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represented . A Provincial Grand Lodge was here opened in the Master degree , under the presidency of Sir Charles Lanyon . The hall was crowded to excess , there being about 600 present . After having adopted the rules for regulating the ceremony , and the officers having been told off to their respective duties , the necessary caution was given from the chair , and the lodge was adjourned . The brethren then proceeded to theenclosure in Arthur-square , where they were joined by many hundreds of

other members of the Craft , and received by the G . M . and officers of the Prov . G . Lodge . On arrival they entered a large marquee , and as they passed through re-invested themselves in their insignia , the wearing of which outside the enclosure , was strictly forbidden . Having robed , the entire body , now numbering 1 , 200 were marshalled by the Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ( Bro . James Girdwood ) ancl formed procession . On reaching the platforma hollow square was formedinside

, , which the officers of the Grand Lodge stood alone , taking their places "in form , " and the Dir . of Cers . having commanded silenc . Bro . Sir Charles Lanyon , Prov . G . Master , addressed the assembly . He said : Brethren , we are assembled here this day for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of anew Masonic Hall , and I hope that you will aid and assist me in carrying on that ceremonyaccording to the ancient rites of our Craft .

, Brethren , I hope that the foundation stone , which we shall lay on this occasion will not only be the foundation stone of a building suitable for the purposes for which it is intended , hut that ifc shall also bo a foundation of increase of zeal and energy on the part of our brethren . I will not detain you longer now , but I shall call upon the choir to proceed with the singing of the air which is in the ritual .

Started by tbe choir , but joined in by the entire company , ¦ with fine effect , the verses to the air " Old Hundretb , " commencing" When earth ' s foundation first was laid By the Almighty Artist ' s hand , " were sung . The Archdeacon of Down ( the Prov . G . Chap . ) then offered invoking the blessing of God on the object for which

up prayer , they were met , and the actual eeremony of the day began . The fine block of stone cut in each of the four sides , with the mystic symbols of the Order , hitherto slung in a tackle , was quietly lowered to the ground , making three regular stops in its descent , by Bros . Robert Morgan , 72 ; Henry Gray , 32 ; Thomas M'Keown , 22 ; AV . M'Coyd , 124 , Ayr , Kilwinning ; and Henry M , Cashin , 88 . The Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . H . H . Bottomley , Sub-Sheriff of the county , then deposited in the

cavity a roll containing the names of the Grand Master and other officebearers officiating , together with the day and year of Masonry , the current coins of the realm , and the secretary or the hall company added the roll of directors , & c . This having concluded , the architect , Bro . John Lanyon , advanced to the Provincial Dnputy-Grand Master ( Dr . Brown ) , and presented him with the " working tools , " which were subsequently handed —the square to the Provincial Deputy Grand Master , the level to the Provinaial Senior Grand Warden , and the plumb rule to the Junior Grand Warden .

The G . M . having asked and received the usual replies from these officers , then said : " This corner-stone has been tested by the proper implements of Masonry . I find that the Craftsmen have skilfully and faithfully performed their duty , and I do declare the stone to be well formed , true and trusty , and oorrectly laid , according to the rules of our ancient Craft . " Here G . M . received a silver trowel at the hands of the Secretary of the Hall Company , which bore the following inscription : —

" Presented to tbe Right Worshipful Sir Charles Lanyon , Knight , M . P ., D . Prov . G . M ., Belfast and Down , by the Directors of the Masonic Hall Company , on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of their new Hall on Wednesday , 24 th June , 1868 , " and which he used , according to ancient custom . The Deputy Grand Master then came forward with a vessel of cornandscattering it on the stonesaid : " I scatter this

, , , corn as an emblem of plenty . May the blessings of bounteous Heaven be showered upon us , and upon all like patriotio and benevolent undertakings , and inspire the hearts of the people with virtue , wisdom , and gratitude . " The Senior Grand Master followed witii a jug of wine , which he also poured on the stone , saying : "I pour this wine as an emblem of joy and gladness . May the Great Ruler of the Universe bless aud

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prosper our present undertaking ; and may it be a centre from which friendship shall be established , and from which shall spring brotherly love , that shall endure through all time . " The Junior Grand Master , in like manner , pouring a vessel of oil on the stone , said : " I pour this oil as an emblem of peace . May its blessings abide with us continually , and may the Grand Master of Heaven and Earth shelter and protect the widow and orphan , shield and defend them from trials and vicissitudes

of the world , and so bestow His mercy upon tbe bereaved , the afflicted , and the sorrowing , that they may know sorrowing and trouble no more . " In all of these offerings the response , "So mote it be , " was made by the brethren . The Archdeacon of Down then pronounced the invocation , after which the builder ( Bro . Thomas M'Kevin ) , having delivered the maul to the G . M ., he struck the stone three

times , after which , accompanied by the office-bearers , he returned to the platform , where his re-appearance was greeted with the public honours—eleven on the third coming down , and subsequently the multitude sang the Masonic version of ' God Save the Queen . " The G . M . afterwards addressed the assembly as follows : — Men and brethren here assembled , be it known unto you , that we be lawful Masons , true ancl faithful to the laws of our

country , and engaged , by solemn obligations to erect magnificent buildings , to be serviceable to the brethren , and to fear God , the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which can not he divulged , ancl which have never been found out ; but these secrets are lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They were intrusted , in peace and honour , to the Masons of ancient timesand having been faithfull

, y transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless onr Craft were good , and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted for so many centuries , nor should we have been honoured with the patronage of so many illustrious menin all ages , who have ever shown themselves ready to promote our interests and defend us from all adversaries . We are assembled here to-day in the face of you

all , to build a house , which we pray God may deserve to prosper , by becoming a place of concourse for good men , and promoting harmony and brotherly love throughout the world , till time shall be no more . —Response—So mote it be . Amen . The Prov . G . Chap , having delivered the closing benediction , the brethren divested themselves of their Masonic insignia , and again proceeded to the Ulster Hall , where " labour" was resumed , aud shortly after this the lodge was closed in . " ancient ; form . "

TnE BANQUET . In the evening 500 of the brethren sat down to a splendid banquet in the Ulster Hall , under the presidency of the Prov . G . M ., Sir Charles Lanyon , M . P . A considerable number of ladies were present , being accommodated iu the extensive galleries . After the usual loyal toasts had been proposed , the Chairman gave the " Order of Freemasonry" and in fche

, course of his observations referred to the marked progress which bad been made by the Order in the north of Ireland , A few years ago their numbers in Belfast were under 600 , now there were no fewer than 850 subscribing , and 150 non-subscribing members in that town alone . The proceedings passed off to the entire satisfaction of all concerned .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPOLITAN . BRITANNIC CHAPTER ( NO . 33 ) . —A meeting of this chapter took place on the 10 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Tavern . The following companions were present : —Comps . W . Battye , M . E . Z . ; J . Glegg , ScribeE . ; W . Shields , Scribe N . ; J , Glaisher , Prin . Soj . ; Magnus Ohren ; W . Smith , C . B ., P . Z ., as 2 nd Principal ; L . CrombieP . Z . as Treas . ; J . BaileyM . WilsonJ .

, , , , Strapp , D . Hodge , J . douston , and S . Spencer . Visitors : — Comps . Watson , P . Z . 25 ; F . Walters , P . Z . 73 ; and Loewenstark , Z . 185 . The chapter having been opened and the companions admitted , the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . This being the night for the election of officers , and their installation into office—under the new by-law , Comps . Crombie , England , and Smith , and other P . Z . 's having begged to be