The Masonic Mirror.

Per Annum . " 4 . —No . 63 , Great Queen-street , occupied chiefly by the society as offices " 5 . —No . 64 and 65 , „ Bacon ' s Hotel , and certain premises at back , on lease , of which ten years are unexpired ... ... 240 0 0 " 6 . —Premises in Middle-yard , let to Mr . Lambert 50 0 0 " 7 . —Seven houses in Queen ' s-place , at weekly rents producing ... 202 16 0

" In the present statement the Board propose to confine themselves to those parts which are known as tho Tavern , and to that portion which is in the occupation of the Craft itself . Of this property the society retains to itself the exclusive use of the Grand Secretary ' s ancl Clerks' Offices , the Grand Master ' s room , the small room known as the Library , the Grand Tyler ' s apartments , and the Temple . The tenants are allowed to use the great hall upon receiving a written permission for that purpose , and upon payment of one guinea to the society for each time it is so used ; and the society pays to the tenants the sum of £ 12 12 s . for each time

that the meetings of Grand Lodge are held therein , and a proportionate sum for the use of rooms required by the various committees . " It has long pressed uponjthe consideration of the Brethren that the accommodation thus afforded is uot such as the Craft generally has a right to require , nor such as an institution so wealthy and important should provide for its members . The Board are of opinion that amongst the first requisites to be provided are a library ancl reading roomand a coffee ancl refreshment roomwhere not only

, , London members may meet , but where Brethren from the provinces , the colonies , and from other countries , may find appropriate accommodation . The Board feel strongly , likewise , the necessity of providing other and more extensive offices for the executive department , and they desire to see these arrangements include not only offices for the Grand Secretary and his clerks , but also for the various

charities , which , forming part of the Masonic system , should find their appropriate place within the chief building . " The Board presume that all will agree that it is requisite that the additions above described should , he provided ; it remains then to inquire how and by what means such au object can be effected ; whether , oil the one hand , by an extension of the present system , and by letting the major portion of the buildings as a tavern—or , on the other hand , by the society taking under its own management such portion of the propertas be adequate to the requirements of the

y may Brethren , and taking upon itself to provide everything which is requisite for the meetings of Lodges and their banquets . " In order te ) a clue consideration of these questions the Board submit the following details : — " 1 st . —As to the Fund for General Purposes , from which fund alone means can be looked for to defray whatever expenses may be incurred . On January 1 st , 1 S 50 in consequence of the completion of a large purchasethere was no funded

, , property to the credit of General Purposes , and at that date The society was indebted to the Grand Treasurer ancl Bankers ... £ 1483 12 11 ,, has since given away 7553 3 0 „ has expended in purchase of property 5450 0 0 „ has invested , and now holds , inEeduced 3-pcr-ceuts ... 6500 0 0 „ had cash in hand , Nov . 13 th , 1 S 5 S i 811 13 1

Making a total excess of receipts over current expenditure of ... £ 21 , 782 9 0 " This sum divided by 8 } years , shows an average excess for that period of about . £ 2500 per annum . Considering tho unexampled prosperity of late years , the Board do not think that it would be prudent to calculate with certainty that the surplus receipts will continue at a similar rate in future years ; at the same time they draw attention to the fact that the Tontine dividends ancl expenses , amounting to nearly £ 300 per annum , now depend on a single life , aged 85 years , and therefore may be expected shortly to fall in . . " 2 nd . The rent of . £ 830 per annum , now receivable from the tavern , is