Colonial.

Plumb , the emblem of uprightness : will you apply that instrument to the stone , and see if it is duly upright . J . Warden . —Worshipful Sir , the stone is fixed upright . W . Master . —Bro . S . Warden , the insignia of your office is the Level , which teaches us that we all partake the same nature , and share the same hopes : apply that instrument to the stone , and report if it is duly level . 8 . Warden . —Worshipful Sir , the stone is level .

W . Master . —Brethren , Bros . Senior and Junior "Wardens , having tested the stone with the insignia of their office and proved it correct , I with the Square , and emblem of my authority , and the acknowledged criterion of all perfection , will also prove its position , so that if correct the superstructure to be raised thereon may be upright , level , and square . *¦ W . Master . —Brethren , the stone is well-formed , true , and trusty .

AY . Master . —Worshipful Past Master , will you bring hither the corn , wine , and oil , that in conformity to the ancient custom they may he offered on this foundation ? The Rev . Chaplain then read the following prayer : — May the All-bounteous Author of Nature assist in the erection and completion of this building . Protect the workmen against any accident , and long preserve this structure from decay . And grant to us all in needed supply the corn of nourishmentthe

, wine of refreshment , and the oil of joy . So mote it be . The W . M . having struck the stone thrice with his mallet , the public honours of Masonry were given , the time being given by the W . M . The Chaplain then delivered the following address : —

" Your Excellency , Ladies , and Gentlemen , —You have just witnessed a ceremony which , to some of you , may seem an empty form , or at best , one of very trivial significance , and many of you wonder , no doubt , what connection there can be which should bring the Masonic body to take a prominent part in laying the foundation-stone of a Christian church . "You have been told that Freemasons at the present day are speculative , not operative , workmen , and this , perhaps , will

only increase the apparent difficulty ; I shall , therefore , endeavour to show you that in keeping up the time-honoured custom of Freemasons assisting practically in laying the foundation-stone of a place of Christian worship , something more is signified than what at first sight meets the eye—more , indeed , than when they take part in the erection of buildings which are to be used for purely secular purposes . " Freemasonry in its present organisation as purely

speculative may be of recent origin ; but Masonry as an institution is coeval almost with mankind ; and one of its great objects , indeed , as regards dignity and importance . I may say , ils greatest object has ever been to protect the worship of tho One True Living God Most High . " With this object in view , not only did our great forefathers carefully preserve and inculcate the knowledge of the Most Hihbut they practicallpronounced His worshias Operative

g , y p Masons by assisting in the erection of buildings dedicated to His name , ancl in exercising those principles of architecture , which at the first were almost exclusively cultivated ancl practised by them , indeed , so exclusively , that at one time these principles actually became ' secrets , ' and were known only to the initialed .

" We find traces , and we have traditions which those traces confirm , that Freemasons not only acted in their operative capacity , but also in their speculative character , in the erection of some of those gigantic temples erected in primitive times for purposes of worship , ancl of which little now remains save stupendous ruins , little now is known save what those ruins teach ; and yet enough may nevertheless be gathered to show that however much the worship in them may have been , as it

undoubtedly was , subsequently perverted from its original simplicity , their erection was intended for the adoration of the One Great Architect of the Universe . The speculative teaching of Masonry was transmitted through Abraham in all its purity , and when the Great I AM designed to reveal Himself to Moses in the burning bush , He spoke of Himself as being the ' God of his father , the God of Abraham , the God of Isaacand the God of Jacob' and Moses recognised

, , in Him that Great Creative Being whom he , as a Speculative Mason , aud learned to own ancl to adore . "To that Great I AM did he erect his tabernacle in the wilderness ; to Him , ancl to His honour , the great and wise lung Solomon erected and dedicated that magnificent Temple in the Holy City Jerusalem , in the building of which the traditions

of our Order are borne out by the testimony of Holy Writ . And this was the time when an organization was given to the Institution ( elaborated , it would seem , by Solomon on a previously existing one ) and which with slight modification exists to the present day . " In the rebuilding of the Temple after the return of the Jews from their captivity , both the speculative ancl the operative characteristics of the fraternity were again brought into play ,

and by their aid a place where ' His Great Name should dwell ' and His Worship be carried on , was again established . "And now leaving this highly favoured race , with whom God had for so long a time been pleased to dwell , we pass on from their times and come to that period alluded fo during the present ceremony , when Freemasonry blazed forth with a brighter light than perhaps ever before—when having amongst its Masters aud Fellows learned mendevoted Christiansand

skil-, , ful artificers—enrolling men of all ranks and professions , emperors , kings and princes , warrior knights , and loyal companions ; pions bishops , priests , ancl monks ; learned doctors and clerks , as well as skilled and industrious workmen , who revived the old organization ancl formed lodges , and travelled about

lrom place , to place planning , erecting , ancl dedicating those places of Christian worship , those magnificent cathedrals and minsters which adorn our mother country and Central Europe , in the construction of which beauty , wisdom and strength are so marvellously combined that they almost defy imitation , and are the wonder and admiration of the whole civilized world . "Amongst this goodly company there are several whose names I cannot refrain from mentioning , feeling assured that

they are still held in happy and grateful remembrance ; not only by the Masonic body , but also by all English Churchmen . I refer to S . Alban , the protomartyr of England , S . Augustin , the good King Alfred , Walter Stapleton , Bishop of Exeter , William of Wyckham , Bishop of Winchester . " Since the period when they lived the principles of architecturehave become more widely known , and the working mason ' s trade is open to all . Freemasons , therefore , have been content to remain a speculative fraternity . "As regards its principles , they are well known ; its organisation and rules are promulgated to tbe world , its muster roll of

members is lodged with the civil authorities , and unlike secret societies strictly so called , whose tendency is to subvert order , it constantly endeavours to inculcate upon all the duty of submitting to lawfully constituted authority , and urgently insists upon , and endeavours to propagate , a love of order ; and it isamong other things , as evincing this love of order , that Freemasons attend the laying of the foundation-stone of a new building , ancl go through the form of ascertaining that that

stone is correctly laid , as the rule and constituted standard of accuracy , according to which , in due order , the remainder of the building is to be raised . If that stone be laid square , level and plumb , then the whole building will rise square , level and plumb ; if not so laid , then it is untrusty , and the building must be continued without a standard , ancl cannot fail to be irregular , disorderly , and imperfect . " While then we thus keep up our connection with the operative

fraternity of ancient times , we , in assisting at the laying of the foundation of this new Church , continue to carry out the object of speculative Masons of all ages , ancl thus it is that though we , who this day wear the Masonic badge , may not all belong to

that Communion according to whose beautiful ritual prayer and praise is to be here offered up , yet forgetting every difference , ive can all heartily join , as in a great Masonic duty , in assisting in the erection of this House of Prayer , intended as it is for the Worship of the Great and Adorable Lord God , the great I AM , the Alpha and the Omega , the first ancl the last , and may He grant that the work thus begun in order may be conducted in peace ancl ended in harmony . — ' So mote it be . ' "

The Rev . Mr . Webber thus addressed the meeting as to the steps taken to secure the erection of the Church , and said , —The result has been the plan which I now hold in my hands , skilfully drawn for us by Mr . Inspector Bury . This Church is of lofty proportions and considerable ornament , the latter essential being obtained by having the columns and rafters and the principal parts of the tower constructed of cast iron . It will be 135 feet in lengthonl 15 feet shorter than Solomon ' s Temple of

, y wondrous beauty and glorious fame . Tho internal height will be 55 feet from the floors to the apex of the roof , thus providing within coolness and ventilation , aud an imposing appearance without . We propose to obtain that internal beauty and solemnity which speaks home so powerfully to the heart , by th