The Grand Lodge Property.

THE GRAND LODGE PROPERTY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUNE 14 , 1 SC 2 .

In another column will be found the propositions of Bro . Stephen Barton "Wilson , for tiie re-arrangement of the Grand Lodge property , which , in the absence of plans , it is somewhat difficult to understand . We gather this , however , that he proposes te

- place the intended new hall to the west of the present hall , ancl that the front of the new property shall be occupied "b y . the tavern , a plan which we have more than once advocated , but the scheme woidd also appear to involve the new tavern being enlarged by

some portion of the site occupied by the present tavern—a proposition to which there can be no objection , provided sufficient space is left for the various requirements of the Craft , of the nature of which there appears to be little or no question . " We

purposely abstain for the present from entering at length into the details of any scheme , whether propounded by the Board of General Purposes , or others as we shall withhold any decided opinion regarding them until we have an opportunity of seeing the

plans , not only of those already before \ is , but of other schemes , which we are assured -will be brought forward , though we must caution the Craft against being led into an acceptance of any scheme , until fully assured that it can be carried out at a reasonable cost . We

cannot , however , but reiterate our conviction that the proper position for the Masonic portion of the building is in the centre—i . e ., the present tavern and the Grand Secretary ' s office , the latter , of course , being entirely rebuilt , as oifering the most eligible mode of providing ever } ' - accommodation required at the least

possible expense . We do not deny that there may be some advantages connected with the scheme of the Board of General Purposes , but we fear that it will he too costly to enter into without very serious modifications , and above all there must be no attempt io

combine in one building , or in the same hands , the tavern and hotel ; all experience having proved , especially in London , the ineouxpatibility of such an arrangement , the business of the two being as opposite as possible , and requiring distinct staffs of servants and

managers . Bro . Harcourt suggests , in a- letter which appears in another column , that under the Book of Constitutions , it is the duty of the Board of General Purposesonly to suggest alterations and improvements in the

property , and as it is not their province to lay plans or draw lines , they should advertise for designs , to be afterwards submitted to Grand Lodge for tha final decision as to their acceptance or rejection . The plan recommended by Bro . Harcourt is just that adopted by Grand Lodge four years since , when the

The Grand Lodge Property.

Board of General Purposes were empowered to advertise for and procure such plans , -6300 being placed at their disposal for the purpose , and it is because the Board of General Purposes did not attend to the directions of Grand Lodge , that we -find

ourselves in our present position , with only one scheme from the Board , and that one repudiated by many of its members . It is true that other brethren are now invited to send in plans for the consideration of Grand Lodge , but they are generously allowed to do so afc

their own expense . Is such a course worthy of so large and influential a body as the Ereemasons of England ?

Masonic Facts.

MASONIC FACTS .

( Continued from page 44-4 . J 234 Extracts from the Rolls of the Priory of Pinchale . —A . D . 1338 . Item in stipendis iiij . latomoruin pro anno precedente , viiil . 1339 . Item in stipendis iiij . laiomorum pro anno precedenteviiiZ .

, 1361 . Et in solucione facta carpentariis , cementariis , et aliis operariis ministrantibtis eisdem , xvijl . iiijs . Hid . ob . ( A similar entry to the above occurs in the roll for 1364 , the amount being £ 5 16 * . S ^ d . ) 13645 . Et in stipendiis diversorum cementariorurn

operantibus ( ita ) petras circa dictam ecclesiain , xl . xs . viijcl Et in diversis hominibus conductis ad serviendum dictos cementarios ( ita ) per vices iiijZ . xijd . ob . In 1365-6 . The charge for Masons was £ 20 Qs . 2 d ., and for Masons' labourers or serving men £ 3 lis . Sd .

, Sundry tools were also provided for the Masons . 1366-7 . The Masons , carpenters , and labourers cost £ 25 6 s . 1367 . Masons , carnenters , and plumbers , & c , £ S 9 s . did . 1368 . Masons ancl carpentersc % e . £ 7 13 s . lOd .

, , 1369 . Etin stipendis eementariorum , carpentarioruni , latamornm , et aliorum operariorum , cum diversis hominibus conductis ad lis serviendum , efc alia opera , xiiijl . xvs . iiyl . ob . There are similar entries in the Rolls for 1-375 , 1377 ,

1378 , 1380 , 1389 , 1391 , 1392 , 1393 , 1394 ; and 1395 , A . D . 1403 . Soluciones debitorum . Item uxori Petri Dryng , iijs . iiijc ? . ( Dryng was building the Monks' dormitory at Durham at this time . ) 1415 . Item in solucione facta Johanni Tyndale ,

cementario , vjs . viijd . 1460 . Efc solvit Roberto Batmanson et Thomse Watson latamis pro factura camini et quatuor fenistrarum in aula , vjZ . xvjs . viijc ? . 1483-4 . Et solvit Johanni Rohynson latamo pro opere suo apud Pyhkall et Dunehn , ad diversas vices

per tempus compoti , xxvj-s . ynjd . 1465 . Et -solvit Robert Batmanston et Thomas Watson latamis pro factura auius parvce dcraras ad occidentalem finem EcelesiiB , xls . Et solvit Johanni Robynson latamo conducto pro stipendis suo per tempus compoti , xxvjs . yiijd .