New Hall At Colchester.

obligations to erect buildings to be serviceable to the Brethren , and to fear God , the Great Architect of the Universe . They had secrets , but they were honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They had been entrusted in peace and honour to Masons of ancient times , and having

been lawfully transmitted to the present generation of Freemasons , it was their duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . If those secrets had not been honourable , the Masons would not have lasted for so many centuries , nor

would so many illustrious Brethren have joined the Order . They were assembled that day to erect a house to the honour and glory ot the Most High , and wherin local Freemasons might practice their Craft .

The Chaplain Brother Rev . Pierrepont Edwards then offered prayer , at the conclusion of which the Mayor called upon the Secretary Brother T . J . Railing P . M . P . G . A . D . C . Provincial Grand Secretary Essex to read the inscription on the stone . The inscription was as follows : — " This corner

stone was laid with Masonic ceremonial by Claude E . Egerton-Green , Esq ., M . A ., J . P ., D . L ., Mayor of Colchester , P . P . S . G . W . and P . P . G . Treas . Essex , October 24 th , 1901 . " The phial , containing coins , a copy of a local paper , and programme of the ceremony , having been deposited

by the Treasurer Bro . A . S . B . Sparling in the cavity , the J . D . Bro . H . G . Elliott presented an inscribed silver trowel to the Mayor , and requested him to set the stone . An Entered Apprentice presented the cement , which was spread on the upper face of the lower stone . The upper stone was

then slowly lowered with three distinct stops , the Mayor standing to the east of the stone , with the W . M . bearing the Square on his right hand , the Wardens going to the west with the Level and Plumb Rule . The Mayor , having proved the " just position and form of the stone by the Plumb Rule ,

Level , and Square , which were successively handed to him by the J . W ., S . W ., and W . M ., his Worship gave the stone three raps with the mallet , which was delivered to him by the S . D . Bro . J . G . Laver . The Mayor having next inspected

the plans , delivered the same to the Architect , together with the tools used in proving the position of the stone . At the same time , His Worship desired the Architect to " proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work in conformity with the plans . " .

After a hymn the Benediction was pronounced by the Bishop of Barking Bro . Dr . Stevens P . G . C ., and the Architect having presented the Mayor with the Trowel , the procession then formed in inverted order , and proceeded to the new

Town Hall , m order that the ceremony of unveiling the statue of Queen Victoria , which is situated at the top of the grand staircase , might be performed by the Mayor , The Director of Ceremonies was Bro . Ives .

The statue , which represents the late Queen seated in her coronation robes , holding the globe and sceptre , is of white marble , and is on a pedestal of red marble . The total height is 7 ft . 6 inches . The statue was executed by Messrs . L . J . Watts , Limited , at a cost of some ^ 300 . It is the gift

to the town of Alderman H . G . Egerton-Green , and is placed at the top of the grand staircase , in front of the memoriam window of Mr . William Warwick Flawkins , who was M . P . of the Borough , 1852-57 . After the processionists had taken their places ,

Councillor Wilson Marriage , Chairman of the New Town Hall Committee , said he was glad to report on behalf of that Committee that the erection of the statue of her late Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria had been completed . Having alluded to the fact that the donor worthily filled the

office of Mayor of Colchester during the Jubilee year of the late Queen ( 1887 ) , and again the year of the Diamond Jubilee ( 1897 ) , he said it seemed very appropriate that they should receive from his hands this handsome gift in memory of their late Queen ' . 1 he only thing they regretted was that

the health of Alderman H . Egerton Green did not permit him to attend . It was a great pleasure to think that the work was completed , so that a member of the family of the

donor could unveil it before the conclusion of his year of Office . It was an added gratification to the inhabitants of Colchester to know that the whole work had been carried out by Colchester people .

The Mayor , previous to performing the unveiling ceremony , said he had received a letter from Alderman H . Egerton Green , asking him to present the statue on his behalf . It also stated that he originally meant it to commemorate . the Diamond Jubilee , but now he wkhed to dedicate it to the pious memory of the best Queen England

New Hall At Colchester.

or the world had ever seen . His Worship then expressed the pleasure he felt at performing the ceremony on behalf of his uncle . He alluded to the very serious illness which prevented his uncle from attending . He then drew the curtain aside , and " God save the King " was sung .

Continuing , his Worship said that , as Mayor , it gave him the greatest pleasure to receive that very handsome addition to the decoration of their Town Flail . Putting aside the personal element , he thought that everybody in

the town would recognise that it was one more instance pi the Alderman ' s generosity , and his desire to do all he could for the borough . He congratulated Colchester and Messrs . L . J . Watts , Limited , on the production of such a work of art .

This was the first occasion on which Masonic clothing had been worn in public in the town since the members of the Angel Lodge laid the foundation stone of St . Mary Magdalene Church , in 1853 .

New Hall For Maryhill.

NEW HALL FOR MARYHILL .

A NEW hall erected in Wyndford Street , Maryhill , for the use of the Maryhill Lodge , No . 510 ( S . C . ) , was consecrated and formally opened on Wednesday , 23 rd ult , by Bro . John Graham of Broadstone Prov . G . M .

In the course of the evening Bros . Graham and Campbell Prov . G . Sec . were each presented with a gold mounted umbrella , in recognition of the services rendered to the

Brethren of Maryhill in securing a suitable place of meeting . The new Hall is constructed to hold 300 , in addition to which there are ante-rooms and other necessary accommodation .

****************** A presentation in which a large number of Brethren participated was recently made to Bro . Plenty Smith P . G . D . Past Dep . Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , on the occasion of

the completion of his eightieth year . We add ours to the numerous congratulations he received on that occasion , and trust he may be spared to continue his work in the Craft for many years yet to come .

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