The M.W. Grand Master At York.

THE M . W . GRAND MASTER AT YORK .

LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OK THE YORK INS PITUTE . The ancient city of York so celebrated in the annals of Freemasonry has just added another link to its long chain ol Masonic history . On Wednesday last the M . W . G . M . performed a ceremony which was perhaps more imposing than any that have ever graced the City of York . Early in the morning the streets were alive , for a holiday was kept and thousands of visitors were present to share whatever offered in the way of amusement and

excitement . Flags and decorations of all kinds met the eye on every side with effects more than usually pleasing . The streets of York are peculiarly adapted to the best form of decoration , being narrow and winding , the houses having an air of antique ruggedness , and almost at every corner stands out a church or building whose historic associations or architectural beauties add to the picturesqu ' eness of the scene . Long before ten o ' clock the streets were lined and the crowd behind the barriers was very great .

It was half-past ten o ' clock when his Royal Highness entered an open carriage in company with his host , Sir George Wombwell , the Marquis of Hamilton , and his equerry Colonel Ellis . A pair of splendid light bays , purchased by Sir George for the occasion , drew the party at a moderate pace in the d rection ot the GuiUhall . Within a few minutes the Guildhall was reached , and the Grand Alaster took his seat on the throne and the Special Grand Lodge was opened . M ^ an . vhile at the Assembly Rooms in

Blake-street the Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , had called a Special Provincial Grand Lodge , which , in his lordship's temporary absence at the Grand Lodge , was presided over by Bro . Dr . Bell , Deputy Prov . G . M . Alter opening the lodge Bro . Bell addressed the brethren , calling attention to the interesting event which had called them together , and noticing briefly the occasions on which the Masons of York had been honoured with Royal and distinguished visitors . Both lodges being closed a procession was formed in the following order :

Two Tylers with drawn swords . Visiting brethren . Lodges in North and East Yorkshire , according- to their numbers , juniors walking first , viz .: 1901 , Agricola , York . 6 G 0 , Camalodunum , Malton . 1 S 4 S , Ferrum , Middlesborough . 6 43 . Royal , Filey . 1760 , Leopold , Scarborough . 630 , St . Cuthbert , Howden . 161 S , Handyside , Saltburn . ( I 02 , North York , Middlesborough . 1 G 11 , Eboracum , York . | 566 , St . Germain , Selby .

1605 , De ! a Poie , Hull . j . 561 , Zetland , Guisbrough . 1511 , Alexandra , Hornsea . 543 , Cleveland , Stokesley . 1416 , Falcon , Thirsk . 312 , Lion , Whitby . 1337 , Anchor , Nonhallerton . 294 , Const'tutional , Be . crley . 1248 , Denison , Scarborough . 250 , Minerva , Hull . 1244 , Marwood , Kedcar . 236 , York , York . 1040 , Sykes , Drillitld . 200 , Old Globe , Scaiborough .

1010 , Kingston , Hull . 123 , Lennox , Richmjnd . 734 , Londesborough , Bridlington . 57 , Humber , Hull . Provincial Grand Officers of other Provinces . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE . Provincial Grand Tyler . Provincial Grand Steward . Banner of Provincial Grand Lodge . Provincial Grand Steward .

Past Provincial Grand Assistant Pursuivants . Provincial Grand Assistant Pursuivant , Bro . J . Fairburn . Past Provincial Grand Pursuivants . Provincial Grand Pursuivant , Bro . J . S . Wilson . Past Provincial Grand Organists . Provincial Grand Organist , Bro . G . D . Storry . Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearers .

Past Provincial Grand Assistant Director ot Ceremonies , Bro . R . H . Peacock . Provincial Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies .

Past Provincial Grand Directors of Ceremonies . Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . M . S . Y . Collingwood . Past Provincial Grand Superintendents of Works . Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works . Bro . W . Holder . Past Provincial Grand Deacons . The Provincial Grand Deacon , Bro . Haberland . Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . M . C . Peck . Past Provincial Grand Registrars .

Provincial Grand Registrar , Bro . C . Waistell . Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . R . W . Hollon . Past Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . Rev . W . Booth . The Provincial Grand Chaplain . Bro . Rev . \ V . Chilman . Past Provincial Grand Warden , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Sadler . The Provincial Grand Warden , Bro . Major W . H . Marwood . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , bro . J . P . Bell , M . D .

Provincial Grand Steward . Banner of the Provincial Grand Master .

Provincial Grand Steward . Provincial Grand > word Bearer . The RAV . Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Ri ht Hon . the Earl of Zetland . Two Provincial Grand Stewards . GRAND LODGE . The Architect , Bro . W . G . Peniy . with the Plans . Grand Steward . Cornucopia with Corn , borne by the Master of the Lion Lodge .

Grand Steward . Two Ewers with Wine and Oil , borne by the Masters of the Constitutional and Minerva Lodges .

Assistant Grand Pursuivant , Bro . William Stevens . Grand Pursuivant . Assistant Grand Secretary . Grand Organist . Trowel , borne by a Past Master of the Vork Lodge , Bro . . las . Todd , No . 236 . Mallet , borne by a Past Master of the Eboracum Lodge , Bro . 1 . S . Cumberland ,

No . 1611 . Past Grand Standard Bearer . Past Grand Sword Bearers , Bns . R . W . Hollen and J Messent . Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp .

Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies . Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . T . D . Bolton . Grand Dip ctorof Ceremonies , Bro . Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) P . G . W . Grand Supeuntendent of Works , bearing a Plate with the Inscription for the Memorial Stone . Past Gran j Deacons : Bros . F . P . Morrell , Lieut .-Col . Somerville H . Burney , Frank Richardson , Major J . Penrice , and Thomas Ftnn . Acting Crand Secretary , with the Boi . k » f Constitutions , Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D .

Past Grand Recislrars . Grand Registrar bearing the Great Seal . Grand Treasurer , Bro . J . D . Allcroft , bearing a Phial containing the coins to be deposited in the Stone . Past Grand Chaplains : Bros , the Very Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , Dean of York ; the Rev . H . Adair Picard , and the Rev . J . E . Cox , D . D . Past Provincial Grand Masters ,

The M.W. Grand Master At York.

Provincial Grand Masters : Bros . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., West Yorkshire ; Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , Lancashire ( E . Div . ) j and C . E . Egan , South Africa ( fl \ Div . ) Visitors of Distinction . The Corinthian Light , borne by the Master of the Eboracum Lodge , Bro . M . MiUington The Column of the Junior Grand Warden , borne by the Master of the York Lodge , Bro . G . Kirby .

The Junior Grand Warden , Bro . the Right Hon . Col . F . A . Stanley , M . P . The Junior Grand Warden with the Plumb Rule . Grand Standard Bearer , Bro . Edgar B nvyer . Grand Steward , with the banner of Grand Lodge . The Doric Light , borne by the Master of the Old Globe Lodge . The Column of the Senior Grand Warden , borne by the Master of the Lennox Lodge , Earl of Mi ltown .

The Senior Grand Warden , with the Level . Junior Grand Deacons , Bros . F . Green and I " . H . Devonshire . Grand Steward . The Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . W . Oswell Thompson , bearing the Sacted Law on a cushion .

Grand Steward . The Acting Deputy Grand Master , with the Square , Lord Zetland . The Ionic Light , borne by the Master of the Humber Lodge . Grand Standard Bearer , Bro . Lieut .-Col . A . C . Foster Gough , ^ LL . D ., with the Banner of the Most Worshipful Grand Master .

I he Grand Sword Bearer , Bro . Lieut .-Col . James Peters . The Most Worshipful Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . Senior Grand Deacons , Bros . T . C . Tew and Ralph Gooding . Two Grand Stewards . Grand Tyler . Llpon reaching the entrance to the castellated walls of the enclosure in CliiTord-street , the Tylers halted , while the brethren divided and formed an

avenue lacing inwards , between whom passed the Grand Master , preceded by the Grand Sword Bearer and follo . ved by the Grand Officers , who took their places on and at the back of the raised dais at the northern end of the enclosure . It was a gay scene that was witnessed within the wooden walls of this mock castle between the hours of eleven and twelve that day . Five thousand favoured ladies and gentlemen occupied seats in the blocks and galleries . The Masons and public divided possession of the space at the

base of the figure . A white canvass awning was stretched over the enclosure , which terminated at the north with a dais raised four or five feet from the ground . Crimson cloth covered this structure , and flowers and plants gave to the front a pleasantly picturesque appearance . The tripod , whose arms of blue and twisted white supported the granite memorial stone , rose above the

dais a little on the right , just beyond a broad flight of steps . As His Royal Highness mounted these steps the people rose to their feet , and the band at the rear of the building struck the notes of the National Anthem . By a few minutes after eleven o'clock everything was ready for the opening ceremony . The brethren had been marshalled into their places , and the Grand Officers had taken their places to the right and left of the Prince .

From among this brilliant assembly stepped the Sheriff of York , Bro J . Sykes Rymer , P . M ., who briefly requested the Grand Master to lay the memorial stone of the Institute . In lending his influence , said the SHERIFF , to a new Institute for the cultivation ol science , art , and literature in that city his Royal Highness was , the Committee thought , doing that which would greatly assist in the promotion of the welfare of the country . All present were pleased to know

that the country had in past times occupied a high position among nations ; and with the blessings ot the Great Architect of the Universe upon such institutions as that in whose interest they were met , the future of the nation would be made moregloriousthanit had been in the past . Many of the Prince's Royal ancestors had taken part in imposing ceremonies within the walls of that ancient city , but none had had more pleasant recollections than would attend that in which his Royal Highness was taking part on that occasion .

York , in the past , had been second to no other portion of the kingdom in its loyalty to the Throne ; and as Sheriff of the city he was pleased to say that the loyal feeling now possessed by it would outshine that which had distinguished it in the past . As soon as the applause which greeted the Sheriff ' s words had died away , The GRAND MASTER rose to address the assemblage . Men and brethren , said his Royal Highness , assembled to behold this ceremony , be it

known unto you that we , being lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of our country , are engaged by solemn obligations to erect handsome buildings to be serviceable to the brethren , and to fear God , the Great Architect ol the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may not be revealed , and which no man has discovered . But these secrets are lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They have been entrusted in peace and honour to Masons of ancient

times ; and having been faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted for so many centuries , nor should we have had so many illustrious brothers in our Order , ready to promote our laws and further our interests . ( Applause . ) We are here assembled in the presence of you all to erect this building to the honour and glory of the Most High , and which we pray God may prosper as it seems good to

Him . As the first duty of Masons , in any undertaking , is to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe on their work , I call upon you to unite with our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne ot Grace . The Prince having ceased , the upper stone of granite was carefully raised and the lower stone properly adjusted . The Grand Chaplain ( the Rev . H . G . Morse ) then obeyed the Grand Master's call to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe upon the undertaking of the day . The prayer offered , another officer stepped to the front of the dais , and , raising

his hand , gave the signal for brethren to sing a Masonic Anthem , after which Captain N . G , Philips , acting as Grand Secretary , in the regretted absence of Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , read aloud the inscription on the memorial-stone ; and the Grand Treasurer , Bro . J . D . Allcroft , deposited in the lower stone a phial containing' coins . The Grand Secretary also fixed a brass plate , with an inscription relating to the ceremony , over the aperture . Cement was then spread over the upper lace of the lower stone , and was adjusted with a trowel by the Grand Alaster . At a signal from the architect , Bro . VV . G . Penty , the upper granite was lowered with three distinct stops .

Thereupon the Grand Master , proved with plumb and rule , with level and with square , the true position of the stone , receiving the implements from the Junior Grand Warden , Colonel the Ri g ht Hon . F . L . Stanley ; the Grand Senior Warden , the Earl of Milltown , and the Depuiy Grand Master . The cornucopia and the golden ewers of wine and oil were next handed to the Grand Master , who strewed the corn and poured the wine and oil over the stone , with the usual Masonic declarations ot Plenty , Joy , & nd Peace . The stone was laid .

The Grand Master then examined the plans of the building , and presented them to the architect , whom he enjoined to proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work , whose plans were now entrusted to him .