The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . The Directors of tlie Birmingham Masonic Hall Company , have extended the time for which application for shares Avill be received to the 1-Jtth of May . The whole of the shares have been applied for , but we understand that the directors have postponed the allotment in order that other applications may

he made , so that the largest number of shareholders possible may be obtained . They deem it better for the interests of the company and for Masonry in general , that as many o £ the brethren as they can include should become interested in its success . 'Tlie anniversary festival of the Stability Lodge of

Instruction is to be held at Radley's Hotel on Friday , May 6 th . Bro Havers , P . G . W ., will preside at the banquet . At the Lodge of Benevolence on Wednesday , April 20 th , Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , P . G . D ., in the chair , thirteen petitioners were relieved with £ 150 , and one recommended to Grand Lodge for a grant of £ 30 .

UNITED GRAND LODGE . LAYING THE FOUNDATION -STONE OI ? THE NEW BUILDING-. ( From our own Reporters . ) The annual meeting of Grand Lodge was held in the Temple adjoining Free nasons' Hall , on Wednesday last , the 27 fch inst . Present : —The Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , G . M . ; Earl

de Grey and Ripon , D . G . M . ; R . AV . Fred . Dundas , M . P ., as S . G . W . ; R . AV . G . Cornwall Legh , MP ., S . G . W . ; The Duke of Leinster . G . M . Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Bro . Francis Elie Dubois , G . M . of Hayti ; R . AV . Bros . John Fawcell , Prov . G . M . Durham ; Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . M . Hants ; Alex . Dobie , Prov . G . M . Surrey ; Thos . H . Hall , Prov . G . M .

Cambridge ; Lord Sherborne , Prov . G . M . Gloucestershire ; Augustus Smith , P . JL , Prov . G . M . Cornwall ; Sir AV . AV . AVynn , Prov . G . M . North Wales and Shropshire ; Col . Bowyer , Prov . G . M . Oxford . lt . W . Bros . Col . Broivnrigg , A . Perkins , F . Alston , H . AV . Eaton , J . Havers , J . Pattison , and Lord de Tabley , P .

G . Wardens ; V . W . Bros , the Rev . J . Huyshe , M . A ., and A . F . A . AVoodford , M . A ., G . Chaps . ; V . AV . Bros . Rev . E . Moore , IS . Cox , A . AVard , Sir J . Warren Hayes , P . G . Chaplains . V . AV . Bro . F . Roxburgh , P . G . Registrar ; V . W . Bro . John LI . Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes . AV . Bros . G . AV . K . Potter , E . Phillips , J . TJdall , J . S . S .

Hopwood , J . Head , L . Crombic , AV . P . Scott , J . Savage , J . Hervey , C . H . Gregory , J . N . Tomkins , J . Nelson , S . B . AVilson , C . L . AVehh , P . G . D . 's ; Samuel AV . Dankes , P . G . Supt . Works ; R . AV . Jennings , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Bros . S . E . Nntt , N . Bradford , J . Symonds , P . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Bros . E . H . Patten , C . W Elkington , H . Bridges , II . Empson , It . Spiers , G . E . Pocock ,

C . J . Banister , P . G . S . B . ; Bro . T . Dickie , G . Purst . ; Bros . Joseph Smith , D . R . Farmer , P . G . Pursts . ; the AV . M ., P . M . 's , and AVardens of Grand Stewards Loclge ; and W . M . ' s , P . M . ' s , and Wardens of various other lodges . The Grand Master took his seat on the throne at three o ' clock .

Grand Lodgo having been opened in ample form and Avith sokmn prayer , Tlie minutes of the last quarterly communication , so far as they referred to the election of Grand Master , Avere read and confirmed . Ihe GEAND MASTEE then declared that the further

proceedings of Grand Lodge Avould be suspended , and that the ceremony of laying the first stone of the new building Avould at once take place , upon which a procession was formed in the following order : — Tylers . Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of Private Lodges . The Grand Stewards' Lodge .

. Past Grand Officers , and Present Grand Officers whose duties do not require them to assist in the ceremony . Members of the Board of General Purposes , and of the Colonial Board . Members of the Building Committee . p Three AV . Masters of Lodges . Grand «? f » ™ , I hearing the Cornucopia and the steirard . ' ocenaiu . lcontaininoil and wine

yesses g . The Grand Secretary hearing the "Book pf Constitutions . " The Builder bearing the Trowel . The Architect and Surveyor bearing the Plans . . The Chairman of the Building Committee bearing the Inscription , & c . The Grand Treasurer bearing the Phial containing the Coins .

Provincial and Past Provincial Grand Masters . The Corinthian Light borne by the AV . Master of a Lodge . The Column of the Junior Grand AVarden borne by the Master of a Lodge . The Junior Grand AVarden with the Plumb-rule . Grand The Banner of Grand Lodge borne by Grand Steward . the G . Tyler . Steward . The Doric Liht borne by the W . Master of a Lodge .

g Tbe Column of the Senior G . AVarden borne by the AV . Blaster of a Loclge . The Senior Grand AVarden with the Level . The Junior Grand Deacon . Grand The Grand Chaplains bearing the Grand Stewaia . Sacred Volume . Steward .

The Deputy Grand Master with the Square . The Ionic Light borne by the W . Master of a Lodge . A Provincial Grand Master bearing the Mallet . The Grand Sword Bearer . The Most AVorshipful Grand Master . The Senior Grand Deacon . Two Grand Stewards . Tyler .

The Grand Master having taken his seat near the north-east , where the stone Avas intended to be laid , with the Deputy Grand Master on his right and the Grand Master of Ireland on his left , and silence having been proclaimed , Bro . the Rev . J . HursiiE , G . Chap ., offered up the following prayer : —" Almighty Father arid Supreme Ruler of the

Universe , Thou that hast set Thy glory above the heavens , we invoke Thy benediction on the purpose for which Ave are this day assembled . AVe desire , Avith all humility , to acknowledge that ' Except the Lord build the house their labour is but vain that build it . ' Grant , therefore , we beseech Thee , that the foundation-stone of this building may be laid in Thy name , and the

superstructure raised thereon prove a goodly temple to Thy praise . May the assemblies of Freemasons convened within its walls be conducted in a spirit of brotherly love , and tend to promote the welfare of our fraternity ; and , finally , Oh Great Architect of the Universe , vouchsafe to us , at all times aud in all places , such a measure of Thy Holy Spirit , that we may he

builded up a spiritual house , to Thy service , so that after our sojourn in this world we may ultimately ascend to the Grand Lodge above , and inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the Avorld . "

Response , So mote it be . Bro . John HAVERS , P . J . G . W . and Chairman of the Building Committee , then presented the inscriptions and copies of reports to the Grand Master . Bro . W . GEAY CIAUKE then read the inscription , both in English and Latin , Avhich together ivith the reports and coins of the present reign were deposited by Bro . Tomkins , the