Masonic Emblems.

its various significations ; it is a regularly formed star figure , whose angles contain thirty-six degrees . Pythagoras , probably on account of its so regularly turning back upon itself , made it an emblem of the goddess Hygea . The Druids also held this figure

in great veneration ; Avilh them it Avas a symbol of superabundance and overflowing plenty ; the septagon and octagon Avere also holy and favourite figures Avith these priests of nature and expounders of divine truths . — " National Freemason .

The Birmingham Masonic Hall And Club Company (Limited).

THE BIRMINGHAM MASONIC HALL AND CLUB COMPANY ( LIMITED ) .

The report to be submitted to the half-yearly meeting has been issued . After referring to the change of site , and the increase of capital from £ 15 , 000 , to £ 25 , 000 , it states that owing to delays which the directors Avere unable to control , it

it was not until November that the draAvings and specifications were sufficiently advanced to be placed in the hands of the surveyors employed to take out the quantities ; and it Avas not until the end of February last that the directors Avere in a

position to apply to the builders for estimates for the Avork . But they entered into a provisional contract with Messrs . Briggs and Son for the whole of the excavations , and also the foundations necessary for laying of the foundation stone and

securing the adjoining premises . The expenditure thus incurred was included in the estimates , according to the measurement and valuation of

Messrs . Batstone and Hunt , of London , and the architect , Mr . Holmes . By the adoption- of this course at least three months' time in the execution of the contract Avas saved . On the 5 th of March last the estimates Avere received , the lowest

amounting to no less a sum than £ 30 , 400 , Avhich might partly Tbe , accounted for by the recent advance' both in the cost of materials and price of labour . Upon a review of the financial position of the company it was found that £ 17 , 000 only had

been subscribed , and it Avas therefore manifest that , in order to carry the present plans into effect the capital must be largely increased , and an effort made to induce the . Masons , or in their default , the public generally , to take up the unallotted

shares . In the meantime , however , the directors had revised the plans , in order if possible to reduce the cost . They found that by the omission of the great lodge room at the top of the building a

The Birmingham Masonic Hall And Club Company (Limited).

saving of £ 5 , 000 will be effected without much inconvenience , as there is a lower lodge room of equal size , and capable of affording all requisite accommodation . Drawings have been prepared , and will be laid before the meeting , in which the

Masonic part of the building is separated from that originally intended to be used for club purposes , shoAving a mode by Avhich the requisite accommodation of the Masonic bodies may be provided with the present subscribed capital of

£ 17 , 000 , and the club buildings sub-let to an independent body , and completed at an additional cost of about £ 12 , 000 , if such a course should be thought desirable . The directors , hoAvever , strongly recommend that no alteration , except the

the omission of the great lodge room , should be made in the designs or plans , but that the shareholders should consent to increase the capital to £ 35 , 000 , and that the objects first contemplated in the formation of the company should be carried out in their entirety .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Grey Friars Church, Dumfries.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE GREY FRIARS CHURCH , DUMFRIES .

This imposing ceremonial took place on the 11 th inst ., accompanied with Masonic honours . About twelve o'clock the various bodies intending to take part in the procession began to muster—the Masonic lodges meeting in the grounds of the academy . Of the Craft there was a large turn-out . Nearly four

hundred brethren , belonging to upwards of thirty different lodges , were present ; not a few of them from Edinburgh and Glasgow , and some coming also from the south side of the Border , from Carlisle and Cockermouth Lodges under the English Constitutions . We were struck with the large proportion of veterans

in some of the lodges , but old and young made a moat creditable appearance . Nearly twenty flags were borne in the Masonic ranks , many of them exceedingly picturesque . The following are the numbers and names of the various lodges in the order of procession , premising

that each bore its own banner in front : —Nos . 362 , St . Clair , Glasgow banner ; 360 , Commercial Glasgow banner ; 334 , St . John ' s , New Cumnock banner ; 275 , Shamrock and Thistle , Glasgow banner ; 272 , St . John's , Mid-Calder ; 258 , Quhytewoollen , Lockerbie , banner ; 252 , St . John ' s , Thornhill banner ; 245 , St . Andrew ' sMuirkirk banner 238 CaledonianAnnan

, ; , , banner ; 219 , Star , Glasgow ; 189 , St . John ' s , Castle-Douglas banner ; 187 , St . John ' s , Carluke banner ; . 179 , St . Mungo , Mauchline ; 177 , St . James ' s , Old Monkland ; 169 , Thistle and Rose , Stevenston banner j 162 , St . John's , Newabbey banner ; 140 , Operatives ,, Dumfries banner 128 St . John ' sShettlestone .

; , , , Glasgow banner ; 117 , St . Mary's , Patrick , Glasgow ; 100 , St . Magdolene , Lochmaben banner ; 87 , Thistle , Glasgow ; 79 , St . Andrew's , Annau ; 73 , Thistle and Rose , Glasgow ; G 3 , St . Michael ' s , Dumfries banner ; 62 , Thistle , Dumfries banner ; 41 , St . Cuthbert ' s ,