India.

In the beautiful symbolism of our art , everything , from the brother newly initiated , to the lodge , then on to the Grand Lodge , and again on to the ivhole fraternity wheresoever scattered tinder the wide and lofty canopy of heaven , all is likened to a building fitly framed and knit together . As a desire is expressed in the case of a newly initiated brother , that he should raise on the foundation , laid at his initiation , a noble and beautiful superstructure , so would I , brethren , express a wish ou

this auspicious day , that we may now lay a firm and sound foundation , and that we may in time to come build a structure thereon , of perfect ashlars , knit together aud firmly cemented by the bonds of unity and love .

Our Order is founded , as every neophyte well knows , on "brotherly love , relief , and truth . As with the Order , so with its several parts ; unless they are resting on this foundation all efforts to build anything substantial will be vain . It will , therefore , be the earnest desire of every JIason here , not the members of the lodgn alone , but all true members of the Craft , that this may be the foundation on which Lodge Star of India shall be raised .

Brotherly love , relief , and truth ! Brotherly love lies at the foundation of all . Where this principle exists not , Masonry is but " amockery , a delusion , and a snare . " The man who has been initiated , and passed through the various degrees of Masonry , is still unworthy to ba regarded as a Mason , if he be not actuated by brotherly love . It is this that eiables men of different nations , men of different religions , men of different political opinions , to meet together ; and while they have their

hearts glowing with patriotism , and glory in their nationality ; while they hold as dearer to them than all on earth their religion , and would be ii-ill ' insr , if called upon , to die for it ; while they cling to , and if need be fight for their political opinions , to unite together as members of the great family whose common Father reigns on high , for mutual support and protection , and for the purposes of active benevolence . And from this springs the next grand principleRelief . He

, to whose memory wc are about to dedicate this lodge , while ho shows that the love of God and the love of man are dependent upon and spring out from one another ( for he says , "If a man say I love God , and hate his brother , he is a liar , " ) has elsewhere shown that no man can love God unless he be willing to relieve his brother ; for , says he , " whoso hath this world ' s good , and seeth his brother have need , and shutteth up bis

bowels of compassion from him ,-how dwelleth the love of God in him ? " Linked together as tho members of our fraternity are by brotherly love , we cannot but feel it incumbent on ns to help each other , and to extend that help , as far as may be , to all within our sphere . In the language of one of our lectures , " To sooth the unhappy , sympathise with their misfortunes , and restore peace to their troubled and agitated minds , is the first aim we should have in view . "

And what shall we say of Truth ? That grand attribute of the Deity who cannot lie himself , and will not tolerate falsehood in any of his creation . " A poor man , " says our great Grand Master , " is better than a liar . " And so we are taught in our ceremonies , that the man who violates his word is unfit to be admitted into our lodges or into any good society . Let us therefore "Buy the truth , and sell it not ; " and by truth shall our ways be established .

But , brethren , having laid the foundation , let us see what is to be the structure . There are three great pillars which must support our lodge , and these are Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty . These pillars were , in ancient time , represented by Solomon , King of Israel ; Hiram , King of Tyre ; and Hiram Abiff ; but in our modern lodges they are represented by the W . M . and his two Wardens

, on whom devolves the support of the lodge . The W . M . should indeed be a pillar of wisdom . He should be thoroughly acquainted with our rites and ceremonies , so as to be able in a solemn and impressive manner to confer the various degrees . This is essential ; but it is far from being tbe only essential requisite ; he should be able thoroughly to instruct every brother in the lodge in every part of his duty ; he should have

a full knowledge of the " Book of Constitutions " so as to bo able to decide on any question of Masonic lair that m . 'ij * arise , promptly and without hesitation . He should also have such an amount of practical wisdom as will enable him firmly , but without harshness , to govern his lodge , and with the assistance of his Wardens to preserve the strictest order and decorum . That few Masters come up to this standard in all respects , I admit ;

nevertheless , this is the standard to be aimed at b y him who would be a pillar of wisdom in his lodge . The S . W ., too , must be a pillar of strength , firmly supporting the lodge by carrying out ai ! the W . M . ' s commands . He shnuld have such qualities as will enable him to rule the lodge , and to rule it well , in the absence of the Master , who should at all times look to him for assistance . As the sun attains its meridian splendourand bathes all

, things in his glorious light , when he conies to tbe soutii , so the S . W . placed in the south represents the pillar of beauty , and he , in conjunction with his senior officers , should endeavour to maintain at all times the beauty of harmony . Resting on this foundation , brotherly love , relief , and truth , and supported by tho three pillars of wisdom , strength , and beauty , the four cardinal virtues should be found—temperance ,

fortitude , prudence , justice . Temperance not merely in the conventional sense in wliich the word is coming to be used now , temperance in one particular , viz ., in drinking , but temperance in all things , the subduing and governing our animal passions and appetites , and bringing the body into subjection . Fortitude , that glorious virtue wliich enables ns to persevere in the right path , in spite of opposition ; to act not upon impulse , nor upon the suggestions , persuasions , or even threats of others , but upon our own convictions of what is fitting , proper , and right .

Prudence also is a virtue or frame of mind proper for all men , but more especially for Masons , to whom it is invaluable ; the prudent man never takes any step in life , whether it seem of little or great importance , without due consideration , for such is the uncertainty of our life here , and of all things connected with it , that we never know whether even the most apparently insignificant occurrence may not really be of great importance . The prudent man willthereforeact with regard to all things

, , as if they were of importance , knowing that caution can never do harm , and may be productive of good . Justice , too , is a highly important Masonic virtue , one binding on all Masons , but especially on tho officers of a lodge , who should be jnst and fear not , and whose ends and aims should ever be their God's , thoir country's , the Queen's , and the Craft ' s .

Thus , brethren , may we ever build our structure on brotherly love , relief , and truth ; may our lodge be supported by wisdom , strength , and beauty , and crowned by temperance , fortitude , prudence , and justice ; and may those other characteristics of the true Mason , virtue , honour , and mercy , even when banished from every other society , be found in the breast of every Mason , and more especially iu our Lodge Star of India . May it ever

he a rising star , its members crying out "Excelsior ! " and may we practically act upon our motto , " Heaven's light our guide . " The procession was then formed in the following order : —

Bro . R . Kendall , G . Sword Bearer . Bro . Hodgart , P . M ., with a light . Bro . Jamieson , P . M ., with the Bible , square , and compasses on a cushion . Bros . J . Anderson and D . Colah , P . JI . 's , each with a light . Bro . C . E . Mitchell , G . Sec , with salt in a silver vessel . P . G . Treasurer . Bro . T . Diver , P . J . G . W ., with corn in a golden vase . Bro . Alfred King , P . S . G . W ., with wine in a silver vase . Bro . H . Wickham , IJ > . Prov . G . JI ., with oil in a silver vase .

Bro . Rev . J . J . Farnham , Prov . G . M . Bros . F . D . Parker and John Key , G . Stewards , with wands . The procession then marched round the lodge to solemn music , and the acting Prov . G . M . strewed the lodge with salt at the end of the first round , and sprinkled corn , wine , and oil at the end of each successive circunnimbiilation , each time using the appropriate invocation , and the brethren

responding" Glory be to God on high . " " So mote it be . " Prayer was then again offered up , and the lodge was dedicated to the memory of the holy St . John . The brethren then marched round the lodge , and with their hands crossed on their breasts , saluted the acting Prov . G . M ., who then proclaimed as follows -. — "In the of the United Grand Lod of Englandand

name ge , of the District Grand Lodge of Bombay , and on behalf of the Prov . G . M . of Bombay , I now constitute and found you , my good brethren , Masters and Fellows , into a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons ; I henceforth empower you to act as such , in conformity with the rites of our Order , and the