Laying Final Coping-Stone Of Southampton Docks.

LAYING FINAL COPING-STONE OF SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS .

IMPOSING MASONIC CEREMONY . By way of celebrating 60 years of progress in connection with the Southampton Docks , and for the particular purpose of laying the coping-stone of the new deep water quays , a great gathering of Freemasons and other visitors journeyed to Southampton on Wednesday last , at the invitation of the London and South-Western Railway Company .

The date was well chosen , for it was on October 12 th , 1838 , that Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis laid the foundation-stone of the lirst tidal dock of the port . As in 18 3 8 , the ceremony was conducted with full Masonic honours , and in the presence of hundreds of brethren , representing every lodge in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , who had been invited to take a prominent part in the

proceedings as they did 60 years ago . Seven survivors of the crowd who took some part in that scene were invited to be present at the commemorative festivities , and representatives of all the Masonic lodges that gathered round Sir Lucius Curtis , and still exist , came to join in the procession . Directors oi the South-Western Railway , with prominent officials and many guests , travelled down by special train .

Among those present were Mr . Wyndham Portal , Chairman ; Colonel Campbell , Deputy Chairman-General ; Mr . F . Marshall , Sir Charles Scotter 7 Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., and Mr . Govitt , Directors ; Mr . Owens , General Manager ; Mr . Macaulay , Secretary ; and Mr . White , Trafiiic Superintendent of the Line . They were joined on arrival at Southampton by Mr . Dixon , Superintendent of the Dock ; Messrs , Galbraith and Church , engineers of the new works , and Mr . John Aird , jun ., representing the contractors . Masonic bodies with the banners and emblems were assembled on the

wharves , and the Aldermen of Southampton , headed by their Mayor , came in scarlet robes , with other civic authorities , to welcome the borough's visitors . Luncheon for hundreds was laid in one of the enormous sheds that have been constructed for the temporary storage of merchandise , but refreshment being only a minor incident in the day ' s proceedings , had to be postponed until the greater ceremonies were gone through . For these the procession began to form immediately , and file away along the far . stretching wharves to a point where the Test and Itchen join .

The Union Jack was borne in front as it seems to have been at the ceremony 60 years ago , according to a contemporary picture of that event , which hung under a portrait of Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , among the decorations that adorned shed No . 34 on Wednesday . Following it was a police band . The borough members marched next , then the town sergeants , bearing one a silver oar the other a mace that has been carried on all occasions of civic state for many

centuries , and behind them the Mayor , with Sheriff Rawdon , Town Clerk , Chaplains , Aldermen , and Councillors . The Harbour Commission , officers of the Corporation , foreign Consuls , and Borough Magistrates , took part next in the order of procession , and behind them marched the Chairman of the South-Western Railway Company , the directors , General Manager , Secretary , and heads of departments , the Engineer and Contractor for Works , the officers of the this of the had

docks and steam packet departments . When part procession passed , Masonic bodies fell in , having at their head a Royal Standard , beside which the Ty ler moved with drawn sword , and behind him marched the several lodges , each distinguished by its banner . Other Tylers , with drawn swords , preceded the banner of the Provincial Grand Lodge , among whose ofiicers were the Wor . Masters of these ancient lodges , bearing gold ewers for wine and oil , and a cornucopia for the corn . Next came Provincial Grand Chaplains with the

Volume of the Sacred Law on a velvet cushion , then the Sword Bearer , Pursuivants , Provincial Grand Tyler , and last of all the Provincial Grand Master , with a banner borne in front of him and a Standard Hearer on either hand . As he approached , the ranks of brethren divided , facing inwards for him to pass between the tiers thus formed , and . then they all closed in to take part on galleries that rose tier above tier , surrounding the platform , where a massive granite coping-stone hung suspended from a tripodabove which another Royal Standard floated .

, Proceedings were opened by Mr . WYNDHAM PORTAL , who , as chairman of the South-Western Railway and Dock Company , delivered an introductory address , in which he spoke of the occasion as especially interesting because it was the Goth anniversary of the day on which the foundation-stone of the present dock was laid , and with it the foundation of Southampton ' s success , He said the scenes then and now were very similar , but in one point they differed . Sir Lucas Curtis

began at the bottom of a great undertaking , whereas Mr . Beach would lay upon the completed work its top and coping-stone . Mr , Portal then sketched briefly the history of works whereby the prosperity of Southampton , as a shipping port , had grown so rapidly . In 1845 the tonnage of ships entering and leaving the docks was 158 , 680 tons ; in 1 S 97 it had grown to 7 , 116 , 17 8 tons . During the first year of her Majesty's reign a small steamer left Southampton with one solitary

hag of letters on board j in a single week of the present year no less than 3328 bags of letters were shipped at the docks , besides 594 parcel post baskets or hampers . Other details equally interesting were given to show how enormously the shipping trade had increased with every additional effort made lor its accommodation . " And , " said the Chairman , pointing to the banner of his company , " our motto still is ' Progress , ' we have not done yet . " He then called upon the Prov . G . Master to lay the coping stone .

Laying Final Coping-Stone Of Southampton Docks.

After a brief address expressive of pleasure in performing this duty , Bro . BEACH called upon the Chaplain to offer up prayer , at the conclusion of which the assembled Masons uttered in chorus the response , " So mote it be . " Mr . John Aird then presented a silver trowel to the Prov . G . Master , cement was brought by the engineers , and then , to the accompaniment of solemn musicthe

, stone was lowered in its place , three pauses being made in the course of its descent . With plumb , level , and square the stone was tested by him , who declared " that the craftsmen had performed the work skilfully and well . " Then , giving three taps with a mallet , he invoked a blessing on the undertaking , and again there came the deep response , " So mote it be . "

Instruction.

Instruction .

PROSPERITY LODGE , No . 65 . , „ , '"" t'ngrwas held on Wednesday , the sth inst ., at the Weaver ' s Arms , 17 , London Wall , E . C . Present : Bros . William Baker , W . M . 192 , J . G . IRobeson , S . VV . 102 S . W . ; E . Croft Wise , W . M . 6 , 9 , I . W . ; D . Harlow / P . M . 65 , Preceptor H . T . Meadows , P . M . r r , Secj . VV . G . Read , S . D . ; VV . Gernon , J . D . ; R . F . Roche , I . G . j J . Smith , P . M . 192 , Asst . Sec ; J . Brown , W . M . 1 446 ; H . Saunion , 1423 ; S . M ? c ' c . -T " Klni PP - 65 C . Butcher , W . M . 902 ; S . Spencer , W . M . 65 ; J . Millert Trotman

, . P . Langford , W . M . 1571 , G . , and F . H . Farr . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . F . P . Langford acting as candidate . Bro . H . Saunion then answered the questions leading to the Second Degree , and was entrusted . The W . M . then opened the lodge in the Second Degree , and pased Bro . Saunion to the Degree of F . C . Bro . William Baker then opened the lodge in the 1 hird Degree , and the brethren went through Masonic Drill . The W . M . closed the lodge in the three Degrees , and rising the usual times , the lodge was closed .

WOKING EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 1395 . Bro . J . J . Black , who has been Preceptor of the above lodge since its opening in 1 S 9 S , has lust been appointed P . J . G . D . of the Province of Surrey . The Present and Past Masters of the lodge , thinking it a most suitabe opportunity for expressing in some manner the esteem and respect in which they held their Preceptor , decided to pre . sent him with the regalia of his office . A Committee was appointed , with Bro . Littleboy , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C , as Secretary , to make the necessary arrangements . The matter

was taken up most cordially by the brethren , and on the 4 th inst ., there was a good attendance to witness the presentation . Bro . Mossop , P . M ., the Treasurer , and oldest member present , on behalf of the brethren , asked Bro . Black to accept the regalia asa slight token of their affection . The speaker said that Bro . Black ' s instruction and assistance had been invaluable to Masons in the district . For 10 years he had devoted some 16 evenings a year to the improvement of Masonic working , and every member of owed him debt of their behalf

the lodge a gratitude . On , he congratulated Bro . Black on having received Provincial honours . Bro . Black most heartily thanked the brethren . He said that it gave him great pleasure to accept the office which Lord Onslow , P . G . M ., had bestowed on him , because he felt that it was the wish of the brethren that he should do so . He was very prcud to be the Preceptor of such a lodge . All that he did was a labour of love , and he could not find words to adequately express his feelings on that occasion , and to thank them as he would wish .

THE KENNEL CLUH ' S forty-third show of dogs of all varieties will take place at the Crystal Palace , on Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday next . As usual , the whole central space of the Crystal Palace will be devoted to the benching of the exhibits , in number more than 2500 . This is a record . Amongst those exhibiting are their Royal Hi g hnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , and many other owners , including Mrs . Oliphant , whose prize-winning bloodhounds , at the trials held in Yorkshire last week , are certain to attract attention .

1 HE ANNUAL CONFERENCE of the Institute of Chartered Accountants opened in Manchester on the 13 th instant , and was attended by about 200 accountants from all parts of the kingdom . Mr . J . G . Griffiths , the President , in his opening address , expressed the hope that , in the endeavour to prevent the formation of companies of the nature of those the revelations respecting which had lately so scandalised the public . Parliament would not render it difficult and dangerous for honourable men to associate themselves with the direction of legitimate enterprises , and , particularly , would not make the position of directors and auditors untenable by men of character .

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SMOKERS SHOULD USE C -A . Hi"V " Ei X £ T' S DENTO-PHEHOLEME . A DELICIOUS ANTISEPTIC LIQUID DENTIFRICE . A few drops in a wineglass of water makes a ilelieions wash , for sweetening the breath and leaving a pleasant taste and refreshing coolness in tho mouth . Editor of Ileallli says : — " Most cfToctinil for strengthening tho gums in cftso of tenderness anil ridding tho month of tho aroma of toliacco . " Is . Gd . and 2 s . 6 d . Bottles , at Cliemists , & c , or Post Free for Value . Illustrated Pamphlet of Calvert ' s Carbolic Preparations sent post free on application . F . C . CALVERT & CO ., Manchester .

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COU 3 XT T Y —™—i - — ^ - FOUNDED 1807 . SO REGENT ST ., W ., & FIR ^ —— | J 4 J 0 RNHILL J . C ., LONDON . OFFICE , The Distinguishing Feature of this Office is THE RETURN SYSTEM . On Ordinary Insurances , under which Policyholders who have been insured for Seven Years and who continue insured—whether inder an Annual or Septennial Policy—become entitled to a RETURN OF 25 PER CENT , of the Premiums they have paid during each Seven Years , provided no loss has arisen under their Policies in that Period . Insurances on Farming Stocks and on other than Ordinary Risks do not participate in tlie Returns , nor are the Returns given on amounts which , being in excess of its own holding , are not retained by the Office . ___ Policies may bo effected or transferred without any extra expenses . Q . ^ W . STEVENS , J Mnt Secretarie $ i