Original Correspondence.

o-otten the 14 th verse of the 2 nd chapter , Second Book of Chronicles , where wc read as follows : — " The son of a woman of the daughter of Dan , and his father was a man of Tyre , skilful to work in gold and in silver , and in brass , and in s / oue , and in timber , it » purple , in blue , and in fine linen and in common , able to

crave any manner of graving , and any device , " & c . Properly then is Hiram Abiff called the" Master-builder " and the Architect of the Solomonic Temple . The hig h authority of Bro . Mackey causes me to call attention to what might become a very serious error in Masonic Archa-ology if supported by his well-known name . I am , dear Sir , yours fraternally , A MASONIC STUDENT .

EARLY MASONIC TRACT . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Where can I be favoured with a perusal of an early tract , published in 1676 , and entitled " A Short

Analysis of the Unchanged Rites and Ceremonies of Freemasonry , " or where can I find an account of the same ? Yours fraternally , HENRY T . BOBART . [ So far the book has eluded all research . It is , we believe , much more than doubtful if it ever was published . — ED . ]

EDUCATION . To the Editor ( f the Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — Can you inform me in your next issue of the Freemason of a school for young gentlemen , kept by a brother , near London ? The boy is rather delicate , and

requires a little care , so I would like to place him under the eye of a brother , knowing he would be educated , and taken care of as a boarder . Yours Fraternally , R . M . [ Perhaps some of our readers can answer the query . We shall be happy to put any one in communication with our enquiring brother . —ED . ]

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you , or some other authority , kindly inform me whether or not an Installing Master can claim from the

I . P . M . ( who has not installed his successor ) the right to propose the health of the W . M . at the banquet , to the exclusion from that privilege of the I . P . M ., and any other P . M . of the lodge who may be present . Yours fraternally , P . M . [ Certainly not . —ED . ]

Dedication Of The New York Masonic Temple.

DEDICATION OF THE NEW YORK MASONIC TEMPLE .

The distinguished Masonic event in America of the present week , says the Keystone of June 5 th , has been the dedication of the New Masonic Temple in the city of New York . A larger number of Craftsmen were there assembled , on Wednesday , June 2 nd , 1875 , than ever before ,

anywhere , in the history of the world , of which any record remains , and representing the chief Masonic Jurisdictions of thc Globe . Twenty-five thousand Freemasons were in line , and participated in the Masonic procession and solemn ceremonies . We cannot , at the time we go to press , give our readers a full account of these ceremonies , but we shall aim to give a brief sketch of his history of the great

Masonic work of the fraternity in New York , from its in . ception to its happy completion , as an acceptable preface to our description , in our next issue , of the Dedication Ceremonies . The present magnificent New Masonic Temple in New York city , erected at the cost of a million and a quarter dollars , is the result of thirty-two years' anxious and ,

during the latter years , earnest labors . In 1843 , the edifice was first proposed , and the following memorial upon the subject vvas presented to the Grand Lodge : " R . W . and W . Brethren : " The subscribers , deeply impressed with the desire of placing our institution in a position of permanent honour and usefulness , most respectfully present for your

consideration , thc necessity of taking immediate and active measures for raising a fund sufficient to accomplish the following objects : " " First—The erection of a hall in the city of New York for thc Grand Lodge and other Masonic bodies . " " Second—The founding of an asylum for worthy decayed Masons , their widows and orphans . "

" For the accomplishment of these noble purposes we invoke your honourable body to use your influence with the brethren of this State , by sending forth a suitable appeal to their liberality , and by appointing proper agents to solicit and receive contributions . " " In testimony of our sincerity and confidence in the ability of thc fraternity in the State of New York , we ask

your acceptance of our subscriptions in cash , and promise to pay annually hereafter until the works be completed , something toward the necessary fund . " " It is our desire , if the Grand Lod ge accept our offering , that the sum thus raised be carefully invested by thc Trustees of the Grand Lodge , and preserved for the especial purpose above set forth , until the Grand Lodge shall

decide that a sufficient fund has accumulated for the completion of the first object , to wit : the erection of a Grand Hall , free from incumbrance , after which the same means be continued , until the second object can be , in like manner , put in operation . " This memorial was drafted by the late R . W . Bro . James Herring , and is still in the possession of his son , W . Bro .

Dedication Of The New York Masonic Temple.

Fred . W . Herring . Accompanying it was a subscription of 300 dollars , from one hundred brethren ; and the first subscriber who paid his subscription was Bro . Greenfield Pole , for many years Grand Tyler of the Grand Lodge . Our readers may be interested to know how thc fund from which the new temple was built gradually increased to the requisite sum . As wc have indicated , it was at first slowly

devolopcd . Beginning in 1843 with 300 dollars , in 1846 it reached S 73 dollars ; 1849 , 4121 dollars , 18 3 8 , 12 , 879 dollars ; i 860 , 31 , 111 dollars ; 1 S 66 , 11 7 , 144 dollars ; 1867 , 207 , 694 dollars ; 186 S , 334 , 729 dollars ; 1869 , 445 ,-873 dollars ; 1874 , 932 , 757 dollars ; with 352 , 713 liabilities . On two occasions , in 1867 and 1873 , 50 , 000 dollars were added to the fund by Masonic fairs .

The site upon which the temple is built is at the northeast corner of Twenty-third street anti sixth avenue , —a splendid location—and its size is 92 feet by 141 feet . True , it docs not compare either in size , or in grandeur , with thc Masonic Temple of Philadelphia , which entirely covers a spacious lot 150 by 250 feet , and is surrounded on all sides by streets , and stands out a magnificent architectural

structure ; but it possesses many distinguishing features of its own , which entitle it to be considered one of the Grandest edifices in the world . The cost ot the ground was 340 ,-000 dollars . Up to June of last year , over 900 , 000 dollars had been spent upon the ground and the edifice . The corner-stone was laid by Bro . James Gibson , Grand Master of Masons in New York , on June 8 th , 1870 , when

700 lodges were represented in the Masonic ceremonies incident thereto , and 10 , 000 Freemasons participated . The copestone was laid by Bro . Ellwood E . Thorne , ( during the illness of Bro . Christopher C . Fox , Grand Master ) on Oct . 4 , 1872 . In our present writing we cannot give a complete description of the Temple , though we may enumerate some of its salient features . Its distinguished

architect is Bro . Napoleon Le Brun , formly of Philadelphia , who now has a monument to his genius which will never die , as Bro . P . M . James H . Windrim has , in another world-wonder , the present Masonic Temple of Philadelphia . The New York Temple is five stories in height , including the Mansard pavillion . Its general exterior style of architecture is of pure French Renaissance , graduated , in each

story , in sub-orders , viz : I uscan , Ionic , Corinthian and Composite—all in massive granite . Its height from the street to the cornice is 94 feet . The Mansard rises 30 feet higher , while thc dome reaches an altitude of 16 5 feet . The main entrance is on Twenty-third-street , through a Tuscan portico , flanked by two bronze pillars 14 feet in height . These are modelled after the Solomonic columns

of the Bible , and give a unique and fitting finish to the portal . The Grand Lodge Room is 85 by 92 feet in area , and 28 feet high . It is rented for other than Masonic purposesfor church services and lectures . The Grand Lodge Library is 40 feet by 21 feet . The Temple contains seven Lodge Rooms , viz . Tuscan Room , 62 by 30 feet ; the Ionic Room ,

63 by 2 U feet ; the Livingstone Room , 47 by 21 feet ; the Composite Room , Corinthian Room , and the Clinton Room . The Egyptian Room is devoted to Chapter Masonry , and is in size 62 by 30 feet . The entire fifth floor , or Mansard pavillion , is occupied by the Knights Templar and members ofthe A . and A . Rite . The Asylum is 78 by 41 feet , and 21 feet high , and is designed after the French

Gothic style , of the fourteenth century . Thc Council Chamber is 35 by 21 feet , and of Saracenic architecture . The Banquet Hall is of the Early Norman style , and is 55 by 27 feet in size . There is also an armory , containing hundreds of closets to contain the Knights' equipment . Two elevators conduct to the top of the Temple—one a passenger elevator , and the other for miscellaneous

purposes . J he entire Mason work was done under the direction of Bro . John T . Conover , and every part of the edifice was designed by the eminent architect , Bro . Napoleon Le Brun . Bro . James M . Austin , M . D ., the present esteemed Grand Secretary , is the only living member of thc original Board of Trustees of thc Hall and Asylum Fund . The Fraternity of New York will erect the Masonic

Asylum for worthy indigent Master Masons , their Widows and Orphans , as soon as the revenue from thc Temple shall warrant the undertaking . We have now given our readers a hurried sketch of the great and successful effort of the brethren in our sister jurisdiction of the New York , to erect a fitting Masonic Temple for the work of the Craft in the metropolis of

America . We wish them every enjoyment of its elegant hall , and that the time may speedily arrive when they shall inaugurate their great Masonic Charity . The Crown Prince of Denmark , not finding it convenient to attend the dedication of the new Masonic Temple in New York on thc 2 nd inst ., sent his " regrets , " accompanied with an attesting document by the Grand Secretary .

Thc following arc copies of the letters : Den Danske Store Lands Loge . By the command of His Royal Highness , the Crown Prince Frederik , M . W . Grand Master of Denmark , thc undersigned have thc pleasure to inclose thc answer of His Royal Highness to the kind and fraternal invitation to the initiation festival of thc Masonic Hall , in New York .

In handing you this proof of the interest with which the prosperity of our most sacred Order on your continent is regarded , we remain M . W . Sir and dear brother , most respectfully and fraternally yours , A . Rist , Keeper of thc Seals , Aastny , Grand Secretary . Copenhagen , April 20 , 1875 .

To the M . W . Grand Master of the State of New York , Ellwood E . Thorne , Esq ., New York city . The following is the CIIOWN PRINCE ' S LETTER : — HEALTH , PEACE , UNITY . " It has afforded me the most sincere pleasure to receive your fraternal invitation to the initiation of the newly erected Masonic Hall in New York , which is to take place on the 2 nd of June , I deeply regret that several hin-

Dedication Of The New York Masonic Temple.

drances , and especially the great distance , prevent me from answering to the inclination of my heart to meet on this occasion my Masonic Brethren on thc other side of the ocean . I beg you to accept my heartfelt wishes for thc prosperity of this grand undertaking , and my ardent hope that the threefold Great Architect of the Universe" will bestow on it His powerful blessings , and give furtherance and success to your aim—externally , to demonstrate the

greatness of the institution ; internally to cement and strengthen the ties of brotherly love ; and finally , to support the indigent , thc widow , and the orphan . " Fraternally , " Fit E D K K I K , " Crown Prince of Denmark . " Copenhagen , 20 th April , 1875 . "To thc M . W . Grand Master in the State of New York , Brother ELLWOOD E . THORNE , New York City "

Ireland.

Ireland .

ST . BHENDON ' S LODGE , NO . 163 . —DEDICATION OF TJIENEW MASONIC HALL , PARSONSTOWN . On Tuesday , 15 th inst ., the imposing ceremony of dedicating the new Masonic Hall , Parsonstown , to the purposes of Freemasonry , was performed with all the ceremonies and rites peculiar to the time-honoured craft . The assemblage of the brethren from various parts was large

and influential , and the fact that the quarterly communication of the Midland Counties Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the same time served to invest the . occasion with additional eclat . The Right Honourable Lord Has ^ tings , the newly appointed Grand Master of the Prov . G . Lodge , assumed his office for the first time amid the heartiest congratulations . At 12 . 30 the brethren

and visitors assembled in the new lodge-room , took the placesassigned to them by the Stewards , and at one o ' clock , shortly after the arrival of the down train , the Provincial Grand Officers assembled in the ante-room , and walked in procession to the new lodge-room , the brethren all standing . Silence being proclaimed , thc lodge was formally opened .

The Secretary of 163 then read the reply of the Grand Lodge to their memorial requesting permission to remove their , meetings to their new hall ; and in the name of the lodge requesting the Right Worshipful Grand Master to proceed with the dedication . The Provincial Grand Chaplain read prayers , after which the anthem , Psalm xc , verse 17 , was sung by the choir . The ceremony of dedication

was then performed by the Rt . Worshipful Grand Master in the manner prescribed by Masonic formularies . The business of the communication was finally proceeded with , and at the conclusion the brethren adjourned to Dool y ' s Hotel , where the members of St . Brendon's entertained their visitors to a magnificent champagne luncheon , served up in the style peculiar to that establishment .

During the progress of the works at the new hall we endeavoured to keep our readers acquainted with the style of this unique and beautiful specimen of architecture , but now that it has been brought to such a successful finale , a more detailed description may be interesting to lovers of the media-val art . Some eight months since the committee obtained

possession of a house in William-street , and having removed the top floor and all the partitions , found at their disposal a room which measured about 31 feet long by 17 wide , and 17 high to the braces of the roof . They then instructed Mr . A . B . Milne , C . E ., to prepare plans for its conversion into a hall suitable for the meeting of their ancient Order , and , under his direction and superintendence the

various works have been carried out , the completion of which wc this day chronicle . On entering the hall the visitors'attention is first caught by the " All-seeing Eye , " which , visible through a break in a bank of clouds , seems to watch over and to see all who are in the room , of which we now proceed to give a more detailed description . The ceiling is divided to six

bays or compartments by seven deep moulded ribs , resting on consoles , supported by pilasters , which , in their turn , divide the side walls into a like number of bays , and form the main features of the work . Round two sides ef the room are raised platforms , on which are placed the benches for the brethren ; a bench between each pair of pilasters , and at the further end is a dais approached by three steps ,

on which is the Master ' s chair , & c . The ribs are elliptical in form , being designed to make the utmost of the available height . The web is pierced with a number of round holes , which are picked out with pink and black . The mouldings , which form thc top and bottom members , are in continuous pieces steamed and bent round to the required contour , and secured by bolts passing through , all

the heads of which and their washers , in thc form of five pointed stars , ' arc picked out in blue and gold . The ceiling between the ribs is covered with blue paper , spangled with five pointed gold stars , and the effect of which when lit up is to give a great apparent height and expanse . The consoles have in each of their projecting members an ovoid hole which is picked out in pink and black ,

and the top and bottom tables arc connected round the room by stop chamfered strings , enclosing between them the frieze , which is tinted a pale pink , and , is embellished with a variety of Masonic emblems in gold , relieved and shaded . The pilasters are eight feet high , and are wrou ght with bold angle staffs , with O . G . stops , and have three large reeds which are stopped both at toj

and bottom , and also in the centre , where a plain surface is left , on which is placed a five-pointed star and a square and compasses , carved and gilt . The panels between the pilasters and the end walls under the frieze arc tinted a peculiar cream color termed " Parian Ware , " and each panel is relieved b y a line of scroll work and mediaeval leaves , stencilled on in Sienna . On the end wall , at thc entrance from ante-room , and filling the space