Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Freemasons' Hall In Durham.

Brethren of the Granby Lodge , two and two . Architect with Plans . Cornucopia with Corn . Ewer with Wine . Ewer with oil . Inner Guard with Mallet and Trowel . Director of Ceremonies .

Junior and Senior Deacons , Secretary , with Constitutions on Cushion and Plate , with Inscription . Treasurer with Phial and Coins . The Corinthian Light . Junior Warden with the Plumb Rule . The Doric Light . Senior Warden with tho Level . The Perfect Ashlar by a Master Mason . The Chaplain bearing the Sacred Law on a Cushion .

Ihe Ionic Light . Bro . W . A . Malcolm , W . M . Steward . Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge Past and Present , in Provincial Clothing according to Rank . On arriving at the site the procession halted and divided to tho right and left , thns forming an avenue

through which the Worshipful Master ( Bro . W . A . Malcolm ) passed , the officers and brethren following in succession from the rear , so that the order of the procession was inverted . The respective parties then took their allotted stations , the vessels containing corn , wine , and oil being deposited on a pedestal placed for their reception . Bro . Lotinga , of North Shields ( W . M . of the

Borough Lodge , Gateshead ) , then presented a silver trowel to the W . M . This silver instrument , which was from the establishment of Bro . Oswald , of this city , bore the following inscription : — " This trowel was used by Bro . W . A . Malcolm , W . M . of the Marquis of Granby Lodge No , 124 , in laying the Foundation-stone of the Now Masonic Hall , Old Elvet , Durham , 22 nd December 1 S 68 . A . L . 586 S . "

, Whilst preparations were being made for properly adjusting the large stone , Dr . Boyes' beautiful anthem"I have built Thee a house to dwell in "—was sung by Mr . Price , Bro . J . Walker ( Prov . Grand Organist ) , " and Bro . D . Lambert , of the Cathedral Choir . The following sublime prayer was then offered by Bro . W . Brignall

P . M ., P . Prov . G . R . in the absence of the chaplain . , " Glorious Architect of the Universe , in whom wo live and move and have our being , without whom nothing is strong , nothing is holy , vouchsafe Thine especial blessing upon this our undertaking . Prosper , 0 Lord , the work of our hands upon us , and crown it with success as shall tend to Thine honor and tho welfare and happiness of

Tby people . Defend , we pray Thee , the craftsmen and all other ., employed in the erection of this building from peril and misfortune ; and from the foundation now laid may there rise a superstructure , perfect in its parts , and an honor to the builders . Bless the Queen and all the Royal Family , and all that are put in authority under her ; likewise pray we for the Worshiful the Mayorand all

p , who have office in this borough ; may its inhabitants be blessed with all the necessaries , conveniences , and comforts of this life ; and finally , extend to us Thy fatherlyblessing and protection . Guide us , 0 thou great Jehovah , through the feuds and dangers of this life , aud at last , raise us to that grand lodge above , where Thou reignost in everlasting joy and blessedness . "

So mote it bo . At its conclusion , Bro . Walker , who acted as Treasurer , deposited in a cavity of the lower stone a phial , containing a copy of the Durham Advertiser , Durham Ghronide , Walker ' s " Durham Directory for 1 S 68 , " and a parch ment scroll , on which was written the following : — On the twenty-second day of December , ui the Thirtsecond

y- year of the reign of Her Host Gracious Majesty , Queen Victoria , In the year of our Lord 1 SGS , aud of Masonry 5 SGS , The Foundation Stone of this Building ,

The Freemason's Hall , was laid by William Alexander Malcolm , W . M . of the Marquis of Granby Lodge , Xo . 124 , Of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Kngland , Assisted by the Officers of his Lod as follows :

ge , Bros . Christopher Rowland-ion , S . W . ; T . Sarsfield , J . W . ; Rev . Francis Thompson , M . A ., P . Prov . G . C . Chap ; James Raine , Treas . ; William Carr . Sec ; William Brignall , jnn , S . D . ; William Sarsfield , J . D . ; Ruber" Cooke , I . G . ; George Green well , Stewards ; George Hails , Prov . G . Stew . ml ; John Cart-. 'r , Tyler . ; and a numerous assemblage of brethren of the lodge , anil of the lodges in the provinces .

Architect—Bro . T . 0 . 1-lhdy , P . Prov . Supt . of Works . iS ames of contractors , and the sums tor which the contracts were let : —¦ - Masonry , Thomas Ptinshon , £ 973 ; joiner and carpenter ' s work , Thomas Hutton , , £ 310 ; slater's work , linger Rule , £ 10 4 s . ; plasterer's work , Roger Mole , £ 125 ; plumber and smith's work , Robert Robson Almond £ 135 ; painting and glazingPro . John

, , T . Meggison £ 51 ; total £ 1 , G 32 4 s . Also various coins of the realm , and Messrs Andrews and Co . ' s Tabular Almanack for lSGS . Pro . Goiiudry , the Acting Secretary , read aloud the following- inscription on a brass plate : — This , the Foundation-Stonc of the

City of Durham Freemasons' Hall , was hfd br Pro . W . A . Malcolm , Worshipful Master , Assisted bv the Officers and Prethren of the Manpiis of Granby IWa-e , Xo . 124 .

On Tuesday , the 22 nd December , In the 32 nd year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria , A . D . 18 GS . A . L . 5 . SG 8 . W . Stoker , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . W ., Chairman of the Building Committee . T . C . Ebdy , P . Prov G . Supt . of Works , Architect , Whilst the upper stone was slowl y descending to its

destined place , tho band played , ; Bulc Britannia . " The W . M . then proved the just position and form of ' the stone by the plumb , rule , level , and square , and then gave it three knocks , declaring the stone duly laid , and then requested tho architect ( Bro . T . 0 . Ebdy ) , to proceed with the building of the hall with all possible dispatch . The Cornucopia containing corn was next handed to the

W . M-, and , in strewing it over the stone , said , " I pour this corn upon this stone as an emblem of plenty , and may an all-bounteous heaven shower down his blessings upon us , aud may wo have abundance and plenty in this country . " In pouring the wine over the same stone , he said , " I pour this wine as an emblem of joy and gladiiess , and may the blessings of Divine truth enlihten our

g minds , and may virtue flourish as the wine . " And in pouring the oil , he said , " I pour this oil as an emblem of peace , and may peace and happiness , brotherly love and affection prevail with us always . " The following prayer was then offered by Bro . W . Brignall , P . M ., P . Prov . G . RAs we have now laid the foundation-stonemay the

, Grand Architect of tho Universe , of his kind providence , enable us to carry on and finish the work which we have now begun ; may ho bo a guard to this place and the city in general ; and may ho preserve it from decay and ruin to the latest posterity . So mote it be .

And at its close he said it might bo well to ask upon that interesting occasion , for the information of those brethren who had come from a distance , and for strangers , why it was necessary that that lodge , which was then in course of erection , should be built ? Before he could answer that question , it was necessary to take a retrospective glance at the past history of the Marquis of

Granby Lodge . That lodge , ho might state , was brought into existence about 105 years ago . At that time the brethren had no place of their own in which to perform their rights aud ceremonies ; but about filty years ago