Laying Of A Foundation-Stone At Wolverhampton.

The PROV . GRAND CHAPLAIN then offered prayer , and the laying of the foundation-stone was proceeded with . The PROV . GRAND MASTER having declared it " p lumb , level , and square , " he declared it to be properly laid , and , in accordance with the ceremony , he poured upon it corn , oil , and wine , the corn being an

emblem of plenty and abundance of God ' s gifts , the oil a symbol of peace and harmony , and the wine of strength and gladness . The National Anthem was then sung , after which the assembly dispersed . A luncheon afterwards took place . The CHAIRMAN ( Mr . Lees ) proposed the toast of

"The Queen , " which was duly honoured . Miss Emilie Lloyd sang the solo of the National Anthem . The toast of " The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , " was then given . Mr . T . BEACH proposed "'The Freemasons of Staffordshire . " He stated that he was not a member of the Craft , but knew that if Freemasonry had never existed England would not have possessed such noble piles as

York Minster at one end of the land and Westminster Abbey at the other . Freemasons had established schools for young and asylums for the old , and recognised the two cardinal virtues of honour to God and Charity to their fellow men . He recognised the high services the Freemasons had given to that institution that day , and especially those of the Earl of Dartmouth , who , in his exalted Masonic rank had laid the foundation stone of the chapel in a most impressive

manner . The Earl of DARTMOUTH , who was enthusiastically greeted , said he wished to return the most sincere thanks of the Freemasons of Staffordshire for the cordial manner in which the toast had been proposed , and the manner in which it had been received . Perhaps there were few Masons who after so short an

experience in the mysteries of the Craft found themselves occupying such a position in the Craft as he . It was to them mainly that he owed that position , and he knew that it was only by their consideration and support that he could hope to carry out the duties of that position . He had already had experience of their consideration and support , and he felt perfectly

confident that as long as it was his endeavour to carry out the duties of his position he would not ask in vain for a continuation of that support . Mr . Beach spoke as he always spoke , in the most admirable manner , and though it made it additionally difficult for him to follow . that speech , he would not follow his example and regret that the duty of responding to the toast had

not been placed in abler hands , for although there were more experienced Masons present who would have responded in a better manner than he—he was sincerely proud to be called upon to respond . The rites , ceremonies , and mysteries of the Craft would remain mysteries to those who were not within the membership , but they were perfectly content , as Mr .

Beach very rightly and kindly stated , that the works that they performed should speak for themselves . Mr . Beach deplored his ignorance of the mysteries of Freemasonry , but there was a very simple way of overcoming that ignorance . It was not so long ago that he ( the speaker ) was equally ignorant , and he could assure Mr . Beach , on behalf of the Freemasons of the

county , that when ho made up his mind to overcome that ignorance—and it would never be too old to learn —he would receive a very hearty welcome . He was not sufficiently acquainted with the members of the Craft in Staffordshire to speak of them individuallythough he hoped shortly to be able to say he was better acquainted with them personally—but speaking

of them as a whole , he could say that they were a body of which no one had any reason to be ashamed to be connected with . He had derived much pleasure from the fact that his first appearance as Provincial Grand Master of the county was on such an occasion as the present , and Mr . Beach had told them truly that one of the principal , if not the

principal , object of the Brotherhood was to help those who were not able to help themselves—not necessarily Freemasons . One of the facts which had enabled Freemasonry to establish itself to such an extnt in the county was the action which the Order had taken with regard to the Charitable Institutions of the county . He was happy to be present at the Orphanage a short time ago at the annual prize distributionand judging

, by the happy health which shone on the faces of the children , and the manner in which they went through the various performances which they were called upon to go through , he realised at once—and all who saw what he did must have realised at once—that the instruction given them at that Institution , and the life they were taught to live , were as good and as happy as possible . This was an Institution which deserved

Nippon , and he was glad that , as Prov . Grand Master of the county , with the assistance of the body of Masons in the county , he had been able to do a little to hel p it . Bro . Lieut .-Col . BINHLEV , D . P . G . M ., proposed" The Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum . " He stated that that glorious Institution had been established by a relative of the chairman , and it had risen from a small institution to a collosal one . It was not confined to

. j , or to one province , and there were at present m the Institution 60 or 70 of the sons and daughters of orrner Freemasons . The members of the Craft thereore ought to feel that they were bound to be more in ° " with it than they had been , for it depended upon voluntary contributions . 0 . 9 "A 1 RMAN > ' responding , said the interest in •nstitution had been shown that day in a remark-

Laying Of A Foundation-Stone At Wolverhampton.

able manner by the large assembly that had gathered at the stone laying ceremony , whilst a large measure of the success of the gathering had been due to the presence of Lord Dartmouth . The Orphanage had been established over forty years , and although the founder would have been pleased if he had seen 50 children in it , they would soon have six times that

number . The late Chairman ( Mr . W . H . Rogers ) left a sum of money to build a chapel , and they were bound to work with all possible energy to carry out that work . They wanted something like £ 600 if they were to open the chapel free from debt in the spring , and if there was anyone who had not contributed towards the fund donations would be gratefully received , and would

relieve the committee of their anxiety in the matter . He wished to acknowledge the kind services Miss Emilie Lloyd had rendered the institution by coming down from London purposely to sing at that gathering . At the conclusion of the luncheon the following subscriptions were announced : H . Coghill , J . P ., £ 50 ; Bro . T . J . Barnett , ^ IOIOS . ; Bro . H . R . T . Denton , / S 5 s .

Bro . W . E . Marsh , £ 5 5 s . ; Bro . T . Spencer , £ 5 5 s . ; Miss Stuart ( Orphanage ) , Collection , £ &; Bro . R . Dain , £ 1 is . ; T . Hanison Evans ( collection ) , £ 50 ; Bro . W . Smith , £ 50 ; Friend , per Bro . F . Guosill , ^ 50 ; Bro . A . Green , ^ 5 5 s . ; Bro . H . Hall , £ 3 3 s . ; Bro . Pepper ( promised ) , £ 1 is . ; F . B . Kelly , J £ IO 10 s . ; Bro . J . Stevenson , £ 1 is . ; and T . Wardley , 10 s . 6 d .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

MARK MASONRY . COLOMBO . St . George of Colombo Lodge ( No . 464 ) . —The installation of the W . M . of this lodge took place at the Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the nth ult . There was a very large attendance of brethren , many of the " up country" members having come down to

Colombo to attend the meeting . The lodge was opened by Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , D . G . S . W ., W . M ., and the minutes of the last regular and five emergency meetings were read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for four brethren , and they were duly elected . At this stage Bro . Lieut .-Col . Blake ( commanding the Royal Artillery in Ceylon ) , P . M ., P . D . S . G . W . of the Mediterranean , was announced , and

was received and saluted in a manner befitting his rank . Two of the candidates being in attendance , were advanced to the honourable Degree of M . M . The Treasurer ' s accounts were then passed . The accounts showed that the lodge was in a very flourishing condition . A letter was read from the Deputy D . G . M ., Bro . Capt . C . D . Wise , expressing his regret that he was unable to leave Bombay to

instal the W . M . elect , but wishing the lodge every good wish . The VV . M . said he had received from Bombay the District Grand Lodge diplomas of those members of the lodge whom the District Grand Master had been pleased to select as his officers , and presented them accordingly . Bros . Col . Blake and Maitland then presented Bro . Hercules John Scott to the W . M . for the benefit of installation ,

which he carried out in a most impressive and masterly manner . The newly-installed Master invested the following as his officers : —Bros . W . R . F . Lukis , Dist . G . Std . Br ., S . W . ; W . M . Roddy , J . W . ; B . G . L . Bremner , M . O . j A . J . Baker , S . O . ; L . W . Kershaw , J . O . ; T . N . Grant , Chap . ; John Guthrie , Treas . ; W . H . Figg , Reg . of Mks . ; Capt . G . Hearn , I . P . M ., Dist . S . G . W ., hec ; J . W . Ridal

Dist . G . Stwd ., S . D . ; H . J . Orford , J . D . ; M . Carey , D . C ; E . 1 . Hay ward , Organist ; and 11 . J . Harman , Tyler . " Hearty good wishes " having been given by the various visiting brethren , the W . M . said before he closed the lodge he begged to thank the I . P . M ., Bro . Capt .

Hearn , for the must effective and impressive manner in which he had performed not only the ceremony of advancement but had installed him in the chair of the lodge . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where a very excellent dinner was partaken of . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given .

A Masonic Centenary At Burlington , Vermont.

A MASONIC CENTENARY AT BURLINGTON , VERMONT .

The brethren of the State of Vermont celebrated their centenary by a banquet at Burlington , Vermont , recently . Among the guests was Bro . J . H . Graham , Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Quebec .

In responding to the toast of " The University and Benificence of Freemasonry , " Bro . GRAHAM said : M . W . Bro . Hall and brethren , the intelligent Craftsmen of the far-famed Green Mountain State , as also those of every other state and territory ot your great Republic , are justly proud that they are citizens of one of

the few great nations of the world , upon whose domains , the sun in his diurnal course never sets ; and all the sons of light greatly rejoice at the wondrous providential fact that , with but few unhappy exceptions , our Ancient and Honourable Fraternity has a duly organised and constantly expanding existence in every

civilised country on the face of the whole earth from north to south and from east to west , thus demonstrating that both literally and symbolically the sun is always at its meridian as regards Freemasonry ; and also showing that during almost every hour of passing time our brethren in some clime are assembled in our

temples , from whose altars the incense of " brotherly love , relief and truth " continually ascends as a sweetsmelling savour to our Father in heaven , the great and glorious Architect and Ruler of the Universe . And , my brethren , the youngest Masonic novitiate need not

be reminded that prominent among the vivifying fundamental principles of our time-immemorial and ever youthful Fraternity are benevolence and beneficence , and that with these are inseparabl y intertwined all the obligations and dutiei which we owe to God .

A Masonic Centenary At Burlington , Vermont.

to our neighbours , and to ourselves ; and while humbie Craftsmen vaingloriously boast not of the hundreds of thousands of shiekels voluntarily given by them and annually expended for the care and comfort of the widow , the fatherless , the needy , aged , and infirm ; yet all true brethren of the Mystic Tie , glorify in the fact that the great ends and aims of our Fraternity are not

only to promote individual good and present betterment , but to aid in all things , to hasten the coming of the glorious Era , of which our beloved Brother , Robert Burns ( the immortal laureate bard of the Freemasons of my own dear native land ) , sang with triumphal prophetic joy : " 'It ' s coming yet for a' that ,

When man to man the warld o er , Will brithers be for a' that . " " M . W . Grand Master Whipple , officers and brethren , permit me in closing these brief remarks , heartily to congratulate you upon this first centenary of the benificent existence of your renowned Grand Lodge , and that of my own Masonic nativity ; and in the

unavoidable absence of our esteemed Grand Master Noyes , I beg you also to accept , through me , the warm , fraternal greetings , and the grateful thanks of our Grand Lodge of the Ancient Province of Quebec , whose first Provincial Grand Lodge predecessor of A . D . 1759-91 , ' had , in the latter year , and by its last like official act , the rare felicity and the distinguished honour of

chartering dear old Dorchester Lodge , Vergennes , No . 1 , on the Masonic Registry of your notable state . " Brethren , my fervent prayer is that the choicest blessings of the Most High , may ever rest upon the M . W . the Grand Lodge of the Freemasons of Vermont ; and that it may exist and be abundantly prospered in all its benificent labours , world without end . So mote it be . "

Death Of The Sovereign Grand Commander, 33°, Of Illinois.

DEATH OF THE SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER , 33 ° , OF ILLINOIS .

Bro . John Corson Smith , Deputy Grand Commander , 33 ° , of Illinois , has issued the following circular to the members of the Commandery : ¦ " III . Brethren , —For the third time in three years , the Angel Death has invaded the chamber of the

Supreme Council , 33 ° , for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America , and the beloved Grand Commander , III . Bro . Philip Crosby Tucker , 33 ° has been called from suffering to eternal rest in Heaven . " 111 . Bro . Philip Crosby Tucker , 33 ° , was born in Vergennes , Vermont , February 14 , 1826 , and removed to Texas in 1853 , where he became actively identified

with Freemasonry . The son of one of the best members of the Craft in its dark days in Vermont , Bro . Philip C . Tucker , who disseminated the ' Webb Work , ' and stood so firm in the anti-Masonic times , our frater could not be lukewarm where there was so much good work to be done . " His devotion to our Fraternity was not overlooked

by his brethren , who in due season called him to the high offices of M . W . Grand Master of Ancient Craft Masons , M . E . Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masonry , and R . E . Grand Commander of Knights Templar . He became an active member of the Southern Supreme , Council in 1868 , and its Grand Commander October , 10 , 1893 , succeeding 111 . Bro ^

Dr . James C . Batchelor , 33 ° , who had been elected Grand Commander in October , 1892 , to succeed that Nestor of Scottish Rite Free Masonry , III . Bro . Gen . Albert Pike , 33 ° . " III . Bro . Tucker was ill from malaria but two days when he was stricken to death by apoplexy in ! the 1 Holy House of the Temple' at our National Capital ,

from which his predecessors had also passed to that Holier Temple , ' that House ; not made with hands , eternal in the Heavens . ' " A wife and seven children , together with the entire brotherhood , are left to mourn his absence from us . " The remains of our distinguishsd frater , accompanied by his wife and one daughter , and Grand

Secretary-General Fred . Webber , 33 ° , were received in Chicago on the nth inst . by an escort consisting of Active and Honorary Members of the Supreme Council , 33 ° Northern Masonic Jurisdiction , U . S . A ., the Commander-in-Chief , officers and many members of Oriental Consistory , S . P . R . S . 32 ° and lovingly transferred to the train which bore them to their final resting

place . " Let our altars and working tools be draped in violet for 60 days in memory of the deceased . " Lieut Grand Commander Thomas Hubbard Caswell is now the acting Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction . " To the bereaved wife and family , the brethren in

the District of Illinois extend their sympathy ; they mourn with their fratres of Texas and the Southern Supreme Council the death of their Grand Commander , but not as they who will not be comforted , for they remember the Divine assurance that we shall meet in the hereafter , in that world so graphically described by the American Poet Laureate , the lamented Bro . Rob . Morris :

" ' There's a world where all are equal , we are hurrying to it fast , We shall meet upon the Level there , when the gates of Death are passed ; We shall stand before the Orient , and our Master will be there , To try the blocks we offer with His own unerring Square . ' "JOHN CORSON SMITH , 33 , . " Deputy . "