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round me ) to see this good work ( so nobly commenced this day ) flourish and prosper as it deserves , and I feel assured with I one A-oice al ! will join me in exclaiming , May Almighty God in His wisdom look down Aipon it and sanctify it . Amen . " I Mrs . Delgado then proceeded to place the bottle containing the scroll in the niche , after which she laid the mortar , the Grand Chaplain reading— " May the all-bounteous Author of Nature bless the inhabitants of this place with all tho

necessaries , conveniences , and comforts of life ; assist in the erection and completion of this building ; protect the workmen against every accident , and long preserve this structure from decay , ancl grant to us all a supply of the corn of nourishment , the wine of refreshment , and the oil of joy . —Amen ! So mote it be ! Amen !"

During this invocation the upper stone was lowered and adjusted , the venerable lady striking it three times . She then strewed tiie corn , poured the oil , and spilt the Avine on the corner stone . Mrs . Delgado Avas assisted throughout by the Right Worshipful Dr . Hamilton . The ceremony of the laying of the stone heing concluded , the party returned to the platform that had been erected for the Grand Lodge and the lady visitors , which was elegantly decorated with banners and fringes ,

and the Prov . G . Chap . Dr . Myers , proceeded to close the proceedings with the following prayer : — "Almighty God and King ! Girt with glory , clothed in majesty , arrayed in might , truly from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God . All nature in mixed acclaim praise Thee , sole august and universal lord . Symphonious to thy behest , tlie heavens and the earth , the sea ancl the skies , all in harmonious concert yield their united praise . AA'ben from a view so vast

and astounding we soar to frame more enlarged ancl more ennobling conceptions of Thee , overcome by the magnitude of the contemplation , we shrink within ourselves ; and from the depths of self-humiliating abasement , confess our inabilty to fathom Thy goodness . "Thou who in Thine abundant wisdom placed the poor in the land , hast doubtless caused this misery , in order to test the feelings of those Avhom Thou hast blessedto note whether the

, instincts of humanity enlarges their heart , to observe whether the desire to alleviate animates their soul . "This day have they given Thee evidence , if proof were needed , that they undertake with cheerfulness the trust Thou hast confided to them .

" Thoy will erect this edifice to shield , protect , and guide tlie poor . 0 ! crown their efforts with Thy blessing . Lot Thine eye be upon this place , and Thine ear , to which the gentle whisper is audible , let it listen to the words of gratitude , as they will gush forth from the happy hearts of the inmates , as they acknowledge Thee the universal God . "Vouchsafe , everlasting God , Thy mercy and Thy love upon those who may become the recipients of this benevolence . Let

the spirit of harmony prevail among them ; may they contribute to each other's happiness , and , by the practice of love towards each other , prove themselves worthy of the protection to be here afforded . Let patience and perseverance characterise

every treatment towards them ; so that their tender susceph-Vilities may not be injured , or their dependence be felt . By sympathy let their grief he allayed ; by love let their hearts to virtue be inclined ; and do Thou , Almighty God , cause these our efforts of charity to be acceptable in Thy sight . Incline onr hearts to walk further in Thy ways , to obey Thy commandments and to keep Thy statutes . May the outpouring of our hearts ascend as a . sweet savour before Thy throne , 0 Lord , our

God ancl Redeemer ., Upon these here assembled , do Thou , 0 Lord , - bestow Thy blessing , and preserve them . " " Make Thy face to shine upon them , and be gracious unto them . " " Lift up Thy countenance upon them , and give them peace . " —So mote it be . Amen ! The R , \ V . Prov . G . Master then addressed the fraternity and visitors . He said that after the many discourses they had heard

explanatory of the motive for their assembling together that evening , he Avould not detain them beyond a minute . He could not add any new lustre to the object of their gathering , for that had already received every illustration of which it was capable . There was , however , one subject on which he ought to congratulate himself , and al ! present ; it was the fact that every class , every shade of religionists , and every party of politicians bad met together that evening as Freemasons for the one great object of charity . ( Hear , hear . ) He hoped that the example of the Hebrew Benevolent Society would not be dis-

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regarded , and that the whole island would participate in the feeling that pervaded those who were present , and that houses for the poor , and societies for the relief of their destitution , would soon become general . ( Hear , hear . ) He was happy to be present , along with the brethren of the Craft , on such an important occasion , . and he hoped that benevolence and friendship would ever characterize their Order , and thai these benefits would extend to the whole community . He could not do

less as a Mason , than , remembering those lines of their old song : — "Nobody can more the ladies adore Than a free and accepted Mason ;" and of proposing three cheers for Mrs . Dalgedo and the numerous othftr ladies who had honoured them with their presence and countenance that evening . Three hearty cheers were then given , the AVorshipful Doctor giving the time in true Masonic

style . The W . Master then gave three cheers more for the success of the Hebrew Almshouse ; anil , at the instance of the AV . M . of the Friendly Lodge , three cheers were also given for the Provincial Grand Master . After this , the procession re-formed in the same order as they had proceeded to the ground , and returned t , o the lodge room in Hanover-street , the volunteer band playing the Apprentices ' March , and other Masonic airs . On entering the hall , the lodge was closed in the usual form , ancl the Grand Master and the other members of the fraternity proceeded to a cold collation . — Colonial Standard .

India.

INDIA .

( From tlie Indian Freemasons' Friend . ) CALCUTTA . LODGE ST . JOHN ( No . 48 G of England ) . —A regular meeting was liolden on Friday , the 17 th day of June . Present : —Bros . John AVilliam Brown , D . Prov . G . M . of Bengal , and P . M . ofthe lodge , presiding in the absence of the W . M . ; Rambert , AV . M . of Lodge Courage with Humanity as I . P . M . ; George Chisholm ,

S . W . ; Wright , as J . W . / . Ensign Rosamond , S . D . ; John R . Shir , core , as J . D . ; W . G . Baxter , Sec and Treas . ; Imlay , as I . G . ; D . J . Daniel , Tyler . Members and visitors to the \ A orshipful Lodge : Bro . Leon Curtis Tissendie , a member of the sister lodge , No . 109 , Industry and Perseverance , was accepted a joining member . Before closing the lodge , the brother presiding , requested the Secretary to record the obligation of the loclge to Bro . Rambert ancl other brethren for the valuable and brotherly services they

had afforded in aiding to form and work the lodge in tlie unavoidable absence of the W . M ., and some of the officers of the lodge . At the next regular meeting there Avere present : Bros . E . W . Pittar , WM ., presiding ; John William Brown , D . Prov . G . AI . of Bengal , P . M . of the lodge ; Dr . Frank Powell , I . P . M . ; Fenn , S . W . ; Rosamond , as J . W . ; George Chisholm , as S . D . ; Imlay , as J . D . ; W . G . Baxter , Sec . and Treas . ; Leon Tessendie , as I . G . ; 1 ) . . 1 . Daniel , & c . Bro . W . E . Taprell was raised by Bro . John William Brown . Applications for a continuance of a relief were read and accepted . In one case an increment Avas directed to be made to the aid heretofore contributed .

SIMLA . LODGE HENIAEATAN BBOTHEHHOOD . —A meeting of Lodge Himalayan Brotherhood , Simla , was held on tlie 4 th July . Bro . Thomas Wood , P . M . and Master elect , presided ; Bros . Timothy Graham , General Innes , ancl W . H . Holt" sat as Past Masters ; Bros . Andrew D'Cruz officiated as S . W ., in the absence of AV . Bishop , Avho was ill ; C . H . Macleod , J . W . ; R . Dixon , S . D .,

officiated as Secretary for AV . H . AVilson , who was absent at Umballa ; Hill officiated as S . D . ; Waller , J . D . ; A . Lyons , I . G . ; R . Moorman , Tyler . There was no work before the lodge . Bro . Macleod proposed , and Bro . Hoff seconded Mr . J . E . Cooke , Assistant Secretary in the Financial Department , as a candidate for initiation . Bro . Stewart expressed his wish to he raised to the third degree at the next meeting . 'The W . M . referred to the recent election of Bro . Hoff as an honorary member of the

lodge , and stated that there were three reasons why that brother had strong claims on the Craft . In the first place he was the son of a Mason well-known for his services to the Craft ; secondly , he was himself a high Officer of the District Graud Lodge ; and thirdly , he had established the means of making Masonic proceedings known to the lodges throughout the country , that is , through the instrumentality of the Indian