Laying The Foundation Stone Of All Saints Church, Weston-Super-Mare.

Eight Worshipful Graud Master , I request you in the name of the Brethren assembled to lay this foundation stone , and we trust that the building hereafter to be erected on it shall continue until time shall be no more .

The stone having been duly laid , Viscount Dungarvan briefly addressed the assemblage , remarking that he desired it should be known unto them that they were true and lawful Masons , having honourable obligations and fearing God , the Great Architect of the Universe . They had secrets that no man could reveal and

no one could discover , but those secrets were honourable and lawful , and not repugnant to the laws of either God or man . Unless those objects were good and honourable they would not have lasted for so many centuries , and neither should they have so many Brethren to promote their laws and to promote their interests . That day they were met in the presence of them all to

lay the foundation stone of the building to be erected to the glory of the Most High . Might God prosper the building as it seemed fit to Him , and as it was the duty of all Freemasons on an occasion of that kind to begin by invoking a blessing from the Great Architect of the Universe , he asked them to unite with Provincial Grand Chaplain in a blessing to the Throne of Almighty God .

After prayer by the Provincial Grand Chaplain Dr . Kennion , the hymn , " 0 Lord of Hosts , whose glory fills , " was sung . The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . E . F . Wade then read the document which was to be placed in the stone , as follows : — ' This foundation stone of the Church of All Saints ' , in the parish

of Westbn-super-Mare , in the Diocese of Bath and Wells , was laid by the Viscount Dungarvan P . G . Master Somerset , with Masonic ceremonies , and solemnly dedicated by the Eight Eev . George Wyndham Lord Bishop of the Diocese , on the Feast of St . John Baptist , Anno Domini 1898 ; the Ven . Edward Arthur

Salmon , Archdeacon of Wells , being rector ; the Eev . Edmund James Morris being curate and vicar-designate ; Thomas Mullins and James Partridge Capel churchwardens of tbe parish of St . John Baptist ; Francis Blackroore , Thomas Cox , Henry William Marriott , Charles Besley , James Thomas Collis , William Hewett sidesmen of the temporary church of All Saints ' , erected A . D .

1871 ; the Archdeacon of Wells , the Eev . E . J . Morris , Ernest Edward Baker , Charles Edward Barry , Francis Blackmore , Thos . Cox , James Craik , Henry William Marriott , Charles Belsey , Thomas William Warry , James Thomas Collis , William Hewett , members of the Building Committee ; George Frederick Bodley , A . E . A ., F . S . A ., Architect . "

The Provincial Grand Master next adjusted the cement with a silver trowel , handsomely chased , with ivory handle , and which bore the following inscription :

Presented by MlSS BliACKMORE to VlSCOUNT DUNGARVAN , for laying the foundation stone of All Saint ' s Church , Weston-super-Mare , 24 th June 1898 ,

Feast of John the Baptist . The Provincial Grand Master having proved the stone , declared' it to be well and truly laid , after which corn , wine and oil were poured upon the stone . The corn was , he observed , an emblem of tbe good seed of the Word sinking into the hearts of men ; the wine was a symbol of strength and gladness ; and the oil emblematic of peace , harmony and brotherly love .

After further prayers the Architect Mr . Bodley was presented to the Provincial Grand Master by the Vicar-Designate Bro . the Eev . E . J . Morris . The Provincial Grand Master examined the plans , after which some purses and other contributions were

presented to the Provincial Grand Master , who placed them upon the stone . The Bishop , taking into his hand the pastoral staff , then pronounced the Benediction , after which " All people that on earth do dwell " was sung as the closing hymn .

The procession then re-formed , the Masonic Brethren returning to tbe Masonic Hall , and the ecclesiastical procession to the Parish Church .

A dinner afterwards took place m the Victoria Hall . The company , including several ladies ( a rather new departure in connection with Masonic gatherings , which was evidently much appreciated by the fair sex ) numbered nearly 300 , and were presided over by Viscount Dungarvan .

Afer the toast of tbe Queen , the Chairman proposed the Lord Bishop of the Diocese , to whom he said they owed deep gratitude for coming there to take the prominent part he had in that day ' s ceremonial . He was very happy to be present because it had enabled him for the first time to make the Bishop ' s

acquaintance . As bead of the Freemasons in Somerset he might be allowed , on their behalf , to express their hearty and sincere thanks for the honour the Bishop had done them in accepting the collar of Provincial Grand Chaplain . The toast was received with much enthusiasm .

The Provincial Grand Chaplain , in acknowledging the toast , thanked tbe gathering for the warm reception accorded him . He supposed he was there in a sort of double capacity that day . He was there in the first place because he had the distinguished

Laying The Foundation Stone Of All Saints Church, Weston-Super-Mare.

honour , as he considered it to be , of holding the position of Provincial Grand Chaplain . He did not know whether either of his predecessors ever held that office ; at any rate he was not aware that either of them had done so . It was a very great happiness to him to be allowed to occupy such a position , for he

had been a Freemason long enough to knosv how very much good existed amongst the members of the Craft . He should not be betraying any secret when he said , and then in the most open manner , that the Craft aimed at some of the noblest and highest things to which any of them could possibly aspire . He also

supposed they specially welcomed him as tbe Bishop of the Diocese . No one would deny that it was a very anxious time for Bishops of the Church of England , but he thought it ought to be the prayer and wish of every one of them , and of every Churchman throughout the land , that the Bishops might not be

perturbed , and that they might not lose their heads in consequence of the difficulties the Church was now encountering in many parts of England , and in the House of Commons as well . No doubt a great deal had been said that was unnecessary , and that there had been some amount of exaggeration . There were ,

however , some things which naturally created a great amount of anxiety amongst those who were placed in such responsible positions as the Bishops of the Church of England , but he thought he might say of his brethren of the Episcopate that they were striving to deal with the difficulties he had referred to in a very

sensible manner , though not , perhaps , in a manner that was calculated or intended to win popular applause . He thought that what they were aiming at was to do their duty , and to help all Churchmen to do their duty as well . Speaking for himself—he did not speak for his Brethren—he should like to reiterate what

he had before said—and for which some persons had taken'him severely to task—that whatever difficulties had been caused by tbe zeal , or what some might call extravagancies , of some men , he thought anything was better then stagnation . He thought one thing they ought to be thankful for in the present day amongst all

others was that there was so much life in the Church . If they found that the zeal and eagerness of some men prompted them to lead in a direction that some others did not approve of , and considered foolish , perhaps , still , for all , let them be thankful that they moved at all . He thought nothing was more to be dreaded

than that deadness , that slothfulness , that kind of dreaminess into which some might be lulled if there were no difficulties or troubles to be encountered . He did not see any reason for despair in the future . They must not think that every one of them must theologically be cut to exactly the same pattern , for if such

a state of things as that existed they would have a rigid kind of uniformity that would be without life , and without that vigour and strength that took hold tbe hearts of the people ending by stirring them up to do that which was best and noble . The vicar to be appointed to All Saints' would , he hoped—and , in fact , he felt assured—realise that the Prayer Book of the Church of

England was that by which everyone of them must hold most loyally and determinedly , and that they must not travel outside the limits of that Prayer Book . There was width enough between its covers to include persons of very different shades of opinion , and between those covers there was not the slightest doubt that Bro . Morris would invariably keep .

Bro . E . Eels submitted the toast of the Chairman , and Viscount Dungarvan duly acknowledged the compliment .

Other toasts followed . Bro . Eev . E . G . Morris ( Vicar-Designate ) announced that the total offerings for the day had amounted to £ 278 13 s 6 d , including a donation of £ 100 from Mr . W . W . Beavan ( London

Hotel ); Bro . J . P . Capell ( St . Kew Lodge ) £ 50 ; Mr . Ernest E . Baker £ 50 ; collections at the Parish Church , £ 23 4 s ; collection at Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony , £ 18 8 s 8 d . — " Devon Weekly News . "

Review.

REVIEW .

Cassell's Magazine for July includes several articles of topical interest . An artillery officer gives a description of modern ordnance in an article on " Big Guns in action , " which is illustrated by original photographs taken in various forts and batteries . Nor is this the only item in the number vvhich bears upou tbe present war news . Miss Elizabeth L . Banks gives an illustrated account of " Public Eeceptions at the White House , " and another

article tells of " American Women in war time . " A story of Henley Begatta under the title of " House-boat Isis " is another topical feature , while other stories are contributed by Mr . E . W . Hornung , Mr . D . H . Parry , Mr . Tighe Hopkins , aud Miss Myra Hamilton , and the number also contains an instalment Of Mr . Joseph Hocking ' s new serial , " Trevanion . " " Clowns and the gentle art of Clowning " is the subject of an article which is illustrated by photographs specially taken at Barnum ' s and the Crystal Palace ; and

Mr . 'B ,. Kearton , E . Z . S ., gives some idea of how he and his brother succeeded in photographing " Wild Birds at Home . " Mr . Douglas Sladen contributes a sketch of travel in Japan , and " Tennis Twins " forms the subject of another paper , illustrated by portraits of famous players and pictures of championship games . An illustrated article on " Diamonds , " a group of topical portraits under the title of " In the Arena , " and a story for children , are among other features of the some number .