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Article UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL AT FREEMASON'S HALL. Page 1 of 2 Article UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL AT FREEMASON'S HALL. Page 1 of 2 Article UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL AT FREEMASON'S HALL. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.
UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL AT FREEMASON'S HALL .
On Wednesday , the ist inst ., prior to the meeting of Grand Officers for the Quarterly Communication to Grand Lodge , the memorial which has been erected to commemorate the successful termination of the Building
Committee ' s labours was unveiled in the presence of a numerous body of the brethren . The ceremony of unveiling was performed by Bro . Brackstone Baker , who was supported on the occasion by , among others , the following
brethren : —Bros . R . J . Bagshaw , F . Roxburgh , Q . C , J . B . Monckton , Dr . Jabez Hogg , F . Adlard , Joseph Durham , Edward Cox , F . Bennoch , E . J . Barron , John Savage , G . Plucknctt , T . Meggy , Raynliam W . Sten-art , J . R .
Stebbing , Joshua Nunn , W . M . Bywater , R . J Spiers , H . D . Grissell , John Hervey , Samuel May , James Mason , Joseph Starke )' , J . Hawker . F . Dundas , J . R . Walmisley , W . Young , J Cooper Forster , and H . Browse .
The memorial consists of a tablet with the following inscription : —
ITonor s Cans a . The EARI . OF ZETLAND , M . W . GM . In commemoration of the completion of this Ihiilding . which was inaugurated and solemnly dedicated to tin puiposes of Freemasonry on the 14 th day of April ,
A . L . 5 S 69 , and in recognition of the services of lln Duilding Committee , under whose able supervision tin work was executed , this Tablet was erected by the Gran Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . Surmountim the tablet is a bust of the
Chairman of the Committee , Bro . Havers , while on either side are three medallions , those on the light being likenesses of Bros . LI . Evans , H . D . Grissell , and J . R . Stebbing , and those on the
left Bros . J . Savage , G . Phicknett , and John Hervey . The whole is the work of Bro . Joseph Durham , A . R . A ., who has executed the same with consummate skill . Great difficulties stood
in the way of the selection of a suitable site for this memorial . It must be obvious to any one who has a knowledge of the construction of Freemasons' Hall that from necessity there are few good places in which any work of art can
be either seen—or seen to advantage—except in the hall , or Temple , as it is more properly called . Great delay consequently arose in the endeavour to choose an appropriate spot . To the sculptor the alcove over the steps leading to tin .
Temple was unsuited , and therefore , with the ready adhesion of the architect , Bro . Cockerel ! , Bro . Durham proposed to divide the long blank wall on the right-hand landing of the first floor into three compartments , by placing pilasters so
as to form three panels in the middle of the wall . In the central panel he proposed to enshrine the commemoration testimonial , and the excellent effect it has leaves no room for doubt that his judgment was correct . And ii
is in the adaptation of the spot selected , and tlu combination of the six marble med . iilions and :. bust , that the designer ' s grj . u skill consists . For per . eet unity of colour , the six medallions are cut from one block of marble , enclosed in
borders of egg-and tongue mouldings ofTutbury alalxutcr . The bust of the chairman ami tin bracket are of one piece of marble . The pilasters are of what is known as Barton ' s Ipplepen marble , from Devonshire , the same as
is used throughout the staircase . Before the unveiling took place , Bro . Brackstone Baker said : I was very much in hopes that this afternoon this ceremony o .
unveiling and disclosing to public view tin testimonial which Grand Lodge decided to erect in recognition of the services of the liuil . l ing Committee , would have been embellished by the presence of the Chairman of the Building
Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.
Committee himself—the facile prhurps , the scflcm virorum presses , the chairman of the sevenbut unfortunately he is not here . The difficulty I have felt in being appointed by my colleagues to represent the Testimonial Committee is this : that there is no model , pattern , or precedent of
such a thing having occurred before . In our days such a thing certainly has never happened ; neither has it happened , as far as we are informed , before , for it is not enrolled in the records of antiquity—that of erecting during their lifetime a memorial to those who have been
most active or taken a leading part m the construction of a building . But we must have this happiness . Unlike the Roman , who , when he died , having deserved well of his country , was crowned with wreaths of laurel ; those wreaths of laurel are borne while our heroes live ; and you may think it is far better that we should
have the permission of Grand Lodge to record in imperishable marble—though we might say c . xcrunt moniimcntum cere pcrenniiis—the facts which we have now met to notify . I am rather sorry the Chairman of the Building Committee is iiot here , because I should very appropriately have ulled to tlie recollection of that Committee that
-une years ago , in hard 1862 , the then Most iVorshipful Grand Master proposed to recognise the services of Bro . John Havers , by granting him from Grand Lodge funds t ^ e sum of 500 guineas , to give him a perpetual life presentation in the Boys' and Girls' Schools . Bro .
John Havers declined with great respect such a testimonial , because , as he said at that time , -irand Lodge had an important duty before itthat the proper channel for their funds was the providing a temple fitted for Masonry . At that time , in 1 S 62 , that Temple was not constructed ,
but I should have been very glad to have pointed out that although he declined that sort if , what I may call adventitious honours at the time , yet it was quite impossible that any man or any Mason with self-respect or proper selfestimation can refuse the acknowledgment of
those services by the memorial which you have now before you . The history of Freemasons ' Hall last night I endeavoured to sketch out , and I have put together a few notes which give -i sort of brief history and retrospect of Freenasons' Hall . It will not take me long to run
through it , and if you will bear with me I will give it you . At the time of the revival of Freemasonry in England in 1717 , the annual assembly and feast of Free and Accepted Masons , when a Grand Master for the ensuing year was chosen , was held at taverns . The " Goose and
Gridiron , m St . Paul ' s Churchyard , appears to be the earliest on record at this period . Five years later , by reason of the increasing number > f lodges , Grand Lodge was agreed to be held it Stationers' Hall , Ludgatc-street , where " they sat down to very elegant feast , and dined with
joy and gl tdn ¦ ss , " ha-ing previously assembled it the " Goose and Gridiron , " now removed to the King ' s Arms , St . Paul's Churchyard . Later , the Fountain Tavern in the Strand , the White Lion in Comhill , the Crown in Threadncedleitreet , the Hell Tavern , Westminster ; the Devil
iavern , 'l emple Bar ; Queen ' s Head , Great "J-ieen-street ; the Rose Tavern , Marylebone ; and the Crown and Anchor in the Strand , with iccasional feasts at the Merchant Taylors' ov .-I .-i-ccrs' Hall , or Fishmonger . ; ' Mill " Here s iccessive Grand Masters were elected and Ir . md Officer .- ; appointed . A plan had beenfot
s .-veral years in contemplation to build a hall ') y voluntary subscriptions from private lodges IT I fees from G"a ; vl Officers' appointni' -nts , b in-owing funds on a tontine scheme , which , a . tae Grand . Master said ( 1760 ) , " would not only ; ive a sanction to our assemblies , but be a prelude to an incorporau > n should it be the opinion > f the society to obtain a charter for that
purv ) se . " At the Grand Lodge held at the London Tavern April . - : 7 th , 1774 , Lord Pet re being ' . I . W . U . M ., the Grand Secretary , James Heseldue , reported from the Committee for building
the hall that the Committee h id contracted for lie purchase of a plot of ground and premises consisting of two large commodious dwellinglouses and an extensive garden situate in Great Queen-street , Liucoln ' s-inn-iVelds , kite in the possession of Philip Carteret Webb , li . sq .
Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.
deceased . That the premises had been surveyed and found to be in good condition , and that the real value thereof appeared to be . £ 3 , 205 , at the least ; that . £ 3 , 180 was the sum contracted to be paid for the premises ; that as the front house -would be
at present useless to the Society and upon a moderate cavitation might produce . £ 9 0 per annum it would defray the interest on the mortgage , £ 1050 , already lent upon the premises ; that the back house would furnish commodious committee rooms , offices , kitchens , & c , without
much alteration ; and that the garden was sufficiently large to contain a complete hall for the use of the Society , the expense of which it was imagined would not exceed £ 3000 . The first stone of the new hall was laid on May ist , 1775 , by Lord Petre , Grand Master , the brethren
assembling at Freemasons' Coffee House , Great Queen-street , and adjourning to the feast at Leathersellers' Hall , Great St . Helen ' s . A year afterwards , May 23 rd , 1776 , the Hall was dedicated in solemn form to Masonry , virtue , universal charity , and benevolence . The tontine
under a deed of trust continued to pay annuities to the survivors until the last of them died on August 26 th , 1862 , who was the daughter of Admiral Sir Peter Parker , himself a Past Grand Warden . By a curious coincidence the announcement of this lady ' s death was made at
the same meeting of Grand Lodge , December 3 rd , 1862 , at which the Building Committee for the new construction was appointed . Freemasons' Tavern continued to be the home of London Freemasons , as well as a known place of assembly and resort for public meetings ,
dinners , and dances . The very name associated Freemasonry with tavern orgies , and for a long time this had been a reproach and opprobrium to the progress of Masonry , which in the later years of the Mastership of the Duke of Sussex and as soon as the rule of the Earl of Zetland
commenced had taken great onward and advancing strides . On December ist , 1858 , the Board of General Purposes , by the mouth of its President , Bro . John Havers , proposed to Grand Lodge to erect suitable buildings and to separate Freemasons' Hall from the Tavern .
Of the large block of buildings belonging to the Sooety in Great Queen-street , the only portions reserved exclusively for Masonic purposes were the Temple , the Grand Master ' s room , the Grand Secretary ' s offices , and the Grand Tyler ' s apartments . This being the largest Grand Lodge in
the world , is the only Grand Lodge whose Temple was used as a tavern . At that Grand Lodge Bro . James Havers moved , " That it is desirable that the freehold property now belonging to the Society , or such part thereof as may be necessary , shall be devoted exclusively to Masonic
purposes . " This motion was carried ; but , as on a subsequent occasion was well observed by Bro . Havers , no great or worthy object has ever been car ied out without opposition—without having been considered , discussed , condemned , nay , forgotten almost , to be again and again brought
forward before its finai accomplishment . And an application of this pungent , but exact , criticism was found in the hhtory of these new buildings . The matter was permitted to lie over until at Grand Lodge on March 5 th . 1862 , a report from the Board of General Purposes
reproducing the resolutions of December ist , 1850 , requested authority from Grand Lodge to appropriate a portion of the properly for a tavern , and after discussion , the question was referred back to the Board to consider the appropriation of the property to Masonic purposes or otherwise .
A sub-committee was formed , and their report was presented to Grand Lodge June 4 th , 1862 , adopting the principle of isolating the Masonic structure from the tave-n , and enumerating the accomodation required for the Craft . After much discussion and opposition the report was adopted , and it was agreed that plans should be prepared
and estimates made to carry out tne resolution . At the next Grand Lodge , in September , 1862 , the law of the Book of Constitutions had to be amended to allow of power being delegated to a special committee of seven members to consider and specify the requirements of the proposed new building . Ultimately at the following Grand Lodge , December 3 rd , 1862 , the Com-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.
UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL AT FREEMASON'S HALL .
On Wednesday , the ist inst ., prior to the meeting of Grand Officers for the Quarterly Communication to Grand Lodge , the memorial which has been erected to commemorate the successful termination of the Building
Committee ' s labours was unveiled in the presence of a numerous body of the brethren . The ceremony of unveiling was performed by Bro . Brackstone Baker , who was supported on the occasion by , among others , the following
brethren : —Bros . R . J . Bagshaw , F . Roxburgh , Q . C , J . B . Monckton , Dr . Jabez Hogg , F . Adlard , Joseph Durham , Edward Cox , F . Bennoch , E . J . Barron , John Savage , G . Plucknctt , T . Meggy , Raynliam W . Sten-art , J . R .
Stebbing , Joshua Nunn , W . M . Bywater , R . J Spiers , H . D . Grissell , John Hervey , Samuel May , James Mason , Joseph Starke )' , J . Hawker . F . Dundas , J . R . Walmisley , W . Young , J Cooper Forster , and H . Browse .
The memorial consists of a tablet with the following inscription : —
ITonor s Cans a . The EARI . OF ZETLAND , M . W . GM . In commemoration of the completion of this Ihiilding . which was inaugurated and solemnly dedicated to tin puiposes of Freemasonry on the 14 th day of April ,
A . L . 5 S 69 , and in recognition of the services of lln Duilding Committee , under whose able supervision tin work was executed , this Tablet was erected by the Gran Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . Surmountim the tablet is a bust of the
Chairman of the Committee , Bro . Havers , while on either side are three medallions , those on the light being likenesses of Bros . LI . Evans , H . D . Grissell , and J . R . Stebbing , and those on the
left Bros . J . Savage , G . Phicknett , and John Hervey . The whole is the work of Bro . Joseph Durham , A . R . A ., who has executed the same with consummate skill . Great difficulties stood
in the way of the selection of a suitable site for this memorial . It must be obvious to any one who has a knowledge of the construction of Freemasons' Hall that from necessity there are few good places in which any work of art can
be either seen—or seen to advantage—except in the hall , or Temple , as it is more properly called . Great delay consequently arose in the endeavour to choose an appropriate spot . To the sculptor the alcove over the steps leading to tin .
Temple was unsuited , and therefore , with the ready adhesion of the architect , Bro . Cockerel ! , Bro . Durham proposed to divide the long blank wall on the right-hand landing of the first floor into three compartments , by placing pilasters so
as to form three panels in the middle of the wall . In the central panel he proposed to enshrine the commemoration testimonial , and the excellent effect it has leaves no room for doubt that his judgment was correct . And ii
is in the adaptation of the spot selected , and tlu combination of the six marble med . iilions and :. bust , that the designer ' s grj . u skill consists . For per . eet unity of colour , the six medallions are cut from one block of marble , enclosed in
borders of egg-and tongue mouldings ofTutbury alalxutcr . The bust of the chairman ami tin bracket are of one piece of marble . The pilasters are of what is known as Barton ' s Ipplepen marble , from Devonshire , the same as
is used throughout the staircase . Before the unveiling took place , Bro . Brackstone Baker said : I was very much in hopes that this afternoon this ceremony o .
unveiling and disclosing to public view tin testimonial which Grand Lodge decided to erect in recognition of the services of the liuil . l ing Committee , would have been embellished by the presence of the Chairman of the Building
Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.
Committee himself—the facile prhurps , the scflcm virorum presses , the chairman of the sevenbut unfortunately he is not here . The difficulty I have felt in being appointed by my colleagues to represent the Testimonial Committee is this : that there is no model , pattern , or precedent of
such a thing having occurred before . In our days such a thing certainly has never happened ; neither has it happened , as far as we are informed , before , for it is not enrolled in the records of antiquity—that of erecting during their lifetime a memorial to those who have been
most active or taken a leading part m the construction of a building . But we must have this happiness . Unlike the Roman , who , when he died , having deserved well of his country , was crowned with wreaths of laurel ; those wreaths of laurel are borne while our heroes live ; and you may think it is far better that we should
have the permission of Grand Lodge to record in imperishable marble—though we might say c . xcrunt moniimcntum cere pcrenniiis—the facts which we have now met to notify . I am rather sorry the Chairman of the Building Committee is iiot here , because I should very appropriately have ulled to tlie recollection of that Committee that
-une years ago , in hard 1862 , the then Most iVorshipful Grand Master proposed to recognise the services of Bro . John Havers , by granting him from Grand Lodge funds t ^ e sum of 500 guineas , to give him a perpetual life presentation in the Boys' and Girls' Schools . Bro .
John Havers declined with great respect such a testimonial , because , as he said at that time , -irand Lodge had an important duty before itthat the proper channel for their funds was the providing a temple fitted for Masonry . At that time , in 1 S 62 , that Temple was not constructed ,
but I should have been very glad to have pointed out that although he declined that sort if , what I may call adventitious honours at the time , yet it was quite impossible that any man or any Mason with self-respect or proper selfestimation can refuse the acknowledgment of
those services by the memorial which you have now before you . The history of Freemasons ' Hall last night I endeavoured to sketch out , and I have put together a few notes which give -i sort of brief history and retrospect of Freenasons' Hall . It will not take me long to run
through it , and if you will bear with me I will give it you . At the time of the revival of Freemasonry in England in 1717 , the annual assembly and feast of Free and Accepted Masons , when a Grand Master for the ensuing year was chosen , was held at taverns . The " Goose and
Gridiron , m St . Paul ' s Churchyard , appears to be the earliest on record at this period . Five years later , by reason of the increasing number > f lodges , Grand Lodge was agreed to be held it Stationers' Hall , Ludgatc-street , where " they sat down to very elegant feast , and dined with
joy and gl tdn ¦ ss , " ha-ing previously assembled it the " Goose and Gridiron , " now removed to the King ' s Arms , St . Paul's Churchyard . Later , the Fountain Tavern in the Strand , the White Lion in Comhill , the Crown in Threadncedleitreet , the Hell Tavern , Westminster ; the Devil
iavern , 'l emple Bar ; Queen ' s Head , Great "J-ieen-street ; the Rose Tavern , Marylebone ; and the Crown and Anchor in the Strand , with iccasional feasts at the Merchant Taylors' ov .-I .-i-ccrs' Hall , or Fishmonger . ; ' Mill " Here s iccessive Grand Masters were elected and Ir . md Officer .- ; appointed . A plan had beenfot
s .-veral years in contemplation to build a hall ') y voluntary subscriptions from private lodges IT I fees from G"a ; vl Officers' appointni' -nts , b in-owing funds on a tontine scheme , which , a . tae Grand . Master said ( 1760 ) , " would not only ; ive a sanction to our assemblies , but be a prelude to an incorporau > n should it be the opinion > f the society to obtain a charter for that
purv ) se . " At the Grand Lodge held at the London Tavern April . - : 7 th , 1774 , Lord Pet re being ' . I . W . U . M ., the Grand Secretary , James Heseldue , reported from the Committee for building
the hall that the Committee h id contracted for lie purchase of a plot of ground and premises consisting of two large commodious dwellinglouses and an extensive garden situate in Great Queen-street , Liucoln ' s-inn-iVelds , kite in the possession of Philip Carteret Webb , li . sq .
Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.
deceased . That the premises had been surveyed and found to be in good condition , and that the real value thereof appeared to be . £ 3 , 205 , at the least ; that . £ 3 , 180 was the sum contracted to be paid for the premises ; that as the front house -would be
at present useless to the Society and upon a moderate cavitation might produce . £ 9 0 per annum it would defray the interest on the mortgage , £ 1050 , already lent upon the premises ; that the back house would furnish commodious committee rooms , offices , kitchens , & c , without
much alteration ; and that the garden was sufficiently large to contain a complete hall for the use of the Society , the expense of which it was imagined would not exceed £ 3000 . The first stone of the new hall was laid on May ist , 1775 , by Lord Petre , Grand Master , the brethren
assembling at Freemasons' Coffee House , Great Queen-street , and adjourning to the feast at Leathersellers' Hall , Great St . Helen ' s . A year afterwards , May 23 rd , 1776 , the Hall was dedicated in solemn form to Masonry , virtue , universal charity , and benevolence . The tontine
under a deed of trust continued to pay annuities to the survivors until the last of them died on August 26 th , 1862 , who was the daughter of Admiral Sir Peter Parker , himself a Past Grand Warden . By a curious coincidence the announcement of this lady ' s death was made at
the same meeting of Grand Lodge , December 3 rd , 1862 , at which the Building Committee for the new construction was appointed . Freemasons' Tavern continued to be the home of London Freemasons , as well as a known place of assembly and resort for public meetings ,
dinners , and dances . The very name associated Freemasonry with tavern orgies , and for a long time this had been a reproach and opprobrium to the progress of Masonry , which in the later years of the Mastership of the Duke of Sussex and as soon as the rule of the Earl of Zetland
commenced had taken great onward and advancing strides . On December ist , 1858 , the Board of General Purposes , by the mouth of its President , Bro . John Havers , proposed to Grand Lodge to erect suitable buildings and to separate Freemasons' Hall from the Tavern .
Of the large block of buildings belonging to the Sooety in Great Queen-street , the only portions reserved exclusively for Masonic purposes were the Temple , the Grand Master ' s room , the Grand Secretary ' s offices , and the Grand Tyler ' s apartments . This being the largest Grand Lodge in
the world , is the only Grand Lodge whose Temple was used as a tavern . At that Grand Lodge Bro . James Havers moved , " That it is desirable that the freehold property now belonging to the Society , or such part thereof as may be necessary , shall be devoted exclusively to Masonic
purposes . " This motion was carried ; but , as on a subsequent occasion was well observed by Bro . Havers , no great or worthy object has ever been car ied out without opposition—without having been considered , discussed , condemned , nay , forgotten almost , to be again and again brought
forward before its finai accomplishment . And an application of this pungent , but exact , criticism was found in the hhtory of these new buildings . The matter was permitted to lie over until at Grand Lodge on March 5 th . 1862 , a report from the Board of General Purposes
reproducing the resolutions of December ist , 1850 , requested authority from Grand Lodge to appropriate a portion of the properly for a tavern , and after discussion , the question was referred back to the Board to consider the appropriation of the property to Masonic purposes or otherwise .
A sub-committee was formed , and their report was presented to Grand Lodge June 4 th , 1862 , adopting the principle of isolating the Masonic structure from the tave-n , and enumerating the accomodation required for the Craft . After much discussion and opposition the report was adopted , and it was agreed that plans should be prepared
and estimates made to carry out tne resolution . At the next Grand Lodge , in September , 1862 , the law of the Book of Constitutions had to be amended to allow of power being delegated to a special committee of seven members to consider and specify the requirements of the proposed new building . Ultimately at the following Grand Lodge , December 3 rd , 1862 , the Com-