The Provinces.

of Genesis . At the same time the Rev . Andrew Bonar , minister of the first charge of Cannongate , who had agreed to act as assistant chaplain on this interesting occasion , conducted divine service in West St . Giles . The reverend gentleman delivered some judicious remarks in reference to the ceremony that was about to be performed , and warmly impressed upon the Brethren the nature of the obligations which all Masons had taken upon themselves . At the

conclusion of the services the procession was re-formed in the same order it had taken up at its departure from the Palace . The route then lay along High street , Bank street , the Mound , Princes street , Charlotte street , and square , into George street . Along this line of road , the interest manifested , and the anxiety not to miss any of the more striking features of the procession , were evidently as great as had been exhibited during the march from the palace to the church .

The whole course was lined with spectators , and every available spot from which a good view could be obtained was filled up . The aspect of the procession in this portion of its career fully justified the curiosity so generally displayed . x \ s it passed down the Mound and wound into Princes-street , a more variegated , picturesque , and attractive spectacle could scarcely be imagined . Probably no gayer scene has ever been witnessed in that locality ; and old

inhabitants state that they cannot recal any event which excited , and deservedly , so much enthusisasm , except perhaps the visit of George IV . When the head of the procession reached the site of the iie \ r Hall in George street , the line again halted , and took open order . The Grand Lodge , followed by the other Lodges according to their seniority , passed between the ranks as before , towards the spot where the great ceremony of the day was to take place . The entrance to the ground was handsomely and tastefully decorated by Mr . Scrymgeour with flowers and evergreens , and the

walls were covered with fluted calico tapestry in columns of red , white , and blue . Inside , an inclosure was railed off for the accommodation of the Grand Lodge , and in the centre was erected a dais covered with crimson cloth , for the chief members of the Lodge . The band of the Lancers was stationed on a gallery at the south end of the ground . All being in readiness , the Grand Chaplain offered up an appropriate prayer .

The band then played the National Anthem , after which The Duke of Athol said— "Ibeg now to call upon the Grand Treasurer , the Grand Secretary , and the Grand Clerk to deposit the coins and other articles within the cavity of the stone . " A jar , containing a number of the coins of the realm , the Edinburgh Almanack , copies of the newspapers of the day , a plan of Edinburgh , & c , was accordingly placed in the cavity of the stone .

The band then struck up the Old Hundredth , finishing with the Masons' Anthem ; and The Grand Master stepped from the dais , and , surrounded by the heads of the Lodges , lowered the stone to its resting-place , laying the mortar with an elegantly ivorked silver trowel . The moment the level and square were adjusted , one loud hurrah broke from the assembled Masons ; a flag was immediately hoisted on the roof of

Hall , and in answer to this signal , the cannon in the Castle thundered forth their repeated salvos , announcing the completion of the laying of the stone of the new Freemasons' Hall of Scotland . The following was the inscription on the stone : — " By the favour of the Almighty Architect of the universe , in the twenty-first year of the reign of Queen Victoria , and on the twenty-fourth day of June , in the year of the Christian era MDCCCLVIII , and of the

Masonic epoch MMMMM . DCCC . LVIII , the foundation stone of a new Hall for the accommodation of the Grand Lodge of representatives of the Ancient Fraternity of the Freemasons of Scotland , was laid with great solemnity , by his Grace George Augustus

Frederick John , sixth Duke of Atho ! , Knight of the most ancient Order of the Thistle , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , assisted by the Grand Office-bearers , in presence of representatives of the R . W . Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , and of a great assemblage of the various Lodges and Brethren of Edinburgh and the provinces . —David Bryce , Architect ; Robert Hutchison , Master Builder . " Rolls with the names of the Grand Officers of the honorary

members , the representative members , the Provincial Grand Masters , the Past Grand Masters , and the Board of Grand Stewards , were placed in the hollow of the stone . The band having again played the National Anthem , on its conclusion a gallant Mason solicited " a cheer for the ladies , " which was given with right hearty good-will . Cheers for various distinguished Brethren having been given , .

The Grand Master advanced to the edge of the dais and spoke as follows : — " R . W . and W . Brethren—On occasions like the present , it is usual , I believe , for the Grand Master to make a short speech ; but , however , on this occasion there is not so much to say as on other occasions where I have gone to lay foundation stones for public institutions . But I cannot but take this opportunity of saying how pleased and gratified I have been in seeing the Masons of Scotland

have come forward to erect a grand hall —( joud applause)—for I am sure all brethren must feel with myself the necessity there is for such a building ; and I must at the same time take this opportunity of thanking all the brethren for the very gratifying manner in which they have turned out to-day . ( Cheers . ) Wo are all extremely happy

to see the deputies from the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland come down to join with their brethren in Scotland in laying this most important foundation stone ; and I trust that the stone laid this day will in course of time have such a superstructure that will do credit to the Masons of Scotland . ( Hear , hear . ) And I am sure I need say nothing more , except that it must be as gratifying to the brethren as it is to me to-day , to see the very flattering reception we

have met with in Edinburgh . ( Loud Cheers . ) At seven o ' clock about a thousand of the Brethren sat down to dinner in the Music Hall . The gallery was devoted to the use of ladies , a considerable number of whom were present . His Grace the M . W . G . M . occupied the chair , and was supported on the right by Lord Panmure , D . GM . of England ; Bros . Whyte Melville , D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Hon . F . Dundas , M . P . ;

Wyndham Portal ; Lord James Murray ; R . W . Jennings ; William Mercer , Prov . G . M ., Hong Kong ; Henry Inglis , S G . W . ; and W . A . Laurie , G . Sec . ; and on the left by Bros . Quinton , from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Hyndan , from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Lord Loughborough , Substitute G . M . of the Gaand Lodge of Scotland ; Sir Archibald Alison , Bart . ; Hon . F , Drummond ; Captain Drummond ; A . J . Stewart , G . Clerk ; and General

Swinburne . The usual toasts were given and responded to . A grand Masonic assembly was given in the Assembly Rooms , commencing shortly after ten o ' clock . There were about four hundred ladies and gentlemen present .

IRELAND . The Grand Lodge of Ireland met on the 5 th of August , and passed the following law . "A Lodge shall not confer more than one degree on any Brother at the same meeting , and one month at least shall intervene between conferring each degree , unless the W . M ., Wardens and Secretary of the Lodge unanimously agree that anecessity exists for conferring the degree within a shorter period . The first or third degree shall only be conferred on one Brother at a time . "