Grand Lodge Property.

to favour the selection of a particular design , more from a regard for its author than any other cause . "We look upon it that the question must narrow itself to this—has Grand Lodge confidence in the Committee it has appointed , and the architects that the Committee lias consulted ? If not , there is but one

course open ; Grand Lodge must appoint other architects to examine the plans , and ask the Grand Master to call a special meeting of Grand Lodge to consider their report . "We have examined the plans with some little

attention , and though there is much in the competition to admire , it is clear that some of the architects have altogether lost sight of the object in view , one having designed a market-house , and another au hotel , not a tavern . We are constrained , however , from giving

precedence to one plan over another , from the fact that a correspondent who signs himself " An Architect " ( but whose letter Ave are compelled to exclude because he has not furnished us with his name ) , has given us the mottoes of the three designs which he

says are reported to have vrou the premiums , as awarded by the Committee , whilst another correspondent goes somewhat further , and has forwarded us the names of the architects who have adopted those mottoes , with the names also of some of the competitors whose plans have not met Avith the approval of the Committee . "Were we , Ainder the

circumstances , to offer any opinion on the matter , we should evidently be acting unfairly alike to the Committee , the competitors , and the Craft ; and Ave are , therefore , convinced that the proper time for us to examine the plans in detail Avill be when Grand Lodge has determined on the- course they Avill pursue

with regard to them . We have also received another letter on the subject of the competition from a correspondent signing himself " Scrutator , " and Avho objects to the offices being p laced on the ground floor on hygienic principles ,

and Avhich we should be happy to publish , excepting for the reason which excludes that of " An Architect " —we have not received the writer's name . "We perfectly agree with the Committee in one thing , the desirability of not interfering Avith the

business of , the tavern during the proposed alterations ; and Ave would not , for the sake of a slight gain in time ia the completion of the buildings , take any course by Avhich the business of the tavern would be interrupted .

We are glad to see that the total expenditure—including the furnishing of the Masonic portion of the building—is estimated not to ' exceed £ 40 , 000 to 45 , 000 ; aud as to the mode of providing the funds Ave can offer no objection , as it is one which we have more than once advocated in these columns—viz ., that of becoming "borrowers from ourselves : —

Grand Lodge Property.

As regards the mode of providing funds , the Committee beg to observe that there is now standing to the credit of the Eund of General Purposes the sum of £ 21 , 000 , which is amply sufficient to defray the expenses of building for the next twelve months if the Avork is done in sections . There will remain a sum of

£ 20 , 000 to 25 , 000 to be borrowed . There are three modes of raising this money ; first , by mortgage ; second , by debenture ; third , by borrowing of the Eund of Benevolence at 4 per cent .: the Committee have no Hesitation in recommending the latter course ,

because the security is ample , the repayment certain and regular , the interest payable will be less than if borrowed else where , and in addition the Eund of Bene-A'olence will be benefited to the extent of £ 500 or £ 600 , or the difference between 4 per cent , and 3 | -

per cent ., which it now receives . " There can be no doubt that even at present the security is ample , and , Avith increased accommodation for the brethren , that security will also increase .

Self Denial.

SELF DENIAL .

( From a Correspondent . ) Amongst the most elevating virtues Avhich men can practice is self-denial . Instances too numerous to recapitulate are to be found recorded in the Holy Scriptures , the writings of the philosophers aud poets of antiquity , the fathers of the church , and Avherever

good men have sought to inculcate love , aid , and precept to better the condition of their fellow-men . It has been said exentplo plus qiiam ratione vivimus . and there is much truth in the assertion , for the

exertions of the generous Ereemasons , who have so warmly aided our excellent charities , by their princely donations , are not only due to their own innate goodness of heart , but to the stimulus of example set by those Avho have proceeded and still labour in the cause around them .

But it may be asked , do we all endeavour to aid in this duty as Ave should ? The reply unfortunately Avill tell us that the majority do not . Iu the eloquent and remarkable speech of our R . "W . Bro . John Havers , the Chairman at the Eestival fbr the Aged Masons and their Widowsin January lasthe pointedly

, , alluded to the large amount of Masonic beneficence that came out of the pockets of a portion of the Craft only , who , with never-failing regularity , were the main stays of our institutions . This Avell-knowu fact should be borne in mind by every Erermason , that if Ereemasonry is a progressive science , its duties

are progressive also , and it 13 unfair to leave to a few that Avhich should be done by the many . The question will naturally arise , how is this to be done ? And the answer as readily suggests itself—¦ by self-denial . Take for instance the self-denial a lodge could practice were its members once , in three years even , to forego one banquet , and divide the sum