At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

In each of the three jurisdictions , a duly installed Master under either of the other Constitutions shall , if not otherwise disqualified , be entitled to be present at a board of installed Masters , and to form one of the quorum ; but not to preside therein or to inslal a Master , unless requested to do so by the board . Nor can a visiting Master or Past Master of

another Constitution preside in the lodge he is visiting . In case there is not present a Master or Past Master duly qualilied under the home jurisdiction , then and then only the officer in charge of the lodge may request a Master or Past Master under one of the other Constitutions to perform any

ceremony which the Warden is not competent to perform . This agreement is not to interfere with the right of the Worshipful Master of a loclge to invite a member of the loclge or a visiting Master or Past Master of any of the three Constitutions to perform any ceremony without assuming the chair .

« 3 » © < £ > The question of recognising a new Grand Lodge in any colony or other territory in which the three Grand Lodges have equal jurisdiction and have warranted lodges working therein , shall not be taken into consideration unless at least

two-thirds of the lodges under each jurisdiction have signified their adhesion to such new body ; and such recognition shall only be granted by agreement of the three Grand Lodges . After the recognition of such new Grand Lodge as a sovereign body , the respective authorities of the three

Grand Lodges will surrender their rights to warrant newlodges within the jurisdiction of the new body , provided always that the rights of lodges not adhering to the new body shall be fully safeguarded .

o « « s > The rebuilding of Freemasons' Tavern is referred to in a recent issue of The Builder , and some interesting particulars are given respecting the present building and site . The former tavern , behind which lay the Craft hall , was rebuilt by William Tyler in 1786 . The present tavern , Nos . 61-3 ,

is part of the combined and enlarged premises , having a depth of 200 feet , erected in 1865-6 , after F . P . Cockerell ' s designs , selected in open competition , for which was taken a site in the main street , of a row of houses , called Queen ' s Place , so as to give the Hall a frontage in that thoroughfare . Mr . W . G . Nicholls executed the statuary and carving .

O <& Q . In the chronological account of Soane's Career and Works , compiled by G . Bailey and printed in The Builder , of December 12 th , 18 4 6 , he states that Sonne , who in 1813 was appointed Grand Superintendent of Works built " the new-Grand Masonic Hall , adjoining Freemasons' Hall , in Great

Queen Street , in 1826 . " Having raised £ 5 , by a tontine , the Grand Lodge of England acquired , in 1744 , their property in Great Queen Street , where Thomas Sandby , R . A ., built the Hall which was opened on May 23 rd , 1774 , Lord Pelro being then Grand Master . It was the first house

erected in this country with appropriate symbols of Masonry , and with suitable apartments for the holding of lodges and other ceremonies . Sandby designed all the emblematical ornamentations of the Great Hall , executed in plaster by Cox . There are drawings to scale of the former buildings in Brittan and Pugin ' s volumes , for 1825-8 , of public edifices in London .

* « S > < s The Grand Hall or Temple suffered much damage from a lire on the night of Thursday , May 3 rd , 188 3 , which consumed the roof , organ , furniture , and portraits of Grand Masters ; the records and E . M . Baily ' s marble statue of the Duke of Sussex were saved . Sir Horace Jones , Grand Superintendent

of Works , prepared a scheme for general reconstruction , to include a new temple with a capacity of 1 , 500 persons , by taking in the banquet hall of the Tavern ; the proposal for removal to the Victoria Embankment was relinquished as being too costly a measure . The scheme was modified so as

to include the purchase of Bacon ' s Hotel , Nos . 64-5 , and its rebuilding as part of the Freemasons' Tavern . In the result the site of Bacon ' s Hotel was acquired for Mark Masons' Hall

( C . H . Driver , Architect ) , which serves for the Grand Loclge of Mark Master Masons , the Royal Order of Scotland , the Order of the Temple , & c . Then , in 18 99 , was taken the site of Nos . 57-8 on the West side for the wing which comprises the Library and Museum , Secretaries' Offices , and rooms for

office-bearers . Mr . Florence , the Architect , followed the design , carried out by Messrs . W . Cubitt & Co ., in red brick and Portland stone , of the Freemasons' Tavern by Professor Cockerell . Thus the present facade of the block to the West of Mark Masons' Hall has a balance and continuity of design , with a dignified example of modern classic architecture for its central feature .

11 RO . HOWLAXO G . VEXAKLKS . In our last issue we recorded the presentation of an illuminated address and two silver bowls to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Shropshire , Bro . Rowland Venables , of which we are now enabled to give illustrations .

OXK OF TIIK I'RIOSKXTATIOX BOWLS .