| Citation |
PG-P.754.007
15 Jan 1754:11,12,13,21 (1308)
[Report of laying of foundation stone of the new Exchange of
the city in Edinburgh, by the Grand Master Mason of Scotland
and several lodges. Procession:]
1. A body of operative masons, not belonging to any lodge
present.
2. A band of French Horns.
3. The lodges present in the following order . . . [12
lodges listed]
4. A body of gentlemen masons belonging to foreign lodges.
5. A band of hautboys.
. . . [Divisions 6-10, various dignitaries and devices.]
11. A band of French horns.
. . . [Divisions 12-16, highest dignitaries.]
The whole uncovered, and amounting exactly to 672 Masons.
In this manner the procession began from the chapel, about
half an hour after three. . . [6 lines] As the procession
passed the city guard, a company was drawn out, with their
proper officer at their head, who paid the proper military
honours, the drums beating, and musick playing all the way
as they marched, to the Parliament close, where, so soon as
the troop had formed a line, with the Masons in the like
manner within them, . . . [14 lines] in the manner the whole
marched to, and passed thro' the triumphal arch; the Lord
Provost, Magistrates, and others attending, went to a
theatre erected for them, covered with tapestry, and decked
with flowers, on the west of the place where the stone was
to be laid; and directly opposite on the east, another
theatre was erected for the Grand Master and officers of the
Grand Lodge, . . . [51 lines, inscription on cornerstone
which was then] let down gradually, making three regular
stops, before it came to the ground, during which the Masons
Anthem was first played by the music alone, and then sung,
all the music and brethren joining in the chorus, and the
music continued to play the anthem by themselves during the
following part of the ceremony. . . [30 lines, medals placed
in the stone.]
Here the musick stopped, and the former Grand Master and
Substitute retiring, two operative brethren came in their
place, and assisted the Grand Master to turn over the tone.
. . [16 lines, Grand Master plumbs the stone, knocks it
three times.] The anthem was then played again, during
which the the cornucopia, with the two silver vessels
containing the wine and oil, were brought down . . . [3
lines] and so soon as the Anthem was ended, the Substitute
presented the cornucopia to the Grand Master, . . . [7
lines, anointing stone.]
This being also succeeded by three huzza's, the Anthem was
again played, and when finished, the Grand Master repeated
these words: . . . [5 lines] And having closed the ceremony
with a short prayer for the Sovereign, the Senate of the
City, the Fraternity of Masons, and all the people, the
Anthem was again played, during which he returned to his
chair, while the brethren expressed their applause by
repeated clapping of hands and three huzza's.
. . . [1 column: speech of the Grand Master, procession
back to Holyrood-House, entertainment, dismissal.]
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