Metropolitan.

Mason of some standing he welcomed them amongst them , for they had joined a body which was founded on the best and purest principles , and it was distinguished by the practice of brotherly ove , truth , and charity , tending to make them good fathers , good subjects , and good citizens ; and , therefore , he congratulated thein . that they had joined the New Concord Lodge . In that lodge there were two ministers of religion ; and when they found that they were old and zealous members of the Craft , he thought they would

. consider that they had taken a good step in coming amongst them . To acquire a knowledge of the principles of Freemasonry , they must go to Lodges of Instruction , where they would hear the lectures or expanded ceremonies ; and he trusted they would be able to say that it would be good for them to carry out those principles , not only for a time , but for eternity . —The AV . M . next gave "The Health of Bro . Emmens , P . AL of ' the Lodge , "—Bro . EMMENS briefly responded for the honour conferred upon him , and

repeated his determination to do all in his power to promote the interests of the New Concord Lodge . —The AV . M . proposed " Tho . Masonic Charities , " for which Bro . SHABOE returned thanks . —Bro . . SWINNOCK returned thanks for the officers of the lodge , and Bro . HANDFORD , AA . M . of the Crystal Palace Lodge , for the health of the officers of that lodge . This brought the business of the evening to a close , which was agreeably diversified by songs by Bros . Sloiuan , Woollams , Davis , Amos , and others , and the brsthen separated , highly pleased with the whole of the proceedings of the lodge .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DERBYSHIRE . DERBY . —Arboretum Lodge ( No . 1033 ) . —The anniversary of this lodge was held on AA ednesday , the 13 th inst ., at the Arboretum Hotel , when Bro . J . B . Coidson was installed as AV . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being impressively performed by Bro . : Genran , the retiring AA ' . M . Bro . Coulson proceeded to appoint the following as his officers-. —Bros . Ison , S . AV . ; Brindley , J . AV . ; Robart , See . ; Rev . T . AVelch , Chap . ; J . Gamble , Treas . ; Fley , ' Blake

S . D . ; , J . D . ; and Taylor , I . G . Air . William Drew was elected as a candidate to become a member of the Craft . After the lodge business was over , the brethren partook of an excellent repast , provided by Bro . AA'illiamson , and a very agreeable evening was spent .

HEREFORDSHIRE . LATINO- TOE CORNER STONE OF THE CORN EXCHANGE , Ross . There can bo no greater sign of the advancement of tlie social position of a town than the improvement in the architectural designs and conditions of its public buildings ; and it is a fact which must not be lost sight of , that this improvement is by no . means confined to our large towns and cities , but is also visible in the smaller towns , and even in our villages .

It this week falls to our lot to record an event of this class , viz ., the laying of the corner stone of a Corn Exchange for the pretty and thriving town of Ross . Up to the present time , those attending the Ross Com Market had to assemble in the open street , or else . transact their business at the different inns and hotels in the town . By the farmers and others principally concerned this has long been felt to be a great inconvenience , and the necessity of erecting a Corn Exchange has been freely canvassed . The matter was first

ventilated , we believe , about two years ago , and after some time a -company was formed under the provisions of the Limited Liability . Act , the capital being fixed at £ 2500 , divided into shares of £ 2 10 s . each . The shares were all very quickly taken up , and the company at once took a very high position in the town . A piece of ground was kindly given to the company by Robert AVyndhaui Smith , Esq ., ou which to erect their building . Designs were sent in , and that furnished bMr . Nicholsonarchitectof Herefordwas

ultiy , , , mately selected . The ground plan of the building comprises a spacious readingroom , hull , ancl vestibule , poultry-market , and waiting-room . ' 1 he upper floor : library , class-room , auctioneer's room , and corn . exchange and assembly-room , 70 feet by 3 S feet . Each floor is provided with suitable conveniences . The exchange keeper ' s rooms are arranged in the mezzanine story . The principal facade will he executed in Box-hill stone , Italian in design , with a Doric order

surmounted by an Ionic . The whole frontage is about 05 feet , of which 50 feet is given to the order , and the remaining 15 feet to a recessed driving way , with room over , and it is hoped that this receding portion will eventually be crowned with a belvedere or campanile , ivhieh would form not only a characteristic and an elegant feature , but would be exceedingly useful and commanding in situation , for the purposes of a clock and bell-tower . The tender of Alessrs . Pearson and Son , of Ross , to execute the work for £ 2800 , was accepted by the committee , ami they have already completed a considerable portion of the underground work .

It was arranged that the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the building should take place on Tuesday , the 12 th inst ., and a grand Masonic demonstration was determined upon . Fortunately , the weather was very fine , and the people flocked in large numbers to witness the ceremony . The brethren of the Vitruvian Lodge , Ross , assembled in full costume at the Royal Hotel , at eleven o'clock , for the purpose of receiving the Prov . G-. M . They then proceeded to church , where a special service was held for the

occasion . Prayers were read by the Rev . H . Morrish , P . G . C . of Ledbury , and a most impressive sermon was preached by the Rev . Dr . Bowles , the Prov . G . M . of the Order . The rev . gentleman took his text from the 1 st Corinthians , iii . 11 . The service being concluded , the brethren returned to the hotel , and at one o ' clock a procession was fonned . The Rifle Corps , which mustered between 50 and 60 members , were under the command of Captain PowerLieut . Collinsand

, , Ensign Herbert . The band of the corps , which by the way is a very efficient one , played several airs in a first-class style . The procession proceeded from the Royal Hotel to the site of the proposed building in High-street . Assembled there , the brethren opened to right and left , facing inward , in order for the Prov . G . M . and his officers to pass up the

centre . Before the ceremony of laying the stone was proceeded with , the members of the Ross Choral Society , who were on the platform , sang the ode " Let there be light . " In ordinary circumstances , when the foundation stone or the crown stone of any building is laid with Masonic ceremony , the honour of laying the stone devolves upon the G . M . In this instance , however , at ' the wish of several of the shareholders , as well as of the his

townspeople of Ross generally , Dr . Bowles kindly waived prerogative in favour of Bro . ' Chandos AA ' ren Hoskins , the D . Prov . G . AL Dr . BOAVLES . ( before the stone was lowered ) addressed the people as follows : —Ladies and gentlemen—AA e are assembled to lay the foundation stone of that building , after the manner prescribed to Masons , and to set it apart for the purposes of a Corn Exchange . Under ordinary circumstancesit would have fallen to lotas

, my , the Prov . G . M . of Herefordshire , to perforin this ceremony , but when—in addition to the unanimous wish of the Corn Exchange Committee—I cnllefl to mind the high endowments and conspicuous station of my Masonic brother and valued friend Bro . Chandos AVren Hoskyns , and when I also remembered that he is an eminent agriculturist , and furthermore that lie has used the most untiring efforts to bring this undertaking to a prosperous conclusion , I felt at once that he was pre-eminently entitledno less by his social

, position in this _ neighbourhood , than by the sincere esteem and regard which we all entertain for him , to lay the Foundation Stone of the Ross Corn Exchange . Turning towards Bro . Chandos AA'ren Hoskyns , who stood on his right , the G . M . said : — -I therefore depute you , my brother , to lay the foundation stone , and to prove that it is properly adjusted by the plumb , rule , level , and square , which will successively be delivered to you by the . T . G . W . of the

Province , the D . G . AL , and myself . The G . AL then invoiced a blessing on the work in the following terms : — ' ¦ ' Almighty and Eternal God , Architect and Ruler of the universe , Giver to them that ask , Forgiver to them that repent , Comforter to them that suffer , the tried Stone and sure Foundation of all who put their trust in Thee , grant we beseech Thee a blessing on this foundation stone ; and that we may in all our works truly please Thee , pour upon us the continual dew of Thy blessing . Grant this ,

0 Lord , for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator , Jesus Christ . AMEN . " Bro . CHANDOS A \ HOSKYNS then proceeded to lay the stone , which he did in a very workmanlike manner , handling the trowel as if he were an operative Alason . Unfortunately , at this juncture a heavy shower of rain came on , which interfered to some extent with the comfort of the persons present . After the stone had been properltried and adjusted with the lumb and

y p square , Bro . HOSKYNS mounted the stone and delivered a short address . He assured the assemblage that he appeared among them with feelings of deep gratitude for the kindness they had shown in allowing him to perform a duty so very gratifying to his feelings . It bad been the custom of olden times , and a good custom it was , that the ceremony of laying a foundation ' stone should be one of solemnity , religion , and care , and , if they would only think for a moment , they would see there was good reason for this . Man is the only animal

that builds , and the buildings that man has made have been among the most imperishable monuments of bis existence on earth . In every age , in every climate , in every country , and among people of all languages , distinctions , and science , the laying of the foundation stone of a building has been part of the work for the civilisation of man . In the most sacred history of our race , this is shown to be one of the most important of the duties handed down in the founding of the great temple of Solomon . But even before that period they