Provincial.

bestir yourselves in the cause of the National Schools of this toii-n , for which ( exclusive of fittings ) a contract has been signed amounting to £ 1500 , while barely six hundred of that amount is as yet realized , the rest being a personal liability of the Trustees . It is surely time to attend to these things with more sincere affection for the souls of men than is common among us . Give toivards the cause of sound and religious education as you would give to the urgent distress of a friend or a brotheras yoii would contribute to an association for the

, defence of yonr privileges and possessions , as you ivould support an institution from Avhich you yourself expect to receive an ultimate benefit . He ivho truly loves the Lord Jesus , AA'ho has experienced the blessed effects of his redeeming love , must love Christ ' s little ones , and yearn to save the tender clusters of the vhiehe who considers the interests of his country and of society at large , who knows how n'oiiderfully God has united the best interests of class ivith class , so that we being many are one bodyand if one member suffer all will suffer with itin spite

, , of all that men can say or do , or leave undone—he ivho acknoiA'ledges the truth of such scriptures as " Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy , the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble ; " " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , "—will not count that lost which , is lent unto the Lord for the service of His little ones—aud lie will give not money only , but time , talents , personal exertions to the ivork , hoping for a blessing on his efforts . " Such charity , " to use the words of our oivn primate , " even more

than any other charity , is useful to the giver as Avell as to the receiver , it occupies minds ivhich , for Avaut of engagement , might othervrise prey upon themselves , and it occupies them in a way ivhich better fits them for eternity ; in religion , as in worldly matters , Ave often learn our best lessons by teaching . Here , then , brethren ,

you have a cause to aid deserving of all you can spare , and more . Give not only of the rich man ' s abundance , but of the Ai-idoiv's mite—give , hoping for nothing again , yet sure that your compassionate and loving Master -will fully reivard your efforts , - and that , in the language of the same old ivorthy from iviioin I have previously quoted , " Blessed be he that layeth the first stone of this building ; more blessed , he that proceedeth in it ; most of all he that finisheth it ; to the glory and honour of our queen and nation . " Upon the conclusion of the services the procession re-formedheaded bthe

, y band , and walked along to the site of the schools in Bath-place . The usual preliminaries hai'iug been accomplished , Lord Leigh proceeded to the ceremouy of fche day , the members of the Craft surrounding the stone . The Rev . Bro . Bedford pronounced the folloiving prayer : — " 0 Lord , our Heavenly Father , who hast commanded us not to hide thy goodness from the children of the generations to come , but to shew them thine honour and the mighty and ivonderful works ivhich thou hast done—pour down Thy this the first stone of which

blessing upon building , AA'e have UOAV laid in Thy name . Bring it to completion , and grant that it may continue as a seminary of sound learning and religious instruction from generation to generation . Grant , 0 Lord , we bsseeoh thee , thy blessing on all ivho shall hereafter teach ivithin these Avails , Grant that they may instil into the tender minds of their scholars the kuoivledge , reverence , and love of God , the Heavenly Father and Maker of all , and a deep sense of the duty they OAVB to him ; and vouchsafe both to teachers and pupils thy sevenfold gifts of grace , the spirit of Avisdom and understanding , tbe spirit of counsel and ghostly strength , the spirit of knowledge and true godliness , and fill them , 0 Lord , with the spirit of thy holy fear , to the honour of thy name and the benefit of their own souls . "

The R . AV . Prov . Grand Master then placed a phial containing coins of our day , and apian ( elevation ) of the buildings , ivithin a cavity of tbe stone . Corn , wine , and oil ivere scattered , and a brass plate laid , covering the cavity , inscription downwards . The inscription , as read aloud by the noble lord , ivas as follows : — " This foundation ' stone of the Leamington National Schools was laid by the Right Honourable AVilliam Henry Lord Leigh , Lord Lieutenant of the County , and Provincial Grand Master of AVarwickshire , this day , I 2 th April , 1859 , assisted by the brethren of the Craft , Avith full Masonic honours . Architects , Messrs . Clarke and Worthington , London ; contractor , Mr , AVilliam Green , Leamington . "