The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . Bro . Major Adair , Prov . G . Master for Somersetshire , was installed on Monday last , and the foundation-stone of the Albert wing to the "United Hospital , was laid with Masonic honours ; but up to the period of our going to press , our report , as promised , had not arrived . The local papers ,

however , inform us that at the site of the proposed wing , the most efficient arrangements were made for the accommodation of the public to witness the ceremony . The mayor and town council , and clergy , and ministers assembled at the Guildhall , and went in procession to the hospital , where they were received by the Itev . C . Kemble , the president , and committee

of the institution . On the arrival of the Freemasons at the barrier , the brethren opened out right and left , ancl faced inwards , so as to leave room for the R . W . the Prov . G . M ., and installing Prov . G . M . and the V . W . D . Prov . G . M . to pass up the centre , preceded by the P . G . Sword Bearer . The Provincial Grand Master was met by the President and Mayor , and

requested to lay the foundation-stone of the memorial wing . The Prov . G . M ., ancl the brethren talcing part in the proceedings , took up a position close adjoining the stone , and the other brethren occupied positions allotted them . The pro . ceedings were opened with prayer by Bro . "Rev . Mr . Davey . Bro . E . T . Payne then placed in an elegant vase ( given by

Mr . Rainey for the occasion ) two phials containing coins of tho present reign , and it was deposited in a receptacle prepared for it , and covered with a brass plate with the accompanying inscription : —

Iho first stone of the Albert Wing of the Bath United Hospital , erected in memory of H . R . H . the late Prince Consort , was laid on the 23 rd clay of May , in tbe year of our Lord 1864 , A . L . 5 , 86-1 , by the Eight "Worshipful Major Alexander William Adair

Prov . Grand Master of Somerset ; the Rev . Charles Kemble , M . A ., Hector of B . itb , being President of the Hospital ; Jerom March , Esc * ., Mayor of Bath ; John Elkington Gill , Architect . Mortar was then laid on the lower stone , and the Prov . G . M .

having passed a silver trowel over it ( the same that was used a century ago in laying the foundation of the General Hospital ) , tho upper stone was lowered to its place and squared . The Prov . G . M . then received , from the hands of brethren who carried them , a cornucopia ancl bottles , and poured on the stone , corn , wine , and oil ; and then said : I declare this stone duly laid ; may

the foundation laid this day raise a superstructure worthy in all its traits . Cheering was then given . The Prov . G . M . then briefly addressed his brethren and those assembled , and was followed by the mayor with a suitable speech . The Rev . C . Kemble acknowledged the kindness of the Prov . G . M . ancl his brethren in officiating , and also the liberality of the mayor

and corporation in selling the fee simple of the site . The ceremony concluded with a benediction . The P . G . Treasurer , Bro . E . T . Payne , handed to Mr . Alderman Gill , the Hospital Fund treasurer , the results of the collection made by the brethren .

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SATING- AND DOING . —People frequently use this expression"I am inclined to think so and so ,- " not considering that they are then speaking the most literal of all truths .

Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

The following is the official agenda of the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge , Wednesday , 1 st June , 1861 : — 1 . The minutes of the quarterly communication of the 2 nd March , for confirmation . 2 . The minutes of the Grand Festival of the 27 th April , for confirmation .

3 . Pursuant to notice given , the M . W . Grand Master will move , " That Bro . David Ross Farmer , late Grand Pursuivant , do take the rank and wear the clothing of a Past Grand Pursuivant . " 4 . Election of members for the Board of General Purposes . 5 . Election of members for the Colonial Board . 6 . Election of members for the Committee of Management of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows .

7 . The report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: — Bro . John Cooke , of the Royal Union Lodge ( No . 216 ) Cheltenham £ 30 The widow of Bro . Egbert S . Cossens , of the Royal

Albert Edward Lodge ( So . 906 ) Tewkesbury 50 Bro . Richard Dixon , of the Vitruvian Lodge ( No . 87 ) , London 35 Bro . Charles Joseph Morbey , of the Lodge of Prudent Brethren ( No . 1-15 ) , London 30 Bro . Henry Booth , of the Lodge of Benevolence ( No .

336 ) , Marple , near Stockport 30 Bro . Henry Merritt , of Saint Davids' Lodge ( No . 366 ) Milford 30 The widow of Bro . John Fox Warner , of St . Peters ' Lodge ( No . 419 ) , Wolverhampton 50

8 .- —TIIE EEPOKT OI ? THE BOAKD OF GENERAL P URPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of Fnyland . The Board of General Purposes beg to report as follows : — 1 . Complaints have been received from Bros . James Fairbairn and William Phelps , of the Lily Lodge of Richmond ( No . 820 ) ,

Richmond , Surrey , being in the nature of appeals against resolutions of the lodge , duly confirmed , whereby the complainants had bean severally excluded from membership , as they alleged , unjustly and illegally . The Board having summoned the W . Master to attend and produce the warrant and books of the lodge , he , with his

Wardens and some members of his lodge and other brethren , attended accordingly , when the charges , on which the resolutions for exclusion were based , wore gone into . It was charged against the complainants that they had pursued a system of indiscriminate blackballing for a long period , and had publicly stated their intention of continuing such practice . The

complaints were , at the request of the complainants , taken separately . The minutes of the emergency meeting of the lodge at which the resolutions for excluding the complainants were passed , and the minutes of the regular lodge meeting at which such minutes were confirmed were read , and the evidence given by brethren at the said emergency meeting was read , and many

questions wore put by the complainants severally to such of the witnesses as were present before the Board . After a full and careful investigation of the case , and liaving heard what both parties had to say , ancl they liaving withdrawn , the Board proceeded to weigh very carefully the evidence that had been adduced . There appeared no question but that a system of indiscriminate blackballing had prevailed for a long