Knights Templar.

the string course from which the roof springs there are six sets of illuminated mottoes on each side , and commencing from tbe west they read thus : — Nomn . SOOTH . Audi , vide , tace . Via Crucis via Lucis . Be just , and fear not . God is our hope and strength . The earth is the Lord ' s , and In Thee , 0 Lord , do we put

the fulness thereof . our trust . All glory be to God alone . Brotherly love , relief , and truth . Finem Respicc . Faith , hope , and charity .

The hall was profusely decorated with flags and banners of the Order , those of various encampments , individual Sir Kufcs ., & c , besides figures , shields , and armour of various kinds , the whole producing an ensemble but rarely witnessed ; and when it is remembered that tho first meeting to consider the propriety of founding such a home was only summoned after the meeting of Grand Conclave in May last , and after all hope of

being accommodated in the ne . v Freemasons' Hall was definitely and most reluctantly abandoned—every one must admit that tbe greatest credit is due to Sir Knt . Spratt , the architect , the committee , and all engaged in the work , for the energy and ability they have displayed in bringing the project so speedily and satisfactorily to a successful issue .

Three o ' clock was the hour at which Grand Conclave was to have been opened , according to the summons , but this was changed to half-past three ; and despite all tbe struggles of Sir Knt . Meymott , the G . Dir . of Cers ., who worked as few work even when they are to be highly remunerated , the besetting vice of Freemasons , a want of punctuality , was displayed again . But as

even goodnatured Sir Knts . can wax impatient , the G . Dir . of Cers . did , by coaxing , threatening , running after , and entreating , get them into order by a quarter-past four , and the procession was marshalled , and received tbe M . E . and S . G . M . and his Grand Officers in Templar form , and with loud applause .

The following Sir Knts ., Grand Officers , were present;— -M . E . and S . G . M ., William Stuart ; the V . H . and E . D . G . M ., Colonel George A . Vernon ; the V . E . Prov . G . Coins ., the Rev . John Huyshe , for Devon and Cornwall ; Colonel II . A . Bowyer , for Oxfordshire ; George Francis , for Hertfordshire ; G . Prior , George Ilareourt , M . D . ; G . Prelate , the Rev . E . Moore ; 1 st G . Capt ., Dr . Tulloch ; 2 nd G . Capt ., T . Ilarfoot ; G . Chancellor ,

John Halsey Law ; G . Vice-Chanccllor and Almoner , M . II . Shuttleworth ; G . Registrar , D . II . Stone ; G . Treasurer , J . Newton Tomkins ; G . Chamberlain , J . Rankin Stebbing ; G . Constable or Maresebal , M . Denisou ; 1 st G . Expert , AV . A . Powell ; as 2 nd G . Expert , F . Binckes ; 1 st Grand Standard Bearer , R , R . Rodd ; G . Dir . of Cers ., C . Swan ; G .

Sword-Bearer , Louis Lemanski ; as 1 st G . Herald , J . II . Thompson , jun . ; as 2 nd Grand Herald , W . Lean ; G . Supt . of A \ orks , Henry AV . Spratt ; G . Organist , Matthew Cooke ; and G . Banner-Bearer , J . Mott Tliearle . The Sir Knts . of tbe following Encampmnts were present : —Almeric de St . Mam ; Bolton—Fred . C . S . nethurst . Baldwyn , Bristol—C . Haseler ,

E . C . ; E . L . Bagshaw , P . E . C ; Rev . J . Thomas , Prov . G . Prelate ; T . Ball , J . R . Bramble , G . Chick , AV . B . Herapatb , Charles II . Low , an . 1 J . H . Scott . Bladai , Bath—J . King and R . M . Lawson . Cjeur de Lion , Oxford—Rich . Jas . Spiers , D . Prov . G . Com . and P . G . Capt . ; and Hon . W . H . North , P . G . Prior . Cornubian , Redruth—Thomas Mills . Faith and Fidelity ,

London—John Udall , P . E . C . ; Charles Beaumont , P . E . C . and P . 3 . Herald ; Alexander Ridgway , P . E . C . ; and J . Topper , P . 2 nd G . Capt . of Lines . Frederick of Unity , London—J . How , P . E . C . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . Banner-Bearer ; \ Y . Locock Webb ; and F . Wright . Kemeys Tynte , AVoolwieh—Colonel

Henry Clerk , P . E . C , P . G . Sub-Prior and P . G . Registrar ; John AS . Figg , P . E . C and P . 1 st G . Standard-Bearer ; Capt . R . Boyle , E . C . and P . G . Sub-Prior ; AVilliam Piatt ; and E . J . Eraser . Loyal Brunswlctc , Plymouth—Richard Rodda , Prov . G . Chancellor , Devon ; and Seipio Brizzi . Melita , Malta—Sidney Millett ; and George E . Precce . Mount Calvary ,

London—John Boyd , P . E . C . ; II . J . Thompson , P . G . 'Aide-de-Camp ; J . P . S . C . Nicholson , P . G . Herald ; Rev . Joseph Hill Grice ; W . E . Gumbleton ; Chandos AVren Hoskyns , M . P . ; W . Pass ; J . Stohwasser , G . Tedder ; E . J . Still well ; and Benjamin Straban . Mount Zion , Bombay—J . Gibbs , D . Prov . G . Com . Bombay . Royal Kent , Newcastle—John Barker ,

P . E . C , P . 1 st G . Capt . ; and R . M . Gidley . Rougemont , Exeter — Capt . James D . ivy . Poyal Naval , Portsmouth—Capt . Chirles II . Cox . St . Amand ' s , Worcester . Chas . Aden ; E . S . Cossens ; and Charles G . Griffiths . St . George , London—Lieut .-Cjl . T . Go . Uard , E . C . ; W . Blenkin , P . G . Chamberlain ; Richard Spencer , P . G . Banner-Bearer ;

and AV . Smith . Stuirt , Watford- 'Japfc . J . M . Lay ton , B . C . ; II . II . Burchell-Herne , P . 1 st G . Capt . ; T . Barringer ; A . T . Brett ; Edward Barrell ; James Bui-ton ; Henry C . Finch ; C D . Humbert ; George Lambert ; and AVilliam S . Tootell . Temple Dressing , Colchester—R . Farrar ; and F . J . Lilley . Many others were present bat did not sign the book—several signed without

full particulars , amongst whom were , Dr . John Smith , D . Prov . G . Com . for Bengal ; Thomas Wo . if , P . 2 nd G . Capt . of Lines ; and A . H . Pearson , of tbe Glasgow Priory , while others appeared , from the hieroglyphics set down , to have no acquaintance with the elements of caiigraphy , and accordingly their names , if they were intended for sujh , cannot be re-produced here . After Grand Conclave had been opened by the Grand Master in ample form ,

Sir Knt . Colonel Gsoaar . VEIISOS , V . I 1 . and E . Deputy Grand Master , thus address ; : ! the M . E . anil S . G . M .: —Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master—It is with feelings of great pleasure that I find we are meeting in this handsome hall . I cannot , however , avoid one little word of regret , before I proceed in my remarks , that we , as Knight Templars , have been

compelled to leave oar long established head quarters in Great Queen-street . The accom-. no . latio ; i we have hitherto found there , for a great number of years , was accorded without a word of comment or any attempt to infringe upon the ancient custom of oar meeting in the best appointed Masonic room in that building , seemel , from circumstances over which we

had no control , to have been , from time to time , more and more curtailed , until , at length , our high and important ceremonies had , on the last occasion , to be performed in the glee room of the Tavern . In this hall we find everything we can desire . Ornamentation without extravagance , an appropriate throne for you , Sir , the Supreme Head of our Order , and handsome stalls

for those knights who have the privilege of attending at these Grand Conclaves . The rest of the furniture , the property of Grand Conclave , is at last in a condition that reflects credit on those of the executive , whose duty it was to provide them . Oat-Order is , I am both glad and proud to say , an increasing one , and we seem to have found this very appropriate home at

the very moment when such a one was most desirable . It is an earnest and sincere wish that I express , when I say , may our Order still flourish and increase ; may this home be one means of fostering a desire amongst us for a more perfect and uniform system in the performance of our beiutiful and interesting ceremonies in our respective encampments , and may these

ceremonies long be worked in this building in fraternal regard , harmony , and good will , so that we may unite in brotherly love , and , above all , avoid even tbe semblance of anything bordering