to give general satisfaction . The chair was occupied by Dr . AVebb , and the vice-chair by J . F . Kingdon , Esq . On the cloth being removed , the usual toasts were duly honoured .

The following brethren were present during the proceedings : —AV . Webb , J . Hindle , C . Parkin , B . Street , C . B . Dunn , W . Milligan , G . Harvey , E . Birch , AA ' . S . Lugg , J . Kinder , C . Wright , F . Barton , A . P . Arkwright , J . P . Bradley , N . Wheatcroft , A . O . Brookes , A .

Macbeth , J . Pickard , C . B . Dunn , AA . Milligan , G . Harvey , AV . Shaw , J . V . Bettle , C . B . Marshall , AV . Lennox , J . Stone , AV . L . Hall , G . Smith , A . Roome , J . F . Kingdon , Derwent Lodge , No . 88 4 , AVirksworth ; F . Campion , Lodge of Repose , No . 802 , Derby : A .

A . Bagshawe , Rural Dean of Buxton , and P . G . C . of Derbyshire , R . Duke , E . Milligan , Phoenix Lodge of St . Anne , Boxton , No . 1235 ; AV . Dawson , St . John ' s Lodge , Bolton , No . 221 ; J . H . Casson , H . Cupit , S . Rowbotham , Royal Alfred Lodge , Alfreton , No . 1028 ; J . R . Porter ,

Iuscan Lodge , London , No . 14 ; J . Clotine , Minerva Lodge , No . 300 , Ashton , T . Hall , A . AVallis , T . Gentles , AV . Slinn , Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , Derby ; J . Bibby , Alexandra Lodge , Sevenshulme , No . 993 ; AV . Green , AA . Edmunds , Scarsdale Lodge , No . 687 , Chesterfield ; W . R .

Holland , F . Brittain , J . AVitham , AA . A . Cox , St . Oswald Lodge , No . 850 , Ashbourne ; Cannon , H . Barker , Rutland Lodge , Ilkeston , No . 1179 E . Cunningham , Thistle Lodge , No . 275 , Scotland ; Fitzherbert Wright , J . Bowmer , AV . H . Fisher , M . Hooper , Okeover Lodge , No . 1324 ,

Ripley ; AV . Kirkland , Tyrian Lodge , Eastbourne , No . 1110 ; B . AVilson , AV . H . Burton , F . H . Block , Arboretum Lodge , No . 731 , Derby ; "W . Guton , Lodge of Unanimity , No . 287 , Stockport ; J . F . Hurt , Lennox Lodge , Richmond , Yorkshire , No . 123 ; B . Cooper , R . J ) . Cooke , AV . M .

Ingle , J . Pym , J . Moore , AV . Perkins , F . Johnstone , j . Simpkiss , AV . Adsetts , G . Bollington , S . Stone . J . Pegg , AA . Loverock , G . Small , J . Stanhope , Beaureper Lodge , No . 787 , Helper ; R . M . D . Smith , Lodge of Friendship , No . 44 , Manchester .

Consecration Of The Doric Chapter, No. 933.

CONSECRATION OF THE DORIC CHAPTER , No . 933 .

Another chapter was added to the rapidlyincreasing roll of metropolitan chapters , on Tuesday , the 19 th inst ., when the " Doric " was ushered into existence through the kindly medium of the Grand Scribe E ., Comp . John

Hervey . I he consecration took place at Anderton's Hotel , F'leet-street , and the proceedings commenced about half-past five o'clock , when Comp . Hervey , as M . E . Z ., opened the chapter , having Comj ) . J . A \ . Halsey , P . Z , on his right as H , and supported on the other side by

Consecration Of The Doric Chapter, No. 933.

Comp . James Brett , P . Z .,-D . G . C , as J . The companions were then admitted—a procession having been formed by Comp . R . Wentworth Little , P . Z ., who officiated as Director of

Cere-. The Acting G . S . E . read the petition and charter , and the M . E . Z . inquired of the companions if they approved of the officers named in the charter . The companions having signified their approval in Masonic form , the M . E . Z .

proceeded to constitute the companions into a regular chapter in ancient form , and called upon Comp . Brett to deliver the oration , which he rendered in a faultless manner . An anthem ( 133 rd Psalm ) was then sung by the choir , consisting of Comps . G . T . Carter , P . M . 3 82 , T .

Distin , and AV . Dawson . The first portion of the dedication prayer was repeated , and the M . E . Z . gave the invocation , after which the Scripture portions were read . The chapter pedestal was then uncovered , and the J . and D . C . carried the elements three times round the chapter , & c .

The J . took the censer three times round the chapter , solemn music being played during his progress . The second portion of the dedication prayer followed , and the M . E . Z . then dedicated and constituted the chapter . The fine anthem , "I have surely built Thee an house , "

was splendidly sung by the choir . The patriarchal benediction by Comp . Brett closed the proceedings of the consecration . A conclave of Installed Principals was then formed , when Comp . J . G . Stevens was successively installed into the third and second chairs ,

in a very able manner , by Comp . Brett . The First Principal-designate , Comp . T . J . Barnes , H . 554 , was then presented by the D . C . for installation , and the ceremony of installing him devolved upon Comp . Hervey , by whom it was rendered in a most impressive manner . Comp .

George Snow , the J ., being already a P . Z ., took his seat as Third Principal . Upon the readmission of the companions , a ballot was taken for Scribe E ., when Comp . J . Griffin was unanimously elected to that post . It was then , proposed , seconded , and unanimously resolved ,

that the thanks of the chapter be recorded on the minutes , and presented to Comps . Hervey , Brett , and Little , and that they be elected honorary members , in recognition of their services at the consecration and installation ceremonies .

Each of the companions expressed his high appreciation of the compliment , and wished the chapter every prosperity . Several propositions for exaltation were then made , and the chapter was closed .

A cold collation , to which about five-andtwenty sat down , was served , and gave general satisfaction . After the cloth was cleared , the iM . E . Z . proposed " The First Grand Principal , the Marquis of Ripon , K . G ., " ancl " The Second and Third Grand Principals , Lords Carnarvon

and De Tabley , and the rest of the Grand Officers . " Comp . Brett , G . D . C , returned thanks in a very fluent manner , and with evident heartiness . The M . E . Z . then gave "The Health of the Consecrating Officer , Comp . John Hervey , G S . E . " —( great applause)—and eulogised highly those

qualities which the worthy companion is so widely known to possess . The Grand Scribe E ., in responding , said he looked forward to a bright future for the Doric Chapter , and then called upon the companions to drink success to it , coupled with "TheHealth of theM . E . Z ., Comp .

Barnes , " who was assuredly the right man in the right place . After an excellent speech , in reply , from the M . K . Z ., " The Health of the Visitors , " coupled with the name of Bro . Binckes , P . Z ., and " Success to the Charities , " was proposed , and elicited a telling response from thc Secretary

of the Boys' School . Several other toasts followed , and the companions then separated . The musical arrangements were most effective , and several duets and songs were sung by Comps . Carter , Distin , and Davison . Comp . Stevens , H ., also delivered a capital recitation .

THE MARQUIS or RIPON is expected to arrive at Studley Royal at thc end of the mouth from his shooting-box in Scotland . BOOTS of the Period at BI . AKEV ' , Lime-street , Liverpool ( under the Alexandra Theatre ) . —[ Advt / j