Scotland.

son , of ICii'kboan , officiating Chaplain , offered up a solemn and suitable prayer . The operative Freemasons spread the lime upon tho stone . Tho Treasurer , Bro . John Forbes , deposited in its cavity a copper case containing tho usual coins and documents ; the stone ivas laid in position , and the R . W . Prov . G . AI . Bro . Stewart , called upon the office-bearers to apply the emblems . Bro . Thomas Dickie having reported that the stone had been tested by level , plumb-line , and square , the R . AV . Prov . G . M . struck the stone thrice with a malletdeclaring at the same time

, that it had been laid in due Masonic order , a statement which elicited loud cheers . He afterwards poured corn , wine , and oil upon the stone , emblematic of the blessings conferred upon us by divine providence . The baud in attendance then played tbe national anthem . ' R . AV . Bro . Stewart then said : —I have IIOAV the pleasure to inform you that I have laid the foundation-stone of the Mechanics' Lecture-hall in our ancient Masonic maimer . It has given me much pleasure in being present here to-day , and in

officiating as Provincial Grand Alaster on such an occasion—more particularly as I am convinced that such institutions are tbe means of promoting much useful information among the middle and lower classes of society . Dr . Browne , President of the Mechanics' Institute , in the name of that body , tendered thanks to the Alasonic Brethren for their set-vices . He then spoke ns folloAvs : — ' 'I cannot claim these gentlemen as "brothers by the mystic tie ; " but although not a Alason , I know enough of Masonry to understand that it has light ,

the sunshine of knowledge , as its sign and significance—that it claims , from its origin iu distant and dark ages which even its history cannot reach , to be tho depository of principles of order , harmony , and brotherhood , and to have tho keeping of secrets above all price . Yon will see , then , tbe fitness , the seemliness

that they should co-operate with us upon such an occasion as this , when wo commence an undertaking calculated to diffuse tbe means of mental illumination , to facilitate access to the sources of moral strength and groivth and grandeur , and to gh'c stability and permanence to those effort , ' hitherto made under less favourable circumstances , and to carry opportunities of self-culture to every man ' s door . AVe have selected this day that our enterprize may be connected ivith that unanimous feeling of love and honour to one of Scotland ' s worthiest sons which IIOAV prevails —and also because Robert Burns has an especial claim our gratitude .

upon Estimating the value and bios-: ing of learning , ho founded and successfully carried out a parish library , or union for mutual improvement , at Friars' Carse—enshrined in bis verse for its beauty , as it is IIOAV in the record of charity—and which was called the Alarkland Friendly Society—because , in the words of ono of his biographers , "he advocated intellectual improvement of the humbler classes long before it had become a national movement "—and , in my opinion , at a time when such advocacy ivas crime , when learning was a thing of caste and proscription , when the

diffusion of knowledge was regarded , even by the good and gentle , as the diffusion of disloyalty aud disorder , and a little knowledge ( in certain ranks ) ivas a dangerous thing . " ;! Provost Leighton then , in a few excellent remarks , expressed his satisfaction at the work which had just been accomplished ; and stated that tbe magistrates and town council of Dumfries Were thoroughly alive to the importance of the undertakingbelieving that , the Mechanics' Hall would not onlbe useful for lectures

, y , Imt an ornament to the toivn . The proceedings thou terminated , and tho Prov . Grand Lodges of Dumfries and Cumberland marched to their respective Lodge rooms , where they were closed in proper form . A ball was afterwards given by the Brethren of the Thistle Lodge , which AA ' numerously attended .

ALLOA . Pl-iTIV-. U AT TIIK ASSKMllfiV ROOMS . A banquet was given at this place in celebration of the centenary of the poet , at ivhich a hundred aud fifty gentlemen assisted . The dinner took place under the