Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

bled to witness the spectacle , and happening as it did in the dinner hour , large numbers of the artizan population and not a few operative masons were amongst the spectators . At the site special provision had been made for the accommodation of i-ightseers . The stone to be laid was at the north-east coiner of the new nave , and ihe space on the Launder-terrace side being only limited , a couple ot galleries were improvised within the nave and

roofless north aisle . On reaching the site , the band filed through the west doorway , and took up a position in the north transept ; while the Masonic brethren divided to the right and left , facing inwards—and between this avenue passed the Prov . Grand Master , preceded by the Prov . G . Sword Bearer , and followed by his acting ofiicers , the remaining brethren assuming a position in the immediate background . Around and about the s'one itself the

officiating brethren were arranged in the following order : the R . VV P . G . M . with the gavel ; the VV . M . of the Doric Lodge , Bro . the Rev . C . ulsinere , with square ; a P . M . of the Doric Lodge , Bro . XV . Pawson , with corn , in the East ; the Depu'y P . G . M ., Bro . Capt . Locock ; the Prov . Grand Senior Warden , with level ; a P . M . of the Doric Lodge , Bro Dickinson , with wine , in the West ; the Prov . Grand Chaplain ; the P . G . Registrar , with brass plate for stone ;

the P . G . Secretary , with Hook of Constitutions and coins , in the North ; the P . G . Junior Warden , with plumb rule ; a P . M . of the Doric Lodge , Bro . J . Scarboiough , with oil , in the South . Ihe choir of the church had in the meantime assembled in close proximity to the band , and with their united help , aided by the voices of the great concourse of persons present , _ the "Old Hundredth" was rendered with great hcatiness ,

and formed a fitting introduction to the stone-laying . As soon as the strains of the hymn had died away , the P . P . G . Chap ., VV . Bro . the Rev . C . Elsmere , delivered the " antient opening address . " Ihe 127 th Psalm , " Except the Lord build the house , " was next alternately recited by the Prov . G . Chaplain and brethren . Then followed the collect , " Prevent us , O Lord , " offered by the Chaplain , with thc general response , " So mote it

be , " sung to band accompaniment . The Prov . Grand Superintendent of Works next stepped forward , and handed the plan of the building to the R . VV . Prov . Grand Master , who briefly inspected the same , and restoied it to the architect , Mr . V . Green , with an expression of confidence in his skill , and in the ability and eneigy of the workmen , to bring the work to a successlul completion . A cavity had been prepared in the lower stone , and into this the Prov .

Grand Secretary now deposited the orthodox bottle , the contents of which were staled by the Prov . Grand Registrar to be as follows , viz ., a copy of the Standard of July 26 th , the Grantham Journal of July 21 st , a list of members of the Doric Lodge , plan of thechurch , programme of theday ' s proceedings , report of the Prov . Grand Lodgeof Lincolnshire for 1 SS 2 , and coins of the realm . The cavity was enclosed by means of a brass plate , the inscription upon which was

also read by the Prov . Grand Registrar , as follows : " 1 his corner-stone of an extended nave was laid by the R . W . Bro . Smyth , J . P ., D . L ., with full Masonic honours , on Thursday , 26 th July , 1 SS 3 . C . Elsmere , M . A ., W . M . 3 G 2 , P . P . G . Chap ., vicar ; James Hornsby , P . M . 3 62 ; Joseph Hall , churchwardens . " 1 he presentation of the trowel to the Prov . Grand Master , by the VV . M . of the Doric Lodge , followed . 'Ihe trowel was of silver , richly engraved , with ivory handle , and bore this inscription : ' * Presented hy the

Council of St . John s Church , Grantham , to Major W . H . Smyth , R . W . P . G . M . Lincolnshire , on the occasion of laying the corner-stone of the extended nave of the above church . 2 Glh July , 1 SS 3 . " Then followed the actual ceremony of stone-laying * , which differed hut little from that usually observed on similar occasions , Beethoven ' s " Vale of rest" being solemnly rendered by the band whilst the stone was being lowered into its place . The Prov . Grand

Chaplain having offered prayer , The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in a short address , dealt with the early history of Operative Masonry , and brought under notice some of the first cities that wcre built in Britain —Caeileon , built by the giant Leon Gamr , now known as Chester ; Troinouant , or New Troy , now London , built by Brute , the Trojan ; Madancaster , or Doncaster , built hy Madan , King of Britain ; Caerbrookc , or York , built by

Ebrouk or Ebracus ; also Maidens' Castle , now Edinburgh ; Caerleil , or Carlisle , built by Leill , who also repaired t aerleon ; then came Canterbury ( Kacrkin ) , built b y Lud , Winchester ( Caerguent ; , Shaftesbury , Bath , Leicester , etc The P . G . M . next incidentally referred to the traditional history of the fir = t ecclesiastical edifice in Britain , said to have been built at Glastonbury by Joseph of Arimathea . Athenian granted a chatter to Masons , by which th .-y

became free—free to roam about and build churches wherever they could obtain employers ,- and they knew perfectly well from history that many of the grandest buildings in the country from that time up to the Reformation period were built by Freemasons , who were a sort of nomad trade , wandering about and erecting buildings as they were required . There was no doubt that nearly all the great cathedrals and churches of the land , among

others the beautiful church in which they had worshipped that day , were built by Free and Accepted Masons . Passing from operative Masonry to the speculative Masonry of the present day , the Provincial Grand Master pointed out some of its symbols—the corn of prosperity , the wine of cheerfulness , the oil of peace . 'I he stone had been further tried by the square , the level , and the plumb rule—the square representing morality , the level equality ,

and the rule uprightness of life and action . Having brought to a conclusion the ceremony of the day , he could only , trust the work which had thus been inaugurated would be brought to a good and effectual end ; and , in the words of that prayer which they never separated without saying , he would add— " May our labours , thus begun in order , be conducted in peace , and closed in harmony . " * l he words of the response , "So mote it be , " having

once more been heard , the Masonic National Anthem was sung , conducted by Bro . H . P . Dickenson , and accompanied with fine effect by the band ( for whom the music had been specially arranged throughout b y Mr . Morris ) . The words of the anthem were particularly appropriate , both to the Craft and the occasion ; and it was sung ,

moreover , in grand style , the chorus , " Hail , Masonry divine , " following each verse with a degree of enthusiasm which was most striking . This completed one of the most imposing ceremonies witnessed in Grantham for many years . The brethren returned in procession in reverse order to the Guildhall , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

Luncheon was afterwards served in the Westga ' e Hall by Bro . Win . Fillmgham , of the George Hotel . The Prov . Grand Master occupied the chair , supported by the provincial olficers and vi-iting brethren , amongst whom was Bro . Mellor , M . P .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK .

LAYING A CORNER-SI ONE AT BURY ST . EDMUND'S . A special meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Bury St . Edmund's on the 2 nd inst ., the occasion nf the same being ihe laying with Masonic ceremony the corner-stone of the buildings for the enlargement of the

school premises attached to bt . John s Church . Provincial Grand Lodge met in the School Room , Wch-street , and , in the absence of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Waveney , was opened in ample lorm by the V . W . Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . Charles J . Martyn , P . G C , assisted by Bros . ii . J . Griffiths , P . P . G . C , acting U . Prov . G . M . ; George Thompson , P . P . G . S . D ., acting Prov . G . S . W . ; B . P . Grimsey , Prov . G . J . W . ;

N . 1 ' racy , Prov . G . Sec . ; W . Clarke , P . G . Asst . Purst ., Prov . G . D . of C ; H . Wright , P . P . G . P . ; D . Gall , Prov . G . S . D . ; J . R . Thompson , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Armstrong , P . P . G . S . D . ; . T . K . Lucia , P . P . G . J . W . ; VV . Mackney , Piov . G . S . B . ; and Charles Emmerson , Prov . G . A . D . of C . The following brethren , amongst otheis , were also present : tiros . A . Laughton , P . M . 1599 ; W . Chapman , P . G . S ., VV . M . ; G . Giver , H . Mantz , Z . Cooper , H . Lucia , W . G .

Clarke , J . D . ; and John Hewett , lyler , 1592 ; F . W . J ennings , S . W . 1224 ; W . Pead , j . W . ; R . J . Symonds , I . G . ; and C . C . Gooch , Tyler , 100 S ; and F . C . Atkinson . The PROV . GRAND S ECRETARY announced that letters of apology for non-attendance had been received from the Prov . Grand Senior Warden , Prov . Grand Supt . of Works , Bro . the Rev . P . L . Cautley , P . P . G . C , and Bro . Lord Henniker , M . W . G . M . M . M .

Tne ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER stated that he had received a letter from the Prov . Grand Master regretting nis inability to attend , and asking him to kindly pertorm the ceremony , which with the permission of the lodge he would now proceed to do . A procession was then formed in the following order : Tylers with drawn swords ; visiting brethren ; lodges according to their numbers ; a cornucopia with corn and

ewers with wine and oil , borne by P . Als . ; tro . vel and mallet , borne by P . Ms . ; P . P . G . officers according to rank ; Piov . Grand Secretary wilh Book ol Constitutions ; Prov . Grand Tieas ., bearing vial containing the coins to be deposited in the stone ; the column of the Prov . G . J . W ., borne by a P . M . ; the Prov . G . J . W ., with plumb rule ; the column of the Prov . G . S . W ., borne by a F . M . ; the Acting Prov . G . S . W ., with level ; Prov .

G . Chap ., bearing the Sacred Law on a cushion ; the Acting U . P . G . M ., wilh square ; the Prov . Grand Std . Br . ; the V . W . the Acting Prov . Grand Master . In this order the brethren , headed by the Victoria rife and drum band , marched to the site , where they were received by the Vicar of St . John ' s , Bro . the Rev . C . H . C . Baker , who presented tne Acting Prov . Grand Master with a trowel , and on behalf of the Building Committee , asked him

to lay the sione . Ihe Acting PROV . GRAND MASTER delivered an address , in which he called upon the " men and brethren here assembled to behold this ceremony " to know that they were lawlul Masons , true and faithful to the laws of their country , and united by solemn obligation to erect handsome buildings , and to serve God , the Great Architect ot the Universe . I ' hey had among them , concealed lrom

the eyes of all men , secieis which no man had discovered , but which secrets were lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God and man . They were entrusted in peace and honour to the Masons of ancient time , and having been faithlully transmitted to them , it was their duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless their calling had been good and honourable it would not have lasted for so many centuries , nor would

tney have had so many illustrious brethren in their Older ready to promote ils laws and further its interests . The PROV . GRAND CHAPLAIN , the Rev . **¦ * .. C . M . Rouse , then offered pi ayer , alter which the vessel containing the cuius and records was deposited in the receptacle provided lor it , and the stone was set . As the stone was being lowered a hymn was sung by the St . John ' s choir . The acting Prov . o . M . proved the stone with the plumb rule ,

level , and square , and , having declared it well and truly laid , scattered corn and poured wine and oil over it . The Prov . G . ChapUm then otfe ed prayer , and the brethren reformed procession and inarched to the chuich , headed by the cnoir , singing the processional hymn , "The Church ' s one foundation . " A special form ol sei vice was used . The lesion , taken from Prov . 11 ., 1—10 , was read by Bro . thc Rev . E . J . Griffiths , P . P . G . C . Thc sermon was preached

by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , from the words " Irain up a cnild in the way he should go , and when he is old he will not depart from it" ( Prov . xxii ., 6 ) . In the course of an eloquent and earnest address the Prov . Grand Chaplain said they had that day been engaged in laying the foundation stone of a building wnich he hoped would be a source of great benefit to many generations . They could not have had a more suitable occasion for laying the stone

with Masonic rites , because they , as Masons , wete successors to those who from time immemorial had been associated with the erection of buildings intended for the benefit of mankind , the advancement of the world , and the honour and glory of the Most High . therefore , that they might not be unworthy successors , it behoved them heartily to respond to such a call as this , and invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe upon this work of

benevolence . The high value they , as Masons , set on education was evinced in a most practical way by the noble Masonic Schools they supported at an annual cost of more than , ( , 25 , 000 , and he asked them on that occasion to give further proof of it by contributing with true Masonic liberality to St . John's Infant School .

At the conclusion ot the service the brethren returned in procession to the lodge-room , where the acting PKOV . GRAND SENIOR W ARDEN proposed a vote ol thanks to the Prov . G . and Chaplain lor his admirable discourse . Ihe acting PROV . GRAND MASTER heartily seconded the proposition , whicb was carried and ordered to be entered upon the minutes .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

The PROV . GRAND CHAPLAIN in response expressed the earnest hope that the work they had inaugurated that day might prove a great blessing and a means of usefulness lor many years to come . Ihe lodge was then closed in ancient form , and a luncheon , to which ladies and non-Masons were inviied , was subsequently held at the Angel Hotel , the D . P . G . M . presiding , supported on the right by liio . the Rev . E . J .

Griffiths , P . P . G . C , and on the left by Mr . Cockerel * , Recorder of Sudbury . Most of the brethren whose names are recorded above attended , and in addition there were also present Bros . Major-General Cecil Ives , VV . P . Eversley , and XV . A . Bowler , P . M . 51 . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The Queen , " and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , " and " The Pro Grand Master , Lord

Carnarvon ; the Deputy Grand Master , Lord Lathom ; and the Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past . " He briefly alluded to the work of the revision of the Book of Constitu t ions , and said , admirable as those Constitutions were , yet , like everything else , improvements in some things were necessary . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Clarke , a Past Grand Officer . Bro . CLARKE , P . G . P ., having briefly responded ,

FheUEPUiy PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed "The Health of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Lord Waveney , " whose absence they all deplored . Bro . B . P . GKIMSEY proposed "The Health ofthe D . P . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , " which he was sure they would as heartily receive as the toast which had preceded it . ( Applause . ) However much , in every possible way , ihey might respect , esteem , and regard their R . VV .

Prov . Grand Master , he was sure that not a single instance were they lacking in esteem for their D . P . G . M . ( Applause . ) The D . P . G . M . in responding said he was exceedingly obliged for the kind way in which his name had been received , and if anything were wanting to stir him up to greater zeal in the cause of Freemasonry , it would be the kind reception with wnich he invariably met in the province of Suffolk . ( AppLuse . ) lt was now his duty to propose

what he might lairly call the toast of the day , " Success and prosperity in every sense to St . John ' s Schools , " the foundation-stone of the enlargement of which they had been laying that morning . He quite endorsed the observations of the Piov . Grand Chaplain that unless a child had a thorough religious education his learning would do more harm than good ; he was sent into the world a clever man , but not a man whose influence was for good

throughout the world . It they educated only the head they could noi expect good results to follow . ( Hear , hear ) Bro . the Rev . C . H . C BAKER responded , and thanked the Provincial Grand Lodge for having honoured them with its presence . The D ^ P . G . M . proposed "The Health of the Visitors , " coupled \ vith the name of Mr . Cockerel ) , whom he regretted to say was not a Mason , but was living in a state ot darkness —( laughter)—and they would be only too glad if the

scales should tall from his eyes , and that he should behold the light of Masonry , lor then he would know what a good and practical thing it was . { Apolause . ) If he would consent 10 be initiated he ( the D . P . G . M . ) would undertake to bring some excessively hot pokers and give him such a specimen of Masonry as he never dreamt of . ( Loud laughter ) .

Mr . COCKERELL , in response , thanked the brethren for the cordial reception given to the toast of the Visitors , and passing on to speak of the importance of religious training , said education without religion was simply educating people in crime . Ihe D . P . G . M . next proposed "The Ladies , " on whose behalf Bro . Jennings replied . This concluded the toast list .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF KENT .

The annual festival of the Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the Province of Kent was held on Wednesday , the 1 st inst ., at Dartford , the High Cross , No . 829 , being the entertaining chapter . The convocation was held in thc Wesleyan Schools , Spital-street , which had been prettily

decorated for theoccasion with flags and devices of various colours , while over the Grand Principal ' s chair was the motto , " Welcome Provincial Grand Superintendent . " Shortly alter three o ' clock M . E . Comp . Eastes , P . Z . 503 and 709 , and P . G . H . Kent , opened the chapter in solemn foun , and the companions were admitted . The chairs of H . and J . were filled by Al . E . Comps . T . S .

Warne , P . Z . 20 , P . G . S . E ., and C . Coupland , P . Z . 913 , and P . P . G . P . S . respectively . In opening tne proceedings Comp . EASTES said he was sorry to be compelled to take the chair of Z . that day , and he felt sure the companions would also be sorry when he told them that their esteemed Grand Superintendent , Lord Holmesdale , who should have presided , was compelled to

relinquish the pleasure on account of the illness of Lady Holmesdale . Only the previous day his lordship had expressed his hope and desire to be present ; but that day he ( Comp . Eastes ) had received a telegram from his lordship stating that on account of Lady Holmesdale ' s health he could not be present . Under the circumstances he asked them to extend to him that universal

courtesy and kindness that had hitherto been shown him , so as to enable him to carry out thc important duties delegated to him by their Grand Superintendent . Bro . Eastes was then saluted with grand honours , and returned thanks . The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed , the roll of the chapters in the province was read , all being represented but one . Ihe report of the Audit

Committee was received and adopted . Ten guineas was then granted from the Provincial Grand Chapter Fund to eig ht different chapters in the province , to enable them to become liie-governors ot the Female Benevolent Institution connected with the Order ; this last grant , as Comp . £ * ast j | explained , would make every chapter but two in the province life-governors of all the Institutions . Ihe two receive

not yet subsidised were young chapters , and would the same privilege in time . M . E . Comp . ii . K . Thorpe , P Z . 709 , was then unanimously re-elected I reasurer , and returned thanks . , Comp . EASTES then announced that the Prov . I ^ r ? n Superintendent had again nominated him as Prov . yf' I ' A and Comp . A . Spencer , Z . 829 , and Prov . G . Sec . ( Cran / Kent , as J . He then formally installed Comp . Spencer ,