LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW FREEMASON'S HALL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 July 1863, Page 6

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW FREEMASON'S HALL.

On Wednesday last a ceremony took place in Queenstown of no common occurrence. and which in all countries and among all people carries an amount of prestige seldom attendant on ceremonies of a like nature, unless honored by the presence of royalty, viz.: -the laying the foundation stone of the first Masonic Hall in the Province of Otago, which upon completion will leave another imprint on the great road of civilization and order, and be for ever a sign among future generations of the exertion, enterprise, and enthusiasm of that most honored order—the freemasons, by whose united efforts a building is being erected, the fair proportions, stern solidity, and picturesque position of which will be an ornament to our town and a monument of our progress. By erecting an edifice, having for its object the advancement of our moral and social condition, the elevation of out tastes, and where we may sojourn after the busy hours and fatigues of the day are past in cheerful communion with our fellow men, and thus feel ourselves repaid by each other's society for the loss we have sustained in our feverish anxiety for the mammon of this world. The building is twenty feet wide by forty in length, is built of stone, and of the Norman order of architecture modified; the flying buttress and other minor details of that order being dispensed with, to prevent the unnecessary absorption of funds through profuse ornamentation. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the freemasons for being instrumental in erecting an edifice of this class in the midst of us, and among wilds a few short years since comparatively unknown —whose woods were only trodden by their porcine occupants, and the only voices echoing across our Lake among the snowcapped hills and beetling rocks were those of the feathery tribe. The Freemasons met at Bracken's Commercial Hall, and organised the detail of the procession, which was as follows:

Visiting Brethren. Members of the Lodge, according to their rank, juniors going first Steward (Bro. Wood), bearing wine in silver goblet. Steward (Bro. Christenson), bearing oil in crystal flagon. Steward (Bro. Weaver), bearing sheaf of corn. Secretary (Bro. Bruce), bearing Book of Constitution. Treasurer (Bro. Brown), bearing urn, containing coins. Junior Warden (Bro. Bletcher), bearing the level. Senior Warden (Bro. Morton), bearing the square. Chaplain (Bro. Broad), bearing the Holy Scriptures on a crimson cushion.] Steward (Bro. Harvey). Bro. Tyree, P.M., bearing the mallet. Bro. Reuben Harris, P. M., attended by his Steward (Bro. Crofts), and Bro. Mollison, sword-bearer. Mounted Troopers. Foot Police. followed by a large concourse of persons, numbering fully three hundred, anxious to view the ceremony. The cortege left Bracken's Hall at 12 o'clock, and reached the scene of operation shortly after, which was tastefully adorned with flags. The Freemasons then uncovered, and Brother Harris explained in a few words the nature of the ceremony to be performed. Brother Bruce then read the subjoined inscription. Brother Brown then handed in the urn, containing one farthing, one halfpenny, one penny, one penny-halfpenny silver piece, one threepenny silver piece, one fourpenny silver piece, one sixpenny piece, one shilling, one two-shilling piece, one half-crown, one crown piece, one half sovereign, one sovereign, copy of the Wakatip Mail, and the following inscription, engrossed on parchment, -as previously read by Mr. Bruce:— The corner-stone of this building, erected for the advancement of pure and antient Freemasonry, was laid this 15th day of July, 1863, in the year of Freemasonry 5863, by Brother Reuben Harris, PJI, 697, Past Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in Victoria; assisted by Bro. W. N. Morton, Senior Warden; Bro. W. H. Bletcher, Junior Warden; Bro. L. Broad, Bro. I. H. Moses, Bro. T. H. Brown, Bro. William Weaver, Bro. Thomas Crofts, Bro. James Harvey, Bro. T. Arndt, Bro. S. A. Woods, Bro. P. Christenson, Bro. G. Budd. Builders—Thomas Paterson and Wm. Ford. The urn was duly closed and sealed with the official seal, then placed in the cavity of the stone prepared for its reception. As the stone was being slowly lowered Brother Broad invoked the blessing of the Deity in the following words:— "Great Architect of the universe, without whose protecting power all our undertakings are as naught, we beseech thee

to favor with thine approval this work in which we are engaged for the advancement of thy honor and glory. We would pray for thy blessing not only for the order to which we belong, but for all dwellers in this district and the inhabitants of this world at large. Grant that prosperity may shine on this the land of our adoption, and that all men may acknowledge thee the Great Ruler and Architect of the world. So mote it be."

The level was then handed by Brother Bletcher; the square by Brother Morton. Brother Weaver next handed the corn, as representing Plenty ; Brother Wood the wine, which was poured upon the stone, as representing Fruitfulness; Brother Christenson the oil, which was also poured upon the stone, as representing Peace. The Master now declared the stone " well and truly laid," and delivered the following address : Brethren,— From time immemorial it ha 9 been the custom of our antient brethren, when they were operative as well as symbolical Masons, to lay the corner-stone of the building they were engaged on with peculiar ceremonies. This custom we still retain, and are often called upon, in various countries, to lay the foundation stones of magnificent structures. We meet to-day to engage in a similar undertaking, but under peculiar difficulties, owing to the remoteness of the district. I will not dilate upon the antiquity of our order and its principles. lam sure they are well known to you all; and lam pleased to say that it reflects credit on our order, and shows we are true and sincere Masons, met for the propagation of the pure tenets and principles of Freemasonry. This will be the fiist stone building in the district, and I trust the foundation now laid will be perfect in all its parts and honorable to the founders. To those present, who are not initiated into our mysteries, a question is often asked—What are Freemasons, and wnat good do they do ? I may inform them, in a few words, that our principles are Faith, Hope, and Charity, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, —faith in the great Architect of the universe; hope in salvation ; and to be in charity with all men. Even the implements used in this ceremony convey to the Mason a moral lesson. In support of what I have already remarked, I will read you one of our antient charges:— " A mason is obliged, by his tenure, to obey the moral law; and if he rightly understand the art he will never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine. He, of all men, should best understand that QOD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh at tho outward appearance, but GOD looketh to the heart. A mason is, therefore, particularly bound never to act against the dictates of his conscience. Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the order, provided he believe in the glorious architect of heaven and earth, and practise the sacred duties of morality. Masons unite with the virtuous of every persuasion in the firm and pleasing bond of fraternal love; they are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion, and to strive, by the purity of their own couduct, to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they may profess. Thus masonry is the centre of union between good men and true, and the happy means of conciliating friendship amongst those who must otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance."

The Masonic ceremony being now concluded, Brother R. Harris proposed three cheers for our Sovereign Lady the Queen, which was lustily responded to. Cheers for the Prince and Princess of Wajes; next, three cheers were given for the three Grand Masters—the Earl of Zetland, the Duke of Athol, and the Duke of Leinster. The brethren then proposed three cheers for Brother Reuben Harris, P.M. Money was then deposited on the stone, for the purpose of regaling the workmen employed on the building. The Masons then returned in the same order to Bracken's hotel, where a light collation, a lafourchette, was served. And thus ended one of the most important ceremonies and pleasant days ever experienced in Queenstown.

I told him I was free, and wouldn't. Then he kicked me. The kick was of that character that makes sitting uncomfortable. " I thought that my liberty was not properly respected, so I took to the swamp. A sentinel shot at me as I passed. What had Ito do with the countersign ? Am I not a free man ? "11.

" In the tangled swamp I sat upon a highly picturesque stump, and thought of Phylis. . . "' 0 joy !' I cried, in a sort of rapturous reverie ; ' liberty is mine. I will fly to Phyllis, my dark-eyed love of the slumbrous soul and raven wool, and bear her far away with me to isles where the mango apples grow.' "So I rose up and went to the plantation where Phyllis lived. She met me with a childish delight. I told her we were free. "' 0 golly !' she said. "At that moment her master appeared. I accosted him in a friendly manner, and informed him of my project concerning the isles abovementioned. . . .

"« There's where you'll get your mango applecart upsot,' he replied coarsely; 'this yer is Union territory. The Proclamash'n don't take no affect here. Now you jest com a-foolin' round my niggers agin, an' you'il get thunder.' "' Sir,' I responded, with dignity,' lam a free man, like yourself, 'lhat Proclamation makes me your equal.' " He called two large and muscular slaves—thewy, physical creatures, without nobility of soul. They pumped water on me, and drove me forth, weeping, alone. "111. "Northward! Over dreary plains of frosty herbage, through forests, deserts; among wild copses of laurel and rhododendron that bruises my shins. . - . 11 1 trust I bear no shame for that. May not a free man's shins be his tenderest part ? Does a long heel necessarily accompany a feeble brain ? I have not studied ethnology for nothing. " I w r as very cold. My race are not fitted for low temperatures. My clothing was scanty and thin. I felt that I was free. . . . Yet, somehow, memory would persist in reverting to the warm savannas of the old plantation. The North is cold, dark, forbidding. " Yet I toiled on. I had but little food. Nobody would employ me, and nobody wishes to give me alms. Nor did I care to obtain work. Why should I ? Was I not free ? I worked when a slave; where the merit of liberty, if I must work now ? " I knew that the North was full of great philanthropic souk Greely, Mrs. Stowe, Garrison, Gerritt Smith, Lovejoy—these, at least, were my friends. . . . " I arrived at length in Washington—a great city of intellect and power. I felt that I was one of the Sovereign People, who own . . . and support . . . that city. I stood before the Capitol, and murmured, ' I am free !' " A very tall, homely man, with black whiskers and honest eyes, came down the steps. I caught his hand. He looked at me as if surprised, and spoke—- " «Well, what is it ?' "' lam a free man. I come from Hoghole Swamp, Arkansas. I am hungry and cold.' "«0 go away!' replied the man. ' Don't bother me. lam sick of the very sight of you niggers!' "'Sir,' I said, 'you insult your equal. lam your peer. The Proclamation.' " ' Confound the Proclamation ! I almost wish I had never issued it.' " I turned away, weeping. "IV.

"A knot of Congressional magnates stood near, chewing tobacco. I approached them to ask for a chaw, and heard one addressed as Mr. Lovejoy. "' You are my friend, at least!' I cried, with real emotion; 'I was a slave. lam now at liberty!' " The gentleman drew down his under eyelid with his little finger. "' Do you see anything green there ?' he asked. "' Mock me not!' I exclaimed ;am I not a man and a brother!' u ' Why don't you go to work, you lazy fellow ?' asked another Congressman, who had a smell of cobbler's wax about him; ' I used to work down at Natick.' "' Sir,' I answered scornfully, * I am free.' " Still further northward. Colder, more inhospitable. Vague doubts and half regrets crept into my brain. Is this liberty ? Ah! poor heart, take courage! " Still, I was free—and free to confess that I had never suffered so much before. u Some one showed me Mrs. Negrophile's house. A splendid carriage stood before the door. I rang. A servant came. "I wish to see Mrs. Negrophile. Tell her a newly-freed slave wishes to see her. " The lackey returned very soon. " ' Your card, please.' "' I have no card. lam cold and hungry.' " The lackey went and came again. "' She doesen't see that kina,' he said. I shuddered, and went to the office of the Tribune. I found two young men there, with their feet on the desks. "' Hello!' said one, ' here's a friend of Old Greely! Thpeak up, brudder ! yah!' " ' Young maD,' I said, 'lama friend of all men.' " He keeps the place next door,' said the other. "* I come to you in the name of humanity.' u 'Look here,' said the first, 'I don't want any blowed nonsense round here. Clear out, before I put you out.' "'ls Mr. Greely in?'

"' Not for you. Leave this !' "He raised a paper-weight, threateningly. I departed.

" A Herald's compositor gave me sixpence that night, and I had something to eat for the first time in two days.

" Northward still. I found Gerritt Smith, at length—a large, white-haired man, with a restless, vacant eye.

"' My friend,' said he, «ethnologistic and sidereal influences are antagonistic to their magnetism. The arbitrary enunciation of a dogmatic allocution is not productive of habiliary conditions.

"' I am cold and hungry,' I said. " ' Certainly, isothermal relations cannot be ignored with impunity. Whistle-pipes and thunder! How's your mother? John Brown's body hangs a dangling in the grave ! Take 'em away ! Take 'em off!'

" His eyes grew very wild, and he pawed the air vigorously. I was afraid, and went away sorrowing:. " A gang of laborers were at work upon a railroad near by. I went to them. "' What wages do you get ?' 11 ' Seventy-five cents a day, in railroad scrip.' "'What do you do with it?' "' It passes at the shtore.' "' What store ?' " * llailroad shtore. Divil a place else.' " ' What does it cost you to live ?' "'All we git, jist ; barrin' enough for a dhrunk, Sathurday nights. I always makes a baste o'meself then.'

" I reflected. These were free men. They worked harder than 1 did when a slave, and for a bare living—worse food, worse clothes, and more beastliness on Saturday nights—for I had never been allowed to kill myself with bad whisky.

" ' And if you are sick, or get old ?' «'' Ocht, then we go to the divil!' " I thought of my father, who had food and raiment for five years of his dotage, without a stroke of work.

"' But your families are not separated from you ?' '"No sich good luck. I haven't seen the ould 'ooman for two year, but she keeps dingin' me me for money all the time !' u I was satisfied. I begged a few coppers, and set my face sternly southward. " 0 Liberty !"