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Mus . Pn > ER . AA e have again to return our thanks to the brethren for the proud position in ivhich Mrs . Piper was placed on the poll , and have to acknowledge the receipt on the day of election , of additional votes from Bros . Adlard , Baker , LI . Evans , Matthews , Paas , Le Vcan , ancl other brothers . Mrs . Piper also returns thanks on behalf of herself , as will be

seen by the following letter . Rochford , May 18 th , 1862 . Sin , —I cannot describe my feelings of joy on reading your kind lettter . I am most grateful to you for your past favours , knowing you have exerted yourself to the utmost . I also feel most thank . ul to all friends for their support . Your obedient servant , ELIZABETH PIEEK . Henry G . Warren , Esq .

Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

At the next meeting of Grand Lodge on June the 4 th , the report of the Board of General Purposes , will recommend that in future the President of the Board shall be a district officer , ranking between the Graud Registrar ancl Grand Secretary . Then will be presented tho following report on the

GRAND LODGE PKOTEUTT . At a meeting of the Board of General Purposes , held on the 15 th day of April , 1862 , it was resolved , that t ; he whole subject as to tho buildings be referred to a sub-committee , with directions to report to the Board thereon at as early a date as possible , ancl with authority to place themselves in communication with such persons as they may deem necessary . Tho said cominittc to consist of the following brethren : S . B . AVilson ,

John Savage , R . W . Jennings , John ' . Ll . Evans , John Symonds , and AA . J . Meymott . The President of the Board , Bro . Mclntyre ; and Jthe Alce-President , Bro . Stebbing ; being , ex officio , members of such sub-committee . The said committee met immediately , and having elected Bro . R . AA . Jennings chairman , ancl made some preliminary arrangements , adjourned for the Easter recess . On the 25 tli clay of April the committee met- for dispatch of

business : present , Bros . Jennings , AVilson , Evans , Symonds Stebbing , ancl Meymott . The resolution of the Board of General Purposes , that a portion of the property was to he appropriated to exclusively Masonic purposes , was referred to . The committee then defined the site ivhich they considered should be so appropriated , and on the question being put , it was at once adopted ; the appropriation of the remainder of the societys property for an

Hotel ancl Tavern at a future period , was fully discussed , and the committee came to an unanimous conclusion that such appropriation was not only advisable , but , in fact , necessary as in connection with tbe Masonic arrangements .

Ihe actual Masonic requirements were then very fully discussed , ancl agreed upon , and a list thereof made , to be further considered at the next meeting . The construction of a spacious banqueting hall by the future tenant , whoever it might be , was decided upon as a sine qua non . On the 28 th clay of April , the committee again met : present , "Bros . Jennings , Savage , Evans , Symonds , Stebbing , and Meymott .

The list of the Masonic requirements , as prepared at tbe former meeting , together with the arrangement thereof , was again carefully considered and modified , especially by the transfer to the hotel side of the line of boundary of all banqueting' rooms ; the whole line of which it was determined must be constructed by tho future tenant , but to be so arranged as to afford the largest amount of convenient accommodation practicable for the Craft ; aud the list and arrangement as modified

having been duly approved , the chairman was requested to embody the same in a report , with such explanatory observations as might seem best adapted to convey to the Board the views of the committee ; and also to furnish some guide as to the contemplated arrangement in reference to a new great banquetting hall and other banquetting rooms ; and the chairman was authorised to confer with the Grand Superintendent of AVorks if he found it desirable .

On the Sth clay of May the committee again met : present , Bros , Jennings , Mclntyre , Savage , Evans , Symonds , Stebbing , and Meymott . Tho Grand-Superintendent of Works was , by desire of the committee , in attendance .

Grand Lodge.

The report , as prepared by the chairman ' , was read . The Grand-Superintendent of AA ' orlcs afforded the committee much valuable and important information relative to matters of detail involved in the proposed scheme . He also informed the Board that , by the request of the chairman , he had carefully considered the same , aud pronounced it to be perfectly practicsMe . Some slight alterations having been made in the report , the same was approved ancl adopted ; ancl the chairman was requested to have the same fairly transcribed , to sign same on behalf of the committee , and to have a number of copies pirated for the use of the Board of General Purposes .

REPOKT or COMMITTEE Appointed on the loth dag of April , 1802 , by the Foard of General Purposes . Your Committee met for preliminary arrangements on the day of its nomination , and having elected Bro . Jennings as Chairman , ancl authorized the institution of certain enquiries , with the view of ascertaining the practicability ( if needful ) , of

obtaining under conditions , the possession of the premises known as the hotel , at . a period antecedent to tbe _ termination of the existing lease by effluxion of time , they adjo ' urned until after the Easter recess . On tho 25 th April , your committee met for the despatch ^ of business . The chairman communicated that at an interview with Mr . Bacon , that gentleman had expressed a willingness to surrender the vomainder of his leaseat any period the society

, might desire , ou equitable terms . Your committee have looked with much anxiety to the extent of tbe claim to the vacant space at the back of the hotel and tavern , and which is comprised within the limits of the society ' s freehold property , now in the tenancies of Lambert , Mnltby , the tavern , Bacon ' s hotel , aud the part held by this society . An inspection of the various deeds of conveyance and the title deedsleads them to believe that on the purchase of the various

, properties , the society acquired a right to the said space , at least to the full extent now desired to be used , and have tbe right to build thereon , with clue caution as to the lights belonging to the AA esieyan Society , and tbey have assumed the existence of such rights , in their general consideration of the

appropriation of the property . Your Committee proceeded to direct their attention to the principles already enunciated ancl established by the Board of General Purposes , viz .: —First , that such portion of the property of tbe Society as was needful should bo appropriated to exclusively Masonic uses , ancl the remainder to hotel , tavern , or other useful purposes producing revenue ; secondly , that the Great Hall was to remain exclusively Masonic . Subject to these

restrictions , your committee applied themselves so to regulate the first proposition , as to uphold the character ancl dignity of the Craft , without entrenching so largely on tbe superficial area of the property as to prejudice the future acquisition of a suitable revemic . ' AA'ith this object , contemplating , though perhaps at some deferred period , the full accomplishment of tho work's hereinafter specified , they determined that it was desirable to adopt the eastern wall of tho Great Hall as the extreme eastern

boundary , and to continue that line northwardly as far as Great Queen Street , and , still keeping in mind the probability of the ultimate completion , to appropriate the entire area from such line to the westernmost boundary of the Society ' s estate , as the space to be devoted ( sooner or later ) exclusively to Masonic purposes . Within this is included the present Grand Masonic Hall . Your committee then proceeded to deliberate on the accommodation indispensablnecessary for Masonic purposes ; and

y after careful consideration have arriv eft at the following arrangement , us comprising ( in their opinion ) the entire desiderata for exclusively Masonic purposes , which they now submit to your notice in ii general form , or list , but which will afterwards be found classified in two distinct sections .

Room for Grand Master , with suitable accommodation . Grand Secretary's office , with with ante-room so placed as to be applicable as an extra room for Grand Master when required . Clerks' office , with muniment or strong room , all of convenient dimensions . Subsidiary hall , of decorative character ancl of sufficient dimensions to be suitable for meetings of Grand Chapter , occasional Grand Lodge , generrl board and committee room for and the Masonic

the business of the Craft , Arch-Masonry , Charities , and also for the meetings of such lodges as desire the use of a room of tbe contemplated size , viz . 56 ft . by 40 ft . Three ante or waiting rooms , connected with the present , and