Our Architectural Chapter.

the Craft , suitable floors and carpets cannot be expected , nor is their display desirable , but in Masonic Halls , which aro UOAV rising around us , they claim the attention ofthe Grand Superintendent of Works . The floor of the Lodge and its adjoining rooms should be of marble or parquetry , of suitable emblematical design . The tracing board of the first degree may be made a permanent feature on a large scale in

a Lodge room , being covered Avhen other tracing boards are exhibited . Lodge carpets is a subject we have treated upon heretofore , and have given an account of their manufacture . These we recommend to Lodges ; but we Avant other accessories . Such for instance arc oil cloths of suitable designs , for vestibules ancl for borders . More particularly do we want substances for deadening sound , such

as matting , ancl under this head cocoanut fibre matting is very good ; but there is a material IIOAV , coming largely into use , which deserves especial notice , wo mean kamptulicon . The late George Walter , the originator of the Greenwich railway , and many useful establishments , was , we believe , the inventor of kamptulicon ; at any rate he succeeded , after a hard battle , in bringing it into use . There were at first tAA'O kinds of kamptulicon , one made of India rubber and sand , and the other of India rubber and sawdust . The first kind is thafc

which was used for paving in the ivdmiralty courtyard , to deaden sound , and in the government barracks for paving , as a more comfortable material , for the horses than the cold stones . It is the other kind of kamptulicon which has been applied , instead of oil cloth , to stairs , lobbies , ancl vestibules , as a means of deadening sound ; it has been extensively applied in the grand library afc the British Museum ,

and it has been recommended by the best authorities for other libraries , ft is very convenientl y washed and cleaned , and is durable . Wo have scan Home of it used on a afctvircasu for abovifc fifteen ycavs , with great advantage . Wo believe this material could be decorated Avith Masonic emblems , and be employed for Lodge purposes . Tho means of deadening sound should bo carefullattended to b

y y the ( . rand Supfii . intcndo . 11 fc of Works , and particularl y as regards flooring , which , instead of being constructed in the English manner , should bo filled up as in Paris , where the houses being lot out in fiats , each fiat can be convenientl y used AA'ithout annoyance from neighbours overhead or below .

Besides this , have to be considered the means of not deadening sound , for the architect must carefully take into account the . effect of the hangings and furniture of his ' Lodge , ivhich may be likely to affect hearing . Indeed , altogether there is good scope for observations on Lodge arrangements , and for careful study ; because AVO have no good models open for inspectionand no good set of drawings , while

neces-, sarily many things Avhich must bo carefully attended to are not fitting matter for publication . Indeed in a work like ours Ave have carefull y to guard ourselves on this head ; a Masonic publication , otherwise , instead of being a great benefit , may become a great pest . We say this the more particularly , because some of our readers