About The Noeman Hall, Masonic Temple, Philadelphia.

" Norman" is indiscriminately used for any example of early round arch architecture . Normnn Hsill is nn oblong apartment , measuring on plan 41 x 47 It . Tho east and west walls are divided into three bays by broad piers with heavy arching ; in similar manner

the north aud south walls are treatod ; tho centre bays of tho east , south and west walls having pedimentod niches carried on short columns with foliated caps and supported on heavy corbels , thus forming a kind of throno with

appropriate symbols over the places of the Master , Senior and Junior Wardens . From tho face of tlio piers short columns , also supported on corbel ? , carry through tho intermediate of curved ribs , the heavy beams which , crossing at right angles , divide tho ceiling into panels .

Additional force is given to the arching ovor tho piers by the carrying around of strongly marked woodon arches with decorated spandrol panels , the billet moulding and nailhead ornament appropriately marking the junction of walls and ceiling . A plain wainscot with moulded base and cap extends

around the room , following the angles formed by tho piors . The decoration , though elaborate and rich as gold and colour can make it , is quiet and dignified and in exact harmony with art tradition . Piors are painted deep olive greon for the whole height , and tho surface embellished with an

interlacing ornament of varions colours picked out with gold . Panels between piers not occupied by windows contain life-size figures on a gold mosaic background , and interlacing stem work of a Celtic character . The figures , oxecuted in conventional manner , have tho draperies

outlined and shaded with gold , and each figure is represented as bearing tho working tools of the Freemason , viz ., the plumb , trowel , square , mallet , rule , and compass . They aro enframed by a raised border containing chevron and

dog-tooth , richly coloured and gilded , forming the outside border of the picture . The details of the walls are in strict accordance with the designation of the room , and made to produce their full value to the general scheme .

Abundance of light is furnished by sixteen brackets of antique brass , located at tho centre of height of each pier . The panels of tho ceiling are painted a deep blue , with those portions outside of tho ornament tinted a chocolate brown . The decoration consists of alternating patterns of

involved ornament of a style found in ancient Irish or Scandinavian manuscripts ; they are effectively rendered in various shades of the primary colours and heightened in parts by silver and gold . The floor covering has a background of deep

greenishblue , flecked with figures in gold shades and red and black ; these are judiciously distributed to relieve the surface , which with a border of a rich interlacing design produces the effect of a large rug . Furniture , consisting of massive chairs and benches of

plain design , has coverings of leather of a dark brown shade . In Egyptian Hall , Brother Herzog displayed his artistic skill and correctness of decorative art . In Ionic Hall , he displayed his ability to produce exquisite beauty . But in Norman Hall , he has combined artistic art with exquisite

beauty . The caTpet for Norman Hall was made to order from special designs , and is in keeping with the decorations of the walls and ceiling . This carpet , as well as the carpets in Egyptian and Ionic Halls , was made by tho firm of

McCallum and Sloan . Even the yarn being specially spun for the purpose , then wove into carpet under the immediate supervision of Bro . William McCallum , at the factory of tho firm .

In addition to the decorating and refurnishing of Norman Hall , the tyling of the hall , at the suggestion of Bro . Samuel W . Wray , Chairman of tho Temple Committee , was changed from the outer to the inner hallway , thereby

making it much more comfortable and convenient for brothren attending meetings in the hall and those using the elevator . The same change was made in regard to Oriental Hall , affording the same comfort and convenience . —Keystone .

nin . ? *\ " . "B .-Enfcobled Existence—This medicino embraces every fnr , n ^» re ( ' ? " , n a general and domestic remedy . It overturns the «?! . «; P- ' S ? ,. { > y defective food and impure air . In obstructions pqunnK ' £ ? ? ' . ' ? we ] B ' any other organ , theso Pills are rn »^„ - 0 ! v , ceab , " » n eminently satisfactory . Thoy should bo kept in uonm ™ £ L 3 7 il mlly £ i nfir , ? nicdlci P ° ° f incompamblo utility for young porsons , especially those of feeble constitutions . Thov never canao ™ in or

the . w £ most Sflns , , tiv 0 ncrveB or most 'ender bowels . Holloway ' s Mils aro and £ ™ H ™ " P r , fi 0 , of the blood , the most active promoters of absorption CboThsoiVanrfl l ls ' P ° 'SCm 0 nS " ^ ° bn ° xions particlea "rc removccl

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

Wo do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must boar the name and address of tho Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . Wo cannot undertake to resurn rejected communications .

ART . 218 AND LODGE LA OESARE 1

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHUONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHEK , — " Hard cases make bad law " it nn adngo that Bros . Philbrick and Prinaep will be well acquainted v , ii . h , ami the present seems a case in point . To prant a brot ' irrV oVm-mum certificate , stating tho circumstance under whioh ho left , tho [« M ! gi >—possibly circumstances whioh tho brother would prefer to CTOIIC ( M 1—

to another person , without any jivoo / that tlio tirothor had authorised tho application , would bo a course too Inx to bo tolerated , " oven in these days of general laxity of disoiplino !" That an apparently hard case should have inducod brethren of such eminence to countenance suoh a laxity oven once , under howovetexceptional cironmstances is a-cause for regret ; bnt that tho o ' auiaiun

ia not to bo taken as anything more than a decision tlmfc in tho particular case suffioient authority had bron prodncod to justify tho Lodge in granting tho certificate is clearly shown by two things . ( a ) That tho Prov . G . M . ordered tho younger Duroll ' d letter to his father to be produced to the Lod j ^ e , ( aud if this hud been acted on all would have been well ) , and

( I )) Tbe V . W . Graud Registrar ' s words that " considering Bro . J . Dnrell ' s poiition , and his long membership of the Lodge , lm thought the Lodgo waa bound to take his word that ho wns authorised to make the application . Under the circumstances ho would move , " & o ., & o . With all respect to tho Grand Lodge , to the eminent brethren who

spoke , and to the Freemason , I submit that no cortifioato should bo granted except to tho brother himself , or to some brother duly authorised to make the application on his behalf , and that the Lodgo [ 3 fairly entitled to demand strict proof that the application as dnly authorised . Under the head " Dimifc , " whioh is the equivalent of our clearance

certificate , Bro . Henry Robertson lays down the common . sonse view of tho matter so well that I cannot forboar quoting his words . Ho Bays : " A dimit must be applied for , either personally by tho brother himself in open Lodge , or by a written request signed by tho brother and sent to the Lodge .... tho Lodge should bo satisfied , before a dimit is granted , that the brother himself wishes it . If one

brother asks for a dimit to be granted to an absent brother , ho should produco to the Lodge a written authority from the absent brother for making the request , and this authority should be filed with the Secretary as the evidence upon which the dimit was granted . "—Robertson , Digest of Masonic Jurisprudence , 2 nd Edit ., p 78 . Surely this is the correot view of what is—aB well as should

bethe general law , and if an exceptional case is found whoro a Lodge may be justified in taking less evidence , still it would never do to permit suoh laxity to become the general rule . Neither the speakers iu Grand Lodge nor the writer of tho leadov in to-day ' s Freemason seem to have thought of the possibility of tho

clearance certificate being applied for by aa unauthorised , poasibly hostile , person in a case where the " cironmstances " to be stated in the certificate are unfavourable . Yours fraternally , LEX SCHIPTA .

12 th September 189

The long vacation of metropolitan Freemasonry , whioh commences with the beginning of July , may now be said to have closed , and tho Lodges are now entering upon their working season . Saturday last witnessed the opening of this season by three Lodges which tako a high rank in the London list—the Lodge of Loyalty , No . 1607 ; tho Lodge of Perseverance , No . 1743 ; and the Duko of Cornwall Lodgo ,

No . 1839 . Each of these Lodges held its annual meeting for the installation of a new Worshipful Master on that day . At tho first , Bro . Charles Henry Halford was succeeded by Bro . John Hathersloy ; in the second , Bro . C . J . Fox made way for Bro . Thomas Lovell , n brother well known at the Loriners , Fanmakers , Framework Knittors , and several other City Companies ; and in the third , Bro . Charlos

H . Cox yielded his seat to Bro . Joseph Bladon . Past Maeters' joweln were presented to eaoh of the out-going Masters , and at the Duko of Cornwall Lodgo Bro . Cox was , in addition , presented with a handsome and valuable drawing-room clock , a presentation which was probably unique , as it was subscribed for and made by those brethren only whom ho had initiated in Freemasonry during his year of office .

Mdme . Blavatsky ' s steady rofasal of late years to work signs before an unbelieving generation was in one instance set aside ( asserts the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian ) . She would absolutely refuse to admit into the class studying ocoultism under her any who wish to enter it simply to master the marvellous for Its own sake . The first condition imposed

was the proof given that reverence , not ldlo curiosity , was the note of the student . On one occasion ono came who was deeply interested in Indian philosophies , and had devoted himself to tho services of his fellow creatures , but who doubted the power of " wonder-working" ia adepts . To her visitor Madame Blavntsky .

it is said , did give a sign . In a ray of astral light projected on tho centre of the table he saw the sign of the degree ho held in Freemasonry . No one , he belioved , but a Freemason of his own degree knew that sign , and there before him it appeared in a roy of unearthly splendour . Snob , at any rate , is the story .