Laying Of The Memorial Stone Of The Paisley Free Public Library And Museum With Grand Masonic Honours.

Paisley—preceded by the 25 th Lanarkshire Volunteer Band ; Standard Bearers , with the two Flags of the Lodge . Bros Alex . M'Leod , R . W . M . ; Colin M'Arthur , S . W . ; A . Wallace , Junr ., J . W . ; Alex . Morrison , Treasurer ; William Robin , Secretary ; ( who took his place in the Prov . Grand Lodge as Grand Sword-Bearer . ) Hugh Craig , S . D . ; George F . Paton , J-D . ; John Wallace , Depute Master ; John Carswell , Substitute Master ; John Park , Inner Guard ; D . M'LeanTyler ; with

, upwards of 150 brethren of the lodge-St . John , Shettlcston , 128 , Glasgow ; Thistle , 127 , Stewarton ; St . Andrew , 126 , Kilmarnock , Royal Arch , 122 , Perth ; St . Mary , Partick , 117 , Glasgow ; Royal Arch , 116 , Rutherglen ; Royal Arch , 114 , Cambuslang : St . Marnock , 109 , Kilmarnock ; Union and Crown , 103 , Glasgow ; Montrose , New Monkland , 88 , Airdrie ; Thistle , 87 , Glasgow ; Navigation , 86 , Troon ; Thistle

and Rose , 73 , Glasgow ; St . John , 69 , Alloa ; Doric Kilwinning , 68 , Port-Glasgow ; St . John , Kilwinning , 57 , Haddington ; Loudon Newmilns Kilwinning 51 ; Operative , 47 , Dundee ; St . John , 46 , Auchterarder ; St . John , 39 , Kilsyth ; St . Alary , 31 , Coltnoss ; St . John Kilwinning , 28 , Kirkintilloch ; St . Mungo , 27 , Glasgow ; St . John Kilwinning , 22 , Kilmarnock ; Old St . John , 21 , Lanark ; St . John , 20 , Lesmahagow ; St . John

Kilwinning , 18 , Dumbarton ; Greenock Kilwinning , 12 ; St . St . John , 9 , Dunblane ; Journeymen , 8 , Edinburgh ; Hamilton Kilwinning 7 ; Glasgow Kilwinning 4 ; Lodge of Glasgow St . John , 3 ; Edinburgh Mary's Chapel , 1 .

Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow . —Bros . W . Smith , P . G . Sec . ; James Wallace , S . D . ; James Anderson , J . D . ; James Leith , D . C . ; Robert Robb , Marshal ; James Balfour , Sword-Bearer ; Win . Strang , Acting-Tyler . Mother Kilwinning , headed by Bro . Robert Wylie , P . Prov . G . M . for Ayrshire , and a deputation of twenty-four . Provincial Grand Lod Renfrewshire East . —GMBroCol

ge , .. . . A . C . Campbell , who took his place in the Grand Lodge as Dep . G . M . ; Bros . Jas . M'L . Henderson , Dep . G . M . ; Robertson , Sub . G . M . ; James Donald , S . G . W . ; William Guy , S . D . ; Rev , John M'Lean , G . Chap , ; James J . Lamb , G . Architect ; William Robin , G . Sword-Bearer ; William Sim , G . I . G . ; John Jack , G . Sec . The Grand Lodge .

Adams ' s ( of Glasgow ) Instrumental Band . Bros . John Laurie , G . Mareschal ; W . M . Bryce , G . Tyler . Grand Steward . Grand Steward . The Level . The Plumb . Grand Steward . Grand Steward . The Compass . The Square . Grand Steward . Grand Steward .

The Mallet . Grand Steward . Grand Steward . Vase with wine . Vase with Oil . Cornucopia with corn . Bros . Daniel Robertson , G . Bible Bearer ; Rev , V . G Faithful 31 . A ., V . W . G . Chap . Grand Steward . Grand Steward . Bros . W . A . Laurie , G . Sec ; A . J . Steward , G . Clerk ; W . Officer , Acting Jim . G . W . ; W . Mann , Acting Sen . G . W . ; C . Gough , President of G . Stewards .

Grand Steward . Grand Steward . Bros . Colonel A . C . Campbell , of Blythswood , Acting R . W . D . G . M . ; Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , Bart , of Ardgowan and Blackball , Acting R . W . Sub . G . M . ; and A . Houston , Acting Grand Sword Bearer . The Right Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., Q . C . B . & c „ & c „ Grand Master . Volunteer Guard of Honour .

On arriving at the building , the G . Master and office-bearers of the Grand Lodge proceeded to the platform , in accordance with the strict rules of Masonry . All parties having been properly placed , and the grand jewels , & c , laid on the G . Master's table , the band played the Queen ' s Anthem , after which the G . Chaplain , at the request of the G . Master , offered up the following prayer : —

" May the Grand Architect of the Universe grant a blessing upon this foundation-stone now about to be laid , and , by His Providence , enable us to finish this and every other work which may be undertaken for the embellishment and advancement of this town . 0 Lord ! prosper Thou our work , and teach us at all times and in all places to build upon the beauty of holiness that temple of our souls which Thou hast given us to adorn with

all good works , till we arrive at that glorious mansion in the skies , where all these are perfect , and there is no more labour , but peace and happiness for ever and ever . —Amen . " Mr . Coats , addressing the Earl of Dalhousie , then said , —Most Worshipful Grand Master , I have the honour of presenting to you this trowel , to be used by you at the interesting and solemn ceremony of laying the memorial stone of our Free Pub lie

Library and Museum . You have been invited by our worthy Provost and Magistrates to come and do this work , and in the most kindly and courteous manner you have responded to their call , by appearing amongst us , to honour us with your presence and services—noble services on your part—which I know will be duly and gratefully acknowledged . On my own account I venture to ask your acceptance of the trowelas a small token

, of my regard and gratitude . May I hope it will occasionally turn up to view amongst your other cabinet stores , to remind you of a happy day spent in the goood town of Paisley . Earl of Dalhousie—Mr . Coats , on various occasions I have had the honour of laying foundation stones of public buildings both in England and Scotland . On the present occasion I feel most gratified that I have been invited here as Grand Master Mason

of Scotland to lay the memorial stone of an institution which will convey to this town so many great benefits in time to come , and which , I am proud to say , has been presented to its inhabitants by ono whose generosity is respected wherever it is known . I am proud to think , sir , that I have received this trowel at your hands . Ba assured it will be held amongst my best guarded treasures . So long as I am spared I shall remember with

pleasure the honour which has been conferred upon me this day by this presentation at your hands . The Grand Master then called upon the Grand Treasurer ,. Secretary , and Clerk , to place in the cavities of the stone the jars containing the coins and documents . The coins and documents having been duly placed " Great-Light to Shine" was played by the band . The usual ceremony having been gone through ,

The Grand Master then said— "Having , my Right Worshipful Brethren , full confidence in your skill in our Royal Art , it remains with me now to finish this work . " He then gave the stone three knocks , saying— " May the-Almighty Architect of the Universe look down with benignity upon our present undertaking , and crown the edifice of which we have now laid the foundation with every success . "

Three cheers were then given by the brethren , which weretaken up and cordially joined in by the entire assembly , the band playing , " On , on , my dear brethren . " The cornucopia was then delivered to the Substitute Master ; the vase with the wine , to the S . G . W . ; and the vase with the oil , to the J . G . W . The music having ceased , the wine and oil were poured and the corn laid upon the stone , the band playing the "Mason ' s Anthem , " and the Grand Officers returning to their former places on the platform .

The Grand Master then said , —Provost Macfarlane , Mr . Coats , ladies and gentlemen , and brethren all , —I have now to make to you the formal announcement that , in compliance with the wish of the Provost of this Burgh , I have laid the memorial stone of this building , which I trust , under the providence of the Almighty , may speedily be finished without accident to limb or life , to be an ornament to your town . But , Mr . Provost , the mere outward aspect of this building is trifling iu

comparison with that which will , I trust , be seen within . In the first place it is the gift — the munificent gift — of a townsman to the town in which he was born . In the next place it is dedicatod to the noblest of all purposes—not for the ori ginal and primary education of the people , but being educated , to carry them on in the march of intellect . It is a roof under which they will find the means of cultivating that

knowledge which is to raise them from the class in which they commenced life , it may be , to the hig hest class in this country . Mr . Provost , it is unnecessary for me to dilato upon the benefits which an institution like this has the power of conferring upon such a community . Here the industrious will find leisure to cultivate their understandings , and here , I trust , the idle maybe induced to come firstperhaps from curiosityand secondly

, , , from having seen the benefits which may be derived from the use of that Free Library which is to be established under this roof . But there is not only to be a Free Library iu which you may read the glories of the past , not simply and only of the glories of war , but the far higher glories of peace , industry , and