Provincial.

other lodges in the province , for whom Bro . Ambrose Taylo responded . The Tyler ' s toast was then given , and the Provincial Grand Master vacated the chair . The brethren from Berkshire loft by the 7 . 5 train in the evening , and we are expressing the feelings of each one in stating that the visit to Aylesbury afforded them much pleasure , the brethren in that town having spared no pains in making the

arrangements necessary for receiving and entertaining tbe Provincial Grand Lodge , The last occasion on which tho Freemasons of this province met at Aylesbury was in 1865 . MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEWPORT . —Silurian Zodge , ( No . 47 l ) . — On Friday last a Lod of was held afc the Masonic HallDock

ge Emergency , Street , for the purpose of initiating Captain Thomas , Master and Owner of the Schooner " Fanny , " of the port , who had been sometime since balloted for and accepted , and who had now to leave at onco with bis ship , and could not wait until the next regular Lodge meeting . The AV . M . Bro . Gratte was in the chair , and there was a good attendance . The minutes of the Lod and Lodof Emergency having been readalso the

ge , ge , requisition to tbe W . M . Captain James was regularly initiated into Masonry , and paid the Treasurer the usual fees . The ceremony was most ably rendered hy the AV . M ., and the Lodge was closed in harmony nt 8 . 30 p . m . AVe understand the Hall will be forthwith closed for three months , to enable Bro . Diluent of Bristol , to paint and decorate the lodge-room , offices , & c .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

COATBEIDGE . LAYING OE THE MEMORIAE STONE OE THE NEW UNITED PKESBYTERIAN CnUECH . Coatbridge , although a most interesting place as a seat of industry , is yet anything but beautiful or prepossessing—at least sufficient to entice strangers to spend a holiday within its precincts . The people themselves , too , are so busy , the iron

manufacture requiring double-shifts , and the blast-furnaces keeping blazing forth night and day , Saturday and Sunday alike , so that it would almost appear impossible for the inhabitants , even if they had the will , to indulge in a whole day of recreation . The town also , vapidly as it is extending , and tho many imposing structures which are being erected , can never be marie to look anything but sombre , as dense clouds of smoke roll over it incessantland impart to eveiy new building a dingy aspect

y , almost before it is completed . Notwithstanding all these disadvantages , the inhabitants of Coatbridge at times make high holiday . Like the soil on which they are located , where nature lias denied them bounties on the surface , yet underlying which strata of wealth have been found , so it is with the people , for although strictly commercial and business-like in their habits , yet they are hospitable in entertaining strangers when they do celebrate any local event , into a spirit of which they themselves

enter with all the national characteristics . Monday last ivas one of these occasions , when the sound of the rolling-mill and the steam-hammer seemed for a time to have been forgotten , and the people assembled in . holiday attire to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new United Presbyteeian Church . The removal of the congregation from their present place oi worshipwhich is situated a short distance south from the level

, crossing of the North Biitish Railway , was rendered imperative by the alterations presently being made by that company . The new line at an elevated level runs so close to the church as to completely destroy its amenity , so thafc it was purchased by them , and is about to be used as goods sheds . A site was selected for the new church in one of the most commanding situations iu the town , a little to the east of Jlount Zion Church and Gartsherrie Academy , and along with these elegant

structures , as it stands on a somewhat higher elevation , will form one of the chief features in the architecture of Coatbridge . The site , too , is most convenient for the pastor , as the church is built in close proximity to tho manse .

The bniiding is chiefly of the Gothic description , and is rather handsome and imposing . Including the hall and session-house , the structure measures 120 feet itt length and 70 in breadth . It is lighted by five large windows on either side , of the pointed Gothic order , filled in with tracery . At the front a large ornamental window , with four mullions and tracery above , relieves the solid masonry of which the building is composed , while at the pulpit end a beautiful four-light window , with

stained glass , will throw a finely-subdued light over the bend of the officiating clergyman . The main entrance-door , just below the five-light windows already alluded to , is of an exceedingly chaste design . It has a fine basis , with three beautifully moulded columns on either side , surmounted by a heavy Gothic arch , with rich mouldings and ornamental cusps . At either side of this doorway are two small pointed windows . An elegant tower and spire , which , when completed , will reach the height

of 130 feet , rises from the north corner of the building , and gives an imposing effect to the structure , as from its elevated site ifc can be seen from a distance of many miles . At the top of the square tower , eight chastely designed windows give light to the belfry , in which a large bell weighing nearly one ton , and of a fine tone , is to be placed . Crowning the tower are eight-pinnacled turrets , while some distance below tbe gradual tapering of the towers is relieved bfour turrets of a somewhat

y similar description . The interior of the church is laid out on a plan entirely new to this district , the whole of tbe seats being of a circular form , so that the occupants in whatever portion of fche church they may be are facing the minister . A beautiful and commodious gallery runs round the front and both sides of tho interior of the building , and the church will accommodate comfortably fully 900 worshippers . The building has been erected from a design prepared bMr . R . BaldieArchitectGlasgow .

y , , The old church , which the congregation are shortly to leave , was built in the year 1839 . Previous to the year 1836 , there was no church nearer to Coatbridge than the Parish Church of Old Monkland , nearly two miles distant ; and the first religious denomination that took possession ofthe field was the "Relief . " In the month of August , in the year 1836 , the Rev . Peter Brown , late of AA'ishaw , delivered the first sermon from a tent

which was forwarded for the purpose from tho Relief Congregation afc Tollcross by Mr . Meiklam of the Clyde Iron Works . Shortly after this a large hall was taken by a number of tlie adherents , who formed themselves into a congregation , and in December , 1837 , a call was given to and accepted by the Eev . AA illiam Stirling , to the pastoral charge of which lie was ordained in the following March , Mr . Stirling was born in the year 1811 , in the parish of Kilsyth , His father was a farmer ,

and Mr . Stirling received the rudiments of his education at the village school of Banton , about two miles from Kilsyth . When nearly fifteen years of age , he entered the Glasgow University , where be studied for five sessions , and was then admitted to the Relief Divinity Hall in Paisley , where he remained another four sessions . In the year 1836 , just shortly before the first " Relief " sermon was preached at Coatbridge , Mr . Stirling was licensed as a preacher , and was called to the new congregation , while they

were still meeting in the hall , the church not being erected till the following year . It has accommodation for about GOO people . Prom an early hour , the Main Street assumed a busy aspect , crowds of people gathering along the whole route of the intended procession . Tlie proceedings of the day opened with service in the old church , conducted by the pastor , the Rev . AA . Stirling . The various lodges of Freemasons assembled in the Free Church at Langloan ( Rev . Mr . Henderson ' s ) where the lodge was

, openend in tho apprentice degree by Bro . Col . Mure of Caldwell , who had been commissioned by the Earl of Eosslyn , Grand Master for Scotland , to perform the ceremony . He was assisted in opening the lodge hy Bro . William Fleming , R . W . M ., of the New Monkland Montrose , No . SS , who acted as Senior Warden , and by Ilro . James Connor , S . W ., of tlie same lodge , who discharged the duties of J . W . Bro . Bryee , Grand Tyler of tho Grand Lodof Scotlandwas also present in charge of the

ge , paraphernalia of the Grand Lodge , to he used ott tbe occasion , and assisted greatly in carrying out the whole of the arrangements in a most satisf ' actoay manner . Bro . Wylie , Prov . G . S . for Ayrshire , read the commission authorising Bro . Col . Mure to perform the ceremony . Tlie commission was to the effect that respectful application having been made to the Most Worshipful fche Grand . Master . Alason of Scotland , that the foundation-stone of llie New United Presbyterian