LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE FREEMASONS' HALL, SOUTHBRIDGE.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 617, 10 June 1876, Page 4

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE FREEMASONS' HALL, SOUTHBRIDGE.

Tte odfenibyry - atone of iMasonic, the Lodge 6f : Pro«eßß, r WaS performed onThdrsd*y/thfl Sthlnst. > ' , s;*- The weather w« remarkably-propHiods,* • and moat-of; the Udicnofi thedistrict graced the prooeedingawith their presence. The lodge wee opened ato!3/noontoyll.W.D.D'G.M. : Bro Thompson)*-who came ipetiailf from Christchurch «tot; that oessionwas thenifonhed. wbichlmarched. ■f to tirt.fl site. ; Jof the : !proposed;' lodge,; thh tylor leading with xiaoidrawti -aword,; r»ad ■■ the •:volume -of Sacred' Law bping borne .ioi rfaioushion bp Bkv- Simeon. pwycr.., s»ej - stouCwaa then duly proved, the,, junior ’ presenting the the plumb_jihd rule, the junior warden the taining 00piel<5£ "TUSt day’ii \ papers, a book of bve-laws, and some sftvercoins,, was, * r bonaw hewn in-thertone, Which was then lowered , into ltd wedAud 1 properly secured with cemeot. ' *-«f- , i> .: The BiWJD.D.Q.'M.'toen made the follow-! ing oration Ladles and'Gentlemen :On an occasion each as this, when theuiuhiti-| ated'arepermitted to Wltneesonr deretoonies, j it is usual for the presiding pfflcfsrto address! ti* few -words -to yon. Know then - that we aris lawful Masons. 'trae and faithfnl to the

daWs of owcountry, and engaged by solemn obligations/to eteot r baildings to' be setyideable to; the r brethren, and to fear God, the Great Architect of tbe-universe.- ; You ere •ware we have secrets, which we keep concealed, .froth'l the untoitiated—secret* which cauuot be* divulged ;bnt, I may assure yon; ' that titofe;secrets are. lawful and- honorably; and in nowise lepugnanttothelawsof God WBUft dChbJi Wpre: entrusted in peace and honor to the Masons of ancient times, >hd hayti|rtOil vfaitbfvlUy transmi tted 1 to us, and that it is our duty to convey them unposterity;- On.were good, , and our . Calling honorable we should not have lasted for; so nor should; we have beep fs.llh the patronage of so many, illustrious men., in £.ll \ ages, who have ever' shown themselves ready to promote on? - interest* aodto difend us against alt adversaries. 1 cannot addupe proof Th of, my en Is thar.fayret&lndihg Ml® I ## P&ifae beloved Quefefi, his Soyal future 'V&Mc&mmost enlightened nation of the World. iScnow chief rhSer-ofthe crtftj' khd that eveh i he,, illustrious AS ;be is, considers it an 'honor .to'; preside over so loyal a body as the Freemasons. Every society* no matter hoWL goodriti*-; object may be,-has its / detractors, and oars is ndexoCpfionin this > r«,pjm j ts jlVhowever, teachrs us'charityand rapderafio»,;and: w® ohiefly; hope 'that those’ WihP SPflskrflTAl) do !So from igdbrance r£tber W« haw assembledhere thil day-in the face of you'all in peace aud-.bannony, and have laid the foundation stoneof whousefor the purposes eft be crafty j which we pray God may deserve to prosper: bybecouunga:■ pi See?lol. concourse ■ for good men,,. , aud-i hr; promoting harmony and bfofchex!y,jJpT.igti»rooghflut the world until tyj^shall :j he- ; po; more.’* The brethren hc.M I/; ]>■■< ; ”“' 1 The procesfjwm beiog i teformed in saihe order as. before !returned- to the lodge, after which . all the / brethren adjourned to Bro Walter. Spring's Southbridge Hotel, where a xn&i excellent dejeuner had been provided, Bxo., W.M;, presiding.-; Thfs usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been duly honored,;-the chairman rose to propose the health of the D.G.M., Bro Donald, which was in his unavoidable abeencp,by Bio Thompson. Various other Masonic toasts and healthsi were drunk and suitably responded to, and the,brethren diaperaed p.m, haring epdnt a! most enjoyable day. ir • 1 i /