The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-04-14
Tins PROPOSED MASONIC 1lmpu n BROOKLYN.

Q State constabulary.
the PROPOSED MASONIC TEMPLE IN BROOKLYN
The several Masonic Lodges Of the Western Dstrics
Of the sCity Of Churches" having long experiences
great Inconvenience from the want OF suitable accom-
modatons, organized convention In March. 1883. -
consider the propriety and feasibility OF erecting TOM
pie suitable purposes For many years past the
Order has been quietly but rapidly increasing 10 Brook
lyn and but limited number Of the craft wore aware
OF their own strength until this united action for ths
erection OF temple called attention to the fact The
necessity for suitable building for the saiekecpins q
their archives, jewels, embems regalia &C, some d
which are OF considerable intrinsic value tho nconvs
Mont arrangement OF tho buildings now ocoa.
pied for their places OF meeting; the dihcui-
ties ortcntmes created by exactng landlords raising
their rents exorbitantiy after great expense ha1
been incurred In fitting up and decorating their rooms
and the difficulty Of appropriately arranging rooms Ia
buildings expressly designed for tho purpose. con-
WINGED the convention Of the necessity and proprey o.
erecting suitable building Of such character and mag
ntude would not only DO an ornament and credit y
the city the fraternity but would also furnish
them ample room In which they would DO enabled 70
perfect the arrangements for working and illustrating
the several degrees in a manner more appropriate 70
their symbolic forms than had yet been attained.
slight calculation demonstrated the fact that subscrp
fraternity in the district would suffice TO purchase tho
land and erect building a scale OF creator mag
nncence than the most enthusiastic Of thom had
dreamed Of. After full discussion Of the subject
the convention being fully convinced OF its feasibility.
terprse. bill was prepared and forwarded 70 the
Legislature only few days before the close Of the
law and the Masonic Hall Association Of the western
District u Brooklyn s now among the numerous nots
worthy organizations Of Brooklyn ,-
Books Of subscription for stock OF the corporation
were opened and small amount subscribed prior TO the
annual election provided by the charter TO DO held In
July, 1856 This occurring SO soon after s creation,
and owing IN want OF due publicity comparatively few
Of tho lodges being eepesened among the stcckhocsa
and but stockholders being eligible trustees -
a result many of the lodges have representation
in the Board. This is to be regretted. =
the unrepresened lodges not being regularly advised %
the dongs Of the Board appear TO lack interest the
progress OF the enterprise 10 remedy this some Of the
to resign and give place members Of any unrsprs-
sened lodge who will acquire the requisite eligibility b.
W BE- ohs held By members q Tho [ hoS
there reason Why persons not members may mot b
stockholders and trustees Some few persons who arc
not members are already among the subscribers fro0
the belief that tho investment will be profitable ona
Many have expressed desire 10 subscribe pro-
plan Of the building some months since suggested
would DO selected and adopted The Board
prudent as we'll as more just the subscribers .
commit themselves 70 any plan Of building or any oca
warrant them in SO doing. They have accordingly
fixed the amount Of capital stock at 500 900 and il =
condition 8uDScr1ptt00 lnSloAne6k
shall be called for until the amount subscribed When
that accomplished the site will be selected tho lana
purchased and immediate steps taken to commence ths
temple eo3 ENs ~ $3.50
The plan heretofore suggested purchase psos
Of eight Or ten lots on prominent thoroughfars in
erect thereon magnificent temple or white marble ID
the Cornth,an style of archiicctuse, the nrst door
consist OF stores; the second spacious hail. with
tho necessary for lectures concerts &c. and
above all two additional stories exclusively for masonic
purposes II this plan should be adopted would probably
require increase Of capital stock to ssoooo0 NHs
amount authorized by tho cbarter and some estimate
this figure the stock will paw handsome dividend fo
the stores and lecture room alone. e'1tA
Another prAisswothy plan suggested e that Of pun.
lodges the income therefro to be devoted to the
ton and maintenance OF On asylum for the aged ndi
gent and nfirm members OF tho fraternity and their
widows and orphans
No report was made at the last meeting OF the
owing to tbe fact that many Of those most
active in procuring subscriptions were absent II was
favoraby, and that the whole amount might have
been secured had thoy sought or urged large srbscrp
diuscd among the members OF the order and TO facil-
atc this the shares fixed At $40 EACH the poorest
member might be able TO secure interest In the enter
prise.
Tho gentlemen composing the Board OF Trustees
and officers Of the Board mon Of integrity, and The
members OF tho order have every confidence in their
administration Of the affairs The President, Harvey
Harrington, is we'll known, wealthy and innuen-
dent s'sa Respectable physician Nathan we no es
Treasurer well known lawyer formerly Justice Of the
Brooklyn; Colonel william Il De Bevoiss is The Score
tary The other members Of the Board are :-Aarcn
Morley, N. Il. Warning, John Smith, Ezekiel Baldwin,
William L. Osborn William Z. spraguc, Lewis McMul
len, Charles Lowry james Howell, Jr. g. & Hutohin-
son. stephen Haynes, Henry w. Karn. William M Ship.
man, John Dr. Reilly, Charles Kirby, Joshua W. Osborn
JereEah Box and J. Hilyer each OF whom Is author
ized to receive subscriptions stock II is believed
that the requisite amount Of subscriptions will b
procured and the enterprise actively commenced. The
advance Of the Order Is not confined alone Brooklyn.
for Boston, Philadelphia Baltimore and Cincinnati
their Masonic temples and monumental evidences or the
growth pride ard influence OF the fraternity All
ctes aud nearly every town and village In this
country, well in the whole civilized world, has
lodge or lodges where the brotherhood meet and keep
alive The secrets and traditions OF this ancient Order.
embracing within its membership every nationality,
tongue, religion aud party, constituting world within
themselves Here the Turk and the Creek the Asistio
and the American the Jew and the GENTLE the Catholic
and Protestant and every shade Of sectariansD meet
q common brotherhood. Revolutions wars political
contentious public and private discussions and national
and sectional bros have failed to ongcnder vim
dctive antagonsms aud bitter enmity, and not unfro
qncny have destroyed the mightiest empires; yet
through all these commissions conflicts Masonry has
passed unscathed and though perhaps lost sight OF BY
the outside world has lived and hourshed in secret and
It's history and traditions bscn carefully and jealously
preserved and handed down from generation TO genera
ton unimpared and unchanged
The amount expended by the order yearly In charity
FAR exceeds what many might suppose In the Western
annually principally in aid Of the widows and orphans
OF the fraternity. Their charity however, not OK
cusvely confined TO those connected with tho Order;
thor field being the world and its object humanity.
Commonwealth Lodge, No. 400 have purchased nns
site for Masonic hail. at the corner OF Grand avenue
anu .umocrsnd street me na, wncn VIII az oo -
$4,000 The lodge had trouble In raising the unds
The ball s to be three stories high the first nocr VIII
be rented for Stores the second Is to be USED as ecue
ROOM and the third for lodge rooma
NOMINATIONS FOR THE NEW YORK CONSTITUTIONAL con-