LAYING THE FOUNDAIMON STONE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 36A (Supplement)

LAYING THE FOUNDAIMON STONE.

Anothefstsp forward in the movement which was initiated some months ago, having for it* object the erection in JJuaedin of a building more suited for the winter show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, wad for other exhibitions than the Garriiran Hall ha« proved to be, was taken yesterday afternoon when the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the building was performed with Masonic cites. The weather was fortunately of that delightful character | which has made the present winter, so far as it has gone, to memorable on account pf its mildness, and the conditions were in every xfegard favourable and auspicious. | The fact that the function was held on the weekly half-holiday conduced to a Jorge gathering of Fpectaton, nob only of those who were more directly interested in the schema but also of numbers of people who were attracted to the scene by a deeire to witness a ceremony in the petformanoa of 'which the mystio rites of Freemasonry were employed. Long before the time fixed for the ceremony crowds of people gathered in the vicinity of the site, and those who had not received invitations to i places within the hoarding wall that surronnds the foundations of the "building took up their positions along the *ton» wail in Vogel street, overlooking the section and in the neighbourhood of the ovetbndgc, while * few venturesome youths climbed to the roofs of buildings in Crawford street, and thence secured an excellent view of the proceedings. ' Above and around the stone itself were seated or stood a large number of ladies and gentlemen, among the latter being the Hon T. Fergus, Messrs T. Brydone, J. Smith Jan., W. Patrick, Robert Campbell, James Hnzlett, G. H. Gilroy, and J. H. Morrison (directors of the Ot&go Agricultural Hall Company), the I Hon. W. D. Stewart, M.L.C., the Hon. ;W. H. Reynolds, H.L.C., Professor Gibbons, Professor GikayJ Dr A. J. Fergusson, Messrs J. Allen, W. Fraser, T. Mackenzie, J. Green, M.H.R'a., R. Giendieing, K. Ramsay, J. T. MRckerras, J. Bhiel, J. S. Thornton, James Hislop (architect of the building), T. Moodie, D. E. Theomin, W. Angus, J. Stephenson, C. B. Chapman, G. L. Dennistoa, G. Fenwick, J. Sinclair Thomson, R. A. I Chaffey (Maheno), W* Henderson, R. W. Glendining (Kyaburn), W.-P. Watson, L. A. Macpherson (Timaru), P. R. Sargood, J. W. Brindlay, B. Herbert (Lawrence), B. Siev- ! wright, C. B. Grierson, R. Wilson, D. Baxter, W. Snow (Outram), J. M 4 Rae Gallaway, I J. B. Thomson, A. Lees, A. Matheson, W. ! Gow, A. M'Eerrow (Hampden), D. Borrie (Papakaio), J. Carroll, J. White, J. Lethbridge, A. Todd, P. Tovmsend, J. Arkle (Palmerston), I. Selby, B. Hart (Lawrence), F. R. Chapman, A. S. Paterson, H. Clark (Milton), W. Crombie, M. Sinclair, W. Dawson, W. Carlton (Ratanui), P. Barr, J. Mitchell, H. Harraway, C. B. Bird, A. Solomon, J. R. Soott, W. Blackie (Bast Taieri), W. R. Peraton, H. E. Hart,* A. M 'Far lane, A, Moritzsonj T. Callender, A. Burt, J. Stone, C. W. Adams, and G. Esther. Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Hons. J. M'Keozie; M.H.R. (Minister for Agriculture), W, M. Bolt, M.L.C., and W. J. M. Larnacb, M.H.R., Messrs J. Roberts, C.M.G., D. Pinkerton and W. Earnshaw, M.H.R.'s, N. Y. A. Wales (mayor), Joseph Allan (Moßgiel), and T. Brown. THE MASONIC OEREMON3?. The District Grand Lodge, 8.C., was opened at the Masonic Hall at 1.30 p.m., and after the D.D.G.M.'s. and officers of the S.O. and 1.0. ■had been received, the brethren of the mystio tie formed in procession, headed by the.Dnnedin Garrison Band. The brethren of the respective MMQoie cOßSfcttflUonji 9? EnilantL IreUndj, »nd

Scotland walked in paiea. Then came the ! officers, followed by the Masters and Past Masters of the lodges. These were ouooeeded by the Grand Standard-bearers, with two Grand Tylers, followed by the respective grand officer?, marching in twos, with the Right Worshipful District Grand Master, Bro. T. S. ' Graham, preceded by his bearer, bringing up the rear. The platform erected {or the occasion was situated at the north-east corner of the section on which the hall is to be erected, and there was a plentiful display of bunting. On arriving ab a proper distance from the stand the procession halted and opened out right and left, so »a to allow the District Grand Masters to pass up the oenfcre, the District Grand officers following in the rear, in order. Upon being disposed upon the platform the Masonic ceremony begun. The D.G.D.C. (Bro. J. H. Moir) presented to the R.W. the D.G.M. (Brother Thomes Sherlock Graham the directors of the Agricultural Hall Company, tho Hon. T. Fergus (chairman),' Meesra T. Brydoue, James Smith, Jan., W. Patrick, Robert Campbell, James Hazlefct, G. H. Gilroy, and J. H. Morrison. 'The Hon. T. Fergus then called upon the R.W. the D.G.M. to perform the ceremony. The Mcsonie choir, under the direction of the D.G. organist, sang the following ode 1 Hail, Eternal j by whose aid All created things were mado : Heav'n and earth Thy vast' design j Hear us, Architect Divine ! May our work, begun in Thee, Ever blest with order be. The D.G. Chaplain, tho R3v. F. C. Platts, then offered up a prayer, and the "D.G.'S. of Works (Bro. D. O. Sharp) presented a plan of the buildings. The D.G. Secretary (Bro. S. James) read the scroll, of which tho following ia a copy :«- The foundation stone of this buildintr, to be used as an agricultural hall, was laid with M isonic honours, at the especial request of the directors of the Otago Agricultural Hall Company (Limited) by Thomas Sherlock Graham, Right Worshipful District Grand Master of Freemasons of OUgo and Southland under the English Constitution, assisted by James Gore, Right Worshipful District Grand Master, New Zealand South, Scottish Constitution, and David A. M'Nicoll, Right Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master for New Zealand, Irish Constitution, with the officers of their respective district grand lodges, and in the presence of the brethren under ' their respective constitutions ; the Hon. Thomas 3?ergua, chairman and directors of the Otago Agricultural Hall Company ; and the general public, on Wednesday, the 10th day of June, A.D. 1896, ■ A.T.4. 6896— Nathaniel Young Armstrong Wales being Mayor of the City of Dunedin,— iu tie fifty* ninth year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. (Signed) T. Sherlock Graham, D.G.M., Otajo and Southland, B C. James Gore, D.G.M., New Zealand South, S.O. David A. M'Nicoll, D.P.G.M. New Zealand, LO. Sydney Jambs, D.G. Secretary, Ofcago and Southland, E.O. The scroll having been placed in the o»vity of the stone, the D.G. Treasurer (Bro. J. H. Hancock) deposited with it a bottle containing a sovereign, a half-sovereign, a crown, a halfcrown, & florin, a shilling, a sixpence, a penny, a half-penny, and a f&rfbing, and also copies of the Otago Daily Times and Otago Witness of ' June 10 and the Evening Star of June 9. The stune, upon which the wards " Otago Agricultural Hall Foundation Stone, laid 10 June 1896 " were' inscribed, was then lowered with three pauses (under the charge of D.G.D.C. Bro. Moir), the band played " God bless the Prince of Wales," and the brethren gave the public grand honours, Tho D.G.M. having addressed his officer* as to the duties of their respective offices, sad the BquaxA, the level, and the plumb having "been applied, the consecrating elements were applied by the several brethren as follows : — The vessel of corn was presented by Bro. C.D.L. Graham, P.8»G.8., E.C, to Bro. T. S. Graham, D.G.M., 8.C., who used the following words 1 — v I scatter this corn as an emblem of pleDty. May the blessings of bounteous heaven be showered upon us and upon all like patriotic and benevolent undertakings, and inspire the hearts of the people with virtue, wisdom, and gratitude." The cup sf wine was presented by Bro. David Cherrie, D.G J.W., 8.C.; to the D.G.M., Bro. James Gore, 5.0., who used the following words :—": — " I pour this wine as an emblem of joy and gladness^ and may the great Architect of the Universe bless this undertaking. May His divine mercy protect the workmen engaged in this structure, and, as it is begun In pesee, may it end in harmony." The vessel of oil was presented by Bro. P.M.D. O. Sharp, D.G. Suparin^endenfc of Works, 5.0., to Bro, D. A. M'Niooll, D.P.G.M., 1.0., whe- used the following words: — "I pour this oil as an emblem of peace. May its blessing abide with us continually. May the Grand -Master of Heaven and Earth shelter the widow and orphan, shield and protect them from trials and vicissitudes of the world, and bo bestow His mercy upon the bereaved, the afflicted, and the sorrowing, that they may know sorrow and trouble no more." The vessel of salt was presented by Bro. B. R. Green, P.M., E.C, to Bro. W. Nees, D. D.G.M., 5.0., who uaed the following words :—": — " I sprinkle this salt as an emblem of hospitality and friendship, and may the Great Architect of the Universe incline'our hearts to I carry out the grand precept." An ode was then sung by the choir, after I which the W.G.M., Bro. T. S. Graham, delivered the following invocation :— " And may the Lord, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, bless the brethren here assembled in all I their lawful undertaking*, and grant to eaoh one of them in needful supply the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, the oil of joy, and the salt of peace. So mote it be." JBro. T. S. Ghaham aaid : We are Jiere today under the banners of England, Ireland, and Scotland, as members of an ancient, free, and accepted fraternity, to lay the foundation stone of the Otago Agricultural Hall ; and I need scarcely assure you, Mr Chairman, that we have come here, \ and at your request, with cxc ceding great pleasure to assist you, however humbly be the ■ effort, in your proceedings. Many here may naturally inquire what connection a Masonic body has with the laying of this foundation stone. The answer is a very simple one. We are here as the representatives of those brethren and architects and worthy builders who ages ago, on the continent of Europe and elsewhere, raised those magnificent structures — cathedrals and other public tfhildings— by their secret arts, and retained the possession of certain secrets and signals among their guilds and brethren. These guilds used the compass, the square, the mallet, the chisel, and many -other instruments ; but we as theoretical masons simply use these as symbols ' from which we deduce certain moral lessons ; and we trust that when these are thoroughly understood and followed by the brethren of our society, they may be. rendered better man when they pass away from the society than when they enter it. Permit me, Mr Chairman, to express the pleasure we have in coming here I to-day, and allow me to express tho earnest hona . thai: when comcleteci vbif} baild*

ing m«.y ia every respect prove a credit to yourself, your brother directors, and those gen* tlemen who, by their foresight and energy, . have entered upon a scheme which I trust you . will be able to bring to completion, — (Applause.) I also trust the building when finished will be a credit to tho architect who prepared the plans, and last, though riot least, a credit and orna* menfc to the City of Duneflin.-— (Applause.) The Hon. Thomas Feegus saidi Right worshipful sir and brother, brethren, ladies and gentlemen,— l assure you that the directors of the Otago Agricultural Hall Company feel very grateful indeed to my brethren of the Matonio tie for having conferred an honour upon them this afternoon in consenting to lay the etone of their new hall. I take ib that the magnificent day which we have at present is but the emblem of the days of prosperity we will have Istide this hall when the walls are fully erected and the roof is on it.— (Applause.) It Is with exceeding pleasure, too, that I see around me | some very old MasoDs — men who have been connected with agricultural matters for many [ years. Bro. James, on my immediate right, 1 was the firit secretary of the first agricultural j society in Otago ; and lam pleased to see him so hale and hearty as he is now. — (Applause.) I have, right worshipful fcir, to congratulate my brethren, your colleagues or companions, npon the magnificent manner 3b which they have conducted this ceremony. It might not be out of place for me just to say a word or two with respect to the building of which this is the I foundation atone. Borne time ago the Agricultural Society of Otago took it into their beads that it would be wise and well to hold an annual winter competitiou, especially for dairy produce and root crops. They entered upon this project, intending to make it a success ; but they found that the tracoaoa far exceeded their highest anticipations. Last year when the show came off they found that if ib was to continue to flourish they would require a much larger building than any in Dunedin at the present day in which to contain not only the exhibits, but also the people who came from far and near to see them. — (Applause). In order to obtain a larger building a few gentlemen met together, and they decided that they would ask the people of Otago to cnbaeriba a sufficient amount of money for the erection of a building. The money was to be on debentures terminable at the option of the sooiety, and when the sooiety were in poaseeaion of funds to enable them to pay off those debentures the hall was to "levert to the Otago Agricultural Society for ' the benefit of tha farmers of the whole provincial district. I need not «ay that tho directors have met with wn equalled success. We had very few. rebuffs — one and all on whom we called were only too eager to aid us to the best of their ability ; and I am proud to cay tfaat we have at the present time enough money and promises to enable us to complete the erection of the building. — (Applause.) Having erected the building we look confidently to the farmers and atookowneM of Otago to aid n«, and we have so doubt we will ba able to give them good value for their money, and advance the causa of agriculture with leaps and bounds to the credit of this part of New Zealand. — (Applause.) We have especially to thank the Otago Harbour Board, who have given us a lease, on irhat is merely a peppercorn rent, of this magnificent aitei but I (think their generosity will not be wasted, Tseeaune tbeyvwitt have an additional value added to the surrounding sections by the erection of this building.— (Applause.) Mr Fbbgus, on behalf of the architect (Mr J, Hialop), then presented Bro. Graham with * mallet, us a symbol of one which was being made for him to keep as a memento of the occasion. On the return march 0! the procession ihe Masonic bodies were, at the invitation oE the Agricultural Hall Company, invited into the City Hail, -where the brethren were entertained until a light xef eotion.