Provincial

PROVINCIAL

North Essex Lodge , No . 817 . — -The members of this Lodge met on Monday , the 4-th of June , when Bro . 1 . Bolfe , W . M ., passed two Brethren .

ESSEX

HERTEOKDSHIBE . Watpobd . —Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertford . —Monday , June 18 , was a day of high festival to the quiet town of Watford , it being fixed for the ceremonial of laying the foundation-stone of a new Corn Exchange , which some public-spirited men have formed a company to construct . All matters being ready , the Directors invited the attendance of the Grand Lodge of Hertford to consecrate their undertaking with Masonic honours . The call was promptly answered by Bro . William Stuart , the Prov . G . M ., who deputed Bro . John Sedgwick , the G . Sec , and

Jeremiah How , the G . Dir . of Cer ., to arrange the proceedings . The proposed building is to occupy a portion of the site of the old posting-house , the Essex Arms , attached to which is the Freemasons' noble hall . It is to comprise a fine area , sixty feet in length , thirty in breadth , and twenty ; three feet in height * An assembly-room is to be at the east end , and a billiard-room over it . Opening into the hall are to be seven rooms for the use of persons frequenting the exchange . The hotel is to be reconstructed ; and the street elevation—which will combine the entrance to Exchange and Hotel , promises to be very attractive . The architect is Mr . James Murray , of Coventry : the contract is undertaken at . £ 1 , 800 .

The special G . L . was opened at one o ' clock ; and the G . Sec . announced the cause of their being called together . The G . M . informed the Brethren that Bro , How , the G . Dir . of Cer ., would arrange the procession , which advanced to the parish church—many of the gentry , the traders , and farmers of the district , preceding . Prayers were read by the Bev . Bro . Branston , the curate of Bushey ; and a sermon was preached by the Bev . Bro . Octavius Ereire Owen , Prov . G . Chap , of Surrey . The text was Psalm cxxiii . 1—3 . The day being the fortieth anniversary of the battle of Waterloo , furnished the theme for the discourse . Contrasting

England prior to that event—during the long contested war , and the peace that ensued—he showed that God ' s providential care had preserved our nation through the dangers of the former period ; and that superabundance of wealth in peace caused a forgetfulness , and brought again the horrors of war : thus applying his text— " If God had not been on our side , then our enemy had swallowed us up . " It is , of course , impossible for us even to give an outline of the discourse , which was listened to with breathless attention by a numerous congregation—every seat and aisle being filled . The service concluded , the procession re-formed , and returned

in the same order , where , arrived on the ground , the architect presented the plan of the building to the Prov . P . M ., who examined it , and the contractor presented him the trowel ; when the D . G . M . having placed in a cavity of the lower stone a sealed bottle containing an inscription on parchment describing the event , and other documents connected with the ceremony , as well as some coins of the realm , the Prov . G . M . spread the cement , and the upper stone was secured on the lower , the assistant Officers proving the position . Corn , wine , and oil , were scattered by Bros . William Stuart , jun ., H . Burchell-Herne , and George

Francisthe beautiful vessels of the G . L . being used for the occasion , and an appropriate prayer was offered by Bro . Owen . The rain unfortunately began to pour heavily , and compelled a rather hastier conclusion of the ceremonial than was intended . The G . L . having been again duly formed , it was closed with solemn prayer . The G . M . then proceeded to the hall , where an excellent collation was laid out . The hall is a splendid room , and contains two paintings of lifesize—one of Bro . William Stuart , the Prov . G . M ., and the other , Bro . Stewart Majoribanks , P . S . G . W . of England—painted by Linncl . Present—the B . W