MASONIC.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 864, 2 April 1877, Page 2

MASONIC.

The Hew Canterbury Masonic Hall. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new Hall for the Canterbury Lodge, 1018 K.C., took place this day. The erection of a new building for Lodge purposes has been long urgently needed, the former building being far too small to afford accommodation to the brethren. It was determined to remove the old building, and upon the site erect a new Hall. A building committee, comprising Bros. Sandstein, F. W. Thiel, Rentoul, Tombs, Kirk, Stapleton, J. Fleming, Booth, and J. L. Fleming, were appointed, and they set about the work most zealously, the result of their labours being tliat the Lodge was in a position to invite the R.W. Hist. Gr.M., Bro. W. Donald, tp' perform the ceremony of laying the fonndatioivstone today. In order t o give our readers an idea of the building about to be erected, we append a short description of it: — The new hall is situate on the eastern side of Manchester street south, in the direct route to' the new passenger railway station. The building is of brick, with cement front on Manchester street of 37ft, and a depth of 91ft, and has an ornamental front with handsome entrance doors in the centre, with arch and keystone, on which arc represented the square and compasses. The design is classic, of the Corinthian order • the windows on either side, giving light to anterooms, are circularheaded with moulded architraves; tljie circular lights above, with device pf double

triangle, giving light to a refreshment room, 33.0 x 17.0. Above those windows, and at level with Corinthian capitals, is the Latin inscription AL T J)I,YI J)E,TACE in raised gilded letters, above Avhich arc a handsom c cornice and pediments, with rnodillions and dentils. In the tympanum of pediment is the image in relief of the All-Seeing Eye in centre, on one side the level and on the other the mallet and plumbrule of the Freemason. There is an anteroom on either side of the entrance hall, from both of which access is given to the handsome lodge room or hall, a parallelogram 66ft by 33ft in the clear and 21ft high. The north, south, and cast walls of the ball are panelled with pilasters, having ornamental carved caps and a leading, whilst at the east end is a raised dais in an arched recess for Worshipful Master and Past Masters’ chairs, with pilasters and entablature on either side; the back wall and ceiling of the dais is handsomely panelled, the east wall over the arch being decorated with masonic emblems, and the whole interior tinted in colors. A rich and handsome cornice runs round the hall, and the ceiling is panelled with masonic devices, whilst the panels in the centre arc filled in with light ornamental iron gratings for ventilation, which has been carefully attended to, fresh air being admitted at the back of the ornamental caps of the pilasters. The hall will be lit with three ornamental sun-lights, and gas is also laid on to the refreshment room, anterooms, and entrance hall.

The architect is Brother Fredk. Strouts, P.M., P.P.0., Superintendent of Works, M.R.1.8.A., and the contractor, Mr C. Candish, with Mr J. Wood as elerk of the works.

The foundation stone was laid this afternoon by the R.W.D.G.M. Bro W. Donald in the presence of a good muster of the brethren of the lodge and sister lodges. The ceremony was conducted according to custom, and a very handsome silver trowel, manufactured by Bro M. Sandstein and bearing a suitable inscription, was presented to the TJ.W.D.GrM on behalf of the Canterbury Lodge. A luncheon was afterwards to be held to commemorate the event.