China.

The Corinthian Light , borne by Bro . AA . Jackson . Column of Prov . Junior Grand AVarden , borne by Bro . D . Gihnour . The Acting Junior Grand Warden , with tho Plumb Rule , Bro . Nutt , W . M . 570 . The Doric Light , borne by Bro . D . King , jun . Column of Provincial Senior Grand AVarden , borne by Bro , . 1 . E . Waller .

The Acting Senior Grand AVarden with the Level , Bro . Parker . The Square by Bro . Col . Yonge . Tho Compasses by Bro . AI . L . Smith , « - The Volume of the Sacred Lav ,- on a cushion by Bio . Tarrant . ? w £ 1 ™» Chaplain , Rev . C . H . Butcher , M . A . \ | towi ! rcl Ixoggersj * ' (_ Peuro . se The Ionic Light , borne by Bro . Alyburgh . The Acting Deputy Grand Alaster with the Square , 1 Bro . Dunlop , P . JI . 570 . o s The Executive Committee . 5 ° Bros . AVhittall , No . 501 , Fearon , 570 , and Tilby , 1020 . g-

g The Mallet , borne by Bro . Tilby , P . A 1 . 2 " c Ri'o . Phillips , Acting G . Tyler . G M Bro . Gould , P . M . (> Acting Grand Stewards . 3 . Seldom , we apprehend , has a public procession been better managed—there did not seem to be one out of his place ; this being due mainly , no doubt , to the pains taken by Bro . I . AI . Lloyd , Acting Grand Secretary , in profusely distributing among

the brethren the programme as above , supplemented again by the tact of Bro . Donaldson in his capacity of Acting Grand Dir . of Cers . During the earlier part of the day there was continual rain . As the time drew near for meeting , however , the heavens smiled on the undertaking , and better weather—taking into consideration that this is July , the hottest month of the year—could not have been looked for : it was cool as autumn . The distance

from the old lodge to the site of the new Temple is about a mile and a quarter , the greater part of tho distance along the Bund , the spectacle to lookers-on being , as admitted by all , most imposing , and superior to any thing of the kind ever before attempted in China . On arriving within a short distance of where Alessrs . Farnham and Co . ' s pile driving shears marked the building site , the procession halted—the brethren opening to the riht and left

g , so leaving room for the principal officers to pass up the centre , the brethren following in succession from the rear , so inverting the order of procession . The foundation stone in the north east corner of tho intended building was placed on red brick , raised a yard or so above the ground , with a substantial platform built around ifc , on which ¦ was placed a table for the various Alasonic implements used in the work . Around this were assembled the Acting Provincial

Grand Alaster , his Deputy , the Provincial Grand AVardens , Alasters of Lodges , Executive Committee , Chaplains and other oflicers ; on the platform also , as spectators , being the several principal Consular and Municipal Officers , and some invited guests . Bro . the Rev . C . K . Butcher offered up the usual prayer . Response , " So mote it be . " The Acting Grand Superintendent of AVorks then produced the plans of the building , and the Acting Grand Secretary read the following inscription engrossed on vellum : —

On Monday , July 3 rd , 1 SG 5 , This Foundation Stone was laid by AV . Bro . Robert Freke Gould , P . AI ., Nos . 178 , 570 , 743 , P . Prov . S . G . AA ., Andalusia , in clue Alasonic Form , In the presence of The Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 501 , The Northern Lodge of China , Xo . 570 , The Tuscan LodgeNo . 1027

, , The Cosmopolitan Lodge , No . 428 ( Scotch ) , The Ancient Landmark Lodge ( American ) , The Alunicipal Councils of the Foreign Settlements , The Consular Representatives of Foreign Powers , And the Shanghai Volunteer Corps , The undermentioned brethren acting as Grand Officers , L . G . Dunlop , P . M ., 570 , C . E . Parker , P . M ., 501

D . P . G . AI . Prov . S . G . AV . ^ - ~ Z J . Nutt , AV . AL , 570 , Prov . J . G . W . / Oj ^ John Clark , Prov . Grand Superintendent of Works / ftiifl '' Architect . fc- / GR / I . Mathias Lloyd , Prov . Grand Secretary . p- ( Lot

After which was read a list of the articles placed in a bottle for deposit in the cavity of the stone . These were : —¦ The current coins of England , India , China , and Japan ; Friend of China newspaper of the 1 st July , North China , Herald of same date , North China Dail // Neios of 3 rd July , and Shanghai , llecorder of samo date . By-laws of -the Sussex , Northern , and Tuscan lodges , Circulars of each of said lodges announcing tho ceremony , and parchment bearing inscription ,

a programme of the proceedings boing also deposited . Under the superintendence of the architect , the upper stone was then raised and the lower one adjusted , the bottle and papers mentioned being placed by the Acting Grand Treasurer , the band playing solemn music . Cement was then placed , on the upper face of the bottom stone ; and , with three distinct stops , the upper stone was lowered by Air . Le Blefcben , the builder , to its proper position . The Acting Provincial Grand

Blaster then walked to the end of the stone , and opened tlie following colloquy : — "Bro . Deputy , you will cause the various implements to be applied to tbe stone that it may be laid on its bed according to the rules of Alasonry . " This having been done , the architect then bunded tlieinallet to the Prov . G . AI ., who struck the stone with ib three times , saying , may this undertaking be conducted and completed by the craftsmenaccording to the grand plane ' , in peace , harmony ,

, and brotherly love . Turning to the large assemblage on the Bund , and bowing to tbe ladies who in great numbers were viewing the proceedings from the windows and verandah of Alessrs . Pustau and Co . 's premises adjacent , the Prov . G . AI . then called for three cheers , which were given with hearty goodwill , the bands playing lively music . During the music the cornucopia was delivered to tbe D . G . AI . and the ewers with wine and oil to the Senior and

, Junior Grand AVardens respectively . AVhen the music ceased the cornucopia and ewers were delivered to the Prov . G . AI ., who then strewed corn on tho stone , and said I strew this corn as an emblem of plenty . He then poured wine , saying I pour out this wine as a symbol of joy and gladness .

He then poured oil , saying I pour this oil as a symbol of comfort and peace . The PEOV . G-. AIASTEE then offered the following prayer : — " As Jacob , the son of Isaac , tlie son of Abraham , fled from the face of his brother Esau , he tarried in a certain place all night , when he slept on the cold ground all night with a stone for his pillow in great discomfort . Here he had a vision of the gates of heaven , and when he awoke he anointed the stone on which

he slent with oil , and named the place Beth-el , or the House of God . In like manner I anoint this stone with pure oil , praying that in the building which may arise from it none but good men may enter , and men that fear God . Thus may it truly bo said , behold how good and joyful a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity . " The prayer concluded , tho Grand Dir . of Cers . led oil" two verses of tho Old Hundreth , after which the Grand Officers

retired to the table , and the Prov . G . AI . thus addressed those present : — Brother Craftsmen and Fellow-residents , —Ifc has been customary wifch Alasons from time immemorial to lay the foundation stones of public buildings in a manner akin to fche ceremony in which we have now participated . The usage arose when the great body of the Craft wero operative Alasons , and advantage is generalltaken of an occasion like the present to explain to

y those in attendance , who may not be members of the Order , the import of many of our forms , which , though connecting links with ages far remote , are only made use of under circumstances of peculiar interest and solemnity . I have , therefore , to claim your attention to an oration ivhich will be delivered by the reverend Chaplain , Bro . Butcher , and now to add , in conclusion , tho expression of my sincere conviction thafc the proceedings of this day will redound to the credit of

Freemasonry , and be a testimony of vigorous vitality by the settlement . Bro . the reverend Grand Chaplain then said : — AVorshipful Alaster , Past Alasters , Wardens , and Brethren , — There are two points from which Freemasonry may be regarded . It may be regarded from without and within . The

Jtternal world and the brotherhood have each au account to fi ^ of us . There are three points which strike the uninitiated ^ fchCTespecfc to Freemasonry . First , its antiquity . Its origin ? inytiiB far-off past . Before the Temple of Solomon rose on lip mjj of Aloriah—a mount of snoiv fretted Avith glorious