Full Ritual in Connection Hall for American Bodies The visilors—Mr. I, G. Clarke, District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of North China, C.; Mr, Edney Page, Deputy District Grand Master for North th China, BE. C.; Mr. G. Penfold, t Grand' Master of the Dis:
The corner stone of the American Masonic Hall was Taid on Sunday afternoon, the full Masonic ritual for such' a ceremony being per formed by officers connected with the American Masonic bodies in Shanghai, Mr. A. Q. Adamo Deputy District' "Grand Master, presided, The address of the day. was given by Illustrious Nelson Lusten, 230 Deputy and Legate of the Scottish Rite. The building is the intersection of Route Dufour with Route D'Arcy, The processional, those taking part being in full regalia, left House in the vicinity, and inarchot to the corner stone, After they had seated themselves, an escort Drought in the visiting delegates, who were seated on the platform. Subsequent to the formal. Masonic welcome by Mr, Adamson, the Various delegates took part in the ritual, which was followed by prayer.
Then came the laying of the stone, Mr, B. T. M. Van Bersen, istrict Grand Trensurer, reading the list of items, which he Inter Placed in. the. metallic container. Mr, Adamson then Inid the first trowel of cement. Other officers, including Mr. Lurton, and Mr. C. B. Larsen, lxeellent Companion of the Keystone Chapter, and Mr.
Kliene, Acting Deputy. Disiriet Grand' Master, added further portions.
With the square, compass, ani plumb other officers reported' that the stone had been truly laid, Messrs. Kliene, T. C. Britton, and Skuse dropped corn, oil, and wine fon the stone, symbols of Masonic fruitfulness, whereupon the eraftsmen were admonished to use tools in the construction ina. proper manner.
The Speakers Mr. Adamson then outlined how the building originated, and in a few words welcomed the visiting delegates. They were extremely gratified to have them present. trict Grand Lodge of Scottish Free Masonry in North China, S, C.; and Mr. 8. C, Young, Deputy' District id Master of the Scottish Cor ition—replied suitably.
The functioneompleted, the visiting delegates were escorted from the compound, and the officers marched back to their temporary Mlustrious Nason Lurton's address follows in part Members of the Masonic Fratcrnity and friends:—We are assembled here tow lay to perform a most pleasant duty. For many years American Masonic bodies have been the recipient of the courtesy of sister Constitutions who have so kindly granted them the privilege of having housing facilities in the Temple in the Bund but as con tions have made it imperative for all to vacate that well known Masonic land mark it has behaved all to find quarters elsewhere, It is with great pleasure to the members of the American Masonic bodice to feel that they are now about to enter upon the threshold of a new era in the fulfilment of their ambition to form some plan whereby they could have a suitable meeting place which they could call their Home, To-day it is our great pleasure to lay the corner-stone of this most useful edifice, and while performing that. symbolic operation, many reflections of the past and quer for the future revolve in our minds. This corner-stone will well support fa society with its kindred which has had for its Foundation for so many hundreds of years the fundamentals that betoken clean, moral, and uprighteous for all mankind who are justly qualified to participate in its activities.
Read the history of countries having strong governments, and you will find among their leaders a Inrge percentage of our cult. Our craft to-day in Shanghaj are now constructing a building whick will
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.