Provincial.

mittee was appointed , and a prospectus was issued . After due time for consideration had elapsed , at a subsequent meeting sufficient shares were applied for to justify immediate operations , designs were drawn up by our respected Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works , which , after due examination , were approved . Advertisements for tenders for the building wero then issued , which resulted in the appointment of Brothers De La Mare , Benest , and Mr . Pirouet , as the contractors . The company was duly formed , and registered in the Royal Court on November 30 tha Board of

, Directors having been elected by the shareholders , in place of the previous temporary committee , under whose direction , in conjunction with the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and his Provincial Grand Lodge , the arrangements have been made under which we are now assembled to lay the Foundation Stone of a Temple consecrated to Freemasonry . Ladies , —In the name of the Board of Directors , ' .-is their representative , I am commissioned to offer to you their sincere thanks for the approval and interest which your indicates

presence , as well as for your readiness to grace the present occasion with the smiles and encouragement which naturally come from beauty and elegance . Gentlemen , —I beg you , who are as yet unacquainted with our privileges as Freemasons , to accept the same thanks , for honouring the solemn rites of this day by your attendance , for though to you they may appear simply a manifestation of outward pomp and display , to us they are fraught with significance and interestthe prelude to enlarged benefits and extended useful

, - ness ; in fact , the realisation of our long-cherished hopes ; thus you afford a sanction to our revered and ancient institution , the high value ancl importance of which can be duly estimated only by such as have entered its sacred portals , and become participators in our mysteries . "

The Treasurer of the Board , Brother H . L . Manuel , P . G . D . C , then placed the casket mentioned before in the cavity of the stone . Brother AVatts , the donor of the trowel previously described , presented it to the Rt . AV . the Prov . G . 31 . The cement having heen laid on the lower stone by one of the operative masons , the Prov . G . M . descended from the platform and spread it according to the usual form . The upper stone was then let down slowlywhile a piece of solemn music was performed .

, During this interval we may mention that the following is the inscription which is engraved on the trowel : —¦ " Presented by AV . Brother B . AVatts to the Board of Management of the Masonic Temple Company ( Limited ) , for the use of J . J . Hammond , Esq ., Rt . W . Prov , Grand Master of Jersey , in laying the foundation-stone ofthe Temple on the 17 th of December , A . D . 1862 , A . L . 5862 .

To resume our narrative . The stone having been properly adjusted hy the plumb , rule , level , and square , successively delivered to the Prov . G . M . by Bro . C . Johnson , Prov . J . G . AV . ; Bro . Benham , Prov . S . G . AV . ; and Bro . Crosse , D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Benest , as one of the contractors , delivered to the Prov . G . M . the mallet , with which he gave three knocks on the stone , and declared it to be duly and Masonically laid . A Masonic hymnwhich ive have already publishedwas then

, , sung , to the tune of the Old Hundredth Psalm . At its conclusion the R . AV . Prov . G . M . scattered the corn on the stone , by way of consecration , and said , " I scatter this stone as a symbol of plenty . May the blessings of Heaven he scattered down amongst us , and may our hearts be filled with gratitude . " " So mote it be , " by the Brethren . . By the choir , " Glory be to God , " & c , chanted , from from dn

Hay ' s 3 d or Imperial Mass . Having poured the wine , the Rt . W . the Prov . G . M . said , " I pour this wine as a symbol of joy and gladness . May our hearts be made glad through the influence of Divine Truth , and may virtue flourish as the vine . " " So mote it be , " by the Brethren . By the choir , " Glory be to God , " & c . Having poured the oil , the Rt . AV . the P . G . M . said , " I pour this oil as a symbol of charit y and benevolence . May charity dwell in our hearts , and may our paths be the paths of benevolence . "

" So mote it be , " by the Brethren . By the choir , " Glory he to God , " & c . H-ayer was then offered up by the Rt . AV . the P . G . M . The plans of the Temple were then presented by the architect , Brother T . Gallichan , to the Prov . P . G . M ., who , having examined and expressed his approval of them , in'turn delivered them to the contractors for their guidance , at the same time saying" I deliver to you these documen tsentrusting them into

, , your hands , well knowing that you will execute the work with honesty and faithfulness . " He then delivered to the operative masons the several implements required for their use in the following terms : — " I present to you these tools with which to perform your task . Be obedient to the commands of your

masters , as by so doing you will please the Great Architect of the Universe . " The Prov . G . MASTEsthen resumed his seat on the platform , the hand playing at the time . Brother F . A . Godfrey , Prov . G . Sec , then read the inscription on the plate , as follows : — Province of Jersey . Masonic Temple Company ( Limited ) . On AVednesday , the 17 th of December . A . D . 1862 , A . L . 5 S 62 , the 26 tli of the reiof

Being year gn H . M . G . M . VICTORIA , Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , was laid the Foundation Stone of this Masonic Temple , by J . J . HAMMOND , Esq ., Ri ^ ht AVorshipful Provincial Grand Master for the Provinces of Jersey , Guernsey , and their dependencies ; assisted by His Excellency MajorGeneral Brother Sir Robert lasBart

- Percy Doug , ., Lieut .-Governor of Jersey ; The A ' ery AVorshipful Robert Crosse , Esq ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; . the Masters , Past Masters , AVardens , and Brethren of the various and the Officers and Members of the Provincial Grand Lodge ; Lodges in the Province , viz .: Yarborough ( No . 302 ) . Mechanics ( 306 ) . Royal Sussex ( 722 ) . Samaves , ( S 18 ) . Ccsan . 0 ( 860 ) . Royal Alfred , ( 1170 ) . Justice Lodge ( 3-1 ) , Irish Registry ; and in the presence of John Hammond , Esq ., Bailift ; and the Magistrates and Officers of the

Royal Court , and the Heads of the Civil and Military Departments of the Island ; Bros . E . D . Lo Couteur , P . M . ; P . Baudains , P . M . ; E . J . Lo Maistre , G . Orange , P . Le Neveu , Trustees ; C . J . Hocquard , P . M ., J . Gibaut , Founders . Members of the Board of Management . J . T . Du Jardin , P . M . ; T . Wade , P . G . S . ; J . Durell , AV . M . ; T . Gallichan , C . Donaldson , P . M . ; E . M . Do Carteret , P . LeCras , P . M . ; T . C . LcGros , P . Binet , P . M . ; J . Le Cronier ,- IT . D . ; C . Le Sueur , J . Le Neveu . Manuel

Honorary Treasurer , H . L . . Honorary Secretaries , E . D . Le Couteur , P . M ., and A . Schmitt , P . M . Honorary Solicitor , Ph . Baudains , P . M . Honorary Auditors , P . AV . Le Quesne and G . F . Perrot . Honovaiy Architect and Surveyor , T . Galliciian . Contractors , P . AV . La Mare , J . C . Benest and Co . P . IV . BENHAM , Provincial S . G . AVardcn . AVAdamsScul CJ Provincial JGAVardcn

. . , p ., . OHNSON , .. . P . M . 722 , 818 , 302 . F . A . GoDHur , P . G . Secretary . His Excellency Sir R . P . Douglas , Lieut .-Governor , thendelivered the following address : — Right AVorshipful Grand Master , Brother AA' ardens , and Officers of this lodge , —Mr . Lieut . Bailiff ancl the Jurats of the Royal Court , and all other functionaries in your presence , and the brethren of the Craft here present— -That period in the

, ceremonies of the day is now arrived when I have to perform a duty assigned to me , and which I believe I shall be able to perform in but a very indifferent manner . The part allotted to me in this interesting ceremony is that of delivering an address bearing upon the moral , social , and religious influences of Freemasonry . Now I will make bold at once to assert , that unless

I believed from the bottom of my heart that Freemasonry was calculated to exercise a moral , beneficial , social ancl religious influence upon society , I would not have lent my presence to the ceremony in which we are now taking part .- Sir and Brethren I believe that in taking a part in this day ' s proceedings , it will he found that as Lieutenant Governor of the Island I am not mistaken in my mission here . I find that in the different public ceremonies connected with Freemasonry the nearest

relations of our most gracious Majesty have joined , ancl have indeed taken part in everything calculated to promote the welfae of the Craft . I think I cannot he found fault with if I , in my humble way , am found following in the near footsteps of our gracious Sovereign . I have still greater pleasure in taking this active part , because I am a Mason myself . If in the hearts of Masons here and elsewhere our system be really something more than a mere matter of formancl the princiles of our

, p Craft are carried out , they are in a great degree calculated to exercise a beneficial influence not only in our hearts as individuals , and in the hearts of our brethren at large , hut also for the good , of society in general , and this in a sound , pure , and Christian spirit , as well as in a Masonic spirit . In my experience of Freemasons and Freemasonry ; from the good I have seen that it has effected , and the high moral and excellent

principles that I have ever hef . rd advocated in its lodges , and from what I know of it in its essential requirements , I must give my willing testimony to this—I believe that we cannot find any where expressed the true principles of the Craft , or a description of the line in which we ought to walk anywhere pourtrayed , but in that ivhich ever accompanies us in all our public proceedings—the Holy Bible—that book , from the first chapter of Genesis to the endofthe book of Revela-