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

they deemed it necessary to build a hall of their , owm and they did so . That hall was the one they had just left at the bottom of the street . The building answered all purposes for a considerable time , and might have served still longer , had it not been for the immense increase and spread of Freemasonry . That increase so far as it related to this city was due to tho benign and

beneficent influence of their President aud Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , Bro . John Fawcett . Ff c might say that the spread of Masonry had not been confined to the city of Durham alone , but it had increased throughout the whole province . Iu consequence of the great increase of Masons in this city , it had become absolutely necessary to have a new building in which to perform their

ceremonies . The question was mooted some time ago amongst the members of Marquis of Granby Lodge , as to whether it would be advisable to enlarge their old bailor to build a new one- After earnest and mature consideration , it was decided that tho old building should be sold , and a new one , with all the requisite arrangements , bo erected . A site had now been chosen—an architect

appointedand the plans drawn out . Of course the next important question was tho fluids . Finding that tho subscriptions of the members would not bo sufficient to carry out tho contemplated scheme , it was proposed to give a Masonic ball in the city . That idea was successfully carried out in January , 1867 . He certainly thought it was the bounden duty of tho friends of the institution—and he

as one of the building committee considered it was his duty—to publicly thank the nobility , gentry , and others , who patronised the entertainment on that memorable occasion . The result of that ball , he believed produced something handsome to the building fund . Another

means of raising money was inaugurated by the lady friends of Freemasons , who solely took upon themselves the labour aud task of carrying out to a successful issue a bazaar . He was happy to say that owing to the assiduous attention and co-operation ofoneladyin particular—he hoped she would forgive him if ho mentioned her name —he alluded to Mrs . William Henderson , who occupied

on that occasion the office of Lady President—that great undertaking was a decided pecuniary advantage to the building fund . At tho same time he might say that thanks wero also due to other ladies , who worked most energetically and nobly for the cause . Having said thus much about the funds , the speaker then referred to tho ceremony of tho day—the laying of the corner stone , which

he hoped , was destined to remain in its position for years to come ; and he fervently trusted that future Freemasons in Durham , for ages and ages to come , would peacefully perform their rights , privileges , and ceremonies within the walls of the hall which was about to be erected for their special use . The Order of Freemasons , he contended , was most universal , because it extended to

every part of the known globe . It was known amongst and appreciated by tho Indians , tho Esquimaux , the Arabs , and even tho Turks . He did not mean to exaggerate when he averred that there were two millions of people Freemasons ; nor did ho mean to treat tho matter lightly when he stated that the Order dated its rise and progress from the building of the Temple

by-King Solomon . Through all these past ages , and amidst the mutability of things , Freemasonry had been handed down , in its pure and simple state , to tho present time . Bro . Brignall then invoked the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe upon all who were engaged in erectinsf the hall .

Bro . Brignall , jun ., Senior Deacon , who discharged the duties of Director of Ceremonies , then announced that it was customary on these occasions to make a collecition for tho workmen engaged in tho building of the hall . Any sum the company chose to give would be thankfully received and faithfully applied . A collection was then made . The procession was then re-formed , and returned to the Freemasons' Hall .

Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .

Further subscriptions received : —East Medina Lodge , No . 675 , Eyde , £ 2 2 s- ; Carnarvon Lodge , No . 804 , Havant , £ 2 2 s . ; Doric Lodge , No . 1 , 193 , Wymondham , £ 1 Is . At the last meeting of Prov . G . Lodge of Monmouthshire £ 5 5 s- was voted to the above fund .

Meetings Of The Learned Societies.

MEETINGS OF THE LEARNED SOCIETIES .

MONDAY , January 11 th . —Eoyal Geographical Society , at 8 } p . m ., at Eoyal Institution , Albemarle-strcet ; Sir E . J- Murchison , Dart ., in tho Chair . Papers to bo read : Journey in the Caucasus , and Assent of Kasbck and Elbruz . By Douglas W . Freshfield . TUESDAY , January 12 th . —Institution of Civil Engineers at 8 . WEDNESDAY , January 10 th . —Geological Society of London , at 8 ,

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending January 16th, 1869.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16 TH , 1869 .

MONDAY , January 11 th . —Lodges ; St . George ' s aud Cornerstone , 5 , Freemasons' Hall . Fortitude and Old Cumberland , 12 , Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhallstrect . St . Alban ' s , 29 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgatc-street . Eoyal Naval , 59 , Freemasons' Hall . Confidence , 193 , Andcrtons' Hotel , Fleet-street . Peckham , 879 , Edinboro ' Castle , Peckham-rye .

TUESDAY , January 12 th . —Old Union , -1-6 , Eadley ' s Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars . Burlington , 96 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgatc-street . Union , 166 , Loudon Tavern , Bishopsgate-stroct . St . James ' s Union , 180 , Freemasons ' Hall , Percy , 198 , Ship and Turtle Tavern , Loadenhallstreet . St . Michael ' s , 211 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgatestreefc . Wellington , 5-1-8 , White Swan Tavern , Deptford .

Doric , 933 , Andorton's Hotel , Fleet-street . WEDNESDAY , January 13 th . —Com . E . M . B . Inst , at 3 . Eoyal York Lodge of Perseverance , 7 , Freemasons' Hall . Enoch , 11 , Freemasons' Hall . Union Waterloo , 13 , Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich . Kent , 15 , Three Tuns Tavern , Southwark . Vitruvian , 87 , White

Hart Tavern , College-street , Lambeth . Justice , 147 , White Swan Tavern , High-street , Deptford . TnuitsDAY , January 14 th . —Quar . Gen . Court Female School , at Freemasons' Hall , at 12 . Eoyal Athelstan , 19 , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street . Eegularity , 91 , Freemasons'Hall- Friendship , 206 , Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street . Bank of England , 263 ,

Eadley's Hotel , Bridge-street , Blackfriars . Polish National , 534 , Freemasons' Hall . Canonbur }' , 657 , Haxcll's Hotel , West Strand . Dalhousie , 860 , Andorton's Hotel , Fleet-street . Capper , 1 , 076 , Marine Hotel , Victoria Dock , West Ham . Chapters : Mount Lebanon , 73 , Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . Hope , 206 , Globe Tavern , Eoyal Hill , Greenwich . Yarborough , 554-, Green

Dragon Tavern , Stepney . FRIDAY , January 15 th—Friendship , 6 , Willis ' s Rooms , King-street , St . James ' s . Middlesex , 143 , Albion Tavern , Aldorsgate-street . Jordan , 201 , Freemasons' Hall . New Concord , 813 , Eosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxion . Eose of Denmark , 375 , White Hart Tavern , Barnes . Chapter : St . George ' s , 5 , Freemason ' s Hall . SATUKDAY , January 16 th . —Audit Com . Boy ' s School . Paumure , 715 , George Hotel , Aldcrmanbury .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

"W P . A . P . ( Chester ) . —In any case there must be a ballot . See Constitutions . C . W . L . —We have received your letter ; hut inasmuch as you have not complied with our rules , which require that the writers of all letters , should enclose real name -and address , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . If you comply witn this request , and will forward any further information , we shall be happy to insert it , as the subject is one in which we take a deep interest .