Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

AYRSHIRE . On Monday the 2 nd inst ., tho Prov . G . M . of the province , Sir James Ferausson , Bart ., M . P ., assisted by Bros . Conn , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Hemline , Prov . G . S . W . ; D . Murray Lyon , Prov . G . J . W . ; Robert Wylie , Prov . G . S ., and deputations from fourteen lodges of the province , laid the foundation-stone of a new church for the parish of Cumnock , of which the youthful Marquis of Bute is the principal heritor . At the close of tli e

Masonic ceremony , the Prov . G . M . spoke as follows : — " The ceremony we have just completed may seem to some , in its simple forms , to be unmeaning ; but 1 trust there are none here who can look upon it with feelings of any other kind than those of deep and hearty interest . ( Cheers . ) The symbols of Masonry whicli have accompanied the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of this church are not without their meaning . The brethren of this province of Ayrshire who have

coma together to lay the foundation-stone of tliis house of God have followed the ancient symbols of their Order , which have a high significance , referring , as they do , to those great principles which ought to guide all men , whether Masons or not . ( Cheers . ) The corn , and wine , and oil which we have poured upon that stone symbolise the blessings and treasures which an Almighty Providence has bestowed on this world , and

which in thankfulness we are bound to lay at his footstool , to give in charity to our fellow-men , and to bring as offerings to His house . ( Cheers . ) Though the "brethren of Masonry have chiefly in these days to uphold and support the principles of morality , brotherhood , and truth , in ancient times they were connected with the guilds and works of Masonry . Tho Mother Lodge of Scotland was formed by those foreign Masons who came to build the ancient Abbey of Kilwinning ;

ancl , therefore , wo have a peculiar right and title to take the lead in laying the foundation-stone of this building , which I trust will not be unworthy of the times in which we live . ( Cheers . ) I trust it may be raised with wisdom , and in beauty and stability , to be in succeeding generations not only a credit to its builders , but a blessing to the people among whom it is placed . And , now that I have said so much for tho Order of Masonry , I cannot forget that I am here also as an individual ,

as an Ayrshire man , and its representing the great proprietor in your neighbourhood , who takes tbe highest interest in the good work begun to-day . ( Cheers . ) I rejoice if I have been in any degree instrumental in forwarding the erection of a Church to some extent , in proportion to tbe growth of this parish and neighbourhood . It has been a cause of regret and pain to many who have been interested in the parish for many years past , that the national Church has not provided the people of this parish

with sufficient accommodation for public worship . It has been our misfortune , it has not been our fault , because owing to the circumstances in which the largest estate in this parish has been placed , I believe it was not competent to those who managed that property to furnish the sum requisite for the erection of a Church . But so soon as by Lord Bute ' s attaining the ago of 14 , he was enabled to appoint curators with larger

powers , we gladly joined the other heritors of the parish in taking steps to put matters upon a proper footing ; and I have to say that every heritor , whatever his church , and whatever his fortune , has joined with hearty goodwill and liberality , not only in furnishing means to erect a church of sufficient size , but to erect one which should be worthy of the parish , and of tbe great purpose for which it is intended . ( Cheers . ) You , I

have no doubt , have seen the drawings and photographs of tho church which is to bo raised here . It will cost more money than many churches in this neighbourhood , and it will , I have reason to believe , be of greater beauty and more noble form than any other church in Ayrshire . ( Cheers . ) ft will be to the credit of the heritors who have contributed to it , if it should prove as good a building as I expect it will . And now , gentlemen , I hope I shall not be doing wrong in reminding you that this

church that is rising amongst us , is a building of the Established Church of Scotland . While other countries do not possess the means , while England does not possess the law , which entitles the people of the country to have churches erected at the expense of the land , while they are dependent on the voluntary contributions of those whoso piety prompts them to erect buildings for the worship of the Almighty , in Scotland , from an ancient period , we have had a law which compels tho landlords to provide churches for the people . ( Cheers . ) I say it is a blessing for Scotland that this is the case . In times when

Scotland.

religion has been cold elsewhere , and when the people have been elsewhere without the means of education , the people of Scotland have enjoyed the services of religion and the means of learning , —for by the wise law of our forefathers every parish in the land must be supplied with a church and a school . These are benefits ivhich have been blessings to Scotland in past years ; and let us hope that in the present generation we may keep up with the requirements of tho times , and ,

as we are doing here , build churches ivhich will not only conain the peojile , but whicli will answer that great maxim of the . Psalmist—whom we so often quote in his injunctions to adhere to the law and to the testimony , but are so apt to forget when his precepts would touch our pockets , —not to bring that to tho service of the Lord whicli costs us nothing . ( Cheers . ) May the church rise in fair proportions ; may the cope-stone be laid , as the foundation-stone has been , in grace and strength ;

under its roof may the people assemble in greater numbers to raise their voices in praise to the Most High ; and 0 , I trust that beneath the ruins of tbe old church all jealousies and differences may be buried , and that under the roof of the new one future generations may assemble , rich and poor together , before Him who is the Maker of them all ,, and that , whatever may be the differences outside , within the church , rich and poorpeer and peasantmay meet and find a common union

, , which will endure beyond tho grave . " ( Loud cheers . ) After the Provincial Grand Lodge had been closed , Sir James Fergusson , tiie representative of tlie Marquis of Bute , entertained at dinner a party of about ninety gentlemen , including several of the clergymen of the district , representatives of heritors , together with the office-bearers and members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , & c .

Canada.

CANADA .

LONDON . CELEBRATION OE ST . JOHN ' S DAY . The anniversary of the Festival of St . John the Evangelist falling last year upon Sunday , was celebrated on the following day Monday , the 28 th December , 1 S 63 . At high noon , the brethren of St . John ' s Lodge , 209 , I . E ., met in their lodge room , Albion Buildings , in order to assist in the

installation of officers . This most pleasing part of tho business having terminated , the brethren adjourned until seven p . m ., when they again assembled , in regalia , to prepare for the celebration later in the evening . All things being in readiness , the lodge again adjourned from labour to refreshment , and the members marched down to Bro . Balkwill's hotel , to supper . Over sixty brethren sat down to tho repast , all , with few exceptionsmembers of 209 . Among tho visiting brethren

pre-, sent , were—Bros . Glackmeyer , Hunter , Mitchell , Faulkner ( of Port Stanley ) , Sergeant-Major Dolan , 63 rd Regiment , Sergeant-Major McCartney , S-. C . Ii ., Sergeant Cunningham , 63 rd , & c . The number of tickets sold , we understand , exceeded one hundred , but many of the brethren were prevented from joining in the festival from either sickness or other engagements . The chair was occupied by the newly-elected Worshipful Master ,

Bro . Winnett ; on his right sat bis worship the Mayor , Bros . Peters , Francis , and A . S . Abbott ; on the left , Bros . Garratt and the military brethren . The vice-chair was ablv filled by Bro . IV . S . Smith . Tbe wants of the inner-man being fully gratified from the ample display of good things placed before the guests , the chairman proceeded to introduce the toasts of the evening . " The Queen and Craft" " The Prince of Wales and Royal Family "

; , received with cheers ; "The Governor-General ; " "Tho Duke of Leinster , Grand Master of Ireland , and all other Grand Masters over the globe , " received with cheers , followed by the Kentish fire ; " The Army and Navy , " received with loud cheers , Sergeant-Major McCartney responded on behalf of the army . He was proud to hear the toast so well received . They all knew of the proud deeds of valour performed by both arms

of the British service . To fully portray them , it would require the eloquence of a Demosthenes , and a period from now until their next anniversary to recount the many heroic feats performed by the British soldier and sailor . He trusted , however , that a long time might elapse before either of their active services would be called into requisition in this colony ; but if called on , depend upon it they were always ready to act in con-