Our Architectural Chapter.

OUR ARCHITECTURAL CHAPTER .

LOXDOX , SATURDAY , MAIiCJl " , , 1800 .

Is our Architectural Chapter of December 24 th , we briefly sketched a plan upon which we imagined the proposition of gii'ing assistance to country Lodges in the building of hulls , from the funds of Grand Lodge , mig ht be advantageously carried out . We have HOAV the scheme of the Board of General Purposes before us , and we must

confess that ifc is as liberal , if not , with one or tAvo exceptions , more so , than that which we laid doivu . In the first instance it is proposed that the sum to be advanced to Lodges in the country shall not exceed two thousand pounds in all , until experience shall be had of the working of the scheme - a wise and judicious arrangementas we do not suppose that

, , excepting . in any large town , on the average , a larger sum than from tivo to three hundred pounds will ever be required for one hall ; and should the scheme prove successful , there will be no difficulty in Grand Lodge extending it according to the funds at its disposal . In the second clause of the schemeifc is proposed that not

, more than one half of the cost of the building shall be advanced from Grand Lodge—we have already expressed an opinion , and we still adhere to ifc , that one third would be tho better proportion . On the third proposition , that the advance shall be made

on the security of the whole property ; and the fourth , that the money shall only be advanced on the completion of the building , we have little to observe , excepting that we believe , without disadvantage , the money might in some instances be advanced , under proper supervision , as the work proceeded , and thereby enable it to be more economically completed

than will be the case if the builder has to give credit until the completion of the building , and then have to depend on the Grand Superintendent of Works , ( as proposed by Article 11 ) , certifying as to the value of the building . To article 5 , ' ' That it ( the loan ) shall be advanced in the names of Bros . Samuel TomkinsFrancis RoxburghWilliam

, , Gray Clarke , and John Havers , to two or more brethren , by whom and to whom respectively the security is to be given and received , " we would suggest , as an amendment , the using of tho words " the Grand Treasurer , Grand . 'Registrar , Grand Secretary , and President of-the Board of General Purposes for the time being , " and thereby avoiding the difficulty which

might arise from the death or retirement from Masonry of one or more ofthe brethren named above ; although we aro perfectly aware that in the legal documents the " brethren must be identified b y their names and not their offices , Freemasonry not being an incorporated body , in tho legal sense of the words .

ihe sixth clause , " That L ' odges or brethren obtaining loans , and not complying with the conditions under ivhich they are advanced , shall be subject to the same penalties as those which attach to the nonpayment of Grand Lodge dues "—is so manifestly founded in justice that we need not discuss it . Tho seventh , eighth , unci ninth clauses we will take

together . " 7 . That interest , at the rate of S . 1 per cent , per annum , he paid on loans . " 8 . That special agreements may be made as tp the terms of repayment of the principal , hut in no case shall a less sum than ¦ r . 7 per cent , thereof be 2 > aid off per annum . The first payment shall not be compulsory until the iration of eihteen months

exp g from the time when the loan was made . _ " 9 . That the payment of interest and the repayment of principal shall he made twice in each year , namely , on the 25 th March and 29 th September . " . Four per cent , ou mortgage is reasonable interest enough , und

we do not think it would have beeu unfair to have asked jive ¦ but we would like to know whether it is intended that the four per cent , on the whole amount of loan is to be charged throughout the entire period during which the repayments of seveu per cent , per annum are running ; because .

if so , the actual charge will be something more than eight per cent . —or whether the interest is to be reduced year by year as the principal is repaid' ? If tho latter be the intention , and we presume it is , we would respectfully suggest that the proposition ivhich we made in December last—that ( the term of years having been determined upon within which the principal and interest should be returned ) a fixed sum per annum

should be paid throughout the whole term—ivould be much more simple and satisfactory . It is true that we argued for ten years , but whether it be for ten , fifteen , or twenty , the princip le is just the same , and will be found in its working the most equitable and easy withal . The other sections of the scheme are so simpleand at the

, same time so just , that we do not think it necessary particularly to advert to them , though we should indeed be sorry were any tribunal to be established for lending money without the control of Grand Lodge ; and we rejoice that suburban Lodges , without a reasonable distance from Freemasons' Hall , are not to bo debarred from the advantages of the proposed

scheme . We had hoped , before this , the Board of General Purposes ivould have been pillared to lay before the Craft a full aud well digested scheme for the future management and bestoival of our property in Great Queen-street , the outward appearance of which is , at present , anything but creditable to the Craft ,

and wc trust that Ave shall not be allowed to go beyond June next without such a scheme being produced . Whilst on tlie subject of halls , we cannot clo otherwise than express our gratification at finding that the Leicester brethren , having secured their hall , are about to do honour to their most excellent Provincial Grand Master , our noble Bro . Earl Howe , by decorating ifc with his portrait . Were all Provincial Grand Masters like Earl Howe—and all possessed

such excellent ancl energetic Deputies as Bro . Kelly—there would be no want of Masonic halls in the country , or of able , energetic , and zealous Masons to fill them . We regret to hear that considerable difficulties have arisen with regard to the proposed new hall for the Lodge La Cesaree , in Jersey , owing to the want of sufficient security to the purchasers of real property iu the Channel Islands .

Ujioii this subject our correspondent writes : — "It is proposed to hold another meeting of [ this Lodge next iveek in reference to the Masonic Hall . I very much fear that this will drop through , not from lack of desire on the part of the brethren , or from want of funds ( for the money to purchase the land—several hundred pounds—is raised ) but from the iniquitous laivs here as to the tenure of propertywhich make it

, unsafe . Hundreds of persons have been ruined , having purchased property / ami , after a lapse of years , creditors of the party from Avhom ifc was bought , or who had previously possessed it , have conic down on the present holder , and seized and appropriated it for their own benefit . A commission has been sitting for nearly a year , appointed by the English Government , to inquire into this and other abusesbut officials of that sort are in no hurryand

, , it is very uncertain ii'hetlier anything ivill be clone , and still more doubtful when . Delay in a matter of this sort makes its supporters lukewarm , very naturally , and such is the case here in this instance . As you kindly mentioned the project of the members of La Cesaree several times in the Magazine , it is right to let you know what obstacles have to be encountered . Progress of all kinds in the island is impeded hthese law's . Were the

restricy tions removed , English capital ivould noiv in abundantly , and bring ivith it extraordinary prosperity . A flagrant instance occurred recently , in irliich the most itciito Jersey " lawyers were duped , and suffered great pecuniary losses . Excuse my troubling you with these matters , but it is well you should know the reason that nothing is done . "

ESEUCY AND SUCCESS . —The Scotch are a singular people . They are found everywhere and engaged in every occupation , and , more strange , they almost always . succeed . It ivas saicl once , with reference to tho highest law officer of fche kingdom , by a facetious friend , " I believe lock would havo succeeded as an opera dancer . I don't mean to say that he would have been the best dancer , but he would have got the largest salary . " There is more truth hi this than at fet sight appears ,