Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Weymouth Royal Hospital And Dispensary.

ensure perfect ventilation , The fresh pure air will be supplied directly to each ward from the external atmosphere ; tbe foul vitiated air drawn off through openings in the ceiling connected with flues , to which an upward current is given . The whole of the external walls will bo built hollow in bricks , and the walls of wards internally will bo cemented with a non-absorbent material . The front towards School Street will be faced with red bricks , relieved with blue bricks in patterns and stone

dressing . Principle entrance will be in stone , with grey Cornish granite shafts and carved capitals . In order to give as much eclat as possible to the inauguration of such a charitable work , through the instrumentality ot tho Hon . Secretary , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Masons of tho Province of Dorset , consented to take part in the ceremony-, the stone being laid by Bro . Gundry , AA ^ . P . G . AL , of Bridport , assisted by Sir F . Johnstone , who , as we have said before , is the

President of the Institution ; and Whit-Monday was the day appointed . On three former occasions , have foundation stones been laid with Masonic honours in AVcymouth—namely , when the bridge was built , the Guildhall erected , and Park wall laid out ; but perhaps at no previous period have the proceedings connected therewith passed off in a more successful manner than was the case ou Whit-Monday . Tho event of the day attracted

crowds of people , and the Masonic procession was of a very imposing nature . The weather was very fine , although the wind blew somewhat too keenly from the north-east to render out-door proceedings pleasant . Soon after one o ' clock , the members of the Corporation assembled at tho Town Hall , where they were joined by tbe magistrates of the borough , and several clergymen and tradesmen of the town . The band of the Dorsetseire Rifle Corps had

been engaged for the occasion , aud these took up their stations outside the hall , the approaches of which were densely crowded . The Masonic body were arrayed in full regalia , the handsome appearance of . which afforded tho greatest gratification to the crowd , who looked on with astonishment and wonder at tbe several symbols of office worn by different members . About 130 of the Craft were present from various Lodges , including the following , who then took their place in the procession

immediately behind the Town Council : — "Aurora . " United States ; " Leinster , " Dublin ; SS 9 , "Dobie , " Kingston-on-Thames ; 101 , "St . John ' s , " Halifax , Nova Scotia ; 594 , "Downshire , " Liverpool ; 407 , '' County Donegal ; " 148 , " Lodge of Lights , " AVarrington , Lancashire ; "Neptune , " Aberdeen ; 1003 , "Prince of AVales , " Jersey ; " Harmony , " Fermoy .

LOD & ES OE THE PROVINCE . 137 , "Amity , " Poole ; 170 , "All Souls , " Weymouth ; 390 " Unity , " AA'areham ; 417 , " Faith and Unanimity , " Dorchester ; 472 , " Friendship and Sincerity , " Shaftesbury ; 622 , " St . Cuthberga , " AA imborne ; 665 , " Montague , " Lyme Regis ; 707 ; " St . Alary , " Bridport ; 1037 , " Portland , " Portland ; 1146 , " De Aloulham , " Swanage ; 1168 , " Benevolence , " Sherborne ; and " Honour and Friendship . " Blanford .

Almost the first to make their appearance were Sir Frederick Johnstone , and Mr . Charles Hum bro , ALP ., woo took- a prominent place in the procession , the former walking with the Mayor , and tbe latter joining his colleague , Air . II , Edwards , whilst the members of the fraternity followed the Town Council . After all the Alasons had taken their respective places the order was given to start , and with the band playing "The Freemasons ' March " the procession moved off with slow and measured pace

to the King ' s Statue , where the crowd was augmented by several hundreds of spectators . At the Statue another halt was made to allow r the baud to play the National Anthem , the whole of tlie procession standing bareheaded whilst the patriotic air was performed . At the conclusion "the Freemasons' March " was again played , the procession wending its way down St . Mary Street , followed by an immense concourse of spectators , whilst the windows were blockaded with people . Step by step

the procession seemed to grow in length , and from a somewhat elevated point of view the street presented the appearance a seething mass of people , extending as far as tho eye could reach . The Jlasonie procession halting , faced inward to allow the officers to pass through . First came Bro . Gundry , Prov . G . AL , preceded hy his Standard and Sword Bearers , followed by tbe Oflicers of the Provincial Lodge , then the Stewards and Visitors , then the Past Provincial Officers , the AVeymouth Lodge , Dorchester , A \ imbourne , Portland , and other Visitors . The Masonic

body occupied the middle aisles of the church , and there was a very fair sprinkling of the townspeople present . Prayers were read by Bro . the Rev . AV . E . Percy , of Lodge No . 1 , 108 , and the Epistle and Gospel by the Rev . AV . M . Heath . The musical portions of the services were fairl y rendered . After the third collect the hymn commencing—¦

Almighty Sire ! our heavenly King , Before whoso sacred Name we bend , Accept the praises whicli we sing , And to our humble prayer attend ! All hail , great Architect divine ; This universal frame is thiiio .

was sung , and prior to the sermon , that beginning with Our souls shall magnify the Lord ; In Him our spirits shall rejoice , Assembled hero with one accord , Our hearts shall praise him with one voice . The sermon was preached by the Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . P . II . Newnham , Rector of Frome Vauchurcb , who delivered an excellent extempore discourse , most appropriate for the occasion from I . Corinthians , xii ., 26 . At the conclusion of the sermon a hymn was sung , commencing with

Oh ! bring to Jehovah your tribute of praise , The Guard of your life , and the Guide of your ways ; The Lord of Creation , Ho sits on His throne , Tho gold and the silver He claims as His own . the offertory meanwhile being collected . Service being finished , the Mayor and Corporation were the first to leave the church , the Provincial Grand Lodge following ,

and all falling in procession in the order ori ginally formed . "With the band again playing " The Freemasons' March , " the cortege wended its way through St . Edmund Street to St . Thomas Street , en route for the building site . The line of march was so blocked with people that it was with great difficulty the police succeeded in clearing a passage for tlie procession , and at the corner of School Street there was a great crush . At this point tho Alasons faced inwards , allowing their brethren of hiher

g degree to pass through the centre . School Street presented the appearance of a well-stocked shrubbery , aud must have reminded the older inhabitants of the time when "George the Third was King . " Fir trees of considerable dimensions were planted each side of the street leading to the enclosure where the ceremony was to take place . At the entrance of this a triumphal arch was erected , and inside the enclosure was a raised platform devoted exclusively to ladies , whicli was crowded to excess , whilst nearer

the foundation-stone another platform had been erected for the accommodation of those who took part iu the procession , and which was also much crowded . AVhen the various officials who were to take a prominent part in the laying of the stone had assembled in their proper places , Sir F . Johnstone referred to the benefits which had resulted from the old hospital aud dispensary , and the great need there was for a larger building . As the Freemasons of Dorset had taken part in laying the foundation-stone of the

bridge , the Guildhall , and the Park wall , he begged that the AA ' orshipful Grand Master of the Province would lay the foundation-stone of this building with the customary Masonic honours-Bro . Gundry , Prov . G . AL , said : It is with very great pleasure that I , as the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Dorset , comply with your request on this occasion . The importance of the work about to be performed renders ifc

more onerous , but at the same time ifc is a most pleasing duty to perform . Bro . Coombs , Prov . G S ., then commanded silence , whilst the Prov . G . Chaplain offered prayer . This having been concluded , tbe choir of Trinity Church , under the direction of Mr . Board , with Mr . Gubbins presiding , at the harmonium , sang tho following hymn from a platform facing the stone : —

" Fount of all good ! to own Thy love Our thankful hearts incline ; AA'hat can we offer , Lord , to Thee , AA'hen all the worlds are Thine' !