The Masonic Hall On Filbert Street, Near Eighth, Philadelphia:

Here the Grand Lodge mei for several years , and the minutes of the Lodges about this time note the presence , as visitors , of Brethren from far and near . As a place of meeting it was not a success , the distance from " town" and the unsuitableness of the building for the purposesintended , caused the Brethren te consider the subject of moving . On April 6 , 1807 , the following resolution was offered in the Grand Lodge : —

" Whereas , it has been found from experience that the Masonic Hall ( the propert y of this Grand Lodge ) has not nor cannot be made to afford those accommodations suitable to the dignity of the R . W . Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania ; and " Whereas , from the great increase of members to the Masonic institutions of this cit y , who hold their meetings in the Hall belonging to the Grand Lodge , the accommodations have proved quite insufficient ; therefore be it " Resolved—That a committee be appointed with full powers to sell to the best advantage the Masonic Hallthe property of the Grand Lodof the State of Pennsylvaniaand that

, ge , the trustees holding said property be directed to make a transfer of the same , to such person or persons as said committee shall direct ; and be it further " Resolved—That the above-named committee be directed to ascertain if a suitable lot of ground ( either in ground rent or purchase ) can be had in the central part of the city for the purpose of erecting an elegant Masonic Hall , suitable to the dignity of the R . W . Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania . "

On December 7 , 1807 , the Committee reported that they had an offer from Thomas Carstairs , an eminent carpenter of Philadelphia , to purchase the Hall for § 5000 , to be paid for in work on the new Hall , and that he had also agreed to do the carpenter work for ten per cent , less than the old prices . The Building Committee subsequently were directed to purchase the lot on Chestnut Street , above Seventh , north side , and erect a magnificent building thereon .

On June 24 , 1811 , the Grand Lodge moved to the new building on Chestnut Street ( the first Chestnut Street Hall ) , which cost $ 86 , 980 . 12 | , when the Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall was sold for the sum of § 4500—one-half the cost . Eight years afterwards ( March 9 th , 1819 ) , when the Chestnut Street Hall was destroyed by fire , the Grand and Subordinate Lodges , etc ., moved to the Filbert Street Hall again , which they occupied during the time it was heing rebuilt . On March 1 , 1820 , the Grand Lodge moved to the second

Chestnut Street Hall , and then ceased all Masonic work in the " Pennsylvania Freemasons' Hall . " Its history from that time is not of any interest . The second storey rooms were occupied at different times b y Thomas Birch , the celebrated marine painter , a personal friend of Frater John Sartain ; and also by Thomas Welsh , as celebrated an engraver . These rooms were also used for dancing partiesat many of which Frater Mark Richards Muckle was present .

, The public schools of the ninth section , of which Frater John L . Young was director , were held here for a number of years , and lately it has been used for manufacturing purposes ; it has for a number of years belonged to the Kates ' estate . It may be incidentally mentioned that in the open court-yard , alread y noted as being in the rear of the building , and running through nearly to Market Streetthere is a building , once occupied by Benedict Arnold .

, The building is now to be demolished , to give place to the onward march of improvements . To-day we stand within its walls to hold the last meeting as Brethren of the R . G . therein , to-morrow orders have issued to level it with the ground , and in a short time a stately brick edifice will be erected , a credit to the city . Thus passes away one of the oldest Masonic Halls in this city . andI venture to say , in the country .

, Oh , that the walls could echo and repeat the words of good cheer and hearty welcome once given therein ; the songs , and toasts , and jests ; the beautiful rendering of the ancient ritual by a Duplesses , a Milnor , an Israel , and the Smiths—William , the Provost of the University , and Jonathan Bayard , and a host of others—a ritual retained b y us with but few changes up to 2 H 2