Provincial.

The Masonic Lodges . The Cupar Rifle Baud . John Whyte Melville , Esq ., Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and Provincial Grand Master of Fife and Kinross , Escorted by a Guard of Volunteers . Marching west the procession passed through Market-street , Hope-street , Playfair-terrace , North-street , College-street ,

Church-street , and eastward by South-street to the site of the proposed College Hall at the Pends—thus affording the inhabitants abont as complete a view of the preliminary ceremonial as could well have been afforded . The streets on each

side were lined with spectators , and from every window , and on every altitude were seen the faces of delighted sightseers . The best glimpse wis probably had from the tower at the east end of South-street , where the spectacle was not only a novel but a charming one . The advance loclge having reached the ground at St . Leonard's , a halt was made , and the whole line opened up , through which , with the usual honours , marched the Most AVorshipful Grand Masterfollowed by the R . W .

, Dep . G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Haddington ; the Substitute Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . T . Oswald , of Dunnikier ; the G . Sec , Bro . AA ^ . A . Laurie ; the Prov . S . G . AV ., Bro . Alexander Nicholson ; the Prov . J . G . AV ., Bro . Baillie McPherson ; the Prov . S . G . D ., Bro . Lieut .-Col . Moncrieff ; the Acting Prov . G . Sec , Bro . G . H . Pagan ; the Acting Prov . G . Chap ., Bro , Skinner ; and the G . Clerk , Bro . G . A . Stewart .

Arrived on the scene , the ceremony was proceeded with , and the Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . Skinner , having offered up an appropriate prayer , The Grand Master then called on Bro . G . II . Pagan , Acting Provincial Grand Secretary , to place the bottle containing the following articles in the cavity of the stone : — Articles of Association of St . Andrew's College Hall Company

( Limited ) , 1861 ; Original Prospectus of the Company , dated 11 th June , 1861 ; Regulations as to Board , Attendance at University , & c ; Rules as to Conduct of Students , & c . ; Prospectus as to Building Scheme , 27 th July , 1866 ; Report by the Council to the Sixth Annual General Meeting of the Company , dated 22 nd October , 1866 ; Fife , Kinross , and Clackmannan Register and County Lists for 1867 ; a Sovereign of the present

Reign , dated 1866 ; Half Sovereign , 1866 ; Crown , 1847 ; Florin , 1865 ; Shillincr , 1866 ; Sixpenny Piece , 1865 ; Threepenny Piece , 1866 ; Penny , 1866 ; Halfpenny , 1866 . A plate , on which was the following inscription , was also placed over the cavity : —

At St Andrew's , in the 30 th year of the reign of Queen Victoria , and on the 26 th clay of April in the Christian era MDCCCLXVII ., and of the Masonic epoch ICCMDCCCLXVIL , the foundation stone of the St . Andrew ' s College Hall was laid with all solemnity by John AVhyte Melville , Esq ., of Bennochy and Strathkinness , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and Provincial Grand Master of Fife ancl Kinross , assisted by the Grand Office Bearers and those of the Provincial Grand Lod

ge , iu the presence of the Principal and Professors of the University ; the Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council ; the clergy and citizens , & c . Brown and AVardrop ( Edinburgh ) , architects ; John Ross , clerk of works ; Alexander Cunningham ( Dundee ) , mason ; . Tames Annandale ( Edinburgh ) , joiner ; David Anderson ( St . Andrew ' s ) , sinter : John Berry ( Edinburgh ) , plasterer ; Burn and Baillie ( Edinburgh ) plumbers .

, The Grand Master then spread the mortar , and the upper part of the stone was lowered . The Provincial Junior Grand Warden , Bro . M'Pherson , applied the plumb line ; the Prov . G . W ., Bro . Nicholson , applied the level ; and the Substitute Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . T . Oswald , of Dunnikier , applied the square . During part of this ceremony the Cupar Rifle Volunteer Band performed the Old Hundred , vocally accompanied hy some in

the assemblage . The cornucopia , filled with flowers and corn , and wine ancl oil , were poured upon the stone , ancl tlie Grand Master formally declared the ceremony completed . This declaration was followed foy loud cheers , the bund striking up " The Merry Masons . " The Grand Master then said : Principal Forbes and Gentlemen of the Building Committee , —I have had very great satisfaction iu performing the ceremony which have just now

you witnessed , in laying the foundation stone of the St . Andrew's College Hall , I trust firmly ami efficiently . It is not my intention on the present occasion to enter into the rise ancl progress of the St . Andrew ' s College Hall , but I may be permitted very shortly to state that about six years ago a company was formed

for the establishment of a college hall in this city , where the sons of gentlemen could be accommodated whilst pursuing their studies at the University . This institution has progressed so rapidly and so successfully that some difficulties were found in providing accommodation in the first premises , which led to the acquisition of those at present occupied . Bat difficulties have since occurred as to the tenure of these premises which have induced the Council to obtain a feu of the present siteand to

, commence the present building , which , when completed , will , I feel satisfied , add greatly to the comfort and convenience of the students and all connected with it , whilst it will add another to the many fine buildings which now adorn this good old city , and add still further to tho high reputation already acquired by your talented architect , Mr . Wardrop . I am suro that the shareholders and all connected with this association are deeply

indebted to yon for the time and labour you ( Principal Forbes ) have bestowed upon it ever since its formation , and no one but those who have acted with you can fully appreciate the services you have rendered to the general body . Before concluding these observations , I would beg to thank the brethren of the Craft generally for the very large support thoy have given me on this occasionancl more particularly those deputations that

, have come from Dundee and other places at a considerable distance to support us . I would also beg to tender my thanks to tlie Principal of St . Mary's College and the Professors of the University for their presence on this occasion ; also to the Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council . And though last , not least , I would thank the Artillery aud Rifle A olunteers , whose presence and gallant bearing on this occasion have added

so much splendour and given so much eclat to the proceedings . I have only to pray that the Great Architect of the Universe may permit this building to be brought to a successful issue without detriment to any of those connected with its erection . Principal Forbes next stepped forward and said : Right AVorshipful Grand Master , — Iu the name of the Council of the St . Andrew ' s Hall Company I return you their cordial thanks

for the inauguration of this building by the ceremonial of laying the foundation stone thus happily accomplished . It is our earnest desire that the work now begun may be brought to a happv termination , and that tbe gratitude of generations to

come may be the fitting reward of tbe pains aud liberality bestowed by its promoters on this undertaking . More than three centuries have elapsed since the foundation of St . Mary's College , tho newest in this ancient University , and the third which in that magnificent age had boon erected within much less than a hundred years . Our College Hall aims at being a useful handmaid to the present colleges , not their rival . Its aimas yousirare awareis to provide on moderate terms for

, , , , young men attending the university class a comfortable home , moral superintendence , and the best possible aids for study . Anciently in this , as in all the universities , the students resided within the walls of the colleges , under the superintendence of the regents . Persons now alive in St . Andrew's remember when students were boarded and lodged in St . Salvator ' s College . But it must be owned that the spirit ofthe paternal system , so

vividly described in the Diaries of James Melville , had long departed , and there remained but a formal relic of the timehonoured system . The aim of the founders of the St . Andrew ' s College Hall has been to revive what was valuable in this ancient scheme , by having regard to the instruction and wellbeing of the young men attending college at other times than when actually engaged in their classes . In the College Hall they are provided with most comfortable accommodationsocial

, meals , and congenial society , together with the moral influence and superintendence as warden of an accomplished scholar , aided by assistants sufficient to ensure fitting diligence , and to encourage those emulous of distinction . The College Hall has now existed for six years , and above seventy students havo passed through its training for longer or shorter periods . Many of these have distinguished themselves , and the greater part have

carried away life-long reminiscences of the social and educational advantages which they enjoyed here . AVe regret that but a few either of present or of former pupils can he present to-day . The engagements of many , and the impossibility , from various causes , of holding this ceremony previously to the close of the University session have occasioned this . But the Council have been gratified by the warm expressions of interest received from former pupils ; and it is satisfactory to know that a College Hall club is likely to be formed among those Avho have received their education here . Encouraged by success , the managers determined last year to venture upon the erection of a