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The band played the National Anthem—all standing uncovered . The R . W . D . G . Master of Otago , Bro . A . Carrick , addressed the brethren . Bro . H . S . Fish , acting in the absence of the Prov . G . Chap ., offered up prayer . The band played ,: Hail , Masonry . " The D . G . Sec . Bro . H . S . Fishjun . read a scrollwhich lie

, , , afterwards placed in the vase about to be lodged in the cavity in the stone . The scroll , which was tastefully engrossed , read as follows : — "The footstone of this building was levelled on the first day of June , one thousand eig ht hundred and sixtyeight : in the year of Light , five thousand eight hundred and seventy-two , the thirty-second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria , by Vincent Pyke , Right Worshipful Provincial

Grand Master of New Zealand , Scottish Constitution ; Alexander Carrick , Very Worshipful Deputy District Grand Master of Otago , English Constitution ; Charles White , Assistant Provincial Grand Registrar of New Zealand , Irish Constitution ; assisted by the office-bearers of the District Grand Lodge of Otago , English Constitution ; the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand , Scottish Constitution ; and in the presence of tbe Worshiful and Riht Worshiful Mastersoffice-bearersand

p g p , , brethren of the under-mentioned lodges : —Celtic Lodge , Scottish Constitution , W . Barron , Right Worshipful Mastei ; St . John's Lodge , Milton , Scottish Constitution , A . J . Ferguson , Right Worshipful Master ; Clutha Lodge , Scottish Constitution , John M'Neill , Right Worshipful Master ; Shamrock Lodge , Irish Constitution , Charles White , Worshipful Master ; Waitaki Lodge , English Constitution , William Luke , Worshipful Master ;

Hiram Lodge , English Constitution , G . J , Levien , Worshipful Master ; Lodge St . Clair , Scottish Constitution , G . H . Campbell , Right Worshipful Master : St . Andrew's Lodge , Scottish Constitution , Chas . Rose , Right Worshipful Master ; Port Chalmers Marine Lodge , English Constitution , Jno . Joyce , Worshipful Master ; Lodge of Dnnedin , English Constitution , Frederick Russell , Worshipful Master ; . Otago Kilwinning Lodge , Scottish Constitution , S . T . Kerr , Right Worshipful

Master ; Lodge of Otago , English Constitution , H . E . Glennie , Worshipful Master . The name of the architect hereof is William H . Clayton ; and the name of the builder is Edward Horsman . " The Prov . G . Sec , Bro . W . M . Hawkins , placed in the vase the following coins : A sovereign , half-sovereign , crown , halfcrown , florin , shilling , sixpence , fonrpence , threepence , penny , and halfpenny .

The Assist . Prov . G . Reg . of New Zealand , I . C ., Bro . Charles White , placed in the vase copies of the Livening Star and Evening Mail of the 30 th May , and the Otago Daily Times of the day . The Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . presented , on behalf of tho Director of the Masonic Hall Company , Bro . V . Pyke , with a very handsome trowel . The trowel , which was of silver , elegantly chasedbore the inscription : —" presented to Vincent Pyke ,

, Esq ., Provincial Grand Master of New Zealand , Scottish Constitution , on laying the foundation stoue of the Masonic Hall , Dunedin , June 1 st , 186 S . " Mr . Horsman , the contractor , then laid the cement ou the stone ; Bro . V . Pyke , using a handsome silver mortar board which he had used at the laying of the foundation of the Taradale Viaduct , in Victoria , spread the cement . The upper stone was then lowered with three stops ; at each ,

stop the brethren saluting thrice . While this portion of the ceremony was proceeding , a salute was fired at intervals by the Artillery , the signal being given by Captain and Bro . J . J . Atkinson . The band played " Great Light to Shine . " The stone having been laid with the usual ceremonies , three cheers were given , and the band played , " On , on , my dear brethren . "

' The architect ( Mr . W . H . Clayton ) , presented the plans . They were inspected , and returned to him . The W . P . G . Sec . in the absence of the P . G . Chap ., offered up prayer , and the band played the Masons' Anthem . The R . W . P . G . M . Bro . Py ke addressed those present . He said : —

R . W . and W . Officers of the P . and D . Grand Lodges , R . W . and W . Masters , Wardens , and Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity , I congratulate you upon having , to-day , taken the first step in operative Masonry . Hitherto we have laboured under many difficulties , owing to the restricted nature of the accom-

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modation available for our purpose ; but when this building shall have been completed , and the cap-stone shall have been lifted into its place , we shall have more ample space for the exercise of our Masonic duties . Nothing can be more hopeful or satisfactory than the progress which Freemasonry has already made in this Province ; and so great is my faith in its vitality , that I feel assured the future will even excel the past . Ladies and Citizenswe have this dayin your presence

, , , levelled the footstone of the Masonic Temple , in accordance with the ancient and established usages of our Craft . Our operative brethren reared the magnificent temples and the gorgeous palaces of the antique world ; and in subsequent eras , they designed ancl erected the solemn fanes , the princely mansions , and the lordly towers of civilized Europe . It is not for us to strive to emulate

"The glory that was Greece , And the grandeur that was Rome . " It is not for us to institute comparison between our humble labours , and the architectural splendour of the Middle Ages . But we may fairly claim that the building which we purpose to erect , will be creditable to our Order and an ornament to the city . And , let me call your attention to the fact , that the era

of the revival of Freemasonry is also the era of constitutional liberty . In the olden times our brethren were compelled to assemble in crypts and vaults , in secrecy and terror . In despotically governed countries , they meet in secrecy and terror still . But wheresoever freedom flourishes , there Freemasonry lifts up its honoured head in the broad light of day . A little more than 150 years ago , there was scarcely a Masonic temple in the world . Nowevery townalmost every village in the

, , British Empire , in the United States , and in the free countries of Europe , has its Masonic Hall or its Lodge ; and Masonry is slowly but surely extending its way into other lands . Monarchs are its patrons , philosophers are its advocates , divines are its expounders , and statesmen are its defenders . Donjon and lceep —dark strongholds of feudal tyranny—have crumbled into dust , and the noble edifice of Freemasonry has arisen on their ruins . Our happy native land needs no fortresses , for every loyal heart

is a tower of strength ; and the best guarantees for the preservation of that order and liberty which we so highly prize , are to be found in the extension of Masonic principles . If you ask me what those principles are , I will define thorn in the words of one greater than 1 , thus : — " Honour all men , Love the Brotherhood . Fear God . Honour the ¦ King . " The dreadful din of political warfare , and the horrid discord of sectarian strife , are never heard within our peaceful halls . We have not the insensate presumption to dictate to any man what his political

faith , or his religious creed , should be . We agree that those are matters which can only be referred to the sacred tribunals of every man ' s own reason and conscience . In all the world , Freemasonry offers the only broad platform wherein all men may unite without regard to the narrow limits of particular institutions , whether civil or religious . We know that our work is a good and a righteous work ; and , therefore , it is with unfeigned satisfaction that we observe the interest taken in our

proceedings , as evinced by the presence of so many citizens . To you , fair sisters , who constitute the Ionic capital of polished society , our thanks are especially clue . Although you may not be admitted to our lodges , you are ever remembered and sacredly regarded in our most sublime ceremonies . And nothing has so greatly cheered us as the presence of your bright eyes and smiling faces , which have imparted such unusual lustre to our proceedings this day . And permit me to

inform you that you have not been forgotten in the design of our building , which will include a spacious hall available for public and social purposes . Pv . W . and W . Officers and Brethren , I accept it as a happy omen that so many of you have shown yourselves on this occasion , because it is a proof patent to the outer world that you do not lightly esteem yocr Masonic privileges . The Craftsman may hew the stone and spread the cement ; but all his labour

will be in vain , unless the Supreme Master Builder of the Universe be pleased to favour the design . I am sure you will all join with me in the expression of a fervent hope that the summer of fruition may follow the spring-time of our undertaking , and that Freemasonry may continue to flourish , in spite of all opposition , throughout the habitable globe . May it become instrumental in diffusing the light of wisdom , in aiding the strength of reason , in dispensing the beauties of virtue , and in lessening the aggregate of human misery and vice and may