Grand Lodge Property.

GRAND LODGE PROPERTY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MARCH 11 , I 860 .

Through , the courtesy of the Chairman of the Building Committee , we have this week had an opportunity of going over the new buildings in Great Queen-street , and were gratified to find them in a much more advanced state than we Avere led

to expect hy a casual view of the portion thrown open to the brethren on the evening of Grand Lodge ; and , with moderate diligence on the part of the contractors , there is no reason why the most important portions should not be taken possession

of for the business in the Craft before the close of the present Masonic season , notwithstanding the near approach of the time when Masonic business , as a rule , ceases in London— -the Festival of the Girls' School being the last event of importance of the season .

On entering from Great Queen-street , Ave pass that portion of the building- not yet commenced , and which is to include the library , reading room , and coffee room , and come almost immediately on the clerks' offices , in Avhich every accommodation

that can be required appears to have been considered and provided . We next pass on to the Grand Secretary ' s office and waiting-rooms for the brethren , beyond which are offices for the three Charities , and a noble board-room , not to be

excelled in any establishment in London . On the first floor , which will be reached by a handsome staircase now in course of construction , we arrive at the neAV corridor leading to the present hall , aud hereafter to communicate Avith the new

hall Avhen required for Masonic purposes . This corridor is light aud elegant , and immediately in connection with it Avill be the Grand Master ' s room , the Grand Officers' room , and other necessary apartments . On this floor there , are also two very handsome and commodious lodge-rooms , with the necessary ante-rooms and appurtenances .

On the second floor will be two similar lodgerooms , and on the third a much larger one , being forty-seven feet in length by , we believe , about thirty-five wide . Attached to this are rooms for taking care of lodge books , jewels , & c , for which

boxes Avill be provided . There are also lumber rooms ancl a lift communicating Avith the basement , for lifting up and down the furniture- of those lodges which desire to use their oivn furniture in preference to that to be famished b y

Grand Lodge Property.

Grand Lodge , ample provision being made in the basement for . its safe warehousing . On the upper floor will be servants' bed-rooms , and on the basement their day-rooms , there beingspecial staircases to avoid those devoted to the

Craft being obstructed by the servants . There is also a strong fire-proof room for the books ancl documents , and every floor is amply provided Avith lavatories and other conveniences , the want of Avhich has long been felt as a great drawback by

those lodges held at the Tavern . The communication Avith the -Tavern will be perfect , but with the exception of proceeding direct from their lodges to the banqueting rooms , the brethren Avill have no occasion to enter that building .

The whole of the works appear to have been admirably carried out , whilst the various decorations throughout the building are strictly Masonic , but at the same time beautifully chaste aud simple .

The Boys' School.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

The Annual Festival of this popular institution was held 011 Wednesday , under the presidency of the R . W . Bro . the Duke of Manchester , Prov . Grand Master for Northampton and Hunts ., who was supported by a goodly gathering of Grand

Officers ancl brethren . The proceedings of the ' evening passed off most satisfactorily . We once more call upon the brethren to assist us iu endeavouring : to secure the election of two

boys who have already gone to the poll SEVEN times without success , evidently from the Avant of some brother taking up their cause . The following ' are the cases as extracted from the balloting paperissued at the last election : —

CRABTEEE , BENJAMIN TOAVNSHEND . Bom 6 th March , 1853 . His mother , Mrs . Alice Oi'abtree , is the widow of the late Samuol Crabfcree , who met with his death , 3 rd January , 1861 , from an accident , while following his occupation of a builder , at the Victoria Railway Station , Pimlico , leaving live children , three of whom aro entirely dependent upon the widow for support .

¦ WILSON , EGBERT CHRISTOPHER . Born 5 th October , 1852 . His father , Bro . Joseph Wilson , aged 58 , was formerly a chemist and druggist , of Kendairbnfc is now in poor circumstances , suffering from a diseased , knee ^ joint of 32 years' standing , accompanied with Popliteal Aneurism . Has a wife and six children , three of whom depend upon him for support .

In the seven ballots already taken , Crab tree has polled 143 votes , and Wilson 72 , whilst somethingmore than 500 each will be required to ensure success . We , therefore , urgently call upon the brethren , who have not pledged their votes to any particular candidates , to forward us their balloting