The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-02

~ AAAAASA4I -: - .AoS As .'s4.,.;s g:
The Last thing upon the programme was
the performance Of Old Hundred by the
Berger band, which brought down. the
house. IN
OPEN FOR INSPECTION. ,rs
The dedication over, the Hall was thrown
open for inspection, and was visited by
hundreds Of members Of the Order and
Others, Including many ladies' It viii also
be open to-day, This evening t. win be
opened for the first time for Lodge meet
Ing, and it is expected that there viii be a
large attendance, not only. of Richmond
Lodge (Which holds Its stated meeting, but
OF other Knights. 49, ~. 5gegy.. .
~ - ~levGs sPYTHIAN HALL.,5.s EE :cEC -
z Months ago the Lodges meeting fn Cove
nant Hal, on Capitol street, felt the neces-
sity OF having rooms more commodious,
and at the same time better adapted for the
peculiar work Of the Order, than they then:
occupied. Committees to secure another
hall were therefore appointed by Old Do
minion. Virginia, and Richmond Lodges,
OUT their efforts were not crowned with
success, and the project was at rest, when
Hines Lodge sprang into being, and 1t be-
came absolutely necessary that it should
nave good hall, and that speedily. A COM
mittee being appointed by that Lodge also,
the joint committees soon selected the
fourth hoor OF the building on the south
east corner Of 18th and Main streets,
owned by the estate Of Thomas r. Price.
The building presents unusual advantages
in Its fine proportions, secure foundations,
ana safe superstructure, and the floor
chosen for the Lodge and ante-roof1s is COM
modlous and well ventilated fts one dis
advantage Is the lowness of pitch, but this
proves to be but slight objection, as the
Lodge.room is' so long that were the pitch
much higher it would be difficult for the
voice to reach, without unpleasant effort,
from one end to the 0ther.ro ark 4zATa:lz i
rms room having been selected bv the
JOINT committee, Virginia, Old Dominion,
M RMachmond, and Hines Lodges resolved to-
nsit up In style worthy of the Order, and
OF It's membership in Richmond The mat
ter was given in charge of competent
ou1ffilne 1 IN committee, and the work given
Sus py Ghem TO mechanics, who, besides
Ie,lig shllea IN their trades, and we'll
hnown hl, Id the community, are knights of
Pythias in good standing. The resnlt ia tina
| 4anasomeiy-furnished, and even luxurious.
h1uge,room, and the convenient apartments
| au!9inlng, Which were yesterday solemnly
oeuicateo 60 Pythian friendship. r1er
Inc hall Is reached by means of staircase
on Main street, next door to the State Bank
OF virginia. Going up three flights of stems.
the visitor finds himself on portico. from
which splendid view Of portion Of the
city, long stretch of the james river. and
Manchester and the surrounding country
Is afforded. Opening upon this portico is
t... REFREsHMENT ROOM,
which is capable of accommodating about
two hundred persons at supper. Two
long stationary tables stretch from one end
OF I he room to the other, and around it are
conveniently arranged cupboards and al
the other appliances of frstclass dining
room, while good cooking-stove with tht
usual accompaniment stands in readiness
to get up good square meal at the shortes
notice.. 1#,l,.,5 .s, .--.-.- #.
THE vEsTlBULE AND REoEpTIoN-RooM. |
Ihe portico also opens into the vestibuIe
anu lhe visitor is escorted through that t.
the reception-room or library. The vesti
bule is thirty feet in length by seven il
width, and the reception-room is fine
twell-yentilated apartment tWenty-three b.
Itwenty-tw0. The walls are appropriated,
papered, and the floor is covered with
neat and handsome ingram carpet, with
red ground and small green figures; Al
ornamental library-case, with glass doors
occupies one whole side of the room. Thi
is to be filled with books donated by mem
bers of the Order. In the centre of th
room, under splendid chandelier with al
ingenious drop-light, is 4 reading table ant
about dozen cane-seat arm.chairS,. api
I two Or three chess-tabies make up its com
pIement of furniture. Here are receive,
candidates for initiation, and everything i
so disposed that while awaiting the ap
pearance of "the goat" they can pass tn
tims pleasantly, and perchance forget thei
fearful apprehensions. (The walls ar
deadened, SO that no.sound from the Ledg
can reach ft.) This room willalso be occu
pied for committee meetings, and will b.
the headquarters of the board Of manager
of Pythian Hall, as well as q pleasant re
| sortfo members Of the Order at any time
| WORK AND PREPARATION ROOMS. J"
returning through the vestibule, w
reach the apartment technically known 4
the ante-room. Its dimensions are IA b,
10. Inc floors are covered with cocoa mat
| tin2 hke the vestibule and work-room, ant
the walls are covered with oak paper
Ihere are complete appointments for th'
| saie- keeping OF coats and hats; and alto
| gether, 1t is cosy nook for the oute
| steward and impatient knights, not to speal
OF anxious candidates promoted from th.
| reception.room. - 4
Communicating with it is the work-room
Where may be found the stable for the goat
his Watering-trough, and pasture ground
Here also are several Well-arranged ward
| robes-one for each Lodge and one for tht
Grand Lodge. But the less said about thi
room the better. .
... TIE LoDGE-RooN. =.
But now we are ushered into the Lodge
room-the sQnctun1 sdnctO1u1a Of all true
knights. This is really a splendid apart
ment. The taste of the committee and the
skilled labor of the mechanic have united
TO make it all that the most exacting Lodge
could desire. It is the finest secret-society
hall in Virginia, if not in the South. We
shall not In this hastily report at
tempt to describe its appointments in detail
The ceiling is frescoed, and the walls pan
nelled with vanished oak, maple, and wal
nut paper. The carpet on the main flool
or parade is splendid and rich velvet
with large and beautiful figure, In which
the colors Of the Order-red, yellow, anC
blue-are ingeniously blended. Under the
settees is pretty Brussels, and a neat stan
carpet is laid where there is likely to be the
most walking.
The stands of the stationed officers are II
the usual positions, and each is draped II
one or the colors Of the Order-the '
C.'s blue, the V. P.'s yellow, and the W
C.'s red. Above each is tasteful canopy
Of the same color as the drapery. Th'
stands of the p, V. c., T. s., and r. S.
are enclosed by handsome railing Q
bronzed iron,. surmounted with heavy wal
nut. BY an ingenious arrangement, clos
at hand, the V. c. is enabled to turn OF th'