Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
Misfellamepns Artitles.
A MASONIC TEMPLE in CHARLESTON

days of dependency and gloom, to know
that there are men in our midst with hope
and energy enough to undertake, not only
to build up our waste places, but to erect
upon them edifces which shall exceed in
grandeur anything that there existed before
destruction fell upon our once beautiful ci-
ty. The Masonic fraternity of Charleston,
true to their cardinal virtues of Faith, Hope
and Charity, have determined to erect, at
the corner of Meeting and Cumberland sts.,
on the site of Werner's famous building, a
grand Masonic temple, which shall eclipse
in splendour all the traditionary architectu-
raj glories of Charleston, and equal, if not
surpass, any building devoted to Masonic
purposes in any city Of the same size on this
continent. In this design they are nobly
seconded by Messrs. Cameron, Barkley &
Co., whose immense business in railroad
and steamboat supplies demands more am
pie accommodation than they at present
possess, and also makes them able, while e.
recting new place of business for them
selves, to carry out the design of the Ma
sons, in the founding of the temple afore-
said. R. S. Bruins, the Grand Secretary
of the order in this State, deserves the
thanks of the community for the active part
he has taken in securing the adoption of
this plan, by which he has given another
proof of his devotion to the interests Of the
city of Charleston, as well as to the inter-
ests of Masonry.
The Temple will be ofthat beautiful style
of architecture known as the mansard or an
tique French, and will be four stories high,
with a front of thirty-seven feet on Meet
ing street and one hundred and forty feet
on Cumberland street. The lower floor will
be occupied by the stores of Messrs. Came
ron, Barkley & Co. The second story will
be occupied by two public halls, one, one
hundred by thirty-seven feet, and the 9th
er, ninety by thirty-seven feet. The third
story will be arranged for the purposes Of
the Masons. The East wing of the build
ing will be devoted to the heavy business of
the proprietors, and will be so constructed
that horses with loaded wagons can enter
the building. The ceilings Of all the stories
will be lofty, but the third story, devoted to
the Masons, will be absolutely imposing in
its height, which will reach thirty feet. The
ceiling will be groined, arched, ribbed and
highly ornamented. On the fourth floor a.
bove the grand Masonic hall will be the
chapter room, regalia room, examination
room, &c.
The stair way connecting all these sto-
ries is to be especially handsome, and in its
design the architect has displayed great
skill, not to say genius. The great height
of the stories necessitated long flight of
steps, and to avoid occupying to much room
he has planned an approach from the street
to the second story by handsome marble
steps, with inches for statuary.
The grand hall through which will wind
spiral stairway, is circular and 16 feet in
diameter, and some idea of the magnificent
proportions of the proposed building may
be obtained by imagining oneself standing
in this hall and looking up to the top of the
dome, a height of 70 feet. &.
The front on Meeting and Cumberland
streets will be finished with balconies, caps,
cornices, &c., in profusion. The front on
Meeting g-street when finished, will present
in life size, the following tableau: Statues
of Faith, Hope, and Charity, supported by
Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and JUS
tice, all accompanied by appropriate archi-
tectural combinations.
Such building, when completed, must
be an honour to the architect, the proprie-
tors, the Masons and the city.
Charleston Mercury.