Laying The Foundation Stone Of Dumfries And Galloway New Royal Infirmary.

and accommodation is provided for every requirement in the proper administration of the establishment . The building will supply accommodation to the extent of 100 beds . The proceedings in connection with the ceremony were commenced at mid-day , when the Masonic lodges in attendance assembled in the Town Hall . There the

Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form , and the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Lauderdale Maitland of Eccles , was presented with a silver trowel , bearing the following inscription : — " Presented by tho Freemasons of Dumfries to Bro . Lauderdale Maitland , Right Worshipful Grand Master of Dumfriesshire , on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the Royal

Infirmary for Dumfries . " After the lodge had been opened the Masons were marshalled by Bros . Riddick and Dydes , and then proceeded to the Grey friars' Ohvtrch , -were a sermon enforcing the duty of christian charity was preached by Bro . the Rev . D . M'Leod , Montrose ( formerly of Dumfries ) , and Provincial Grand Chaplain . At the close of the religious service , the Freemasons ,

to the number of 180 , proceeded to the Academy grounds , where a procession , including altogether nearly 600 persons was formed . Headed by the Dumfries Rifle Band , and accompanied by the Scottish Borderers Militia ( brass and flute ) , Maxwelton , and Troqueer , bands , the procession marched through the principal streets of the burgh .

On the arrival of the procession at Nithbank , the proceedings connected with the great event of the day were commenced in presence of a large number of spectators . A choir ( whose services were rendered voluntarily ) under the direction of Bros . ' James G . Gordon and James Riddick performed the musical part of the programme , while the Grand Master and his assistants performed

the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone , in accordance with the rule and \ isage of the Craft . On the stone was the following inscription : — " This foundation-stone of the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary was laid on the 16 th day of September , 1869 , and of the Masonic epoch 5873 , by the Provincial Grand Master of this district , Bro . Lauderdale Maitland , of Eccles , in presence of the Magistrates and a large concourse of spectators . Architect—John Starfortlr" At the conclusion of the

ceremony . The Provincial Grand Master said : —Mr . Provost and Building Committee , I have very great pleasure in offering to you my hearty congratulations on the successful termination of tho proceedings of to-day . There is no duty more pleasing to the Masonic Craft than that of assisting at a ceremonial that is intended to

commemorate one of the chiefest , if not the chief , Christian virtue , for we are told that such is Charity ; and surely one of the most sacred of its numerous attributes is the relief of suffering humanity . Tho edifice which is to be erected on " this site is to be devoted to that noble object ; and I cannot doubt that one who assisLs in this great work will find in their

every doing so a lifelong satisfaction . I cannot refrain , before closing those proceedings—and you would be disappointed if I did refrain—from referring to the name of Mrs . Laurie of Maxwelton . But for her noble and princely munificence we should not have been here today , and certain 1 am that there is not one present whose heart does not respond to the prayer that she

may be long spared to derive enjoyment from the soothing knowledge that her Christian generosity will be the means , in the providence of God , of saving much human life and assuaging much human pain . The Provincial Grand Master concluded by thankino- the various Masters and lodges for the support they had given him in laying the foundation-stone of the Infirmary . Bro . Symons ; said Right Worshipful Grand Master , as one of the Building Committee , and in their name , I

Laying The Foundation Stone Of Dumfries And Galloway New Royal Infirmary.

have the honour of expressing to you their sincere thanks for your kind compliance with our request that you should lay the foundation stone of the new Infirmary . Your presence here we recognise as the evidence of a generous sympathy with the objects of our enterprisethe erection of a building of which I do not hesitate to say that it is the noblest institution that Christian

benevolence has placed in this district ; and I think we are speciatly indebted to you for the proper manner in which you have conducted this important ceremonial . Provost Harkness ; said Right Worshipful Grand Master , Ladies and Gentlemen , —As Provost of this ancient burgh , I have much pleasure in being present on this very interesting occasionand in taking a part in the

, proceedings of to-day ; and I have to thank my brother Magistrates and members of Council for their company and support . The great event of this day is of vast importance to the town and shire of Dumfries and the adjacent counties , for there cannot be a doubt that theexistence of a first-class infirmary in Dumfries must be

a vast benefit to the district . The medical profession in Dumfries has almost kept pace with that of the capitals of Scotland and England ; and what advantage must it be to the poor classes of this district to have an infirmary suited in every way to the proper treatment of the different diseases to which they are subject , and to have medical men competent to perform almost any operation

and to treat any class of disease . For we all know that in our homes the poorer classes cannot have justice done to their cases , but in the Infirmary every attention will be paid to their necessities , for in point of classification ventilation , agreeable prospect , and airing grounds , the building about to be erected cannot be surpassed . Therefore 1 call one heartilto support the present

upon every y movement , and to sink all differences in the desire to promote an institution that will be an inestimable boon to the poor of Dumfries and of the three counties . Three cheers were then given for the new Infirmary ,, and the benediction having been pronounced by the Chaplain , the procession re-formed and marched back tothe Academy grounds .

Masonic Funeral In Spain.

MASONIC FUNERAL IN SPAIN .

The following is a translation of a paragraph from the Eeforma , a newspaper published in Madrid : — " The Gorrespondencia of the 30 th August , in describing the burial of Major General Escalante , says that behind the hearse certain symbolical attributes were displayed of which the people did not understand the meaning , and which we proceed to explain . A servant carried behind

the car containing the corpse tho insignia of the Masonic Order to which tho deceased had belonged , followed by several brethren of the lodge of which he had been a member . We had the pleasure of seeing a deputation of the Mantuaua Lodge , No . 1 , of the Oriente of Madrid , forming a perfect and regular lodge , marching in procession according to rite ; the Apprentices firstfollowed

, by the Fellow Crafts and Master Masons , the Brother Secretary accompanied by the Treasurer , the Worshipful Master having his Wardens on each side came next , and the Director of Ceremonies next . The Grand Oriente of Spain and the Mautuana Lodge wished to honour the memory of a brother , although he was not an active member of any lodge on the Register of the Grand

Oriente of Spain . " This is , without doubt , the first public act of Freemasonry in Spain which has laboured so much and continues to labour in the interest of civilization and progress . Having now shown its existence , we are sure it will not rest satisfied with that ; but , availing itself of the liberty which we now breathe , not only will give soon more ostensible proofs , but , faithful to its magnificent nstitution , it will be the firmest support of national iberty and of the progress of mankind .