Blackburn.

by the brethren . Donor of the site , H . M . Feilden , Esq ., M . P ., Lord of the Manor .. The Rev . C . AV . AVoodhouse , M . A ., A'icar , the Rev . G . Burwell , B . A ., Curate . William Thompson , Esq ., and R . D . Coddington , Esq ., AVardens ; Mr . AA . Thompson and Mr . J . E . Sharpies , Sidesmen . Architect , Mr . J . Brierley . Clerk of the AVorks , Mr . J . Simpson . To he built in the name of the blessed Trinity . A bottle ( containing the names of the Masons present and a copy of the local papers ) was then placed in the

cavity , over which the plate was fixed . On the bottom bed of the stone we should mention , were hewn a representation of the square , level , and plumb rule . The Rev . C . Hughes , Chaplain , read a portion of Scripture , and offered up prayer . The ceremony then proceeded in the following order . —Junior AA arden , George Duerden , advanced to the Grand Master . —Brother Junior AVarden : AVhat is the emblem of your office ? The plumb ruleright worshipful sir . —

, How do you apply the emblem to your oflice ? To try ancl adjust all uprights while being fixed on their proper bases . —By direction the junior warden applies the plumb , which having been done , he says : Right AVorshipful sir , the Craftsmen have done their duty . —Senior Warden Robert Duckworth then advances , and in similar form tries the level and proves the horizontals . AVorshipful Master D . Towers then applies the square to try and adjust all rectangular corners of buildings , and

to assist in bringing rude matter into form . The Grand Master then applies each of these instruments to prove the correctness of their assertions . Past Alaster Thomas presented a mallet to the Prov . Grand Master , who , having given the stone three distinct raps , declared it to be built ancl properly laid , according to the science of masonry . Brother Brierly presented the plans , which had been duly examined a nd proved , ancl the Prov . Grand Master gave them back into his custody as

Superintendent of AVorks . Brother T . Clough presented corn , the sacred emblem of plenty , and fche Grand Master spread a few grains on the stone . Brother T . Bertwistlo presented wine , the sacred emblem of truth , and a few drops were poured on the stone .

Brother C . Tiplady advanced with oil , the sacred emblem ol charity , and a few drops were also poured on the foundation by the Prov . Grand Master . The choir joined in singing the Masonic glee . " AA hen the temple ' s first stone was slowly descending . " The ceremony was then concluded by each of the fourteen girls before mentioned laying a flower on the stone . The Rev . C . AV . AA oodhouse then ascended the stone and addressing the assembled crowd , said : Ladies and gentlemen , —

There is a sentence iu the Book from which a portion has been read in the solemn ceremony of this afternoon which I am sure many of you will remember with great distinctness , namely , that " Hope deferred maketh the heart sick ; " and I know that there are present to-day on this great occasion many whose hearts were beginging to fail them and who wero beginning to think that St . Peter's new schools would never be reared in the midst of them . Many had passed away who took a part in the

early movement for the building of these schools . So early as May the 19 th , 1863 the congregation of St . Peter ' s were called together to consider how they might best accomodate the increasing number of scholars at the schools which were established in this populous parish . Then came on the disastrous cotton famine , tbe effects of which were felt in perhaps all the families of this advancing borough , ancl that disastrous famine stayed those who were canvassing for subscriptions whereby these

schools might be erected . But as the years rolled on the scholars in our schools never felt that their hearts were sick , but that rather hope prevailled over fear ; and I may tell you for your satisfaction that during the years that have elapsed since 1863 , £ 64 has been contributed in pennies and halfpennies in our schools—something like £ 6 or £ 7 a year , up to this year in which we are now assembled . Then came tlie late pressure which WHS pufc on the educational movement in this country , by the passing of that Act of Parliament which we trust in its results will bring about many blessings to tho people of this realm . Under the influence of the conclusions which were drawn from that Act , we of St . Peter's felt thafc we hacl a

new argument to present to our friends around us in asking for their help , in order that we might if possible begin our schools whilst the Government were for one year more prepared to render their aid . I must say with great gratitude to the subscribers to the fund on which we are working to-day thafc the readiness with which they came forward to contribute their money towards this great object proves that in Lancashire

education is appreciated , and above all , the education of the good old Church of England . I must say that the contributions which you have given on that occasion were not only given readily ancl promptly , but in many cases without being asked for ; ancl as there are £ 200 or £ 300 yet wanting ; perhaps some may come without being asked for , and some may come with the bint ; at all events we have no fear that we shall accomplish , with God ' s blessing , the work which we have commenced to do .

Having said this much , I feel that there are two debts of gratitude which ought to be given expression to by the people of St . Peter ' s—of whom I am tho mouthpiece to-day—a debt of gratitude to our honourable member Mr . Feilden ; and secondly , a debt of gratitude to the honourable society of tbe Masons who have come to start us in this noble work . Mr . Feilden , our active and able member , could not he present with us to-day because of his Parliamentary duties on special

committees , which work the younger members of that House , even out of school hours , or he would have joined us in tho ceremony of this afternoon . He had promised to come on Whit-Tuesday , but we found our friends tbe Masons could not come , and many gentlemen of this town could not come who wanted to be with us , ancl we were obliged to postpone until this auspicious day , the work on which we are now engaged . But a

worthy brother of our friend is with us to-day , Major Feildeu , who represents that brother whom we love for his own sake , and who will , I hope , as the friend of us all , carry away a brief expression of our gratitude to his elder brother for the great benefit which he has bestowed upon us . You are perhaps , many of you , aware thafc his late long-lived ancl long-revered father gave to us this plot of land on which we are now assembled to-day ; but that as it pleased God to take himafter a long

, and useful life , before we were enabled to take possession of it , the law ordered that it dropped out of the power of his successor to give it in the ordinary course of events . But our member was able to take advantage of an Act of Parliament which was especially passed through the House in order to facilitate the erection of schools for the education of the working classes , and ho has become - the donor afresh of this plot of land—valued at £ 1 , 016 , —on which we are assembled to-day . I beg , therefore ,

that Major Feilden will he kind enough to accept this trowel , which can be used as a fish knife , ancl which is made of silver and ivory , and put into a little box , I ask that the Major will accept this on behalf of his brother , and convey to that brother thanks which nothing that we can bestow will impress , and which our heartiest applause to-day will fail fully to convey . I think , ladies ancl gentlemen , that we in Blackburn know- how to respect that familywhich has thus iven us this lot of

, g p land , and I trust that the Christian sentiments which have ever actuated the members of that family , will be sentiments whieh will be spread in the borough , and that the church will become venerable to many who are here to-day . There are a few who were present when its foundation stone was laid ; in that Church Mr . Feilden learned the early principles which have guided him through his active life since then ; there ho learned his

Church Catechism ; there he learned to take part in that worship in which we have joined together to-day , and therefore I feel especial gratitude and thankfulness that he should have been spared when he grew up to be a man , and had power over this manor in which you are assembled , and in which your works aro situated , to give us this plot of land to lend an aid to tbe wo . ik of education , and to worship , in this

parish . May the day never pass when education ancl Christian worship shall be joined hand in hand . Take education without the love of Christ and the worship of the Triune God , and what is it worth ? It makes men greater knaves , ifc makes them worse citizens ; but take education , coupled with Christian worship , with the knowledge of the Triune God , redeemer of the lost souls of men , and then we learn the Lord is reasonable and is eternal , because worship alone without knowledge ,

descends to fanaticism , 'but worship joined with instruction , joined with sound knowledge , is our motto in the old parish of St . Peter ' s The worship of the Triune God , and true knowledge , this is the marriage union which wo celebrate to-day . I have now to express in your name our gratitede to the honourable company of Masons , ancl especially to the principal amongst them to-day . Bro . AA'illiam Romaine Callender , who with his brethren , have eome , I know at great sacrifice , I know at great cost , to lay us this grand stone on which I am standing at this moment , I say we owe them a debt of gratitude ,