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Article Freemasons' Hall—The Main Building. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasons' Hall—The Main Building.
THE TK . MPt . i :.
premises , consisting of " two large commodious dwellinghouses , and a large garden situated in Great Queen Street . " The value of property in the heart of London has altered so
liKAll OV . STAIIfl'A . SK .
much since that date that it is interesting to note that . £ 3 , 180 was the sum contracted to pay for the premises , and that it having been considered , rightly enough , that the garden was suflicientlv large to contain a complete Hall for the use of the Society , it was calculated that the expense of such a structure
would not exceed £ 3 , . The last mentioned item and the figure attached to it is , however , but an example of the sanguine nature of most building estimates , for it appears by the Grand Treasurer ' s accounts that in 1 792 above £ " , 000
had been expended on the building , leaving a debit , which was subsequently paid off .
On the 1 st May 1 775 the foundation of the new Hall was laid in solemn form , in the presence of a numerous company of the brethren . The building of the Hall went on so rapidly that it was linished in little more than twelve months , and on
the 23 rd Mav , 1776 , it was opened and dedicated in solemn form to "Masonry , Virtue , and Universal Charity and Benevolence . " It was then agreed that the anniversary of this ceremony should be ever after regularly kept .
" Thus was completed "—as William Preston remarks , in his " Illustrations of Masonry , " published not long after the incidents to which he refers— " under the auspices of a nobleman " ( Lord Pet re ) " whose amiable character as
a man , and zeal as a mason , may be equalled , but cannot be
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasons' Hall—The Main Building.
THE TK . MPt . i :.
premises , consisting of " two large commodious dwellinghouses , and a large garden situated in Great Queen Street . " The value of property in the heart of London has altered so
liKAll OV . STAIIfl'A . SK .
much since that date that it is interesting to note that . £ 3 , 180 was the sum contracted to pay for the premises , and that it having been considered , rightly enough , that the garden was suflicientlv large to contain a complete Hall for the use of the Society , it was calculated that the expense of such a structure
would not exceed £ 3 , . The last mentioned item and the figure attached to it is , however , but an example of the sanguine nature of most building estimates , for it appears by the Grand Treasurer ' s accounts that in 1 792 above £ " , 000
had been expended on the building , leaving a debit , which was subsequently paid off .
On the 1 st May 1 775 the foundation of the new Hall was laid in solemn form , in the presence of a numerous company of the brethren . The building of the Hall went on so rapidly that it was linished in little more than twelve months , and on
the 23 rd Mav , 1776 , it was opened and dedicated in solemn form to "Masonry , Virtue , and Universal Charity and Benevolence . " It was then agreed that the anniversary of this ceremony should be ever after regularly kept .
" Thus was completed "—as William Preston remarks , in his " Illustrations of Masonry , " published not long after the incidents to which he refers— " under the auspices of a nobleman " ( Lord Pet re ) " whose amiable character as
a man , and zeal as a mason , may be equalled , but cannot be