Provincial.

had evidence of the work of the masons ; they believed that they yet retained some of the most useful and valuable of the truths derived irom the symbols which that lore contained ; and they claimed , and the people had kindly allowed that they should preside over the ceremony of laying a foundation stone , because they believed that they carried with them the recollection of the great solemnity which ought to accompany such a ceremony . It was a

saying in their societies that the laying a foundation stone well was the best promise of future success . He would not detain them by referring to the great points which might accrue from this , but would come at once to- the great subject which at present occupied their attention ; it was the laying the foundation stone of the New Corn Exchange . From the king to the beggar , all were dependent upon the produce of the field , and , therefore , a building raised for the prosecution of commerce in

agriculture was one which deserved the interest and attention of ail , and fully deserved the solemnity which had been given to it- that day . They were all much indebted for the presence of the Prov . G . AL , and he ( the speaker ) had to thank him for the kindness and courtesy which he had shown in acceding to the wish of the shareholders and the people of Ross , and allowing Imn to lay the foundation stone of that building . He ( Bro . Hoskyns ) would be doing no kindness in detaining them in the present

unfavourable state of the weather , but he thought they might all be thankful for a day that had hitherto been so smiling . He begged to thank all his kind friends , brother Masons , ladies , gentlemen , and members of the rifle corps—he begged to offer them bis most grateful acknowledgments for the honour they had done him in allowing him to be present , and an agent on that interesting occasion . He should not forget the day , and he hoped that prosperity might attend the people of Ross ; that commerce and

trade might increase , and that God ' s blessing might attend them all . ( Cheers . ) The procession then returned to the Royal Hotel , where a cold collation was partaken of . The Rev . Dr . Bowles occupied the chair ; and among those present we noticed—the A ^ en . Archdeacon Freer , D . Prov . ( LAI ., and Airs . Freer ; Bro . C . AV . Hoskyns , D . Prov . G . AL of AVarwickshire , and Aliss Hoskyns ; Bro . H . It . Luekes , Prov . G . W . of Gloucestershire , Mrs . Luekes , and Airs . Ellis ; _ H . Clarkson , Prov . G . S . ; J . AVilliams , Prov . G . T . ; Captain Peyton , Prov . . G . J . D . ; A . Osborne , Prov . G . P ., and } . lrs . Osborne ; J . IT . Skyrnie , Prov . G . P . ; D . F . Collins , P . Prov .

G . J . AV . ; T . Donne , Prov . G . J . D . ; AV . H . Almett , Prov . G . S . B . ; and P . ATs . Bros . Purchas , Duckham , and Phelps : Bro . Dr . Rootes , D . C , and Airs . Rootes , and Bros . Rev . AV . . ) . Sawyer ( Chaplain of Vitrnvian Lodge ) , Henry Alinett and Aliss Alinett , Burgess , H . Harris , Perils , Jas . Purchas , AVatkins , T . AV . Garrold , AAfilwyn , and other members of the Vitrnvian , Palladian , and Eastnor Lodges , with brethren from Worcester , Gloucester , and other provinces . Amongst the gentlemen of the neighbourhood , who are not

members of the Alasonic Order , we noticed- —Captain Power , Lieutenant Collins , Ensign Herbert , George Herbert , Esq . ; Henry Chellingworth , Esq . ; R . AV . Smith , Esq . ; G . AV . Lloyd , Esq . ; F . Gordon , Esq . ; R . Cope , Esq . ; and T . Nicholson , Esq . ( Hereford ) . Capt . POWER said he thought the company could not do less than return thanks to those gentlemen who had attended and had rendered such eclat to the proceedings of that day . He therefore begged leave to propose the health of Dr . Bowles and the other

Masons who had so kindly assisted in laying the foundation stone of the new Corn Exchange . ( Cheers . ) The PROA ' . G . M . said : Ladies and Gentlemen , —In rising to respond to the toast which has bem , perhaps prematurely , but yet kindly proposed to you by the lord of the manor , I beg to assure you that the Freemasons of Herefordshire attended the ceremony this morning with very great delight , anxious as they are on all occasions to promote the interests of agriculture and the extension

of commerce , and to do everything in their power to promote the interests of your vast , fertile , and beautiful country . It was under these circumstances , and in that spirit of human brotherhood , that we attended this morning to lay the foundation stone of the Ross Corn Exchange , and to express our best wishes for its success ( Cheers . ) There is one toast , however , which ought naturally to have been given before the health of so bumble an individual as myself , and that is the health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the

Qaeen . ( Cheers . ) Freemasons are proverbial for their loyalty and knowing as you all do the pure and most excellent character of that most illustrious lady who fills the throne of this kingdom , I am sure it needs no language on my part to induce you to drink her health with all the respect and all the enthusiasm which it demands . ( Hear , hear . ) Ladies and gentlemen , I beg to give you "The Health of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , " ( Great cheers . ) Bro . CnANDOS AATIEN HOSKYNS then rose , and was received with great applause . He said : I am sure , after the toast which you have just responded to , and after the first toast which was so kindly proposed this afternoon , you will naturally anticipate what the ne :. ' t

must be . I am sure all present must have felt how rira ' cli that imposing ceremony was assisted by the presence of the ride corps , which by the kind permission of Capt . Poiver has i-. ttended , and also how much the rifle corps band has added to the harmony ar . d-. striking effect- of the proceedings . I am going to make a long speech naturally , because the rain stopped my oration , m it has been , termed , this morning . ( Laughter . ) And now I shall Kay somethirgr

if T ivere not reminded of an old motto , " . good -. vine needs no bush . " For the abilities of Captain Power and the members of tlie rifle corns , and for the manner in which they have assisted vs this clay , there will be a feeling of gratitude aud good fellowship entertained for them by the inhabitants of Ross : and all assembled will make no delay in paving to them that honour which I am sureyon are only waiting for me to sit down to pay to them . ( Cheers . ) I am reminded of what I ought not to have forgotten , that with a-

liberality which shows wisdom as well as generosity , Captain Power has given up his right to the tolls which he , as lord of the manor , is entitled to , so as to free the rates of the Corn Exchange . ( Great cheers . ) Cant . POWER said : I am sure , ladies and gentlemen , if you will enter into my feelings and the difficulties under which I labour in returning thanks for the kind way in which the last toast has been received by the present companyyou will excuse any long

address-, So far as I am concerned , I was gratified in witnessing the very auspicious way in which the proceedings of this day have been cele--brated , and , as far as the volunteers are concerned , I can only say that we are happy in being- volunteers , and I don ' t think I should have had much influence in calling them together , if they did not themselves fell a pleasure in witnessing the ceremony . I think wemay congratulate ourselves in having such a body to call upon wke : i ; danger threatens us . The country may rest assured that the services

was to be depended upon . I can assure you that every rifleman attended to-day with pleasure to witness the ceremony of hying the foundation-stone of the new Corn Exchange at Ross . I will not detain you longer , but thank you on behalf of myself and of the Rifle A " oTunteers for the honour you have done them by drinking their health . ( Cheers . ) The PROV . G . AL said : Ladies and gentlemen , the high honour has been conferred upon me of presenting Brother Chandos AVren Hoskyns with the silver trowel with which he this morninglaid the foundation stone of the Ross Corn Exchange . I can imagine no prouder , no more enviable position than that of a country

gentlemen who earns for himself , by the daily interest which he takes in the welfare of those around him , a title to their gratitudeand respect ; who remains at home to live not in luxury but with honour , to develope the resources of the soil ; to supervise , enlighten , and control ; to invigorate , encourage , and reward , and who looks to the moral elevation as well as to the physical wants of thosehardy sons of labour who spread fruitfulness over our fields , who , under their dust and sweat the grand elements of humanit

, carry y , and whose " productive industry is the spring of the nation ' s wealth . ( Loud cheers . ) Ladies and gentlemen , there are many such country gentlemen in England , and my honourable friend , Bro . Chandos AVren Hoskyns , is one of them . Such men are among the true "benefactors of their country , assisting to raise it in the scale of " nations , defending its interests , vindicating its fame , and achieving a greatness which strikes its roots deep in public usefulness ,

bearsrich fruits of industry and peace , and is immeasurably superior to that greatness which gathers its trophies from the strife of mankind , and the arts of destruction . ( Applause . ) Addressing Bro . Chandos AVren Hoskyns , the eloquent speaker then said : Sir , —The intrinsic value of tlie bauble which I hold in my hand is naught , but the respect and esteem of which it is the symbol , will render it priceless to you , and sure I am that in the true spirit of ancient Masonry , you will treasure it in your ancestral halls at Harewood , as a token

of our affectionate regard , and as worthy of being transmitted toyour children as an incentive to them to follow your fair example . ( Loud cheers . ) Dear sir and brother , in the name and on hehe . lt ' of the subscribers , 1 beg your acceptance of this trowel . ( Long cor .- ¦ tinned applause . ) Bro . CHANDOS WREN HOSKYNS , on rising to ' responil , was received ivith immense applause . AVhen a bearing could be obtained , hesaid : Right Worshiful Sirbrethren of the Grand Lodand of

p , ge lodges in the province , ladies and gentlemen , I am sure I am at a loss for words to express the real gratification of my feelings under the effect of the unmerited eulogiuvn which has just been used in presenting to me this most valuable memorial of this day , which Ishall never forget , and which I hope 1 shall band down to posterity-Aly most kind friend and brother , the Prov . G . AL , takes it forgranted that I am deserving of too many of the merits he is kind enough to speak about . He draws a most interesting picture of a

country gentleman , residing on his estate , doing that which I should like to do , and being that which I should like to be in the county of Hereford . ( Cheers . ) Comparatively speaking , my residence has been hut short . In the place of my birth it is but natural that I