New Hall At Bombay.

jessamine , similar festoons being hung on the three entrances to the banqueting hall , and rosi' water being copiously sprinkled from a silver receptacle . A choir of Parsee girls sang another song in Gujerati , complimenting his Lordship on the good work done by him in his capacity as Governor of Bombay , and congratulating him on the completion of the Temple , which would for

ever stand as a monument of the deep and sympathetic interest he has taken in Freemasonry in India . They wished long life to H . E . Lord Sandhurst and his consort , and a happy Jamshedi Naoroz ( spring time ) to the distinguished couple . The ladies then proceeded to the banqueting hall , where a handful of wheat and rice was laid upon the carpet , and upon tho corn was placed a

silver vessel containing fresh water . A cocoanut painted with vermillion and yellow was placed on the mouth of the vessel , which was embellished with a garland of jessamine . Sandalwood and frankincense were burnt in a small silver censer , which was placed by the side of the silver vessel , and in a silver tray were arranged receptacles containing ; vermillion and yellow colours

sugar , salt , corn , and pure lucca oil , which are symbolic of pleutifulness and fertility . The coloured paints were applied to the wooden frame-work of the main entrance , a * , well as the doors , the auspicious marks being allowed co remain until the consecration time . A string band , which was placed in the banqueting hall , played a few selections . The ladies were then invited to the main hall upstairs , where a few more songs were sung , Miss Aimai

Darashah Chichgar presiding at the piano . As was the fashion amongst the ancient Persians , who presented coins on the Jamshedi Naoroz festival commemorative of the occasion , Mr . Darashah B . Chichgar presented all the ladies and gentlemen with brand new silver and copper coins as a remembrance of the auspicious occasion . The ladies were then treated to light refreshment , and the party broke up about 10 o ' clock .

The ceremony of dedicating and consecrating the new Hall was performed by H . E . Lord Sandhurst , and it was pronounced on all hands to be a great success . It was , indeed , a red-letter day in the annals of Freemasonry in Bombay , since the Craft can now boast of a Temple of its own in the city . The Committee , consisting of Messrs . B . S . Brown , I . M . Shields , Alexander

Mackenzie , J . VV . Hepworth , C . D . Wise , E . J . Smith , C . D . Furdoonjee , Dinshaw D . Mistry , and D . B . Chichgar , had not left a stone unturned to make the occasion successful . The porch was illuminated with two triumphal arches of coloured lights , the building inside being lighted with incandescent gas lamps . There

was a wealth of floral decorations all over the building , particularly on the grand staircase , which was lined on either side with pretty flowering plants . Shields of Masonic emblems added to tbe decorations of the grand staircase , which also bore a transparency of blue cloth displaying the announcement— " Freemasons' Hall , opened 25 th March 1899 , by His Excellency Lord Sandhurst , G . C . I . E . "

Though the Lodge Boom is one of the largest of its kind in Bombay , it was found inadequate to accommodate about five hundred members of the Craft , who were dressed in their regalia , and many of whom displayed Masonic jewels on their breasts . Iu the history of Freemasonry during the last half century such a large gathering of Freemasons had never before been witnessed .

Invitations were issued by the Joint Hall Committee to high Freemasons in all parts of India , and though many of them were unable to attend on account of long distances , they wrote letters congratulating the Committee on their endeavours being at last crooned with success . Freen a ** ons , however , came from some

of the chief towns of Central India , Guzerat , and Kurrachee , representing the various Lodges to which lhey belonged . There was not a Lodge in the Presidency which was not represented at the meeting . The -arious English and Scotch Lodges workin" - in Bombay mustered stromr on the occasion .

Bro . I . M . Shields Deputy District Grand Master opened the District Grand Lodgr , and having transacted the usual business adjourned the Lodge for a time until H . E . Lord Sandhurst Graud Master arrived .

His Excellency , who was accompanied by General Sir Bichard Westmacott , arrived at about 6 . 30 p . m ., and was received at the porch by the members of the Joint Hall Committee . The Grand Lodge having resumed work , the Grand Master was received by the Brethren with honours befitting his high position . The Grand Master having opened the Grand Lorlge of Ali Scottish Freemasonry in India , the ceremonial of the evening was proceeded with .

Bro . E . S . Brown . President of the Joint Hall Committee , in opening the proceedings , said : —Iu requesting your Excellency to declare this Masonic Hall open , the Committee desire to lay before you a concise statement of its history during the last twenty months . As was explained on the occasion when your

Excellency laid the foundafon-stone , in June 1897 , the project of erecting a Masonic Hall for Bombay was initiated so long ago as 1877 , but had to he put off , for various reasons , from time to time , until the advent of your Excellency amongst us , when at last it could be carried out . It was estimated that the

New Hall At Bombay.

building would cost about Bs . 1 , 10 , 000 , while for fittings and furniture a sum of Bs . 36 , 900 more would be required . The Committee proposed' to cover this expenditure by means of donations and by borrowing money on debentures . It was found that , to ensure the successful termination of the scheme , it would be necessary to obtain at least Bs . 53 , 000 in tbe form of donations , and to secure the rest , about Bs . 94 , 000 , by loans .

It is gratifying to state that iu the matter of donations the expectations have been more than fully realised . The liberal response given to the appeal for donations by individual Masons and Masonic bodies , the tim' -ly assistance given by the Trustees of the N . N . Framjee Trust , by handing over to the Committee a fund at their disposal , the proverbial liberality of the Petit family ,

and the savings of the Joint Hall Committee , have placed to the credit of the Building Fund a total sum of Bs . 76 , 952-15-1 . The Committee desire here to express their best thanks to Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit , Bart , but for whose munificent donation their work would have been far more heavy than it has actually been . The work of collection was not easy . Poona , Admedabad , Surat

Kurrachee , and other mofussil towns had to be visited , not to mention the influence that had to bs exercised in Bombay itself . Bros . Dunn , Wadia , and Chichgar , who formed the Committee for collecting donations , deserve the best thanks of the Fraternity for their disinterested labours . Bro . Dunn has not been amongst

us for some time . He bad little time to work on the Donation Committee before his departure , bub his signal services lay in formulating the donation scheme with his colleagues , and selecting , in concert with your Excellency , and helping us in the acquisition of the only possible site which was within the ways and means of the Hall Committee to secure . Another member

of the Committee , Wor . Bro . Nowrojee N . Wadia , is also not amongst us to-day—he having proceeded to England in December last for the benefit of his health . It was Bro . Wadia who at an important juncture volunteered to acquire the site and pay the

purchase money , and thus took upon himself the risk of the Masonic Committee failing to raise the fund necessary to complete their scheme . The absence of these Brethren threw the work of collection on the Honorary Secretary alone , and he has done it with the results that have been placed before you .

As in the case of donations so in that of debentures , the call , considering that the'interest offered is only & per cent ., has been very liberally responded to . Not only have the Bs . 91 , 000 proposed been taken up , but applications for further allotment have beeu received . The Trustees have so far found it necessary to call for Bs . 45 , 000 only , but , unless more donations " are soon forthcoming , the full amount of debentures may have to be issued .

Though the list of donations has been large , the Committee miss some promiuent names which they expected to see on it . The Committee fully hope that they will soon be there . These further donations will be helpful in more ways than one . They will obviate the necessity for further loans , and will thus not only reduce loan charges , but will give additional guarantee for the repayment of the loans already contracted , and will save rents to be charged to bodies using the Hall being enhanced .

It will be remembered that the various schemes projected in the past were based upon an enhancement of nearly 55 per cent , in bhe rents to be paid by Lodges , and over 100 per cent , in those for Chapters using the Hall . The present scheme , with land taken up on a lease at favourable terms , involved at the outside an increase of only 11 per cent . The Committee hope that , impressed

with the urgent necessity of donations , members and well-wishers of tbe Fraternity will keep the stream of liberality flowing for some time , and thus enable the scheme to be brought to a successful completion without the necessity of even the small enhancement in rents of 11 per cent . And now as to the building itself , it is a matter for gratification that , in spite of these days of

scarcity of labour , the contraotor , Mr . Nusserwanjee Dinshaw , has , under the able supervision of the architect , Mr . J . Campbell , been able to complete the work even earlier than contracted for , though some minor arrangements in the dining-hall and kitchen still remain to be finished . The Hall provides , in a central locality , airy and spacious accommodation for three bodies meeting the same night .

It is proposed to fit it up with the necessary fittings and furniture , of a standard design adopted by the Committee for the articles belonging to the various bodies . Uniformity will thus be secured , and it is hoped the arrangement will be found convenient . For the present the furniture in the Temple alone will be new , and additions will be made as funds permit . The Committee desire to express their heartfelt thanks to alJ bhe donors—names of the

more prominent among whom will be inscribed in a marble tablet to be fixed in the Hall . As a special mark of their appreciation , the Committee have resolved to name one of the Banqueting Halls the Framjee Dinshawjee Petit Banqueting Hall , and the larger HaU the Framjee Cowasjee Banqueting Hall . The Committee feel that this is an unique period in the history o : Freemasonry in India—inasmuch as the representative of her Most Gracious Majesty in this Presidency , your Excellency , rules over both the