The  cornerstone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  September  18,  18M2,  and
tlie  occasion  was  made  very  interesting.  The  exercises  commenced  with  an
appropriate  introductory  address  by  the  pastor  of  the  church,  following
wiiicii  was  tiie  Scripture  reading  by  Rev.  Mr.  lllnmn  and  a  prayer  offered  by
Rev.  C.  W.  Tomlinson.  d.d..  of  Pawtucket.  The  choir  of  the  church  sang
the  hynni  "O  I  sing  unto  the  Loid  a  new  song";  and  a  hymn,  written  for  the
occasion  by  Mrs.  Frank  Mason,  was  sung  l)y  the  i-ntire  concourse  of  peoph-
Irt  the  tune  "  America."  Then  came  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  cornerstone
in  its  place  with  the  impressive  I'itual  of  the  Order  by  otiicers  of  the  Masonic
Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts.  The  cornerstone  is  a  largi'  brown  stone,
engraved  on  the  front  or  eastern  side  with  an  inclined  cross,  on  the  north
hide  with  tin-  s  piarc  and  compass,  and  on  the  south  side  with  the  date  1882.
Sixty -eight  different  articles  were  placed  in  I  lie  cavity,  siicli  as  photographs,
H|)ecimens  of  coin  and  scrip,  copies  of  newspapers,  a  history  of  tiie  society.
etc  .  and  some  of  these  were  special  gifts  for  this  puipose.  As  tiie  stone
was  lowered  to  its  position,  tlie  Ti'inple  (^>ii:irtet.  of  Hoslon.  leiidned  the
ftntJH-m  "Lift  Thine  Kycs  "  with  beautiful  elfecl.  Then  f(.llowed  tin-  sjiecial
<-ereinoni('.s  of  the  Masonic  (  >ii|ei-  upon  --iich  occasions,  iluiiiig  which  more
inusic  was  rendered  by  the  Temple  (Quartet,  the  linal  piece  being  "  Keller's
Am<*rican  Hynni."  ,\s  the  dosing  notes  of  th;it  bc;uitiful  song  dieil  awav.
