NEW ORANGE HALL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2370, 7 November 1881, Page 3

NEW ORANGE HALL.

The ceremony of laying the foundation atone of the new hall for the Loyal Southbridge Lodge of Orangemen, No. 16, _ took place on Saturday, and will be long remembered by residents in the Ellesmere district as having drawn together the largest assemblage ever seen in the place. Members of all kindred lodges were invited to attend, and over 600 Orangemen marched from the railway station with colors on and banners flying. Bro. J. C. Williams acted as marshall, and, without fuss or confusion, quickly formed the procession in the following order :—Protestant Brass Band ; G.M., W. H. Christie ; P.G.’s, J. W. Anderson, W. Clifford ; Q. Sec., T. G. Bereaford; Q. Trcas., W. Prudhoe; district officers; No. 16, Soathhridge Lodge, with banner, in charge of W M. W. Gabbie ; No. I, Lyttelton Lodge, in charge of W. 41. Era. Hay (with handsome new local - made, banner) ; No. 2, Christchurch Lodge, with banner, in charge of W.M. T. Stapleton ; No. 3, Christchurch Lodge, with banner, in charge of D.G.M. Buck ; No. 5, St. Albans Lodge, with new local-made banner, in charge of W.M. Ferguson ; No. 11, Courtney Lodge, with banner, in charge of W.M. J. Dysart ; No. 14, Prebbleton Lodge, with banner, in charge of W.M. B. Cook ; No. 22, Lc-eaton Lodge, in charge of DM. J. Lawrence ; No. 23, Ashburton Lodge, in charge of D.M. J. Tate ; No. 25, Bakaia Lodge, in charge of W.M. T. Whitta, ; No. 31, Groendale Ledge, with banner, in charge of W.M. T. Margin ; No. 32, Sydenham Lodge, in charge cf W.M. S. Andrews; Christchurch Protestant Alliance; St. Albans Protestant Alliance. The proceasion marched through the township to the section, and were formed into a hollow square round the foundation, all females being invited into the centre. The Eev. Mr Blake then opened the proceedings with a short prayer, after which the W.M. of the Southbridge Lodge presented tho Grand Master with a handsome solid silver trowel, and requested him to lay the stone. Tho trowel bore the following inscription :—“ Presented to D. H. Christie, Esq., G.M. Middle Island, N.Z., by the members of No. 16 L.0.L., Southbridge, on the occasion of laying the foundation stone, November sth, 1881.” The stone having been declared faithfully laid, a young lady sprinkled some oats and poured wine and oil on the stone, signifying plenty, joy and peace. The stone bore tho following inscription :—D. M. Christie, G.M., a.d. ISSI. W. Gabbie, W.M. L.0.L., No. 16.” The W.M. then called on several mombsra to address tho assemblage, after which the proceedings were closed with prayer. It is estimated that there were close on ore thousand persons present. After the ceremony, sll were invited to the Town Hall, where refreshments were distributed free. The following officers deserve special mention for tno manner in which they carried out their several duties : Q. Bee., T. J. Beresford; W.M., W. Gabbie, secretary, J. Low; Bro. E. V. Fulljamcs ; and Bro. Willie, chairman of committee of management, Christchurch. Mr Prudhoe, cf Christchurch, is the contractor for tho building.