The Grand Lodge Property.

THE GRAND LODGE PROPERTY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MARCH 21 , 1863 .

The report of the Committee on the Grand Dodge property , as presented to Grand Dodge , certainly did not give any indication as to tlie opinions of the Committee regarding tlie respective positions of tlie portion of tlie property to be devoted to the purposes of tlie Craft , and the Tavern .

TVe have , therefore , looked for it in the instructions to Architects , where we find an opinion expressed that " it is considered very . desirable , but not imperative , that the portion westward of the great hall ( including the great hall itself ) should be applied

exclusively for the purposes of Masonry , " leaving , of course , the tavern in its present position , to be enlarged to the east by that portion of the property at present occupied by the Grand Secretary's offices . "We are not in a position to decide npon the

grounds , or evidence , which led the Committee to this decision , but we may be allowed to express our regret at it , inasmuch as we cannot forego our opinion that the Masonic portion of . the building should be in the centre—malting with the Tavern to

the west , and the hotel to the east , or whatever purposes that portion may hereafter be appliedone grand whole of which the hall and Masonic buildings should compose the principal feature , and the Tavern and other buildings be subsidiary as

raigs . The Committee have not , however , absolutely determined , but have only suggested , such should be the position of the Masonic portion of the building , leaiing it to the architects to propose another arrangement should they think desirable—and when

the plans are received ( though the opinions of the Committee will receive due weight ) the final decision of the appropriation of the property must rest with & rand Lodge itself . The Committee , in their instructions to architects , m that : —

The facade representing Freemasons' Hall , is to be of a plain Mid ( handsome character , and is to be built of Portland stone ; 'lie length is to extend to the east wall of the present great WI , and will be in extent about 89 feet , presuming that the f lasouic offices are placed to the west side , or about 88 feet ¦ ' it should be considered more desirable to erect the Masonic Portion on the east side of the property . The remaining por"on of the frontage , about 4-3 or 4 A feet in length , is to be J \ a distinct and plainer character , and may be built of "' di , with stone dressings .

We agree that the facade should be plain and handsome—b ut > ve trust whatever may be the decision as 0 the position of the Grand Dodge buildings , the ^ ole range may be made to harmonise as much as Nsible . ¦ •" is proposed that wherever any portion of the

present buildings can be conveniently appropriated , they are to be retained so as to form part of the new buildings , and thereby tend to economy in the arrangements , a most desirable point to be kept iu mind , and which will meet with the approbation of every member of the Craft .

The Committee state that the object m vieiv m seeking designs —• Is to provide a suitable temple or hall for Freemasonry , whicji jis to include the requisite accommodation for the Grand Lodge , the Grand Master and Executive Officers , and for private lodges and the Graft . It is to be adjoining , and to have convenient access to , a tavern ; but in all other respects

the two buildings are to be entirely separate and distinct from each other . It is intended that the tavern shall be so constructed as to afford the greatest possible facility for carrying on a first-class business . The Committee expressly notify to competing architects that elegance and simplicity , rather than elaborate ornament in the general character of the designs , and economy in the entire cost of the buildings , will materially influence the selection .

That the objects set forth are those required by the Craft , and to consider the best means of carrying out which the Committee was appointed , there can be no doubt ; and we trust that in preparing their designs the architects Avho are about to compete will bear that object steadily in vieAV , so that we may have something

worthy of the Craft—honorable to the successful architect—and within the reach of those means which we may fairly expend upon the property , without too much burthening posterity to meet the outlay involved in the alteration ; and here Ave would observe that oue objection we have to placing the Grand Dodge

buildings to the west , and the Tavern to the east of the Grand Hall , is the difficulty , if not the impossibility , of extending the Grand Dodge buildings hereafter , should the necessities of the Craft require it ; whilst by placing them in the centre Ave shall have ample scope to increase them to almost any extent which may be required .

The following are set . forth by the Committee as the "Masonic requirements , " though the size oi' the rooms , & c , are stated to be only " given as data oi about the accommodation required , and are in nowise compulsory for adoption . "

Library , 33 x 2 o . Coffee room , 32 x 19 . Grand Secretary's Office , 23 x 16 . Ditto private Office , IS x 13 . Clerk ' s Office , 23 x 16 . Fire-proof muniment room , ( which may be in the basement ) , 16 _ xl 6 . Waiting room , 26 x 15 .

Large Committee room , 44 x 25 . Three Offices for Charities , 14 x 12 each . ( It is suggested that the above should be upon the ground floor , that the library and coffee room should be near each other , and it is essential that the remainder of the offices should be so placed as to possess convenient access to each other , and to the committee room . ) The present Great Hall , 92 x 38 . Two Lodge rooms , 44 x 25 . Two ditto 33 x 25 . One ante-room to each lodge room , having ( where prac-