Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-06-09
THE MASONIC TEMPLE.
The Work Nearly COmpIeted-DescriPl
of the Building
The Finest Lodge Room in the State.

The Finest Lodge Room in the State
The completion of the Masonic Temple IN
this city is near at hand, and the dedlcaton VIII
take place on St. Johns Day, the 24tn OF june
The plans of the building were designed by
Mr. A, c. Bruce, architect, who has IN this
erected q monument to his skill that will live IN
the memory of his children's children.
The hall is approached from Church street
| by wide and easy stairway, leading to the
THIRD FLOOR
which will be used solely by the Masonic ira
ternity The entire floor is 136 feet deep by 40 IN
width and is divided into seven rooms. AT the
head of the stair case are two reception rooms,
communicating by folding doors, so as to be
thrown into one when occasion demands and
lighted, the first by two and second by thee
windows, atfording an abundance OF hight.
Immediately opposite is the Banquet Hall,
large room SO by y feet and between this and
the Tyler's room are two smaller rooms TO be
used in the private working OF the Lodge, all
connecting with tho main Lodge room by fold
ing doors, which enables them all to be thrown
into one, if desirable, and affords splendid ven
tilation the entire length of the building.
Connecting with these and on the left of the
head of the stairway, is the Tyler's room, 30 by
20 feet. Next is the
MAIN LODGE ROOM,
Where the several branches of the Fraternity
will hold their meetings, a large and cOmmO-
dious apartment, 20 by AZ feet, lighted by win
dows twelve feet in height on the front and
sides, atfording brilliant light and ample ven
tiltation.
The ceiling is fifteen and one-half feet high,
and together with the walls, frescoed in the
Byzantine and Italian styles, the work being
done by the talented artist Mr.. J. +. Haupt,
whose skill and taste are so well known.
THE CEILING
Consists of four panels in sky blue, surrounding
the center piece which is after the Italian style
representing stuccO, relieved by a delicate traC-
ing in white scroll work. The panels are sur
rounded by holdings in imitation stuccO and
ornam ented in the Byzantine style, the color
being French gray on scarlet ground next Is a
paneling Of deep blue, extending entirely around
the room, the paneling being cut at intervals Of
about five feet by circles enclosing Masonic en-
blems; the edges are relieved by molding and
ornamental work in the Italian style, which in
turn is surrouded by border of chocolate color
extending to the cornicG, which latter is two feet
in width,
The center piece is between two circles of en-
blematiC design, from which the chandeliers
will be suspended, ofelaborate gilt finish, and
atfording ventilation from above. The leaves
are of plaster and the circles made by p BAN
non, at the Louisville Terra Gotta Works.
THE WALLS.
The ground is French gray ornamented with
| deep blue panels, twenty in number, encased In
holdings of stucco the edge of the panels being
| relieved with scroll work in white.
On the north side of the room are six large
| panels and between each is column, making
five in all, representing the different orders Of
archtecture-tke Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, COrinth-
| ian and Composite. On the south side are two
large and two small panels the front has one
| large and two small panels, which is the small
lest number the remainder being taken up by
the windows. On the west end are three
large and four small panels, and two folding
doors, painted in brilliant colOrs.
FURNISHING, sc.
The officers stands will be covered with Brus-
sells, and the floor of the Lodge room with three
ply carpeting The other rooms will either be
| carpeted or covered with mating, the cost Of
which will be seven or eight hundred dollars.
| The furniture will be made especially for the
| temple and of fine material and finish, and the
effect will be one OF splendOr and beauty COM
! bined with the most exquisite taste, and when
completed the entire cost will not fall far short
! of $1,000. The intention is to be as lavish in
the decoration and furnishing as possible, with
out squandering the funds on hand.
Members of the Order from other cities pro-
nounce this building the finest in the State,
which is not surprising, when it is known that
the Lodge in this city is the largest IN Tennes-
see. The membership exceeds three hundred,
and including the non-atfiiated Masons the
number is swelled still greater.
The Hall will be occupied by the following
branches of the fraternity Masters Lodge,
No. pa; Pearl Chapter, Il. A. NJ, No. 24; Ia
bud Council, r. and S. NJ, No 50, and CTur
de Leon Commandery, knights Templar,
No. 8.
The rooms will be fitted up next week and
the Temple formally dedicated on Monday, the
24th inst as before stated, to which occasion we
look forward with much interest, as being an
important epoch in the local history of the Ma
sonic fraternity.