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Article DEDICATION of the NEW MASONIC HALL AT BRISTOL. Page 1 of 2 Article DEDICATION of the NEW MASONIC HALL AT BRISTOL. Page 1 of 2 Article DEDICATION of the NEW MASONIC HALL AT BRISTOL. Page 1 of 2 →
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Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Bristol.
DEDICATION of the NEW MASONIC HALL AT BRISTOL .
The new Masonic Hall at Bristol was dedicated on Friday , the 2 nd instant . Amongst those present were Earl Limerick , Grand Master of the province of Bristol , Lord Elliott , and other well-known
members of the Craft . It may not be amiss to preface our account of the proceedings with a few facts relative to the history of Freemasons in that ancient city , and a description of the handsome structure which has
now been dedicated . The connecting link between ancient and modern Masonry in Bristol is not easily traceable , and we must , therefore , content ourselves by stating that , so far as we can ascertain , some
of the lodges at present in existence owe their origin to charters granted by the Grand Lodge of London , which dates from 1717 , and of which the Duke of Cumberland and George IV . ( when Prince of Wales ) were successively Grand
Masters . In 1813 the Grand Lodges of London and York were amalgamated , under the title of the " United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England / ' with the Duke of Sussex as Grand Master . The Earl of
Zetland succeeded the Duke of Sussex in 1830 , and held the office until a year or two since , when he resigned , and the present Grand Master , the Marquis of Ripon , was elected . There are six regular lodges in what is known as the province
of Bristol—viz ., the Royal Clarence , No . 68 ; the Beaufort , No . 103 ; the Royal Sussex , No . 187 : the Moira , No . 326 ; the Colston , No . 610 ; and the Jerusalem , No . 6 S 6 . Attached to the Clarence , Beaufort , and Sussex are Royal
Arch Chapters , and there is also a Canynges Lodge of Mark Masters , Conclaves of Knights , & c . Each lodge is governed by a Master , who is elected annually , and all are subject to the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the
Provincial Grand Master being the Earl of Limerick , and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . A . F . Powell . What transpires in the various lodges is known only to the members of the Craft : but we have evidence that the
Masons of the present day , like their " ancient brethren , " are not indifferent to their duties , when either the promotion , preservation , or restoration of public buildings is concerned , inasmuch as they have left their impress on such
edifices as the Guildhall in Broad-street , the Horfield Barracks , Redcliff Church , the Cathedral , & c . The foundation stone of the Guildhall was laid with Masonic forms in 1 S 42 , that of the Barracks at Horfield in 1 S 44 , Redclifl
Church restoration in 18 4 6 , and the corner-stone of the west nave of the Cathedral in 1870 . The ceremonial at Horfield Barracks was made a very attractive spectacle , as it was a combined display of Masonic , military , and municipal
gentlemen . The Freemasons of Bristol and other places attended in great force , and with full regalia took part in the procession . It is Redcliff Church , which Queen Elizabeth declared to be " one of the most famous ,
absolute , fairest , and goodliest parish churches within the realm of England , " that the Freemasons of Bristol have chiefly identified themselves of late years . On the 21 st of April , 18 4 6 , they assisted in laying the first stone of the new
work in connection with the restoration of that noble structure . A local paper says the laying of the restoration stone was performed by the Woishipful the Mayor , Mr . J . K . Haberfield ( who was subsequently knighted ) , and that the
Freemasons of the city and neighbourhood attended with all their imposing paraphernalia . The Mayor laid the stone , but the D . P . G . M ., Bro . W . 1 ) . Bushell , applied the rule and level to ascertain that it was properly fixed , and after other Masonic forms had been gone through
made an effective speech , in which he wished every success to the undertaking . The good wishes expressed by the D . P . G . M . in 1846 , may be said to be all but realised in 1872 , and the Masonic Fraternity may congratulate themselves in the fact that both individually and in their corporate capacity they have
Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Bristol.
had no small share m producing so satisfactory a result . There is every reason to believe that Nil Dcspcrandiun , who , at a cost of ^ 2 , 534 Ss . 8 d ., restored the handsome North Porch , was a distinguished member of the Craft At al ! events the Craft was represented by the D . P . G . M . Bro .
W . Powell ( who succeeded Bro . W . D . Bushell ) on the laying of the first stone of the Porch on the 24 th November , 1848 ; and until his death in March , 1 S 54 , Bro . Powell proved himself a most zealous coadjutor in the restoration of the church , at which he had been a constant
attendant for forty years . In 1853 it was announced that the Misses Powell had collected subscriptions , amounting to nearly , £ 200 , towards the " Ladies' Window" in the south transept , anil , as a memorial to Bro . Powell , his family filled in the south-west window of the same transept with
a design 111 stained glass . Another member of the Craft , Bro . Sholto Vere Hare kindly intimated in 1857 that , on the restoration of the west window , he would present stained glass to fill it of a design to be approved by the committee . This work was subsequently accomplished , and
by the removal of the organ the west window was thrown open to the nave . The present D . P . G . M . Bro . W . A . F . Powell has also taken great interest in the restoration of Redcliff Church . He is a past president and one of the members of the Canynge ' s Society , and was president of the
Commercial Society , by whom the South Porch was restored , and it was on his suggestion that the several lodges in Bristol determined on completing the restoration of " The Ladye Chapel , " which a committee of ladies had been obliged to abandon for want of funds . The Freemasons
had previously restored the north-east corner 01 the chapel , and they completed their work in 1 S 70 hy laying down an encaustic pavement , and decorating the roof in a style unsurpassed in any building in the West of England . On the 21 st
of April , 1870 , the members of the Craft attended Divine Service at Redcliff , and on its conclusion proceeded to the Ladye Chapel , where an address beautifully illuminated , was read by the Provincial Grand Registrar .
I he Earl of Limerick , P . U . M ., presented the address to the Vicar ( the Rev . Canon Randall ) , who acknowledged the work done by the Freemasons , as did also by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol .
At one time the Freemasons had two places of meeting in Bristol , viz . : in Bridge-street and Broad-street , but for several years past all the lodges have assembled at the Masonic-hall in Bridge-street The rapid increase in the Craft , and the gradual residental exodus to the suburbs ,
has long forced on the attention of the Governors of the hall the necessity of providing a new hall . Park-row was at first fixed upon as a site in that locality actually secured on which to erect a building for the use of the Craft . Just at that time , however , the Philosophical Institution in
Park-street , was placed in the market , owing to the completion of the New Museum in Qucen ' sroad , and on examination it was found so well adapted to the requirements of the Craft that it was purchased , and the site in Park-row abandoned .
As soon as the Philosophical Institution was vacated , it was taken in hand by a sub-committee , and under the general superintendence of Bro . J . A . Clark , P . G . A ., has been transformed into one of the most handsome and commodious
Masonic-halls in the provinces . At present the Freemasons only occupy the vestibule and reception room adjoining , and the rooms on the first floor . The basement , the late library and reading room and lecture room , it is proposed to let off until the Craft are in a position to occupy
this part of the building themselves as club rooms , ( Src . The ceiling of the lofty straircase , leading from the vestibule , is enriched with the fine paintings of the four cardinal virtues —• Justice , Fortitude , Temperance , and Prudence . These paintings , which were executed by Bird , R . A ., adorned the ceiling of the old hall in
Bridge-street . The ceiling is also decorated with buff , gold , and green , relieved with vermilion and amber tint . The compasses and square occupy the angles , with a five-pointed star in gold at the external angle . The walls are painted a sharp claret colour . In the vestibule the ceiling is painted buff , relieved with colour , and gray
Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Bristol.
granite walls . Figures are to be inserted in the several niches , and emblems in the sunk panels over the doors . The walls of the reception room are painted sage colour , and the ceiling a warm
gray , with cornice and mouldings , relieved with crimson and gold . The door is grained on the outside , and on the inside painted so as to harmonise with the general character of the room .
The lodge-room , lately the museum room of the institution , has been painted throughout . The walls are stencilled in oil , with an Egyptian design , modified somewhat and enriched by Moorish characters , relieved with leaf of gold ,
and having a gold bordering in the Grecian key pattern . Beneath this is a casing of pitch pine , stained and ornamented , forming the back of stalls down each side of the room , for the brethren . Each stall has a couple of small panels
m it , relieved with blue . These seats are on a dais , and approached by three steps , painted gray and marble . The dais at the eastern extremity of the hall , will be occupied by the officers ' seats , and is handsomely tesselated . Over the
Master ' s chair is a shell-shaped canopy , gilded and decorated in colours . The cove tinder the gallery , which extends right round the hall , is diapered in white and gold , and enriched with stars , a rope moulding running round the face of
the gallery ; while the railings are painted white and picked out with gold . Above the gallery at the end of the hall hangs a large portrait of the Duke of Sussex , late Grand Master of the Order in England . There are also hung upon the walls
heavily-framed portraits of Bros . Richard Smith , F . C . Husenbeth , and W . Powell , late P . D . G . M . ' s of the Province . The western extremity of the hall is occupied by the organ , standing on a platform . It is surmounted by the
crown and cushion , richly gilt ; in the centre is a clock , and the show pipes are plain gilt . The ceiling , from which hangs five gas sun-lights , has eight panels richly painted with emblems of the different Masonic degrees : and the skylight in
the centre is decorated with the well-known emblems of the Craft , the compasses and square . The doors of the lodge are painted uniformly white and gray , the panels bearing devices richly painted and gilt . A handsome Brussels
carpet covers the lloor , bearing the Craft emblems worked in brilliant colours , with a border pertaining to the Royal Arch degree . Adjoining the lodge is a chapter-room , a small but handsome apartment , the walls of which are painted
of a delicate salmon colour , the cornice and mouldings being handsomely gilt . A canopy , draped , for the Grand . Master or his deputy , stands in front of the centre window , which has been darkened , and the panels of the door
contain the jewels of the different degrees . This room is illuminated by means of a sun-light . At the other end of the lodge , on the opposite side , is what is called " the preparing room , " in which neophytes are prepared for initiation .
'Pile walls of this apartment are painted a warm gray , and the door is done in deep marone , relieved with crimson mouldings , and panels of deep chrome . A polished oak gallery runs round the room , the railings of which are white ,
picked out with gold . The skirting is painted marone colour , to match the door , the ceiling being of pure white , and there are four gas brandies projecting from the walls . We may add that Mr . Diluent , builder of St . lames ' s-
square , has carried out the whole of the work , with the exception of the carpentering , which has been executed by Mr . Eastabrook , of Stapletonroad , and the gas-fittings by Mr . Hunter , of Durdham-down . Mr . Vowles , of St . James ' ssquare , has repaired and fitted up the organ .
The new hall described above was dedicated by the Right Hon . the Earl of Limerick , G . M . of the province , assisted by the D . P . G . M ., the members of theCrand Lodge , and several distinguished brethren of the Craft from all parts of the kingdom .
Amongst those present we observed Lord Elliott , Col . Adair , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , Grand Chaplain , & c . The brethren assembled at " hig h twelve " in large numbers . It was intended that the ceremony should commence at one o ' clock p . m ., but , in con-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Bristol.
DEDICATION of the NEW MASONIC HALL AT BRISTOL .
The new Masonic Hall at Bristol was dedicated on Friday , the 2 nd instant . Amongst those present were Earl Limerick , Grand Master of the province of Bristol , Lord Elliott , and other well-known
members of the Craft . It may not be amiss to preface our account of the proceedings with a few facts relative to the history of Freemasons in that ancient city , and a description of the handsome structure which has
now been dedicated . The connecting link between ancient and modern Masonry in Bristol is not easily traceable , and we must , therefore , content ourselves by stating that , so far as we can ascertain , some
of the lodges at present in existence owe their origin to charters granted by the Grand Lodge of London , which dates from 1717 , and of which the Duke of Cumberland and George IV . ( when Prince of Wales ) were successively Grand
Masters . In 1813 the Grand Lodges of London and York were amalgamated , under the title of the " United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England / ' with the Duke of Sussex as Grand Master . The Earl of
Zetland succeeded the Duke of Sussex in 1830 , and held the office until a year or two since , when he resigned , and the present Grand Master , the Marquis of Ripon , was elected . There are six regular lodges in what is known as the province
of Bristol—viz ., the Royal Clarence , No . 68 ; the Beaufort , No . 103 ; the Royal Sussex , No . 187 : the Moira , No . 326 ; the Colston , No . 610 ; and the Jerusalem , No . 6 S 6 . Attached to the Clarence , Beaufort , and Sussex are Royal
Arch Chapters , and there is also a Canynges Lodge of Mark Masters , Conclaves of Knights , & c . Each lodge is governed by a Master , who is elected annually , and all are subject to the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the
Provincial Grand Master being the Earl of Limerick , and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . A . F . Powell . What transpires in the various lodges is known only to the members of the Craft : but we have evidence that the
Masons of the present day , like their " ancient brethren , " are not indifferent to their duties , when either the promotion , preservation , or restoration of public buildings is concerned , inasmuch as they have left their impress on such
edifices as the Guildhall in Broad-street , the Horfield Barracks , Redcliff Church , the Cathedral , & c . The foundation stone of the Guildhall was laid with Masonic forms in 1 S 42 , that of the Barracks at Horfield in 1 S 44 , Redclifl
Church restoration in 18 4 6 , and the corner-stone of the west nave of the Cathedral in 1870 . The ceremonial at Horfield Barracks was made a very attractive spectacle , as it was a combined display of Masonic , military , and municipal
gentlemen . The Freemasons of Bristol and other places attended in great force , and with full regalia took part in the procession . It is Redcliff Church , which Queen Elizabeth declared to be " one of the most famous ,
absolute , fairest , and goodliest parish churches within the realm of England , " that the Freemasons of Bristol have chiefly identified themselves of late years . On the 21 st of April , 18 4 6 , they assisted in laying the first stone of the new
work in connection with the restoration of that noble structure . A local paper says the laying of the restoration stone was performed by the Woishipful the Mayor , Mr . J . K . Haberfield ( who was subsequently knighted ) , and that the
Freemasons of the city and neighbourhood attended with all their imposing paraphernalia . The Mayor laid the stone , but the D . P . G . M ., Bro . W . 1 ) . Bushell , applied the rule and level to ascertain that it was properly fixed , and after other Masonic forms had been gone through
made an effective speech , in which he wished every success to the undertaking . The good wishes expressed by the D . P . G . M . in 1846 , may be said to be all but realised in 1872 , and the Masonic Fraternity may congratulate themselves in the fact that both individually and in their corporate capacity they have
Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Bristol.
had no small share m producing so satisfactory a result . There is every reason to believe that Nil Dcspcrandiun , who , at a cost of ^ 2 , 534 Ss . 8 d ., restored the handsome North Porch , was a distinguished member of the Craft At al ! events the Craft was represented by the D . P . G . M . Bro .
W . Powell ( who succeeded Bro . W . D . Bushell ) on the laying of the first stone of the Porch on the 24 th November , 1848 ; and until his death in March , 1 S 54 , Bro . Powell proved himself a most zealous coadjutor in the restoration of the church , at which he had been a constant
attendant for forty years . In 1853 it was announced that the Misses Powell had collected subscriptions , amounting to nearly , £ 200 , towards the " Ladies' Window" in the south transept , anil , as a memorial to Bro . Powell , his family filled in the south-west window of the same transept with
a design 111 stained glass . Another member of the Craft , Bro . Sholto Vere Hare kindly intimated in 1857 that , on the restoration of the west window , he would present stained glass to fill it of a design to be approved by the committee . This work was subsequently accomplished , and
by the removal of the organ the west window was thrown open to the nave . The present D . P . G . M . Bro . W . A . F . Powell has also taken great interest in the restoration of Redcliff Church . He is a past president and one of the members of the Canynge ' s Society , and was president of the
Commercial Society , by whom the South Porch was restored , and it was on his suggestion that the several lodges in Bristol determined on completing the restoration of " The Ladye Chapel , " which a committee of ladies had been obliged to abandon for want of funds . The Freemasons
had previously restored the north-east corner 01 the chapel , and they completed their work in 1 S 70 hy laying down an encaustic pavement , and decorating the roof in a style unsurpassed in any building in the West of England . On the 21 st
of April , 1870 , the members of the Craft attended Divine Service at Redcliff , and on its conclusion proceeded to the Ladye Chapel , where an address beautifully illuminated , was read by the Provincial Grand Registrar .
I he Earl of Limerick , P . U . M ., presented the address to the Vicar ( the Rev . Canon Randall ) , who acknowledged the work done by the Freemasons , as did also by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol .
At one time the Freemasons had two places of meeting in Bristol , viz . : in Bridge-street and Broad-street , but for several years past all the lodges have assembled at the Masonic-hall in Bridge-street The rapid increase in the Craft , and the gradual residental exodus to the suburbs ,
has long forced on the attention of the Governors of the hall the necessity of providing a new hall . Park-row was at first fixed upon as a site in that locality actually secured on which to erect a building for the use of the Craft . Just at that time , however , the Philosophical Institution in
Park-street , was placed in the market , owing to the completion of the New Museum in Qucen ' sroad , and on examination it was found so well adapted to the requirements of the Craft that it was purchased , and the site in Park-row abandoned .
As soon as the Philosophical Institution was vacated , it was taken in hand by a sub-committee , and under the general superintendence of Bro . J . A . Clark , P . G . A ., has been transformed into one of the most handsome and commodious
Masonic-halls in the provinces . At present the Freemasons only occupy the vestibule and reception room adjoining , and the rooms on the first floor . The basement , the late library and reading room and lecture room , it is proposed to let off until the Craft are in a position to occupy
this part of the building themselves as club rooms , ( Src . The ceiling of the lofty straircase , leading from the vestibule , is enriched with the fine paintings of the four cardinal virtues —• Justice , Fortitude , Temperance , and Prudence . These paintings , which were executed by Bird , R . A ., adorned the ceiling of the old hall in
Bridge-street . The ceiling is also decorated with buff , gold , and green , relieved with vermilion and amber tint . The compasses and square occupy the angles , with a five-pointed star in gold at the external angle . The walls are painted a sharp claret colour . In the vestibule the ceiling is painted buff , relieved with colour , and gray
Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Bristol.
granite walls . Figures are to be inserted in the several niches , and emblems in the sunk panels over the doors . The walls of the reception room are painted sage colour , and the ceiling a warm
gray , with cornice and mouldings , relieved with crimson and gold . The door is grained on the outside , and on the inside painted so as to harmonise with the general character of the room .
The lodge-room , lately the museum room of the institution , has been painted throughout . The walls are stencilled in oil , with an Egyptian design , modified somewhat and enriched by Moorish characters , relieved with leaf of gold ,
and having a gold bordering in the Grecian key pattern . Beneath this is a casing of pitch pine , stained and ornamented , forming the back of stalls down each side of the room , for the brethren . Each stall has a couple of small panels
m it , relieved with blue . These seats are on a dais , and approached by three steps , painted gray and marble . The dais at the eastern extremity of the hall , will be occupied by the officers ' seats , and is handsomely tesselated . Over the
Master ' s chair is a shell-shaped canopy , gilded and decorated in colours . The cove tinder the gallery , which extends right round the hall , is diapered in white and gold , and enriched with stars , a rope moulding running round the face of
the gallery ; while the railings are painted white and picked out with gold . Above the gallery at the end of the hall hangs a large portrait of the Duke of Sussex , late Grand Master of the Order in England . There are also hung upon the walls
heavily-framed portraits of Bros . Richard Smith , F . C . Husenbeth , and W . Powell , late P . D . G . M . ' s of the Province . The western extremity of the hall is occupied by the organ , standing on a platform . It is surmounted by the
crown and cushion , richly gilt ; in the centre is a clock , and the show pipes are plain gilt . The ceiling , from which hangs five gas sun-lights , has eight panels richly painted with emblems of the different Masonic degrees : and the skylight in
the centre is decorated with the well-known emblems of the Craft , the compasses and square . The doors of the lodge are painted uniformly white and gray , the panels bearing devices richly painted and gilt . A handsome Brussels
carpet covers the lloor , bearing the Craft emblems worked in brilliant colours , with a border pertaining to the Royal Arch degree . Adjoining the lodge is a chapter-room , a small but handsome apartment , the walls of which are painted
of a delicate salmon colour , the cornice and mouldings being handsomely gilt . A canopy , draped , for the Grand . Master or his deputy , stands in front of the centre window , which has been darkened , and the panels of the door
contain the jewels of the different degrees . This room is illuminated by means of a sun-light . At the other end of the lodge , on the opposite side , is what is called " the preparing room , " in which neophytes are prepared for initiation .
'Pile walls of this apartment are painted a warm gray , and the door is done in deep marone , relieved with crimson mouldings , and panels of deep chrome . A polished oak gallery runs round the room , the railings of which are white ,
picked out with gold . The skirting is painted marone colour , to match the door , the ceiling being of pure white , and there are four gas brandies projecting from the walls . We may add that Mr . Diluent , builder of St . lames ' s-
square , has carried out the whole of the work , with the exception of the carpentering , which has been executed by Mr . Eastabrook , of Stapletonroad , and the gas-fittings by Mr . Hunter , of Durdham-down . Mr . Vowles , of St . James ' ssquare , has repaired and fitted up the organ .
The new hall described above was dedicated by the Right Hon . the Earl of Limerick , G . M . of the province , assisted by the D . P . G . M ., the members of theCrand Lodge , and several distinguished brethren of the Craft from all parts of the kingdom .
Amongst those present we observed Lord Elliott , Col . Adair , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , Grand Chaplain , & c . The brethren assembled at " hig h twelve " in large numbers . It was intended that the ceremony should commence at one o ' clock p . m ., but , in con-