New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-08
MASONIC.

arIIpING-ORDER OF EXERCISES AND Pko
GRAMME OF CEREM0NIEs-CoMMuNlCA w.,
OF THE GRAND LoDGE-MAsoNiC NE
CEPTIONS.
This 9Th of June. 1870, will stand for many
coming wear red letter day in the Masonic calendar OF
The Empire state for upon this suspicious and memor
allie Wednesday in the heart of the great metropolis,
and in presence Of mighty convocation OF assembled
lodges viii be laid, with gadysolemn ceremonies 'ne
chief cornerstone OF coudkssng temple, generous IN
rurpose monumental in architecture and hty Npi'si
of the virtue truth and wisdom which have been "s
toned into the institution which men call masonry
Since the early twilight centuries, "heh his' ''0
craftsmen Of the trowel and the square oouuu NJ
~telves together In mystic fraterna league s'ioo '
ENTERPRISE of charity and gentle brotherhood mas poo
more wisely generously conceived thah mas INC VI"
that po awaits inaugural conservation For eight ana
4wenv wears every true Mason from MontauK Pomt 10
Clautauoua has dreamed Of this hour, ana hopeu' anu
,oed and struggled and sacrificed, ike the lsraeh'es
Of old in the wilderness, for the building OF TINS taper
~ for the fraternity OF Free and Accepted Masons OF
New.York-ths temple in which, in the eloquent words
NJ the Grand Master Of the State archives can be
safely deposited convocaOns held our laws taught
aud administered and the great principles OF Masonry
ernetuaed aud disseminated, and from the revenues OF
which shall arise the long and ardently desired Asylum
in which the ged and nrm craftsman, the widow ana
the little may find security fom inc s'oIhs anu
tempcsts OF adverse fortune --- -'--- -
In 1912 Brother Greenfield Pote, man wen advanced
IN wears and popdent upon the labor Of his hands Tor
the support OF family cast upon the altar OF MASONRY
one dollar ~ the first contribution to Tine han ana
Asylum Fund. That single precious mite by careiul IN
Vesment and the offerings Of brethren mas grown Win
the lapse Of years to half million dollars Lodges sent
thir cle,iops and brethren their gifts. $500 being the
LARGEST individual contribution Near the close OF the
war Masonic Fair In this City melted $4,000 About the
same time the Grand Lodge bought the old Scotch Pres
bvteran Church al the corner OF Grand ana CrOsyS's
intending to build the temple there but portion OF the
fraternity were not satisfied with the location and the
property was finally sold OppOrtune profit OF over
$4,000 Two yeatsa 90 the present central and admirable
site upop the northeast OF SXthave and Twen-
ty-thrst, opposite Booths Tbeater, was bought lOr
$4,000 every cent Of which now paid leaving the iaho
without lease, mortgage OF lncumbIahce asuIe ""Soi0
heritage for all time to come.
There are fuly $50 lodges In the Metropolitan District,
which is limited by ten-me radius from the City Han,
hut there IS not AZ present single Vertabe Masonic
Hall in NewYork City. The building, so-caled ON Thlr-
teenthst is not owned and is but partly occupied ny
the fraternity. Other cities are not so destitute In
Boston the Masons have fine hall al the corner OF Park
ave and Boylstost dedicated only year or two ago.
and in Philadelphia Masonic Temple of unrivaled archi-
tcctura elegance with spires and eted roofs and every
variety of lavish ornament, Is now IN process OF
erection. 1t must not be thought however,
that no Masonic Temple has ever stood on Manhattan
Island Masonry was first instituted in this state
by St Johns Lodge No /, in December, 1857, and at
least as early 1914 purely Masonic editce not un
worthy the name Of temple, was built in New-fork
This old 81. Johns Hail. which stood for more than
80 years at No. Frankfort-st 1t was plain three
story brick building 80 feet by 49, and was torn away
in ls4s to make for Frenchs Hotel Another Ma
sonic Han was built Broadway, near Pearst oppo
tite the old City Hospital, about the year 1896 1t was
marble Gothic in style, and had high arched entrance
After standing nfarly 20 years. 1t was taken down 10
maize yav for the old Broadway Theater Both these
IL, hrilt Inv sinh limited
he costs Incurred in their erection Profit
Ing nv the grievous pccuniary experience
thus gained the trustees IN charge Of the present ce
prise have eeed resoutey of that rock Of debt on
which their predecessors split The whole plan OF their
undertaking is equally faI-reaching and c9mmendabe
for Th h s Mn so 6d S Sfe grand engine
cSaTity for that noble Masonic Asylum the maintenance
OF which is the ultimate object aimed az Han uoZen
moments notice, in various parts Of the state ana me
ne, ~, yisIy deem II the better way 10 insure
in advance certain annual revenue OF $1,000 TO SoO''y
and this end the Hal planned to secure at once an
imposing architectural effect with the utmost degree OF
use, room, and convenience. 49,, ,
The ground measures al feet on Twenty thiTd-st and
IS feet inches ON the avenue and the temple VIII cover
Concord or Quincy granite Inc bmldlhs WIZ ne 1ioiu
into five stories, each distinctly marked on the eXteiNr
Upon Twenty hrdSt the main feature will be the cen
and surmOuned by quadTanguar dome, 50 feet square
TOP of its crcsting "Curtains," 10 be adorned with
blenatc statues viii connect the center pavilion with
TO the top of the main cornce, and capped by Masard
roof The avenue front harmoIzes WITH me
"curain between enriched by platers Inc hIst story
will be principally devoted TO stores, three large ones on
the street aud four the avenue. Tie main entrance
IN the southwest "curtdin' viii be Ornamented aud
made promipent by Dorc porco In front Of this will
stand two Masonic columns 20 feet HIGH and these, with
The MN story will form the only insignia of Masonry on
the temples exterior The main entrance leads directly,
by flight Of broad steps TO large corridor i'll the second
story, wide by C. long and 80 high From this i'm
mediate access is obtained on the east side TO the Grand
LOdge-room, 81 by 20 feet, and ON the other side
officers and to the freproof archive-roOm and other
apartments The grand hail is arranged 10 comfortably
seat the Grand Lodge of the state which numbers about
members and mas beside gallery across the west
end which will accommodate $50 more, and Will be
specially convenient for the orchestra musical Occa
sions The Grand Masters throne will he in recess at
fon rooms either side. The stairway leading to
the upper stories is at the north end Of the entrance
high, gives access at once to a reception hail. 20
by 6s opening on tne eaS a,Ge 10 tnrSe , l{eI e
Blue Lodge rooms each % feet long West Of the reccp
non room j. LARGE banquet hail. with stewards
adjoining In the fourth story, which is q feet HIGH and
arranged precisely like the third there Will be two Blue
Lodge rooms and one Royal Arch Chapter room, ar
ranged with and ingenious cOnvenences. The htth
story will be wholly devoted 10 the use OF the knights
Tempar aud the Commandery Hall viii probably be in
all respects the finest constructed The building
will he heated by steam thoroughly and scientifically
ventilated and OF the most approved nrero0 constitute
ton and will, Of course be amply supplied win al nc
aud TO the private stairway on sixthave., Will
traverse the building from the ground 10 the NTH story
and In ease OF need il may he entirely cleared of its
occupants in five minutes The architect, Napoleon II
aud with comnendable TASTE and it is not easy TO see
how could he improved. Its cost is estimated at
of the trustees II is hoped that Masonic zeal and gener
O,ity will compass it's complexion within two years
Some lust idea Of It's skypOintng majesty may he
gathered the fact that its massive central dome will
tower B feet above the topmas point ol BOoths aShih
cent theater, directly opposite.
SIX thousand metropolitan members OF the Masonic
fraternity walked line at Lincon's funeral and made
Inv "a he TupE