Our Architectural Chapter.

Bro . Ingram pointedly remarks that he has given this information , believing that the above record , showing , as it does , that the principles we have so strongly advocated were recognized and acted upon at Gibraltar so long as twenty-four years ago , may serve as an additional excitement to others to " go and do likewise . " A project for erecting a Masonic hall at Gibraltar for the joint use

oi" all the Lodges , has lately been talked about , but from the peculiar formation of Gibraltar there is very great difficulty in obtaining a site . If this can be secured , the Lodges have sufficient means to erect a suitable building . We wish them success . We are indebted to a brother signing as " Scriba , No . 857 , " for an account of the old Masonic hall at Philadel phia from the hook referred

to in Masonic Notes and Queries . At p . 291 it is recited that the state Lodge of the Ancient and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania , had been for several years past anxious to erect a building suitable to the dignity of the Craft and to their thriving situation , but were not able until the year 1809 , to accomplish their wishes . With the funds then in baud and the help of additional subscriptions they began their

undertaking , but their views enlarging as the work proceeded ,, it became needful to increase their funds , and the Grand Lodge therefore proposed a ban of £ S , 0 QQ at six per cent ,, redeemable on the first of January ) 1825 , and charged on the security of the ground lot and the building .

We may observe as a fact worth noting in these days of Masonic zeal and depression , when it is questioned whether we can afford such a sum to redeem the Grand Lodge of England from disgrace , that in less than two hours the loan was filled by eighty subscribers ; and a second loan of four thousand pounds was afterwards filled . This hall was situated iu Chesnut-street , between Seventh' ! r and

Eighth-streets , from Delaware , in what is now the heart of tfi'e'city ; It was consecrated iu ample form , and with all possible splendour arid solemnity , on St . John ' s day , 1810 . Upwards of eight hundred brethren , many of them from other states , attended the ceremony on that occasion . An impressive oration was delivered by the .. M . W Grand Master , James Milman , in St John ' s church , Sass if ' ras .-. street ;

This was printed and sold b y Bradford and Inskeep ; and appended to it was a full account of the procession . ' f :,: 'ii ' -- '>» A description of the building we must reserve for another ' pccasion , as dimensions are given , and the disposition of the roonv ^ . ' ^ iiji ' ' ^ affords some useful examples , ' .-, ' - ' , '/ '¦ 1 < 'i' ' ¦ 'i ; 'in i The cost of the Masonic hall at Philadelphia was ( ibout ; twenty

. ; thousand pounds . We need hardly observe , that there aro-fe . w .-eii : ies in England of equal population that have laid out so nrtfeh ^ Vm a Masonic hall . There was at that time still subsisting the Royal York Grand Lodge in that same city . ¦ ¦ ¦¦ -. ' ¦ : ¦ - ¦¦• . : ¦?>¦ : ¦ ¦' ' : ¦ ¦ : ¦ ¦¦ ¦ i > ¦