Colonial.

expectant sightseers in ail directions , until itseemed as if all Ballarat had turned out of doors to keep a universal holiday . Soon after twelve o ' clock the several orders and local bodies began to muster in Melbourne-road , while the "Grand Marshal" ( Mr . Superintendent AVineh ) and his " ' deputies , " ( Messrs . Dimant and Gwynneth ) , mounted on their steeds and arrayed in the scarfs of the Masonic Craft , marshalled the procession in the order determined on previously . At length the word of command was given , and the procession began its

march , with bauds playing and colours flying . First came four mounted troopers , as the vanguard of the procession . Then came tho children of tlie Ballarat West National School , and the Mount Pleasant AVesleyan School . After them came the children of the Band of Hope , followed by the adult members of the Temperance Society . Then came the Caledonian Society , bearing the Scottish flag , and composed of mounted members with tilting lances and pennons , and members on foot attired in full Highland costume , all wearing sprigs of heather in their bonnets ,

and preceded by a piper . Then came the band of the Ballarat Fire Brigade , followed by the members of the brigade in uniform , bearing aloft not fewer than three copies of the "meteor flag" of England , and carrying axes , hooks , hose , pipe , and other implements of their body , decorated with gay ribbons . After the brigade came the members of the Mining Board , followed by the members of the District Road Board . Following the District Road Board came tho several . Lodges of the Odd fellows , bearing their beautiful banners , attired in their scarfs and aprons , carrying the several emblems of their Craft , and preceded by a band .

i . hen came tho members of the municipal councils , and the band and banner of the several Lodges of tho order of Freemasons . The banner was a small unpretending one , having a representation of the southern cross displayed , silver stars ou an azure ground . But the magnificent insignia of the order , particularly of its chief officers , lent a special and gorgeous character to the procession . Closing the procession came the members of the committee of the Benevolent Association . After the procession and all around , everywhere , there camo flocking the general

public ; and what with the bands playing , flags flying , ladies' gay dresses , eager pressing sightseers from window and balcony and housetop , the whole line of march presented such a scene as has not been equalled in Ballarat before or since the visit hither of his excellency Sir Henry Barkly . The asylum reserve is situated on the south side of Start-street , having Dana-street for its southern , and the yet unformed street nest West of Drummoud-stveet for its eastern boundary . On the reserve a spacious and substantial gallery for the ladies' committee of the

association , and ladies holding tickets , was erected : as also a smaller platform at right angles thereto , for the offieer .-j of the order of Freemasons ; the latter platform being covered with green baize . On arriving at the reserve it was found to be densely crowded , aud the ladies' gallery being thronged with "the beauty and fashion" of Ballarat , a most gay and even brilliant ' coup d ' teil was presented . Around the . foundation stone , which was placed in the angle between the two platforms , assembled the following officers of the body of Freemasons : —

The bearer of the Lodge banner . The mallet , borne by Bro . Steinfeld , P . M . Trowel , borne by Bro . Ocock , P . M . Inscription roll , by the AV . M . of the Chines Lodge , filial , with coins , by the AV . M . of the Buninyong Lodge . Square , level , and plumb , by the AV . M . of the United Tradesmen ' s Lodge Ballarat East . Ewer , with wine , by tlie AV . M . of the Ballarat Lodge .

Cornucopia , by the AV . M . of : the Varrowec Lodge . Kwer , with oil , by the AV . M . of tho 'Victoria Lodge . Volume of the Sacred Law , on a cushion , borne by Pro . . Adams . The Rev . C . P . M . Hardin , M . A ., Provincial Grand Chaplain , Tho Prov . -I . G . \ Y ., Bro , 11 . Lcvick . Tho Prov . CS . AV ., Bro . H . W . Lowry . The Prov . Grand Sword Bearer . The li . W . . Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Victoria , Bro . Francis Thomas

Gell . iV'ifli these were also the president , vice presidents , and members ' committee of tho Benevolent Association , the architect , and tho contractors . The ceremony romuicoucd by the singiug of tho Hundredth Psalm ^ Masonic version ) , after which tlie Prov . G . J . AV ., Bro . Levick , read the following inscription roll , afterwards deposited in the cavity of tho stone , "Iththe phial containing the coins of the realm

—. : " The Benevolent Asylum . Tho stone of this building was laid March nth , , \ . u ., 1859 , Anno . Luc-is , 5 S 59 , by Francis Thomas Gell , Esq ., D . Prov . Grand Master of the colony of Victoria , holding warrant from tho Grand Lodge of England ; assisted by the Prov . Grand . Officers , and by the Lodges of Ballarat , viz . ;— -The Victoria Lodge , No . 956 , Bro . AVilliam ¦ Scott , W . M . ; the Va-i-rowee Lodge , No . 1015 , Bro . Henry Harris , AV . M . ; tho Ballarat Lodge , No . 1019 , Bro . Dr . Richardson , AV . M . ; tho United

Tradesmen ' s Lodge , No . 1021 , Bro . Hynian Loviuson , AV . M . " ' I was hungry , and yc gave mc meat ; I was thirsty , and ye gave mc drink . ; I 'was a stranger , and ye took mo in ; naked , and yc clothed me ; f wan sick , and ye visited me ; I was iu prison , and ye came unto me . ' " ^ The bottle having beau deposited iu the hollow of the stone , tho Rev . 0 . P . M . Bardiu , Prov . Grand Chaplain , offered up an appropriate prayer . The acting Prov . Grand Master asked his Officers—Bro . H . AV . Lowry , acting as D . Prov . Grand Master ; Bro . Levick , as S . Prov . G . AV . ; and

Colonial.

Bro . H . Harris , as J . Prov . G . AV ., who bore tho Masonic square , plumb and level—what were the emblems of their Craft ? The AVardenx replied , showing their emblems , applying each one his implement to the stone , aud reporting the result to the Ii . AV . D-. Prov . Grand Master , who then had a silver trowel handed to him by Bro . Ocock , PAL , and the mallet by Bro . Steinfeld , X' . M . The stone having been laid , theD . Prov . Grand Master invoked the diviuo blessing to preserve the institution from ruin and decay .

He then scattered corn from the cornucopia as the emblem of plenty ; poured out wine as the emblem of joy and gladness ; and oil as the emblem of peace and concord . The D . Prov . Grand Master havingofferod a brief extemporaneous prayer , returned to tho architect tho plans and elevations of the building , saying , " I have examined these plans of the building about to be erected , and they are all correct . I now return them to you , as to a skilful and competent architect . " The National Anthem was then sung , followed by cheers for the Queen .

The R . AV . Deputy Prov . Grand Master then addressed the assembly , saying that from time immemorial it had been the custom in the mother country for the Miasous of England to be engaged iu kindred ceremonies at the laying of the foundation stones of public buildings . As an old Mason and representative of the Craft , ho was glad to find the order had so advanced in the district , and that it had been so distinguished as to have conferred upon it the honour of laying the foundation stone of that edifice . Their customs arose in the time when they were operative

Masons , but now they were only speculative Masons . They were the only body who had preserved , a ceremony for such an occasion as that ; and it afforded him considerable satisfaction to have the opportunity to aid in the establishment of an institution which had for its object the relief of the poor and the distressed . Iu the name of the Masons ho congratulated them , and the ladies in particular . The ladies were ever the first in the train of charit y , that charity which waits on all below , and is the first of the bri ght hosts above . That day would redound to

the credit of the colony , and be a testimony of the progress of the town . In the name of his brother Masons , he invoked the blessing of God upon the asylum , where all , both poor aud rich , would be able to look for a home , not as a charity , but as a legitimate asylum to which thoy had contributed in their better days . The close of Bro . Gell ' s address was followed by three cheers , and ' ¦ one for the ladies . " '

Tho company were then addressed by the Rev . J . Potter , Church of England ; the Rev . J . Bichford , AVesleyan ; and the Rev . AV . Henderson , Presbyterian ; all of whom advised the members of every denomination to take part in the good work by their subscriptions aud exertions . The Rev . P . Madden , Roman Catholic ; and the Rev . J . Strongman , Congregationalist , also took part in the proceedings . At tho close of the proceedings , the procession re-formed , and retired from the reserve , and gradually the dense crowd broke up and dispersed .

There were about five thousand persons assembled on the ground . It was half-past three o ' clock when the head of the procession reached the post-office iu tlie return march , and the Masonic bod y having retired to Bath ' s Hotel , where they subsequently partook of a cold collation , the other portions of the procession wended their way to their various destinations , and the ceremony of the day was at an . cud . A . collection was made during tho proceedings amounting to thirtyeight pounds .

BAHAMAS . A si'KctAl . meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of the Bahamas under the registry of England , was convened , at Masonic Hall , on Thursday evening , May the , 19 th , for the installation of officers for the ensuing year . The following is a list of the present office-bearers : —P . Treeo , II . V . Lodge , Prov . K . U . AV . ; N . French , R . V . Lodge , Prov . J . G . AV . ; C . . 11 . Hinson , Forth Lodge , T . I ' ., I'rov . G . Reg . ; J . A . Brook , R . V . L .,

reelected , Prov . G . Treas . ; C . R . Parpall , B . V . L ., re-appointed Prov . P . O . Sec : J . H . Minns , It . V . L . Prov . S . G . I ) . ; J . J . Musgrove , R . V . L ., Pruv . J . G . D . ; C . Mardeubi-ough , R . V . L ., Prov . G . Sup . Works ; S . F . Rigby , Forth Lodge , T . I ., Prov . G . Dir . Cer . ; . 1 . AY . Webb , R . V . L ., re-appointed Prov . G . Organist ; A . . Draper , K . V . L ., Prov . G . Pursuivant . Prov . G . Stewards : —AV . Sawyer , R . V . L ., rc-appointcd ; H . Brown , R . V . Li ., ro-appointed ; Joseph Pinder , R .. V . L ., re-appointed ; T . AV . f'iulayson , R . V . 1 ,. ; Charles Harris , R . V . IJ . ; A . J . AVynns , Forth Lodge , T . I . Brov . G . Tyler : —0 . 51 . Cariniohao ] , re-appointed . The ceremony of installation was performed by S . Dillet , D . Prov . Grand Master .

India.

INDIA .

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL . A iiUAiiTJiHtr communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , was holdcn at the Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 21 st March , 1 S 59 , at which wero present , the R . AV . Bros . John J . L . Hoff , D . Prov . G . M ., as Prov . G . M . ; Philip ' AV . LeGeyt , P . Prov . G . M . ; Henry Howe , P . D . Prov . GAL ; AVilliam Clark , Prov . S . G . AV . ; John B . Roberts , Prov . J . G . AV . ; Duncan Monteith , P . Prov . S . G . AV . ; AAllliam J . Judge , P . Prov . J . G . AV . ; and the V . AV . Bros , tho Rev . Dr . F . F . Mazuehelli , as Prov . G . Chaplain ; John Gray , Prov . G . Reg . ; AVilliam H . Hoff , Prov . G . Sec . ;