Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

AIRDRIE . Laying the Foundation Stones of Public Buildings . —On the 31 st July , the foundation-stones of the-Court-houses , the Marketdiouse , and the Railway-station , of the town of Airdrie , were laid with Masonic honours . The day was delightful , and the turn-out of spectators immense . At twelve o ' clock the Lodges , consisting of the 7 th , 12 th , 13 th , 30 th , 87 th , 88 th , 89 th , 102 nd , 166 th , 177 th , 181 st , 187 th , 199 th , 203 rd , 219 th , and 362 nd , assembled in front of the Royal Hotel , where they were formed , headed by bands of music , the Junior Lodge facing the

west . The procession then marched to the West Church , where the Eev . B . C . Brown preached , and afterwards paraded the principal streets of the town , in the course of which it was joined by Sir Archibald Alison , who was driven from the Coatbridge terminus in a carriage and four . The procession then reached the Court-house building . Platforms had been erected for the accommodation of ladies and gentlemen , and were crowded . The streets in the vicinity were also crowded ; indeed , every available space , including the house-tops , was made use of to get a glimpse of the ceremony . Amongst the gentlemen present were—Sir

A . Alison , Bart . ; James Baird , Esq ., M . P . ; Dr . Clark , of Wester Moffat ; Wm . Murray , Esq ., Monkland House ; James Thomson Rankine , Esq ., jun ., of Auchingray and Otter ; John Bain , Esq ., of Morriston ; Lyon , Esq . ; Hugh Brown , Esq . ; Wm . Brown , Esq . ; D . ' O . R . C . Buchanan , Esq ., of Drumpeller ; the Provost of Airdrie ; Bailie Taylor ; Bailie Colquhoun ; Bailie Eddie ; Thomas Jackson , Esq ., Coats House ; the Rev . B . C . Brown ; Wm . JFor rest , Esq ., of

Meadowside ; Wm . Baker , Esq ., Clifton-hill ; and Robert Scott , Esq ., of Greenockhill . After prayer by the chaplain , the usual documents , coins , and papers , enclosed in a glass case , were deposited in the cavity of the stone , which was adjusted , and three knocks having been struck by Sir Archibald , and the usual passages read , three hearty cheers were given , which were re-echoed by the immense assemblage .

Sheriff Sir A . Alison , R . W . G . M ., then addressed the Deputy Grand Master , Wardens , and worthy Brethren . He said they had now concluded one of the most interesting ceremonies that could be witnessed in a Christian country . They had laid the foundation-stone of an edifice destined , he trusted , to perpetuate , in future times , the reign of justice , peace , goodwill , and charity among men . They were assembled on an occasion the most interesting and memorable that he ever recollected—they were assembled to lay the foundation , not of one , but of three

edifices ; and the one at which they were now engaged would , he trusted , be the means of diffusing justice , peace , and tranquillity through that great community . Another was to be the means of largely ministering to their material wants ; and the third to improve the communication with distant places , and to give to others a part of the blessings which itself enjoyed . It was no small satisfaction to see three works of such importance and magnitude begun at the same time and in the same town . He remembered that town when it was only a small burgh , ho might

almost say a village , containing a few thousand inhabitants , and he now saw it the centre of a great , populous , and commercial district . He trusted that the edifice , of which they now laid the foundation , would be only the commencement of a work which would tend to perpetuate the opulence and prosperity of that great community ; that the principles of concord and unity would never desert that society , and that the principles of the Order to which they belonged , and which commenced with the foundation of Solomon ' s Temple , would remain for the perpetuity of Christian union and the blessing and benefaction of mankind .

The foundation-stone of the Market Houses was next laid , after a similar ceremony had been gone through . The procession then moved to the Railway-station , at winch a triumphal arch was erected , when John Bain , Esq ., of Morriston , laid the foundation-stone of that structure . In the evening , the commissioners of Airdrie , the provost , magistrates , and