THE NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1701, 16 January 1874, Page 4

THE NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENT

Public attention having been recently calledto this subject in connec; ion with the talked of reform of the Legislative Coun-. cil, a brief reference to it will not be on: of place, nor wholly uninteresting. We gather from Laing's "Journal of a Residence in Norway " that the Norwegian Storting, or Parliament, is elected and asaembled once in three years. After it meets it divides itself into two houses ; the whole Storthing choosing from among its members, one-fourth, who constitute the Lagthing, or Uyper House ; which, however, has no initiative, but only deliberative functions. The other three-fourths constitute the Odelsthing, or House of Commons. All proposed enactments must be initiated in the two divisions \mited in one house. The Storthing, though composed exclusively of members elected by the same constituencies, consists in fact of three houses ; that is to say, the Lagthing, the Odedthing, and the entire Storthing. It is in the latter that all motions are made and discussed, and if entertained are referred to committees to report upon to the Storthing. When the report is sent in it is discussed, arid, if approved, a bill, in the terms of the report, is ordered to be brought into the Odelsthing which then approves or rejects it. If approved it is sent back to the Odelsthing which accepts or rejects the amendments. It thus appears thai the two houses do not unite to pass i bills which one of them may have rejected, as has been recommended here ; but -they unite for the purpose initiating, bill 3, nabills being entertained that have not originated in, and been approved, by the two Chambers united in one House. Whether a second Chamber, undei our Parliamentary system of Govern nent" could be similarly constituted here, or whether deadlocks would be avpicteaby the bare expedient of not permitting bills to be introduced that had not first received the approval of the united Chambers, may

be considered extremely doubtful ; but the experience of Norway teaches that even when the members of tbe two Chambers are. elected in the first instance by the same class of electors the one house will not necessarily be a mere duplicate of the other. :•■..-;. ■ :

THE MASQNIO TEMPLE, PHILA..JI DELPHIA. The New Jfork Herald gives the. following description of the new ' Masonic Temple at Philadelphia, which was dedicated on the 26th September : — The noble structure stands upon th north-east corner of Broad and Filbert streets, directly opposite the new public buildings now in course of erection, and is the grandest Masonic structure in the world. The site upon which it is reared cost 156.793d01, and the building itself over 1,600,000d01. It has been five years in construction, and the expenditure for the same was secured by a Masonic loan. The temple is the most imposing edifice in the "Quaker City," and towering above tbe many massive structures in its own immediate vicinity, presents a landmark that can be distintly seen for miles around. It has two fronts— the w est on Broad street and the south on Filbert street. A perfect specimen of bold Norman architecture, it is unlike any other structure in the country. Its dimensions are 250 ft in length, with a breadth of 150 ft. The material used in the construction is Cape Ann syenite of a greyish white color, which gives the building a look of solidity and permanence furnished by few other stones, .The architecture of the building, surmounted by its unique towers and ; facades, t it 3, .windows and cornices, is imposing and grand. A feature of the front is the porch, which is •the most elaborate and costly' work of the kind in the country. It is built cf Quincy granite, and is made up of four pairs of receding pillars, surmounted by arched semi-circular moulding, enriched by beautiful Norman decorations. The structure, which is three stories and a basement in height, is said to contain 10,000,000 bricks. The hall is enclosed by an iron railing fence, and lamps will be placed around it for use at night. The interior of the structure is magnificent ; the <;rand staircases are of iron, and the first hall is 20ft in width. The floors are laid with black-and white marble tiles, arranged in figures, and presenting a handsome appearance. Each hall in the temple is a sample of a different order of architecture —being the Egyptian, the Corinthian, the Doric, the lonic, the Oriential, the Norman, the Gothic, and the Italian Renaissance. On the first floor is situated the banqueting hall, which is an elegant room, capable of seating over 600 persons, and is fitted up in truly grand style. It is so constructed that it can be divided into two rooms and used by two different lodges at the same time should necessity arise for such an arrangement. The Grand Lodge Ball, in the second storey is constructed and decorated upon the Corinthian order. This room has seating capacity for 400 persons. It is 51ft wide, by,. 100 ft in length. It is elegantly bnislied, and furnished in the most costly style. The Grand Chapter hall is also situated upon the, second floor, as well as those of the subordinate chapter, comman-dery;-'council, and consistory rooms, all of which arc fit companions to the Grand Lodge hall. Its decorations cost several thousand dollars. In point of beauty and unique design of appointments it has no compeer. The doors are very handsome, being finished in an elegant variegated marble veneer, which gives them the appearance of polished stone. A striking feature of this apartment are the walls of the temple, which perform an important part in the mysteries of Royal Arch Masonry. The building throughout is admirably furnished with all the necessary adjuncts in the shape of waiting, toilet, library, banqueting, reading, and culinary rooms, whilst the ventilation, gas, water, and lighting features are per feet and marvellous.