A report from the South Australian Register, Wednesday 7 February 1844, page 3
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/27446500
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE SCOTCH CHURCH.
Yesterday the citizens of Adelaide witnessed a ceremony which has never before been performed in the Colony, namely—the laying of a foundation stone with Masonic honours. The building, of which the first stone was thus laid, is the Scotch Church, in Grenfell-street, and we trust the edifice thus commenced under such pleasing, and to us, unusual circumstances, will prove a credit to the Colony, and a source of good to thousands now living, or yet unborn.
The Scots
Church in Grenfell Street, Adelaide, constructed and opened 1844
The proceedings were commenced by the Adelaide St. John's Lodge, (which a fortnight ago only numbered five members) meeting at Mr Payne's Hotel. The Lodge was then opened, and some Masonic ceremonies gone through, of which we were allowed to know nothing. The Brethren proceeded in procession along Hindley-street, in the following order:—
PROGRAMME OF THE PROCESSION.
Tyler with drawn sword
Band of music
Brethren two and two
Brother Jones, builder, with mallet
Deacons—Brothers Calder and Young
Secretary—Brother R. G. Thomas
Treasurer with staff—Brother Spence
Chaplain in canonicals—Brother the Rev. R. Haining
Counsel—Brother Wotherspoon, in gown and bands
Masonic Visitors.
Junior Warden— Brother McEuen, with plumb
Stewards—Brothers Greig and Auld, with white wands
Senior Warden—Brother Birrell, with level
Brother Hamilton, carrying the square
Brother John Auld. carrying bible, with square and compass
Brother Haussen, sword bearer
R.W.M. — J. F. Bennett
Stewards—Brother Richmond and McDougall
Tyler, Brother Fusell, with drawn sword.
In this manner the procession proceeded along Hindley-street, the band playing favourite and appropriate Scotch airs, until it arrived at the Provincial Lodge-room, at the Shakspere. Here it was joined by the Brethren of the South Austra lian Lodge of Friendship, No. 613, who formed in the following order in the rear of the St John's Lodge:—
Visiting Brothers—Two and two.
Brothers of the Lodge—Two and two.
The Wardens or the Lodge— Brothers J. G. Nash, and W. G. Lambert.
The Volume of the Sacred Law — Borne by Brother Richards.
The Book of Constitution - Borne by Brother W. Grey, Treasurer.
The Provincial Master's Standard — Borne by Brother Oscar Lines.
Inner Guard—Frederic Wicksteed.
The Tyler of the Provincial Lodge with drawn sword.
The procession then moved along Currie-street, until near the site of the Church, when it parted, the Brethren opened up, and the order of procession was reversed, those who had been last walk ing up the centre and taking the lead. A circle was then formed round the stone by the Brethren, the R. W. Masters of the South Australian Lodge of Friendship, and of the Adelaide St John's, along with their officers in the centre. A brief statement was then made by Mr Wotherspoon, as to the gift by Mr Edward Stephens of the land on which the Church was about to be erected.
Afterwards the following beautiful and appropriate anthem was sung by some of the Brethren and others present: —
To Heaven's High Architect, all praise,
All praise, all gratitude be given,
Who deigned the human soul to raise,
By mystic secrets sprang from Heaven.
CHORUS. Sound aloud the Great Jehovah's praise, To him the dome the temple raise.
The Chaplain, the Rev. Mr Haining, then offered up a prayer appropriate to the occasion, after which, a plate and a bottle containing the newspapers of the day, and several coins of the present reign were deposited in the stone. The plate bore the following inscription:—
TO
THE WORSHIP OF GOD,
ACCORDING TO THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE
OF
THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,
THIS HOUSE IS DEDICATED,
FEBRUARY 6, 1844.
The Rev. R. Haining, Minister.
Messrs Thompson Messrs Smith
" Knott " Wotherspoon
'' Disher " Murray
" Calder
Elders.
Alex. L. Elder, Treasurer of the General Purpose Fund.
J. Wotherspoon, Treasurer of the Building Fund.
George Young, Secretary.
Thos. Jones, Builder.
The stone having been raised by machinery, cement was lain on, and it was lowered to its bed. The Prov. Master Mildred having proved it by the various tools, it was declared duly laid, and the blessing of the Great Architect above was invoked on the work which had thus been begun. The procession then returned to Mr Payne's in same order as before.
THE DINNER.
The Lodges afterwards dined together in Payne's, along with several other gentlemen who had been pre- sent at the ceremony, the Master of the St John's Lodge, Mr J. F. Bennett, in the chair, supported on the left by the Senior Deacon Wotherspoon, and on the right by the R. W. Master of the South Australian Lodge of Friendship. The Senior Warden occupied the Croupier's chair, supported by Treasurer Spence, and Deacon Brother Young.
The company, about sixty in number, sat down to dinner at six o'clock, and having done justice to the excellent dinner, provided by Mr Payne, the cloth was removed.
The Chairman then gave the health of her Majesty the Queen and Prince Albert and the Heir-Apparent, and other branches of the Royal Family.
Drunk with all the honours.
The Chairman then rose and said—Gentlemen, although now far removed from our native land, I feel assured that none of us have left behind us those feelings of loyalty which exist in the bosom of all true Britons. You have proved this to be the fact by the enthusiastic manner in which you have drank to the health of her Majesty, and I, therefore, have no doubt whatever but you will heartily join with me in drinking a bumper to the health of His Excellency the Governor."
The Chairman again rose and said—Gentlemen, the next toast I have to propose is one more immediately connected with our proceedings this day. It is Prosperity to the Church, whose foundation-stone we have laid this day. It is the commencement of the first Church in the Colony in connexion with the Church of Scotland. I have long looked forward to the time when I should see a Scottish Church in South Australia and this day my wishes and hopes have been realized in seeing a commencement made. The Church of Scotland is one of the most venerable institutions of our native land, and the labour of those who have been engaged in the ministry in connexion with her have long been blessed in an eminent degree. I trust this will long continue to be the case, and that we shall long maintain the character which I think I may say, without presumption, we have obtained as a moral and religious people.
Mr Calder in rising to reply to this toast, said— That he also, along with the Chairman—and he might say with every Scotchman present—had long looked for this day ; but he had never once anticipated a day of such unminglcd pleasure and satisfaction as this had been—a day far beyond his most sanguine hopes. All that could be said on this subject had been already said by the Chairman, and at the beautiful ceremony itself, and he could only reiterate, with the former speakers, his earnest wish that the building so auspiciously begun, should prove all that could be wished, and that the utmost energies of his countrymen would be applied towards it erection and decoration.
Mr Wotherspoon, S.D., proposed all denominations of Christians, and in doing so, made some able re marks on the happy state of things in this Colony as far as regards religion. All denominations were ac- customed to meet together in South Australia, not as adherents to any particular creed, but as professors of the same grand principles of Christianity.
Brother Andrews briefly replied to the toast.
The Chairman proposed— "The Provincial Master, and the officers of the South Australian Lodge of Friendship.
The Provincial Master returned thanks. In doing so he made some remarks on Masonry, in which he staled that, Masons, by their relation in society, should be the kindest of husbands, the most indulgent fathers, and the most lively and interesting friends.
Brother Birrell proposed a Masonic toast. "The heart that conceals, and the tongue that never reveals."
Brother McEuen, J. W., proposed "Our Native Land."
Several other loyal and patriotic toasts were given and drunk, and the evening was spent with great conviviality and good feeling up to a late hour, when the company separated, highly pleased with the events of the day.
We should not omit to mention that the arrangements for the procession and laying the stone were most complete, aud the dinner served up in Mr Payne's usual good style. Among the brethren present, we observed Messrs Gray (Bank of Australasia), Mann, Kingston, Lambert, Drs. Kent, Nash, and many others of the Provincial Lodge.
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South Australian Register, Wednesday 7 February 1844, page 3
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/27446507
PROVINCIAL LODGE
THE Provincial Lodge was opened at two o'clock, and at four the Masters, Officers, and Brethren of the St John's Lodge arrived at the Provincial Lodge-room. The procession was then formed, the Junior Lodge being followed by the Senior Lodge. The master of each Lodge was attended by numerous officers and Brethren. On reaching the site of the intended building the very impressive ceremony of the Masons was gone through in the best style; and the entire body returned in procession to the Provincial Lodge-room, where, after a short stay, the two Lodges separated; the St John's going in procession to Payne's Hotel, where they were joined at dinner by the members of the Provincial Lodge. It was stated, that the Provincial Master would open the Lodge of Harmony, at the Provincial Lodge-room, at six o'clock, on Friday evening next. The principal officers are Mr Andrews, Master; Messrs Lambert and Wicksteed, Wardens. The future meetings of the Lodge of Harmony, are to be at the " Freemason's Tavern," Pirie-street.
