Homes Of English Freemasonry.

homes of English Freemasonry .

III . —THE HOTEL CECIL .

THESE is always something attractive about whatever is old —old wines , old houses , old friends , and so on . There are many places , including many restaurants , that would lose all their charm if it was not for their age , and for associations which make one forgetful of discomforts . But for luxurious ease , for splendour

of appointments which please the eye , for up-to-date excellencies of cuisine to titillate the jaded appetite , you must turn to one of the gorgeous new palaces of ease which have sprung up of late years west of Temple Bar . And among these the first that one would patronise is the Cecil : that greatest caravansary of the world , which has turned " Hobbs ' s Polly" into a palace of

entertainment which leaves nothing to be desired . When the suggestion was made that this hugh barrack-like building—as it then was—should be utilised for hotel purposes people shrugged their shoulders and prophesied dire disaster . It stood upon two and a half acres of ground , extended from the embankment to just behind the shops in the Strand , and had been built for offices and flats . It was a tremendous undertaking to adapt it to hotel

purposes ; but it was undertaken with a light heart , and the result has justified the enterprise—there is no more successful hotel , and no more desirable place of residence than the Hotel Cecil . With its southern front rising to a height of 200 feet , and its pure architectural design , it is one of the principal sights of London ; and its situation is unrivalled ; it is easy of access from the city , and centrally situated for the theatres and show places of the metropolis ,

It is not surprising that with its vast accommodation the Hotel Cecil should have speedily become a Home of Freemasonry . Some twenty-six Lodges have already taken up their habitation here , and are thoroughly satisfied with their palatial surroundings . The " Temple , " which has been specially constructed , is undoubtedly among the most attractive places of meeting in the country , as the accompanying photograph evidences :

painted with Masonic emblems and devices . The chairs are of carved oak ; and the whole of the furnishing suggests that no expense has been spared to make the Temple attractive . Immediately beside the Temple is the Grand Hall , whioh is used for the big banquets ; and in close proximity is the Victoria Hall , for smaller assemblies . The Grand Hall is a really beautiful

The Brother who sees it for the first time feels that it is the very beau ideal of a Masonic Temple . There is richness and elegance , without anything tawdry or garish . The walls are panelled in carved oak up to the frieze , which is deep and suggestive of tapestry . At each end are alcoves containing marble fire-places , and the ceiling , which is deeply panelled , is

apartment , both architecturally , and in its embellishments . The Victoria Hall is scarcely less ornate ; while the smaller dining rooms , such as the Bichlieu , are as cosy and comfortable as they are elegant in furnishing and decoration . In fact , the palatial style of the building furnishes the dominant note also of every part of the hotel . In every little detail it is luxurious ; and after

a business meeting it is exceedingly refreshing to dine in the midst of such surroundings . So famous has the Cecil become for public banquets and dinners , that a vast proportion of such functions now take place here . It is also being largely used for private gatherings . A significant instance is to be found in the

fact that during the last two seasons the Prime Minister has held his reception to the Ambassadors and Eepresentatives of Foreign Courts , in honour of the Queen ' s birthday , at this Hotel . These gatherings had never been held previously anywhere but at the Premier's town residence . Perhaps Lord Salisbury feels specially at home here , as the Cecil stands on the site of the town house

Homes Of English Freemasonry.

which , in the time of Elizabeth , the first Marquis of Salisbury built on the slope between the Strand and the river . But it is no isolated instance , as many other private functions take place here ; while as a Home of Freemasonry it is likely to grow in popularity . One great recommendation it has to Freemasons , so many of whom are business men , is the marvellous completeness . of the place . It is as self contained as a . complete community

under one roof . Anything that a diner could possibly want to make himself completely presentable before he appears in public can be purchased , and he can not only "fix" himself up under the most luxurious circumstances , but can get a shave without having to go out in quest of a barber ' s shop . Or , if he has forgotten some little bit of business , he can attend to it , and post his communications on the premises .

An idea of the enormous capacity of the banqueting side of the Hotel is shown by the fact that no fewer than 2 , 000 covers have on several occasions been laid for various dinners taking place on the same evening . The Grand Hall accommodates 600 persons , the Victoria Hall 350 , the Eichlieu 150 , the Medicis 150 ; while smaller rooms are the Pompadour , Blenheim , Empire , Louis

XV , and Louis XVI , the names of these indicating the style of adornment . And though the surroundings are so luxurious , the prices are exceedingly moderate , recherche dinners being provided from five shillings and sixpence per head upwards . Here , for instance , is the menu of the Consecration banquet of the Mizpah Chapter , held in December last :

virjs . n * roenu . *

*** Royal Natives . Chablis Moutoune , ^ w * . Vintage 1893 . ^^ Tortiie Claire . Bisque d'Ecrevisses . 5 K > Torbotin au Champagne . PUNC "' i ® £ Eperlans a l'Anglaise .

, . , „ „ Manuite de Cailles a la Truffes . Poinmery and Greno , Mfc SSjsg Kocher de Foie Gras en Belle Vue . Vintage 1893 . *** — 5 K Sclle d'Agncau aux Pointes d'Asperges . LIo . L'i : i ; its Ponmies au Bcuree . A . SSORTIKS . 51 ? Sorbet Palerinitame .

Chateau Mouton Puularde en Casserole . ,, . > , .,, ££ & Salade . Kothschild , § 5 j ! g Vintage 1890 . £ *> Endives Beiges ft la Creme . „ Timbales de Poires d'Arenberg . Cockburn's > ffi ( Glace Comtesse Marie . Fine Selected .. „ .. Petits Fours .

Port , w Laitances stir Toast . ¦ Vintage 1865 . iSfc ™* Dessert . Cafe . The vast resources of the place enable the management to do

wonders in the way of providing menus that challenge comparison not only for price , but for attractiveness , with any hotel in the world . Only a few days ago a quite recherche installation banquet was provided for the St . Thomas Lodge , which , as will be seen from the following , was calculated to delight all palates :

^ * DH 11 U * *¦ ¦ •£ UH ) 6 . jgjig Hors ( i ; m . varies . * « K ? Tortue Claire . Tortue Liee .

PUNCH . i * fi ¦ / A & Turbotin a la Normande . & r * Aigulettes d'Eperlans . Maderia , fits East India , very old . M * Ternne de Cailles a la Trufre . <| y Mousse de Jambon au Champagne . Liebfraumilch ..

, „ Vintage 1889 . * fi § Quartier d'Agneau , Sauce Menthe . — ja & Pommes Xouvelles . Petits Pois . Deutz and Geldermann , < SV Gold Lack , Ex . Sec , « £ » Caneton de Rouen a la Pres . se . Vintage 1892 . % K ? Salade .

( Magnums ) ^ o > — yft * Oroustades de Pointes d'Asperges . G . H . Mumm , Ex . Dry , 52 & Charlotte Kusse . Gelee aux FruitK . Vintage 1892 . *** Parfait au Moka . ( Magnums ) iij & S ™ r * Crevettes it rindieune .

* l * Dessert . Cafe ' . With such a desirable Temple to meet in , and with such catering as this , the Cecil win undoubtedly go on and prosper among Freemasons , and not only will it commend itself to them , as