Homes Off English Freemasonry.

homes off English Freemasonry .

II . —THE HOLBOEN RESTAUKANT . YOLTAIEE used to sneer at England as a country which had one sauce and eighty religions . But things have changed since Voltaire , in lodgings in Maiden Lane , made the acquaintance of the Cider Cellars , and marvelled at a British fondness for fizzing sausages and mashed potatoes , and such simple dishes of

the kind , washed down by huge bumpers of beer . In those days such a place as the Holborn Restaurant is now was never dreamed of . For an antithesis to the Cider Cellars , with their uncouth and unlovely surroundings , by all means go to the Holborn , and moralise on the mutability of things . Of all the social changes that have taken place in the Queen ' s reign there is none so great as is indicated in the evolution of the huge

restaurants of the present day ; and among them all one must single out the Holborn as holding a position that is quite unique . For while built in a palatial style , equipped regardless of expense , and providing for some four thousand people every day meals served with the greatest culinary excellence , it is absolutely the only modern restaurant where a man can go and order a modest chop , and be served with exactly the same courtesy and consideration as though he was dining en prince .

The Holborn Restaurant is one of the newest of our Homes of Freemasonry . But while new in point of age it is important in point of size ; already upwards of sixty-five Lodges meet and dine here ; and half as many again , who meet elsewhere , journey hither when business is over , bo enjoy the creature comforts which they cannot get in such variety anywhere else . So quickly did

the popularity of the Holborn grow among Masons that the management decided to build a Temple in which Freemasons could meet , and a inore gorgeous temple does not exist on the face of the earth ; nor one so thoroughly up to date , Big enough to hold the largest meetings that will ever be likely to be held here , the furnishing has been carried out regardless of cost . The

simple dignity of the customary Masonic furniture is an admirable foil to the oriental magnificence of the decorations . To be seen at its best , it must be visited when the electric light is turned on . Then hundreds of concealed lights , and hundreds of visible lights , shed a special glamour over the scene—even the " candles " are surmounted by electric glow lights instead of the customary wick ; and the very fine organ in the corner is supplied with air by an

electric motor . Among its architectural features is a magnificent dome , and some splendid pillars ; while the general scheme of colouring is in gold . Some first-class portraits are seen of the Masters of the earliest Lodges to meet here : the Lodge of Prosperity , and the Mount Edgcumbe . There are also some fine old carved chairs of the Strong Man Lodge , and a magnificent gilt chair , with shield shaped back , belonging to the St . Luke Lodge , and said to be at least a hundred years old .

In addition to the New Temple there is the old one , which was the first used ; and which was merely a large apartment adapted for the uses of Freemasonry . It is still used , owing to the excess of applications for meeting rooms ; and it is undoubtedly very comfortable . Then , the business meetings having been held

either in the New Temple or the old one , members have the choice for other functions of as fine a suite of rooms as is possible to find in London , for the Holborn Restauraut has increased by leaps and bounds ; new wings are constantly being added , until there seems no finality . The more the accommodation provided , the greater the demand for it .

The oldest inhabitant of Holborn would not have to tax his memory very much to recollect when a . timber yard stood here . Then a swimming bath was built , and this not proving a great success it was turned into the Holborn Casino . This had had a limited run when a New York firm turned it into a restaurant ;

and finally , on the 6 th April 1874 , it commenced its present run of popularity as the Holborn Restaurant . From the first it has been conducted on the principle of supplying the maximum of culinary taste , and the best of everything , at the most moderate of rates . The half-crown table d'hotes are as reoherchp . and

elegant , as regards the dishes , as any at three times the price further west . They are served in palatial rooms , on tables elegantly laid—in fact with just the same good taste and the same expensive adjuncts as though the diner was sitting down to a two guinea banquet , and doubtless , more than all this elegance and profusion , what has made the Holborn thoroughly popular is that

the man of moderate means can enjoy his moderate repast in comfort—not only the comfort of having a good chair , at a speckless and handsomely arranged table , but the comfort he appreciates still more , of knowing that the waiter is giving him just as much attention , and is as ready to attend to his slightest

wishes , as though he was spending a lot of money . At the Holborn no waiter ever makes a guest " feel small" or mean ; he never suggests either expensive dishes or expensive wines , he will hand you a bottle of water with just the same attentiveness as though it was a bottle of the choicest champagne ; it is one

Homes Off English Freemasonry.

feature of the place which the Manager—himself one of the most courteous of men and long respected by his Brother Masons—has brought to perfection ; and it exists nowhere else . It is a difficult matter to give any adequate idea of the Holborn Restaurant , or the numerous halls , saloons , banquetting chambers , grill rooms , bars , buffets , aud accessories , of which it

consists . There are so many of them ; they are of such different sizes ; suitable to so many purposes ; and so constantly in use that there are endless streams of life and gaiety flowing through the many entrances and exits . Numerous Masonic dinners , several balls , a few private dances , a coming of age or call to the bar dinner or two ; several smoking concerts , a theatrical

entertainment , and private gatherings of all kiuds—all going on at once—show the inexhaustible capabilities of the place . And yet there is never any crushing , no one is in anybody else ' s way , and no matter how many dinners there may be at once , or at different periods , everything is up to time , and is splendidly served , whether the dinner is for a dozen friends , or whether it is a

public banquet for a thousand people . The place seems a labyrinth to the visitor ; but so thoroughly is everything managed that there is much more personal comfort to be experienced here than in a small place which might be considered more easy to control . And when one considers the prodigality with which the place has been built , it appears marvellous that lunches and

dinners , prepared in a way that will satisfy a gourmet , can be provided at such low rates . For the building itself is undoubtedly one of the most unostentatiously beautiful pieces of public architecture in London . The grand staircase , with its double flight , in carrara . marble , with balusters of alabaster , cannot be excelled in beauty in any public place in the country . The main walls too , in all parts of the building , are panelled in marble , with

margins of alabaster ; and throughout the place one sees evidence , not alone of unlimited resources , but of artistic taste . The Grand Salon , where oue lunches superbly for half a crown , or can have a chop for the nimble ninepence , is a luxuriant chamber , which is given regal proportions by its three tiers of balconies , supported by solid white marble columns , enriched with gilded capitals . Here , too , a fine band plays for table d'hote dinner , at which for a few shillings one dines royally .

Space will not admit any attempt at details of the vast resources of the place , but one would like to linger over the matchless elegance , and splendid accommodation of the King ' s Hall . For big Masonic banquets , for balls or re-unions of any kind , it has the great advantage of having a commodious crush room , a 3 moking lounge , and of being in close proximity to other

rooms which can be used in conjunction with it . Then there is the Royal Venetian Chamber , for large dinners ; the Queen ' s Salon and the Prince ' s Salon , quite close to the Masonic Temple and specially useful for Lodge dinners ; the Duke ' s Salon , for private dinner parties ; the Colonel ' s room , for more select

parties ; and quite a host of other rooms , small and large , with buffets , smoking rooms , oyster bars , other bars , and all the familiar accommodation scattered all over the place . The profusion of everything is only excelled by the good order aud good taste which puts everyone at ease , and leaves everyone in good humour .

The growth of the Holborn—as it is familiarly and affectionately termed—is eminently characteristic of the times . How many old and historic inns have disappeared from the thoroughfare , while this new one has been growing ! The " Old Bell , " almost the last of the old mediaeval inns with their open wooden galleries , has gone , and its great wooden gates have been chopped

up for firewood . The " Horse and Groom " and " Ridler ' s " have gone more recently . The " George and Blue Boar , " where Cromwell and Ireton seized a compromising letter from Charles I . to his Queen , went long ago , to make room for the Inns of Court Hotel . The whole of the ancient thoroughfare from end to end is eloquent of progress and advanced taste . Few are left of the

historic old buildings , and they are disappearing rapidly . Little remains of the squalid region around Kingsgate Street and Fulwood's Rents , which Dickens pictured so graphically . Big modern premises are replacing small dingy rookeries ; no neighbourhood has progressed so much . No wonder the Holborn Restaurant , with its big enterprise , its common sense management ,

its appeal to all classes , has grown and prospered . It was the first to realise that people liked good food , not only well prepared , but moderate in price , and served amid elegant surroundings . It decided to bring the highest flights of the culinary art within the easy reach of the people , and it has scored—at is deserved to do—one of the greatest commercial successes of the century .

An invitation ball , in aid of the Craft Charities , was given by Bro . James Clarke W . M . and Officers of the Baring Lodge , at the Grand Hotel , Cromer , on the nth . This , the second one held under the auspices of the Lodge , was in every respect a great and entire success .