Demonstration In Newcastle.

In the 57 th year , and on the 25 th day of July , of the reign of Victoria , by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain and Ireland , Empress of India ; and of Salvation , 1891 , of the Order 5 , 894 . The Right Hon . SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY , Bart ., M . P ., Right Worshipful Grand Master of Freemasons in the Province of

Northumberland , Laid this Chief Corner Stone of the Masonic Hall according to ancient form , in the presence of Alderman RICHARD HENRY HOLMES , J . P ., Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master ;

the Officers of the said Provincial Grand Lodge ; the Directors of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Central Masonic Hall Company , Ltd . ; and a large and representative Meeting of Brethren , at which time the name Freemason was highly honoured and influential by the favour and support of the Queen and the Rulers throughout tho Globe . The P . G . Secretary stated that a large glass " urn ,

which he exhibited , would be placed in the cavity below the stone , and that it contained circulars of local Lodges , rules and circulars of Ledges , Chapters and reports of the Province ; a calendar of the Province of Durham ; local

Masonic documents connected with the Masonic Hall Company ; copies of the local newspapers of that day ; gold and silver coins of the realm of this year ; a medal commemorating the death of Queen Caroline , dug up in the foundations of the building , two sealed letters , & c .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master explained that the plate would , inscription downwards , be cemented over the cavity containing the bottle . This was proceeded with by the Provincial Grand Master , who was assisted in the work by the Brethren appointed for the purpose .

This done , the upper stone was slowly lowered by three stages , the band playing solemn music whilst it was being done . The Grand Master then proved the stone to be plumb , to be level , and to be square . The

architect ( Bro . Johnstone , London ) handed to the Grand Master a setting maul , with which he gave three knocks on each of the three sides of the stone , and then said : "I declare this stone to be plumb , properly laid , true and trusty . "

• The public Grand honours—three-three—led by Bro . Page—were then given by the Brethren , after which the bearers of the corn , wine , and oil presented the vessels to the Provincial Grand Master , who first poured corn on the stone saving , " I pour corn upon this stone . May

the blessings of morality and virtue flourish in this building , bringing forth fruit a hundred fold , " Pouring wiue upon the stone he said : "I pour wine upon this stone , the emblem of plenty and abundance , and of joy

and of gladness . " He sprinkled oil upon the stone saying : " 1 sprinkle oil upon this stone , the token of peace and goodwill . May prosperity , peace , and goodwill prevail among those who are assembled in this buildine until time shall be no more . " He . now entrusted

the architect with the emblems ( or the completion of the building . The Prov . Grand Master , frcm the rostrum , now said : Men , and Brethren , we have to-day laid the corner stone of what we hope in good time will be a splendid

building , worthy this great city , and serviceable to the Brethren of this Province . We pray that the Great Architect will bless and reward those brethren who have striven towards the accomplishment of the work we have all at heart . We pray that He may so conduct the

affairs that the workmen who shall be labouiing upon this building may accomplish this work without loss of life or limb , and that this edifice may stand for ever as a building worthy of this city and everlasting advantage to

Freemasonry . May He in whose hands the life and conduct of those who are meeting within the walls of this great building , keep them so that their high morality and lofty living will be conspicuous to all men amongst whom

by Mr . Lyal , the company following with a grand chorus in unison . Photographs of the assemblage were taken by Mr . Bacon , and a member of St . Peter ' s Lodge . The procession was again formedand returned to

, Olympia and to the fourth degree " from labour to re

they dwell . A collection was made by the Masters of Lodges for the workmen , and a hatful of silver and some bronze money was contributed . " Hail ! Masonry Divine , " was sung in splendid style

Demonstration In Newcastle.

freshment . " The new Lodges Carville ( Wallsend ) and Prince of Wales ( Newcastle ) were subsequently consecrated , and a banquet took place at the Grand Assembly Rooms in the evening . — " Newcastle Daily Leader , 26 th July . "

Essex.

ESSEX .

AFTER the banquet which followed the annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge , as reported in our last issue , a few toasts were honoured , says the " Essex Standard . " Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in submitting the health of their beloved

Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , said he used the word " beloved" in no common sense . ( A Voice : Lord Brooke ) . The D . P . G . M ., raising some roses from a vase in front of him , observed : " A rose by any other name would smell as sweet . " Whether it was

as Lord Brooke they had learned to love him , or as the Earl of Warwick that they would continue their affection to him , the man was the same for " a' that . " " The rank , " if his lordship would pardon him for saying so , " was but the guinea stamp , " the true gold was there .

There was an eloquence far higher than the tongue of the speaker ; it was an eloquence of accomplished facts , of a record of continued prosperity and success , a record of a Province united and happy and at one with itself , and which might therefore legitimately congratulate its

head upon the success of the promulgation of true Masonic principles in the Province . Such had eminently been the case during the sway of their Provincial Grand Master . It was very little in one aspect to tell them that the Lodges since the Provincial Grand Master

began to reign over them had practically doubled in number , and the number of Brethren in the Lodges had correspondingly increased . During his lordship ' s office they had not been disturbed by any burning question , they had been agitated by no great difficulty , and they

had had as much Home Rule as they wanted , and as had been good for them . He expressed the feelings of all when he said that it was their earnest wish that the Province might long be favoured with having to preside

over it a Grand Master who united in himself so many Masonic virtues and so many of those Masonic qualifications which had contributed in no slight degree to the success and popularity of his reign over them . The toast was received with full Masonic honours .

The Provincial Grand Master , in reply , remarked that it was a gocd many years since he first had the honour of ruling them , and he thought he might say , without any presumption , that the depth and warmth of Masonic feeling towards him in the Province did not

seem to dimmish on their side , and he could assure them most cordially that it did not in any way on his . He hoped in the future to be able to attend—to use a sporting phrase—the fixtures of their Masonic gatherings oftener than he had done in the past . He bad no longer

to sit as a representative of his country . He was now , as they knew , in the House of Lords , and he took the precaution to take his seat before he Avent to America . He did not think it a misfortune to be in the House of Lords . He thought it was a position of which any man

might be proud . He had bad some experience of popular representation , having been a representative of the people in the House of Commons , but he felt that although he was in the House of Lords now , and only represented his own views , there was all the more

responsibility attaching to him , and he should always well weigh his vote when he was called upon to give it . He concluded by proposing the health of Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ., whose advice , he said , was of such great assistance to him in matters connected with the Province . Bro . Philbrick suitably acknowledged the compliment .

The Right Hon . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C ., responded for the Visitors . Sir W . T . Abdy , Bart ., responded to the toast of the "Worshipful Masters of the Province of Essex .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Essex will be held at Chelmsford , on Wednesday 8 th August . 3 >