Homes Of English Freemasonry.

homes of English Freemasonry .

IV . —THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL . THOUGH the modern railway train has nothing at all in common with the old stage coach , the railway terminus hotel has preserved some good old-fashioned characteristics of the coaching headquarters—particularly its cheery hospitality ,

and its good fellowship to all . The railway terminus hotel receives you with cordial welcome . It does not ask , and does not care , how long you are going to stay . It does not look askance , and become all at once doubtful whether it has any accommodation at all , when you say you must move on next day . It does not expect you to deposit heaps of luggage as security for any

bill you may run up ; nor does it want to make a pile of money out of you . You are welcome to the best the house can provide ; you are made to feel thoroughly at home whether your visit is brief or long ; and when you pay your moderate reckoning at the end it is with the pleasantest possible feeling on both sides . For real comfort there is nothing like a railway hotel ; and one of the

best in the land is the Great Eastern , in connection with the Liverpool Street Station . There is what the late Mr . Ruskin would have described as a " grimy practicality" about Liverpool Street station ; and the hotel makes no very great claim to architectural merit . This to some minds will be regarded as a good sign , for a gorgeous exterior in a caravansary , in the west as in

the east , is often the sign of the whited sepulchre . And there is nothing of the whited sepulchre about the Great Eastern . If its outward surroundings are not of the loveliest , the cheerful comfort , and cosy completeness of the interior are sufficient to . satisfy even the most exacting ajsthetic sense . Every aid to comfort and enjoyment is provided without stint . The

rooms are large , and well furnished in a homely style ; while the catering will compare with any railway station in the world . And in comparison with the ordinary hotel it leaves them all in the rear , in one respect that appeals to a vast number of persons . It has realised that people not only eat at mid-day and in the evening , that they not only want lunch and dinner ; but that at

other hours in the day there is a demand for food . Take for instance that much neglected meal , breakfast . At how many places can you get breakfast in the morning ? You may ask a score of men , who think they know London well , where a good breakfast can be obtained , and probably all of them will answer that they know of none . Well , here at the Great Eastern one can

look in and get a good breakfast any time after eight o'clock , with a long list of dishes to choose from . And so it is during the day . The hotel caters for the casual customer , as well as for those living in the hotel ; it caters for all classes , and it does everything well . But the alluring nature of the theme is leading us into a discursive preamble about the merits of an hotel , which probably all our readers are well acquainted with already .

As a Home of Freemasonry , the Great Eastern has not that long and eventful history which appertains to others . It dates back some fifteen or twenty years . How it came to be used as a Home of Freemasonry is a forgotten story , but it is not difficult to imagine . So commodious an hotel , famed as it has always been for the way in which it treated its guests , was not likely to

be overlooked by the Masonic body . It is conveniently situated , too , for many of them , and so when the management consented to establish a Temple here , in which meetings could be held , it quickly grew into favour . Twelve Lodges and five Chapters now hold their meetings regularly , in a Temple which is very comfortably furnished and which is very conveniently arranged .

The large hall , which has been fitted up for the purpose does not leave much to be desired ; and " the ante-rooms , and banqueting rooms are all sufficient . But the mutual appreciation is heaving very practical fruit . Freemasons like the Great Eastern ; and the Great Eastern likes Freemasons . So it has opened wide its purse strings ; and visitors to the hotel just now will see emerging from its foundations a colossal structure ,

destined to make the Great Eastern one of the chief of the Homes of Freemasonry of the future . In a few months time , when the additions are completed , there will be no fewer than three new and splendid Temples , specially adapted for the purpose ; and capable of accommodating a very large number of Lodges . With the Temples there will be ante-rooms and banqueting rooms en suite ; and we may expect the Great Eastern to grow abundantly in favour , as indeed it well deserves to do .

1 he prospect of so much splendour tends to make the present accommodation rather mean . But in reality that is not so . We paid a visit to Hie hotel a day or two ago , and Bro . H . 0 . Amendt , the courteous manager , took us on a tour of inspection of the establishment . We were exceedingly struck with the convenience

of the present arrangements ; and especially with the system on which the hotel is constructed , which seems to be an adaption of the good old plan of giving the greatest satisfaction to the greatest number . Bro . Amendt was , however , very anxious we should understand that the hotel is in a transition state . He has great

Homes Of English Freemasonry.

ideas for the future ; and before the year is out is counting upon the Great Eastern vieing with any of the modern hotels which are springing up mushroom-like all over the metropolis . There is to be a new large hall 100 ft by 44 ft by 22 £ t ; various grill and dining rooms ; and halls and saloons for every conceivable business and social function , in addition to the special Masonic features

already mentioned . Last , but not least , there will be a hundred more bedrooms , to help meet the demand upon the accommodation , which has been growing steadily for years . No one who has not stayed at the Great Eastern Hotel can form the slightest conception of the great pleasure it is to do so ; and it is not surprising that the demand for beds should be so great that it is difficult to get one at all under the present conditions .

With the Freemasonry part of the hotel so much m nubibus , it is not possible to do more at present than forecast its future greatness . It may be taken for granted that the connection so pleasantly begun will continue to ripen ; and that the three Temples which will be ready in the autumn will soon prove to be

inadequate for the demand upon them . Bro . H . C . Amendt has done so well for Freemasons that we are glad of the opportunity of giving the widest publicity to his schemes . There are doubtless many Lodges about to be established which will be glad to know that there is a prospect of obtaining such good accommodation ;

and there may be others already established who will be glad to take advantage of it also . Already Lodges are putting in claims for special consideration in the apportionment of the nights for the new Temples . In conclusion we heartily wish , as we devotedly

believe , that the Great Eastern Hotel will enter on a How lease of popularity which shall exceed even the sanguine expectation of its popular and enterprising manager ; and that a year hence we shall have to put its name very much nearer the bead of the list of Homes of Freemasonry than we can now .

Sonnets Of The Greek Mythology, No. 7.

Sonnets of the Greek Mythology , No . 7 .

TO THALIA . COME sweetest sprite , unlock the gates of joy , And let me glide within thy fairy realm ; Or let me sail on streams that never cloy , It matters not if thou art at the helm To guide my thoughts like meteors bright and free , Into the home of loveliness and smiles , Where sin and shame and sorrow ne ' er can be ;

And where each scene the rapturous thought beguiles . Where every breath is rich with fragrant sweets Charged with the essence of ten thousand flowers , And where the heart with gladness wildly beats

So Eden-like , so Heavenly are the bowers . Where waves of melody come floating o ' er , Soft-echoing to me from thy golden shore . Bradford . CHAS . P . EOIJSHAW , M . A .

Ad00802

Second application . TO THE GOVERNORS AND SUBSCRIBERS OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENTJNSTITUTION . Your votes and interest are solicited on behalf of LUCYWHILE, Aged sixty-one years , Widow of the late Bro . JOHN WHILE , Journalist , who died on January 20 th , 1892 . Bro . While was initiated in the Lodge of Uuited Strength , No . 228 , on December 10 th , 1867 , and became W . M . of that Lodge in 1875 , continuing a member of it until the time of his death . Ho was also for two years a member of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 ; was a Royal Arch Mason , exalted in the William Preston Chapter , No . 766 , and a P . Z . of tbe Chapter of United Strength . He was a subscriber to the three Masonic Institutions , and in 1875 a Steward of the Benevolent Institution , of which he was a Life Governor . His widow is also a Life Governor of this Institution . The case is strongly recommended by—E . W . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., Guildhall , E . G . W . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D ., P . D . P . G . M ., Middlesex , Reform Club , S . W . W . Bro . Lennox Browne , F . R . C . S ., P . D . G . D . C , 15 Mansfield Street , W . W . Bro . Thomas Catling ( Editor Lloyd's Weekly ) , P . M ., 2190 and 2127 . W . Bro . John Northcott ( Daily Chronicle ) , P . M ., 2190 . Bro . John Lobb , C . C ., M . L . S . B ., 228 , 4 St . Bride Street , E . G . W . Bro . Robert Griggs , P . M ., 228 , 11 Grays Inn Square , W . C . * W . Bro . George J . Dawson , P . M ., 1853 , 41 Holland Road , Brixton , S . W . "W . Bro . E . E . Peacock ( Morning Post ) , P . M . and P . Z ., 1928 , I . G ., 2190 . W . Bro . Orlton Cooper , P . M ., 211 , H ., 1928 , M . E . Z ., 483 , Tilbury , Essex . W . Bro . George Kenning , Patron , P . M . and P . Z ., 192 and 1657 , P . Prov . G . D . Middlesex , Upper Sydenham , S . E . Bro . C . E . H . Smith , 1928 ( late 226 ) , 42 Blythwood Road , Crouch Hill . Bro . J . Bune , 1928 , Clent , Thurlow Park Road , West Dulwich . Bro . J . D . Irvine , 1928 , 149 Acre Lane , Brixton , S . W . W . Bro . W . T . Perkins , P . M ., 1928 , 36 Norwood Road , Heme Hill , S . E . Bro . William Senior , 2190 , 9 Parkhill Eoad , N . W . W . Bro . Percy W . Husk , P . M ., 1928 , P . Z ., 1928 , 125 Brixton Hill , S . W . * Bro . W . W . Morgan , 177 , New Barnet . * W . Bro . H . Massey , P . M . and P . Z ., 619 and 1928 , 1 Clifford's Inn , B . C . Votes will be thankfully received by the Brethren against whose name a * is marked , and by the candidate , 19 Knighton Park Road , Sydenham , S . E .