India.

the current coins of the realm , the D . G . S . covered it with the inscription plate which he received from the D . G . R . Slow music was then played , during which tlie builders threw cement over the lower stone . The governor , attended by the D . G . M . and brethren on the platform , proceeded to the stone ancl spread cement over it with a trowel presented by the architect , the music continuing to play . The upper stone was then lowered ; after which the music

ceased , ancl the D . G . M . proceeded to prove the just position and proper form of the stone by the plumb , level , and square , which was delivered to him successively by the D . J . and S . G . Wardens , and Dep . D . G-M . Being satisfied on these points the D . G . M . recraesteil the governor to give the stone certain knocks with the maul , which was delivered to him by the architect . These having been repeated by the D . G . M . who at the same time

, said : — " May the Almighty Architect of the Universe look down with benignity on our present undertaking , and crown the edifice , of which we have now laid the foundation , with every success . " Music . After the music ceased , the cornucopia was handed to the D . G . M . by the Dep . D . G . M . who scattered its contents on tho

, stone , saying : — " I scatter this corn as an emblem of plenty . May the blessings of bounteous heaven be showered down upon us , and may our hearts be filled with gratitude . " Response- — " There shall be a handful of corn in the earth on the top of the mountains ; the fruits thereof shall shake like Lebanon . " Psalm lxxii ., 16 .

The evine was then delivered to the Dep . D . G . M-, who having handed it to the D . G . M-, poured it on the stone , saying : — " I pour this wine as a symbol of joy and gladness . May our hearts be made glad by the influence of divine truth , aud may virtue flourish as the vine . " Response . — " Wine that maketh glad the heart of man , and oil to make his face to shine , and bread which strengthened

man's heart . " Psalm civ ., 15 . The oil was nest similarly handed to the D . G . M ., who , pouring it on the stone , saicl : — " I pour this oil as a symbol of peace . May peace and

happiness , brotherly love and good-will , flourish amongst us . " Response . — " And Jacob set up a pillar in the place wherein he talked with him , even a pillar of stone ; and he poured a drink offering thereon and he poured oil thereon . " Genesis , xxxv ., 14 . The D . G . M . continued : — "May the all-bounteous Author of Nature grant to this city an abundance of corn , wine , and oil , with all other necessariesconveniencesancl comforts . "

, , His Excellency the Governor then proceeded : — " As we havo now laid this chief corner-stone , may the Great Architect of the Universe enable us to carry on and finish the work which we have begun ; may he be a guard to this place , and to the city in general , ancl may he preserve it from ruin and decay to the latest posterity . The D . G . S . W . received the plan of the building from the

architect , and presented it to the D . G . M ., who , having examined it , addressed the latter as follows : — "Brother Architect , —The chief corner-stone of this Presidency College , planned in mnch wisdom by you , being now laid , and these implements having been applied to it by me and approved of , I return them to you in full confidence that , as a skilful and faithful workman , you will use them in such a

manner that the building may rise in order , harmony , and beauty ; and , being perfected in strength , will answer the purpose for which it is intended , to your credit and to the honour of those who have selected yon . The District Grand Master , R . W . Bro . A . M . Richie , then addressed the Governor in the following terms .- — " My Lord , —This is not the first time that the noble name of

Napier has heen connected with tbe laying of the foundation of an university ; for by our annals we find that on the 16 th November , 1789 , the foundation-stone of tlie new building of the University of Edinburgh was laid by Francis Napier , Baron Napier , then Grand Master Mason of Scotland As the descendant of so distinguished a Freemason I have no doubt your lordship will the more favourablaccept from meas representing the

y , head of the Freemasons of Madras , a few words on their behalf on the present occasion . "Though not a Freemason yourself , I may yet inform your Excellency that Freemasonry is founded on the principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , and that the second of these

principles , i . e ., relief or charity , may almost be considered one of the key stones of the Order . It is that virtue which is the ruling characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart , and the exercise of which by another—not a Mason—at once makes their heartskin . I need not here dilate on its many excellencies , as we are aware that your lordship possesses this virtue in an eminent degree . For when almost immediately after landing in India we found that you hastened with philanthropic zeal—at

considerable personal risk and at certain heartrending suffering —to the famine-stricken tracts of the northern districts of this Presidency—and there held out the hand of help and assistance to the poor ancl needy—and evinced the heart of sympathy and consolation to the distressed and dying , and when we found how bravely you accomplished that noble mission , then were weconvinced that your lordshihad inherited all those estimable

p qualities which we consider the true characteristics of a just and upright Freemason—then at once we looked upon you as sibrother at heart , though not a brother , in fact , according to our ritual . We were , therefore , accordingly thankful when we heard of your safe return from that truly charitable but perilous journey . By that one act your lordship ohtaineel tho esteemregardand confidence of every member of the

, , Masonic community in Madras . We do not , my lord , as a body make public displays by way of ostentation ; but we are ever ready to assist in any good work . For the reason , however , I have just detailed , we have the more readily come forward on the present occasion to assist your Excellency inlaying this chief corner-stone ; and let me assure your lordship that should your humane impulses cause you to perform any

other great charity , or to undertake any other great and good work , the Freemasons of Madras will be ready to aid you to the best of their abilities . As to myself as an individual , I will only add that little did your lordship or I think some nine and twenty years ago , when we were students together at Trinity College , Cambridge—little , I say , did either of us think that , iu this year of grace 1 S 67 , we should be associated in laying ,

the chief corner-stone of a university on the shores of the coast of Corbmandel . But such is the course of events ; and by such association I feel I have been honoured by receiving one of those ample rewards which long years of labour iu the

cause of 1 reemasonry is sure to bring home to one . Lord Napier replied as follows : — " Mahrrajah , District Grand Master , Ladies , ancl Gentlemen , — The University of Madras is a certificating machine . It affixes an authoritative stamp on capacity and science , but it takes no pact in the formation of character or knowledge . The Presidency College is the Institution which does for Madras what a university does for Germany or Scotland . This the firstmost

im-, portant , most fiuitfh . 1 establishment in the whole country , and I am happy and proud to be associated with the foundation of this edifice , in which I trust it may enjoy a long , prosperous , and useful existence . The Presidency College affords a sound education to the youth of the city , but to consider that alone would be to take a very incomplete and limited view of its significance . It is the general and imperial character of the Institution whieh

gives it a high interest , and the most hopeful future in its constitution is the fact that a majority of the 300 youths who seek their education here come from tho provinces . In my humble judgment the Government should use every effort to preserve and develope this tendency , to raise the standard ofthe College , to increase its attractions ancl rewards , and to place it conspicuously at the head of the educational institutions of the country . The advantages which may be expected

to flow from such a course of policy may be thus enumerated : — 1 . The introduction of a liberal spirit of emulation between the different races ancl religions which will obtain their culture at the common capital . 2 . The softening and gradual eliminationof local jealousies and caste prejudices , and the formation of a unity of national feeling among the intelligent youth of thecountry founded in common studies , aspirations , recollections ,

and attachments . 3 . The development of public virtue , of patriotism , of a conscientious devotion to the service of the-State and the people—a sentiment only discovered in connection with an elevated culture , and whieh is stimulated by consciousness that old friends , comrades , and rivals are engaged in the same course , looking on with generous vigilance , and that all are known ancl superintended by an appreciating public . 4 .

The opportunity which the Government will enjoy of making itself acquainted with individual ability and character from an early period . Tlie Government will thus be enabled to exercise a better choice on a wider field of comparison , and to mark foil