Provincial.

The AA ' . MASTER said ho felt assured the brethren of the Prince of AVales Lodge would highly esteem the present so handsomely made by Bro . Rands . lie need not tell them how great his gratification ivas in having the honour of laying this , the first stone of their Masonic Hall , the want of which had long been felt by the brethren . His ivas indeed p . proud position , ancl he doubted much ii any AA . M . had , under similar circumstances , tlie pleasure of laying the first stone of a new Masonic Hall in connection with one of the youngest lodges in the province .

The trowel ivas then handed by the AV . M . to the PHOT . G . MASTER , who expressed the pleasure it afforded him to be present on such an occasion , and said he need not say he congratulated tho brethren of tlie Prince of AVales Lodge , one ot the youngest in tho province , upon their perseverance and manifest desire to work out the proceedings of their loclge as they ought to be . He trusted the ivork now begun ivould be carried to a successful termination .

The PROV . G . MASTER then returned the trowel to the W . M ., Bro , J . Head , ivith the remark that he knew his duty too ivell to supplant in work one so well fitted to carry it out . Bro . AraoWAr , Treas ., after a few appropriate remarks , placed in a cavity in the lower stone a glass vase , containing various coins of the present reign , the copies of the by-laws of the lodge , a copy of a local journal—The Ipswich and Colchester Timesof April 28 th 1865 containing some of the most

im-, , , portant intelligence recorded for many years , especially that of the assassination of the American President—ancl a parchment scroll , containing the following inscription , Avritten by the lodge Chaplain , Bro . the Eev . 11 . N . Sanderson : — "Quod faustum atque utile sit Fratibus , ni honorem Dei Optimi Maxiini . Hunc lapidem posuit , dicavit Joannes Head , Kalendio Mail ' s , 1865 . " The bottle having been deposited , Bro . Alloway

saicl , —May the Great Architect of the Universe prosper the undertaking- to His gloiy and the benefit ot Freemasonry . The E . A ., Bro . Lucas , having supplied the cement , the AA ' . M . proceeded skilfully to spread it upon the lower stone . This having been accomplished , the foundation stone was lowered into its place . The stone , ivhich was a fine block of Portland , was generously presented bBro . Chinnockancl weihs upwards

y , g of a ton . It bore the simple inscription , " Laid May 1 st , 1 S 65 . " The AV . MASTER having called upon his AA ' ardens to apply the plumb , rule , ancl level , proved the stone with the square , then struck it three times with the gavel , and declared it to be ivell and truly laid . He said he hoped that that which iiac ! been

begun in order ivould bo curried on in pence , and concluded in harmony . The following most appropriate oration was then delivered by the Prov . G . Chaplain - . — " Tho Great Architect of the Universe is the Original from whom , as Masons , ive aro bound to copy ; aucl every work Avhich Masons undertake will approach to or full short of perfectionin proportion as we observe or lect the lan laid

, neg p clown for the guidance of the Avorkmen by tho Divine Grand Master . Our only Jiopo of raising a structure perfect in its parts , and in every degree honourable to the builders , is in the knowledge that that structure is founded in His name , to be completed b y His help , and to be dedicated to His glory . " WJieu our G . M . King Solomon was approaching the close of his earthly lifewe find recorded in the Sacred Volume a

, sort of review of the many things ivhich had occupied him during his long and glorious reign . We read much of his achievement in Masonry , botli speculative and operative—bow nature yielded up her secrets to the royal student—how "he spake of trees , from tlie cedar tree that is in Lebanon , even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall . He spake also of beasts and of fowl ancl , of creeping tilings , unci of fishes . " he

How spake three thousand proverbs , ancl his songs were a thousand and Rve . How ho built himself houses , planned gardens and orchards and fish pools , and " ivas great , and increased more than all that were before him in Jerusalem ; ami yet ivhen his dust was about to return to tlie earth as it was , and the spirit to return to tlie Gocl who gave it , there was only one tiling which , when he recounted , lie did not pionouiicc to be vanit

y of vanities . And what was that ? Ifc was tlie house which he had builfc ancl dedicated to the Lord his God . Here he failed not to enjoy tlie fruits of his wisdom und skill , his riches and his power , in all his other labours there was vanity ancl vexation of spirit ; but in this , in tho building of the house of Gael , there was no remorse , no bitter reflection . "It , then , we expect His blessing upon our work thus begun ,

by Avhoso help alone ive can prosper , ive must labour in the same spirit in ivhich Solomon founded , completed , and dedicated his temple . AA'e must not be content thafc our building should , like the temple , stand clue east and . ' west , but the end und uiin of that sacred building should be strictly imitated . A Mason's loclge should see the rising ancl setting of the sun with devotion and piety . It should not only be u station of order aud science , but of faith , hope , and love . There should the ignorant have

an opportunity of hearing that ivisdom ivhich cometh from above ; there should tlie frivolous unci wanton be taught thafc sobriety ivhich becomoth godliness ; there shall tho unruly be influenced to bend their necks to the yoke of religious obedience . As the sun rises in the east to open and enlighten the day , so should the Master strive to enlighten his companions ivith true wisdom , ancl encourage his craftsmen to labour as those ivho know that the night coiuoth in which no man can work . As

the sun sets in the ivcst when the clay is clone , so the officers who close the labours of the lodge should do their best , thafc none should go away , I do nofc say dissatisfied , but unimpressed in moral and social virtue . "Our purpose , too , should be the same as that for which the

Temple was built , viz ., the glory of Gocl , in the first place , and , in the next , tho welfare of our fellow men . The fame of human wisdom , and all that it can bring about , apart from the glory of God , is even us a wind that goetli away and corneth not again . The labour of men's industry may fix one stone upon another , but apart trom the glory of God , the bright Shedinah of His presence , the stateliest structures shall fall ancl leave nofc a wreck behind . AVithoufc a constant eye to the

glory of God ancl the Three Great Lights , Ave shall find three thousand human lights all too few . "And as to the good of mankind , Solomon prayed that in all his people's distresses ancl calamities , when they turned and looked upon God ' s Temple , His goodness might support , relieve , and deliver them ; fcliufc He ivould be to them from His holy dwelling-place u God of mercy to pardon their sins , unci an inexhaustible fountain of blessings to relieve all their ivants

, both in time and for eternity . "Now , such should in its degree be the distinguishing characteristics of every Mason ' s loclge . If a brother should go astray here , on his repentance lot him find brethren ready to restore him in the spirit of weakness ; if he be in distress here , let him find a sympathising heart and an open hand ; nay .

more , seek out those abodes of suffering , where the heart knoweth its own bitterness , though the tongue be too modest to utter its complaint . If our lodge be thus piously founded , thus wisely governed , thus safely tiled , thus lovingly ivorked , we mny hope that , with God's blessing , ifc will be in its degree a temple of Masonry indeed . "May we proceed without interruption in the praiseworthy labour thus begun . May helbe given us from above to fix

p ancl carry into effect nil our good purposes ; unci mny we , as wise Master Builders , lay our foundation upon the Rock of Ages , und lay the copestonc iu joy , ivith praise to Gocl , ancl edification to all the brotherhood . " Tlie oration AVUS listened to ivith much attention by all present . At its conclusion , the following prayer was offered by the reverend brother : —

" 0 Lord , our God , First unci Almighty Architect , AA'ho didst in the beginning bring light , out of darkness , and order out of chaos , we , Thy humble servants , beseech Thy blessing upon the work which we havo this d : iy begun in Thy name . " Let its foundations , its pillars , and its chief corner-stone bo Thy glory and tlie welfare of mankind . Enlighten the Masters to teach , und the brethren to learn , those things ivhich are good unci salutary to their souis ; and ns the volume of Thy

Sacred Law is open in our assemblies , so let it never be closed in the hearts of those who shall hero come together in Thy name . " Lot truth and justice , brotherly kindness and charity , devotion and piety , concord and unity , ivith all other virtues , so flourish among us , that they may be the stability of our time , and make our Order a praise upon earth .

"Prosper the ivork of uiir hands upon us ; and when our work here is clone , exult us . to Thy Grand Lodge above , Avhere Thou , Almighty Grand Muster , liveth and reigneth for ever . " All this , and whatever else wc know not how to ask , wc pray for through the worthiness of Thy Sou , Jesus Christ , our Lord , to whom with Thee aucl 'Thy holy spirit we ascribe nil honour uud glory , now unci for evermore , So mote it be . "