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plumb , and level , handed to him by the architect , ho said : "I pronounce this stone to be well-formed , true , and trusty , " striking it thrice with the mallet . The Prov . G . Treasurer having placed the coins in the bottle , it was deposited in the cavity formed for it . The corn , the wine , and tho oil were presented to the Prov . G . Master by the D . Prov . G . MasterS . G . Wand J . G . W . respectivelyand having

, ,, , been sprinkled on tho stone , The Prov . G . Master offered the following supplication : — " May the All-Bounteous Author of Nature bless the inhabitants of this place with all the necessary conveniences and comforts of life , assist in the erection and completion of the building ' protect the workmen against every accident , long preserve this structure from decay , and grant unto us all needed supplies of

the corn of nourishment , the wine of refreshment , and the oil of joy . Amen , so may it be . " He then addressed tho assemblage as follows : — " Brethren , Gentlemen , and Ladies , —I have the honour to-day of being in the proud position of Provincial Grand Master of the Masons of this colony under the Irish Constitution . During the last three or four years we have exerted our energies as much as we possibly could to obtain funds for the purpose of building a hall in which to hold our meetings under the old and

established forms of Masonry . My worthy deputy , Bro . Fiveash , lias exerted himself manfully for the purpose , and to his great exertions , especially amongst others , do we owe it that we are hero on this joyous occasion to lay our foundation-stone . In a mixed company of this kind , where there are ladies present , it would not do for me to go into the mysteries of Masonry , for I don't know that it is suitable for ladies to know all about it .

Any of them that are married , however , may ask their husbands when they go home , and they will no doubt tell them the whole of the secret . Be that as it may this is a grand and joyous occasion iu Masonry under our Constitution , and the ceremony of the day has now been performed with a little exception . I hope that the glories of Masonry may shine supreme , that as this hall is raised above the foundations the mysteries of

the Craft may he more extended , and that we shall see the time when Masonry shall not be the exception hut the rule amongst all the inhabitants of our favoured land . I do not say this for the purpose of inducing any one to look into our mysteries .

"We do not wish that . On every hand brotherly feeling , good fellowship , and care for one another are the things which characterise our Constitution , and I trust that from time to time as we meet all the brethren will see those principles carried out and preserved . To-day , also , our ceremony has been graced by the presence of ladies , and we have had our position exalted by the attendance of members of other Crafts—forming a procession whichI must sayis unexampled in the annals of

Fvee-, , masony in the colony . I trust this foundation-stone will support the building about to be raised upon it ; that that building may be an ornament to this town , as well as a suitable place of meeting for the Masons ; and that as such we will give a true Masonic brotherly cheer for it . 1 now declare this stono perfectly laid . Let us salute it with Masonic honours . The grand honours of Masonry having been given ,

The Rev . J . Pollitt , having returned thanks to the Great Architect of the Universe , addressed a few words to the audience . He remarked that the objects of Masonry were to promote a feeling- of brotherly kindness and compassion , and that it was usual on occasions of that sort to ask the assistance of those who were willing to givo with a view of relieving the infirmities and distresses of others , including tho widow and the fatherlessand those children who miht become fatherless .

, g He had known many instances , during a twenty-one years ' experience in the colony in which the widow and the fatherless had been succoured through tho compassionate aid of thoso belonging to the various Crafts . It was not simply those who were Masons that derived tho benefit , for they were commanded in charity to have regard to the sufferers who were outside . He trusted that they would show tho sincerity of their feelings

by contributing- towards the relief of the needy according to their ability . The offerings of those disposed to contribute having been given , the assemblage dispersed . The building is to be built of rubble with stucco front . There are to be three underground rooms , the excavations for which have been made . Over this there are to be three other

rooms , and eventuall y the second storey , or the one above the ground floor , will be partitioned off in the samo way . The front elevation will cover a space of 37 ft . in width , and ultimately the buildings will run back to a depth of some 100 ft .

Tho main hall is to be 45 ft . by 30 ft . in the clear . In the rear of this is to be erected a banqueting room of 20 ft . by 30 ft ., and some outbuildings will fill up the space still further to the rear . It is intended to put up the front portion of the structure first , and the upper storey ( a space of 34 ft . by 18 ft . ) will form the Masonic meeting room until there are funds sufficiently tocomplete the building . It is anticipated that the front elevation will be erected in time for the rooms to be made use of at the meetings in March next . The architect is Bro . W . Abbott , and the builder Bro . Lines .

THE BANQUET . After the ceremony the brethren adjourned to the lodge room of the Duke of Leiuster Lodge , Freemasons' Tavern , which had been profusely and elegantly decorated for the occasion , and where they sat down to a banquet furnished in his usual excellent style by host Darling . About 120 brethren were present . The chair was occupied by Bro . J . T . Bagot , P . G . M .,. M . L . C . who was supported on his riht by Bros . Fiveash

, g , D . Prov . G . M . ; Gosse and Poole , P . D . Prov . G . M . 's ; W . W . Tuxford , P . M ., M . L . C . ; and on his left by Bros , the Revs . Farr and Pollitt , and R . L . Magrath , the inspector of lodges . The Rev . Bro . Pollitt said grace before , and the Rev . Bro . Canon Farr after the banquet , in the usual Masonic manner , The following toasts were drunk with proper Masonichonours : — "The Queen and the Craft" "The Three Grand

, Masters of Ireland , England , and Scotland , " " His Excellency Bro . Sir Dominick Daly , " and the District Grand Lodge and . Bro . Hardy . " In proposing the latter toast , the Prov . G . M . said that it waswith very great pleasure he had seen such a gathering of visiting brethren at the ceremony that day . It showed the good feeling and sympathies of the other Constitutions . If

ever the occasion required it , the Irish Masons would reciprocate warmly . Masonry was a great fact , as was proved every Hay , and the Irish brethren aimed to do their best to beworthy of it . Bro . Poole , D . Prov . G . M ., responded . He said that Bro . Hardy would have been present if the day originally fixed had been adhered to . The English brethren were gratified with the good spirit shown them . He hoped the day ' s proceedings

would lead to the establishment of a satisfactory benevolent fund which might be joined in by all alike . The Prov . G . Master then proposod " The Scotch Provincial Grand Lodgo , " and then " Bro . Hart , Prov . G . M . " He had nodoubt the Scotch lodges would soon make a better show , and

none would bo more welcome amongst Irish Masons than their Scotch brethren . Bro . Wells , Prov . S . G . W ., returned thanks on behalf of the Scotch Provincial Grand Lodge . He had hoped there would have been more Scotch Masons present , but there was only one lodge as yet . The Rev . Bro . Canon Farr added that he had great pleasure in fraternal intercourse with other constitutions . In one point he

differed from the Prov . G . M ., for to his mind one of the great evils of Masonry was having too many lodges . He hoped the Scotch lodge would remain as it was while it continued well off , and enabled to bestow a great deal of charity—a fact of which he was proud . By dividing they could not do so much good . He had great pleasure in seeing the friendly spirit amongst the various constitutions .

Bro . Dr . Goose , P . D . Prov . G . M ., then proposed "Success to the Irish Constitution and Bro . Bagot . " Bro . Bagot was well known to at ! , and he congratulated the Irish Constitution on . the event they had that day celebrated under him of laying a foundation stono of a building dedicated to Masonry . Other constitutions had made attempts of the same sort , but not so successfully as that which had been inaugurated that day . After all there was nothing like having a house of one ' s ownand he

, congratulated them on the prospect of having it . Bro . Bagot responded . He said the Irish Masons were very much gratified by the kindness shown by the other constitutions , as well by their presence at the ceremony as by the way they had received the toast . It showed that Masonry was of moveconsequence than constitutions , and was wider than countries . Bro . Fiveash was then called uponand detailed the

diffi-, culties the Irish Constitution had to struggle with at first . Hestated that that day showed they had surmounted them . They had determined to establish an Irish lodge , and that lodge determined to have a hall and a Benevolent Fund . The hall they had started , and the Fund should soon follow . Ho would do anything in his power to help and aid the other constitutions .