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PAGE ' Freemasons' Hall 21 Chips of Foreign Ashlar—By J . A . H 21 On Tree and Serpent Worship as exemplified by some recentlydiscovered Indian Monuments 23 Opinion of Freemasonry expressed by the Earl of Derby 26 Palestine Exploration Fund 27 Ancient Lodges , 28 Masonic Notes and Queries 29

Correspondence 32 A Comparison 33 Masonic Menis 35 Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys 35 CRAET LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 36 Provincial 36 Ireland 37

Eoyal Arch 38 Obituary 38 Poetry 39 The "Morning Advertiser" and Freemasonry 39 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 40 To Correspondents ,. 40

Freemasons' Hall.

FREEMASONS' HALL .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 10 , 1869 .

Ib has been suggested to us that as a very large proportion of the brethren have never had the opportunity of seeing and going over the buildings in Great Queen-street , that we should , now that the works are completed , give a description of

both the external appearance and internal arrangements . We are pleased to be able to comply with the request , and to present to our readers in this week's issue an engraving of the external front of the Hall . ( Seepage 34 ) .

The building occupies the site of what was originally called Queen ' s-place , and also a portion of the site of the former Freemason's Tavern . It

embraces a frontage of 44 ft . by a depth of 200 ft ., and also the portion of the old building between the rooms adjoining the front and the old hall . The accompanying engraving represents the

front of the hall , and also that of the tavern . The former is entirely of Portland stone ; the latter is of red brick with dressings of Portland stone . It will be seen by reference to the engraving that the main lines run through the two fronts , but the difference of material has been , adopted as a distinction between the hall and the tavern .

The front is bold , and is original in design , whilst the details are suggestive of much elegance . The carving , of which there is a great deal , was executed by Bro . W . S . JSTicholl of Liverpool , and much care has been exercised in the general

design and its carrying out . The four figures by the same artist represent the Masonic attributes of Wisdom , Fidelity , Charity , and Strength . Upon

Freemasons' Hall.

the archivolt of the arch are the signs of the Zodiac . The head between the column caps represent the sun , the moon , and the five stars upon a background of corn , vine , and olive . Over the

door-Avay is the Craft motto , Audi , Vide , Tace . The architect Bro . F . B . Cockerell deserves great commendation for the general elegance of the design . We shall give next week ground plans of the interior .

Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOKEIGN ASHLAE .

By J . A . H . THE GRIDIRON IN FEANCE . The hero of one of William Carleton's Irish tales having by adverse circumstances been

stranded on the Coast of France , was desirous of obtaining the loan of a gridiron from the natives for culinary purposes . The Irishman had passed for a great French scholar among his shipmates because he had learnt to say the words Parley voo

frongsay , without the least idea what they meant , and on landing in France he proceeded to the nearest cottage , and expected to obtain whac he required in response to his enquiry , " Parley voo frongsay , will you lend me the loan of a gridiron . "

Carleton's description of the efforts of poor Pat to secure the coveted article , and of his final departure in the profound conviction of French inferiority because mossoo had not understood plain language is exceedingly humorous .

In the present article we use the Avord " gridiron " in a sense very dissimilar to that of the Hibernian . To us the gridiron is familiar as a popular symbol of the ceremonies of Freemasonry . The vulgar mind has long invested our mysteries

Avith all the appliances of hot-pokers , scorching fires , and surgical instruments ; but Avhen a symbol expressive of all the torture that ingenuity could devise has to be chosen , then " gridiron " is the -word . Many a profane has said to tis " I should

like to be a Freemason , but I am afraid of the gridiron . " In course of time the brethren seeing the fear pictured in men ' s faces in prospect of initiation , and laughing at their groundless alarms , have made the gridiron a subject of jocularity and

humour , and we have seen strong men quiver as they stood " properly prepared " and some wicked brother has jocosely told the Tyler that he hoped the gridiron was in good order . "