ODD FELLOWS' HALL.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 619, 20 March 1852, Page 3

ODD FELLOWS' HALL.

The ceremony of laying the foundationstone of the intended Odd Fellows' Hall in Queen street took place on Thursday, and excited considerable interest, a very large number of the community attending-. Indeed, in addition to its primary object, in connexion with the purposes of the Order, the Hall is likely to supply the want long experienced here of a suitable place for public meetings of various kinds ; and we are informed, that already by anticipation the Sacred Harmonic Society have engaged it for their performances. The building, is estimated to cost five hundred pounds ; and from what we have heard of the plan, we have little doubt that it will prove an ornament to the town. Its dimensions are to be as follows : — Length, 63 feet ; width, 33 feet. The Lodge Room, 50 x 30 feet, 18 feet high, calculated to contain GOO persons ; two Committee rooms 10 feet square, and an ante-room 10 x 9 feet ; an chestrn to be erected 30 xlO feet. The Imilding is to be of scoria foundation and brick ; a composition front in the Grecian and Doric. At two o'clock the officers and brethren of the Fountain of Fnendship and Loyal Good Intent Lodges, dressed in their respective regalia, met at the Mechanics Institute, whence they proceeded to Princes Street, where they were met by the Mayor, Alderman, and Common Councillors, and the Band of the 58th, which was . in attendance by permission of Major Nugent and the Officers of the Kegt. The procession moved as follows : —

Band oi H. M. 58th Regiment. Level and The Wouhipful the Mayor, Mallet and Rulc-bctrui : Aldermen, TW\ el-bearer: iJr. Finlay. and Common Councillors. Br. Tudehop. P P.G.M. Hnnter-P.G.M. J. Robinson-P.P.G.M. Jai.Derrom, P.C.S.Crosbie-P.D.G.M. C. Robinson— P.P.D.G.M. Hallamore Thomas Lewii, P.G. John Derrom, P.G. Robert Schultz, P.G. Chai. Stitchbury, P.G.

Jos. Tapper, N.G. — John Kelly, G.M. — Charles Biuce, N.G. George Smith, P.V.G. William Gilbert, P.V.G. John Poiter, VC. J. W. Cin.V.G. R. F. We«ton, P.S.— Capt. Nicol, Am. Ordei— H. M Jervis, P.S. Dispensation ot Dispensation of Good Intent Lodge Fountain of Fncndsliip Lodge, Lodge Wardens. Lodge Wardens. Bi others of Four Degrees. R. H. Suppojters,N.G. R. H. Supporters, N.G. Biothcrs of Three Dcgiees L. H. ditto, ditto. L. H. ditto, ditto. Biotheis of Two degrees. Conductor Conductor. Bi others of One Degree. Inside Guaidian. Inside Guaidian. Outside ditto. Outside ditto.

Honorary Meinbeis. Having passed along Shortland - street into Queen - street to the site of the proposed Hall, his Worship the Mayor read the following Inscription :—: —

"Amicitia, Amok, et Vemt\s." THIS STONE AVas laid on the 18th Day of March, in the Year of our Lord, 1852, and m the 15th Year of the Reign of Victoria, ur ARCHIBALD CLARK, Esq., First Mayor of the Boiough of Auckland, Assisted by The Aldermen and Councillors of said Borough, At the request of The OlTiceis and Brethren of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge, No. 3920, LOO P., M. U., Established 27th February, 1844, Sanctioned by the Prov. G. M. Joshua Robinson; Dep. Prov. G. M. Caleb Robinson ; .md Prov. C. S. David Crosbie, Officers of the Auckland District for the time being. On this Stone will be built the first Odd Fellows' Hall ever elected m the South Seas.

may it Prosper. The Committee appointed to conduct the erection of the Building are— P. Prov. G M. James Derrom ; Brother John Finlay; Prov. G. M. Joshua Ilobinson; Brs. Bobt. Tudehope. The Builder - Brother Chailes Lawson. Caipenter -Brother James McKenzte, of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge Plasterer— Chai les Bruce, of the Loyal Good Intent Lodge. Stewards • Wm. Davies, M. D. ( P. G., D.ivid Ciosble, Prov. C. S., George Hunter, P. Piov. G. M , Chailes fatitchbury, P. G.. llobert Schullz, G. M. JHis "Worship then, read the following appropriate address : — " Not many weeks ago, the pleasing duty devolved upon me of giving a name to the fii\st Steam-boat built in New Zealand ; and I am called upon this day to assist in laying the foundation stone of a building to be erected for the purposes of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Manchester Unity, and which will be the first of its kind, not in New Zealand only, but throughout these colonies. This is another step in the right direction, to be followed by many others of a kindred sort, till in due time we shall, I hope, arise from our state of infancy, and put forth the energies as we put on the form of complete manhood. Let us not, however,|be too sanguine as to the time when this "consummation so devoutly to be wished" shall arrive, or expect that we are to reach it without disappointments, and it may be retrogressions. We have had ample experience lately, that it is not all gold that glitters, else there would be abundance of it on the Hen and Chickens. But even gold " real red ruddy gold" in any quantity is not valuable except in so far as it tends to the advancement of man, or ministers to his real necessities. It is for this reason alone we would desire it, and we do desire it, because, although attended with evils peculiar to itself it would give an impetus to our activity and prosperity, and call^ into existence and mature many of those humanizing Institutions which are the glory of our fatherland. We live in a world of progression, subject at the same time to great variations in our individual condition The strong and vigourous today, may be weak and powerless tomorrow, and the posse&sor of riches may soon see them take wings and fly away ; hence we not only need the aid of all such associations as tend to accelerate and sustain our onward movement, but those also which subdue* or mitigate the evils incident to humanity. To relieve the sick, to a&sist the aged and helpless, to succour the destitute and bereaved, or to stretch out the helping hand to the houseless stranger, are heavenly duties under any circumstances. And as sickness, it may he old age, and assuredly death, are the common lot of all, it js % a duty which every man owes to himself, to his family, and to his country to adopt such legitimate in cans as are within his power to secure himself against pressure from the evils of poverty at these trying times. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows recommends itself to the consideration of all thinking men, as one of those Institutions which has largely contributed to the attainment of this end. This Order which first struck root in British ground has spread its sheltering boughs, and diffused its benign blessings over every quarter of the globe ; yea its branches have extended to the very ends of the earth, and the native New Zealander may yet partake of its fruit. The benefits of the Order are not confined j to country or to colour, but are poured out upon universal man as bearing the stamp and image of the Creator. And now that we are met to give it a more prominent place in our rising community — to lay the foundation of a building from which will issue the messengers of comfort to the sons and daughters of afflicted humanity ; — may the Great Governor of the Universe smile upon the undertaking, and prosper the Order, and may its works of benevolence be continued when all here are levelled with the dust." Copies of the documents, together with copies of the Auckland newspapers, and the Auckland Almanac, and a set of gold, silver and copper coins, were deposited under the foundation-stone, which was then laid

by the Mayor in due form, and after a round of hearty cheers from the crowded assembly of spectators, the proceedings terminated. A dejeuner followed at the White Hart Hotel, at which the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors, with a few other guests, were invited to meet the Odd Fellows : the whole company numbered upwards of a hundred. The "good things" were provided in a style that reflects high credit on all concerned—on the liberal hosts of the banquet, on the stewards (Messrs. Davies, Crosbie, George Hunter, Schultz, and Stitchbury), and on Mi. Osborne, of the 'White Hart,' j whose efforts in getting up this part of the festival in a handsome and satisfactory manner were assiduous, and, as all present would warmly acknowledge, highly successful.

Lectures on the B«ble. — The first of a new series of Lectures undertaken by the Ministers of the Auckland Branch of the Evangelical Alliance was delivered on Wednesday evening last, in the Wesley an Chapel, by the "Rev. John Inglis, of the Presbyter an Church. The subject was, as announced, " The Supreme Authority of the Bible as a Standard of Faith and Practice." After some brief but lucid remaiks on the possibility, the probability, and the necessity of a Divine Revelation to man, the Lecturer gave a sketch of the historical evidence proving the Bible to he such a Revelation, and then dwelt at considerable length on the more immediate topic chosen for his discourse, — the absolute and undivided authority of the Sacred Scriptures, as the Rule which every man is bound to study for his own guidance, and by which he is to regulate his belief and his conduct. The range of argument and illustration employed by the Lecturer in vindication of this principle was extensive, and a large amount of varied information was skilfully condensed, and presented in an attractive and impressive form. We hope to publish an abstract of it in a future number. The audience was very numerous,— probably the most numerous of any which the Lectures in connexion with the Alliance have hitherto brought together, — and included a gratifying representation of the several Protestant denominations in the town and neighbourhood. — The next Lecture of this course will be delivered on Monday evening next, in the Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. Thomas Hamer. Subject, — " The Divine Inspiration of the Bible."