Masonic Temple For Bombay.

MASONIC TEMPLE FOR BOMBAY .

fT ^ HE Freemasons . Bombay belonging Jiinghsh _|_ and the Scotch Constitutions will be glad to learn that atter many years of discussion and deliberation , the Freemasons ' Hall Committee , which represents both the Constitutions , have succeeded in floating a scheme , which will enable them shortly to provide a Masonic Temple worthy of the name of the first

city in India . The project has so far reached completion that as announced by Lord Sandhurst at the Installation meeting of Lodge Eising Star , on Tuesday , I 5 th ult ., the foundation stone of the new temple will be laid by his Excellency on the 21 st inst ., and it appears that there has been a sort of tacifc arrangement that the building , which is to be constructed on a site

allotted by Government at a short distance from the Novelty Theatre , and near the Powalla Charitable Dispensary , should be completed long before his Excellency ' s departure from the country after tlie expiry of the period of his office , as it is the earnest desire of all connected with the scheme that the temple should be formally opened by his Excellency as the head of both the Constitutions .

It may here be mentioned that the project has been . hanging fire ever since the year 1877 , when the two Constitutions held their meetings in one place , the management of the Masonic Hall being entrusted to a joint committee of both the Constitutions . The late Mr . James Gibbs , member of the

Executive Council of the Government of Bombay , was then at the head of affairs of the English Constitution , the late Sir Henry Morland representing Scotch Freemasonry in India . Several schemes were brought forward and discussed by the two heads of Freemasonry in Bombay , but somehow or other the projects

never assumed any definite shape , and fell through for want of funds . The late Mr . Tyrrell Leith , who succeeded Mr . Gibbs , and Sir Henry Morland again endeavoured to provide the Graft with a temple of their own , but with no greater success than before .

When H . E . H . the Duke of Connaught assumed the Grand Mastership of the English Constitution , Sir Henry Morland made one more effort to provide ways and means for building a Masonic Hall , and though the matter then appeared to be ' within a measurable distance of accomplishment , it failed on account

of the fraternity not being then in a position to secure funds to enable them to construct a temple worthy of the Craft and the city , on a site near the Young Men ' s Christian Association , granted on somewhat favourable terms by Government . The efforts , however , of these distinguished Vast Grand Masters

in the direction indicated were not entirely fruitless , because the experience gained by them in the matter of raising funds and finding ways and means for the maintenance of the hall stood their successors in good stead , and it was upon the lines laid down by those ardent and zealous Masons that Lord Sandhurst

Pro District Grand Master and Mr . James VV . Smith Grand Master of All Scottish Freemasonry in India , with the assistance of the members of the Joint Hall Committee , are now able to float the scheme , which will not only provide an excellent temple on a central site , but will allow of the temple being maintained for all time to come . The credit of bringing the scheme to such

a practical and successful termination is due to , besides the two Grand Masters , Mr . G . O . Dunn , Mr . E .. S . Brown , the Hon . Mr . N . N . Wadia , CLE ., Mr . K . E . Cama , and Mr . D . R . Chichgar , who are all very enthusiastic Masons , and who have been working now for years past to provide the Craft with a suitable building of their own .

Government has been pleased to grant the Hall Committee 1 , 200 square yards of land on a lease for 99 years at the rate of one rupee per square yard per annum , the Committee or their successors having the option of renewing the lease for another period of 99 years . Mr . J Campbell , of Messrs . Campbell and

Hewson , Engineers , has prepared plans and designs of the new . Hall , and they are at present before Government for their approval . According to these plans it is arranged that the principal hall on the first floor shall be 60 feet long , 30 feet broad , and 27 feet high , and the banqueting hall , below it , is to be of

the same dimensions . The building will also contain commodious rooms for the holding of Chapters and other purposes , while a small dining-room is to be provided in close proximity to the large banqueting hall . The hall committee have estimated the cost for the construction of the hall and

providing furniture , & c , at about Es . 137 , 000 , a large portion of which will be raised by issuing debentures bearing interest at 4 per cent , per annum , and from subscriptions received from the various Lodges and members of the Craft . Lord Sandhurst has headed the list of subscriptions with a handsome donation , the

Hon . Mr . N . N . Wadia , CLE ., Khan Bahadur Byramjee Eajkotewalla , " A Parsee Brother , " and Mr . Jeejeebhoy Framjee Petit ( by way of perpetuating the name of his father , the late Mr . Framjee Petit ) , have subscribed Es . 1 , 000 each . The committee have decided to inscribe the names of donors giving

Masonic Temple For Bombay.

1 , 000 rupees and upwards on a tablet to be placed in a conspicuous part of the building , and it is hoped that many more members of the Craft will come forward to assist the scheme . The two Grand Lodges and the various Lodges working under their respective banners have subscribed most generously

towards the fund , Lodge Eising Sun having made the largestdonation . This Lodge has placed at the disposal of the committee a sum of about Es . 13 , 000 which they received from the late Mr . Nowrojee Cowasjee , and one of the Past Masters of the Lodge ,

and which is held by them in trust . The money , should the court allow the Lodge to part with it , has been given on the condition that the banquet hall of the new temple will be called after the name of Mr . Framjee Cowasjee—a condition imposed on the Lodge by the donor at the time he made the donation .

The hall committee have appointed a sub-committee of-the principal members of the Graft to look after the various details for the construction of the new temple . Two trustees have been appointed for the new building , the English Constitution to be represented by the Hon . Mr . N . N . Wadia , CLE ., and the

Scotch by Mr . Darasha E . Chichgar . As it has been decided to lay the foundation stone of the new building on the 21 st , the following gentlemen have been asked to form themselves into a committee to arrange the details of the ceremonial : —Messrs . G . O . Dunn , D . E . Chichgar , J . W . Hepworth , H . E . Hoyles , E . J .

Smith , and Captain C . D . Wise . The last named gentleman , who is the Grand Secretary of All Scottish Freemasonry in India , has issued a circular to the Lodges working under its constitution , in which he states that Lord Sandhurst Pro District Grand

Master of Bombay will be assisted by Mr . James W . Smith Grand Master of All Scottish Freemasonry in India , in laying the foundation stone of the new temple . The Grand Lodge will be opened at the Novelty Theatre punctually at 4 o ' clock , and all Master Masons , who are subscribing members of a Lodge , are

invited to attend . The Brethren who are not Officers of the ' Grand Lodge or District Grand Lodge , Bombay , will form up under the banners of their respective Lodges . Arrangements should be made by each Lodge to bring its own banner , which will be carried in procession from the Novelty Theatre . to the site of the new hall . — " Times of India . "

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GAIETY RESTAURANT , STZE ^ -A-IISriD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on lst floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter . Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from & till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( lst floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the Viennese Band performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7 * 45 . AMERICAN BAR . THE GRILL ROOM is open till 12-30 . PEIVATE DIKING E 00 MS F 0 K LAEGE AND SMALL PAETEGS . SE 1 EB . S AND lOBD , Ltd ., Proprietors .