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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 2 of 17 →
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Provincial.
READING . — Formation of a New Cemetery — Grand Masonic Festival—Oct . 26 . —It appears that the burial-grounds of the parish churches of Reading are , and have been for many years past , crowded with the remains of those who have died in the town ; and it was shown by evidence , given before parliament , that this crowding of the churchyards either had , or was calculated to have , a most injurious effect upon the health of the inhabitants of the borough . The result of the investigation instituted upon this subject was an application to parliament for a bill for the formation of a cemetery in the immediate
neighbourhood of this town . As the cemetery is for the reception of the remains of persons of all denominations , it was determined that there should be two chapels built upon the grounds ; one connected with the established church , and the other appropriated to the use of dissenters . It was proposed , as a compliment to Mr . Richards , and with a view of giving eclat to the occasion , that the first stone of the Episcopal
Chapel should be laid according to the rules snA forms of " the mystic art . " The idea was eagerly caught up , not only by the Masons in this town , but by some of the most distinguished Brethren of the " Ancient Craft" in the metropolis , who expressed then desire to take a part in the proposed ceremony . Accordingly , at twelve o ' clock , a large number of the members of the Masonic body assembled in the Town-hall , and held a Lodge , the mayor having granted the use of the hall for that purpose . The Lodge was presided over by John Ramsbottom , Esq ., M . P . Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire . It was not the Masons only that took an interest in the matter , for the inhabitants of Reading
generally seemed to participate in the enthusiasm which was displayed by that body on the occasion ; and accordingly , at an early hour the several streets through which the Masonic procession was expected to pass were thronged with well-dressed persons , while the windows of the several houses along the line were crowded with ladies , who seemed anxious to witness the pleasing pageant . The procession had a most imposing appearance , not only from the order and
regularity with which it was conducted , but from the circumstance of the fineness of the day having enabled large masses of the people to join it . The site of the chapel was enclosed by a wooden railing , a platform having been erected to the eastward of the foundationstone , for the use of the Provincial Grand Master and the Masonic Brethren . There was also another platform erected for tlie accommodation of ladies . This latter place was crowded long before the arrival of the procession ; and indeed , every part in the vicinity of the spot where the intended ceremony was to take place was completely crammed by persons
anxious to witness the proceedings . The Rev . J . W . HAYES , P . G . C ; ., then read the service prepared for the occasion , in a very impressive manner , tlie Brethren and company being all uncovered . The Provincial Grand Master was then presented with a silver trowel . He descended from the platform , and took his station close to the stone ; the upper stonewhich was suspended over that usualldesignated
, y as the " first" stone , was then raised , and a brass-plate , on which was engraved the following inscription , was laid in a cavity cut in the latter : " This foundation-stone of the Episcopal Chapel of the Reading Cemetery was laid by John Ramsbottom , Esq ., M . P ., F . R . S ., the Right AA orsliipful Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire , on AVednesday , the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
READING . — Formation of a New Cemetery — Grand Masonic Festival—Oct . 26 . —It appears that the burial-grounds of the parish churches of Reading are , and have been for many years past , crowded with the remains of those who have died in the town ; and it was shown by evidence , given before parliament , that this crowding of the churchyards either had , or was calculated to have , a most injurious effect upon the health of the inhabitants of the borough . The result of the investigation instituted upon this subject was an application to parliament for a bill for the formation of a cemetery in the immediate
neighbourhood of this town . As the cemetery is for the reception of the remains of persons of all denominations , it was determined that there should be two chapels built upon the grounds ; one connected with the established church , and the other appropriated to the use of dissenters . It was proposed , as a compliment to Mr . Richards , and with a view of giving eclat to the occasion , that the first stone of the Episcopal
Chapel should be laid according to the rules snA forms of " the mystic art . " The idea was eagerly caught up , not only by the Masons in this town , but by some of the most distinguished Brethren of the " Ancient Craft" in the metropolis , who expressed then desire to take a part in the proposed ceremony . Accordingly , at twelve o ' clock , a large number of the members of the Masonic body assembled in the Town-hall , and held a Lodge , the mayor having granted the use of the hall for that purpose . The Lodge was presided over by John Ramsbottom , Esq ., M . P . Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire . It was not the Masons only that took an interest in the matter , for the inhabitants of Reading
generally seemed to participate in the enthusiasm which was displayed by that body on the occasion ; and accordingly , at an early hour the several streets through which the Masonic procession was expected to pass were thronged with well-dressed persons , while the windows of the several houses along the line were crowded with ladies , who seemed anxious to witness the pleasing pageant . The procession had a most imposing appearance , not only from the order and
regularity with which it was conducted , but from the circumstance of the fineness of the day having enabled large masses of the people to join it . The site of the chapel was enclosed by a wooden railing , a platform having been erected to the eastward of the foundationstone , for the use of the Provincial Grand Master and the Masonic Brethren . There was also another platform erected for tlie accommodation of ladies . This latter place was crowded long before the arrival of the procession ; and indeed , every part in the vicinity of the spot where the intended ceremony was to take place was completely crammed by persons
anxious to witness the proceedings . The Rev . J . W . HAYES , P . G . C ; ., then read the service prepared for the occasion , in a very impressive manner , tlie Brethren and company being all uncovered . The Provincial Grand Master was then presented with a silver trowel . He descended from the platform , and took his station close to the stone ; the upper stonewhich was suspended over that usualldesignated
, y as the " first" stone , was then raised , and a brass-plate , on which was engraved the following inscription , was laid in a cavity cut in the latter : " This foundation-stone of the Episcopal Chapel of the Reading Cemetery was laid by John Ramsbottom , Esq ., M . P ., F . R . S ., the Right AA orsliipful Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire , on AVednesday , the