Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland
( Cheers . ) We . are . all extremely happy to see the deputies from the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , come down to join with their brethren in Scotland in laying this most important foundation stone , and I trust that the stone laid this day will in course of time have such a superstructure that will do credit to the Masons of Scotland . ( Hear , hear . ) And I am sure I need say nothing more , except that it must be as gratifying to the brethren as it is to me to-day to see the very flattering reception we have met with in Edinburgh . ( Loud cheers . )
Three rounds of cheering were then given for the Inhabitants of Edinburgh , " and the "Magistrates , " and one more cheer for "Lord Panmure . " The brethren then gradually dispersed after several ineffectual attempts had been made to induce Lord Panmure to step forward and address the assembly .
THE BANQUET . At seven o ' clock about a thousand of the Brethren sat down to dinner in the Music Hall . The gallery was devoted to the use of ladies , a considerable number of whom were present . His Grace the M . W . G . M . occupied the chair , and was supported on the right by Lord Panmure , D . G . M . of England ; Bros . Whyte Melville , D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Hon . F . Dundas , M . P . ;
Wyndham Portal ; Lord James Murray ; R . W . Jennings ; "William Mercer , Prov . G . M . ' , Hong Kong ; Henry Inglis , S . G . W . ; and W . A . Laurie , G . Sec . ; and on the left by Bros . Quinton , from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Hyndam , from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Lord Loughborough , Substitute G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Sir Archibald Alison , Bart . ; Hon . F . Drummond ; Captain Drummond ; A . J . Stewart , G . Clerk ; and General Swinburne .
The noble chairman gave in succession the toasts of "The Queen , " "The Prince of Wales , Lord High Steward of Scotland , " " The Prince Consort and the Royal Family / ' and " The Army and Navy , " to the last of which General Swinburne replied . The M . W . G . M . then called for a full bumper to " The health of the Grand Master of the Masons of England , the Earl of Zetland , and the Grand Lodge of
England . " In proposing this toast , his grace said they had all been very much gratified by seeing a deputation from the Grand Lodge of England , headed by the Deputy Grand Master himself . He himself felt it to be the greatest compliment that could have been paid to them ; and if at any time their services might be asked for in England , they would most gladly repay the compliment which had been paid to them to-day . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm .
The R . W . Lord Panmure , in acknowledging the toast , said : Most Worshipful (" rand Master , and Brethren all , it is with the greatest satisfaction that I rise to perform the duty of returning you my sincere thanks for the honour which you have conferred upon the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of England . It will be my pleasing duty , and that of the deputation which has accompanied me from England , to report that we have this day witnessed one of the most successful Masonic gatherings that ever took place within the bounds of the British empire . ( Cheers . ) I know of no other occasion on which upwards of 4 , 000 Masons
have been gathered together with so nice an order , and with such attention to the rules for observing their places , as I witnessed this day ; nor do I believe , except in this city itself ,. that any where else such a gathering could have taken place . ( Cheers . ) We have had the privilege of seeing you lay the foundation stone of a grand Freemasons' Hall for the Craft in Scotland ; and the deputation and myself have most earnestly prayed the Great Architect of the universe that in the superstructure to be reared above that foundation stone the Masons of
Scotland may advance the dignity and the interests of the Craft for ages to come . It has been our lot upon this occasion to witness a very rare conjunction of the planets of Masonry . We have seen a Masonic garland this day—the thistle receiving the rose and tho shamrock ( cheering ) in one harmonious garland . I trust that in England , aye , and in Ireland too , similar reunions may take place ( hear ) , for I believe that there is nothing which can conduce to the unity of the Craft throughout the empire so much as such great meetings as this , where the separate Grand Lodges are distinctly and individually represented , and all three
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland
( Cheers . ) We . are . all extremely happy to see the deputies from the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland , come down to join with their brethren in Scotland in laying this most important foundation stone , and I trust that the stone laid this day will in course of time have such a superstructure that will do credit to the Masons of Scotland . ( Hear , hear . ) And I am sure I need say nothing more , except that it must be as gratifying to the brethren as it is to me to-day to see the very flattering reception we have met with in Edinburgh . ( Loud cheers . )
Three rounds of cheering were then given for the Inhabitants of Edinburgh , " and the "Magistrates , " and one more cheer for "Lord Panmure . " The brethren then gradually dispersed after several ineffectual attempts had been made to induce Lord Panmure to step forward and address the assembly .
THE BANQUET . At seven o ' clock about a thousand of the Brethren sat down to dinner in the Music Hall . The gallery was devoted to the use of ladies , a considerable number of whom were present . His Grace the M . W . G . M . occupied the chair , and was supported on the right by Lord Panmure , D . G . M . of England ; Bros . Whyte Melville , D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Hon . F . Dundas , M . P . ;
Wyndham Portal ; Lord James Murray ; R . W . Jennings ; "William Mercer , Prov . G . M . ' , Hong Kong ; Henry Inglis , S . G . W . ; and W . A . Laurie , G . Sec . ; and on the left by Bros . Quinton , from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Hyndam , from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; Lord Loughborough , Substitute G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Sir Archibald Alison , Bart . ; Hon . F . Drummond ; Captain Drummond ; A . J . Stewart , G . Clerk ; and General Swinburne .
The noble chairman gave in succession the toasts of "The Queen , " "The Prince of Wales , Lord High Steward of Scotland , " " The Prince Consort and the Royal Family / ' and " The Army and Navy , " to the last of which General Swinburne replied . The M . W . G . M . then called for a full bumper to " The health of the Grand Master of the Masons of England , the Earl of Zetland , and the Grand Lodge of
England . " In proposing this toast , his grace said they had all been very much gratified by seeing a deputation from the Grand Lodge of England , headed by the Deputy Grand Master himself . He himself felt it to be the greatest compliment that could have been paid to them ; and if at any time their services might be asked for in England , they would most gladly repay the compliment which had been paid to them to-day . ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm .
The R . W . Lord Panmure , in acknowledging the toast , said : Most Worshipful (" rand Master , and Brethren all , it is with the greatest satisfaction that I rise to perform the duty of returning you my sincere thanks for the honour which you have conferred upon the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of England . It will be my pleasing duty , and that of the deputation which has accompanied me from England , to report that we have this day witnessed one of the most successful Masonic gatherings that ever took place within the bounds of the British empire . ( Cheers . ) I know of no other occasion on which upwards of 4 , 000 Masons
have been gathered together with so nice an order , and with such attention to the rules for observing their places , as I witnessed this day ; nor do I believe , except in this city itself ,. that any where else such a gathering could have taken place . ( Cheers . ) We have had the privilege of seeing you lay the foundation stone of a grand Freemasons' Hall for the Craft in Scotland ; and the deputation and myself have most earnestly prayed the Great Architect of the universe that in the superstructure to be reared above that foundation stone the Masons of
Scotland may advance the dignity and the interests of the Craft for ages to come . It has been our lot upon this occasion to witness a very rare conjunction of the planets of Masonry . We have seen a Masonic garland this day—the thistle receiving the rose and tho shamrock ( cheering ) in one harmonious garland . I trust that in England , aye , and in Ireland too , similar reunions may take place ( hear ) , for I believe that there is nothing which can conduce to the unity of the Craft throughout the empire so much as such great meetings as this , where the separate Grand Lodges are distinctly and individually represented , and all three