North Riding Of York Infirmary.

NORTH RIDING OF YORK INFIRMARY .

iO-VDOiV , SATURDAY , AUGUST Zo , 1 S 60 .

Is- our report of the proceedings at laying the foundation stone of the above building by the M . W . G . M ., assistedjby a large number of Grand Officers and members of G-rand Lodge , last week , ive took occasion to call attention to the apparently incongruous nature of the procession , consisting of Odd Eellows , Eree Gardeners ,

etc ., for the performance of a Masonic ceremony . In thus directing attention to the subject , we did so with the view of observing upon it more at length in our present number , as nothing could be more pernicious than to allow * such a programme to go forth to the public as a model of a procession for such ceremonies , as

it might hereafter be quoted as a precedent for similar if not greater absurdities , which ivould then be defended on the ground that they had the sanction of the M . 'W . G-. M ., and the other distinguished members of the Grand Lodge present upon the occasion just referred to . It therefore gives us pleasure to be authoritatively

informed that the apparent incongruity has arisen from the local reporter having mixed up three distinct processions in one ; the Masonic procession liaving been conducted entirely apart from the others , in strict accordance with the precedent of ceremonials where no other parties but Masons took part ; and that on the

ground where the stone was laid a platform had been erected which was devoted solely to the use of the Ereemasons during the performance of the ceremony . Of

course , in such a eerenion }* as the laying the foundation stone of a building devoted to charity , but not solely to Masonic purposes , it would have been impossible to exclude from all participation in the proceedings the magistrates and corporation of the district , and the chief subscribers to the fund for raising the institution ;

and the onl y question then arising would be , how far they would be subordinate to the body by whom the ceremony was to be performed ; and this , so far as we can see , was satisfactorily arranged . The next question arising is , should the Odd Fellows , the Eree Gardners , the Foresters , the Druids , & c , have

had any part assigned to them in the proceedings at alland here , we confess , we feel some little difficulty , inasmuch as we would be amongst the last to urge that the industrious and provident of the strength and sinew ofthe land , who support such institutions , should not be

allowed to take part in a local festivity , and that too , for the establishment of an institution , of the benefits of which some of their members will probably be the principal partakers . We do , however , think it would have been better if the )* had , upon such an occasion , appeared

rather in their characters of simple citizens , than in their corporate capacity—for such we suppose we must designate their meeting ; but if local feeling and perhaps local prejudices required that they should be so acknowledged , no better plan could have been adopted than that of allowing them to form a distinct procession of

their own—much as we would have preferred that there should have been but one procession , and that Masonic only , the public functionaries having their assigned and distinctive place on the ground where the ceremony took p lace . The following is tiie official programme of the processions , or divisions of procession , issued by the local authorities , the Masonic portion even dispensing with a band of music originally appointed to head it : —

Division No . 1 . Police Officer ( Sergeant Bowes . ) Odd Fellows' Band of Music , 1 . Independent Order of Odd Fellows , Manchester Unity , ( To assemble in East-street , at One o'Clock punctually . ) 2 . Free Gardeners , ( To assemble in Durham-street , at One o'Clock punctually . ) 3 . Grand United Order of Odd Fellows , Sheffield Unity ,

( To assemble in West-street , at One o'Clock punctually . < l . Foresters and Druids , ( To assemble at tho north end of Stockton-street , at One o'Clock punctually . ) ; -N * . 1 > . —The Signal for the inarching- of the above part of the Procession will be given hy Mr . Jolm Dunning , who will ho stationed on horseback near Sucker's Hotel . Division No . 2 .

Police Officer ( Sergeant Byworth . ) Volunteer Band of Music . Volunteers . ( To assemble at the Goods Station at a Quarter-past One punctually . ) . Bishops ancl Clergy . Magistrates of the Riding . Life Governors , Governors and Subscriber- ofthe Infirmary . The Corporation Band of Music .

The Mayor and Corporation of Stockton . The Mayor and Corporation of Middlesbrough . Division No . 3 . The Superintendent of Police . The Alasonic part of the Procession . The Grand Lodge of Freemasons , ( starting from the Town Hall . ) Police .

We need not again enter fully into the details of the Masonic procession , as they were given at sufficient length last week . There ivas one part of the report , however , with ivhich we were struck—and which perhaps mi g ht be quoted as a fair ground why the Odd Eellows

should have their assigned place in the proceedings , viz ., that the only building iu the town suitable for the banquet , was the Odd Eellows Hall , built by the members of the order—honest working men—at a cost of £ 2500 . What a commentary is this upon the exertions ofthe Ereemasons , and the self-denial which others practice , when

wishing to found for themselves a proper and independent home , compared with the want of energy of a body which holds itself to be the highest , most respectable and ancient of associated bodies , for the promotion of Brotherly Love , Belief , and Truth . The Ereemasons of Middlesborough , are , however , building themselves a new hall , which will

be shortly opened , and we hope will be worthy of the town , of the brotherhood , and the enterprise by which they are surrounded . We wish we could see evidence of similar public spirit in other directions nearer home , to which we shall take occasion , ere long , to allude . In themeantime we avail ourselves ofthe opportunity of

correcting one or two errors ivhich appeared in the report . In the first pines Bro . Havers was not present , but Bro . J . Ll . Evans , P . G . S . B . was , and acted as S . G . D . ; and in the