Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.

mittee were appointed , but it required three months more delay to advertise for plans and to buy up certain unexpired leases . However , at Grand Lodge , June 3 rd , 1863 , it was reported that twenty designs had been sent in , illustrated by 200 drawings . These had been submitted to

the inspection of the Craft at St . Martin's Hall . The scheme required a Masonic Temple , apart from the large dining hall , lodge rooms , and offices for the Craft , and a tavern ministering to , but totally separate from , the Masonic portion . It was stated that putting the cost of building

and furnishing at its maximum , an outlay of £ 45 , 000 might be required . This was to be provided by £ 20 , 000 then standing to the credit of the fund of General Purposes , and £ 25 , 000 to be borrowed of the Fund of Benevolence at 4 per cent , interest , in lieu of 3 J / per cent ..

which the investment of it in Consols was then yielding , and such was anticipated to be the increase of revenue , that the loan and interest was estimated to be paid off in ten years . Great discussion and opposition took place ; objections of all kinds were raised . Some brethren

predicted that £ 100 , 000 would have to be expended ; it was asserted to be illegal and inexpedient to borrow of the Fund of Benevolence ; it was contrary to practice to separate the tavern ; it was even suggested that the opinion of the country brethren should be taken ;

in other words , that the Building Committee should consist of 100 , 000 members . Finally , of the three best designs , those of Bros . F . Cockerel ] , E . M . Barry , and S . Daukes , the first-named was chosen , and all requisite powers were given to the Building Committee .

The foundation-stone of the new buildings was laid on the occasion of the Grand Festival , April 27 , 1864 . Bro . J . Havers is called in the inscription Curator emeritus septan virorum prcses . The buildings were actively pushed forward , and on March i , 1865 , a portion was

opened to the brethren attending Grand Lodge . The Grand Secretary's and charity offices were transferred June 7 , 1865 . The new hall was finished February , 1 S 66 , and at Grand Lodge on Dec . 4 , 1 S 67 , it was announced that the buildings were completed , having consumed a

period of three-and-a-half years in construction ; and on this occasion Bro . James Mason was prompt in proposing a cordial vote of thanks to the Building Committee . The repair and redecoration of the Great Hall , however , were committed to the same hands who had hitherto

acted so efficiently , and it was not until the Grand Lodge of March 3 , 1 S 69 , that the present committee was appointed to recommend a suitable recognition of the eminent services rendered to the Craft by the Chairman of the Building Committee . Such , brethren , is a very brief

retrospect of the history of 1 < reemasons' Hall , under its old auspices and under its present . We maintain that the Building Committee , with Bro . Havers at their head , have vindicated the great principle which they had in view , namely , the separation of the Hall from the Tavern , the

Tavern ministering to the Hall , but not forming an essential part of it . Now , I wish to refer to the constitution of the Committee which has brought to a conclusion this testimonial . It was at Grand Lodge of 3 rd March , 1869 , a resolution was proposed— "The buildings in connection

with Freemasons Hall being now completed , and the old hall repaired and re-decorated , ' That a committee of members of Grand Lodge be appointed to consi Jer and report upon a suitable recognition of the eminent services rendered to the Craft by the Chairman and his colleagues of

the Building Committee . '" That resolution was carried unanimously , and the committee were appointed , consisting of Bros . John M . Clabon , James Mason , Jabez Hogg , Ed . J . Eraser , Samuel L . Tomkins , Francis Bennoch , Joshua Nunn , Edward Cox , and Brackstone Baker . To tell of the meetings of the committee , the

suggestions that were made , and the proposals that were brought forward , and afterwards urged again , would take too long a time . Suffice it to say , that Bro . Joseph Durham was finally selected to carry out the works , and by a report made to the Testimonial Committee in 186 9 , it wasstated — "That the committee havehad several meetings

Unveiling The Memorial At Freemason's Hall.

and have considered various suggestions for carrying out the views of Grand Lodge , and they beg to report : ' That , in their opinion , the most suitable and permanent mode of marking the sentiments of Grand Lodge , and the most likely

to be in consonance with the inclinations of the Building Committee , will be the placing of a sculptured tablet in a conspicuous part of the new building , with an appropriate inscription , to be surmounted by a marble bust of the Chairman ,

Bro . John Havers , and surrounded by marble medallion porttai ^ s of the Building Committee , nh > are Bros . John TJ . Evans , John Hervey , John Savage , J . Rankin Stebbing , George Plucknett , ani Henry Grissell . The locality recommended is

the hemi-cycleor semicircular niche on the first floor , immediately facing the flight of steps leading to the entrance of Grand Lodge . The Committee recommend that they may be empowered to commission Bro . Joseph Durham .

A . R . A ., the eminent sculptor , to execute the same from his designs , with the advice and concurrence of the Grand Superintendent of Works . In the event of this report being approved by Grand Lodge , and the recommendations adopted ,

it is proposed to move ' That an expenditure not exceeding 300 guineas be sanctioned for this purpose . ' The Committee further recommend that , as a personal memorial , and as an expression of the thanks of Grand Lodge for the

valuable services rendered to the Craft by the Building Committee , the inscription to be placed on the tablet , with a concise statement of the circumstances which gave rise to it , should be transcribed on vellum ornamentally , and signed

by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , and presented to each member of the Building Committee . ' " The proposal was carried unanimously , and the result is that Bro . Joseph Durham , whose name has become almost an historical name

among the sculptors of England , has executed the work , and how successfully you must judge for yourselves . It is needless for me to refer to the ability of Bro . Durham . His well known statue of Hermione in the Egyptian Hall , and the colossal group in the Horticultural Gardens

—which , though it does not belong to the Horticultural Society , they have appropriated to themselves—are the best testimony to his merits , and they were the first works he ever executed . Bro . Baker here tore the veil clown , and exhibited the memorial , which was greatly admired .

Calls were made for a speech from Bro . Savage , whereupon Bro . Savage expressed the delight he felt , which he sure every one else felt , on seeing this beautiful piece of statuary unveiled . It reflected

the highest credit on Bro . Durham . It was a masterpiece of art , and would be viewed with great delight , not only by the brethren of the Building Committee , but by all other brethren . The likenesses were excellent , and they did

credit to the skill and bore testimony to the vast ability and consummate taste of their excellent and worthy Bro . Durham . In the name of the Building Committee , and on behalf of the chairman , he beggetl to thank the Craft for their

recognition of the sen-ices of the Committee . He would have liked Bro . Stebbing to have returned thanks , but , unless he did so , they would allow him ( Bro . Savage ) to fill his place . It was a most gratifying day for all of them .

Bro . Stebbing was sorry he was so late , but he was most happy to bear his testimony to the great skill of the artist , and the great pains and care he took . It was only justice to him to sayhe had not required his ( Bro . Stebbing ' s ) attendance at his studio , except on the occasion of his

taking the wax model of his head . It was so successful that he was able to copy it thus truthfully in the marble . Bro . Brackstone Baker ;>¦• iposed , and Bro . F . Bennoch seconded , a vote of thanks to Bro . Durham , which was carried unanimously .

Bro . Durham ( who was received with great cheeriiv ) sail : I can only 'hank you , brethren , and however long I might speak , the terms 1 should use would all end in simply this : With all my heart I thank you . ( Cheers . ) The brethren then separated .

Knights Of The Red Cross Of Constantine.

KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

TRIENNIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GENERAL GRAND CONCLAVE . The Triennial Assembly of the General Grand Conclave of the Ecclesiastical and Military Order of the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine was held at the Freemasons' Tavern on

Friday evening , March 3 rd , for the purpose of receiving the report of the Executive Committee , to elect and enthrone a Grand Sovereign for the ensuing three years , and to elect three Past Sovereigns as members of the Grand High

Almoners' Fund Committee . The following members of the Order were present : —The Earl of Bective , G . Sow ; Sir Frederick M . Williams , Bart . M . P ., M . E . G . Viceroy ; Colonel Burdett , G . S . G . ; W . PI . Hubbard , G . Treas W . E .

Gumbleton , G . C . ; E . Busher , G . Marshall ; Capt . F . G . Irwin , I . G . Bristol ; H . G . Buss , G . Almoner ; It . Wentworth Little , G . Recorder ; John Hervey , G . H . C ; W . R . Woodman , H . Parker , H . C . Levander , Thomas Cubitt , A . J . Lewis , and

R . W . Stewart , members of the Grand Senate . Past and Present Sovereignsof conclaves -. George Kenning , W . Carpenter , T . W . White , Harrison , } . Taylor , W . Jones , W . Roebuck , D . Gordon , T . B . Yeoman , D . Dewar . Capt . L . Campbell ,

H . Thompson , S . Rosenthal , F . G . Bailey , A . A . Pendlebury , G . Lambert , W . B . Johnson , D . R . Still , and G . A . Ibbetson . Viceroys : Andrew , G . S . Haines , Donnithorne , E . Sillifant , Shaughnessy ; and the following , amongst other

Sir Knights : Robinson , Kingston , Hill , Lucey , A . M . Haynes , Hunt , Hurlstone , Worrell , H . Dicketts , Morton , Moss , Gottlieb , Willing , J . W . Barrett , Capt . Payne , J . L . Thomas , Major E . H . Finney , E . H . Finney ( jun . ) , J . Boyd , J .

D . Larsen , J . S . Banning , T . L . Fox , Major C . Sendey , W . W . Anderson , W . C . Barlow , E . H . Thiellay , & c . The Grand Conclave having been opened in Imperial form , Sir Kt . Gottlieb , I . G . Eastern

Archipelago , acting as G . Herald , Sir Knight R . Wentworth Little read the report of the Executive Committee , which stated that since they last reported in 186 S , the Red Cross Order had extended over many lands ,

and was now practised in Gibraltar , Bombay , Calcutta , Canada , and the United States ; and there were now in working order no less a number than 51 conclaves , with aggregate of i , oco members , and the funds were in a satisfactory

and highly-flourishing condition , giving an assurance that it was making rapid progress in all parts of the world . Sir Knight John Hervey and Sir Knight Gumbleton seconded the motion that the

report be received , adopted , and entered on the minutes , which was unanimously agreed to . Sir Kt . Hervey moved the following alterarionofthe General Statutes : — "The members of the Grand Council shall be appointed annually

by the Grand Sovereign , with the exception of the Grand Treasurer , who shall be elected at the annual assembly of the General Grand Conclave . No officer shall hold office for more 1 han three consecutive years , except the Grand

Recorder , who may be re-nominated during pleasure . They shall be chosen from the members of the Grand Senate , but no senator shall be eligible for promotion to the Council until he shall have faithfully performed his duties

in that capacity for at least one year . " His wish , he said , in proposing this alteration was to popularise the body , and that it should be more generally thrown open to members , instead of being limited , as at present , to thirteen

members . Sir . Kt . Col . Burdett seconded the motion , believing that the alteration would conduce to the benefit of the Order , as those brethren who were zealous for promotion wOuld have the opportunity thrown open to tl : em .

'I he motion was put and earned unanimously , as was one afterwards proposed fixing the assemblies of the General Grand Conclave to be held , annually , on the first Thursday in March .