Grand Lodge.

ho had tho honour to represent that day , had met them under more favourable circumstances than heretofore , as they had that evening enabled tbe brethren to witness some of their performances , and he hoped what they had seen met with their approbation . Their progress might have been slow , for it was about eight years ago when be"proposed a scheme for this object , and the first fruits they bad seen that night . It was not very long

ago since they had agreed to accept tin plan , and it would not be twelve months until the 27 th of next month when tbe M . W . Grand Master laid the first stone ; and even if there had been a slow proceeding , be was satisfied that it was not an evil , as it allowed the walls to dry , and rendered them more substantial for the future work upon them . He had that night

offered the brethren an opportunity of inspecting the new building , and he bad done so at the earliest moment , to show them what the Committee were doing with their money . He had been warned a week ago of the disadvantage under which the Committee would labour were they to allow tbe brethren to look upon a building devoid of colour or paint ; but in answer to this he said to himself , "Are not these men all speculative Masons ? and I think it would be doing them an injustice to

suppose they are not able to judge for themselves what the effect of the building will be , because there is no colour or paint upon it . " The sketch which he had yesterday drawn up as to the progress of tbe building , which had been placed in their hands , would enable them to distinguish and appreciate the connection of their whole system , aud the relative dependence of their several parts . They might ask him why they had not shown

the whole of the building ; but to make arrangements for what they had seen that night they bad to displace tho workmen at an early hour , and as some of the lifts and supporters were not complete , it might have been attended with danger , besides delaying the progress of the work for about two days ; and it Avas thought that it would be satisfactory if they exhibited one

corridor as an example of what the whole work would be . He . wished to refer to one matter which was deeply interesting to tbe Committee . It had been pointed out by the brethren , in . heir instructions to the architect , and the committee had hud it down as their law , that simplicity , rather than elaborate workmanship , would influence their selections of a plan ; and lie thought the brethren would agree with him that their architect had well carried out their instructions . On a former

occasion he ( Bro . Havers ) had pointed out the difficulty of building upon a site which was partly occupied ; but he was happy to say that the architect iiad met and overcome every difficulty , and produced a result whicli was most creditable , in providing for the convenience of the executive , the Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , the Grand Lodge , and the Craft generally . ' At the same time , although they had assisted

the architect , the credit was due , and justly due , to their accomplished Bro . Cockerell , with whom , for the whole time , they had worked together as one man ; and there was no dill ' eren . ee , no doubt , no question amongst them as to what should be done . In this instance , they might truly say that they had got tho right man in the right place , and there was every

probability that they would be able to produce a building " perfect in all its parts , and honourable to the builder . " There was one point to which be wished to revert , and it was with no feelings of regret . There was not one of them then present who would forget the beautiful oration pronounced by Bro . AA oodford on the occasion of laying the first stone of the new

building , in whicli be appealed to the Great Architect of the Universe " that no danger might befall the workmen whilst engaged in the undertaking ; " and it was a source of congratulation to them that no workmnn had received the slightest injury .

As to the circumstances which had taken place in reference to the competition on the plan upon which they were erecting the building , be would say that competition iu the eyes of the world Avas sometimes looked upon as nothing more than a foregone conclusion , and that it was all a pretence for giving it to some selected individual ; but , as he had told them last year , he kneAV nothing of the competitors , and the architect was then unknown

to him . Probably he might be asked when the buildings Avere to be occupied , and be thought that tbe part they bad seen that evening would be ready for some of the lodges in two months from that time ; but the Committee could not install all the lodges , as they would be compelled to take some of tbe rooms and let them to the lessees of the Tavern for those rooms that

they should have to take from them . As soon as the executive was put into other rooms , they would pull down the entire front of the present building , and should only be able to supply accommodation for a portion of the lodges for some months to come . He would then come to the matter mentioned in the report , which said : — "According to the terms of

tbe agreement , they have inquired into the position , aud responsibility of the new Company , and , being satisfied thereon , thoy have sanctioned the granting of a lease to Mr . Shrewsbury , with power to transfer it to the new Company ; aud they further report that the agreement for lease has been duly executed , and that the premium of £ 5 , 000 has been received ,

and paid to the bankers of tbe Grand Treasurer . " The brethren would remember that tbe fresh rental was at £ 1 , 200 a-year , rising until it reached £ 1 , 800 , together with the premium of £ 5 , 000 , and , therefore , he thought the Committee bad not made a bad arrangement for their interests . The report then noticed

that there were certain difficulties to be got over , so that , for the convenience of tbe tenants and the advantage of the Craft , the second and third sections of the building should be proceeded with at tho same time . Now , there was one difficulty in the way , which they were desirous of keeping out of sight . One of their tenants had a small workshop , for which he held

a lease that had three years and three-quarters to run ; and bad ho stood out for terms , they could not have proceeded with that portion ofthe building for three years and three-quarters ; but his objection bad been entirely removed , and suggestions bad been made to him with which he was perfectly satisfied . The Committee would , therefore , let the third section , and

complete the whole building as early as possible , as it was the wish of the Committee to see the Craft established in their own home , and to give the tenants tho " grcatest advantage from the new buildings , so that they mig ht receive a krger rent . He trusted the tenants would pay as much attention to their wants as the Craft did to theirs , and

as there would then be but one interest , that the tenants would respond to it by taking care of their property . He then came to the question of money , and he would refer to the report of May , 1 SG 3 . The paragraph in the present report thus alludes to the question : — " The Committee desire to observe that there are several modes by which this money may be

raised : —1 st , by borrowing from public offices ; 2 nd , by debentures ; and Srd , by borrowing from the Fund of Benevolence . The Committee are unanimously of op inion that the latter is tho most desirable course : tbe security is ample , the amount borrowed can be repaid by instalments , the society will not he obliged to seek extraneous aid , and the Fund of Benevolence will bo benefited . The Committee therefore recommend

that the practice which has been adopted on similar occasions shall bo followed in this instance . " Bro . HAA'Ens then proceeded to say that be wanted to ask them to borrow £ 19 , 000 from the Board of Benevolence . Iu