Provincial.

to he sent by the Secretary to Mrs . Gwatkin . widow of Bro . Gwatkin , who was drowned the other day at Mountsbay , near Penzance . Two new candidates were proposed , and the sum of 42 s . was ordered to be forwarded by the Treasurer to the fund " for the sick and wounded in the war , " and tho lodge was closed iu harmony at 9 T 5 P . M . —A Lodge of Emergency was held on Monday , the 5 th instant , for the purpose of raising Bros . Mc'ManusAibrechtPenymoreand Harford—the

Emer-, , , gency being caused by one or more of the above brethren being about to proceed to sea at once . In the absence of the W . M . R , B . Evans , P . M ., and P . P . G . D . C . presided ; and the above four brethren were duly raised to the degreo of M . M . The ceremony was very correctly rendered , and the lodge was closed in harmony at 9 . 15 P . M .

South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA .

KING WILLIAM'S TOWN . XATIKG THE FOUNDATION STONE OP A MASONIC HALL POB THE BRITISH KAPEBAEIAN LODGE ( NO . 853 ) . One of tho most interesting ceremonies which lias been witnessed in King William ' s Town for some years past , took place this morning , when the brethren of the kaftrarian Lodge ( No . S 53 ) assembled and marched . n processionpreceded by the

, , Katfrarian Volunteer Band , playing appropriate airs , and accompanied by the Officers and Past Officers of the Loyal Kaftrarian Lodge of Odd Fellows ( No . 5 , 210 ) , for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of a permanent building " to be used hereafter as a Masonic Hall . The design for this edifice , executed by Mr . Anderson , is both chaste and substantial , aud when it is finished it will no doubt be an ornament to the town .

Tho local brethren of the craft have long needed a building of this sort , and it is to us a source of great gratification that they have at length been enabled so far to accomplish the object of their desires as to procure a suitable site , and to lay the first stone of a temple which will doubtless supply their wants for some years to come . The site selected is at the north-east corner of Ayliff-street , facing Alexander-road . At 10 o'clock the brethren met at the Kaifrarian Lodge , which was opened in due form , and the procession was then arranged as follows : —

Band . Officers and Past Officers , Loyal Kaftrarian Lodtre of Odd Fel lows ( No . 5 , 210 ) . Tyler . Banner . Entered Apprentice , with Hod . Entered Apprentices ( two and two ) . Fellow Crafts ( two and two )

. Visiting Brethren , Master Masons ( two and two ) . Master Masons of B . K Lodge ( No . 853 ) ( two and two ) . Royal Arch Masons ( two and two ) . Past Masters . Architect ( A . TV . Anderson , Esq . ) with plans . Book of Constitutions , by Bro . Scholtz . Warrant , by Bro . H . Pearson .

Senior Deacon , Bro . Tidmarsh . Bible , by Bro . Smith . Junior Deacon , Bro . Wells . Secretary , Bro . Baker , with an inscription . Treasurer , Bro . Robertson , with coin and inscription . Trowel , by Bro . A . J . Randell . Bro . Blake , P . M ., with wine . Bro . Perks , P . M ., with com . Bro . Lonsdale , P . M ., with oil . Visiting Wardens of other Lodaos .

Senior Warden , Bro . Broster , of 853 , with column . W . Masters of different Lodges . Chaplain . Past Master . Bro . J . Mclntyre , W . M . Past Master . Inner Guard , Bro . Benning . In this order the procession marched to TrinitChurchand

y , on arriving at the Church the procession opened to the right and left , _ allowing the seniors to enter first . The Rev . J . Gordon then delivered an excellent and appropriate discourse , founded upon the 1 st verse of the 123 rd Psalm , "Behold how good aud how pleasant a thiug it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . "

| After service the procession marched to the site of the proposed building in the first order . The ceremony of laying the stone then commenced by the band playing the Queen ' s Anthem , after which the Rev . J . Gordon read the collect for the occasion , "Preventus , 0 Lord , & c , " and offered the following prayer : — " 0 , Almighty and most merciful God wdio has taught us iu

thy Holy Word that success in all our undertakings depends upon thy blessing and favour ; that * except tho Lord build the house they labour iu vain that build it ; ' and that ' except the Lord keep tho city tho watchman wakethbutin vain ; ' we thine unworthy servants most humbly beseech thee at all times to look favourably upon us , and to be our protector and defence from all our enemies ; but especially to be our helper now , and to prosper that ' work of our hands upon us' which we now

enter upon : that the building , the foundation stone whereof we now lay , may be successfully completed , and the top stone brought forth in duo course ; and that all who shall labour in its erection may be preserved from every danger to which they may be exposed . And grant , we beseech thee , 0 Lord , that all those for whose use aud benefit in future years this building is intended may be so guided aud governed hy thy good spirit in all

their concerns , that they may do always that which is righteous in thy sight , through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amou . " Our Father which art in Heaven , & e . At the conclusion of the prayer Bro . Mclntyre , W . M ., called the B . B . to order . The W . M . then called upon tho secretary to read the inscription , & c , and deposit it in the cavity of tho stone , which was done as follows : —

"This stone being the Foundation Stone of the British Kaffrarian Masonic Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , No . 853 , was laid by Bro . James Mclntyre , Worshipful Master of the British Kaftrarian Lodgo of Free and Accepted Masons , No . 853 , on the 13 th day of July , 1 S 70 , being the 34 th year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria . Sir Charles Crawford Hay , being Lieutenant-Governor , administering the Government of the Capo of Good Hope . Henry

Disney Ellis , Col . 1 st Battalion 9 th Regiment , commanding the eastern district . Charles Duncan Griffith , Esq ., Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate for the Division of King William's Town . James Faunce Lonsdale , Esq ., Mayor of the Borough of King William's Town . The Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , being Grand Master of England . The Hon . Richard Soutbey , Esq ., Prov . Grand Master of the Cape of Good Hope , Bro . James Mclntyre , Worshipful Master of

Lodge No . 853 . Bros . William Hall , George Prescott Perks , John Spyron , Charles James Egan , James Faunce Lonsdale , and Ebenezer Balderstone Chalmers , Past Master of Lodge No . 853 . Bros . George Broster , S . W . ; Charles Musgrove , J . W . ; Herbert Henry Coles Baker , Sec . ; Thomas William Robertson , Treas . ; Thomas Tidmarsh , S . D . ; James Drayton , J . D . ; Frank E . H . Street , Org . ; Thomas Benning , I . G . ; John Henry , O . G , ; John Newiug and Isaac Pearson , Stewards . Architect—Alexander William Anderson , Esq . Contractor—Charles Musgrove . Superintendent of Works—Bro . Henry Martin . "

The inscription , elegantly written on parchment , had been placed in a securely-sealed bottle , together with the latest copy of tho "Kaftrarian Watchman and King William's Town Gazette , " and were deposited by the secretary in the cavity prepared for them with other documents . The TV . Master ] : Bro . Treasurer , I now call upon you to read a list of the coins and deposit the same . The Treasurer , Bro . Robertson , then read the list of coins ,

viz .: one sovereign , one half sovereign , crown , half-crown , florin , shilling , sixpence , one threepenny piece , one penny , one halfpenny , and one farthing , which were deposited in the same cavity . The W . Master then took some cement from the hod , and spread it on the stone around the cavity , after which the stone was lowered with three stops , the band playing the Vesper hymn .

The stone being finally adjusted tho Worshipfnl Master said : Brother Junior Warden , the plumb being the proper jewel of your office , I will thank you to apply it to the several edges of the stone , and report to me whether or no they are correct . Bro . Musgrove : Worshipful Sir , I have tested the stone with the plumb , and find it truly and properly laid . Brother Senior Warden : The level being your proper jewel of office I will thank you to apply it to the top of tho stone aud report to me whether it is correct .