Grand Lodge Property.

GRAND LODGE PROPERTY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 30 , 1803 .

"We may congratulate the Graft that at last there is a prospect of a fitting home being provided , not only for their lodge and other assemblies , but for meeting in properly appointed rooms with the Provincial and other brethren at all convenient hours ; and that in a period of not exceeding two years from the

date when Grand Lodge decides upon the plan to be adopted . The Committee on the Grand Lodge Property has made its report , and the plans of the various architects who have sent in desip-ns have been throughout

the week before the brethren , the number who have already inspected these designs showing the interest that is taken in the question . The Committee , in their report , state that they" have gone carefully into all the designs , and have spared no pains in examining into their practibility , and into their compliance with the requirements laid down . They have formed their

own judgment upon the designs , but , acting under the power granted to them by Grand Lo dge , they have called to their assistance two well-known professional architects , Bro . J . T . Knowles , and Mr . P . C . ilardwick , " whose opinion is to be placed before Grand Lodge . We are not , as yet , in possession of

that opinion , and , therefore , can say nothing relative to it , though whatever may be our own opinion , Ave should be disposed to defer to the two gentlemen named , providing , as we have no doubt they have , all the plans have been placed fairly before them .

The Committee further proceed to say that they "desire to keep the strictest faith with competing architects , and they feel that the Grand Lodge will go with them in the endeavour to ensure as far as possible that the designs to be selected and premiated ,

and that which is to be ultimately adopted by Grand Lodge , shall be selected upon their merits alone , and with no reference to the name or influence of their

authors . In order to carry out this object the Committee at their meeting on the 2 nd of May ( the plans having been received up to 12 o'clock of the preceding night ) caused all the letters Avhich contained in sealed envelopes the names of the authors , to be placed in one packet , to be sealed up in their

presence , and committed to the charge of the Grand Secretary , and not to be opened until the seals are broken in the presence of Grand Lodge , after the mottoes or symbols of the successful competitors shall have been publicly declared . "

Nothing could be more fair than such a course , if the names of the authors of the various plans could De kept secret , as they should be ; but , from whatever source the information may have been obtained , we have reason to believe that the names of the

architects who have entered into the competition are almost as well known , at least to a section of the Committee and of the Craft , as if they had appended their names , instead of mottoes , to their works . The Committee next say they " are well aware of the responsibility which they incur in proposing to

ask Grand Lodge at its meeting in June to decide upon a design which has not been previously particularly specified . They feel this responsibility in its fullest force , but they have , after the most deliberate and anxious consideration , come to the conclusion

that the course they suggest is the only proper and right one , and that if they were now to declare the mottoes or symbols of the premiated designs , the very object they have in view , viz ., that of having the designs judged upon their merits only , would in all

probability be defeated . " TVe should be glad if the designs could be decided upon their merits only , being perfectly of opinion that a popular body , such as that of Grand Lodge , meeting so seldom and constantly fluctuating , is not the best calculated to decide the merits of architectural designs

without assistance , and the Committee say they " would not for themselves have desired to take a further opinion on the merits of the respective plans , but taking that course which they believe Grand Lodge would itself adopt , and for the purpose of preventing any future question arising , they have , as

already stated , submitted all the plans , together with their judgment upon them , to the architects named , and they will place the opinion of those gentlemen before Grand Lodge . Conscientious in offering their own opinion , and submitted as that opinion will be

to the approbation of the advising architects , and having thus taken every means in their power to ensure a correct judgment being arrived at , the Committee have no hesitation in believing that they will follow a right course in asking Grand Lodge to accept

and adopt the design to which they have felt it their duty to award the first prize . Eor the purpose of avoiding anything which may savour of partiality , the Committee beg respectfully to suggest that the discussion upon the plans and the motion for the adoption of any particular design shall take precedence of declaration of the names of the authors . The

Committee are themselves m ignorance of the names of the authors of the various designs , and they desire to remain so ; they have made their selection on merit only , and they respectfully invite the Grand Lodge to take the same course , because they believe it will be the most honourable and the most conducive to a

correct result . " \ Ve repeat , we wish that such a decision could be come to on the merits of the designs only , but we are fearful , from what we hear , that it will not , without endeavours on the part of some of the brethren