The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-22
WILMNGTONs MASONIC TEMPLE.
A Sr"s%lllsens 9i1., Rulldlng ,The Inaugura-

n Mognifccnt Building-The Inaurura-
tton Ceremonies Thursday.
Inc Wilmington (pel.) Commercial of last
evening says.-
The building will be Of brick, with an iron
front, on Market street. This front will have
three stories and Mansard roof and will be Of
composite and ornate style OF architecture
and be ornamented with three large statues
The front of the building will be even 90 feet,
leaving the company four inches on each side
and viii run back this width for Ga feet when
an area of IL feet intervenes between It and the
remainder OF the building, which is 7S feet wide
and 134 feet in length. This latter building con-
tains the auditorium and lodge rooms, and might
be called the hall proper. Tue first story of the
front building will be divided into four hand
some stores, each 1T1S feet in front and Ga feet
deep, two on each side of the grand entrance,
which is 16 feet 9 inches in width. The second
and third stories of this portion of the temple
will contain eighteen offices for rent, and the
fourth story Qormed by the Mansard roof
gymnasium and banquetDg room.
The grand entrance leads directly into the
vestibule opening into the auditorium, and from
which, also, the starways rise to the gallery.
The auditorium will have but one gallery.
The parquet circle will be about on a level with
the floor of the main entrance the parquet
somewhat lower, of course, and the gallery will
be OF about the size OF the parquet circle, the
whole of course arranged in the form of an am
phitheatre. There will be 1900 chairs, and also
q proscenium boxes. The stage will be as feet
wide between the proscenium boxes, and 45 feet
: deep. This is, we are told, little larger than
the stage at the Arch Street Theatre, in Phiia-
delphia. A temporary floor is to be furnished
to cover over the parquet when the hall is let
for balls.
The main floor of this auditorium is about
level with the ground, and the wndows of the
sides, which open on an eight feet alley on each
|, ,side open to the floor, SO that in case of fire
every window becomes a safe and easy place of
exit and the auditorium can be pued in one
minute. The hall is also carefully and scien-
tifcally ventilated. The Masonic Fraternity
occupies the story above the auditorium, which
Ia divided into large rooms, chapter, a COM
mandory, Directors room, Grand Masters
room Grand Secretarys room, aud library.
Last autumn ground was broken for the now
structure, and the work of excavation was con-
! tinued throughout the winter and spring.
Within q few weeks the foundation walls have
\ been built and everything placed in readiness
for the laying of the cornerstone. This must,
in accordance with Masonic ceremonies, be laid
at the northeast corner of the structure, and
>stand was erected there for the accommodation
of those participating in the ceremonies to-day.
The Grand Master ordered the box to be
placed in the cornerstone after which the
chairman of the Building Committee presented
the architect, Thomas Dixon, of Baltimore who
presented the plans and working tools, which
were in turn presented to the appropriate Off
GERS, the choir Immediately afterwards singing
\ the hymn
X ''The Rook-Great Builder OF the World
IA On which this temples base we ley."
The various officers of the Grand Lodge, each
with his appropriate implement, then assembled
around the stone, and the Grand Master spread
ing the cement the stone was lowered into its
Hplace, the officers giving the public grand
honors. The square, level and plumb were then
applied to the stone by the appropriate officers
/ after which the officers were interrogated as to
whether the stone was in proper shape and posi-
! Master struck the stone with his hammer and
pronounced it duly laid.