LAYING THE FOUNDATIONSTONE OF THE FREEMASON'S

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6064, 25 April 1881, Page 6

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONSTONE OF THE FREEMASON'S

Tub ceremony of laying tlie foundationstone of the Freemasons' Hall. I'rinccsaurcet, on March 30, was looked forward to by Masons throughout the 'province as a gala day, a day which would l>eremembered as an epoch m Masonry in this province. No wonder, therefore, that were closely examined (luring the twenty-four hours preceding the cereinonial. Masons from all parts of the province—the Thames, Coromandoh Rodncv, Whangarei, Waikato, & G .—had assembled to take part in the demonstration. The architect (Air. Skinnerl and the contractor (Mr. Colebrook) had made every arrangement for the accommodation of the public. A «jra:)d stand was erected at the north aide of the hall for the exclusive ir-e of the ladies, and an eager demand existed during the la>t few days for admission to this stand. The hall itself was txj.u'ded 'lloor.high, mid iitted i:p with :soats. A triangle, to which was suspended the corner fltono at the N. E. corner of t' e hall, formed the centrc of attraction. The footpath, and a portion of the road, were fenced in, to afford room tor the ceremony, and a.ntail'of police, under Mr. jVardy, kept order tluring the proceedings. The brethren having taken up their allotted places, a.nd the District, and Provincial Grand Masters having taken their places at the cast, north, awl south sides of the stone, the ceremony of hying the foundation stone was commenced by the choir singing tbe hymn, " Master .Supreme, to thee thia ilay omi* corner stone with praise we lay,''to the tune of the '*Old Hundredth." .Brother Gould. P.(r. Chaplain, 1.C., read tbe first three verses; of the Ist chapter 01 Genesis, after which Brother Nelson, X).G. Chaplain, K. 0., otfered up prayer, the responses being given by the < 5 rand Masters ami tlie choir. Mr. L D. Nathan", Chairman of the trustees, then rer.d a cop}* of the scroll, v/hich v/aa placed in the cavity under the foundation stone, aa foliov, s :— 1.T.N.0.T.G.A.0.T.U, A.i.. ISH), a.l. r.SSI. The 44: ii yiur of Lbe '.f Tlirr .Most (Jrar-ious Majesty Vicioriii, 'iut-en of I'rit.iin, Ireland, and their Colonic and l>»?p-.ntl».*ncies t Kmpre.-i. of India, kc. w Iri tho l*t year or the government of Sir Arthur Gordon, 1v.0.M.G., tlovurnor of Lli<> o»h>»y of New Zo.'dand Ac , On Wednesday, tin? :;>th cl.ty of J.lt»rch, at Aui kl;i.rn). N.Z., the chief oornrjr-stone «»i Frcerna3ony' Hall, for theu.se of all members of the Andcru Order nf l\#e ami Accepted Masons within the 'Provincial IM.sira-t of Auckland. was wr-Il ami truly laid, alter haviji.; been it»v-ertiiintMl \o 1>» plumb, level, and square in «lue and ancient form, ami with appropriate rulcj an<l honors, l>v the \i.\V. 5. Graham, !>.(?.M. of Auckland, under the K.C.; tho XI.W. George l'. Pserco, IMi.X. of New Zealand, tiij-lcr tho 1.C.; the R.W. the Mori. Frederick Whitukcr, P.G.M. of the North Island of Now Zealand, under tho -S.C. Tlie brethren having previously attended St. I'aul'i falhedral, whfire divine acrviee was cmduoUd bv brothers Uevs. O, M. jNeLjou (D.G.G., E C.), U. Kidd (V.0.C., 1.C.), F. Gould (P.G.0., S.('.), and W. Tebba (P.P.G.C., Cornerse:, K.<J). Architect, Brother \V. M. Skinner, P.M.: builder. Urother T, Colebrook ; trustees, Urothera [4. I). Nathan. F. W. E. I>aw*o» (P. M.>, M. Niccol C. M. Kebon (P.M.), F. K. Roycroft (P.M.), W. A. Ponton (P.M.), and T. K. Durance (P.M.) The land upon which this hall is to erected was given for the purpose by Lodge Am, No. 3-IS, T-0., and the lodges hereafter named contribute the amount set'opposite them: — Codgo \m, C 200; St. Andrew, £*200; VS'aitemat*, £200 ; Prince of Wales, t,-00 : United Sorvice, £100; Union Lod.e of M.M.. XIOO : Ara, H.A. Chapter, jCC-0. The total of the buildinif will bo about £3000, the remaining portion of which it Is expected ihe Masons of Auckland will subscribe. IVlay the Ahnighty architect of th<» universe look <lown with benignity upon our present undertaking, and crown the edifice with every .success. Attested l»r UJ thin 30th March, A.D. ISSI, AL. T.SSI George fi. Graham, D.G.M., i'.C.; <;-orge P. Pierce, P.G.M., T.C-; Frederick Whitaker, P.G.M., S.O. Brother tho Hon. K. Wihtaickr, at this stage of tho proceedings, delivered an interesting and exhaustive address. The chant, *' O how amialde arc thy dwellings," was sung by the choir, and tjie V).G. Chaplain said the concluding prayer. The Masonic version of the National Anthem was sung, and the procession was then reformed and marched hack to the Choral (tall, where the Grand Lodge was closed.