Presentation To Bro. Baird, St. Johns Lodge, Glasgow.

up in Grand Lodge , and , from the hearty support of the brethren , both in our own and other provinces , a law was enacted at the meeting in February last , conferring the rig ht to carry the working tools and paraphernalia to the Senior Lodge of the Province present , except the

Metropolitan , No . 8 , is to have the privilege continued to them . The last topic to which I will refer is the acquisition by us of a lodge room for our own use . That it is commodious , comfortable , and elegant , as well as creditable to the liberality of the members , is generally admitted . Should our present prosperity continue—as I

fondly hope it may- — -we may confidently look forward at no distant date to the extinction of the remaining debt . ( Applause . ) Amongst the other toasts proposed were , " The Absent Brethren , " by Bro . Smellie , and "The Chairman" and "Croupier . " Several capital songs were given by the brethren , the evening altogether being happil y spent .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

LAVING THE FOUNDATION STONE or . NEW INFIRMARY . The Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls situate at St . John ' s Hill , Battersea Rise , has been singularly free from epidemics , and its sanitary condition has been such as to leave the minds ol the executive free from alarm . Unfortunatelv

however , the pupils werc last year subject to an outbreak of scarlet fever amongst them . Of their number , 38 were placed upon the sick list , all of whom , by the blessing ofthe G . A . O . T . U ., and the able zeal and persevering attention of the Medical Officer , Bro . Howell , were restored to health , and their places in the school-room .

This naturally created a feeling ol apprehension on the part of the House Committee , lest a second visitation should uiihapjiily occur , and a less favourable issue be the result . In the face ofa contemplated increase in the number of the inmates , they at once resolved upon

forthwith erecting , within the grounds of the Institution , a detached infirmary , for the reception of such as might thereafter be similarly stricken or require the care and attention of the Aledical Officer . This resolution being arrived at , steps were

immediately taken to carry it into elleet . Designs were solicited from architects of eminence , those of Bro . Alassa being eventually selected . The construction was submitted to tender , and that of Bro . C . Fish being the lowest , was accejited , and the foundations having been pushed

forward , preparation was made for the interesting ceremony of laying what is technically termed the foundation stone , but which , in reality is the chief corner stone , and the 18 th inst . being the usual monthly meeting of tlie House Committee , advantage was taken of the opportunity to jilace

it 111 its position , the privilege of doing so being , on the invitation of the House Committee , entrusted to Bro . William Winn , a munificent contributor to the funds of the Institution , a Vice-Patron , and a Past Alaster of the Canonbury Lodge , No dr 7 .

file business transactions of the House Committee having been concluded , a procession was formed , in the following order : —

Porter . The Women Servants . First division of the Girls , headed by a Pupil Governess , with the two smallest children . The Assistant Governess . Monitors . Second division of the Girls ( tallest leading ) .

The Governess and the Alatron . The Secretary . The Chajilain and the Aledical Officer . First division of the House Committee . The Alaster to lav the Stone .

fhe Chairman of the day . Second division of the Committee . On arriving at the Stone , the procession was met by the Architect , Contractor and Operatives . The Chairman and Committee having taken . heir p laces on the Dais ,

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

The Architect asked if the position selected for laying tho Stone met with approval , which being signified—The Chairman requested the Secretary to read the document to be deposited in the Stone .

Ihe Secretary having read it , delivered it to the Chairman , who placed it in the bottle and gave it to the Solicitor , who deposited it in the cavity of the understone , and the . Senior Alember of the Committee ( Bro . Head ) covered it with the engraved jilate .

The Chairman of the day then requested the Alaster to perform the work . The Alaster rose and advanced to the stone ; the Trowel was then presented to him , with which he spread the cement , and said , " Let the blessing of Heaven be invoked on the jiresent work . "

Ihe Chajilain then ottered up the following Opening Prayer •.

—" O Almighty God , the Great Architect and Ruler of the Universe , who art glorious in Holiness , fearful in Praise , doing wonders : We , the frail creatures of Thy Providence , encouraged by Thy goodness and mercy , humbly and devoutly approach Thy throne in prayer and supplication .

Grant , O Lord , that the desire of our hearts to raise a building for the reception and care of our youthful charges , under sickness and suffering , may be accepted and crowned with Thy special blessing . Grant , that as the issues of life and death are in Thy hands , mercy and love may be

manifested in healing the sick , and restoring them to health that their lives may be spent uprightly to Thy service and to Thy glory . Grant us , gracious Father , a continuance of Thy providental care which Thou hast vouchsafed to this Institution in time past . Alay the

Governors and supporters , the teachers , thc children and household now and at all times be under Thy Divine guidance and protection . Prosper the work of our hands upon us , O prosper Thou our handy work . " " So mote it be . " '

Immediately on the conclusion of the prayer the children sang the following anthem : — - " To Heaven ' s high Architect , all praise , All praise , all gratitude be given , Who deign'd the human soul to raise By mystic secrets sprung from Heaven . " ' CHORUS . "Sound aloud Jehovah ' s praise ,

To him our works , our buildings raise . " During the singing of the Chorus the stone was lowered with three distinct motions , the Alaster guiding it to its proper base with the handle of the Trowel , which he then presented to the Builder .

The Square was then presented to the Alaster by an operative and The Architect asked "Is it square , Alaster ? " The AIaster proved it , and answered , "It is square , Brother , " and handed the square to the Builder . The Level was next presented . The Architect asking "ls it level , Alaster : '

The Alaster proved it , and answered " It is level , Brother , " and handed the Level to the Builder . The Plumb Rule was likewise presented . The Architect asking "Is it plumb , Alaster ?"

The Alaster proved it and answered " It is plumb , Brother , " and handed the Plumb Rule to the Builder . The Setting Alaul was then similarly presensented , the Architect saying : " The stone being square , level , and just , I pray you Alaster to sanction the work , and declare it good . "

fhe Alaster gave three knocks on the stone , and said : " By the power in me vested 1 declare this stone well and truly laid , ' and handed the Setting Alaul to the Builder . The Drawings were then presented by the Architect , who said : " Deign , AIaster , to inspect and sanction the whole design . "

The Alaster in re ]> Iy , said : " I will do so with pleasure , Brother , " and after inspecting them , handed the drawings to the Builder , saving : "With the tools you have already received and these instructions , may you raise a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to the Builder . " " So mote it be . "

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

Ihe Alaster then briefly addressed the Committee and the children in the following terms : — " I cannot allow the present opportunity to pass without exjiressing the pleasure I feel at having been invited to participate in this day ' s ceremony , the laying the foundation-stone of a buildino-

intended for the sick and convalescent pupils at this Institution , the prosperity of Yvhich I am at all times anxious to promote , and in the welfare of its pupils feel the greatest interest . I take it as an evidence of the wisdom and forethought of the Committee that such a building should

have been designed , although I am sure you will all unite with me in expressing a fervent hope , that it may never be required as an infirmary , but be utilised in such a manner as to enable the Committee to increase the number of pupils at this Institution . I congratulate those to whom

its arrangement is delegated , 011 the judiciousness of this day ' s proceedings , for should the pupils , in the inscrutable decree of T . G . A . O . T . U ., be again sufferers from a similar outbreak to that of a few months back , their restoration to health and convalescence may fairlv and

confidentl y be anticipated through the medium of the building , the object of our meeting , with a minimum of suffering to the patients , and with fuller expectations and more confident hope that success will attend the ministrations of the Aledical Officer . I hold it good to bear in

remembrance the latin motto , " Mens satta in eorpore sano , " and in such a state do I sincerel y trust the girls now before me , and those hereafter to be elected , may long continue to be . I feel that my expression of thanks is due also to the House

Committee for the care , anxiety and watchfulness , in addition to a large portion of their valuable time , bestowed by them in the interest of this Institution , and I heartily wish them and you , my dear girls , continued health and -happiness , and the work God speed . "

The " Corn , Wine and Oil , " were then sprinkled on the stone bv three members of the Committee , the Corn by Bro . Sheen , who said : " Alay this building be blessed with prosperity ;" the Wine by Bro . Pass , who said : " May its future inmates be restored to health ; " and the Oil by Bro . Edward Cox , who said : " And grant them cheerfulness and peace . "

Ihe Alaster then rose and said : "Let the blessing of Heaven be invoked on the future operations . " The children then sang the following Anthem :

Hail universal Lord ! By Heaven and earth ador'd : All hail ! Great God ! Before th y name we bend , To us thy grace extend , And to our prayer attend . All hail ! Great God !

And the proceedings were brought to a close b y the Chajilain offering up the following prayer : — " Prevent us , O Lord , mail our doingswith th y most gracious favour , and further us with thy continual help , that in this and every good work , begun , continued , and ended in Thee , we may glorify Thy Holy Name , and finally , by Thy

mercy , obtain everlasting life . O God of Abraham , God of Isaac , and God of Jacob , jireserve and keep us , that we , obeyino-Thy will , and always being in safety under Th y protection , may abide in Thy Love unto our lives' end , and may arise from the tomb of transgressions to shine as the stars for ever and ever . " "So mote it be . "

In addition to the usual donations to the workmen , cheques for various amounts were placed upon the stone , on the completion of the ere-c mony , including erne for one hundred guineas from the Alaster laying the stone ; ten guineas from the Chairman ; fifty guineas from the Aledical Officer ; fortyguineas from Bro . Sheen , and fifty guineas

from Bro . lush . A massive silver trowel , handsomel y chased , from the atelier of Alessrs . Brook and Son , of the Poultry , was presented by the Architect to the Alaster laying the stone , by whom it was received with evident marks of gratification . It bore upon its surface the following inscrijition : —

This trowel was presented to Bro . WILLIAM WINN , V . Patron , P . M . 657 , by Bro . MASSA , P . M . 39 , Architect , on the occasion of laying the