Royal Arch.

would discharge the duties of his office with fidelity . He must now call the attention of the Companions to a toast that never could be ommittcd . It was to " Offer a cordial reception to their visitors . " To Comp . How they were indebted for the introduction of Comp . AA'hite , and on that account they must tender their acknowledgements for the compliment thus paid to their Chapter ; but in Comp . How they had also an old acquaintance , who they cordially welcomed . Comps . Thompson and Kincaid were also

known to most of thoni ; and to each and all he would say , we thank you for your company , and shall be glad to see you at all times . Comp . How liaving acknowledged the compliment , the Companions separated at an early hour .

New South Wales.

NEW SOUTH WALES .

NEAV FREEMASONS' HALL AT SYDNEY . IATISG THE TOUlsVATIOX sxosn . THE erection of a Masonic Hall having been for a long period felt to be much wanted by the Masonic body , whose members have much increased lately , the contemplated attainment of that object has been hailed with enthusiasm by the whole of the craft in this city . The building which has for a long time heen used as the Masonic

Hall , and which was formerly the Town Hall , has both from the increase in the Craft and the unsuitableness of the interior to the purposes required , confirmed the determination of the heads of the Masonic body in their desire to provide a building worthy of the Order , and more suited to the requirements of the Craft . The 23 rd of May being fixed for laying the foundation stone of the new hall , large numbers of the brethren , under the English Constitution , assembled at the hall , in York-street . The Provincial

Grand Lodge , E . C , was opened in form , by the V . W . D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . AVilliams , and the necessary arrangements perfected for the procession to the site of the intended building . About twelve o ' clock , the brethren of the Irish and Scotch constitutions arrived nt the Hall , accompanied by the officers of their Provincial Grand Lodges , preceded by a band of music , when a procession was formed under the direction of the Prov . G . D . C , Bro . M . Israel ( P . M . 941 ) , including the Scotch Lodges ( according to seniority );

Irish Lodges ( ditto ); English Lodges ( ditto ); Prov . Grand Loclge of Scotland ; Prov . Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Prov . Grand Lodge of England . The brethren proceeded to the ground in Clarence-street , whore , on arrival , the procession opened and allowed the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge , E . G ., to advance to the platform , being followed by the Irish aucl Scotch Brethren , tho whole forming three sides of a square . After an appropriate prayer from the Rev . Mr . King , tlio bed for the stone was prepared by tho builders , Messrs . Loveridgo , when the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . Williams laid the brass tablet ,

bearing the following inscription , in its place : — " This foundation stone was laid on thc 23 vd May , A . D . ISGO / A . T ,. 58 G 0 in the 23 rd year of the reign of her Majesty Queen A ictoria ; Sir AA'illiam Thomas Denison , Kt ., K . C . P ., Governor ; J . Murphy , Esq ., J . P . mayor ; Bro . John AVilliams , J . P ., Deputy-Prov . Grand Master E . G . and Chairman of the Directors , & c . . Bros . R . AY . Moore , P . M ., 548 ; Thomas Turner , P . M ., 2 G 7 , I . C ; Bro . J . Murphy , P . M ., 942 , B . C . ; AA . H . Aldis , Lodge 548 , Stewards ; Bro . J . Alexander Matthews ,

P . M ., 548 , Secretary ; Bro . George Allen Mansfield , 843 , architect ; Messrs . S . and A . Loveridge and Thomas Ralston , builders ; Bro . Rev . G . F . Macarthur , Prov . G . Chaplain . " The following coins were also dejiosited : sovereign , half-sovereign , five-shilling piece , half-crown , florin , shilling , sixpence , fourpence , threepence , three-halfpenny piece , penny , halfpenny , farthing , and half-farthing , all of the reign of Queen A'ictoria . The stone was then lowered clownand the Prov . G . M . tried

, the stone , and , completing the ceremony by pouring corn , wine , and oil over it , said " I hereby declare this foundation stone has been , in accordance with ancient masonic usage , duly laid in the north-east corner of the building , and in the name of the Great Architect of tho Universe , it is dedicated to Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . " The Rev . Mr . Knee , who bad kindly acceeded to the request of

the directors to officiate on the occasion , owing to the illness of the Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . Rev . George "" F . Macarthur , then delivered a most impressive and eloquent oration , which was listened to with deep attention by the large number of Brethren present . The Rev . gentleman said , it has been well observed that there are certain principles in social life , like beautiful landscapes in nature , which present one prominent ideaso striking in their ell ' ectas to

, , rivet the attention on itself , and to render any other subject connected with it comparatively overlooked , or only to be considered as merely auxiliary in ell ' cct ' to the principal feature . If there be a bold headland , or magnificent promontory , in the field of view , the eye will scarcely haaWe to withdraw itself from the sublime

outline ; and if the attention wander for a moment , it is immediately recalled by the natural attraction of the stupendous landmark and the impression whieh is carried away from the scene , will be almost exclusively an impression of that imposing object which still stands forth in our imagination as the one all-absorbing object of the scone . It is precisely the same in our review of the principles of such a society as this , which we have the honour of commemorating this morning . AVe meet with one or two

prominent landmarks as we pass our eye over the annals of the ancient and time-honoured society of Freemasonry , in which there is to be found one commanding and pervading thought which immediately takes possession of the mind ancl all that the speaker has to do in the review of such a well-known institution is to

furnish an illustration of this thought in which we may gaze upon the one distinguishing idea originally presented to the mind . The grand idea which the Order of Masonic Brotherhood presents to the contemplation is that of Unity . AA'hen we fix our attention hero , there rises before the inspired imagination a combined host of men , animated by one all-pervading spirit , ancl bound together as one individual ; soul joined to soul , compact and cemented together like the stones of a noble edificeand when we survey

; that living structure , that sublime building which never dies , whose foundation was laid in time immemorial—Laid , we doubt not , under the auspices of the Great Architect of the Earth and the Heavens , must not our hearts echo that divine approval with which the Creator himself welcomed the crowning element of his sixth day ' s work on earth , when he surveyed that living temple , and pronounced bis work to be " very good . " Nor does the thought

rest here . A golden chain is seen descending from on high , encircling that vast and expansive band of brotherhood ; and while it binds the soul of each to that consecrated society of which it forms a part , it links the whole body with their Universal Parent above . And when I look around upon the present assemblage , and bear in mind the time and circumstances when first the devoted band which bore the honoured name of the Masonic order sprung up in all the fervour ancl enthusiasm of sacred hilanthropy *; andas the pioneers

p , of the Cross went forth from city to city , planting , as they traversed the earth , the holy banner of the divine Redeemer , ancl leaving with every people among whom they sojourned the hallowed emblem of Christian love and heavenly pence established in their midst , and pointing to the skies ; when I survey , in my imagination , tho consecrated memorials ofthe work and labour of love of your predecessorswhocenturies set their seal to the declaration that

, , ago , Gocl is tobe honoured by the work of men ' s bands , and that one society , at least , shall publicly acknowledge and perpetuate , by their scientific art and noble handicraft , that sublime acknowledgment , that " The earth is the Lord ' s and the fulness thereof ; " and then , when I look around me now , and behold , in this remote quarter of the globe , a society of the same sacred brotherhood—knit together by

the same bond of peace , of loyalty , and of charity—a throe-fold chord which no machinations of wicked men or evil spirits shall ever be able to rend asunder—I feel within my breast a glow of cheerful satisfaction , and congratulate my adopted country that the olive branch has taken root in the heart of her auriferous soil , and spread abroad its branches throughout her mild atmosphere . And here would I raise my humble supplication to the Prince of Peace that her leaves be for the healing of all partdissensionsso

may y , that the heart of every colonist , as he gazes upon that mystic tree , may feel a glow of sacred patriotism , and his lips utter the hallowed ejaculation , "God speed to its growth , may its branches multiply an hundredfold upon the parent stem , and may its leaf never wither . " Ever bear in mind , brethren , the bond—the only bond—which keeps the brotherhood as one man . It is the mystic bond of love . Oriinating in heavenwhat thought can penetrate its

g , height ! circulating through the human heart , what tongue of man or angel shall pom-tray its calm and peaceful course ! Let this love divine , like a live coal from the altar of Gocl , but touch the heart as well as the lips of every man who bears the badge of this ancient brotherhood , and the grand ideal of charity is personified in your midst . But this attribute must lie to each of us the reigning principle of our lives . In orderto elevate man to the possession of Christian

affections we must surround him with the principle which constitutes the character of God . Man cannot exhibit in his life tbe principles of heaven , unless you surround him with the free amplitude of heaven itself . He cannot appreciate a religion built on mysterious union with God unless he is first lifted into the world of God ' s habitation . It is from the effectual working of Christian charitthat the moral excellencies which adorn our character take

y their rise . Not even thc gift of tongues possessed by the Apostles , nor the power of working miracles , nor the charitable bestowment of all their goods to feed the poor , could be placed , for a moment , in comparison with the vital principle—Love . This is the . grace which never f . iileth ; whereas the exhibition of miraculous powers were destined to cense so soon as their object was accomplished ; but this is the permanent gift , whose abiding efficacy was to outlive