Judge, who thrice knocked on the stone. The treble knocking was repeated by the W.M, after which the Chaplain pronounced the following invocation :—" M a y the Great Architect of the Universe enable this work to be carried on successfully to its completion, and watch over and protect the Temple of Justice, so that the administration of its sacred rules may tend to the good of the people and to the glory of His holy name."—P.M., " S o Mote it be." Three loud cheers were asked for by the Masonic Master, and enthusiastically given. T h e cornucopia was next handed to the W . M , w h o strewed corn over the stone, and, in like manner, silver vases, containing the wine and the oil, were passed, and the contents poured over the corn. T h e Chaplain followed with a final invocation :—" M a y the bountiful hand of heaven ever supply this province with abundance of corn, wine, and oil, and all the necessaries of life; m a y H e , whose mighty hand encompasses Eternity be the Grand Protector over this infant city and its inhabitants, and m a y H e long preserve this building from peril and decay."—P.M., " S o Mote it be." Mr. P.M. John Stephen then delivered the following MASONIC ORATION,
The first public utterance of the kind in the colony :— " M a y it please your H o n o r , — T h e station which I have the honor to occupy amongst the Fraternity of Masons confers upon m e the distinguished privilege of acknowledging the compliment paid to our Order, in calling upon the members of the Lodge of Australia Felix, to assist in laying the Foundation Stone of this important building. It being one of the principles of our Craft to uphold the administration of Justice, w e cannot but contemplate the complete establishment of Courts of Equity and Law, with sentiments of the highest satisfaction, as tending to cement that mutual confidence in a community which is essential to the promotion of the general interests of society. U p o n such an occasion as the present, it may be expected that the novelty of the scene should induce some explanation as to the concession of the honour which has been enjoyed by the Masonic Body, and perhaps it might be presumed that some of the secrets of the Craft would leak out during this ceremony. I will, therefore, so far gratify public curiosity as to communicate some form of the leading characteristics of Freemasonry. T h e Banner of our Institution rests upon the principle of doing unto others as w e would wish them to do unto us. Our superstructure is supported on the columns of Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice; whilst o'er the summit of our edifice float the Banners of Faith, Hope, and Charity. At the same time, lest it m a y be supposed that the various insignia borne in our procession are destitute of any real utility, I will endeavour briefly to explain the purposes to which are applied the few which are at present within m y reach." T h e speaker then taking the Chisel, the Rule, and the Maul, gave an exposition of their practical and theoretical application, concluding by again thanking His Honor for the compliment paid to the Craft, and requesting the favour of the Judge's company at a banquet, to meet the Friaternity. The Resident Judge expressed his thanks and satisfaction at the readiness with which the Free and Accepted Masons of the Lodge of Australia Felix had responded to the call on their services, in assisting to lay the foundation stone of thefirstTemple of Justice to be erected in this district. H e complimented the body generally, and said he was highly pleased at the able exposition of their principles which had been given by Mr. Stephen. H e alluded to the importance of the structure, the foundation of which had just then been laid, declaring it to be second only to a religious edifice. H e descanted at some length on its value as a Temple in which Justice was to be dealt out impartially in spite of " the strife of tongues," and in the due administration of which every m e m b e r ofthe community was deeply interested. H e expressed his own determination firmly to uphold Truth and Justice, and to maintain inviolate the sanctity of the objects for which the building was to be erected. A community taking Justice as its pilot, and Religion as its polestar, could not do otherwise than advance steadily in prosperity and social happiness ; and his hearty wish was that Australia Felix might prosper in everything which promoted her best interests. In all probability before the walls of the future building were grey with age, he would long have left them; but in whatever position he might be placed, his warmest wishes and best exertions would ever attend the colony, which, if left to its own resources, and own self-government, would rapidly rise in prosperity, and be the first province of the Crown in this hemisphere. His Honor concluded by expressing his regret that, for various reasons, he could not do himself the pleasure of dining with the Masons in the evening.
