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  • Oct. 1, 1904
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  • Freemasons' Hall.
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The Masonic Illustrated, Oct. 1, 1904: Page 9

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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasons' Hall.

Freemasons' Hall .

'"PHEKK can be little doubt that a concensus of Masonic I opinion favours the rebuilding , or at least the reconstruction , at no distant date , of a considerable portion ot the existing structure in Great Queen Street . The tavern and its capacity for accommodating the increasing number of lodges meeting at the head-quarters of Masonry is

notoriously inadequate , and compared with the many structures that have sprung up since its erection , it lags far behind present da }* requirements . The expiration of the lease of the latter premises in 1 905 appears to offer a favourable opportunity for the consideration of the whole question , and we do not doubt that the Masonic authorities will seriously undertake the duty of dealing with it .

In this connection it may be of interest to quote from the Illustrated London Sews of March 21 st , 1866 , a description of the present building then in course of erection . An engraving of the large hall of the tavern which appeared in the same issue is also reproduced on page 15 : — " NKW FRK . ICMASOXS' HALL . —This building , of which

we present an engraving , has been for a considerable time in progress . It occupies a portion of the site of the old Freemasons' Tavern , so long known as a place for public dinners and meetings , as well as a large space on each side of it , while the greater portion

of the old tavern is incorporated with the new buildings . It had long been considered by the Freemasons that the meetings of so large and wealthy a body , and the extensive business connected with its Charities , etc ., required a building devoted exclusively to these purposes . B y degrees , therefore ,

the tavern and the adjacent properties were purchased ; and , in 186 3 , designs for a great Masonic building were invited in public competition . The design which we engrave this week was selected among a large number of competitors . "The general plan of the building consists of three parallel blocks , each about 45 ft . wide by 200 ft . deep from front to

back . The centre block embraces the old hall and some of the larger rooms of the old tavern . That to the east of it will form , with the old rooms above mentioned , the new tavern , which will comprise a large hall , 9 6 ft . by 43 ft ., to which will be attached a noble suite of rooms for public entertainments , with spacious lobbies , staircases , and corridors .

The western block , to which is added the site ot the trout rooms of the old tavern , forms the exclusively Masonic portion of the building . It contains live large lodge rooms , with ante-rooms , etc ., on the lirst and second Doors , while the ground Door is occupied by the offices for the business of the Craft . The staircase and corridors are very spacious ,

and of a highly architectural character . The old hall , which , when the new hall is completed , will be used exclusively for the meetings of the Grand Lodge , is approached from the first lloor by a spacious lobby , with a broad llight of steps . There is also a communication between the Masonic

building and the tavern , for the use of Masons only . Besides the rooms above mentioned there are a board room and robing rooms for ( he Grand Master and Grand Officers ; and on the ground lloor there are a coffee room and library for the use of the Craft . The front , which is 8 9 ft . in length ,

and embraces the Masonic portion as well as the rooms in front of the old tavern , is built entirely of Portland stone , the remaining portion of the frontage , 45 ft . in length , embracing the new tavern , will be of a different character , and will be built of red bricks , with Portland stone dressings .

I he whole of the tavern is let to the lavern Company , Limited , and will , when completed , cease to bear the name of the Freemasons' Tavern . The architect is Mr . F . P . Cockerell , son of the late Professor Cockerel ! , R . A . The sculpture , including the four figures representing Wisdom , Fidelity , Charity , and Unity , are executed by Mr . W , G .

Nicholl , who is already advantageously known as having executed the sculptures of the pediment of St . George ' s Hall , at Liverpool , from the design ot the late Professor Cockerell ; and that of the Fitzwilliam Museum , at Cambridge , from the design of the late Mr . Bassevi . The builder is Mr . Rider ,

of Union Street , Southwark . Owing to the necessity of providing for the continuation of the business of the tavern during the erection of the new building , it has been necessary to proceed with the building in sections , so that the progress has been necessarily slow . The first section , comprising the

greater part of the Masonic building , was completed in May last , and has been in use since that time . The second section , consisting of the front and adjacent rooms , will shortl y be completed . It is intended that the whole shall be open to the public within a year . "

HIS MA . IKSTV riii-: Kixti i . Avixn Tin- ¦ ¦ orxii . mox-sToxK OF TIII * XI : \ V i . iVKitroor , CATIII ' DUAI . OX TCF . SHAY , . iri . v l-n-n , ion .

“The Masonic Illustrated: 1904-10-01, Page 9” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 28 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mil/issues/mil_01101904/page/9/.
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Untitled Article 1
The Province of Cheshire. Article 2
United Grand Lodge of England. Article 4
Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland. Article 5
Masonic Songs. Article 6
Centenary Celebration of the St. Luke's Lodge, No. 225. Article 6
Memorial Stone Laying. Article 7
Freemasonry in Cornwall. Article 8
Freemasons' Hall. Article 9
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Article 10
Unattached Brethren. Article 10
At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar. Article 11
Untitled Ad 13
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Ad 14
Untitled Article 15
Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham. Article 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
The Friendly Lodge, Barnsley. Article 17
Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire. Article 18
Untitled Ad 18
Untitled Ad 18
Robert Morris, LL.D., the Poet of Freemasonry. Article 19
Untitled Ad 19
Untitled Ad 19
Masonic Jubilee in Bombay. Article 20
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Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasons' Hall.

Freemasons' Hall .

'"PHEKK can be little doubt that a concensus of Masonic I opinion favours the rebuilding , or at least the reconstruction , at no distant date , of a considerable portion ot the existing structure in Great Queen Street . The tavern and its capacity for accommodating the increasing number of lodges meeting at the head-quarters of Masonry is

notoriously inadequate , and compared with the many structures that have sprung up since its erection , it lags far behind present da }* requirements . The expiration of the lease of the latter premises in 1 905 appears to offer a favourable opportunity for the consideration of the whole question , and we do not doubt that the Masonic authorities will seriously undertake the duty of dealing with it .

In this connection it may be of interest to quote from the Illustrated London Sews of March 21 st , 1866 , a description of the present building then in course of erection . An engraving of the large hall of the tavern which appeared in the same issue is also reproduced on page 15 : — " NKW FRK . ICMASOXS' HALL . —This building , of which

we present an engraving , has been for a considerable time in progress . It occupies a portion of the site of the old Freemasons' Tavern , so long known as a place for public dinners and meetings , as well as a large space on each side of it , while the greater portion

of the old tavern is incorporated with the new buildings . It had long been considered by the Freemasons that the meetings of so large and wealthy a body , and the extensive business connected with its Charities , etc ., required a building devoted exclusively to these purposes . B y degrees , therefore ,

the tavern and the adjacent properties were purchased ; and , in 186 3 , designs for a great Masonic building were invited in public competition . The design which we engrave this week was selected among a large number of competitors . "The general plan of the building consists of three parallel blocks , each about 45 ft . wide by 200 ft . deep from front to

back . The centre block embraces the old hall and some of the larger rooms of the old tavern . That to the east of it will form , with the old rooms above mentioned , the new tavern , which will comprise a large hall , 9 6 ft . by 43 ft ., to which will be attached a noble suite of rooms for public entertainments , with spacious lobbies , staircases , and corridors .

The western block , to which is added the site ot the trout rooms of the old tavern , forms the exclusively Masonic portion of the building . It contains live large lodge rooms , with ante-rooms , etc ., on the lirst and second Doors , while the ground Door is occupied by the offices for the business of the Craft . The staircase and corridors are very spacious ,

and of a highly architectural character . The old hall , which , when the new hall is completed , will be used exclusively for the meetings of the Grand Lodge , is approached from the first lloor by a spacious lobby , with a broad llight of steps . There is also a communication between the Masonic

building and the tavern , for the use of Masons only . Besides the rooms above mentioned there are a board room and robing rooms for ( he Grand Master and Grand Officers ; and on the ground lloor there are a coffee room and library for the use of the Craft . The front , which is 8 9 ft . in length ,

and embraces the Masonic portion as well as the rooms in front of the old tavern , is built entirely of Portland stone , the remaining portion of the frontage , 45 ft . in length , embracing the new tavern , will be of a different character , and will be built of red bricks , with Portland stone dressings .

I he whole of the tavern is let to the lavern Company , Limited , and will , when completed , cease to bear the name of the Freemasons' Tavern . The architect is Mr . F . P . Cockerell , son of the late Professor Cockerel ! , R . A . The sculpture , including the four figures representing Wisdom , Fidelity , Charity , and Unity , are executed by Mr . W , G .

Nicholl , who is already advantageously known as having executed the sculptures of the pediment of St . George ' s Hall , at Liverpool , from the design ot the late Professor Cockerell ; and that of the Fitzwilliam Museum , at Cambridge , from the design of the late Mr . Bassevi . The builder is Mr . Rider ,

of Union Street , Southwark . Owing to the necessity of providing for the continuation of the business of the tavern during the erection of the new building , it has been necessary to proceed with the building in sections , so that the progress has been necessarily slow . The first section , comprising the

greater part of the Masonic building , was completed in May last , and has been in use since that time . The second section , consisting of the front and adjacent rooms , will shortl y be completed . It is intended that the whole shall be open to the public within a year . "

HIS MA . IKSTV riii-: Kixti i . Avixn Tin- ¦ ¦ orxii . mox-sToxK OF TIII * XI : \ V i . iVKitroor , CATIII ' DUAI . OX TCF . SHAY , . iri . v l-n-n , ion .

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