Laying The Foundation Stone Of Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Taranaki, New Zealand.

us all a supply of the corn of nourishment , the ¦ wine of refreshment , and the oil of joy ; Amen . " The brethren responded , " So mote it be . " An anthem Avas then sung , and Bro . Dickson , who officiated at the ceremony as Bible-bearer ,

then delivered the following ancient address to . he spectators : — Men and Brethren here assembled : be it known

-unto you that Ave be lawful Masons , just and true to our country , bound hy our profession to erect goodly buildings , to be serviceable to our brethren , to fear God and obey His laAv . We have among as certain secrets AA'hich cannot be divulged , but

they are such as are good and honourable , and in no Avise inconsistent with virtue and true godlicaess . Thev were committed to us in honour and

peace by the Masons of old time , who received them in like manner from their forefathers ; and it is our duty to transmit them unimpaired to our latest posterity . Unless our calling had been honourable and our acts virtuous , our Graft Avould

not have endured so many centuries , nor should we at all times have been honoured with the . patronage of so many good men , Avho have assisted in our mysteries , and been always ready to defend us from all enemies . We he assembled here this

day , in the presence of you all , to build us an house , Avhich Ave pray God may prosper , making it a place of concourse for good men to set forth His glory , and to promote the Avelfare of all His rpeople . " R . W . M . Black then reminded them that a , con

siderable sum Avas yet needed to provide lor the cost of the building , and as Avas customary on . such occasions to make a collection on behalf of the work , and that all contributions would be thankfully received and faithful }'' applied . The audience

took the opportunity of placing : their subscriptions on the stone , amounting to £ 14 15 s .. The Rev . R . F . McNicol then addressed the audience , folloAved by the Revs . A . Reid and J . Whiteley , and the proceedings Avere terminated with the benediction .

Our Masonic Charities.

OUR MASONIC CHARITIES .

PKESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL TO BKO . SAMUEL MAY . On the 17 th inst . a friendly gathering of -brethren , to the number of about thirty , Avas held at Bro . Todd ' s , the George Hotel , Aldermanbury , . to do honour to a brother AVIIO has earned for him-

Our Masonic Charities.

self a special claim on the regard and esteem of the Craft at large . It will be in the recollection of many of our readers that on the occasion of the Boys' School Eestival in 1865 , Bro . Samuel May , of the Temple Lodge ( No . 101 ) , succeeded in

placing on his own list alone between three and four hundred pounds ; and at the Girls' School Eestival of 1866 , when he also served as SteAvard , he obtained nearly three hundred pounds for that Institution . To commemorate these results ,

unprecedented as regards amount , a few brethren determined to present the Avorthy brother Avith some slight token of their appreciation of his great services ; aud such was the general desire to participate in the object iu view that it was found

necessary to limit the amount subscribed . The chair Avas filled by Bro . Westcombe , W . M . No . 905 , and the vice-chair by Bro . Joseph Smith , P . G . P . The presentation of the testimonial , a massive gold jeAvel bearing an appropriate inscription , AA'as accompanied by some excellent and Avell-timed remarks from the chairman

apropos to the subject , and the Avorthy and AVOI ' - shipful brother concluded an admirable speech by proposing the toast of the evening—' '' The Health of Bro . Ma 3 , " which Avas received with acclamation by the brethren present . Bro . May replied

in a feeling and impressive manner , and the evening Avas most agreeably passed in the interchange of those social amenities AA'hich tend' to cement more strongly the bonds that unite the brethren of the mystic tie , and the toast and song

alternated the proceedings till a late hour . Among those present Avere Bro . Binckes , Secretary of the Boys' School , Bros . Sheen , P . M ., Watts , P . M ., and Robinson , P . M ., of No . 201 ; Bain , W . M ., and Noke P . M ., Fair-man , and Jolly , of No . 87 ;

Bern , P . M ., and Todd , P . M ., of No . 27 ; Oug-h , W . M ., and Bourn , of No . 749 , Lamb , of No . 101 ; Cary , and Clarkson , of No . 780 ; T . Foxall , of No . 742 ; aud Smith , of No . 157 .

Professor Robertson On Freemasonry.

PROFESSOR ROBERTSON ON FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page 223 . ) "Here occurs an episode on the Knights Templars , " says the Professor , " in Avhich I SIIOAV IIOAV their history fits into that of the Masonic Order . I prove how the corrupt tenets of the bad portion of the Templars perfectly correspond to those of the higher grades of Masonry . I then