The Library And Museum Of The Grand Lodge Of England.

It was never proposed , and it does not appear necessary or desirable , that Grand Lodge should be called on to devote any considerable portion of its funds to the purchase of books , manuscripts , or other objects . It is believed that Brethren possessed of what the profane cannot appreciate will often be disposed to give , or at least to bequeath their

Masonic treasures to the Order , if satisfied that those treasures will be preserved in a suitable manner for the good of the Order . "

( I'lmlo Utile Portrait Co . ) V . 7 .. . IKWKL Ol- ' THK ROIIKRT UUHXS CIIAPTKR . Xo . io , M . UJK IX 1 S . - . 0 . Prevented hif I [ eilr . i / G . mill Waller S / iittiri / . The whole report is somewhat lengthy , and includes suggestions as to the fitting up of a proper room when such

room could be secured , and other matters that can well be omitted from this article . The substance of the report was duly laid before Grand Lodge at the Quarterly Communication on the 2 nd of December following , together with an urgent invitation for contributions , but as the authorities

( Pliotii Utile Purl rait Cu . ) OLD MASONIC Ml . 'd , I , KKDS WARK . Pretellteil i , ij Jl . J . Steer , I ' . l' . a . li ' ., -Yor / h ll ' al-v . were then busily engaged in acquiring house property with a view to the extension of the premises , no further action was taken thereon , and the subject of a Library was again practically shelved for several years .

Meanwhile the veteran Henderson had secured the sympathy and support of one of the most earnest and eloquent members of the English Craft , in the person of the late John Havers , P . G . D ., subsequently appointed Past Grand Warden . This distinguished brother presided at the Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement in November , 1858 , and

in proposing the toast of success to that Lodge , thus refers to the subject of Masonic enlightenment and progress : — " I trust the day is not far distant when Masonry shall take an immense stride—when private Lodges shall devote a portion of their time to the study of the Arts and Sciences

—when men shall once more seek our Temples as a means of advancement in knowledge—when the parent body , with a local habitation worthy of its name , shall encourage the study of those liberal arts which lie within its peculiar province . As the first step in this direction , I hail with peculiar pleasure

and delight the prospect which appears to be opening before us . I long to see a library established within these walls . I trust that one of the objects to be carried out in that library will be the delivery of lectures on scientific subjects connected especially with our institution . I should like to

(/ 'Wo Klilc Portrait (' " . ) laolITEKNTII CKXTLRV FliKKMASOX , HKItUX WARK . Pretenteit l „ j Samuel Valleuliiie , P . O . Pi'l-et . see its walls adorned not only with the interesting relics of antiquity , its shelves enriched witli the works of the learned of all agesbut I should like to see it adorned also with the

, busts and statues , the portraits and reminiscences of the great , the good , the noble—fitting testimonials to those who have distinguished themselves by their acquirements in science , or by their devotion to our Order . Why should not our children and our children's children see perpetuated in

lasting marble , or in faithful portraiture , the lineaments of those who have laboured worthily and well in our cause ? By the side of Wren and Jones should stand the noble and the great , a Sussex or a Moira , and by them again , the humbler , but not less useful , labourers in the Craft . Why

should not our children gaze on their features and see what manner of men were they who taught and led in days gone by ? Why should not a Gilkes or a Wilson occupy with the great , side by side , a fitting place ? As in life , so in memory , side by side , in Masonic equality , the noble and the learned , the great and the good—just tribute to their labour , just memorial to their worth . "

( 7 'o be continued . )