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assisted hy the Master , Wardens , and Brethren of the Portland Lodge of Freemason , No . 576 , under the English Constitution , in the presence of the Magistrates , Municipal Council , Orders of Oddfellows ancl Foresters , and a multitude of tho inhabitants , laid the foundation-stone of this new edifice , on the 2-lst clay of September , in the year of Christ , 18 G 3 , of the era of Masonry , 5863 , and the 27 th of the reign of Alctoria , Queen of Great Britain . Architect—Alexander M . Ross . Town-clerk—Edwin

Atkinson . The W . M . then addressed the Superintendent of AVorks ( AV . Burne)— " Brother Superintendent of Works , you will see the stone lowered . "

The mortar was then spread upon the stone , Avhich was lowered to its proper position in the accustomed manner , by three regular stops . The following Masonic ceremony was then used : — AA . M . —Brother Past Master and AVardens , you will apply the various implements to the stone to prove that it is laid according to the rules of architecture . AV . M . to the Past Master ( J . Fethers ) . — -Have you applied

the square to those parts of the stone that should be square ? P . M . —I have , AVorshipful Sir , and the craftsmen have clone their duty . AV . M . to the Senior AYarden ( John Browning ) . —Have you applied the . level to the stone ? S . AV . —I have done so , and find it to be correct . AV . M . to the Junior AYarden ( J , Bowman ) . —Have you applied the plumb-rule to the several edges ofthe stone ?

J . W . —I have taken the precaution to do so , and find the stone perfect . AV . M . — -Having full confidence in your skill , it only remains for our Brother Learmonth to finish tlie work . Then Brother Learmonth struck the stone with the mallet and said , " Well laid , true and trusty ; may this undertaking be ¦ conducted and completed by the craftsmen according to the plans , in peace , harmony , and brotherly love . " C . M . Trangmar , AV . Tulloh , J . C . Goodsir , the brethren who had carried the corn , wine , and oil in procession , then came forward .

The corn was then handed to Brother Learmonth , who poured it on the stone , saying , " I scatter this corn on this stone as an emblem of plenty . " The wine was then handed to Brother Learmonth , who poured it on the stone saying , " I pour this wine as an emblem of cheerfulness andjoy . " The oil was then handed to Brother Learmonth , who-poured it on the stone , saying , " I pour this oil as an emblem of

prosperity and happiness ; and may corn , wine , and oil , and all the necessaries of life , abound among the inhabitants of this place . May tho blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe he upon this undertaking and all connected with it . The Master then inspected the plans , and returned them to the architect , complimenting him upon his skill and success . The AV . M . then called upon Bro . Scott , as orator for the

occasion , who delivered the following address : — " Be it known unto you , worthy people , that Masonry is universal , and that after the manner of Masons throughout-all time we have come this day to assist your Municipal Chairman in laying the foundationstone of the new Council Chamber . AA e have not clone it from ostentation , hut under the impulse of a good feeling ancl a desire to inculcate mercy ancl good morals . AVe are glad to be joined on the occasion by the Orders of Oddfellows and Foresters

, kindred institutions , and influenced by similar principles . There can be no doubt that as Masons we suffer in the estimation of some on account of our secrecy , and especially among the ladies . But we are glad to see so many here to-day , and that Ave are not without their presence on other occasions . I can assure them that they are not wanting in the esteem of the Craft , and that in accordance with the words of a well-known Masonic

song" No mortal can more The ladies adore Than a true and an accepted Mason . " As to day you have laid the foundation-stone of this new Council Chamber , so I hope you Avill lay the corner stone in your hearts of uprightness and mercy . In Masonic lodges no sectarian strife or political difference can be permitted , and from those lodges worthy men are never excluded . They have but to knock and they will be admitted . " The Chairman , in the name of the Council , then thanked

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those in attendance for having come together to assist him in laying the foundation-stone , and called upon them to give three cheers for the Queen , which were given ; followed by three cheers for the Chairman , who acknowledged the same . The Rev . J . Y . A \ i ! son addressed tho assemblage . He was one of the oldest inhabitants , and he remembered when gumtrees stood on the spot the new Council Chamber occupied , and when the Market-square where the procession had formed was a

forest . He spoke in commendation of Municipal Institutions , and concluded by hoping that when that building should be superseded it would be by the now parliament houses of Princeland . The Rev . S . Kelso expressed the pleasure he had in being present , ancl paying a high compliment to the Chairman , wished the undertaking success . The band then struck up , and the procession ( tho order of procession being reversed ) returned hy Gawler-street and Percy - street to the Market-square , where the various bodies separated . —Portland Guardian .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

MELBOURNE . MASONIC BALL . Some time past the brethren under the Grand Lodge of Ireland determined to celebrate , by a ball , the fiftieth annual election of his Grace the Duke of Leinster , to the high position of Grand Master , and the brilliant and successful entertainment of Thursday , 15 th October , was the result of their resolution .

In consequence of a difficulty in obtaining the Exhibition Building , the ball was held in St . George's Hall , and , therefore , the number of tickets was limited to 400 , but it was found impossible to keep to the strict limit , and . 450 " Masons , and Masons' wives , and Masons' bairns " assembled to enjoy themselves , and at the same time to do honour to the Grand Master under the Irish Constitution . His Excellency Sir Charles DarlingLadyand Miss Darling

, , were expected to have been present , but an apology Avas received from His Excellency , who is suffering from an attack of rheumatic gout . The ball-room was tastefully decorated with Royal Arch Templar banners , Masonic emblems , ancl festoons of flowers . The company began to assemble about nine o'clock , and soon after the R . W . Bro . J . T . Smith , ancl the R . W . Bro . F . C . Standish arrived and were received by the Stewards and

conducted to their chairs with the usual ceremony . The ball was opened by a quadrille—the R . W . Bro . Standish dancing with Sirs . Cohen , Bro . Cohetn with Mrs . Butters—and was kept up with untiring zeal until a very long programme

Avas completed . The exquisite toilets of the ladies—the glittering Masonic emblems aud costumes of the brethren , presented a most brilliant appearance ; everyone looked satisfied , gay , ancl happy . At twelve o'clock the supper was served in a most recherche style . The tables were ornamented with various Masonic emblems , and it need only be said that Mallam ancl King were the purveyorsto make it understood that the viands and wines

, were of the best quality and ample quantity . The R . W . Bro . Smith took his place at the head of one of the tables , and the R . AV . Bro . Standish occupied the other . The 11 . W . Bro . Crowell and Bros . Reed and Rose occupied the vicechairs . After supper , R . AA . Bro . Smith proposed " The Queen . " R . AV . Bro . Standish , in proposing the next toast , knew that

it would be well received by all present , for it would speak to the hearts of all good Masons . They had assembled to celebrate the fiftieth annual election of His Grace the Duke of Leinster to the high position of Grand Master of Irish Masons . Without further remarks he would propose " The Health of the Most AVorshipful Grand Master the Duke of Leinster , a good landlord and an honest Mason . " Bro . Cohen had the honour to propose the health of one

absent from indisposition— " The Health of his Excellency Sir Charles Darling and Lady Darling . " R . W . Bro . Smith proposed the health of Bro . Cohen , who was entitled to the thanks of all present , especially the [ ladies , who would long remember the courteous hospitality Avhich distinguished his year of office .