The Liverpool Cathedral Chapter House.

ceremony , be it known to you that we are loyal Freemasons true and faithful to the laws of our country , and engaged by solemn obligations to erect handsome buildings to the service of the brethren and to the fear of God , the Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of

all men , secrets Avhich may not be revealed , and Avhich no man has discovered ; but those secrets are lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to the laAvs of God or man . They Avere entrusted in peace and honour to the Masons of ancient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to usit is our

, duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable we could not have lasted for so many centuries , nor should we have had so many illustrious brethren in our Order ready to promote outlaws and further our interests . We are assembled here

today , in the presence of you all , to erect this building to the honour and glory of the Most High and in affectionate memory of the well-beloved brother whose name it will bear . We pray God to prosper the undertaking as it seems good to Him , and , 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 join with our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace . "

Bro . Canon Horsley , G . Chap ., then offered the following special prayer : " Almighty and Eternal God , Architect and Ruler of the Universe , Whom heaven and earth cannot comprehend , and yet dost condescend to have tabernacles and temples amongst men : Thou who art the beginning and the end , Whose aid

we ever implore on all our lawful undertakings : " Blessed be Thy Name , that it hath pleased Thee to put into the hearts of Thy servants as Masons to build this House to Thy glory and in pious memory of our most worshipful brother , Edward , Earl of Lathom , a distinguished ruler in the

Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons under the United Grand Lodge of England . " As Thou didst accept the devotion of Thy servant Solomon , so vouchsafe to send Thy blessing upon this work of those who reverence the name of that Master Builder .

Remember them concerning this , and grant that all who shall hereafter enjoy the benefit of this Chapter House may show their thankfulness by rightly using it to the glory of Thy Name . May the principles of brotherly love , relief and truth be herein ever upheld and promoted . May Prudence direct

them , Temperance restrain them , Fortitude support them , and Justice be the guide of all their actions . Of Thine infinite mercy give them Wisdom in all their doings ; Strength of Mind in all their difficulties , and endow them with the Beauty of Love and Harmony in all their communications ; that so they may the better be enabled to unfold the beauties of true godliness to the honour and glory of Thy Holy Name . "

The M . W . Grand Master said : I now declare it to be my will and pleasure that the corner-stone of this building belaid . Brother the Grand Secretary , you will read the inscription on the plate . The Grand Secretary , Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth , read the inscription on the plate , and also on the face of the stone ,

as follows : "To the glory of God and in affectionate memory of Edward , first Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., M . W . Pro Grand Master of the Freemasons of England , R . W . Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , this corner-stone of the Lathom Chapter Houseerected by the Freemasons of West

Lanca-, shire , was laid with Masonic ceremonial by H . R . H . Duke of Connaught and Stratheam , K . G ., & c , & c , M . W . Grand Master of the Fieemasons of England , 17 th July , A . L . 5906 , A . D . 1906 . " Bro . Louis S . Winslow , Grand Treasurer of Liverpool ,

next deposited a phial containing various coins of the present reign in the cavity of the lower stone , and the Grand Secretary placed over it the brass inscribed plate . The Grand Master then with a silver trowel adjusted the cement at the corners of the lower stone , and the upper stone was

lowered into position , with three distinct stops . In workmanlike fashion the Grand Master " proved" the stone with the plumb rule , and said , " I find this stone to be plumb , and

the craftsmen AVIIO have prepared it true and trusted . " Having applied the level , he said , " I find this stone to be level , and that the craftsmen have laboured skilfully " ; and having also used the square he remarked , "I find this stone to be plumb , level and square , and I declare it to be duly

prepared and truly laid , and that the craftsmen have worked Avell . " Being thus satisfied , his Royal Highness gave the stone three knocks with an ivory mallet . The contents of

the Cornucopia—corn , wine and oil—were streAvn on the stone . Bro . Frank Richardson , Grand Director of Ceremonies , afterwards introduced to the Grand Master the architect of of the building , Mr . Gilbert Scott , who delivered the plan of the structure to his Royal Highness . Having inspected the

plan , he returned it to the architect , together with the several tools used in proving the position of the stone , saying : " I now place in your hands the plan of this intended building , together Avith the necessary tools , not doubting your skill and ability as a craftsman , and I desire that you will proceed

without loss of time to the completion of the work in conformity with the plans and designs now entrusted to you . " This completed the Masonic ceremony , and the Bishop of Liverpool pronounced the Benediction . A short musical service followed , a composite choir , conducted by Bro . C . W .

Bridson , P . P . G . O ., F . R . C . O . ( Organist of St . Nicholas's Church ) , and accompanied on the organ by Bro . R . Harvey , rendering very effectively a setting of the anthem , " Her foundations are upon the holy hills , " by Mr . F . H . Burstall , F . R . C . O ., the Cathedral organist . The hymn , "O God , our help in ages past , " was also sung , and the service terminated with Stainer ' s sevenfold "Amen . "

At the conclusion of the ceremony the Lord Mayor ' s coach , which was it waiting , conveyed the Duke , the Lord Mayor and Lady Lathom to the Town Hall , where a numerous company had assembled in honour of the Royal visit . A few minutes after five o ' clock the Royal visitor ,

accompanied by Lord Lathom , the Lord Mayor and others , left the Town Hall , the appearance of his Royal Highness being greeted with an outburst of cheering by the crowd of people who had assembled outside ( he civic building . His Royal Highness proceeded to Lime Street Station via Castle

Street , Lord Street , Church Street and Lime Street , and throughout the brief drive he was most loyally greeted . On reaching the station his Royal Highness stood chatting , chiefly with the Lord Mayor , before entering his dining saloon . He expressed to the chief magistrate his great

pleasure at the cordial way in which he had been received , asking that this grateful acknowledgment should be conveyed to the citizens of Liverpool ; while his Royal Highness further tendered thanks to the Lord Mayor for the hospitality of the Town Hall . Among those who accompanied his

Royal Highness lo London were Bros . Earl Amherst , the Right Hon . T . F . Halsey , Lord Dartrey , Lord Desborough , Sir Edward Letchworth , Sir Alfred Egerton ( equerry ) , Canon Horsley , Colonel Bosworth , and Frank Richardson .

The trowel presented to the M . W . G . M . is of silver and ivory , richly decorated . On the handle appears the coat-ofarms of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . The blade is of unusual shape , and is decorated with the arms of Liverpool and a view of the Lathom Chapter House executed in repousse . Masonic emblems are engraved in the top corners

of the blade , which also bears the following inscription : " Presented to H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., & c , M . W . Grand Master of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of England , on the occasion of his laying the cornerstone of the Lathom Memorial Chapter House , Liverpool

Cathedral , July 17 th , 1906 . " The ivory mallet is surmounted by a Royal Crown , and the head is decorated on the one side by a scene of the Lathom Chapter House in repousse silver , and on the other side by the coat-of-arms of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught ,

similarly executed . The inscription on the trowel is also repeated on the mallet . The two pieces are enclosed in a handsome case .