Laying Of The Foundation Stones Of Ss. Paul's And Mark's Churches At Leicester.

to Sir Frederick T . Fowke , Bart ., who , after striking three times upon tho stone , declared it to be laid in appropriate form in the following words : — "This is tho foundation-stone of the Church of St . Paul the Apostle , Leicester , I now lay in the name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost . " Sir F . T . Fowke then said , — My Lord Bishop , ladies ,

and gentlemen , I do not purpose at all to address you on the business of this day . Indeed , I think , in the presence of his lordship , it would be very presumptuous in mo to attempt to do so . But I should like to say a few words to you on the mournful event which has deprived us of the services of Lord Curzon this day . You are all doubtless well aware that but for the death of his

father , Lord Curzon would have conducted the ceremonjr -which in his place I have very imperfectly performed . A good man—and I do not know that I can use a higher term of praise— a good man and a good Christian has been taken away from us . The loss will be felt not only by his own family but by this county , and this town , and by the association to whose fund he

was such a munificent contributor , and in whose great work of Church Extension he took so deep and earnest an interest . I know that I am speaking in the presence of a great many to whom Lord Howe was personally known and well known and well beloved , and I can believo I am speaking in the presence of those by whom he was not less well beloved , but by whom he was only known for the good use he had made of those means with "which . Providence had endowed him ;

for"In his free hands the dang ' rous glittering dust , Was not mere money but a sacred trust . " And many around him know full well how he performed that trust . He will be mourned by all classes in Leicestershire , and I have no doubt there are many here today who feel that they have lost a kind friend and a benefactor . I will no longer detain youbut

generous , make way for his lordship . 'the Lord Bishop then delivered an address . A Psalm , " How pleasant is Thy dwelling place , " was then sung , after which his lordship pronounced the Benediction , and the ceremony was completed . An elegant lunch was kindly provided by Bro . C . Stretton , in a tent in his grounds , for his brother

Freemasons and others engaged in the ceremony , of which a large number of those present availed themselves , aud , on the motion of Bro . F . Goodyer , passed a cordial vote of thanks to Bro . Stretton for his hospitality . Luncheon was also provided by Mr Luke Turner , W . Stretton , Esq ., Joseph Harris , Esq ., and other gentlemen in the neighbourhood .

SERVICE AT ST . MARGARET ' S CHURCH . The ceremony having concluded , the procession proceeded to St . Margaret ' s Church , via King Richard ' sroad , AVost Bridge , Applegate-street , St . Nicholas-street , High-street , and Church Gate . In the sacred edifice a large congregation assembled , where Divine service was performed . The sermon was preached by the very Rev .

J . R . Howson , D . D ., Dean of Chester , from Cor . III ., 9 , "Ye aro God ' s husbandry ; ye are God ' s building . " A collection was made at the close of the service in aid of the Church Extension Association .

THE CEREMONY OP LAYING- THE STONE . A similar service to that at St . Paul ' s was gone through , the service being read by the Rev . T . Jones , Vicar of St . Margaret ' s . ' . Mr . A . Ellis , on behalf of Mrs . Herrick , deposited in the stone a bottle containing the Leicester Journal and the Times , a sovereign , and several silver coins of the present and a parchment stating various

year , particulars with reference to the laying of the stone . Inside the bottle was also placed a parchment scroll , of which tho following is a copy : — - "To the honour-and glory of God , and in the blessed memory of tho Evange list St . Mark , the foundation-stone of this church wa

laid on tho 18 th day of " 'May , in the year of our Lord , 1870 , by W . Perry Herrick , Esq ., at whose sole cost the building is to be erected . 'All things come of Thee , and all those know Thee that come to Thee . ' Tho Rev . W . Conner Magee , Bishop of the Diocese of Peterborough ; Wm . Perry Herrick , Esq ., founeler and patron ; Swain Ohristain , of London , architect ; John Firn , Leicester , contractor for foundations ; Messrs . Osborne Brothers , builders of the superstructure ; and James Nichol , clerk of the works . "

The Masonic ceremonies , under the direction of Bro . Kelly , Prov . G . M ., having been efficiently gone through Mr Herrick laid tho stono with the usual form , aud thou , addressing the assembly , said—I hope I may be allowed to express my gratitude and thankfulness to Almighty God , that whilst many valued and excellent men who would have rejoiced to have been present this

day have been taken away from us , that I have been spared to lay this foundation-stone ; and I trust the blessing of God may rest upon the work which is nowbegun , undertaken as it has been with a humble endeavour to promote the glory of God and the salvation of our fellow men . I trust and pray God also that His blessing may rest upon those who may hereafter minister

in His church , and that their words , so far as they are acceptable in His sight , may sink deep into the hearts of the dense population that we see around us . I trust , too , that many wandering sheep may be brought into tho flock of Christ , to the praise of God the Eather , God the Son , and God the Holy Ghost . The final hymn of the ceremony was then sung , and

the proceedings terminated with the Benediction . The "National Anthem" was played by the band . We were glad to observe that 150 at least of the clergy attended tho processions and ceremonies in their surplices , thus showing their respect to their Bishop as well as sympathy with the proceedings of the day . Lord Berners was unavoidably absent , but kindly sent a cheque for £ 50 to the funds of the Church Extension

Association . The procession , in returning , moved along Belgrave Gate to tho Haymarket , the Freemasons , quitting ib ad the clock-tower , returned to their hall , where the Prov . G . Lodge was resumed . Bro . Kelly , Prov . G . M ., after some remarks on the gratifying and highly successful proceedings of the day , gave a brief sketch of the

Masonic career of the late beloved Prov . G . Master , Earl Howe , whose loss is so universally mourned ; and after a warm eulogium on his many virtues and allusions to the continuous kindness and courtesy which he ( Bro . Kelly had ever received from his lordship during the 14 years ho had acted as his lordship ' s Deputy in the rule of the province , moved the following resolution , which

was seconded by the acting D . Prov . G . M . ( Bro . Goodyer , P . P . G . S . W . ) and carried unanimously ; and copies were ordered to be transmitted to the Countess Howe and the Viscount Curzon ( nowEarl Howe ) : — "That the members of this Prov . G . Lodge have received with the deepest feelings of unfeigned sorrow and regret the melancholy intelligence of the decease , full of

years and honours , of their late beloved and revered Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl Howe , G . C . H ., & c , & c . " Initiated into Freemasonry at an early age , the deceased R . W . Brother , during nearly half a century , had closely identified himself with the fraternity in his nativa county , whilst for the past M < years , up to his resignation tho

of office in December last , ho had presided over province as its G . M ., ever displaying the greatest interest in the prosperity , and zealously promoting the extension of the Order . " The removal by the hand of death of a nobleman so Ion" - connected with the Craft in Leicestershire , and holding so eminent a position in the Order , must , under any circumstances , create a deep emotion in the breasts of those over whom he ruled , but his lordship was en-