The New Freemasons' Tavern.

THE NEW FREEMASONS' TAVERN .

LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 23 , 1867 .

Since Ave noticed the opening of the new Hall , built in the rear of the old Freemasons' Tavern ancl Grand Lodge offices , * and described generally the progress of the building operations in course of completion , under the able direction of

Bro . F . P . Cockerell , the architect AVIIO Avas entrusted by the Committee Avith the charge of professionally superintending the execution of the design adopted for the new Freemasons' Hall and Grand Lodge premises , the Tavern portion of the

new premises has been slowly but uninterruptedly progressing towards completion . Bro . Cockerell , as Grand Superintendent of works , had , during the rebuilding of Grand Lodge offices and lodge rooms , opportunities of acquiring a , more exact and thoroue-h knowlede-e of the

requirements of the Tavern portion of the premises , the rebuilding of whicli had to be left until the new lodge rooms and the Secretary ' s and other offices connected Avith the Craft and the charitable institutions belonging thereto Avere

completed , and the knoAvledge he must have so acquired has , as it appears to us , been most fully and advantageously utilised to the benefit of the Craft , —the advantage of the tenants of Grand Lodge , —the improvement of Grand Lodge

property , and the ad \ 'ancement of his own professional reputation as a skilled architect . The demolition of the " temple , " and the taking in of additional space , formerly a backyard and Avorkshops , has given Bro . Cockerell " elboAV

room , " and a fair opportunity for the exercise of ingenuity in the planning ancl skill in providing the much-needed accommodation at a reasonable

cost : — for a very limited outlay of capital , apparently , could be afforded as against the very extensive requirements of the Craft in connection Avith the necessities , not only for lodge meetings , but for the general demand for

accommodation outside of Freemasonry , so as to enable the tenants of the Tavern portion of Grand Lodge property to realise a fair return for their capital , and for the increased rental required for the new tavern premises ; ancl , Ave are not disappointed at the results obtained , by the skill and ingenuity of

Bro . Cockerell , which are highly creditable to him , and disprove some professional and non-professional objections to matters of detail , to which the executed Avorks of every professional man must be open .

We can IIOAV congratulate not only the architect , but also our R . W . Bro . John Havers especially , and the members of the Building Committee on the real success obtained by them ; and we may be pardoned if Ave here express a hope that

nothing will be permitted to intrude upon the harmonious relations which have existed , and ought to continue to exist , between the members of the Building Committee , the architect , and the Craft in general to mar the results of the efforts of

both the Committee ancl . he architect , which have been exercised so beneficially for the Order , so that they may , -when it is declared by Grand Lodge that their respective functions cease in connection with the building and completion of

the entire neAv premises , receive the thanks of Grand Lodge ( offered , as we trust they will be , in appropriate terms , ancl in a substantial manner ) , without one discordant element , and with unalloyed satisfaction .

The occasion of the first meeting since the vacation of the great engineering and scientific lodge , the Britannic ( No . 33 ) , in the UBAV lodge and banqueting rooms of the new Freemasons' Tavern , at the lodge of instruction on

Friday , the 1 st inst ., and afterwards on Friday , the 3 th inst ., at the regular lodge meeting , afforded us opportunities of inspecting portions of the premises under very favourable circumstances ; as , on the first occasion in question , the Great Hall was being prepared for the "Dickens banquet , " and the various other new rooms were boin . < _ -

completed , Avhilst , on the second occasion , the rooms Ave had seen in an unfinished condition were carpeted ancl otherwise furnished , ancl brilliantly lighted , and the hall , staircase , ancl approaches Avere then available . Of the admirable banquet

a la Basse furnished to the Britannic Lodge , although reflecting the highest credit upon the Freemasons' Tavern Company and their indefatigable manager , Bro . Gosden , it is unnecessary here to make further allusion , as Ave intend

hereafter to refer more in detail to the general arrangements , internal economy , ancl resources of the Freemasons' Tavern as " an institution . " The new building which has taken the place of the old Freemasons' Tavern may UOAV be said