Table Of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Inauguration of the Masonic Hall at Newcastle-on-Tyne . i ? i 1 listorical Notice of the St . Clairs of Rosslyn 332 Bro . Lessing and his Conversations 334 CORRESPONDENCE : Practical Freemasonry 335 Lodge Benevolent Funds 335

Grand Conclave 333 Grand Lodge 33 s Consecration of a Mark Lodge at Maryport 335 Freemasonry and lsraelitism 33 6 CRAFT MASONRY : — AI etropolitan jf : Provincial ! : 33 s

ROVAI . AIUII : — Provincial 33 K Scotland 338 MARK MASONRY : — Provincial 338 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR : — Provincial Grand Conclave of Suffolk 340

Scotland 340 ANCIENT AND ACCEI-TEII RITE : — Metropolitan 340 Consecration of a Lodge at Trinidad 341 Metropolitan 277 Consecration of St John ' s Chapter , Torquay 341 Masonic Meetings for next week 342 Advertisements 320 , , 4 , 0 , 54 :, 344

Opening Of The Masonic Hall At Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

OPENING OF THE MASONIC HALL AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE .

On Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., the ceremony ol dedicating this handsome new edifice was performed with great splendour , in the presence of a very large assemblage of brethren of the Province

and neighbourhood . 1 he loundation-stone was laid about nineteen months ago , but unavoidable delays arising from the strike in the building trade have retarded the completion of the

building . The hall is built of stone , the front being Gothic , of early treatment , deeply revealed , and symbolically carved in parts . It consists of two stories and basement , with outbuildings . In the

basement is a spacious banquettiiig hall , having a separate entrance from the street , Avith proper ante-rooms , lavatories , eVc , and a large kitchen , with cooking range , fitted up with the latest

improvements in tlie culinary art . I lie lodge room is on the lirst floor , approached by a flight of handsome stone steps , leading to a vestibule , on one side of which are more lavatories ,

on the other side the Tyler ' s room ; next thc Tyler ' s room is the preparing room , with a cloot into the lodge room , and beyond that is a room lilted up Avith wardrobes and cupboards for tlie

safe keeping ol the jewels and clothing of tlie Lodge , Chapters , and Encampment of Knights Templar . On the second floor is a very elegant club room , Avith carved ceiling , and above that is

the Tyler ' s dwelling rooms , Ike . The size ofthe lodge , room is 46 feet by 24 feet , and 21 feet high 11 the clear . The ceiling is formed of wrought and moulded braces and ribs , the whole being decorated with Masonic emblems in a beautiful

manner . At the east end of the hall the dais is situated , over which has been erected a very beautiful carved wood screen , painted to represent caen stone and marble pillars , in canopied

compartments extending from the north to the south walls , this is a novel feature in Masonic architecture , and has been erected to support a very handsome stained glass window , consisting

ol Masonic figures anil emblems , expressly designed , not only as a means of decoration , but as displaying a series of subjects of a highly

moral and instructive character , visible in thc Ulterior of the lodge room at ni ght time as an elaborate transparency , illuminated by means ol gus light , reflected from behkid the screen . The

Opening Of The Masonic Hall At Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

architectural arrangement of the Avindows in the cast gable having been strictly carried out in the screen , also renders the windows attractive during daylight as an excellent specimen of

stained glass , consisting of four principal lancetheaded compartments , arranged as a twin lancet on each side of the beautiful crocketed canopy , forming the central portion of the screen above

the Master ' s chair , which is pierced with suitable trnceried forms , and filled with . stained glass illustrations in the following order , viz .: —In the quartre foil at the apex is represented the

Allseeing Eye within a halo of light , and surrounded by a circle significant of eternity . In the medallion below this , is a star of brilliant cut glass on an azure ground , and the aperture under the star

displays the Masonic arms , motto , and supporters , appropriately executed on glass . The four li ghts consist of large figures Avithin elliptical forms or niches , with richly coloured

medallion emblems above and below , interlaced with suitable foliage ornamentations on a delicately tinted ground . The first figure depicts Hiram Abilf , Architect of the Temple , taking

dimensions from a p lan : the second figure is a representation of King Solomon , supporting a mode ) of the Temple of Jerusalem ; the third illustrates a majestic figure of Hiram , King of Tyre ,

bearing in his right hand the sceptre of power ; and the fourth depicts a venerable figure of Moses holding in one hand the Tables of the Ten

Commandments , towards Avhich he points . The medallion emblems in the apex ofthe four lig hts are the terrestrial and celestial g lobes , and the sun and moon : below these are the emblems of

Truth , Justice , Peace , and Industry ; and in the base below the figures are symbolical illustrations of Faith , Hope , Charity , Brotherly Love , and Unity . Devices of a similar nature occupy

positions in pierced trefoils , comprising the tracery surmounting the lights . The whole of the furniture , desks , and pedestals , are carved oak , of Gothic design , in strict harmony with the

period of the building , and have been most artistically designed and executed , each chair and pedestal being a stud ) - in itself . The panels of the pedestals and desks are tilled with plate

glass , most effectively emblazoned wilh Masonic insignia , and the armorial bearings of the donors , viz ., Earl Percy , Earl of Durham , and Geo . Elliot Esq ., M . P ., while the chairs on the dais have carved on a shield on the back the crests of the

donors of the chairs , amongst Avhom is the Earl of Zetland . The . dedication ceremony Avas appointed to commence at three o ' clock , and long befoie that

hour the spacious hall was crowded with brethren . It had been expected thai , the Right Hon . Earl Percy , Pro \ . G . M . of Northumberland , would have been present , to preside , lull

indisposition prevented him from taking part in the proceedings . In his absence L . M . Cockcroft , Esq ., D . Prov . G . M . of Northumberland , occupied the chair , aud performed the ceremony

of dedication in a most suitable and satisfactory manner . Shortly after three o ' clock the Provincial Grand Officers entered the Lodge . Room in

procession , when they were received bv the brethren according to ancient custom , and a gram ! march was performed on the organ . The D , Prov . Grand Master , who occupied the chair ,

Opening Of The Masonic Hall At Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

was supported by Lord James Murray , Representative of the Grand Lod ge of Scotland to the Grand Lodge of England , and the folIoAving brethren :

Bros . B . J . Thompson , Prov . G . Sec , acting as D . P . G . M . ; W . Houlsham , Prov . G . Reg . ; Rev . AV . Greenwell , Prov . G . Chap . ; Hubert Laws , Prov . G . S . D . ; A . Clapham , P . Prov .

G . S . W . ; J . I topper , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; Thos . Anderson , Prov . G . Treas . ; J . H . Thompson , P . Prov . G . D . C . ; George Thompson , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; II . Hotham , P . Prov . G . S . W ., & c ., & c .

There were also present Bros . W . Dagget , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; J . A . Hair , P . G . J . W . ; Addison L . Potter , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; E . D . Davies , P . G . D . C , : I . de Hart , Prov . G . Asst .

D . C . ; R . Smaile , I ' rov . G . Purst . ; J . S . Trotter , Prov . G . T yler ; G . R . Brewis , AV . S . Hughes , J . II . Bentham , E . P . Sherwood , R . T . Brown , and Joseph Cook , Prov . G . Stewards , also Bros .

J . Edininson , AV . M . 24 ; T . S . Wraith , AV . M ., and Jonathan Cook , P . M . 424 ; Rev , J . Featherstone , I ' . M . of 4 3 j , St . Georges Lodge

P . Prov . G . C , ; J . T . Hoyle , P . M . ; AV . E . Franklin , P . M ., and a large gathering of the members of Nos . 406 , ( Northern Counties Lotige ) , and 4 S 1 ( Si . Peter ' s Lodge ) , which hold

their meetings in the new hall , including Bros . AV . S . Hughes , AV . M .: E . 11 . Grey , S . W , ; T . Everett , J . W . of 406 ; II . J . Ludwig , P . M . 406 ; J . F . Frolich , P . M . 406 ; and J . Straker AVilson ,

AV . M . 4 81 ; AV . AV . Smith , P . M . 481 , J . D . Storey , Shafto Robson , J . Spearman , J . Oliver , S . D . ; John Atkinson , J . D . 481 ; Captain Hunt

and Charles Perkins , of Lambton Lodge . Bro . B . J . Thompson , as the Representative , of the D . P . G . M ., addressed the acting P . G . M . upon the object of the meeting .

The Prov . G . Supt . of AVks . then presented the planstothe representative of the Prov . G . M ., to which the Prov . G . M . replied , and requested the brethren to assist him in opening the Lodge .

l'he Lodge was opened in due form , when the following prayer was tillered up the Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . AV . Greenwell .-" Almighty and Eternal God , Great Architect

and Ruler ol' the Universe , deign from Thy Celestial Temple , from Realms of Li ght and Glory , io bless us in all the purposes of our present Assembly . Wc humbly invoke Thee to

give us at this and all times , wisdom in all our doings , strength of mind in all our difficulties , and the beauty of harmony in all our communications . Permit us , Thou Author of Lig ht and

Liie , Great Source of love and happiness , solemnl y to dedicate tliis Hall to Thy Honour and Glory . Finally , may we finish all our works

here below with Thine approbation , may AVC then have our transition from ( his earthly abode to Th y Heavenl y Temple above , thereto enjoy Light , Glory , and Bliss ineliiible .

The' following Anthem was then sung by a most efficient choir , under the superintendance , of Bro . Richard AVatsoii , P . Prov . G . O ., who also composed almost the whole of the music used at the ceremony .

AX Till-. . VI . Behold ! how pleasant and how good . For Brethren such as we , Of the Accepted Brotherhood , To dwell in unity .