WORLD'S BIGGEST LUNCHEON.

Shannon News, 28 August 1925, Page 3

WORLD'S BIGGEST LUNCHEON.

A FREEMASON'S DINNER. WANTED—A SUM OF £1,000,000 LONDON, August 8. Eight thousand Masons, wearing re-' galia, attended the world's biggest luncheon, which was held at Olympia to-day.' here were 1300 waitresses and 5h miles of tables, which were, decorated with red carnations. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, the Duke of Connaught, presided, and read the King .5 congratulatory message. Lord Ampthill, the pro-Grand /Master ( Sir Lionel Halsey, the DeputyGrand Master; the Duke of York, Provincial Grand Master; Prince Arthur, and Viscount Lascelles were present. The object of the luncheon was to facilitate the raising of £1,000,000 to build a London headquarters of English Freemasonry as a memorial to Freemasons killed in the war. The guests subscribed £150,000, and paid £20,000 for their tickets for the-lunch-eon. The contributions, with promises from Home and abroad, now total £826,000, 0! which London lodges contributed £417,000. ■ The catering included 30001 b of salmon, 1500 chickens, 600 legs of lamb, 3000 bottles of champagne, and 250 gallons of ice cream. A director, mounted in a sort of coning-tower, high in the roof of the Olympia, controlled Lyons' army corps of waitresses, nicknamed "Nippys," through an amazing operating mechanism, which flashed his orders to every corner of the hall. ■ The "Nippys," perfectly drilled, car ried in the ooiurses in single file, with the precision of Guards. ;