3-016-919 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Laying the foundation-stone of the new building in connection with Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, [London], 1864. 'This edifice is to provide a central gathering-place for the Freemasons generally, with more complete accommodation than the existing Freemasons' Hall and its offices can afford, and entirely separate from the arrangements of the Freemasons' Tavern. The architect is Mr. F. P. Cockerell...The foundation-stone was laid by the Earl of Zetland, Grand Master of the Order in England, accompanied by the Earl De Grey and Ripon, Deputy Grand Master, and the Irish Grand Master, the Duke of Leinster. This occasion brought together a numerous meeting of the "brethren of the mystic tie," with their symbolical equipments and attire...The Masonic fraternity is said to be greatly increasing, as many as 2000 new members having been admitted within the three months of the present year into the Grand Lodge of England. In the whole of England there are about 1000 lodges, each averaging forty members, or containing in all 40,000 in round numbers. The Grand Lodge possesses a large amount of funded wealth, besides freehold property of considerable value, and there are several noble charities connected with it'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.