Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
to the tune of " Oh the Merry Masons , " and proceeded along the length of the Glasshouse Loan , after which they returned , the band playing "Jenny's Bawbee . " The foundation-stone was placed in the north-east corner of the hall which is on the
second flat . Thebrethren then marchedin tothe Royal Oak Hotel , where the Lodge was closed in due form . The following are the articles inserted in the bottle , which was placed in the stone , viz . — Alloa Journal and Alloa Advertiser of date the
17 th October ; Alloa Illustrated Family Almanac ; and Lothian ' s Annual Register for 1874 ; The Freemason of London ; T / ie Masonic News ; The Circular ; also The Scotsman , Gourant , and Glasgow Herald of date the 20 th ; a parchment sheet , containing the names of the Office-bearers of the Alloa Lodge ( No . 69 ) for 1874 , the
Contractors , the Architect , and members of Committee of the Building Fund . The coins of the Realm complete the articles sealed up in the bottle . The following inscription was on the plate that covered the cavity of the stone : —The new Masonic Hall for the Alloa Lodge ( No . 69 ) was laid 20 th Oct ., 1874 .
THE DINNER . At five o ' clock the brethren , along with a number of friends , sat down to dinner in the Royal Oak Hotel . The Right Worshipful Master , Mr . G . B . Graham occupied the chair , and was supported on the right by the Chaplain
of the Lodge ( Rev . A . Bryson ) , Mr . John Mailer , and Mr . John Johnstone , Treasurer ; and on the left by Mr . Stephen N . Morison , Mr . Andrew Allice , Secretary , Mr . Alexander Gall , and Mr . James Mitchell . The croupiers were Mr . John Philp , Senior Warden , and
Captain Cobb , Junior Warden . A blessing having been asked by the worthy Chaplain , the company partook of a sumptuous repast , jjrepared by Mr . Reid in his usual first-class style . After dinner had been partaken of , the Chairman gave the first toast , " The Queen , " which
he said was and should be the first toast on the list . The Chairman then proposed the " Prince and Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family . " He said that the Prince of Wales must be in particular favour with all
the members of the Lodge , on account of his going to be installed Grand Master of England •—(Hear , hear ) . It was now some years since first he was installed into the secrets of Masonry , and since that time he had shown himself worthy of the trust and confidence that was then
reposed in him , so much so that the Craft in England deemed it expedient to raise him to the throne of the Grand Lodge of England—( Hear , hear , and applause ) . It bears out the old saying , and it was not so much of a saying as a truism in Masonry , that kings , dukes , and lords
have never thought it beneath them to lay aside their swords to put on aprons as brother Masons . The Prince of Wales was in that position just now , and they wished him God speed , and trusted that Masonry , not only in Great Britain , but in every other country , would not be
disgraced by the choice that had been made by the Grand Lodge of England at this time . The toast was drank with great enthusiasm . The Chairman then proposed the " Army , Navy , and Volunteers , " and coupled the toast with the name of Sergeant M'Clelland .
The toast being duly honoured , Sergeant M'Clelland in reply said that they were all aware that he had been in the army for many years . He joined in the year 18 3 8 , and had been in arms ever since . He said they always had a small army , but they were not afraid , but at the
present day their science , steadiness , and determinacy would make a great multitude —( Applause ) . With regard to the volunteers he said they were just nursing education into a small focus , and when required it would burst out
spontaneously to support Her Gracious Majesty —( Applause ) . The Chairman then proposed the " Grand Lodgesof Great Britainand Ireland , "and thought that they could not meet without dedicating a bumper to those Lodges —( Great applause ) .
Scotland.
Mr . Philp said that the toast that he had to propose was one he would just require to mention—that was the toast of their worthy and most respected friend " Lord Kellie . " He need not say anything of Lord Kellie , but there was
one thing that he would say , that a more genial gentleman , a better friend , and a kinder-hearted man they never met than Lord Kellie . They had experienced that in regard to their Masonic Hall . He said Lord Kellie was certainly a friend
of all to further the interests of the town ; but he was not only respected in the town , if they went to Edinburgh , he occupied a very proud •position—Grand Senior Warden—and he hoped that ere long he would be raised to the throne ;
and he was certain of this , that if he was he would sway the sceptre in the same just way—( Loud applause ) . Mr . Robert Pauling replied , and said that Lord Kellie ' s health had been proposed in very
complimentary terms , but he was sure that too much had not been said of his Lordship —( Applause ) . The Chaplain , Mr . Bryson , said he had a toast to propose , in the accomplishment of which they
were all deeply concerned , which was "Prosperity to our Lodge , Alloa St . John ' s ( No . 69 ) . " After alluding at some length to the state of the different lodges in the various countries , he said there was a rising sun of prosperity amongst
their Craft ; and he thought the Alloa St . John's , after a hundred and twenty years or so , sometimes blessed with a great accession of members , though never blessed with a permanent situation , had passed through very many viscissitudes .
They had been looking forward to the event which that night had inaugurated . First of all it was to the enthusiasm of their worthy chairman that it had been laid ; to the other , a growing feeling among the brethren in the parish—the
growing feeling that they should have a local habitation , and he thought that was a second reason . The third reason was that there were a great many people throughout the parish who were Masons who had hitherto been affiliated to
their lodge , and who felt that the interest of the lodge would be best promoted by having that hall . He then dwelt at some length on these three reasons . He continued , and said that with the toasting of the Alloa St . John ' s
Lodge he had a duty to perform which was perfectly congnate with the toast , and that was the presentation of that beautiful trowel by which their Chairman , as Master of the Lodge , had laid the corner-stone that day —( Great applause ) .
He had singular pleasure m doing so . First oi all , because their Chairman was an Alloa man bred and born , and he thought he was an honour to their town . After speaking about the Chairman's history , he said that he was a thoroughly
self-made man , and it showed that it was within the reach of any of them if they were sober and honest to be the same . They wished him profoundly all domestic happiness and bliss , that his children may rise up to call him blessed , and
that his wife might be spared to him . He always wondered where those beautiful presentations went as they were never to be seen . It was a monstrous thing to put it into a box , and he was going to suggest that when the season
began m which one of his friends there was so much engaged , he meant the salmon fishing , he thought he should just ask them six in rotation , and that that trowel would make an excellent fish slice —( Loud applause and laughter ) . That
trowel was presented to him because they held him in very high respect , —as a man of integrity they hoped that he would be long spared amongst them —( Loud applause and song , " For he ' s a jolly good fellow" ) .
The trowel was furnished by Mr . P . AV . Hill , jeweller , and bore the following inscription : —
Presented to Brother GEORGE B . GRAHAM , R . W . M ., on the occasion of his laying the Foundation - stone of the
" Masonic Hall" at Alloa . 20 th October , 1874 . The Chairman said that he returned thanks for the toast that had been proposed . He had now been for several years connected with the
Scotland.
Alloa Lodge , and during those years he had passed through the different grades of office . He could assure them that he was very much pleased and gratified on this occasion , and he took that particular opportunity of thanking the brethren for the confidence they placed in him ,
and for the cordial support that they had given him in that day ' s proceedings . He then spoke about Masonry , and trusted that the Alloa Lodge would long prosper in the new hall that they should very shortly have the pleasure of occupying —( Loud applause ) .
Mr . S . N . Morison then proposed the "Officebearers . " He assured them that he had looked forward for years and years back to have accomplished what they had done that day . Of course their building had not yet been finished . No member of that lodge could tell the tale how
they had been tossed to and fro like wild fowls hunted upon the mountain side , having no place to plant their foot ; but with the energy of their friends and the office-bearers in the lodge , they had laid the foundation-stone of the hall that day . He looked to the Senior Warden and all other
office-bearers , for without their guidance , support , and energy which they had displayed ever since the canvass began they would not have been in such a position as they now enjoyed . A good deal has to be done yet ; but he was sure that they would be ready , however much they had
done heretofore ; not to lack in what was to be done , but that they would make a pull , a strong pull , and a pull together , to accomplish the end they had all heartily wished for . He coupled the toast with the name of the Senior . Warden , which was duly drank and responded to in
pleasing terms by Mr . Philp . The Chairman then proposed the "Commissioners of Alloa , " and coupled the toast , which was enthusiastically drunk , with the name of Mr . Mailer . Mr . Mailer said he did not know where to
begin to reply to the speech made by Mr . Graham . Before the present ministry came into power , the town was a very different looking place to what it was now . Sometime ago he said their town was hardly passable , but now it was a different thing . ( Cheers . ) He said they had
good streets now , and were not charged anything more than before—2 s . a pound . ( Applause . ) They had plenty of water to drink now , and they had well-causewayed streets . He said he was one of the oldest Commissioners who were at
the Board , and he had the satisfaction of looking back that the town of Alloa was considerably better than when he got it . He then referred tc 168 9 , and what had been done since , and sat down amidst loud applause .
Other toasts followed— " The Press , " by Mr Philp , and responded to by Mr . Lothian ; " Th ( Architects and Contractors , " by Mr . Pauling , anc replied to by Mr . A . Mitchell for the architect who said he could not take all the honour , as hii son drew out the plans , and by Mr . Grant for th ( contractors ; "The Stranger Brethren , " by th <
Chairman , and responded to by Mr . Robertson Other healths were proposed , such as " Th < Chairman , " & c , which were all duly acknow ledged . Several songs were sung by the brethren anc friends present , and the happy company broke u at a seasonable hour after having enjoyed happy meeting .
Kilsyth.
KILSYTH .
Lodge St . Johns ( 39 ) . —On Tuesday , th 27 th ult , the remains of Bro . Alexande M'Kenzic , for many years Tyler to thi lodge , were interred with Masonic honour ;
The brethren of the lodge , under the leadei ship of Bro . John Cuddie , R . W . D . M ., pre cecded to Newton Street , the residence c deceased . After a short devotional servic
by the Rev . R . H . Burns , parish ministe the coffin was mounted on the shoulders c four brethren , and shortly past thre
o ' clock , the band playing the Dead Marc in " Saul , " the mournful procession , whic was of great length , moved slowly along t the place of interment in the Old Churcl
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
to the tune of " Oh the Merry Masons , " and proceeded along the length of the Glasshouse Loan , after which they returned , the band playing "Jenny's Bawbee . " The foundation-stone was placed in the north-east corner of the hall which is on the
second flat . Thebrethren then marchedin tothe Royal Oak Hotel , where the Lodge was closed in due form . The following are the articles inserted in the bottle , which was placed in the stone , viz . — Alloa Journal and Alloa Advertiser of date the
17 th October ; Alloa Illustrated Family Almanac ; and Lothian ' s Annual Register for 1874 ; The Freemason of London ; T / ie Masonic News ; The Circular ; also The Scotsman , Gourant , and Glasgow Herald of date the 20 th ; a parchment sheet , containing the names of the Office-bearers of the Alloa Lodge ( No . 69 ) for 1874 , the
Contractors , the Architect , and members of Committee of the Building Fund . The coins of the Realm complete the articles sealed up in the bottle . The following inscription was on the plate that covered the cavity of the stone : —The new Masonic Hall for the Alloa Lodge ( No . 69 ) was laid 20 th Oct ., 1874 .
THE DINNER . At five o ' clock the brethren , along with a number of friends , sat down to dinner in the Royal Oak Hotel . The Right Worshipful Master , Mr . G . B . Graham occupied the chair , and was supported on the right by the Chaplain
of the Lodge ( Rev . A . Bryson ) , Mr . John Mailer , and Mr . John Johnstone , Treasurer ; and on the left by Mr . Stephen N . Morison , Mr . Andrew Allice , Secretary , Mr . Alexander Gall , and Mr . James Mitchell . The croupiers were Mr . John Philp , Senior Warden , and
Captain Cobb , Junior Warden . A blessing having been asked by the worthy Chaplain , the company partook of a sumptuous repast , jjrepared by Mr . Reid in his usual first-class style . After dinner had been partaken of , the Chairman gave the first toast , " The Queen , " which
he said was and should be the first toast on the list . The Chairman then proposed the " Prince and Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family . " He said that the Prince of Wales must be in particular favour with all
the members of the Lodge , on account of his going to be installed Grand Master of England •—(Hear , hear ) . It was now some years since first he was installed into the secrets of Masonry , and since that time he had shown himself worthy of the trust and confidence that was then
reposed in him , so much so that the Craft in England deemed it expedient to raise him to the throne of the Grand Lodge of England—( Hear , hear , and applause ) . It bears out the old saying , and it was not so much of a saying as a truism in Masonry , that kings , dukes , and lords
have never thought it beneath them to lay aside their swords to put on aprons as brother Masons . The Prince of Wales was in that position just now , and they wished him God speed , and trusted that Masonry , not only in Great Britain , but in every other country , would not be
disgraced by the choice that had been made by the Grand Lodge of England at this time . The toast was drank with great enthusiasm . The Chairman then proposed the " Army , Navy , and Volunteers , " and coupled the toast with the name of Sergeant M'Clelland .
The toast being duly honoured , Sergeant M'Clelland in reply said that they were all aware that he had been in the army for many years . He joined in the year 18 3 8 , and had been in arms ever since . He said they always had a small army , but they were not afraid , but at the
present day their science , steadiness , and determinacy would make a great multitude —( Applause ) . With regard to the volunteers he said they were just nursing education into a small focus , and when required it would burst out
spontaneously to support Her Gracious Majesty —( Applause ) . The Chairman then proposed the " Grand Lodgesof Great Britainand Ireland , "and thought that they could not meet without dedicating a bumper to those Lodges —( Great applause ) .
Scotland.
Mr . Philp said that the toast that he had to propose was one he would just require to mention—that was the toast of their worthy and most respected friend " Lord Kellie . " He need not say anything of Lord Kellie , but there was
one thing that he would say , that a more genial gentleman , a better friend , and a kinder-hearted man they never met than Lord Kellie . They had experienced that in regard to their Masonic Hall . He said Lord Kellie was certainly a friend
of all to further the interests of the town ; but he was not only respected in the town , if they went to Edinburgh , he occupied a very proud •position—Grand Senior Warden—and he hoped that ere long he would be raised to the throne ;
and he was certain of this , that if he was he would sway the sceptre in the same just way—( Loud applause ) . Mr . Robert Pauling replied , and said that Lord Kellie ' s health had been proposed in very
complimentary terms , but he was sure that too much had not been said of his Lordship —( Applause ) . The Chaplain , Mr . Bryson , said he had a toast to propose , in the accomplishment of which they
were all deeply concerned , which was "Prosperity to our Lodge , Alloa St . John ' s ( No . 69 ) . " After alluding at some length to the state of the different lodges in the various countries , he said there was a rising sun of prosperity amongst
their Craft ; and he thought the Alloa St . John's , after a hundred and twenty years or so , sometimes blessed with a great accession of members , though never blessed with a permanent situation , had passed through very many viscissitudes .
They had been looking forward to the event which that night had inaugurated . First of all it was to the enthusiasm of their worthy chairman that it had been laid ; to the other , a growing feeling among the brethren in the parish—the
growing feeling that they should have a local habitation , and he thought that was a second reason . The third reason was that there were a great many people throughout the parish who were Masons who had hitherto been affiliated to
their lodge , and who felt that the interest of the lodge would be best promoted by having that hall . He then dwelt at some length on these three reasons . He continued , and said that with the toasting of the Alloa St . John ' s
Lodge he had a duty to perform which was perfectly congnate with the toast , and that was the presentation of that beautiful trowel by which their Chairman , as Master of the Lodge , had laid the corner-stone that day —( Great applause ) .
He had singular pleasure m doing so . First oi all , because their Chairman was an Alloa man bred and born , and he thought he was an honour to their town . After speaking about the Chairman's history , he said that he was a thoroughly
self-made man , and it showed that it was within the reach of any of them if they were sober and honest to be the same . They wished him profoundly all domestic happiness and bliss , that his children may rise up to call him blessed , and
that his wife might be spared to him . He always wondered where those beautiful presentations went as they were never to be seen . It was a monstrous thing to put it into a box , and he was going to suggest that when the season
began m which one of his friends there was so much engaged , he meant the salmon fishing , he thought he should just ask them six in rotation , and that that trowel would make an excellent fish slice —( Loud applause and laughter ) . That
trowel was presented to him because they held him in very high respect , —as a man of integrity they hoped that he would be long spared amongst them —( Loud applause and song , " For he ' s a jolly good fellow" ) .
The trowel was furnished by Mr . P . AV . Hill , jeweller , and bore the following inscription : —
Presented to Brother GEORGE B . GRAHAM , R . W . M ., on the occasion of his laying the Foundation - stone of the
" Masonic Hall" at Alloa . 20 th October , 1874 . The Chairman said that he returned thanks for the toast that had been proposed . He had now been for several years connected with the
Scotland.
Alloa Lodge , and during those years he had passed through the different grades of office . He could assure them that he was very much pleased and gratified on this occasion , and he took that particular opportunity of thanking the brethren for the confidence they placed in him ,
and for the cordial support that they had given him in that day ' s proceedings . He then spoke about Masonry , and trusted that the Alloa Lodge would long prosper in the new hall that they should very shortly have the pleasure of occupying —( Loud applause ) .
Mr . S . N . Morison then proposed the "Officebearers . " He assured them that he had looked forward for years and years back to have accomplished what they had done that day . Of course their building had not yet been finished . No member of that lodge could tell the tale how
they had been tossed to and fro like wild fowls hunted upon the mountain side , having no place to plant their foot ; but with the energy of their friends and the office-bearers in the lodge , they had laid the foundation-stone of the hall that day . He looked to the Senior Warden and all other
office-bearers , for without their guidance , support , and energy which they had displayed ever since the canvass began they would not have been in such a position as they now enjoyed . A good deal has to be done yet ; but he was sure that they would be ready , however much they had
done heretofore ; not to lack in what was to be done , but that they would make a pull , a strong pull , and a pull together , to accomplish the end they had all heartily wished for . He coupled the toast with the name of the Senior . Warden , which was duly drank and responded to in
pleasing terms by Mr . Philp . The Chairman then proposed the "Commissioners of Alloa , " and coupled the toast , which was enthusiastically drunk , with the name of Mr . Mailer . Mr . Mailer said he did not know where to
begin to reply to the speech made by Mr . Graham . Before the present ministry came into power , the town was a very different looking place to what it was now . Sometime ago he said their town was hardly passable , but now it was a different thing . ( Cheers . ) He said they had
good streets now , and were not charged anything more than before—2 s . a pound . ( Applause . ) They had plenty of water to drink now , and they had well-causewayed streets . He said he was one of the oldest Commissioners who were at
the Board , and he had the satisfaction of looking back that the town of Alloa was considerably better than when he got it . He then referred tc 168 9 , and what had been done since , and sat down amidst loud applause .
Other toasts followed— " The Press , " by Mr Philp , and responded to by Mr . Lothian ; " Th ( Architects and Contractors , " by Mr . Pauling , anc replied to by Mr . A . Mitchell for the architect who said he could not take all the honour , as hii son drew out the plans , and by Mr . Grant for th ( contractors ; "The Stranger Brethren , " by th <
Chairman , and responded to by Mr . Robertson Other healths were proposed , such as " Th < Chairman , " & c , which were all duly acknow ledged . Several songs were sung by the brethren anc friends present , and the happy company broke u at a seasonable hour after having enjoyed happy meeting .
Kilsyth.
KILSYTH .
Lodge St . Johns ( 39 ) . —On Tuesday , th 27 th ult , the remains of Bro . Alexande M'Kenzic , for many years Tyler to thi lodge , were interred with Masonic honour ;
The brethren of the lodge , under the leadei ship of Bro . John Cuddie , R . W . D . M ., pre cecded to Newton Street , the residence c deceased . After a short devotional servic
by the Rev . R . H . Burns , parish ministe the coffin was mounted on the shoulders c four brethren , and shortly past thre
o ' clock , the band playing the Dead Marc in " Saul , " the mournful procession , whic was of great length , moved slowly along t the place of interment in the Old Churcl