Laying The Corner Stone Of The Masonic Hall, Carleton, New Brunswick.

St . John has seen many Masonic processions , and some composed of larger numbers than that of yesterday , but never any to compare with it in point of display . The regalia of the Blue Lodges , and even the bright crimson sashes , and crimson bordered aprons of New Brunswick Chapter , or the red and blue diamond sashes , & c , of the Carleton Chapter were not unfamiliar , but the

brilliant , not to say superb appearance of the Union De Molay Encampment , in their long flowing robes of white , their crimson velvet head gear , and their golden hilted swords , and the green sashes over black , plumed hats ( from the establishment of C . & E . Everett ) , and gilded tipped lances of the St . John Encampment , were quite new and striking in this city .

In glancing over the line at various points as it inarched past , we could not but remark the line , manly forms and handsome , intelligent flees of the vast majoi'ity of those connected with the Order . Evidently the bulk of the good looking men of St . John belong to theCrafD , a fact which the-young ladies will not fail to take note of . Indeed , it is seldom that so many really

fine looking men can be got together as were to be seen in the line of the procession yesterday . Moving along Canterbury-street till all had filed out of Ritchie ' s Building , the word was given , and three hundred and forty men with waving banners , pennons and streamers , in rich regalia and carrying their various emblems , marched down King and Prince AVilliamstreets , with the sounds of martial music , to and upon the ferry boat . The streets and windows of the houses on the line were crowded with well dressed ladies and

gentlemen , all anxious to obtain as good a view as possible . On the Carleton side the procession was received b y the members of Carleton Union Lodge , who fell in with the ranks , and then the line of march was up Rodney and King-streets and through Charlotte-street to the site of the | hall , the foundation stone of which has been laid . The

position is a very eligible one , being on the side of the hill with a good outlook , and from a glance of the plans we judge the building will present a very fine appearance . Hags floated from the tops of poles and flag-staffs all round the building , and tho outside platform was crowded with ladies , who appeared quite anxious to witness the mystic ceremonies . The Grand Lodge , accompanied by

the chapters and encampments , passed inside the basement walls upon an inner platform , and the Blue Lodges filed outside and congregated about the south-east corner where the stone—a fine freestone block—hung suspended from a derrick ready to be dropped into its place . All being in readiness the G . Org . Professor Card , and a picked choir of ladies , sang the Opening Ode " Hail Masonry divine , " to the air of the " National

Anthem , the fraternity , and indeed , some who were not , joining in and making a fine burst of harmony . Three verses were sung and then Bro . Richard N . Knight , "W . M , of Carleton Union Lodge , stepped forward and presented to Bro . B . L . Peters , the iU . AV . G . M , a handsome silver trowel with the request that he would lay the corner stone with the usual ceremonies . The tiowel , heart-shaped , was of solid silverweihing

, g five ounces . It was set into a handle of imitation satin wood , and was a finely executed piece of work from the house of Messrs . A . & J . Hay , silversmiths , King-street , It bore the following inscription , beautifully engraved by Mr . James Yenning , of Germain-street : — " B . Lester Peters , Esq , Grand Master of New Brunswick . Presented by Carleton Union Lodge , No . 8 , F . & A . M , at

the laying of the corner stone of the Masonic Hall , Carleton , July 1869 . " The M . W . G . M . in accepting the trowel replied to the W . M . of Union Lodge that he should be very pleased to do as he wished , and to that end had summoned the Craft , that they might assist him in the work with all the ancient and honourable ceremonies . The Grand Master then called upon the G . Treas , Bro .

W . H . A . Keans , M . P . F . ? for the city of St . John , to read the scroll to be deposited in the aperture of the stone with the jewels , which was as follows : — "By the favour of Almighty God . On the thirtieth day of July , A . D . 1869 , A . L . 5869 , and in the thirty-third year of the reign of Our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria , the corner stone of this Masonic Hall

was laid by Benjamin Lester Peters , Esquire , Most AVorshipful Grand . Master of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of New-Brunswick , attended and assisted by tho Grand Lodge and various lodges and brethren of this jurisdiction , in accordance with the ancient usages of Freemasonry , which may God prosper . Building Committee : —Bros :

Richard N . Knight , Chairman ; Charles Ketchum , Edwin J . Wetmore , John V . Ellis , Henry Leonard , Jarvis Wilson , George H . Clarke , and AVilliam J . McCordock . Trustees of the land for Carleton Union Lodge : —Richard N . Knight , Edwin J . AVetmore , and George H . Clarke Architect : —John A . Munro . " Carleton Union Lodge ( No . 767 ) , was founded by

warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of England , dated 21 st March , A . D . 1846 , and tho officers were installed on . the 24 th June of the same year . John S . Clark was the first AVorshipful Master . On the re-numbering of the lodges in 1863 , it received the No . 524 . In September , 1867 , it united with other lodges in the province in the establishment of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , and received its warrant as No . 8 , dated A . D . 1868 . "The Officers of the Lodge at the present

timeare : — " Bros . Richard N . Knight , W . M . ; George H . Clarke , S . AV . ; John N . Moore , J . W . ; Jarvis AVilson , Treas . ; Charles Ketchum , P . M ., Sec . ; James A . Clark , S . D .,-John Thompson , J . D . ; Henry S . Clark , S . S . ; Daniel Mullin , J . S . ; Benjamin Tippett , Jr ., I . G . ; James S . Eagles , Tyler ; AVilliam J . McCordock , M . O . ; Henry Card , Org , Carleton , St . John , N . B . "

This scroll was beautifully engrossed on parchment , enclosed in a tin box and , together with copies of all the city newspapers of the day previous , and samples of the silver and copper coinage of the Province , was deposited in the stone .

The G . M . and his assistants then laid a bed of cement upon the lower stone , and called upon the Grand Chap .,. Rev . Dr . Donald , who invoked the Divine blessing upon the Order , the building , the workmen , and the community , praying that spiritual graces might adorn the lives of the people , and that they might live in peace ,, contentment , and happiness . At the close the stone was slowly lowered into its place , whilst the following hymn was being sung with choir aud organ accompaniment tothe grand Old Hundredth tune : —

" Supremo Grand Master ! God of Power ! Be with us in this solemn hour ! Smile on our work ; our plans approve ; Fill every heart with hope and love . Let each discordant thought bo gone , And lovo unite our hearts in ono ; 31 ay we , in union strong , combine

In work and worship so divine . " The R . AV . D . G . M , Bro . AV . Wedderburn , then applied the square , ancl reported that he found it laid true . In like manner the S . G . W , Bro . B . R . Stevenson , M . P . P , for the county of Charlotte , applied the level , and Bro . G . Stickney , of St . Andrews , Acting Junior Grand Warden , applied the plumb and reported all correct . The G . M . then announced that he found the stone proved , it had been well and faithfully laid , and the Craftsmen baddone their duty .

Silver vessels were next brought forward and their contents scattered or poured upon the stone , the Grand : Master taking them separately and bespeaking the blessings of which they were emblems . The ' first