[From The Days of the John Company-Selections from Calcutta Gazette, 1824-1832]

MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 1, 1824.

New Hindoo College

At about 4 o' dock, P.M. yesterday, the fraternity of Free Masons, in and about Calcutta met at the old Hindoo College, Bowbazar for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the new college.

Each Lodge being opened by its respective officers brother Patton arranged the procession, which about 5 o' clock began to move on towards the site of the new foundation in Potuldunga-Square, Each Lodge being preceded by its Tyler and Banner.

The crowd of Natives and Europeans that Ranked the streets, was dense in the extreme. Carriages and Buggies blocked up all avenues to Potuldanga-Square, excepting that through which the Brethren moved, which was guarded by Constables and Soldiers, who kept off the multitude from pressing too much.

The music on entering the area, drew up on the East after passing the Pedestal, and continued to play the Apprentice's tune, until all the Lodge had taken their place in square on the West, South and North Sides. The Provincial Grand Lodge halted on the East of the stone, and the P. G. Master took his seat at the Pedestal, supported by the Deputy P.G.M. Grand Chaplain, and Sen. G. Deacon on his right, and P.G. Wardens and other Grand Officers on his left; the Cups, Square, and other implements of the Craft, were then placed on the table; the Bible, Square and Compasses resting on the Pedestal. The Reverend Brother Bryce then advancing offered up a solemn prayer to the great Architect of the Universe. At this juncture the scene had truly a sublime character. In the Square area stood the Brethren of the mystic Institution in their badges and jewels of ceremony listening bare-headed to the impressive invocation going on. As far as the eye could reach, it met Tiers above Tiers of human .faces, the house tops in every direction being crowded to cramming by the natives anxious to have a view of the imposing scene. Behind the Brethren standing in square might be seen many ladies and gentlemen of the first respectability.

After the prayer, the coins were deposited, after which a silver plate, bearing the following inscription was deposited by R. W. Brother Blacqueire, Deputy Grand Master.

In The Reign
Of his most Gracious Majesty George the
Fourth, under the auspices of the Right
Honorable William Pitt Amherst,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the

British Possessions in India
The Foundation Stone of this Edifice,
The Hindu COLLEGE of Calcutta,
Was laid by
John Pascal Larkins, Esq.
Provincial Grand Master of the Fraternity of
Free Masons in Bengal,
Amidst the Acclamations
Of all ranks of the native population of
This City
In the presence
Of a numerous Assembly of the Fraternity and
Of the President and Members of
The Committee of General Instruction
On the 25th day of February, 1824
and the Aera of Masonry 5824,
which may God prosper:

Planned by B. Buxton, Lieut. Bengal Engineers.
Constructed by William Burn and James Mackintosh.

After Brother BLAQUIRE had duly placed the mortar, the R. W. Grand Master advanced and the stone suspended by pullys was lowered into its place, and anointed with corn, oil and wine in the usual manner. Observes our Brother of the Hurkaru:

"Thus ended the ceremony, and after its conclusion, the worshipful Grand Master addressed the assembled thousands to nearly the following effect:

"Gentlemen - In the name of the fraternity of Free and accepted masons, and for myself individually I beg to return you our thanks for your presence on this occasion. Although the ceremony just gone through, and the stone thus laid are only incipient - of the building which will arise from it, yet I view it with much pleasure as the fore-runner of Education in India, a country which it must be admitted is still in a state of unsocial ignorance. It was the remark of one, than whom, perhaps, a more profound statesman never existed, that if the English had left India at the time to which he referred, they would have left behind them few traces of their greatness, but this could not be said now, for whereas the English name was now known in India, Education was also known, and it was the avowed merit of the Government who thus were spreading knowledge throughout the empire, that no proselytism was attempted. They conveyed knowledge, which was wealth and power, to the millions under their rule, and left the rest to follow in the usual course of events. Indeed so convinced were the respectable portion of the native community of this fact, that many men of wealth and rank among them had come forward, unsolicited and assisted them in their work, and he wished also to include them in the thanks he had just offered to the gentlemen present. The Speaker then reverted to the exertions of the Lottery Committee, and to the paternal feeling of the Government who had devoted such large sums to the improvement of the city, independent of their arising from the Lottery, some of the members of that Committee were present, and he beg to return his individual thanks to them for their able conduct in a very unthankful office, and one of them in particular who was present (Mr. Harington) he remarked was peculiarly entitled to the thanks of the Community. He then returned his thanks to the fraternity of Masons, for the manner in which they had always come forward on every public occasion, and with this concluded."

Mr. Harington in reply remarked, that he did not come prepared to speak, nor should he have done so now but for the compliment which had just been paid him by the worshipful Grand Master. He did so, however, in a few words, and then sat down.

Baboo Ram Mohun Thakoor then came forward, and stated briefly the high sense entertained by the native population of the honor done them by the Right Worshipful the Grand Master.

This concluded the business of the day, and perhaps a scene was never witnessed which conveyed a more gratifying appearance of perfect union between the European and Native population of this City. Every house in the neighborhood was covered with spectators, and as the procession moved from the ground and universal clapping of hands proclaimed the delight with which the spectacle had been viewed, and the feeling which it created in the minds of those present.

There was something very-gratifying in the burst of approbation which the vast crowd of spectators expressed by a loud clapping of hands. It evinced a momentary touch of enthusiasm, which we were not prepared to expect, and which indicated a deeper sympathy with the interesting business of the juncture and its philanthropic scope and tendency than many present, might perhaps have calculated on. The Band at the conclusion struck up the National Anthem of God Save the King. The Lodges afterwards commenced their filing off at the East Corner, thus passing the anointed stone. The junior Lodge led off, and on the whole having cleared the square the Brethren halted, opened ranks facing inwards; the Provincial Grand Lodge then passed up the center followed the other Lodges according to seniority successively. They all then (band leading and playing a Masonic March.) returned to the place of Assembly in reverse order from what they had set out. Each Lodge then drew up and received in square the thanks of the R.W.P.G. Master for their attendance and conduct, All then dispersed the sheds of twilight, having umbered into night over the City of Palaces.-India Gazette, February, '26.

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