Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland,
opened , to admit the Prov . Grand Master and Office-bearers ; who having taken their places to theinspiriting strainsof " God Save the Queen , " the Jewels , & c , were * laid upon the table . " Hail Masonry" was played by the bands , after which the Prov . G . Chaplain offered up a prayer . Bro . Bathgate , town clerk , then read a copy of the document to be deposited within the cavity of the stone .
It contained the minute of the meeting of the Commissioners of Supply for the county of Peebles , held on the 30 th April , 1856 , when they resolved that to improve the communication into the town at this point , the bridge over Eddleston should be rebuilt , and remitted the matter to a committee . The committee raised £ 724 . 4 s . by voluntary contribution , and approved of a plan proposed by Mr . John Mitchell , Mountaincross , the execution of which , for £ 448 , was granted to Mr . James Harkness , builder , Hawick . The rest of the money was to go to
the improvement of the approaches . The paper went on to state , that the work having been gone on with thus far , the keystone was fixed by the Prov . G . M ., & c . After which the Grand Treas . deposited the coins ; & c . ; and the necessary workmen being brought forward ; the stone was lowered in due form , the bands playing " Great Light to Shine . " After the various Prov . G , Office-bearers had performed their several duties , the Grand Master struck the stone three times with his
mallet , saying , " May the Almighty Architect of the Universe look down with benignity upon our present undertaking , and crown this bridge , of which we have just now laid the keystone , with every success . " Three cheers were then given % y the assembled Brethren and spectators . The cornucopia was next thrown upon the stone , the oil and wine being poured in like manner . Another hearty round of cheers was given , after which the R . W . Prov . G . M . delivered an address to the provost and magistrates , which was responded to by the provost of Peebles .
" Rule Britannia "then folio wed from the bands , the Brethren meanwhile forming in procession . After all were in their respective places , they proceeded by Old Town * Ludgate , Cross-road , Railway-bridge , North-gate , and High-street , to Queensberry Lodge , to lay the foundatipn-stone of the Great Hall of the Chambers Institution . On reaching the gateway , the magistrates went in and took their places , the Brethren opening up to admit the Prov . Grand Lodge , and Lodges according to . their seniority on the roll of the Grand Lodge . Here a surprise
awaited the Brethren of the mystic art ; a large balcony had been raised , covered with green baize cloth , and filled with ladies , the elite of the nobility and gentry from the surrounding neighbourhood , and a fairer bouquet of beauties could not have been culled from Tweedside . We observed Lady Hay , and her two fair daughters , on a separate form ; and what surprised us more than anything we had seen that day , was to observe the learned Professor Simpson , of world-spread fame , looking with a quiet smile of satisfaction upon the gay scene .
Prayer having been offered by the Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . Bathgate read the following document , which was afterwards deposited in the cavity of the stone : — " At Peebles , the eleventh day of August , anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven years , and in the twenty-first year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria :
" This foundation-stone of the Great Hall of the Chambers Institution was kid in usual form , with Masonic honours , by the Prov . G . M . for Peebles and Selkirk , with the assistance of the ancient Peebles Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons , and deputations from several other Lodges , and in ^ presence of a large concourse of spectators , including William Chambers , Esq ., of Glenormiston , the founder of the said Institution .
" The property of which the site of this Hall forms a part , successively belonged to the Church of the Holy Cross , of Peebles , the Hays , Lords Yester , Earls of Tweeddale , the Douglasses , Earls of March , and William the Fourth JDuke of < 3 ueensbury , from whom , in 1787 , it passed into the possession of Provost James Reid ; finally , during the current year , it Was acquired by William Chambers , Esq ., of Glenormiston , with intentions as after narrated . " Born , and educated in Peebjes , Mr . Chambers followed the profession of a bookseller and publisher in Edinburgh and London , and was the projector of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland,
opened , to admit the Prov . Grand Master and Office-bearers ; who having taken their places to theinspiriting strainsof " God Save the Queen , " the Jewels , & c , were * laid upon the table . " Hail Masonry" was played by the bands , after which the Prov . G . Chaplain offered up a prayer . Bro . Bathgate , town clerk , then read a copy of the document to be deposited within the cavity of the stone .
It contained the minute of the meeting of the Commissioners of Supply for the county of Peebles , held on the 30 th April , 1856 , when they resolved that to improve the communication into the town at this point , the bridge over Eddleston should be rebuilt , and remitted the matter to a committee . The committee raised £ 724 . 4 s . by voluntary contribution , and approved of a plan proposed by Mr . John Mitchell , Mountaincross , the execution of which , for £ 448 , was granted to Mr . James Harkness , builder , Hawick . The rest of the money was to go to
the improvement of the approaches . The paper went on to state , that the work having been gone on with thus far , the keystone was fixed by the Prov . G . M ., & c . After which the Grand Treas . deposited the coins ; & c . ; and the necessary workmen being brought forward ; the stone was lowered in due form , the bands playing " Great Light to Shine . " After the various Prov . G , Office-bearers had performed their several duties , the Grand Master struck the stone three times with his
mallet , saying , " May the Almighty Architect of the Universe look down with benignity upon our present undertaking , and crown this bridge , of which we have just now laid the keystone , with every success . " Three cheers were then given % y the assembled Brethren and spectators . The cornucopia was next thrown upon the stone , the oil and wine being poured in like manner . Another hearty round of cheers was given , after which the R . W . Prov . G . M . delivered an address to the provost and magistrates , which was responded to by the provost of Peebles .
" Rule Britannia "then folio wed from the bands , the Brethren meanwhile forming in procession . After all were in their respective places , they proceeded by Old Town * Ludgate , Cross-road , Railway-bridge , North-gate , and High-street , to Queensberry Lodge , to lay the foundatipn-stone of the Great Hall of the Chambers Institution . On reaching the gateway , the magistrates went in and took their places , the Brethren opening up to admit the Prov . Grand Lodge , and Lodges according to . their seniority on the roll of the Grand Lodge . Here a surprise
awaited the Brethren of the mystic art ; a large balcony had been raised , covered with green baize cloth , and filled with ladies , the elite of the nobility and gentry from the surrounding neighbourhood , and a fairer bouquet of beauties could not have been culled from Tweedside . We observed Lady Hay , and her two fair daughters , on a separate form ; and what surprised us more than anything we had seen that day , was to observe the learned Professor Simpson , of world-spread fame , looking with a quiet smile of satisfaction upon the gay scene .
Prayer having been offered by the Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . Bathgate read the following document , which was afterwards deposited in the cavity of the stone : — " At Peebles , the eleventh day of August , anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven years , and in the twenty-first year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria :
" This foundation-stone of the Great Hall of the Chambers Institution was kid in usual form , with Masonic honours , by the Prov . G . M . for Peebles and Selkirk , with the assistance of the ancient Peebles Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons , and deputations from several other Lodges , and in ^ presence of a large concourse of spectators , including William Chambers , Esq ., of Glenormiston , the founder of the said Institution .
" The property of which the site of this Hall forms a part , successively belonged to the Church of the Holy Cross , of Peebles , the Hays , Lords Yester , Earls of Tweeddale , the Douglasses , Earls of March , and William the Fourth JDuke of < 3 ueensbury , from whom , in 1787 , it passed into the possession of Provost James Reid ; finally , during the current year , it Was acquired by William Chambers , Esq ., of Glenormiston , with intentions as after narrated . " Born , and educated in Peebjes , Mr . Chambers followed the profession of a bookseller and publisher in Edinburgh and London , and was the projector of