Royal Arch.

was indebted for the use of a superb grand piauo , by Erard , and one of Alexander ' s harmoniums . Comp . Cooke presided at tho piauo .

Canada.

CANADA .

TORONTO . LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE 01 ' THE CUT JAIL . THE City Council having determined that the foundation , stono of the new City Jail should bo laid on October 25 th , with Alasonic honours , and with all the iclal of a grand public demonstration , invitations wore sent to the National Societies , and to all the great public bodies connected with the city , requesting them to take part iu tho procession .

Tho Freemasons , of course , were to take the chief part in the ceremonial . The firemen also , as connected with tho corporation , were called upon to attend . In addition to these , the members of tho bar , the grand jury of the county , the chancellor aud senate of tho university , the societies of St . George , St . Patrick , aud St . Andrew , were also invited , and the citizens generally were requested to como forward upon an occasion in which they naturally felt some interest . A very splendid was accordinglissuedbased these

programme y , upon arrangements , and every effort was made to have it fully carried out . One o ' clock was the hour named for the formation of tho procession in front of tho City Hall , but it was some time after that before the firemen , who were the first to arrive , made their appearance . They turned out , however , in great strength , aud in full dress uniform , and headed by a band ; and under tho command of Air . Ashfield , chief engineer of the bri gade . The companies wore all very fully represented , and in their gay uniforms and with their banners and music thev looked

tho beau ideal of a volunteer fire brigade . Their number on the whole considerably exceeded two hundred . Some little time after they had taken their places the strains of another band announced tho approach of the Alasonic Lodges , who marched in the accustomed order . They took their places next to the firemen ,. aud after some little further delay tho procession moved on under the direction of the deputy chief of police ( Air . Frederick Robinson ) , ' who was the marshal of the day . First came tho baudthen the fire brigadebcompaniesled b

, , y , y the chief engineer ; then another band , and then the Freemasons . The members of the corporation , with tho mayor , preceded by their officers , took their places next to the Freemasons , and a body of police wound up tho procession , which proceeded to the site of tho new building , accompanied by numbers of citizens . [ Some of our English readers are perhaps not aware that tho " fire companies" in American and Canadian towns are composed of volunteers frorn

^ the gentlemen and most . respectable tradesmen of each locality . They are a very dashing body of young men , conspicuous for their gallantry ; and also for their smart uniforms and general demonsbrativeness on every public occasion . ] The procession arrived on tho ground shortly before three o ' clock . A largo gallery had been erected for the convenience of the ladies , a goodly number of whom had already arrived on tho ground and had taken their scats .

A circle having been formed round tho stone , the M . AV . Grand Master ( Col . AVilson , of Siincoe ) , the mayor , recorder , members aud officers of the council , took their places . Tho Mayor , addressing the AI . W . Grand Alaster , said— ' ¦ ' I have been requested by tho City Council to request that you , sir , as the Grand Alaster of tho Alasonic Order , will lay tho foundation stono of this noble edifice . I don't desire at the present time to make any further observations . Such Observations as I think will bo made after

may necessary the laying of the stone . " The Grand Alaster then delivered tho following address : — "Iu compliance with your request I appear hero this day in the capacity of Grand Alaster Mason of Canada , accompanied by my brethren , to lay with appropriate ceremonies the corner stone of this addition to the public edifices of your city . " From time immemorial it has boon the practice to solicit the

assistance of tho antient and honourable fraternity of Freemasons upon occasions of this kind , and it is to me and my brethren generally at all times , a most pleasing duty promptly to respond to such requests . The building about to bo erected upon this spot is necessary for your social , security aud the happiness of society ; wo may however reasonably indulge in the hope that the c [ forts which have been made , and are still so earnestly persevered iu , to diffuse the blessings of a liberal education the young and rising generation of this province will eventuall

among y prove a practical remedy for checking tho increase of crime ; and experience has already taught us that it is a wiser and better policy to pay for the instruction of the youth , than for the punishment of the man . " It also affords mo pleasure to observe that while you are engaged in provision for the safe keeping and reformation of criminals , that the interests of humanity , by the providing of a place of refuge for the unfortunate and the destitute , has not been neglected . " The attentionenergyand public spirit displayed by your

prede-, , cessors in office in the improvement of this city , entitles them to the lasting gratitude of their fellow citizens , and the zeal and ability evinced by you , gentlemen , in the discharge of the important duties entrusted to you . by the inhabitants , affords satisfactory evidence of your earnest desire to advance the welfare and increase the fame of the city of

Toronto ; a city in the prosperity of which wo , as Canadians , must ever feel a lively interest , being , as it is , the principal seat of law and learning in this section of tho province . May its inhabitants ever be distinguished for their taste and liberality , for their love of order and virtue , and for their devoted loyalty to tho sovereign of that great country which we so proudly and so fondty call our own . " Jlay the Great Architect of tho universe bless your efforts aud the efforts of all those who are engaged in advancing the great cause of civil

and religious liberty throughout the world , and may you continue , through him , to be tho honoured instruments of promoting the happiness and welfare of the community entrusted to your charge . " Tho Grand Chaplain then offered up tho following prayer : —¦ " Great Architect of the universe , maker and ruler of all worlds , deign from thy celestial temple , from realms of light and glory , to keep us in all the purposes of our present assembly . AVe humbly invite thee to give us at this aud at all times wisdom in all our doiugsstrength of mind in all

, our difficulties , and tho beauty of harmony in all our commemorations . '' Response by the brethren— " So mote it be . ' ' Grand Alaster— " As it was in the beginning , is now , and ever shall be , world without end . " Brethren— " So mote it be . " Tho Mayor then ( addressing tho Grand Alaster ) said— " To enable you , sir , to perform this ceremony , I have tho honour now to present you

with this very handsome trowel—an instrument used by operative Alasons , but used also by speculative , or Froo and Accepted Masons , and the meaning and application of which , in a moral and figurative souse , you , as Grand Alaster , well know . " The trowel , which is constructed of silver , with a maple wood handle , and decorated with Alasonic emblems , was manufactured by Bro . Levey , Toronto . The trowel bore tho following inscription : — " Presented to . Colonel AVilliam Mercer AVilson , Al . AV . Grand Alaster of Masons in and throughout Canada , by his worship tho Mayor , Adam AVilson , Q . C ., and the

council of the city of Toronto , on the occasion of laying the corner stone of tho City Prison , on tho 25 th of October , A . D ., 1859—A . L ., 5859 . " Tho Grand Secretary , Bro . T . B . Harris , of Hamilton , then read the inscription to be deposited in the stone , which was as follows : — " This Corner Stone of a Prison , for tho city of Toronto , Canada , was laid by Col . AVilliam . Mercer AVilson , M . AV . Grand Alaster of Freemasons of Canada , on tho 25 th of October , A . D . 1 S 59 , —A . L ., 5859 , in the 23 rd year of the reiof her most gracious majesty Queen Victoriaat the request

gn , of his worship the Mayor , Aldermen , and Commonalty of tho city of Toronto . Adam AVilson , Q . C ., Mayor . " The mortar having been spread , the stono was lowered with three stops , the band playing tho national anthem . Being properly placed , the R . AV . Deputy District Grand Alaster , Bro . Richardson , proved that the stono was properly adjusted by tho plumb rule , level , and square , which wore successively delivered to him by the officers wearing those

jewels . The Grand Alaster then gave three knocks on the stone . Ho afterwards ascended to the . top of it , and said—' ' May this undertaking be conducted and completed by the craftsmen according to the grand plan , in peace , love , and harmony . " The cornucopia and cups , with the com , wine and oil , were then handed to the Grand Alaster , who scattered the corn and poured the wine and oil on the stone , with the accustomed ceremonies , tho Grand

Alaster saying— " Alay corn , wino and oil , and all the uccessaries of Hie , abound among men throughout the world . Alay the blessing of the Supreme Grand Architect of tho universe be upon this undertaking / and all conuected with it . Aud may the same Providence preside over and preserve it from ruin and decay to the latest posterity . " Somo further coremouy having been gone through , the Grand Master called for three cheers for the Queen , which were given with loyal enthusiasm , tho Al . AV . Grand Alaster himself leading . This closed the proceedings , and the procession being reformed , it returned to the city in the same order iu which it had left it .

Refreshment was served in the St . Lawrence Hall at five o clock . Alderman Alatthew C . Cameron presided , and discharged his duties most ably . The general company included a large proportion of the Alasonic fraternity , who had assisted in the laying of the foundation stone ; a large number of tho aldermen and councilmcn of the city ; the several members of tho Board of School Trustees ; the president , vice-presidents , and officers of the St . George ' s Society ; officers and members of the

respective fire companies , & c , , & c . The toasts of ' "' The Queen , ' aud " Prince Albert aud the rest of the Royal Family , " were respectively given , andwero drunk with enthusiasm . In proposing " Tho Governor General , " tho chairman said , be believed most sincerely that Ins excellency had most earnestly endeavoured to discharge the duties cast upon him by his sovereign to the best of his ability . If , however , he had not discharged them to the satisfaction of allhe had onlfailed to do so for tho reason that every other man

, y very would have failed to do so , namely , that it was impossible to please all . He had on every occasion that presented itself advocated the best interests of tho country . He had watched over the agricultural interest —he had been the friend of science and art—in short , he had done everything that lay in his power to further and promote the best interests of the country , and so had entitled himself to our consideration