LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE MASONIC TEMPLE AT AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH,-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1365, 31 March 1881, Page 3

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE MASONIC TEMPLE AT AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH,-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

The Opening Ceremony. Auckland, Last Night. The Foundation stone of the Temple of "Masonry was laid this afternoon with great eclat. About six hundred masons attended, and precisely at one o'clock the District Grand Lodge of Auckland E.C., w*<J opened in the Choral Hall. The organist opened with the Coronation March, and as the R.W.D.G.M. Bro. G. S. Gmham entered with his officers and marched to their appointed places the stirring notes of Sir Mioheal Costa's " March of the Israelites" resounded through the hall. The D.G. Chaplain, the Rev. Bro. C. M. Nelson offered up an expressive prayer, after which the pleasing chorale " Hail Eternal by whose aid" was sung •by 8 powerful choir under the direction of Bro H. Gordon Gooch. The D.G.M. Bro. Graham then formerly declared the lodge open, and the -choir having given the customary response "So mote it be," the P.G.M. and Lodge of N.Z.I.C, and the P.G.M. and Lodge of N.Z.S.C, were received, Minted, and the bretheren conducted to their allotted positions^ the organist playing a Masonic festival march by Dr Sparke. The usual set questions and given, after which the D.G. Secretary, Bro H. G. Wade read the dispensation authorising the brethren to appear in regalia. The well-known anthem " Behold how good and joyful a thing' 1 was next rendered, followed by an address by D.G.M. Bro. Graham, which he closed by sprinkling perfume. The D.G. Master's address was very brief. The Procession. The D.G. Director of Ceremonies and his assistants then formed the brethren into the following order of procession, after which they marched to St Paul's Crthedral :— Two Tylers with swords ; Engineer and City Band ; Visiting Brethren not being^membera of any lodge, two and two, with Members of mark and Royal Arch in rear. — 260 brethren : W.M. of Lodge E.C. bearing corn ; W.M. of Lodge I.C. bearing ewer of wine,'; W.M. of S.C. bearing cup of oil ; Bro. Errington, P.G.A.S.C G., carrying the plans; The Builder, (Bro. T. Colebrook) with trowel on cushion. The Hall trustees ; Tho Chairman carrying inscription ; D.G.Pursuivant and assistant pursuivant; D.G. and P.G. organists; D.G. and P.G. Superintendent of Works ; P.P.G. and D.G. Sword-bearers; P.P.G. D.G Deacons; P.P.U. and D.G. Secretaries ; D.G. Secretaries ; President Board of Works, with book of constitution on cushion ; D.G. and P.G. Registrar, with bag ; D.G. and P.G. Treasurers; 1.C., E.C., S.C, bearing phial of coins; J.G. Wardens and visitors of distinction ; Corinthian Light, borne by a P.M., S.U. ; Corinthian Column, borne by aP.E., I.C ; J.G. Wardens, I.C, EC, S.C, with Ilum-rule ; Doric Light, borne by P.M., .C; Doric Column borne by a P.M., E.C ; S.G. Warden, I.C, E.C, S.C, with lever ; D.G. and P.G. Junior Deacons ; P. D.G. Chaplains ; Bible-bearer, with vol. S.L. on cushion, D.G. and P.G. Chaplain ; I.C, E.C, S.C, two stewards with wands ; I.C, E.C, with square ; two stewards with wands ; Deputy D.G. and P.G. Masters, lonic Light, and Mallet ; Sword-bearers, the three Provincial Grand Masters. The procession to the Church was headed by the Engineer and City Bands playing a quick march, entitled, "Fight for the Standard. "

Divine Service. On arrival at the Church, the procession halted and faced inwards, leaving a space for the D.G. Lodge officers ; the P.G. Masters preceded by their Standard and Sword-bearers. The deputies and others followed from the rear. The D.G. and P.G. Masters were conducted to seats by two stewards, the brethren taking seats behind them. All the available seats in S. Paul's Cathedral were filled by ladies and gentlemen who had obtained admitance. when the brethren were seated the church was crowded, and many were unable to obtain seats. There was a full choir, and the various hymns were well rendered. The first and second lessons were the 28th chap. Geneiis and the 13th chap. Corinthians. Dr Kidd addressed the assemblage on 13th verse of 13th chap. Corinthians: "And now abideth faith hope and chanty, these three ; but the greatest of these three is charity." The speaker said Freemasonry was not a rival form of religious worship, and was not put forward as a substitute for Christianity. It was a system of moral teach inpr, based on belief in the Divine God of the world. If any man claiming to be a Freemason was an atheist it would be found that he was a bad Mason. The fuudimental doctrine of Freemasonry was faith in God and charity ; its functions to discourage the animosities and unfairness so prevalent in social life, political contentions, and religious strife. Laying the Foundation Stone. After Church, the procession went to the Hall site in Princess-street, where a etnge was set apnrt for forty members of S. Paul's choir. Owing to the crowd of people traffic was suspended in the street. The proceedings commenced by singing the anthem, '* To thee O Lord our house we build." D.Gc. Chaplain Tebbs read a chap., Genesis Ist, and Chaplain Nelson offered a prayer. The atone vu then raised, and Chairman and Trustee Nathan read and deposited. the scroll. District G.M. Graham then spread the cement, and the choir sang another anthem, during the course of which the stone was lowered to its bed. The square, level, and plumb-line were then applied, each Grand Master striking the stone with a mallet, and declired the stone well and truly laid. The choir then sang, " When earth's foundations first were laid." The architect then presented the working tools to the Deputy Grand Master. A chapter was read, and the Worehipfui Master presented the vessels containing coin, wine, and oil, which were placed on the stone. The Past Grand Master then delivered an able oration on Masonry, which is pro* nftunced one of the best ever given in a Aoc)tl*nd. The proceedings concluded W 4rith a hymn and the National Anthem.