Places Of Meeting

PLACES OF MEETING

WE fully recognise the propriety of the motion made and carried in the Whittington Lodge , No . 862 , on Monday evening , to the effect that Lodges should hold their meetings in buildings specially erected for Masonic purposes . Tor this reason is it we have noted , -with so much pleasure , the various schemes which have latterly

been proposed , and , in some cases , carried to a successful issue , for the erection of Masonic Halls or Temples . We readily concede that an hotel or a tavern is not the place for a Lodge to hold its assemblies . It is certainly not creditable that a Lodge should be driven to seek its home

at the Dun Cow , or the Pig and Bandbox ; and if the Lodge funds permit it , we think it desirable that appropriate premises should be obtained in some private building . And , as our Lodges rarely hold more than one meeting in the month , it appears to us that if a number of them , say

half a score , or a dozen , combined together and agreed to pay the rental amongst them , it would be quite possible to obtain the needful accommodation . Unfortunately , though all this seems plain sailing enough , there are several contingencies to be surmounted before a change so desirable

in all respects can be effected . Firstly , we must find the ten or dozen Lodges located sufficiently near to each other to make the use , in common , of one suite of rooms a matter of convenience . Then , having found a sufficient number of Lodges conveniently situated , we must next look for

the requisite accommodation , and this , we fear , it will not be possible , or at all events easy , to find , and especially in the metropolis . Overlooking , for the moment , certain essential desiderata , which our readers will well understand without our specifying

them more fully , there must certainly be experienced some difficulty in procuring premises large enough to accommodate say , thirty or forty members . Having , however , found the needful premises , there must then arise the question of rental , which is invariably reckoned at a high figure

where it is needed for some special purpose . An artist s studio , for instance , will always command a good price , and so a room where a Masonic Lodge might be conveniently held would doubtless be charged for at a high rate . We will , however , assume that the number of Lodges

conveniently situate near each other—that is , of course , whoso members for the most part reside in the same neighbourhood—have been found , and that the suitable premises for holding their assemblies have been obtained at something like a reasonable charge , the next question of

importance is , how and whence shall the Lodges obtain the needful provision for a dinner , sapper , or banquet , as tha caso may be . We are not of the number of those who attach supreme importance to the working of the fourth degree , but in Masonry we are presumed to practise towards one another

good fellowship . Among the means to this end which the wisdom of man has provided , even from the remotest ages of antiquity , none have proved themselves so successful as the quiet social gatherings at which people refresh themselves more or less formally , frugally , or elaborately .

When the members of a Lodge have assembled together from different districts , or in the case under consideration from different parts of the same district , and have carefully and conscientiousl y fulfilled the duties of the Lodge , it is

by no means unreasonable they should expect to have some refreshment—it may be even a banquet , in honour of some particular occasion , such as the installation of a new Master , or the presentation of a testimonial to some worthy

Places Of Meeting

brother . The question then arises —• where shall this needful refreshment bo had , in the Lodgo Room , or in a convenient room hard by ? If in tho former , it must be brought at additional expense , and this will doubtless be reckoned in calculating the rental to be paid ;

if in tho latter , the brethren will most likely require to be served in a room that is capable of being tyled as well as of holding a fair number of guests . Thus either two convenient rooms must be found in the same locality , and pretty close to each other , or the

Lodge premises must be settled near a respectable restaurateur , who will cater for the Lodges at moderate charges . Now , we ask our readers , Will our Lodges take the necessary steps to secure the execution of all the set plans and arrangements ? It is easy enough for our Lodges who

meet at Freemasons Hall to have their simple repast , or elaboratebanquet provided for them : all the necessary conveniences are at hand ; but it is impossible that all our Lodges should meet at the Hall . As a matter of fact , about onefifth of the London Lodges meet there , and we imagine

any very considerable increase in this number would not be possible . In the Metropolis space is valuable , and building ; costly , so that we do not see how all its Lodges are to bo accommodated , except recourse is had to taverns and hotels . We should very much like to see all our Lodges well and

privately housed , but we do not think this is possible under existing circumstances ; at all events , until a number of Masonic Halls have been erected in the Metropolis , and so located that each may accommodate the Lodges in a particular district or neighbourhood . Till then we must rub

along as best we can , contenting ourselves with such arrangements as hotel and tavern-keepers are willing to make for our convenience . The clay is far distant when the Freemasons of London will bring themselves to expend £ 300 , 000 in the erection and furnishing of a Masonic

Temple ; and even were this done to-morrow , we yet fail to see where the 250 Lodges , more or less , in the Metropolitan district , would find the requisite accommodation . In tho

provinces , the problem , Where shall our Lodges hold thoir meetings ? is far easier of solution , in many cases at least j but in London it is not so easy to secure the complete privacy which is so desirable .

An Error Of Judgment.

AN ERROR OF JUDGMENT .

( Communicated . ) THERE is one matter in connection with the proceedings of the Special Communication of Grand Lodge which , for some reason or other , has hitherto escaped notice . The Pro Grand Master , in moving the adoption of

the Report of tho Committee of which ho was Chairman , did so in his capacity of Chairman , and not as the President of Grand Lodge . This enabled his lordship to advocate the acceptance of the Report , and he did so very fully , not

only enlarging on the benefits of the Institution to whose funds it was proposed to contribute , but likewise anticipating any arguments which might be urged in favour of any other proposition , and notably of one on which it waa

believed that many brethren had set their minds . The Craft will think the Pro Grand Master was right in acting thus . What is the good of being Chairman of a Committee , taking

part m its deliberations , and concurring m—it may be at times even suggesting—tho proposal that is recommended , if , when the time for submitting it for final adoption arrives ,