New Hall At East Grinstead.

NEW HALL AT EAST GRINSTEAD .

THE foundation stone of a new Masonic Hall now being erected in St . James Boad , East Grinstead , was laid with due ceremony on Wednesday , 22 nd ult ., Sir W . T . Marriott Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Sussex officiating on the occasion , in the absence of H . E . H . the Duke of Connaught Prov . G . M . An emergency meeting of the Sackville Lodge , No . 1619 , was

opened at the White Lion Hotel , and was attended by a large number of Present and Past Provincial Officers and other Brethren . A procession was then marshalled , Bro . James

Harrison officiating as D . C , with Bro . W . H . Hills acting as Deputy , and proceeded to the site of the new Hall , where a number of lady friends of the members had been provided with seats within the enclosure .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master proceeded to the stone , accompanied by his chief Officers , and the Brethren bearing the various vessels deposited them on a pedestal close at hand . Bro . E . A . Head , as chairman of the Building Committee , then , in a

few appropriate words , asked Bro . Sir Wm . Marriott to accept a handsome silver trowel , suitably inscribed , for use on , and as a memento of that interesting occasion . The gift was briefly acknowledged .

Mr . W . N . Barnard then sang Cardinal Manning ' s beautiful hymn , " Lead , kindly light , " Mr . E . Hunt accompanying on the organ . The rendering v / as excellent , and in the absolute stillness of the afternoon air sounded very sweetly . The upper stone having been raised by the workmen , the Deputy Provincial Grand

Master addressed the assembly , setting forth the duty of Masons to erect handsome buildings to be serviceable to man and for glory to God . Prayer was next offered by the Chaplain , and the whole company then united in singing the hymn , " 0 Lord of Hosts , whose glory fills . " Bro . Betchley Secretary read the

inscription to be afterwards placed on the stone , and Bro . Head placed within the lower lead-lined cavity a packet of coins of the current year , and copies of different papers . Bro . Clark presented the cement , which was duly spread , and the upper stone was slowly lowered .

The necessary tools were thereupon presented , and Sir William successively declared the stone to be plumb , level and square , finally announcing that it was " duly prepared and truly laid , " and that the Craftsmen had worked well . He next

New Hall At East Grinstead.

scattered corn upon the stone as the emblem of peace and the abundance of God's best gifts , and then poured wine and oil over it , one symbolising strength and gladness , and the other peace and harmony . In a second address Sir William Marriott expressed his pride at having aided m commencing a building which , by the beauty of its design and the solidity of its construction , would , he trusted , be an ornament to the neighbourhood for centuries to come .

The architect ( Bro . Mathews ) was presented to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who inspected the plans produced , and then handed them back to Bro . Mathews , together with the general tools used in proving the position of the stone , and desired him to proceed , without loss of time , with the completion of the work in conformity with the plan . The Chaplain having offered

prayer for the benefactors and workmen , the whole of the Masons present filed past the stone aud laid their offerings upon it , the sum thus realised , which included a few previously promised subscriptions , amounting to nearly £ 25 . The familiar " Old Hundredth " was sung , and the ceremony closed with another prayer and the Benediction .

The procession having been re-formed , the Brethren returned at once to the Lodge Room , where a very cordial vote of thanks was passed to Sir William Marriott , on the proposition of tho W . M ., seconded by the Treasurer . The Lodge was then formally closed .

The banquet , which followed , was served in a marquee erected at the rear of the White Lion Hotel , the catering being done by Messrs . Letheby and Christopher , of Dormans Park Hotel , in conjunction with Mr . A . M . Betchley . — " Brighton Observer . "

Freemasonry At Klondyke.

FREEMASONRY AT KLONDYKE .

A LETTEE specially contributed to the " Stockport Advertiser , " from Captain J . Harry Ardern , formerly of Cheadle , Cheshire , written from Lake Bennett , on 20 th May , contains the following matter of interest to members of the

Masonic Order : On Thursday we " attended the first meeting of Freemasons ever held in Lake Bennett . There were about 120 present , the Master of the informally constituted Lodge being Mr . Claud Lisle , of Nantwich , Cheshire , England , who I

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