The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-11
An Imposing Edifce-Thc New Masonic
Hall

New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other
large cities arc blessed with elegant Masonic
temples. In ten days from now, more or less,
Charleston will witness the beginning of a
similar institution. Those who are Masons
not only wish s trusting place" worthy the
name and fame of our old city, where they can
exhibit elegance and hospitality commensurate
with their feelings, but the great public at
large desire 70 see the wedge of improvement
inserted into the waste places of the burnt dis
trict. and stately architecture take the place Of
the now monotonous debris.
Everybody will remember that on the corner
of Cumberland and Meeting streets, before the
war, the Tubal Cain OF our city, Mr. c. Werner,
erected a most unique iron edi6ce. the base
ment of which was devoted to lager beer and
German music, and the summit of which was
crowned with Adam, Eve and little angels,
without any clothes on, in genuine bare relief.
The great fire OF 1861 burned all this beauty to
the ground. Subsequently the property pass
ed into the hands OF Messrs. Cameron, Bark
ley & Co., and by these gentlemen the grand
plan has been conceived of erecting one Of the
most beautiful edifces in Charleston, which,
while affording them ample facilities for the
transaction OF their constantly increasing busi-
ness, will secure to the Masons temple
worthy of the prosperity Of the Order, and to
the pleasure loving and business community a
large hall suitable for every popular purpose.
The elaboration of this happy design has
been left to Mr.. John H. Devereux, an archi-
tect whose name is identified with many of
the most superb architectural productions in
the State.
The drawings may be seen at our Office, and
speak to the eye in one moment more than can
be conveyed to the understanding BY pages Of
descriptive detail.
The lot on which the edifce is to be erected
has front of thirty-seven feet on Meeting
street, and one hundred and forty feet on Cum
berland-street, both of which, when COM
pleted, will present most imposing appear
ance to the observer. The height OF the build
ing, which is to embrace four stories, will be
seventy feet, and the beautiful roof which
made the Italian Mansart famous before he
conceived Versailles, will be an appropriate
crown to the artistic combinations below.
1t is contemplated to make the Masonic de-
partment, to which two stories are assigned,
especially attractive, and the treasures Of taste
will be lavished upon the several Lodge rooms,
In manner that will richly exhibit the en-
blems Of the Order.
The arrangement Of this portion of the
structure has been suggested by Brother
Bruins, Grand Secretary Of the Grand Lodge OF
the State, and by W. N. c. E. Chichester, who
have land perhaps others with whom we are
not acquainted) warmly co-operated with Mr.
Devereux in the furtherance of this enterprise.
1t is utterly useless to go into further details,
however. We can only add that if our readers
don't believe that we are going to have big,
beautiful building, and that, too, right in the
heart of the "burnt district" where, in the
course of the next twelve months, young
Masons will be tortured with hot poker, and
young people will be gripping the light fan
tastic toe" let them drop in at The NEWS office.
and "see the picters."