Scotland.

Spier of Camphill ; Hugh Archibald of Giffordlaud ; John Oncf Highfiekl ; Mrs . Dr . Blair , & c . AVhen the brethren of the Craft , the heritors of the parish , and the members present of the Dairy Choral Union , had taken up their positions , Bro . Col . Mure called upon the Rev . Bro . Inglis , Kilmaurs , Chaplain of the Provincial Grand Lodge , to offer up a prayer before proceeding with the business for which they had met . Tho Provincial Grand Chaplain responding to

the call , addressed the Deity iu solemn and eloquent terms , pleading for a blessing on that house of God , the foundationstone of which was about to be laid , on the workmen engaged in its erection , and on the congregation for which it was being built . At the command of tho Prov . G . M ., the Graud Treasurer the Grand Secretary , and the Graud Clerk placed the box containing the coins and documents in the cavity ofthe stone . The R . W . S . G . M ., at the bidding of his chief , then caused the builders ,

implements to be applied to the stone , which being found to be plumb , level , and square , the P . G . M . said—having , my right worshipful brethren , every confidence in your skill in your art , it remains with me now to finish this work . May the Almighty Architect of tbe Universe look dowu with benignity upon our present undertaking , and grant the edifice of which we have now laid the foundation-stone every success . The cornucopia , was emptied on the stone , as were also the silver cups containing tbe wine and oil . The choir , ably conducted by Mr . A . Ilolburn , then sang with great taste and ability the following hymn : —

0 Lord ot Hosts , Whose glory fills Tbo bounds of the eternal hills , And yet vouchsafes , in Christian lands , To dwell in temples made with hands ; Graut that all we , who here to-day Rejoicing this foundation lay , May he in every deed Thine own ,

Built on the precious Corner-stone . Endue the creatures with Thy grace , That shall adorn Thy dwelling-place ; The beauty ofthe oak and pine , The gold and silver , make them thine . To Thee they all pertain ; to Thee The treasures of the earth and sea ;

And when we bring them to Thy throne , AVe but present Tliee with Thine own . The heads that guide endue with skill , The hands that work preserve from ill , That we , who these foundations lay , May raise the topstone in its day . Both now and ever , Lord , protect The temple of Thine own elect ; Be Thou in them , and they in Thee , 0 ever-blessed Trinity ! Amen .

Another expression ot praise to the Deity having heen uttered , Col . Mure thou proceeded to address tho assembly . He said —Ladies and Gentlemen , People of Dairy , AVardons , and Freemasons , —I can assure you on the part of the section of that vast organisation of which I have the honour to be the head , that it gives me and them the very greatest pleasure to officiate upon this auspicious occasion . I believe that there arc fewpeople who , though they have not been initiated into the secrets

of Freemasonry , are not aware that we aro not the supporters o £ any particular sect or doctrine , but that our principles are to unite in love every man as our brother in one common bond of humanity . Tims it is that we are found undertaking to lay the foundations of buildings in which the worship of God is to be carried on in every denomination . My friends , I cannot help thinking that there must be many hero who , being thoughtful , are in their hearts contrasting this peaceful scene—this

inauguration of a house of worship to the living God , and the happiness that reigns around—with the unhappy scenes that are taking place among our brethren in a foreign land . If there is one reason that can make us believe that a God reigns above ; that He has provided salvation for men ; and that our Christianity is atrue Christianity , it would be to know that when meu , conflicting for their views about sublunary government , when anarchy takes the place of order , they first attack the religious

institutions of their country . In laying the foundation stone of any building one's mind is naturally directed to the nature of the architecture in which that building is to rise . In these days when liberal ideas of true Christianity havo taken the place of the rampant bigotry of the past , there is no Scotchman but must deplore , as he looks round the length and breadth of Scotland , and sees that the old magnificent architectural places of worshiraised bthe iety of his forefathershavealmost one

p y p , , aud all , fallen into decay . No man can visit Jedburgh , Dunfermline , Paisley , our friend Kilwinning , and other great remnants of tbe piety of our ancestors , ancl see how utterly and entirely they lie in ruins , without feeling that it is a very sad subject for contemplation . After that unhappy period when this land was distracted by every kind of evil passion , arising , I have no doubt , from that determined and firm support they

gave to the principles of Protestantism ; after that period those who held by the principles of Protestantism not only pulled down these magnificent edifices , but looked with delight on tbe ruin which they had caused , and refused to build up places of worship to God , except those of the most ordinary architectural description . Until very lately there was no country in the world which had places of worship

of a more ordinary description than Scotland . It-is a source of great satisfaction to find that owing to the soothing down of that spirit against returning to the errors of our ancestors , the country is again at liberty to adopt the architectural beauty of former days , as I have no doubt we shall have an evidence of iu this building , which will be one of the most ornamental churches in Ayrshire . There exists a connection between material and moral progress , which indeed go hand in hand , and if we

rejoice to see that tbe churches which are now raised , aro worthy of Christians , so also do we rejoice to see that the character of tbe people of Scotland has in many respects assumed a more civilised toue . Years and years ago , in this very parish , on the occasion of the celebration of the sacrament , it was actually necessary to send for the force which then represented the police of the district in order to keep the peace , ancl can it be believed that almost within the memory of old men still living , the celebration of tbe sacrament was the occasion of scenes of

drunkenness in this very churchyard . It was also the custom , in this graveyard , to carry on all sorts of games , many of which we now consider cruel and wicked , such as cock-fighting . I think we have here an evidence that material and moral improvements are developed simultaneously . One hundred years ago the church now demolished was built , and one cannot help thinking of what the character of the people may be one hundred years hence . I am sure you will all endorse my prayer ,

that iu a moral , a material , aud a religious character , a corresponding progress and improvement will be manifest then , as hasbeen shown now by the inhabitants of this parish . My last thought is an earnest wish that the ministers who will officiate in this church may be truly able and worthy meu , and that they will be the means of leading many souls to heaven . Capt . Blair , on behalf of the heritors of Dairy , thanked the-Prov . G . AI . and Freemasons for the most exemplary manner in

which they had conducted the business of the day . They were deeply grateful to their neighbour , Col . Muir , whose character they so highly appreciated , —nothing could be moro exact than his conduct in connection with the ceremony . The speaker referred to the three great foundation-stones of their Order—brotherly love , relief , and truth . These , he remarked , were three words well known to all Freemasons , aud he hoped they would not onlbe impressed on their heartsbut on the

y , hearts of all present . He begged , on the part of the heritors of Dairy , that Col . Mure would accept the trowel , which he had the pleasure of handing him . [ The trowel is of silver , suitably engraved . ] The speaker observed Col . Mure might keep it as a family relic , and a memento of the occasion . The old building was only a hundred years old , and the architecture had not been of the first order . In this , however , it resembled the other Presbyterian Churches erected about the same period , none

of which bad been very ornate in style . The old church had been badly constructed , in that the roof was too heavy for the walls , and the pressure of the couplings on the walls , rendered the whole fabric insecure . It bad been owing to this that the heritors had resolved to erect a new building . He hoped Col . Mure ivould visit them when it was up . The speaker was sure he would find it highly creditable to the parish . On tbe part of the heritors he also tendered his thanks to the architect , Mr . Thomson , and to the contractors .