The Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall, Philadelphia, 1802.

for the ceremony of dedication . At tho end of the first procession , the music being silent , the Grand Master , strewing corn over the Lod"e , declared in solemn form tho hall dedicated to Masonry , which being proclaimed by the Grand Secretary , tho grand honours were given . At tho end of the second procession , the music being silent , the Grand Master pouring wine over the Lodge , declared in solemn

form the hall dedicated to Virtue and Science , which being proclaimed by the Grand Secretary , the Grand honours wore given as before . At the end of the third procession , tho musio being silent , the Grand Master , pouring oil on the Lodge , iu solemn form declared tho hall dedicated to Universal Charity and Benevolence , which being proclaimed by the Grand Secretary , tho grand honours wero given as

before . A grand anthem , adapted to tho occasion , set to music by Brother Eeinagle , was sung by Bros . Eeinagle , Fox , Warren , and Bobins . The Grand Master returned to Solomon ' s Chair , amid the acclamations of tho brethren , and the musio performing " When earth's foundation first was laid , " & c .

The Grand Master was then pleased to deliver an affectionate address , which was received by the brethren with the most lively tokens of gratitude aud acknowledgment , and their approbation was testified in the usual form . It may be well here to note that theso dedicatory services were the first that were used by the Grand Lodgo of Pennsylvania .

The total cost of the building was 3000 dollars , tho alterations and furnishing about 6000 dollars , making a total of about 9000 dollars . In consideration of the fraternal affection to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and subordinate Lodges nnder thoir jurisdiction , of Brother William Francis in providing them a Temple to work in during tho building of the permanent Hall , at a time when they wero

all destitute of a placo of meeting , the Grand . Lodge by resolution requested the E . W . Grand Master to pass to the chair Bro . Francis and a Past Master ' s collar and apron were presented to him . On 7 th March 1803 , tho Building Committee were directed to have the Hall insured against accidents by fire . On 4 th May 1807 , the Hall Committee were ordered to purchase

six patent lamps and have them fixed in the Hall . Here the Grand Lodge met for several years , and tho minntes of the Lodges about this time note the presence , as visitors , of brethren from far and near . As a place of meeting it was not a success , the distance from town and the unsnifcableness of tho building for the purpose intended ,

caused the brethren to consider the subject of moving . On 6 th April 1807 , the following resolution was offered in the Grand Lodge : " Whereas , it has been found from experience that the Masonic Hall ( the property of this Grand Lodge ) has not nor cannot be made to afford those accommodations suitable to tho dignity of tbe E . W .

Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania j and " Whereas , from tho great increase of members to the Masonio institutions ol this city , who hold thoir meetings in the Hall belonging to the Grand Lodge , tho accommodations have proved quito insufficient ; therefore bo it "Eosolved , That a committee bo appointed with full powers to

sell to the best advantage the Masonio Hall , tho property of tho Grand Lodge of tho State of Pennsylvania , and that the Trustees holding said property bo directed to make a transfer of the samo to such person or persons as said committee shall direct ; and be it farther "Eosolved , That tho above named committee be directed to ascertain if a suitable lot of ground ( either on ground-rent or purchase )

can be had in the central part of the city , for the purpose of erecting an elegant Masonic Hall , suitable to tho dignity of the E . W . Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania . " On 7 th December 1807 , tho Committee reported that they had an offer from Thomas Carstairs , an eminent carpenter of Philadelphia , to purchase the Hall for 5000 dollars , to bo paid for in work on the

new Hall , and that ho had also agreed to do the carpenter work for ten per cent , less than the old prices . The Building Committee subsequently were directed to purchase the lot on Chesnut-street , above Seventh , north side , and erect a magnificent building thereon . On 24 th June 1811 , tho Grand Lodge moved to the new building

on Chesnut-street ( the first Chesnut-street Hall ) , which cost dollars 86 , 980 . 12 £ , when tho Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall was sold for the sum of 4500 dollars—ono-halfthe cost . Eight years afterwards ( 9 th March 1819 ) , when the Chesnut-street Hall was destroyed by fire , the Grand and subordinate Lodges , & c , moved to the Filbertstreet Hall again , which they occupied during the time it was being

rebuilt . On 1 st March 1820 , the Grand Lodge moved to the second Chesnut-street Hall , and then ceased all Masonio work in tho Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall . Its history from that time is not of any interest . Tho second story rooms were occupied at different times by Thomas Birch , the celebrated marine painter , a personal friend of Frater John Sartain , and also by Thomas Welch , as celebrated

an engraver . Theso rooms were also used for dancing parties , at many of which Frater Mark Eichard Muckle was present . The public schools of the ninth section , of which Frater John L . Young was director , were held here for a number of years , and lately it has been used for manufacturing purposes ; it has for a number of years belonged to the Kates' estate . It may bo incidentally mentioned

that in the open court-yard , already noted as being in the rear of tho building , and running through nearly to Market-street , thero is a building , once occupied by Benedict Arnold . The building is now to be demolished , to give place to the onward "march of improvements . To-day we stand within its walls to hold the last meeting as brethren of the E . C . therein , to-morrow orders

nave issued to level it with the ground , and in a short time a stately brick edifice will be erected , a credit to the city . Thus passes away ono of the oldest Masonic Halls in this city , and , I venture to say , in the country . Oh , that the walls could echo and repeat the words of good cheer ntt hearty welcome once given therein : the songs and toasts and

The Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall, Philadelphia, 1802.

jests ; the beautiful rendering of tho ancient ritual by a Duplosses , a Milnor , an Israel and tho Smiths— -William , tho Provost of tho University , and Jonathan Bayard , and a host of others . A ritual retained by us with but few changes up to this day . Cannot wo almost hear tho " Amen , so moto it bo , " which followed that prayer prepared for tho occasion of dedication by Dr . Smith , and so

affectionately and reverentially offered by himself , and then the musical voices of tho Masonio choir or quartetto in that glorious anthem , " When earth's foundation first was laid . " How tho rooms must have had their very silence broken ( there is to mo always a peculiar , profound , holy silence in a Masonio Lodgo room ) by the Master ' s gavel , as ho governed his Lodge with justice and equity .

Hero presided in tho East of Grand Lodge Grand Masters Israel Israel , for two years , and James Milnor , from 1806 to 1811 , and Bayso Newoomb , in 1819 . And now , to end with tho beginning , Earth to Earth , Dust to Dust . What man erects man destroys , and reproduces in another and moro beautiful form . Tho handicraft of man takes the shapeless mass , and from it produces and brings forth a most beautiful piooo of work , QUOD FOTUI PERFECT .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor , respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , baii as a guarantee of good faith .

THE PUPILS' ASSISTANCE FUND .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICIE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I havo great pleasure in doing Bro . While " the justice , " and myself " the honour , " of withdrawing some of those statements I was " permitted to make in your columns " a fortnight ago . It was unnecessary for him , so far as I am concerned , todeny that ho was the writer of the letter in the Times signed " P . M ., "

as well as of tho report of the meeting of the above which had previously appeared in that journal . All you were kind enough to permit me to state was , that I had read with much surpriso the report in question , and a " letter manifesting the same spirit of opposition and misrepresentation , signed " P . M . " It is no more my fault than it is that of the writer of the letter , that it seemed as though it had

emanated from the same source as tho report . Nevertheless , though I made no such assertion or insinuation , I havo the honour to accept unreservedly Bro . While ' s denial that ho is in any way responsible for the letter . As to the Sunday Times report , my words were , " the notice , too , in the Sunday Times is so similar iu tone that ono might easily be

pardoned for suggesting that it was written by tho same person . Bo this as it may , or rather let the reports havo been written by whom they may , " & c , & c . I accept unreservedly Bro . While ' s statement that on the 24 th March , the date of his letter to you last week , he had not seen the report in the Sunday Times , and I presume it follows naturally that what a man had not seen , he could not have written

some ten days previously . Any one , however , who is at the pains of comparing it with that which appeared in the Times , will , I believe , arrive at the conclusion that the suggestion was , under the circumstances , easily pardonable . But this is clearly through no fault of Bro . While , as ho had not seen the later of the two accounts when he wrote to you last week . I do not think I can possibly do more in

order to withdraw a statement I did not make , or a suggestion , which , though not quite unnatural , proves to have been quite unfounded : if I can , I will . With all due deference to Bro . While , my statement as to his idea of the purposes for which the Assistance Fund is to be instituted , holds good , judging him by the speech he made at the meeting , and

the general expressions of dissent with which it was greeted . Lords Eosslyn and Skelmersdale both deprecated the establishment of a fonrth charity , and Bro . Dick Eadclyffe explained that the objects and other matters contained in the circular which had been issued were nothing more than suggestions , made to him by different brethren . I had seen this circular before writing my former letter , and I have

no hesitation in saying that Bro . Whiles account of the " objects" of this fund is substantially correct , with this limitation however , that ono of them is stated to bo " to advance small amounts to aid in tho purchase of tools , outfits , and later in life , goodwills of businesses , & c . " I think advancing " small amounts" in aid is different altogether from purchasing outright . I will with pleasure go further

and say that , without tho explanations which were offered at the meetings before Bro . While spoke , I should have formed tho samo opinion of tho objects of the Fund •, but when I am distinctly told by one of the Secretaries that the objects as described aro nothing moro than suggestions , it is my duty to accept that statement as it has just now been my duty to accept Bro . While ' s statements about tho letter and

reports . But though every one else present protested emphatically against Bro . While ' s view , he insisted he was right , and worse still , has painted the report he gave of the meeting in his own colours . Bro . While may cling as tenaciously as he likes to his own opinions , but he has no bnsiness to deny others the same right . I maintain that every one who has read the report in the Times would , if there

wero no other light to guide them , say the meeting was called for the establishment of a fourth Masonio Charity with the objects specified by Bro . While . Yet every one else present resented this idea . Hence my statement to the effect that his report , or what I presume to have been his , contained " monstrous exaggerations " of the nature indicated . I notice that Bro . While is at no pains to contest the main point of