The Wakefield New Masonic Hall.

Senior Warden , with column , Bro . W . Glover , 495 ; Junior Warden , with column , Bro . Ibbetson , 495 . The Immediate P . M . 495 , Bro . Edwards , with mallet . Bro . Watson , P . M . 15 i , architect , with plans . Bro . W . W . Glover , P . M . 495 , Bro . Naylor , P . M . 154 , and Bro . France , P . M . 1019 , bearing respectively square , trowel , and plumb rule .

Prov . G . Organist , Bro . Suckley ( Sheffield ); P . G . D . of Ceremonies , Bro . Slack , 910 ( Pontefract ); P . G . S . of Works , Bro . Gill , 495 . P . G . Deacon , Bro . G . T . Crowe ( Leeds ); P . P . G . Deacon , Bro . W . B . Alderson , 495 . Prov . P . G . S ., Bro . H . Smith , with Hie engraved plate for the stone . Prov . G . Registrar , Bro . Major Freeman . Prov . G . T . Bro . Mason ( Leeds ) , with phial containing coins , etc . The Choir . The Acolyte . P . Prov . G . ChaplainBro . Pearson ( Horsforth ) ; P . Prov . G . C . Bro . Needham ( Whitwood ) .

, , Prov . G . Warden , Bro . Dr . Statter ; P . P . G . W ., Bro . W . H . Gill . Prov . G . Sword Bearer , Bro . Major Moore . The D . P . G . M ., Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., P . M . 910 ; Prov . G . Tyler , Bro . Josh . Lee ( Huddersfield ) . The route taken by the procession was down Wood Street , through Silver Street , Little Westgate , Kirkgate , ancl Teall Street , to Zetland Street . On reachiug the site of the intended building , the brethren opened out riht and

g left , to allow the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Officers to pass to the platform , the brethren then closing in and following . The 100 th Psalm having been sung by the choir , which was from St . Giles' Parish Church , Pontefract , and led by Bro . Gleclhill , choirmaster , Bro . the Rev . Canon Blackeney , D . D ., Prov . G . Chaplain , read the 127 th Psalm , after which the usual ceremonies were proceeded with .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master ascended the stone and addressed the brethren as follows : —As the construction of an edifice for the purposes of Freemasonry marks an epoch in the aunals of tho Craft in the West Riding and at Wakefield , I will now ask your indulgence to make a few observations on the circumstances , which have brought about this demonstration to-day in Zetland Street . As the Deput y Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , it would have been my dutyhad Sir H . Edwards been presentto have asked

, , him to lay the foundation stone of this new Masonic Hall at Wakefield . Our Prov . Grand Master most deeply regrets his inability to be present at this interesting ceremonial ; which , I feel , must lose some of its prestige and interest in yonr eyes by reason of the absence of his personal presence . The previous occasion on which he was present at a ceremonial of this kind was when he accepted the invitation of our late Bro . J . C . D . Charlesworthand

, assisted him to lay the foundation stone of the Clayton Hospital and Dispensary in 1876 . Most deeply do we deplore the death of our late brother , who was a member of the Wakefield Loclge , No . 495 , but we feel gratified to Providence that his valuable life was spared to see the completion and the opening of that benevolent institution in which he took so lively an interest , and of which he was the president —( applause ) . The Freemasons of the

beiges ancl chapters at Wakefield have indeed conferred a compliment upon me , and one which my family greatly appreciate , in asking me , in the place of Sir Henry Edwards , to lay the foundation stone of this new Masonic Hall . This work which we inaugurate to-day will , we believe , tend to promote the advocacy and development of Masonic principles in this town and nei ghbourhood . Being to-day operative as well as speculative Freemasons , we have

laid the chief stone of this new Masonic Temple to Freemasonry at the northeast corner of the building , on which a noble superstructure will be raised , perfect in its parts and honourable to its builders . The three lodges , Unanimity , Wakefield , and Sincerity , are to be congratulated on the agreement of views which has brought about this unity of action , and for which Freemasonry is ever remarkable , by which they have agreed to work together within the walls of one edifice in peace , love , and concord , thus resulting in the initiation of a new Masonic Hall worthy of the Craft in Wakefield , as well