Freemasons' Hall— Thenew Wing.

Freemasons' Hall— TheNew Wing .

The Dr . Johnson ' of the Masonic world will need to insist that we shall take a walk down Great Queen Street , for if the ; Fleet Street of a past generation was the most favoured

THE GRAND JIASTKH'S ROOM

haunt of the literati of that day , the thoroughfare adorned by the Hall in which Grand Lodge meets must needs be the mecca of every Masonic pilgrim to the metropolis . If , as is most probable , we are tempted to converse b y the way , we shall not need to be reminded that , in the words of Bro . Hughan ' s "Origin of the English Kite of

Freemasonry , " Grand Lodges are an institution of the last century , and an outgrowth of operative lodges , which have existed from " time immemorial . " The Jirst of its kind was constituted in London on St . John Baptist ' s Day , 1 717 , by members of four old lodges which existed in the metropolisandas we approach the

, , stone-fronted building in Great Queen Street , we shall be wont to reflect on the progress of the Craft , and the formation of the unrivalled organisation of Grand Lodge , since the days of those meetings at the Goose and Gridiron , in St . Paul ' s Churchyard ; at the Apple Tree Tavern , Covent

Garden ; at the Crown , in Parker's Lane ; and at the Rummer and Grapes Tavern , in Channell Row , Westminster . We shall probably pardon one another if we beg each other ' s leave to refer further to these matters presently , but , as meantime we have arrived at the entrance of the Hall , let us proceed to make our inspection of the later additions

, leaving the main building , which will be more familiar to Masons , for future consideration . Immediately on our right is the Committee Room which is part of the old building , and in observing the blue leathern tables and the red morocco chairs which help to furnish this handsome apartment , we shall venture to note , at the same

time , that business is not necessarily the better transacted in a murky atmosphere moving over the dust of antiquity . Passing from the hall , and moving into the new wing along the spacious and lofty corridor , we shall find , on our right , the private office of the Grand Secretary , Bro . Letchworth , of admirable design with its Adam ' s ceiling and mantelpiece ,

and furnished throughout in the eighteenth century fashion . Of great value and interest is an old Chippendale book-case , some eight or nine feet in height , and of exquisite

workmanship . Hidden away behind the hooks we shall lind the receipt for payment thereof dated 1777 . The collector will be interested to know that the amount paid for it at the time is in two figures—and they are but small ones . Its value is now to be reckoned at over twenty times the amount , for Chippendale has ascended in valueand the purchasing

, power of a piece of gold has depreciated hardly less handsomely . Adjoining it is a smaller room , furnished and papered in similar fashion , used by Bro . Lake , the Assistant Grand Secretary , On the left of the corridor is the handsome Library and Museumand ifafter making our salutations to the

, , indefatigable Sub-Librarian , Bro . Sadler , the author of many excellent works , we are tempted to stay our steps here for some time , we have two excellent reasons for dalliance . In the first place , it would be difficult to imagine any public room more gracefully designed , and yet with the necessary simplicity and severity of effect .

The high central dome is carried on girders supported b y four columns of Ipplepen marble , with gilded caps based upon the vine , the pomegranate , corn , and olives . The whole of the fittings , as of the rest of the new building , are executed from the designs of the architect , Bro . Henry L . Florence , G . Supt . of Works , and are principally in wainscot .

Our illustration will afford some idea of the effectiveness here , as elsewhere , of the design of the architect and the careful way in which those designs have been carried out . If we make our way over the polished parquetry flooring to the fireplace , we shall not fail to admire a splendidly-painted portrait of George IV ., attributed to Hopner . It is framed in

plain oak , which surmounts and is part of the design of the handsomely-carved oak mantel underneath . There is an inscription on a brass plate to the effect that it is the gift of the Grand Secretary to the Library , Throughout the Library we shall lind , arranged in oak cases , an extremely interesting collection of many of the ancient

jewels of the Craft and medals in bronze and silver , including a collection formed by the late Major Irwin , and presented to Grand Lodge by his widow , as well as the "Jewels of the Nine Worthies or Superintendents of the Royal Arch under the Athole Grand Lodge , made in 1802 . "

Tin : ASSISTANT UKA . NII . SKI-HKTAIIV : W . JIIIO . U'lEI . IA . U LAKE .