The Provincial Grand Master.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER .

Ionic Light , borno by Bro . Simon Goldberg . Mallet , borne by Bro . AA' . T . Canton . Banner . Prov . Grand Sword Bearer . Prov . Grand Steward , with wand .

Prov . Grand Steward , with wand . Prov . Senior Grand Deacon . Prov . Grand Tyler . The procession left tho starting point at one o ' clock , and proceeded up Wind-street , through Castle-square , Castle-street , Temple-street , Goat-street , to Carr-strcef , to the site of the new Hall , next to the St . Ives . On reaching the site of the building

the brethren at the head of the procession halted , opening ri ght ancl left , facing inwards , leaving room for the R . W . the Provincial Grand Master to pass up the centre of the avenue thus formed , he being preceded by his Standard and Sword Bearer . Tbe AVorshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . E . J . Morris , the Provincial Grand Oflicers , and brethren followed in succession from the rear . At this point the baud played selections from the "Creation , / ( "The Marvellous AA'orks . " )

The stone being previously prepared , the upper stone was raised , aud the Provincial Grand Chaplain ( Bro . Mr . Davies , the Rev . vicar of Llaumadoc ) offered up prayers . The inscription on the plate was then reacl as follows : —" . On the 6 th clay of July , A . D . 1871 , and in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of her Majssty Queen Victoria , the foundation stone of this Hall , for the use and occupation of the members ol the Ind eh tig-able Lodge , No . 237 , Swanseawas laid in accordance with ancient customand

, , with Masonic rite ? , by Theodore Mansel Talbot , of'Miirgam Park , Taibach , Esquire , Right AA'orshipful Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons of South AA ' ales , Eastern Division . Thomas Davies architect ; Thomas White , builder . " The Provincial . Grand Treasurer having , by the command of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , deposited in the cavity various ' coius of the present rcigu , copy of the Freemasons'

Magazine , Cambrian newspaper , by-laws of Provincial Grand Lodge and of the " Indefatigable " Lodge , No . 237 , also a list of present oflicers ofthe " Indefatigable " Lodge , ancl copy of the programme , the cement was laid on the stone with tlie trowel which was presented for the purpose , and the upper stone was slowly let down , solemn music playing . Being properly placed , the R . AV . the Provincial Grand Master proved that it was properly adjusted by tlie plumb rule , presented io him by tho

Provincial Junior Grand AVarden , by the level delivered to him by the Provincial Senior Grand AVarden , and by the square delivered to him by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , after which the mallet was handed to him , with which he g-ive the stone three knocks . Tbe R . AV . tlie Provincial Grand Master then delivered to tbe Builder tho several implements ihr his use ; the plans of the building were presented by the Provincial Grand Superintendent of AA ' orks , and the R . W . the Provincial

Grand Master , having approved them , delivered them to the Architect , for his guidance . Tho brethren bearing the corn , wine , and oil , now approached and presented the vessels in order to tbe 11 . AA ' . the Provincial Grand Mi . ster , who , after pouring them upon the stone , declared the stone properl y laid according to ancient custom . The Provincial Grand Chaplain concluded with the Benediction , after which , tho baud played the " National Anthem . "

The procession then re-formed in the same order , ancl returned to the Lodge room , when the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , ancl the presence of several officers and past oflicers of distinction was noted by the Bight Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , who thanked all present for the assistance they had given liini in performing the interesting ceremony of the duv .

ihe Brethren afterwards dined together at tho Mack worth Hotel , upwards of 250 sitting down to tbe banquet , presided over by Brother Laurence Tulloch , P . Prov . G . S . U ., W .. Af . of the Indefatigable Lodge ; the vice-chairs being filled b y Brother Geo . Bradford and Brother AV . E . Brown . . An excellent spread was served up , to which ample justice was clone , the band playing a selection of music during tbe banquet , under tbe leadershi p of the bandmaster , Mr . H . Clowes . The Chairman proposed "The Queen ancl Craft . " "The M . AA ' . the Grand Master , " and "The Deputy Grand Master and the

Officers of Grand Lodge , " which were warmly aud masonically responded to . The Chairman next proposed * ' The Right AVorshipful the Provincial Grand Master , which was received right heartily , and drunk with Masonic honours . The Prov . Grand Master , who was warmly received , rose to respond . He saicl that during the time he had the honour of presiding amongst them , he had had many occasions to respond to

their good wishes , but this was the first time he had been called on to execute one of the priveleges of a Provincial Grand Master , that of laying the foundation stone of a new Masonic building . He was pleased to know , that on no former occasion , when he had found it necessary to call a a Provincial Grand Lodge together , had there been a better gathering than the present . The occasion that had brought them together was not a common one . It had never happened before during his mastership ,

and might not occur again . He thanked them all heartily and sincerely for responding so readily to his call , and also expressed his thanks to the AV . M . of the Indefatigable Lodge for the hearty welcome which had been given to him , and for the handsome trowel which had heen presented to him . He looked upon all this as an earnest of the good will which was entertained towards him by the members of the Indefatigable Lodge , aud which he would do his best to reciprocate .

The Chairman next proposed " The AVorshipful the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , " which was heartily drunk with Masonic honours . Bro . E . J . Morris , D . P . Prov . G . M ., responded . He saicl that the occasion was one iu which he had taken the greatest possible amount of interest , and it afforded him sincere gratification to see the undertaking commence under such favourable auspices . He wished with all his heart continued prosperity to the

Indefatigable Lodge , ancl happiness to the members , and he sincerly hoped the future of the lodge would he as deeply graven and as satisfactorily written in the annals of prosperity and success as had been its past . The Chairman then proposed ' ¦ The Provincial Grand Lodge of Monmouthshire . " Bro . S . G . Homfray , Prov . G . M ., who was received with

cheers , responded , and while thanking the brethren of tbe Eastern . Division , for the kindly feeling which had been displayed by them towards the Monmouthshire brethren at all times , hoped the present gathering would have the result of cementing still closer the bonds of brotherly feeling between the two provinces . He assured them that it afforded the Monmouthshire brethren a great deal of pleasure to be present there that clay , in order to make some return for the handsome way in which the brethren

from the Eastern Division of South AA ' ales supported the installation of the Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire some time ago . They felt that it was the starting of a new era amongst thorn , and that they should see the two provinces united more than ever . One thing , the brethren of the Eastern Division of South AA'ales might depend upon , and that was , that they would always find the Provincial Grand Lodge of Monmouthshire supporting them in every way .

The Chairman then proposed " The Provincial Grand Oflicers , ' which was receiveci with enthusiasm , ancl drunk with Masonic Honours . Bro . J . G . Hall , P . Prov . G . S . AV ., and Bro . Colonel Hill , Prov . G . S . W . ( Cardiff ) , responded . Tlie Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master then rose , and saicl it was now his pleasing duty to propose tlie toast of the clay— ' Success to the Indefatigable Lodge , and long life to

its worth y and AA ' orshipful Master . " This was not the first time , by a very great many , that he had had the pleasure of getting : up to propose success to tbe Lodge and the health of its Master , and . it was with very great s-. vtist ' -. iction that he rose to propose it again . Circumstances had so happened that it had been found necessary to erect a new building . Tlie old Assembl y Rooms , in which they bad passed very many happy ancl pleasant

meetings , were requirtd ( or other purposes , and it became necessary that tbe Indefatigable Lodge should go elsewhere . He could only express a hope , that the very many happy hours they had spent in the Assembly rooms would be repeated within tbe walls of tbe new Hall , tbe foundation stone or which they had that day laid . He was sure they would allow biin to make special reference to the Worshi pful Master ofthe Indefatigable Lodge ( Bro . Lawrence Tulloch ) . In placing Brother Tulloch at the head of the Lodge , they had unquestionabl y placed the ri ght