Restoration Of Bristol Cathedral Nave.

A Provincial Grand Lodge was opened afc the Royal Hotel , College-green , afc one o ' clock , and at a quarter to two o'clock the brethren in full Masonic costume formed a procession , and left the hotel for the Cloisters . On reaching the cloister gate the brethren , who had been walking two and two , divided on either side , forming an avenue , through which the Prov . G . Officers and other

dignitaries passed into the cloisters . Here they were beaded by the choristers , the cathedral clergy , the bishop , the chancellor , aud officials , the right worshipful the Mayor and Corporation , and others . In this manner they entered 'the Cathedral afc two o'clock , and Divine Service was then commenced . The Earl of Limerick , with the D . Prov . G . Master and ofcher high dignitaries

of the order , were assigned conspicuous positions in fche chancel . A collection was afterwards made , and ifc amounted fco the handsome sum of £ 171 12 s . The procession then re-formed , and walked by way of the cloisters fco fche enclosure surrounding the foundations of the new nave , and fche brethren having taken up their

position , the ceremony commenced by Mr . Cruger Miles presenting Bro . the Earl of Limerick with a handsome silver trowel , and requesting him fco lay the stone . His lordship consented and acknowledged the presentation , the Mayor , on behalf of the citizens , thanking him for accepting the duty . Prayer having been offered by the Bishop , D . P . G . Powell produced fche articles to be placed beneath the stone—coins of the realm , copies of the day ' s newspapers , and a masonic slab with the following inscription : —

Cathedral Church Of tho Holy and Undivided Trinity , Bristol . Re-building of Nave . The Right Reverend Charles John Ellicofcfc , D . D ., Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol . The Rev . John Pilkingfcon Norris M-A ., Canon . "* )

The Rev . Henry Mosely , M . A ., Canon . / Residen-The Rev . Edward Girdlestone , M . A . Canon . f tiary . The Ven . Archdeacon Randall , M . A ., Canon . J The Right Worshipful Francis Adams , Mayor . William Gale Coles , High Sheriff . Henry Cruger William Miles , Chairman of Rebuilding Committee .

William Killigrew Wait , Honorary Secretary of Committee . George Edmund Street , A . R . A ., Architect . The Right Honourable the Earl of Limerick , Prov . G . Master for Bristol . William A . F . Powell , D . Prov . G . Master . Gilbert Cobb Harris , Prov . G . S . W .. William Hagley Bowden , Prov . G-J . W .

This Stone was laid , with Ancient Masonic Rites , On Friday , April 17 fch , A . D . 1868 . Edward Honey , Clerk of the Works . The articles having been placed beneatb the stone and hermetically sealed , the choristers sang the 241 sfc hymn , aud the Worshipful Grand Master then proceeded fco lay the stone , punctiliously observing all the details of the

ceremonial prescribed by the Order . His lordship then declared the stone laid , and in an address of some length he expressed the pleasure he felt afc the honour conferred upon him , and sketched tbe past history , and looked forward to a promising future of fche edifice in connection with which the stone was laid . Further devotional exercises followed the proceedings , concluding with the

benediction pronounced by the Bishop . The procession then re-formed and returned to the Royal Hotel , when upwards of two hundred ladies and gentlemen safc down to an elegant repast , under the presidency of the Right Worshipful the Mayor . The usual toasts were given and responded to , and several excellent speeches delivered , which space forbids us to report .

HER MAJESTF'S THEATRE AND BRO . S . MAT . On Monday , the llfch inst ., a festive meeting was held afc Freemasons' Tavern , for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Bro . Samuel May , the theatrical costumier of Bow-street . Before the presentation took place , the committee entertained Bro . May afc supper , which , by

the way , was excellently supplied by Bro . Charles Gosden , the manager of the tavern . The chair was ably filled by Bro , John Hdall , P . G . D ., supported by a considerable nmber of Masonic and theatrical friends .

The testimonial consisted of an elegant silver salver , weighing sixty ounces , manufactured by Bro- Lamb , of Sfc . John ' s-square , Clerkenwell , and a purse containing £ 700 . The inscription on the salver was , "Presented with a purse of £ 700 to Samuel May by his Masonic and theatrical friends , in evidence of their sincere sympathy towards him on the severe loss he has

sustained by the calamitous fire at Her Majesty ' s Theatre , and as a slight mark of their regard and esteem . May 11 th , 1868 . " The usual loyal toasts having been given , Bro . Binekes rose and said that afc a meeting of the committee ifc had been resolved fchafc he should present fche testimonial which had been so readily subscribed for fco Bro . May ,

and as he had been selected , he afc once cheerfully consented . Although he did nob hesitate to say he felt complimented that the choice had fallen on him to perform this duty , he was conscious afc the same time that it demanded higher qualifications than he possessed , to do full justice to the subject he had to treat of . He had not prepared a set speech , preferring the natural expression

of his feelings , knowing that they would be more appropriate to fche occasion and more in unison with the sentiments of his hearers . He felt , in the words of our greatest dramatic writer , fchafc

" The web of life is of a mingled yarn—Good and ill together . " Ifc was a tr . ufch plainly put in that writer ' s usual fcerse and eloquent language , a truth that could nofc be disputed . He ( Bro . Binekes ) did nob for one instant pretend to say fchafc , looking afc good or evil in the abstract , the latter was a thing to be admired . We know fchafc good is for

cur advantage , but if there were no evil would good be altogether for our advantage ? He was nofc going fco lead them into a metaphysical question by that which be had expressed , and , perhaps , not altogether logically explained . He did not look on evil in fche abstract as anything to be admired . What ; would the world have been if there had been no evil ? Whywe should all have been

, only negatively good , because there would have been nothing in which we could have distinguished ourselves above others . Had their been no misery to alleviate , no want to minister to , no pain to mitigate , no distress fco relieve , where would have

been the opportunity of exercising those better qualities of our nature which shine out from day to day ? Nay , but for the calamitous fire at Her Majesty ' s Theatre , the friends of Bro . May would not have had a chance of showing that appreciation of his excellent qualities , which they did by subscribing to this testimonial . Let them understand him ; he did not stand

there as an advocate for evil , but fco show that its mixture with good was frequently the cause of calling forth fche nobler qualities of the human breast . Ho had often heard it mentioned , that in the sunshine of happiness when men were suddenly stricken down by illness or misfortune , ifc was worth enduring the pain and agony of their position to see how their friends rallied round

them . None of us would wish a similar calamity to happen again , jusfc in order that they might show their appreciation of a worthy brother by another testimonial , and so no one would wish his friend to be taken ill in order that he might evince his respect for him ; but many men who had never tasted of misfortune , would go