daughters of Eve, and the distance of this "ladies' gallery" from the main pivot of operations, the " Recording Angels " could hardly hear a word to note down. Still, as if by an instinct peculiar to the professional pen-drivers, a creditably accurate account was chronicled in the journals next morning. There was some difficulty in providing for the ladies, but the politeness and patience of the untiring secretary (Mr. Marsden) would have tided him over even greater troubles. T h e Masonic body encircled the stone, and the ceremony commenced. T h e Rev. A. Strong, Masonic chaplain, offered the following invocation :— " M a y the Supreme Governor of the Universe bless this undertaking, and enable those w h o are more immediately employed in the good work to carry it on to its completion. " M a y H e support all those who, from disease and infirmity, become the inmates of this Institution. M a y H e bless them and keep them in the right way, that will ensure their everlasting happiness in that Grand Asylum above, where peace, harmony, and happiness for ever dwell. " POr all this we implore the blessing of that Almighty Being at whose creativefiatfirstall things were made." Masonic response : "So Mote it be." T h e Masonic adjustment of the stone was preceded by Brother John Stephen, P.M., reading aloud the following inscription engraved on a plate to be placed in a cavity :— THE FOUNDATION STONE Of the VICTORIA B E N E V O L E N T ASYLUM, For the Aged, Infirm, Disabled, and Destitute of all Creeds and Nations, Was laid this twenty-fourth day of June, A . D , 1850, in the fourteenth year ofthe Reign of Her Majesty, Q U E E N VICTORIA, B Y H I S H O N O R CHARI.ES J O S E P H L A T R O B E , E S Q , Superintendent of Port Phillip, Assistedby the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Freemasons. His E X C E L L E N C Y SIR C H A R L E S A U G U S T U S FITZROY, K N T . , Governor of New South Wales. His H O N O R C H A R L E S JOSEPH L A T R O B E , E S Q , Superintendent of Port Phillip. A U G U S T U S FREDERICK A D O L P H U S GREEVES, E S Q ,
Mayor of the City of Melbourne. CHARLES LAING,
Architect. CHARLES B R O W N , H E N R Y B R O W N , S A M U E L R A M S D E N , Builders.
A glass bottle, the gift of Mr. John Hood, chemist, was encased in leather by Mr. Pascoe, saddler and in it yvas a scroll lettered "J. R. Pascoe, Melbourne, June, 1850." Melbourne newspapers and the brass plate, yvere put in the bottle, which was deposited in its resting-place. T h e stone was next lowered amid strains of solemn music played by Hores' Saxe-horn Band. After this, the Masonic ceremony of adjusting the foundation stone, took place ; upon which His Honor Charles Joseph Latrobe, Esq, went through the ceremony of making a curve or two with a trowel, after which, corn, wine, and oil were strewed over the stone, and the Chaplain offered invocation No. 2 . — " 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 guard and protector over this infant city, and m a y H e long preserve this building from peril and decay." Response : " So Mote it be." T h e Masonic Oration was delivered by the Rev. Moses Rintel (the Rabbin). H e yvas followed by the Mayor, and the ceremony yvas over. A collection yvas made, and realised ,£70, to which the Manchester Unity gave ,£25, the Freemasons ,£21, and the public ^ 2 4 . There were about 12,000 persons present. That night high revel was kept, for some 150 members of the Kilwinning, Hiram and Australian Masonic Orders dined at the Protestant Hall, presided over by Brother Richard Ocock, supported right
