Freemasons' Hall.

¦ drawing shows some good ornament in polychromy . Ihe plan has several striking weaknesses scarcely to be got over . In the design marked " Stability , " the same position for the tavern is adopted . For the front , there are alternative designs , one an amplification of the chief part of the other . One of these makes the tavern-building subordinate iu external character to the Masonic building ; the other nearly duplicates the opposite endand fills in a new centre . Taking the plan to be

, ¦ applicable to either case , the entrance is at the eastern extremity of the front of the Masonic building ; and in the more simple design , there is a . window corresponding at the west , —so that tbe arrangement recalls that of tbe Conservative Club , with which building there are some other , though trilling , resemblances . The corridor of entrance leads into a grand saloon or central hall , which is of the same family as that in the Reform

Club , Bridgcwater House , and other buildings of Sir Charles Barry ; but the corridor enters it quite close to the angle . Otherwise there would be considerable effect in the steps up to the great hall , which occup 3 r the whole width of the further end ; and from the galleries surrounding , on the first floor . Whether the saloon occupies space to the disadvantage of specified requirementswe cannot say ; these questions are onlto

, y be answered by detailed examination , for which time has not sufficed . Skill , however , is shown in provision of the requisite areas for light . Tbe banquetting-hall of the tavern , placed as we have said , west , —and which is raised some steps higher than the Masonic hall , —baa a very effective interior ; but the construction of the support of the roof , we find it impossible to understand , and no explanation is discoverable iu tbe drawings .

The ceilling is waggon-headed with semi-circular openings for light , groining it ; and each half of this vault and tbe entablature from which it rises , is carried upon the farthest projected edge of a cove of no small dimensions . Along the sides of the hall are wide galleries on cantilevers . The street front , in each form of the design , would be an imposing structure of the Sansovino character of architecture , with the entablature

cornidone having the deep and richly-sculptured frieze pierced by oblong windows , a balustraded area , a continuous balcony with balusters and statues on the pedestals , and balusters to the roof . The arch-headed windows , with columns , in the first floor ,

between the masses of tho angles , are well designed , and so are the open turrets , loggie , or belvideres with which the architect has crowned his angles . The author claims to have introduced each of the five orders somewhere in tbe front . In the expanded facade , central columnar features aro more prominent , at least in tbe upper portion of the building . In the design marked " Experientia , " the hotel is still eastward , and treated as a different building externally . A Rococo

character of Italian is observable in it . Tho ' plan , generally , seems to us made with superior knowledge of the site and of the Masonic as well as ordinary requirements ; indeed , we suspect that if the east position of the tavern be decided upon , this plan will prove the best . The matter of lighting seems to have been properly studied . Decoratively the design is unequal to the last mentioned . The four stories of columns and pilasters

are , after all that can be said in praise of their treatment here , but commonplace ; whilst the banqueting-ball shown in the view , with segmental ceiling rising from pilasters , or some other features placed in the upper part of the walls , is less satisfactory than the interior in several other designs . Could we have given a longer notice we might have entered into tbe merits of several sets of drawings . Amongst those

designs is one marked " Ich Dien , " wherein the Masonic-ball is reached by a too circuitous route , tbe result of making the entrance central in the Masonic building . It has a portico of six Corinthian columns between autce , in tho upper part of the front , darkening the windows of two stories , but otherwise skilfully designed , as are also two angle-turrets . In the same designthe banquetting-hall is disposed with columnsafter the

, , plan of nave and aisles , the central space being vaulted , and the sides fiat-ceiled . Tbe whole of each square space between beams or ribs , is glazed ; so that ample light is effectively introduced . Taste is exhibited also in polychromatic decoration . The design marked " Labor ipse voluptas , " with a clever , somewhat Florentine , exterior , but heavy in appearance for London atmosphere ; and designs marked " Concord" " Sic nos non

, Nobis ; " and " Pour y Parvenir , " might deserve to be looked into . A number of letters and some personal statements show us that there have been conflicting interests at work , antagonistic to that fairness in decision which a committee appealing to a profession owes to it . To this we may have to return .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

OLD . LAWS AXD THEIR HEARING ON MODERN PRACTICE . I know very well that in " Masonic Notes and Queries " questions of Masonic law are inadmissible , bnt turning over a copy of Anderson ' s Book of Constitutions , dated 174-6 , at page 153 , there are both the old and new "General Regulations of the Free and Accepted Masons , " and I trust an extract may find a place as a note , without claiming for it anything beyond , in these columns .

OLD REGULATIONS . NEW REGULATIONS . " The Master of a particular " II . On 25 th November , lodge has the right and autho- 1723 , it was agreed ( but negrity of congregating the mem- lected to be recorded ) , that if a tiers of his lodge into a chapter Master of a particular ledge is upon any emergency or occur- deposed or demits , the Senior rence ; as well as to appoint the Warden shall forthwith fill the time and place of their usual Master's chairtill the next

, forming ; and in case of death time of chusing ; and ever since , or sickness , or necessary absence in the Master ' s absence , he fills of the Master , the Senior War- fhe chair , even though a . former den shall act as Master , pro Master be present . " tempore , if no brother is pre- ' sent who has been Master ol that lodge before , for the absent

Master ' s authority reverts to the last Master present , though he cannot act till the Senior Warden has congregated the lodge . " Does the word " Chapter , " used in the old regulations , mean what we now understand by a B . A . Chapter , or does it signify a confederation congregation , or assembly of Masons ?—Ex . Ex .

ONLY FOUR ORIGINAL GRAXD OFFICERS . I confess I was not a little startled to find , in the same page as the previous extract , that there were only four Grand Officers recognised in 1730-1 . The words are " The Grand Lodge , to cure some irregularities , ordered that none but the Grand Master , his Deputy , and Wardens ( who a . re the only Grand Officers ) , shall wear their jewels

in gold pendaut to blue ribbons , " & c . This , I take it , admits of the number of Grand Officers being but four in all . How many fours do we get now ?—Ex . Ex . BISHOP HOADLY ' S LODGE . Bishop Hoadly was the champion of Freemasonry iu the House of Lords , and most ably defended the Craft when it was sought to make it illegal . To what lodge did Bishop Hoadly belong?—L . H . D .

OPERATIVE CHARGES FOR WORK . Some of the entries from the original accounts of works executed at Hampton Court Palace during the reign of Henry VIII ., and preserved in the Public Record oflice , arc hero transcribed : " Free Masons at 3 s . the woke , every of them working in freston upon dores , wyndowes , coynes for buttresses , and gresse tables for

the King ' s Now Hall . " " Payd to John Ells of Wesmyster , freemason , for makyng and intayling of two bullyns in freston , standing iu the Vowghte of the great baywyndow in the Kynges New Hall at 10 s . the piece . Payd to John Whighte , of Winchester , fremason , for & c , £ 6 . Payd to John 'Wright , of South Memys , fremason , & cby couvensyou ( contract ) 22 s . 6 cZ . Payd to John

, Wright , freemason , for the workyng and makyng of a lyon and a dragon in ston , standyng at the gabyll ends of the Kyngs New Hall , at 16 s . the pece . Payd to William Kyng , John Hobbs , freemason , for hewyng and settyng the pavyng of the herthe in the Kynges new hall of Rygateston , couteyning 16 fote at 11 ^ the fote . " Wages of Lai / our Freemasons . —Tbe master John

Molton , at 12 d . the day . The Warden , William Reynolds , at 5 s . the weke . Setters , 12 in number , at 3 s . 6 cZ . the woke each . Lodge men , 56 named and the cost placed against name each , 3 s . 4 d . the weke . Hard hewers , one at 4 s ., 10 at 3 s . 4 d the weke . Carpenters . —The master at 12 cZ . the day . The Warden at 8 c 2 . the day . Prentises from 4 d . to 8 d . the day .