Quarterly Court Op The Boys' School.

39 Hildred , Benjamin Meeds 81 86 167 57 Besly , James Campbell 161 161 53 Warner , Arthur 157 157 43 Gishford , William Taylor 117 147 38 Habgoorl , William Ernest 25 103 12 S 59 Canty , William George 127 127 10 Douglas , Francis C A 7 104 HI 47 Jarvis , Henry Maurice 111 HI

7 Cumming 8 , Charles Brown 106 4 no 50 Gore , James Ambrose 86 86 51 Bailey , John Augustus M 81 SI 44 Barber , Christopher W G 77 77 26 Longman , Frederick W 28 9 37 34 Graves , Harry Robert 5 20 25 28 Green , James Murray 4 12 16 * 9 Bell , Frank William 5 9 14 * 45 Westlake . Thomas Perov 13 13

24 Mitchell , Reginald A L 8 8 64 Gibson , Stanley Watts 8 8 49 Allan , John Sinclair B 5 5 62 Anderson , Ernest Harold 3 3 37 Davis , Frederick Teilo 2 2 46 Lyon , William Beresford ( withdrawn ) 2 2 41 Crutohett , Albert Edmund 1 1 42 Simmons , George John ( withdrawn )

The Grand Lodge Temple.

THE GRAND LODGE TEMPLE .

IT appears that the proposed re-building of a portion of the Grand Lodge property will necessitate the entire obliteration of that grand old hall which has been the pride of the English Craft for upwards of a century , and the scene of the most important events in the history of

English Masonry , and , as doubtless many of our readers may never have had the privilege of viewing its noble proportions and beautiful and appropriate decorations , it may not be considered out of place to reprint the following description of the old hall in its earlier days , which we extract from " Preston ' s Illustrations of Masonry " : —

The hall is as elegant and highly finished a room as the metropolis can show . The entrance into it is from the committee room , through a small gallery , on the right of which is a commodious flight of steps leading to the undercroft , or ground apartments , and on tbe left a small room appropriated for the reception of wines on grand festivals ;

above this is a large music gallery , capable of containing three hundred spectators , exclusive of the band of music , supported by pillars and pilasters of the composite order . The length of this building , within tho walls , is 92 feet ; it is 43 feet broad , and upwards of 60 feet high . At the Upper end of the hall there is a place allotted

for the Grand Officers and their attendants , when tho Grand Lodge meets , which takes np about one-fourth of the whole length , and which is higher than the rest by two steps ; at the extremity of which is a very beautiful alcove of a semi-circular form , in which is fixed a fine organ . On the right and left of this elevated place are

two galleries , supported by beautiful fluted pillars of the Corinthian order , either for mnsic , or to admit ladies to the sight of such ceremonies as the Jaws of the Society will permit . The remaining part of the hall is for the use of the Grand Stewards and brethren in general , when tbe Grand Lodge assembles . The pilasters on each

side of the hall are fluted , and otherwise most beautifully decorated . Between these pilasters are places appropriated for the reception of full-length paintings of the Grand Masters , & o . Those at present fixed are the Prince of Wales , the Earl of Moira , the late Dukes of Cumberland and Manchester , and the late Lord Petre . Above them

are places for suoh historical paintings as have some affinity to the royal art , or are expressive of the virtues of Freemasonry . All the other ^ intermediate spaces are elegantly decorated with the most beautiful emblematical , symbolical , and hieroglyphical figures , and representations of the mysteries of the royal art .

Round the top of the side walls rnns a small balustrade , or rather a kind of ornamented iron palisade , capable of holding a vast number of spectators , above whioh a number of semicircular windows are placed , so contrived as to open and shut with the greatest ease and facility , to let in fresh air as often as may be required .

The roof of this magnificent hall is , in all probability , the highest nnished piece of workmanship in Europe , having gained universal applause from all beholders , and has raised the character of the architect beyond expression . In the centre of this roof a most splendid sun is represented , in burnished gold , surrounded by the twelve signs

W the Zodiac , with their respective characters . Whenever the Grand Lod ge assembles , this hall is further ornamented with five brilliant and rich cot glass chandeliers , the most magnificent of which hangs over that part of the hall allotted to the Grand Officers ; the other 'our are distributed in pairs at eqnal distances . These lustres , with a sufficient number of sconces , in which only wax lights barn , illuminate the hall with a great brilliancy .

Masonry In War Time.

MASONRY IN WAR TIME .

A CURIOUS Masonic incident is related by Bro . Charles Dn Val , in his work entitled " With a Show through Southern Africa , " as having occurred in Pretoria , whilo beleaguered by the Boars during the late war in the Transvaal . The writer says : — A meeting of Freemasons was hold towards tho end of January ,

and under circumstances so entirely novel that it may bo worth while to recount them . In the first place the members of tho Craft had to obtain permission from their varions Commanding Officers or respective Ward Masters , to attend the meeting . These passes , countersigned by the Garrison Adjutant , were granted at the bearer ' s

own risk—tho Masonic Hall of tho town of Pretoria being tho place of assembly . Slightly at variance with the motto of tho brethren — " Peace , Love , and Harmony "—was their appearance , clad in the various costumes of war , many carrying their rifles and bandoliers ; a group of horses standing ontside the Hall , while tho Master and

Officers of the Lodge went through the various rites of the ancient Craft in an apartment through which the breezes freely blew , entering a line of loopholes knooked out of the wall at the one side to escape by a similar set at the other—possiblv the most novel

system of ventilation that ever admitted the fresh air to participate in the mystic ceremonies of tho Free and Accepted ones , in either South Africa , or wherever else the maul has resounded or tho compasses been extended in open Lodge .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE LATE FIRE AT FREEMASONS * HALL .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read with interest the letter of Bro . Sadler in reference to the destruction of the portraits of the former eminent Masons , which formerly adorned the walls of the Masonio Temple , and which were entirely destroyed at the calamitous fire that occurred in the early part of this year . Bro . Sadler , in his

communication , observes that it was with regret he stated there were neither copies nor engravings of the lost pictures . I presume he has the authority of the Grand Secretary for making this statement . He enumerates the titles of these Masonio dignitaries , with whose fnll-length portraits every member of Grand Lodge was familiar , and suggests that some readers of the

FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE may be fortunate in the possession of some engraved or other reminiscences of those illustrious Masons -whose portraits have been irretrievably lost in the fire which destroyed the Masonic Temple in common with the beautiful and elaborate decorations which enriched its ceiling and walls . I am happy to say that I am in possession of a large engraved portrait of the Earl of Moira ,

Acting Grand Master to the former Prince of Wales ( the late George the Fourth ) , who occupied that position from 1790 to 1813 , and to whom the Craft voted a jewel of the value of £ 1000 on his quitting the Grand Lodge to assume the dignified position of Governor General of India . The portrait from which the engraving was taken was painted by Bro . J . Hopner , of the Royal Academy , and not by Sir

Joshua Reynolds , as Bro . Sadler supposes . It is a beautiful line engraving , drawn from the original by Bartolozzi , and engraved by Henry Latidseer . The noble Earl is represented as seated in the same ohair as that now occupied by the Grand Master during the meetings of the Grand Lodge , but which for so many years was unknown to many of members of the Lodge , having been

stowed away with many other things as lumber in the cellars of the tavern , and only brought to light at the building of the new hall attached to the tavern . The portrait is dedicated by permission to his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales , and the Right Hon . Francis Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons . The portrait is in fine preservation , and has been in my possession for many

years . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Tours truly and fraternally , H . THOMPSON , P . M . 177 , 1158 , and P . Z . 619 .

Brother W ; W . Morgan , S . W . 211 , will deliver his Lectnre " The Masonic Institutions ; their Establishment and Development , " at the St . Luke ' s Lodge of Instruction ,

No . 144 , at the White . Hart , 49 Kings Road , Chelsea , on Friday , the 26 th instant . Lodge will be opened at 7 . 30 . Brethren are invited to attend .

At a meeting of the United Brothers' Lodge , No . 1069 i held on Monday evening last , at the Grosvenor Hotel , Southsea , Brother C . J . E . Mumby was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year .