Freemasonry In England.

Summis Giibernatoribus Plenoque Coram Fratrum Concursu , Quo Etiam Tempore Requm , Principium que Vii-orum Favore Studioque Snstentatum—Maximos Per Euvopam Honores Occupaverat

Nomen Latomorum , Cui In Super Nomini Sumtnum Anglse Con-Teritum Praesse Fecerat Universa Fratrum Per Orbem Multitude E Coelo Decendit

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After the ceremony of laying the stone , the brethren proceeded in carriages to partake of an elegant entertainment at Leather-sellers' hall ; and on this occasion the office of Grand Chaplain was first instituted . The construction of the building proceeded so rapidly , that it was completed in little more than 12 months , and on the 23 rd of May , 1776 , was opened and dedicated in solemn form to MASONRY , VIRTUE , and UNIVERSAL

CHAEITY and BENEVOLENCE , in the presence of a brilliant assembly of brethren . A new ode , written and set to music for the occasion , was performed before a number of ladies , who honoured the Society with their company on that occasion . An exordium on Masonry , no less elegant than instructive , was delivered by the Grand Secretary , and an excellent oration by the Grand Chaplain .

The hall is as elegant and highly finished as any in the metropolis . Above the entrance is a gallery capable of containing about one hundred persons , supported by pillars and pilasters of the Composite Order .- The length of the building is 92 feet , 43 feet broad , and upwards of 60 feet high . At the upper end of the room is a dais , allotted for the Grand Officers when the Grand Lodge meets , which takes up about one-fourth of the whole length . At the extremity is a beautiful alcove , of a semicircular

form , in which was originally fixed a fine organ , but has since been appropriated to the reception of an elegant statue , in white marble , of our late much revered and greatly lamented Grand Master , His Eoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex . The remaining part of the hall is for the Grand Stewards and the brethren in general when the Grand Lodge assembles . The pilasters on each side of the hall are fluted , and

otherwise most beautifully decorated . Between these pilasters are panels appropriated for the reception of full-length portraits of the Grand Masters . Above them are smaller panels , for paintings having reference to the royal art or expressive of its virtues . All the other intermediate spaces are elegantly decorated with emblematical , symbolical , and hieroglyphical figures and representations of the mysteries of Freemasonry

. Bound the top of the side wall a number of semi-circular windows arc placed , so contrived as to open and shut with the greatest facility , for the purposes of ventilation . The object of placing the windows so high is , that no spectators from the surrounding houses may view the Masonic ceremonies . In the centre of the roof a splendid sun is repre-