Masonry On The Rand.

foundation stone was laid in November last ; and gradually stone by stone , brick by brick , floor by floor , the structure developed , until at last the handsome and commodius Temple thafc now stands out in majestic prominence came into existence , and will , immediatelv after the consecration , be tenanted by no fewer than

six Craft Lodges , and double that number of Chapters and other exalted bodies . The whole of the Lodges that have hitherto met in Eissik Street will be translated from the old home fco the new . The change will be welcome , for the former is inadequate ,

inconvenient , uncomfortable ; while the latter is serviceable , cosy , and central . On Wednesday night the District Grand Lodge of the Scotch Constitution of the Transvaal met in the new Hall , and on Thursday the investiture of Officers of the Golden Thistle Lodge took place there .

The external appearance of the Plein Street Temple is particularly pleasing , its massive porchway , which stands boldly out across the pathway , giving it an imposing appearance . The interior throughout is exceedingly pretty , admirably appointed , charmingly fitted and furnished , emblematically adorned and

decorated , and splendidly lighted and ventilated . The main Lodge room is a perfect marvel of architecture and workmanship , * the banqueting hall unusually bright and cheerful-looking , while all the Chapter aud ante-rooms are patterns of taste and skill .

The corridors and vestibules on the ground floor have been prepared for ornamental glazed tiles , which have yet to arrive . Decorators are now busy finishing off the ceilings and hanging specially imported dados and ornamental ceiling coverings of anaglypta of the latest designs . The interior finish is in no way

secondary to the exterior , the glazing and furniture being new in character , and the plaster as smooth and white as the finest marble . The latter is finished throughout in a special cement , and relieved in various ways by arches , piers , panels , and other devices , combining in pi oducing a pleasing appearance .

On the right and left of the first corridor on the ground floor are to be found the library , committee , and ladies and gentlemen ' s cloak-rooms .. The inner vestibule contains a memorial tablet in marble on which are inscribed the names of the Trustees and

Building Committee . From one end of the inner vestibule access is gained to a large banqueting hall , 48 by 36 feet , witb a specially constructed floor of pitch pine boards . A series of decorated pilasters traverse the four sides of fche room , above which is an entablature with enriched cornice . Adjoining the banqueting hall is a refreshment room , in which is a pair of lifts running to the kitchen on the top floor .

Perhaps the most striking feature on the ground floor is the staircase and approach thereto . These are afc the far end of the inner vestibule , separately ached off , panelled and decorated . They are mainly of teakwood , hand-polished . A nine feet circular window , fancy glazed , lights this part .

The first floor is mainly taken up with the Chapter room , 49 by 25 feet , and the Lodge room , 49 by 36 feet . On this floor there are also a number of other rooms for Chapter and Craffc purposes . The Lodge room ceiling is handsomely covered and

groined , and the room is lighted from above . The walls of this room have piers and cornices similar to those in the banqueting hall , but much more ornate in appearance ; Corinthian style predominating .

The Chapter room is in the front of the building , and finished off in the most chaste fashion , quite in keeping with the other portions of the building , the ceiling being broken up into panels by massive beams .

The kitchen and caretaker ' s residence are on the top floor . The sanitary arrangements are perfect . The accommodation is detached , and situated in the centre of the yard-space provided on the ground floor . The total area of the stand is 100 by 50 feet , into which the required accommodation has been compactly arranged .

Electric lighting has been installed throughout . The fittings are very choice , this part of the work having been entrusted to Mr . Mclnnes . Messrs . Holloway Bros , are the contractors , and Messrs . Arthur and Walter Eeid . the architects , to whom praise is due for the excellence of the design and completeness of the work .

The following gentlemen composed the Building Committee Bros . W . B . Boyes Chairman , J . Eothkugel Vice-Chairman , A Dowling Secretary ; G . S . Eideal W . M ., J . Thompson S . W ., T Gibson J . W . ( Golden Thistle Lodge ) ; F . H . de Eoss W . M ., P

van Os S . W ., and D . Lavine J . W . ( Star of the Eand Lodge ); and E . E . Hall W . M ., B . A . Hall S . W ., and G . S . B . Andrews J . W . ( Johannesburg Lodge ) . The Trustees are : —Bros . J . Eothkugel ( Golden Thistle ) , T . J . Smith ( Star of the Band ) , W . B . Boyes ( Johannesburg ) . —¦ " Johannesburg Star . "

The weekly meetings of the Friars Lodge of Instruction , No . 1349 , will in future be held on Thursday evenings , at 8 o ' clock , at the Plough Hotel , Mile End .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for th . e opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of tlie writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .. "We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

INCREASE OF PROVINCIAL HONOUES . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . SIR , —Some time ago you stated in fche CHRONICLE that : " The announcement made by the Earl of Lathom Pro Grand Master , to the efiecfc that some suggested alterations in the disposal of Provincial honours should have his attention , will be hailed with delight by Brethren in the larger Provinces of England , where , as is often pointed out , the possibilities of conferring distinction on Craftsmen who have earned preferment are very small , by reason of the regulations of the Craft limiting the number of annual appointments . "

I should like fco know what , if anything , is likely to be the outcome of the " suggested alterations . " Perhaps you or some of your readers will kindly oblige me with information on this head . The question of alteration in fche present method of disposal of Provincial honours is , in the opinion of many , one that cries aloud for consideration and amendment , especially in the larger Provinces . Yours , & c , Tu . CA ..

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

1 . , % TILL be worked in the undermentioned Lodges , on the dates / V given : In the "Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 . First Lecture on Friday , 19 th inst ., Second and Third Lectures on Friday , 26 fch inst ., afc the Six Bells , Queen Street , Hammersmith , commencing at 8 p . m . Bro . William Hillier P . M . 1366 2090 Preceptor of St . John Lodge of Instruction W . M ., 3 . Knight J . W . 861 ' S . W ., W . J . Coplestone P . M . 834 J . W ., A . Williams P . M . 834 2090 Preceptor of the Lodge I . P . M ., W . Hinds W . M . 185 Treasurer , F . Craggs P . M . 834 Secretary .

First Lecture , Bros . W . Hide P . M . 1275 , P . Cronin S . W . 1512 , E . Phillips W . M . 834 , L . J . iPowell J . W . 2246 , W . J . Coplestone P . M . 834 , W . W . Williams P . M . 834 , and Eobert Beid S . W . 1275 . Second Lecture , Bros . James Banks S . W . 834 , A . J . Clayton Organist 865 , W . J . Coplestone P . M . 834 , Eobert Beid S . W . 1275 , F . Craggs P . M . 834 . Third Lecture , Bros . A . Williams P . M . 834 , W . Hinds W . M . 185 , and W . W . Williams P . M . 834 .

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