MASONIC.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3404, 13 June 1868, Page 5

MASONIC.

A grand Masonic banquet took place at Greymouth Qn the 28th ultimo, on the occasion of opening a lodge there. |Thirty-four brethren sat down to an excellent rapper. Nxw Masonic Hall ax DmnroiN.— The founda-tion-atone of the ntw Masonic Hall to be erected at Dnnedin was laid with befitting ceremony on Jane Ist. The building is to be strictly Grecian in style, the portico being of the Corinthian order, the buildIng being of brick, cemented. The hall, as a whole, Wul bare * frontage of 63 feet to Moray Place, and will be 77 feet deep. It will include two large rooms — the lower one 60 feet by 40 feet, and 20 feet higb, to be let for public purposes ; and the upper one 48 feet by 38 feet, which will be strictly devoted to Masonic purposes. The Right Worshipful District Grand Matter of Otago, E.0., Brother A. Carriole, addressed the brethren. After a reference to the hall, he spoke of tb« L rise and progress of Freemasonry in Otago. Bight years ago the first lodge, the Lodge of Otago, English Constitution, was opened. Ik was followed by the Otago Kilwinning Lodge, S.C. ; and now there were seren lodges under the English Constitution, seven under the Scotch, and one under the Irish Constitution. These figures proved that the craft had prospered, and, as it had extended into other parts of the world, so he trusted that it would extend hare, and thatfromth'is day another era in it* fortunate career would dawn. An impressive prayer was offered up by. the chaplain, and the stone was laid with the customary ceremonials, the pouring of the symbolical corn of nourishment,' wine of refreshment, oil of joy, and' salt on the stone. Grand-master Fyke then addressed the assemblage. Short speeches were also made, by bis Honor the Superintendent and other ofHoials. -