of having this wish accomplished; and we consider it as a most. auspicious circumstance, that the foundation-stone of this new mansion of science is laid by your lordship, who, among your ancestors, reckoned a man, whose original and universal genius places him high among the illustrious persons who have contributed most eminently to enlarge the boundaries of human knowledge. Permit me to add, what I regard as my own peculiar felicity, that by having remained in my present station much longer than any of my predecessors, I have lived to witness an event so beneficial to this University, the prosperity of which is near to my heart, and has ever been the object of my warmest wishes. May Almighty God, without invocation of whom no action of importance should be begun, bless this undertaking, and enable us to carry it on with success! May he continue to protect our University; the object of whose institution is, to instil into the minds of youth, principles of sound knowledge; to inspire them with the love of religion and virtue; and to prepare them for filling the various situations in society, with honour to themselves, and with benefit to their country! All this we ask in the name of Christ; and unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we ascribe the kingdom, power, and glory! Amen. After the Principal had finished his speech, the Brethren concluded the ceremony with the honours. Two crystal bottles, cast on purpose at the glasshouse of Leith, were deposited in the foundationstone, In one of these were put different coins of the present reign, each of which was previously enveloped in crystal, in such an ingenious manner that the legend on the coins could be distinctly read without breaking the crystal. In the other bottle were deposited seven rolls of vellum, containing a short account of the original foundation and present state of the University, together with several other papers; in particular, the different newspapers, containing advertisements relative to the college, &c., and a list of the names of the present Principal and Professors, also of the present Lord Provost and Magistrates, and Officers of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The bottles, being carefully sealed up, were covered with a plate of copper wrapt in block tin; and, upon the under-side of the copper, were engraven the arms of the city of Edinburgh, and of the University; likewise the arms of the right hon. Lord Napier, Grand Master Mason of Scotland. Upon the upper-side, a Latin inscription, of which the following is a copy: ANNUENTE DEO OPT. MAX. REGNANTE GEORGIO III. PRINCIPE MUNIFICEN INITIO QUIDEM HUMILLIMIS, ET JAM, POST DUO SECULA, PENE RUINOS UBI COMMODITATI SIMUL ET ELEGANTIÆ, CONSULERETUR, PRIMUM LAPIDEM POSUIT, PLAUDENTE INGENTI OMNIUM ORDINUM FREQUENTIA, VIR NOBILISSIMUS FRANCISCUS DOMINUS NAPIER, REIPUB. ARCHITECTONICÆ APUD SCOTOS A CURIO XVI KAL. DECEMB. ANNO SALUTIS HUMANÆ MDCCLXXXIX. ÆRE ARCHITECTONICÆ IƆIDCCLXXXIX. ARCHITECTO ROBERTO ADAM. Q. F. F. Q. S. TRANSLATION. By the blessing of ALMIGHTY GOD, ១៧. In the reign of the most munificent Prince GEORGE III. DE Being originally very mean, And now, after two centuries, almost a ruin,oque Grand Master of the Fraternity of Free Masons in Scotland, Amidst the acclamations Of a prodigious concourse of people, Laid the foundation-stone i od ro Of this new fabric, In which an union of elegance with convenience, Suitable to the dignity of such a celebrated seat of learning, Has been studied, On the 16th day of November, In the year of our Lord 1789, THOMAS ELDER being the Lord Provost of the City; May the undertaking prosper, and be crowned with success! An anthem having been sung, the Brethren returned, the whole procession being reversed; and when the junior Lodge arrived at the door of the Parliament-house, it fell back to the right and left within the line of soldiers; when the Principal, Professors, and Students, the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council, and the Grand Lodge, passed through with their hats off. The procession on this occasion was one of the most brilliant and numerous that ever was exhibited in the city of Edinburgh. The Provost and Magistrates had very properly invited many of the nobility and gentry from all parts of the country, to witness the solemnity of laying the foundation-stone of a College, the architecture of which, it is agreed by all who have seen the plan, will do honour to the city, to the nation, and to Europe. But the number of persons invited was far exceeded by the immense multitude of all ranks, who, desirous of viewing so magnificent a spectacle, filled the streets, windows, and even roofs of the houses, all the way from the Parliament-close, down the High-street and Bridge-street, near the south end of which the foundation-stone was laid. Above 20,000 were supposed to be witnesses of this ceremony: and, notwithstanding this immense crowd, the greatest order and decency were observed; nor did the smallest accident happen. On the 7th of January 1795, the Brethren in Scotland had another opportunity of exemplifying The late elegant Historian of Scotland, of Charles V., America, &c. their skill in the practical rules of the Art, at opening the new bridge for carriages at Montrose. This undertaking had been long deemed impracticable, on account of the extent being near half a mile across a rapid influx and reflux of the sea; but was at last happily accomplished under the superintendence of the Fraternity, and the great post road from the south to the north of Scotland is now united. A public procession was formed on this occasion; and the Grand Master, amidst an immense concourse of people, having critically examined the work, declared it well built, and ably executed. Having described the principal works in which the Brethren in Scotland were employed, we shall now resume the history of Masonry in England, and trace the occurrences that took place there, under the auspices of the late Duke of Cumberland and his successor the Prince of Wales, now his Most Gracious Majesty King George IV. On Thursday the 9th of March 1786, his Royal Highness Prince William Henry, now Duke of Clarence, was initiated into Masonry at the Lodge No. 86, held at the Prince George inn at Plymouth. On the 4th of January 1787, was opened, in London, the Grand Chapter of Harodim. Though this order is of ancient date, and had been patronised in different parts of Europe, there appears not on record, previous to this period, the regular establishment of such an association in England. For some years it was faintly encouraged; but after its merit had been further investigated, it received the patronage of several exalted masonic characters.* * The mysteries of this order are peculiar to the institution itself; while the lectures of the Chapter include every branch of the maso The Grand Chapter is governed by a Grand Patron, two Vice-Patrons, a Chief Ruler, and two Assistants, with a Council of twelve respectable Companions, who are chosen annually at the Chapter nearest to the festival of St. John the Evangelist. On Thursday, the 6th of February 1787, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was made a Mason, at an occasional Lodge, convened for the purpose, at the Star and Garter tavern, Pall Mall, over which the late Duke of Cumberland presided in person. And on Friday the 21st of November following, his Royal Highness the Duke of York was initiated into Masonry, at a special Lodge convened for the purpose, at the same place, over which the Grand Master also presided in person. His royal highness was introduced by his royal brother the Prince of Wales, who assisted at the ceremony of his initiation. nic system, and represent the art of Masonry in a finished and complete form. Different classes are established, and particular lectures, restricted to each class. The lectures are divided into sections, and the sections into clauses. The sections are annually assigned, by the Chief Harod, to a certain number of skilful companions in each class, who are denominated Sectionists; and they are empowered to distribute the clauses of their respective sections, with, the approbation of the Chief Harod and General Director, among the private companions of the Chapter, who are denominated Clauseholders. Such companions as by assiduity become possessed of all the sections in the lecture, are called Lecturers; and out of these the General Director is always chosen. Every Clauseholder, on his appointment, is presented with a ticket, signed by the Chief Harod, specifying the clause allotted to him. This ticket entitles him to enjoy the rank and privileges of a Clauseholder in the Chapter; and no Clauseholder can transfer his ticket to another Companion, unless the consent of the Council has been obtained for that purpose, and the General Director has approved the Companion to whom it is to be transferred, as qualified to hold it. In case of the death, sickness, or nonresidence in London, of any Lecturer, Sectionist, or Clauseholder, another Companion is appointed to fill up the vacancy for the time being, that the lectures may be always complete; and during the session, a public lecture is usually delivered at stated times. |