Canada.

G . M ., where the Grand Lodge having been opened in due ancl ancient form , the Prov . G . M . then announced to the Grand Lodge and brethren assembled , that he had accepted an invitation from the Masonic Hall Committee to lay the corner stone of that building , ancl as this was a duty devolving on the Masonic fraternity from time immemorial , he convened the Grand Lodge to assist him in the performance of the ceremonies . The brethren then issued forth

in full regalia , and the G . Dirs . of Cers . marshalled them into order according to the ancient custom . A large number of citizens thronged St . Francis Street to witness the gathering of the Graft , and on the band striking up the march , at the signal from the Dirs . of Cers ., the rush of the crowd along the St . Charles Battery , near Hope Gate , was almost sufficient to impede the advancing line . The number or Masons in attendance was about four hundred . ¦ '

On reaching the site of the new edifice , the band took the ground to the west , ancl the brethren opened their ranks ancl faced inwards , so as to allow the G . M . and his officers to march through , the rest of the brethren falling in behind as he passed , so as to ascend the terrace in reverse order .

The absence from town of some ofthe leading officials of the Order , prevented the ceremony being carried out a week or so earlier , and and the contractors , anxious to keep strictly to their engagements , liad run up all the division walls some seven or eight feet above the first floor . This circumstance very much diminished the space devoted to the ceremony , and the accommodation for the spectators was therefore equally limited , it not being known till a few hours before the procession , how many could be admitted to the ladies ' seats .

The whole of the basement fronting on St . Lewis Street had been floored over , while seats rising over each other in the form of an amphitheatre , extended around two sides of the building . Against the centre of the division wall a handsome pavillion for the special accommodation of Lady Head and family had been erected / covered with the Royal Standard of Great Britain and Ireland , aud draped with flags . Against the eastern wall , upon a sliht elevation to the left of the corner stonearose a dais

surg , rounded hy a number of seats ,- while , outside , the walls of the building facing on St . Lewis and Garden Streets , was an elevated platform equal in width to a third of the street , railed in , and lined with green branches and draped with the meteor flag of England . Long before the appointed hour , the seats within the walls of the building were filled with elegantly dressed ladies , giving a

most enlivening appearance to the interior of the site . The Governor General ' s carriage arrived a few minutes before the commencement of the ceremonies , bringing Lady Head ancl Miss Head , and Miss Lefebvre , accompanied by Col . Irvine , Asst . Dir . of Cers , who took their seats in the pavillion already mentioned . The weather had been rather cloudy during the afternoon , and a few drops of rain fell about three o ' clock , but not sufficient to disperse the numerous crowds . Just , however , as the approaching sound of music announced that the procession was at hand , the sky brightened , the sun shone out brilliantly , ancl the weather

continued extremely favourable throughout the whole of the ceremony . The R . W . Bro . James Dean , Jun ., P . G . M ., then took up his stand upon the platform ancl addressed the spectators as follows : — " Men , women ancl children , here assembled to-day , to behold this ceremony , know all of you that we are lawful Masons true to the laws of our country , and professing to fear God , who is the Great Architect of all things , to confer benefits on our brethren and to practise universal benevolence to all mankindAVe have

. among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may not be revealed and which no man has discovered . But these secrets are lawful ancl honorable , and are placed in the custody of Masons who alone have the keeping of them to the end of time . Unless our Craft were good ancl our calling honourable , we should not have existed for so mairy centuries , nor should we have had so many illustrious brothers in our order ever readto sanction our

y proceedings and contribute to our prosperity . To day we are assembled in the face of you all to build a house for Masonry , which we pray God may prosper , if ifc seem good to Him , that it may become a house for great ancl worthy men to practise beneficent actions and to promote harmony and brotherly love till the world itself shall end . We will now proceed to the ceremony , ancl our reverend Chaplain will implore a blessing on the undertaking . "

The V . W . Bro . Adamson , Grand Chaplain , having offered up an appropriate prayer , The P . G . Superintendent of Works , W . Bro . N . H . Bowen then proceeded to read the following inscription from the plate about to be deposited in the hollow of the stone : — Annuente Deo Optime Maximo Imperii Victoria ; Eegmai Nostra ; delectissima ; Anno XXIV ,

iEra ; Architectonics ; VMDCCCLX 1 " , Hunc primuin lapidem Anise Architectonica ; Quebecensis , posuit ; JACOBUS DEAN , JUKIOE , In Architectonica apud Anglos Repnblica

Curio Maximus Provincialis , Aula ; Architectonica ; Societatis Praeses : Adstante et plaudente Magna Caterva Fratrum , Civiumque . Architecto— -Eduardo Staveley ; iEcMeatoribus— -S . & C . Peters .

Q . F . F . Q . S . DIEECIOES : — James Dean , Junior , P . G . M ., President . William Eadon , P . P . S . G . W ., Vice President . George Veasey , P . G . Secy ., Treasurer . George Thompson , P . P . D . G . M . Weston Hunt , P . G . Treasr .

Simeon Lelievre . Saml . J . Dawson , P . P . J . G . W . Hy . P . Leggatt , D . P . G . M ., Secretary . The plate , together with a number of coins , comprising specimens of all the English , American , and Canadian gold , silver , and copper coins , and a list of officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and copies of the Mercury , Chronicle , and Gazette , newspapers alluding to the

ceremony , were then deposited in the hollow of the stone . At the request of the R . W . Bro . Harington , the Prov . G . M . also caused to be deposited a list of the officers of the Grand Lodge of Canada , together with an obituary notice of the late R . W . Bro . T . G . Ridout , of Toronto , recently deceased . The foundation stone of the old building , inscribed , "Pose le 5 Jiiin , 1731 , " was laid alongside of the corner stone . " The R . W . Prov . G . M . took the trowel and descended from the

platform , the Deputy walking on his right and the G . Wardens in front . Then , standing on the east , the Deputy on his left , and the Grand Wardens facing him in the west , he spread the cement on the lower stone . The upper stone was then slowly lowered into its place by three regular stops , tbe band playing a slow march . The ceremonial was then proceeded with , and the Prov . G . M ., going to the stone , and giving three knocks with the mallet , said . " Well formed and truly laid , may this undertaking be conducted and completed by the craftsmen according to the grand plan , in

peace , harmony , ancl brotherly love . The cornucopia and ewers containing the corn , wine , and oil were then handed to the G . M ., who poured from each upon the stone . The G . Treas . then threw a handful of silver coins upon the stone for the refreshment ofthe workmen . The Grand Chaplain then offered up the following prayer : — God be merciful unto us and bless ns , and show us the light of His countenance ancl bless us . The Lord lift up the light of His

countenance , ancl give us peace now ancl for evermore . Amen . The band now played " God Save the Queen . " The route home was by St . Lewis Street , clown the Esplanade , by St . John and Couillard Streets to the Hall , where the brethren adjourned afc a quarter-past five o ' clock to re-assemble at the banquet . Amongst the visitors , were V . W . Bros . C . P . Ladd , P . M . ; W . George NunnW . M . ; J . R . SpongSec . ; J . M . DesjardinsS . W ..

, , , all of St . George ' s Lodge , Montreal ; and R . H . Stevens , W . M . 5 W . Easton , Dir . of Cers . ; and E . P . Henneford , J . W . of St . Lawrence Lodge , Montreal , two delegations . Also W . Bros . C . Cope , of the Grand Lodge of New York , and Commodore Stewart , U . S . ; J . Eeynar , W . M ., and G . H . Macaulay , of Shawinegan Lodge , Three Rivers , ancl others . The silver trowel used by the Prov . G . M . in spreading the cement upon the corner-stonewas presented to the Prov . G . M . and boro

, , upon the face the following inscription : —• " This trowel was used in laying the corner of the Quebec Masonic Hall : 6 th August , 1861 . " On the reverse were these words : — " Presented to James Dean , jun ., R . W . Prov . G . M . of English Freemasons , ancl President of the Quebec Masonic Hall Association , by S . and C . Peters , Contractors . " The trowel was in a magnitfeent morocco case , lined with purple velvet and white satin .

THE BANQUET . The Banquet at Russell ' s Concert Hall , in connection wifch fche hotel , was in every sense of the word a decided success . When the E . W . the G . M . of Quebec and Three Rivers , Bro . Dean took the chair , the number of brethren present was about two hundred , including several visitors . On the right of fche E . W . Prov . G . M . sat the M . W . the G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Canada , Bro . Harington , and on the left of the chair sat the R . W . Bro . Joseph Gundry ,