Provincial.

respect tlie R . W . D . Prov . G . M ., the Rev . John Huyshe , the V . W . Bro . Lord Mount Edgcumbe , P . Prov . S . G . W ., ancl other brethren of tbe proinucoT The AV . M . of S 3 gave up the chair to the D . Prov . G . M ., the Rev . John Huyshe , and he having called upou Lord Mount Edgcumbe to take the S . W ., and Bro . W . Denis Moore , I ' rov . U . S ., the J . W . chair , opened the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon , and having stated the object of the meeting , the brethren at once , it being then about

half-post ten , according to tho numerical order of their respective lodges , took up their position on the north side of the hall . During this time the procession without had been marshalled in Ker-street , the hand , of the Devonport Volunteers at its head . These Avere under the command of Capt . Beer , the captain commandant , and Captain Cutcliffe , Lieutenant Clarke , ancl Ensigns Ramsey ancl Harris . Of the corps present there Avere five sergeants , tAvo buglers , and fort } -five rank and

file . Following these were many representatives of the Manchester "Unit y oi Independent Order of Odd-fellows , with banners and insignia . Group No . 1 , Avithin the Guildhall , having formed four abreast , wheeled by fours , passed through the eastern , door . The remaining groups followed in like order , and the Mayors of Devonport ancl Plymouth , AA-IIO wore their scarlet robes and insignia of office , having passed out of the hall , the bands of the Royal Marines fell in , and these ivere

followed by the members of the various Freemasons' lodges in numerical order . Not only ivere the local lodges represented , but also the lodges throughout the counties of Devon ancl Cornwall . Many members of the Dunheved ( Launceston ) Lodge were present , and the other Cornish lodges Avere , Love and Honour ( No . 82 ) , Falmouth ; Fortitude ( No . 153 ) , Truro ; Phcenix ( No . 415 ) , Truro ; Druids ( No . 853 ' ., Redruth ; Boscawen ( No . 1000 ) , Chacewater ; St . Matthew's ( No . 1057 ) , Lostwithiel . The procession , at a quarter to eleven , started from the Guildhall .

Throughout the entire route the streets were lined by thousands of persons of all ages aad of both sexes , but the procession , by the assistance of the Devonport borough police , ivere enabled to pass through the densely-lined thoroughfares with A'ery little difficulty . On arriving at the dockyard gates , the procession halted and divided right and left , allowing the R . W . and RBA ' . Deputy Grand Master , the Eev . J Huyshe , M . A ., and the Right Hon . and V . W . Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , to pass up

the centre , preceded by their Banner and Sword Bearers . They were followed hy the Provincial Grand Officers , and the several lodges in rotation from the bottom of the procession , Avhich was thus inverted . The band of the 73 rcl Regiment was stationed within the dockyard gates , and played " The Wedding March . " Tlie Masons entered the chapel at the east end by the north door , and occupied the north side ; the Civil authorities entered by the south door , and occupied the south side .

The Rev . John Briggs , the Dockyard Chaplain , read the usual morning prayers ; Rev . James Downing , Totnes , the Provincial Grand Chaplain of Freemasons , the first Lesson ; and Rev . G . KnoAvling , of Stonehouse , also a P . Prov . G . Chaplain of Dei-on , the second . After tho third Collectan Anthem , from tlie 133 rd Psalm— "Behold how good and joyful a'thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity "—was beautifully sung by the choir , accompanied upon the organ by Mr . Hannaford , Organist of tho

Chapel Royal , H . M . Dockyard . The Rex . G . Knowling then saicl prayers , after which a Masonic hymn was sung to music specially composed by Mr . Hannaford . At its conclusion , The Rev . Bro . John Hnyshe , M . A ., D . Prov . G . M ., Rector of Clysthydon , Grand Chaplain of England , having ascended the pulpit , preached a sermon from the following text : —Job xxix ., llth , 12 th , and loth verses— "When the ear heard me it hlesseth . me , and when the eye saw me it gave Avitness to me ; because I delivered the poor tli . it cried and tho fatherless , ancl him that hacl none to help him . I Avas eyes to the blind , and feet was I to the lame . "

LAYING THE STONE . On leaving tho church the procession re-formed , ancl proceeded through Pore-street , amidst a dense mass of spectators , into Granby-square , and thence to the site of the hospital . What Avould otherwise have been , in all probability an imposing and satisfactory demonstration ivas greatly neutralised by a shower of rain that commenced gently a little Avhile before the procession left the Dockyard , increased gradually during

the march , and became most troublesome just at the most interesting part of the proceedings : Avlien the stone Avas being laid . A largo crowd had assembled near the intended hospital , and av-aited the arrival of those who had been to the Chanel

Provincial.

Royal . Tho walls of that portion of the structure u pon which the memorial stone Avill be i-isiblo whoa the buildhyr is completed are rained to a height of eighteen or twenty fcefc above the ground . Upon , the solid platform thus formed , preparations had been made for tho ceremonial . An arch of evergreens and flowers , ivith ivings or off-shoots of the same materials , overshadowed the place allotted for the stone itself , and stands were placed in the rear for the choir and hands . There ivas

also an extensive gallery , erected specially for the occasion , directly opposite to this point ; and this AA-as closely packed ivith a concourse of ladies and gentlemen , who had purchased tickets investing them with the privilege of viewing the proceedings from this favoured spot . Tlie procession , upon its arrival , ivas inverted as before ; ancl the members entered the enclosure in the same order in . which they had previously

entered the chapel . The D . Prov . Grand Master ( the RCA ' . John Huyshe ) , and the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , who ascended the platform together , were there received by the architect ( Mr . Norman ) , the committee and officers of tho Hospital , the Mayors of Devonport and Plymouth , the magistrates , and . other persons . The Masons , who were expected to take part in the ceremonial , were placed in front of the platform ; anclthe rain continuing to fall heavily

, , the proceedings wove accelerated , as much , as possible . The ceremonial opened ivith the Masonic Hymn : — " Almighty God > our Heavenly King !" The D . PROV . GBAUD MASTER here advanced and said Know , all you AA'IIO hear me , Ave proclaim ourselves free and accepted Masons . We profess to love God and fear his name .

We are ohedient to the IaAvs and regulations issued hy our Sovereign . We have secrets , inviolably preserved , known only to ourselves as Freemasons . But those secrets are just and honourable . If they had not been such—had our Craft not been honest and our calling good , those secrets ivould not have existed for so many generations ; nor should we have enrolled in our fraternity so many illustrious and royal personages . We are assembled here this day under the open canopy of heaven ,

because ive believe we shall promote the sacred cause of charity by assisting in laying the memorial stone of the Devonport , Stonehouse , and East Cornwall Hospital . May the Great Architect of the Universe prosper our undertaking as it may seem lit to him ! may this hospital to be erected here , be a great and permanent blessing to the poorer inhabitants of the neighbourhood ! and may it tend to realize the aspirations of that seraphic hymn : — " Glory to God in the hihest : peace on earth ; good

g ivill towards men . " My brother—Lord Mount Edgcumbe—I request you , in the name of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire , to assist at the laying of this memorial stone , ivith Masonic honours . ( Loud cheers . ) Lord MOTST EDG-CTJMBE replied : Eight Worshipful Sir , I accept your command with pleasure . Prayer ivas offered by the Prov . G . Chap . The stone Avas then , raised by pulleys and ropes from the ground to ite placethe

, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe performing the usual formalities ; and then followed the chorus from Judas Maccabceus , " 0 Father , Avhose Almighty power ! " Underneath the stone AV . IS deposited a bottle containing a manuscript and some coins , and on its face Avas inscribed the Avords

"Memorial Stone , Placed by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Juno , 1862 . A . Norman , Architect . " Tho Earl of Mount Edgcumbe next proved the stone to be properly adjusted by the uso of the plumb rule , the level , and the square , Avhich AVOI-O delivered to his lordship by tiie several officers AVIIO had them in keeping . The mallet was presented ,

and his lordship formally struck the stone three times , after ivhich he handed the tools to the architect , and , after examining the plans , passed them also to that gentlemen . The officers attended with the cornucopia , the ewers of wine and oil , and the chalice of salt , and those symbolic elements ivere poured and strewed upon the stone successively by the noble Ear ! , ivith clue Masonic formality . with

His LORDSHIP said : Right Worshipful Sir , —I do this pleasure , by your command ; and I do it with every sincere Avish on my own part and on the part of all my brother Freemasons present this day , that the superstructure to be raised from this site may be successfully carried out in every particular ; and that it may be a permanent relief to distress and misery in this neighbourhood . I declare this stone to be rightly laid in all due form of Masonry .