The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-07

that time 10 It's present proud position. me Lenox
Library WILL IL Is also understood be- rich In numis-
mates. Greek, Roman and Eastern coins, medals,
ornaments and rings that are to fnd place within
Its walls will be large In number, and no doubt
Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities will I'LL consld.
cradle space together with fossil remains OF birds,
fishes and beasts. Pathology, zoology. horticulture,
&C., WILL 1t is expected, be properly represented.
The galleries devoted TO paintings are to be proml.
nent features In the library. II may be mentioned
that a few years since. wnen the Mazarin Bible, a
very rare book, was offered for sale IN England,
Mr.. Lenox became the purchaser, having BID higner
man the agent Of the British Museum. the price
paid was $1,000, and II Is now the only COPY OF the
work ON tue American Con lnent
THE NEW MASONIC HALL.
Among the most noteworthy buildings now In
al the corner OF sixth avenue and Iwenty-thrd
street Il fronts 14 feet on the street and runs 100
leet ON the avenue. The massive construction and
grand proportions or this edilice nave already al
tracted no small share OF pubic attention. The
General pla 10 ne deveo,ed The rsr ~ eInre ,nat
claims notice Is the breadth OF treatment In lts
various parts and The severe and classical sim
pltclty OF the ornamentation. The architect seems
To have mad entire confidence that the general pro-
PORTIONS OF the Hail would be sufficient Ill them
selves 10 produce the most imposing and pleasing
effect The severe treatment adopted is in iuil
mony with the nature OF material which Is used
Ia the building. Granite does not lend Itself to
minute ana delicate sculpture. Its noble qualities
are entirely enascuated by sucn treatment. Firms
prohles. deep shadows and heavy reveals are Cal.
cuatcd 10 show granite TO the best adyan age. All
THESE considerations are brought into great pronl-
nence In the building winch now claims attention.
THE FIRST STORY.
The corner stone OF the Hail was laid June 1870,
with unusually grand ceremonies. and III presence
every part OF the United states me excavations
Tor Tie ioundalon were then immediately proceeded
with, Dut progressed slowly on account OF the great
difficulties encountered In blasting. Since then the
work mas gone on uninterruptedly. portion Of
the front mas now reached heigltn OF ninety feet
on Twenty-thlrd street. The nrst story Is twenty
nve leet hlgh to top cornlce, which Is formed OF
heavy ruslicated courses OF Quincy and Westerly
granite alternately placed. The main entrance, on
Twenty.IhIrd street, Is appropriately placed at the
southeast corner. This entrance Is obtained through
q DOric portlcO OF coupled Doric columns. There
Is also private entrance on Sixth avenue Almost
the entire surface OF the nrst story VIII be devoted
TO business PURPOSES and, therefore the Openings
nave necessarily been made as wide as possible
consistently with good architecture and cons!ruc-
tl0n
The next story Is treated III Ionic style and Is thr
ty feet high The Ionic capitals here are really
keystones are ornamented by boldly scuiptured
lions neads. The angles OF the building here pro-
lect beyond the general face, forming Iairllons.
This story Is to be devoted entirely the OF the
Grand Lodge; the rooms OF the Grand Secretary,
Grand Master and hreproof sales Tor, arcnlves
beng located to the west OF tine grand cOrrIdor.
over these offices Is nlezzdne story In which
TO be the library and committee rooms. The entire
east end OF the second story is given up to the
Grand Lodge ROOM wnlcn is about ninety ieet
square. The latter Will be occupied by the Grand
year 1t Is to b. rented for lectures and concerts and
New YORK.
THIRD FOURTH AND MANsARD STORIES
The third and fourth stories are to be exclusively
occupied by lodge and chapter rooms and VIII DE
here terminate at elevation OF 107 feet from the
sidewalk with the exception OF the central portion
up twenty Ieet higher In stone, and viii contain
colossal casting In bronze OF the coat Ofarms OF the
IoageM @ s N
the central portion on TH enty-tnrd street
quadranguar dome Will be placed, the cresting Of
wnicn Is to reach height OF 100 ieet from the
street level The Mansard story Is to be occupied by
the Knights Templars and VIII De the most complete
Commandery III all its arrangements distribution
and appointments in existence. rne architect Is
MIR. N Lebrun, under whose supervision the woIk Is
THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
The Masonic order has every reason to be proud
OF the enterprise and zeal displayed In the progress
OF the nall thus far, and from what has been stated
there is every reason to conclude That Will form
one OF the noblest edlnces OF which the metropolis
can boast. 1t Is well 10 add that all this magnii-
Cence Is not to De thrown away Oh mere display.
The object OF the erection OF the building Is chari-
table. The net rental IS to be devoted entirely 10 the
support or asyiums Iii which are to be supported the
widows anu orphans OF deceased memoirs OF the
order. The han is intended TO be subsidiary 10 this
purpose It may also be OF interest to state that the
hrst SUBSCRIPTION towards erecting the building was
made years since by Edwin Forrest, ana that the
fund has gone on steadily increasing, until the CON-
mittee III cnar2e found themselves lustided IN un-
dertakng tnis great work. which VIII require an out.
million dollars. 1t will probably require more than
twelve months to finish Inc nall.
ST. LUkES HOME FOR INDECENT FEMALES.
ST Lukes Home for INDECENT Females has now
been In existence about twenty years. 1t Is aG
present located on Hudson street, and It's doors are
open TO persons OF respectaoiity In reduced cir
crmstances, aud who are members Of the Episcopal
Church. At present Its narrow walls and limited
mansion. IN winch nearly three times It's present
occupants ale TO ind shelter. The worth anu need
on as inc Wefe SO 10 ths nat
OF an enlarged and suitable building, assured that
the necessary FUNDS TO secure tue increased accom-.
mediation so long desired by the Episcop 1lans OF
New YORK would be promptly subscribed.
The building now very nearly ready for occupa-
ton. is located the corner OF Madison
avenue anu Eighty-ninth street, one block from
central PARK and two blocks only from one OF the
prlnclpa entrances TO the Park. 1t four stories
on the corner; II extends eighty feet ON Madison
avenue and seventy-ive ieet on Eighy-nnth
street. The style Is medieval Gothic, with Man.
sard ROOF and three towers. The materials are
Pnilade phia pressed brick, trimmed with Buena
On the lrst floor is vestibule; fine octagona
hail. fifteen by nteen; large room, thlrtyelsnt by
nineteen lor tae meeting oil managers, ana dining
room, tnrty.three by Nineteen Intended to seat
some Sky or seventy persons. The whole Is so
arranged that, by opening folding doors, a sweep
OF over seventythree ieet can be obtained. Back OF
the main entrance hall is roomy inner private
nal ana corridors leading 10 the dining nall on the
same noor are also 10 be found the marons room
and ONCE. the innrmaries, the rectors and
DOCTORS offices, and nve chambers adapted to the
uses OF such OF the Inmates as may, through great
stairs. Connected with the dining room Is an
ample buffers pantry, with all the necessary
closets and private stairs direct down to the
kitchen.
On the upper doors are nfty.eignt rooms. forty
seven OF which are 9xl2 and Intended foi single
occupants, and eleven oil which are double rooms,
;nus giving ample accommodation for seventy-four
inmates Every room Is accessible directly through
airy and well lighted corridors, has large window
and ample ventilation through lights over the doors.
From the peculiar shape and arrangement OF The
building. hltytour windows are TO De front WIN
0ows looking directly on Madison avenue or on
Eighty ninth street, while only twenty-eant rooms
look on the rear OF the Home. On every upper
foor large common sitting room, parlor
l!xlS well warmed and lighted Tor the use OF the
Inmates bath room and ample water-closet
arrangements are also to be found on each OF the
upper floors. In the main tower Is a large room,
when may be easily ntted up f0- servants use, II
necessary. In the basement IS large Kitchen,
34xg, with AL The requisite closets, pantrles and
lcechest room. large general store room, the
Laundry, linen room, drying room, and ample
accommodations for coal. wooo, furnace, &c.
INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS.
When II Is considered that many OF the inmates
are disabled, through great age, from much II any,
OccuputIOu OF uIfnl no inn arta On