Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Halifax New Infirmary.

Richardson Aotiog Director of Ceremonies , J . H . Matthews Assistant Director of Coremoniea , R . Loveland Loveland P . G . D ., C . E . Keyser P . G . D ., William Goodaore P . G . Sword Bearer , W . H . Brittain P . G . Sword Bearer , M . C . Peck P . G . Sword Bearer and P . G . Sec . North and East Yorkshire . Amongst the principal representatives of the West Yorkshire Province were Bros . T . B . Fox ( Chairman of the

Charity Committee ) , W . C . Lupton ( Vice . Chairman of the Committee ) , Joseph Matthewmau Acting G . S ., the Rev . John Dunbar Prov . G . C ., J . C . Malcolm P . P . G . R ., the Rev . F . E . Egerton P . G . C ., W . Gaukroger P . M ., William Stott P . M ., George Buckloy P . M ., J . Barker , Paul Belletray P . M ., Mark Nowsoma P . M ., C . T . Rhodes P . M ., W . D . Qoarmby P . M ., James Lawton P . M ., Thomas Riley P . M .. T . Ruddock

P . M ., Charles Letch Mason P . M ., M . Wilson P . M ., J . W . Monokman P . M ., and John Constable P . M . On the site of the new Infirmary , in Free School Lane , a huge platform and canvas-covered grand stand had been constructed , whioh afforded accommodation for some thousands of spectators . Positions bad been especially resorved for representative men and

the Freemasons and other bodies taking part in the proceedings . The general publio had to be content with a view of the proceedings from a distance , but , aa the memorial-stone was in an elevated position , there was littlo difficulty in witnessing the procredings from any point . Superintendent Varley had a force of fortv men of all ranks of the West Riding constabulary at his command fur the

purpose of carrying ont the arrangements . The proceedings , whioh were singularly impressive , were in accordance with Masonio formula , and were conducted by the principal Freemasons throughout . Amongst the most influential of the spectators were Mr . Rawson Shaw , M . P ., Mr . T . Henry Morris ( president of tbe Infirmary and chairman of the Building Committee ) , Mr . James Booth ( tbe Deputy .

Mayor ) , Mr . J . H . Swallow , Mr . John Whiteley ( treasurer of the New Infirmary Fund ) , Mr . John Lister , Mr . Gamaliel Sntclifib , the Ven . Archdeacon Brooke , tho Rev . Canon Ivons , the Rev . Canon Warneford , Dr . Solomon Smith , Mr . J . W . Clay , Mr . George Clegg , the Rev . Eric A . Lawrence , Mr . John Oakes , Dr . Hodgson Wright , Mr . J . Baldwin , Mr . J . Pollitt , Mr . John Hall , Mr . F . Patchett ,

Mr . G . Watkinson , Mr . S . Porter , Mr . J . R . Atkinson , Colonel Fenn ( oommandant of the 9 th Brigade Depot ) , Alderman Broar , Alderman Whitaker , Mr . G . Patchett , Mr . W . Wilson , Mr . P . S . Worthington ( one of the architects ) , Mr . Williams ( of Harrogate ) , Alderman Midgley , Mr . L . Clayton , Mr . J . T . Ramsdan , Mr . J . S . Rawson , Dr . Alexander , Mr . B . W . Jackson , Mr . T . S . Scott , Mr . J . Wale

Mr . George Appleyard , and Messrs . J . Whiteley Ward and J . F . Hirst ( the bon . secretaries of the new Infirmary ) . When the processionists had taken np their allotted positions , tbe President , Treasurer , and hon . Secretaries of the Infirmary were introduced to the Earl of Mount Edgoumbe ; and Bro . Riley Patchett , the W . M . of tho Probity Lodge , No . 61 , addressed the Deputy Grand

Master , and said : In the absence of the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , we tender our sincere thanks to your Lordship , and all our brethren who may join in this ceremony , for the generous and unhesitating manner in which yon accepted the invitation . It shows the great interest which your Lordship and the Grand Lodge have in the welfare of your fellow-creatures , and in carrying out one of

the grand principles on which onr Order is founded . Towards the fund which has been subscribed by numbers of people in the parish the Freemasons have subscribed £ 5 , 000 , and when the time comes to day we shall lay still another purse upon tbe stone to mark the honour of your Lordship's presence . I have now the honour to request your Lordship to lay the stone and may the Most High

prosper the undertaking , and may , upon the foundation now laid , be raised a strnoture perfect in its parts and an honour to the builder . The memorial-stone was then raised from its bed , and the Deputy Grand Master said : Ladies and Brethren assembled here to witness this ceremony , be it known to you that we be the lawful Masons , true and faithful to onr country , and engaged by solemn obligations to

assist in the erection of buildings for the service of the brethren and to the glory of God , the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among ns , concealed from every eye , secrets which may not be revealed , and which no man has discovered , bnt these secrets are lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to tbe laws of God or man . They bave been banded down in peace and honour to Masons in

ancient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to us it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless onr Craft bad been good and our calling honourable we shoald not have lasted through so many centnries , nor should we have had so many distinguished brethren in our Order to promote our laws and to further our interests . We are assembled now in the presence of you ,

and in the sight of the Most High , to ereot a house provided by the munificence of yonr fellow citizens , and among them the members of our Fraternity , in which the poor , the siok , and the suffering may receive relief and comfort ; a house whioh we pray that God may prosper as ssemeth best to Him . And as it is the first duty of Masons in any undertaking to invoke the blessing of the Great

Architeot of the Universe upon their work , I oall upon you all now to rise and join with our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throue of Grace , and all uncover . The Grand Chaplain ( the Rev . Canon Bullock ) thon offered prayer , after which the Depnty Grand Master said : By command of Hia

Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Moat Worshipful Grand Master of our Order in England and the dependencies of Great Britain , and also in the lamented absence of tbe Pro Grand Master Lord Lathom , I desire now that this stono bo laid . The Grand Secretary ( Bro . Letchwortb ) read the following inscription on a brass plate : —

" This stone WRB laid by the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe R . W . Deputy G . M . of England , R . W . Prov . G . M . of Cornwall , assisted by Officers of tbe Grand Lodge of England , and Provincial Grand Officers and Brethren of the Province of West Yorkshire , 17 th June A . D . 1893 , as a memorial of the liberality with which oil classes of the community contributed to the cost of erecting this infirmary . "

Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Halifax New Infirmary.

A bottle containing cuius and newspapers having been deposited iu a receptacle cut out of the lower stone , the Grand Seoretary plaoed the plate face downwards ovor the top , cement was spread over the lower stono , and the Daputy Grand Master levelled the mortar with an ordinary trowel , a presentation trowel having been mislaid in some way and not being forthcoming . The stone was then

lowered in three movements , whioh were followed by the singing by the Freemason * of three staves of the Masonio obant , " Prosper the Art , " "Worthy Masons AH , " and " Join all in harmony . " The Deputy Grand Master then proved the just position and form of the stone by use of the plumb rule , level , and square , whioh were delivered to him by members of tho Grand Ladge , and deolared the

stone to be plnmb , level , square , duly prepared , and truly laid . Then pouring corn ovor the stone from a cornucopia , and wine and oil from ewers , he said : I now scatter corn npon this stone , the emblem of plenty and abundance ; may tho blessings of virtue and loving-kindness prosper in this building and bring forth fruit a hundredfold . I ponr wine npon this stone , tbe emblem of joy aud gladness ; may the

sorrows and sufferings of many in th ?" 9 infirmary be turned to joy . I sprinkle oil upon this stone , the symbol of healing and of harmony ; may those who dispense as well as those who receive the benefits provided by this institution find that properity , happiness and good * will prosper with them to the glory and honour of the Most High until time shall be no more .

Mr . Morris then introduced one of the architects ( Mr . Worthington ) to the Depnty Grand Master , and the latter , after examining tho plans of the building , returned them to the architect with the tools used in proving the position of the stone , and called upon him to proceed without loss of time to the completion of the building . The Grand Chaplain then pronounced the Benediction .

A large number of Sunday School children who had collected about £ 600 laid their purses on the stone as they passed it in single file ; the Deputy Grand Master presented to the W . M . of the Probity Lodge a trowel and mallet whioh had been given to him for tbe occasion ; and after one of the bands bad played tho National Anthem , of whioh the Freemasons and other spectators sang a verse , the proceedings terminated . —Bradford Observer .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of oil * Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

GRAND LODGE AND ARTICLE No . 219 . To the Editor of the FRBEJIASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your very able article ou this subject , of Bro . Richard Eve ' s motion at the last Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge , deserves the thanks of tbe brethren , both those who were present and those more numerous who were not , for the plain straightforward manner in which the case is presented . It is

highly satisfactory to find that we have brothren of position ready to take up the grievance of a minority , independent of the fact that an important point of our constitutions was involved , and that tho members of Grand Lodge were decided enough to rectify an error that had been committed unintentionally . At the same time most brethren will agree with you that the injustico having been

oommitted it would bave been better to havo freely and frankly acknowledged it and the wrong remedied instead of an attempt being made to perpetuate it . The thanks of the Craft are also due to that loyal minority who for five years have been fightiug for their rights , and we may congratulate them upon the success that has attended their efforts . But there is a moral connected with this episode that

should not be overlooked , and which cannot be too deeply impressed upon the brethren generally . I refer to the duty of every Freemason to make himself acquainted with the Book of Constitutions , and to master tbe principles that govern onr noble Order . I regret to say that I have met scores of Masons who have never oven perused them , though they aro recommended to do so at their initiation , when they

are presented with a copy . But tho obligation becomes the greater when a Brother becomes an Officer and later on a Master of a Lodge . Yot I can assure you , however incredible it may appear , that I have come aoross Past Masters who have never read thom , and others whose knowledge is extremely limited . Since such be the case , and I presume others will bear out my assertion , how great is tho

necessity for the Lodges to support the Masonic Presp . If the time of some members is too much occupied to study tbe regulations by which they r . ro governed , it is surely their duty to support the journals devoted to thoir interests . Yet in how few Lodges do you find a Masonic papor . Your article refers to previous decisions and

former utterances of the very Officer who now seeks to controvert thorn ; thereforo such a record is highly valuable and cannot bo too widely discriminated among the members of the Order . I could further enlarge upon this topic , but , perhaps , this is hardly the placo to do so , and I therefore conclude with renewed thanks , and remain , Yours fraternally , Graveaend , 20 th June 1893 . I . P . M .

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DEATH . MORGAN . —On tho 23 rd . '" St ., at his re . vdonco , " Glonavon , ' Potters Road , New Baiiiet , Bro , WHUAM WBAX iloaGAM P . M . 211 , in his 61 st year ,