Saturday 28 Jun 1823 (p. 4, col. 5-6) MASONIC CEREMONIAL.
The first stone of the Chapel of the new County gaol, now erecting in this city, was laid on Monday last, with all the ceremony of 'free and accepted masonry.'
As we had expected, a great number of persons flocked into the town from the surrounding country; and all the workshops and manufactories of the city and neighbourhood poured out their inmates; so that, about mid-day, English-street, the Market-place, and the upper end of Castle-street, were literally blocked up.
The brethren assembled at the Coffee-House between eleven and twelve—consisting of deputations from the Lodges mentioned below in the order of procession; and the Provincial Lodge, at 'high noon' (twelve o'clock, the
high noon of the rest of the world) was opened 'in ample form and solemn prayer.'
The room was decorated with evergreens and flowers. At the upper end towered the throne of the Provincial Grand-Master (Geo. BLAMIRE, Esq.) surmounted by a handsome canopy of flowers, crowned with the rose, thistle, and shamrock, arranged in the form of the triple plume of the Prince of Wales—at once intended, we presume, as a compliment to the illustrious Grand Patron (late Grand Master), and a symbol of the fourth division of the empire. The BLAMIRE arms and the emblems of the Lodge of Harmony, 'as the oldest Lodge present,' were placed on each side the P. G. M.'s seat. The deputation from the Concord Lodge, Whitehaven, formed the Provincial Grand Lodge, as far as their members would permit.
About half-past one, the procession moved from the Coffee-House in the following order—the brethren in regulation aprons and gloves, and dressed in black, military members excepted:—
Band of music.
Ten Tylers.
Standard of St. Michael's Lodge, Brampton.
The Ark.
The Hibernian Lodge, Wigton, bearing the
Corinthian Light.
Banner of the Unanimity Lodge, Penrith.
The Doric Light.
Banner of St. John's Lodge, Wigton,
Members following.
The Cumberland Militia Lodge.
The Annan St. Andrew's, and the Annan Caledonian,
each with three Banners.
The Sun and Sector Lodge, Workington.
The Kendal Lodge, Kendal.
Banner of the Union Lodge, Carlisle.
The Ionic Signs. The Banner of the Lodge of Harmony, Carlisle.
The Corn, Wine, and Oil, carried in silver cups by
Master Masons.
The Trowel and Setting Mallet, carried by
Master Masons.
Grand Usher.
Standard of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland.
The Golden Square, Level, and Plumb Rule, carried
by three Master Masons.
Grand Superintendent of Works, carrying the Plans
of the Building, &c.
Provincial Grand Senior Provincial Grand Junior
Deacon. Deacon.
Provincial Grand Secretary, bearing the Book
of Constitution.
Provincial Grand Treasurer.
Bible placed on the Ark.
Provincial Grand Chaplain.
The Banner of the Provincial Grand Master.
Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.
Provincial Grand Master.
Provincial Grand Stewards, two and two.
The Provincial Grand The Provincial Grand
Senior Warden. Junior Warden.
Provincial Grand Tyler.
In this order they slowly passed up English-street; and the display would have been very gratifying, had not the closely-wedged crowd pressed in upon the line of march, and in a great degree destroyed its effect: even the numerous spectators at the windows saw little more than the flags and the hats of those who took part in the pageant.
As soon as the van of the procession reached the entrance to the scite of the intended new building, near the Court-Houses, it halted at the sound of trumpet, opened out, faced inwards, and allowed the Provincial Grand Lodge to pass up the centre, in reversed order, and in that manner the whole entered the area.
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to be continued]
Reproduced with kind permission of British Newspaper Archives