Blackburn.

because the honourable- company of Masons represent a long line of ' art—an art of the finest character , in the ages that have gone , by and which we are only developing in our time . The old Freemasons , as tradition tells us , were tbe depositories of these grand secrets of architecture by which churches vaster and nobler than ours , the cathedrals of England , the cathedrals of France , the cathedrals of Germany , were raised out of the quarries of bare fields , in the hope and prospect that the

day might arise when congregations should worship in them . I believe thafc the Masons preserved by tradition , long before the art of our architects ancl of our superintendents of works were known , the art of building those vast structures which we can only try to reproduce in the modern buildings of to-day ; they preserved this iu its best ancl purest form , and along with tho preservation of architecture , I believe they preserved tbe rudiments of musicI believe they preserved the rudiments of

, painting , I believe they preserved all tho rudiments of study ivhich the increased intelligence of our day have developed into the arts and sciences , which we all strive to impart in the education of our children , and combined with religion , for the raising of this money-gaining but grand folk of England . I think , therefore , that we owe a debt of gratitude to the Alasons to-day . The trowel which Mr . Romaiue Callender has used was put into his hand before tbe ceremony was commenced , but we

hope that he wont give ifc back to us , but that he will take it , or Mrs . Callender or her daughters will take it , and it will cut many a salmon and turbofc , and less fish , upon their ample table—and when they take it up aud eat the fish they will feel that they did not come in vain to this dark town of Blackburn , to help us in building a school , in order that we might raise its education and promote its religion . Accept , sir ( addressing Mr . Callender ) , our best and most grateful thanks , and we shall ever

retain in our memories our gratitude , which has been so feebly expressed by myself ; for this auspicious commencement . May you ancl yours , and those who are around me to-day—for the most part our own friends who sympathise with us—live to see those larger buildings , the foundations of which at this moment you cannot see . May God prosper our work according to the prayer that bas been offered , ancl to-day be memorable , because it was at the beginning of a train of blessings which came from

the Triune God , in the week when the Church of England commemorates the foundation doctrine of our faith , the Three in One , to the praise , and to the honour , ancl to the glory of His eternal name—Mr . Woodhouse then handed to Major Feilden the trowel , which bore the following inscription : " Presented to M . H . Feilden , Esq ., M . P ., donor of the site , on the laying of the foundation stone of St . Peter ' s Parochial Schools , Blackburn , June 10 th , 1871 . "

Major Feilden in appropriate terms , acknowledged the gift , on behalf of his Brother , whose parliamentary duties prevented him from taking part in this interesting ceremony . Bro . AV . R . Callender , jun ., who was next called upon , took his stand on tbe stone , ancl said : Ladies and gentlemn , —In complying with the request of Mr . AVoodhouse , that I should say a few words to this meeting , I cannot pretend to express the pleasure which I feci on coming among you on an occasion like

this , tier to assure you how very far Sir . AVoodhouse's thanks exceed anything that we have clone . Still less have I to ask for good wishes and the earnest prayer of this meeting on the undertaking which we have motto-day to inaugurate ; but I may , perhaps , answer the possible inquiry , " AVhy are the Freemasons of East Lancashire represented at a meeting like this ? " I rejoico to think that the object which has brought you together —the promotion of education—cannot in any sense be regarded

as either a political one , or one provoking any religious animosity —and therefore as Freemasons , knowing by our constitution , and I hope by our practice , none of such distinctions , we are able to come among you without inconsistency , ancl without the possibility of giving any offence . The national mind , which is always slow to move , but if once convinced of the necessity of auy important work , never fails to accomplish it , has at last determined—not ono day too soonancl many of us would

, perhaps say a generation too late—that education of a sound , practical , and solid character shall henceforth be tlie property of every child born in this kingdom ; that poverty shall be neither swept away nor unfairly dealt with , ycfc religious opinions shall be strictly respected . It seems impossible to some men to defend the recent Elementary Education Act as

a perfect scheme . It was avowedly passed as a compromise , which perhaps may disappoint some of our hopes , but which I hope will belie some of our fears . I regard its value principally as recognising the importance of a national measure of education . I believe it was honestly framed , that all parties are desirous to work it to the best possible advantage , and that they are wishful to forget all past differences , and to work for the common good of those neglected ones to whom

thegreafcprinciples of religion , . faith in the Great Architect of tbe Universe , hope for salvation , ancl to be in charity with all men , the three principle steps in ' our Masonic spiritual ladder , areas yet unknown in practice , even if they may have been taught in words . Ancl if such be the result , as I believe ifc to be the intention of the Act last session , there is a peculiar propriety in our coming here to-day . AVe claim to come before you in two

characters—one of a speculative , the other perhaps of a more practical nature . AVe claim to represent , in some measure , afc least , those builders of whom Mr . Woodhouse has spoken , who ,, afc a time when education was the privilege of tho few , and not , as we trust ifc is aboufc to become , the property of the many , erected to the worship of the one eternal God , thafc magnificent temple whose regal splendour and unparalleled magnificence far surpasses tbe human imagination . This was clue to the

wisdom of King Solomon , the strength of Hiram , King of Tyre , and the skill of the pious , faithful , and earnest architect whose name , handed down to us iii Holy Scripture , is connected wifch the most solemn and sacred lessons of our mystic teaching . The lessons of nature , the problems of scieuce , and the unchanging eternity and . universal love of the Great Jehovah must have been deeply impressed upon the minds of the aucient artificers :

and we can trace tho same feeling in later days operating with those mediaeval craftsmen who erected buildings which testified , to the piety and liberality of our ancestors , their devotion fco the beautiful and the sublime , which we regard with pride as national monuments , ancl which we hope may long remain to be

"The bulwarks of our native isle , The glory of our laud . " But we como to you on another , and what some may perhaps think a more practical ground , and that is the special interest which from our constitution we take iu every measure of an educational character . The costume which we wear , the service we usethe implements we loy to tbe mind of

every-, emp , convey one among us those sublime teachings which form true religion wherever ancl by whomsoever they may be conveyed , their twofold love to God ancl man which the Great Law-giver Himself declared to be the sum and . substance of the Decalogue . We may , indeed we must—as who does not?—fall far short of our ideal ; but every Mason has a moral place before bim , contrasting his natural state of ignorance , typified by the unhewn stone ,

with that more perfect form of education which is represented by the perfect ashlar . To a general assembly like this I am not permitted to divulge any part of our secret art and bidden mysteries , but I may tell you all this , that the highest attainments in Masonry , not less than its merest rudiments , are acquired solely by education ; to the humble , earnest , faithful , mind Masonry opens its gates , disclosing a vista of peace and benevolence , increasing from stage to stage , until by square

conduct , level steps , and upright intentions , the humble , faithful disciple may , by the exercise ; of prayer and self-denials attain a place in that divine mansion above , where the world ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for evermore . I have to thank you , not only for the compliment you have paid to myself and family , whom I am sure will long cherish it , and look back with pleasure to this clay ; but I have to thank you on behalf of the Freemasons here , ancl not only iu their name , but for fche 4-, 000 Masons in this province , for the high honour you have conferred upon us .

Tho band then played the National Anthem , aud the meeting dispersed , after the Benediction had been pronounced . About 50 of tho Alasons sat clown to diner at the Old Bull Hotel . Tho Prov . Grand Master presented each of the four lads who carried the Bible in the procession with a silver "lewis" attached to a silk sash . At a meeting of the Lodge Perseverance , 345 , a vote ol thanks was passed fo R . U . Doclgson aud II . M . Fieldeu , Esqrs ., for the donation of flowers .