Scotland.

burgh , 104 " was given by the chair , and replied to by the E . W . M . The lodges sending deputations were proposed and acknowledged by the R . W . M . of each lodge according to seniority on Grand Lodge Eoll . " The Clergy of all Denominations" was given by the chair , and acknowledged by Bro . French . "The Architect of the New Bank" was

given by the chair , and replied to by Bro . Ehynd who also proposed " The Healths ofthe various contractors engaged in the work . " The Ladies , " and " Happy to meet , sorry to £ part , and happy to meet again , " finished the list of toasts . Excellent songs , & c , were given at intervals by various brethren , and the entire proceedings passed off in the greatest harmony and good feeling .

PERTH . LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OP A NEW FACTORY . —A demonstration of a very interesting and novel description took place at Perth ou Saturday the llth ult . The occasion was the laying of the foundation stone of a large factory in course of erection by Messrs Shields & Co ., manufacturersPerthwho have found their premises in

, , Foundry Lane and North William Street inadequate to meet the requirements of their large business . The work when , it is in full operation is calculated to do a very large amount of good to Perth and neighbourhood , and to give an impetus to the rather stagnant commercial life of ' the " Fair City . " When it became known that such an important work was to be erectedone or two of the brethren

, of the Scone and Perth Lodge suggested that it would be an appropriate and graceful act to lay the foundation stone with masonic honours . A meeting of the brethren oi that Lodge was accordingly held , and it was resolved , by the almost unanimous vote of the meeting , that the necessary arrangements should be at once begun . A Committee was formed , the members of which have

worked together in a very cordial and energetic manner ; and their labours on Saturday were brought to a most successful termination . A number of brethren , however , have all along endeavoured to throw cold water on the proposal , because they were of opinion that it was undignified , and a departure from the true objects of masonry to lay the foundation stone of such an institution as a factory . It was never denied that , as a masonic demonstration , it was a little singular and novel ; but the

brethren who have taken part in it have done a public spirited and very becoming act . The brethren of the Scone and Perth , notwithstanding the impediments thrown in thenway by their more formal brethren , continued to issue invitations , and to do their utmost to bring the proceedings to a successful issue . A deputation waited upon Bro . Lord Kinnaird , Provincial Grand Master , to request him to at the

preside ceremony , and his Lordship at once agreed to do so . The invitations issued to Sister Lodges were also accepted with the same cordial spirit . The attendance of brethren from Dundee was highly creditable , representatives from no less than six Lodges being present . Tho Perth brethren likewise turned out in large numbersand members of the three local Lod took

, ges part in the proceedings . Brethren from Glasgow , Lochee , Stirling , Dunfermline , Newburgh , and a great number of brethren throughout Perthshire were present on Saturday . Altogether , the large number who attended the ceremony was very gratifying to all concerned , and showed the high estimation in which Bro . Shields is held throughout the country .

At twelve noon , the Lodge was opened in the County Hall ( kindly granted for the occasion ) , and the procession was marshalled in the esplanade in front of the County Buildings . We may mention that a few of the members of the St . Andrew Lodge , Perth , were present , and marched along with the brethren of the presiding Lodge , the Scone and Perth . One or two members of the Grand Lodge , No 1 ,

were present , and along with them was Bro . Dr . M . Gowan a member of the Grand Orient de France . Each lodge was preceded by its tyler , one or two of whom were attired in very fantastic and , to the uninitiated , very meaningless garbs . Several banners were carried in the procession , and one in particular , carried by Bro . Shields , workmen , was much admired . It bore the inscription ,

" Industry the means—Plenty the result . " Flags were also displayed at the halls of the Scone and Perth and Royal Arch Lodges , and at various points on the route . The uniform of the Grand Lodge , worn by those officiating in behalf of the Lodge , attracted much attention . Long before the procession was formed into marching order , thousands of spectators had assembled at the

County Buildings . The weather cannot be said to have been favourable for such a display , for the heat of the sun was almost unbearable , and a walk under such circumstances , in dusty and crowded streets , was very unpleasant . When the precession started , the several bandsstruck up " Tho Masons' Anthem . " The procession inarched to the site of the new factory , by way of south

Street , St . John Street , George Street , Charlotte Street , Athole Street , and Barrack Street . It was accompanied , all the way by an immense crowd , 'ihe procession arrived atjthe scene of the ceremony about halt-past one o ' clock , and the grand office-bearers and the brethren of the presiding lodge marched into the enclosure , headed by the Militia Band , under the leadership of Mr . Cardy—the

brethren of the lodges in front of them—the procession having opened up to the right and the left , so as to allow them to pass up to the stone . A platform was erected ' near to the stone for the accommodation of a select number of ladies and gentlemen . The admission to it was by ticket , and a considerable time before the arrival of the procession the platform and the surrounding space were fully occupied . Amongst those present were the-Lord Provost and Magistrates , and a large number of the local gentry .

The band having played " The Queen ' s Anthem , " the Grand Chaplain , the Rev . Mr . Cochrane , of Cupar Fife , at the request of the Bro . Lord Kinnaird , R . W . M ., offered up a very impressive prayer . A bottle containing the following articles was then deposited in the place prepared for it : —Parchment account of the factory , order of theprocession , the number of lodges who took part in the

proceedings , a list of the contractors with the estimates ; diploma presented to Bro . Shields by the Scone andPerth Lodge , bearing date 10 th July 1868 , with seal of the lodge attached , in a tin case ; copies of the Perthshire Journal , Perthshire Courier , Dundee Advertiser , Scotsman , Dundee Courier and Argus , and the Dunfermline Press ; photohs of the Lord Provcst and Magistrates of Perth

grap , the architects , contractors , and workmen employed at . the building of the factory , Bro . Shields and family , the principal workmen employed at Bro . Shields' factory , a number of his personal friends , and the current coins of the realm . Bro . Lord Kinnaird having spread lime , the stone was lowered , and the band played " Old Hundred , " and continued doing so while the stone was being lowered .

The plumb , the level , and the square having been applied , Bro . Lord Kinnaird . gave the stone three raps with the mallet- Three hearty cheers were then raised , after which his Lordship poured oil and wine upon the stone , and went through the other ceremonies usual on such occasions . The band having played a stanza or two of "The Masons' Anthem , " and three more cheers were raised .

Bro Lord KIXNAIRD briefly addressed the brethren . He said that in the name of the Scone and Perth Lodge , over which he had the honour that day to preside , he had to thank those brethren who , in the true spirit of masonry—that is love and fraternity—had come forward that day in such large numbers from the east and the west , the north and the south . The work the foundation stene of which they had so solemmly laid that day was calculated to give employment to the industrious and to provide clothing for the naked ; but he trusted , at the