St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-07-25
Letter from Philadelphia. The Ma
sonic Temple.
PHIL'A. July 18th, 1873

PHIL'A. July 18th, 1873.
Dear CaIedonian Having i'll for
mer letter conducted my readers to the
doorway of the Masonic Temple, we en-
ter. The main hall which is 20 feet
wide and $50 feet long, extends from
epd to end. Its architectural style is
Doric. The floor of this hall and OF all
the halls and passages are laid with
black and white marble tiles, III pat
terms with borders. The Grand Vestl-
bule has gas-fxtures of entirely mover
and elegant construction. Every chan
delier and toilet light in the building,
is in architectural keeping with the
STYLE of the hall in which it is placed.
The number of halls and rooms on the
first floor is ten, of which the most i'm
portant are the following:
The Grand Banqueting Hall, which
is of the Composite order OF architect
ure. with sixteen columns i'll pairs run
ming through it. Fifteen chandeliers
brilliantly light this hall, which is lOo
feet long, 80 feet wide, and 81 feet hlgh'
II is furnished with twenty extension
tables, arranged in four lines, and ca
pable of seating 800 persons. Inc
kitchen to supply the refreshments Is
in the basement, below the Banquetlng
Hall. The Oriental Hall is the only
principal Lodge room on the first floor,
and is one of the most gorgeous of all
the Halls. 1t is IL brilliant example OF
Oriental architecture. The traceries OH
the walls, and the furniture, have the
greatest variety of forms. The slen-
der proportions of every figure; the
multiplicity of line and curves; the
polvchromatic decorations, make 1t
appear as though the embroidery and
painted draperies of the East, were
transferred into the Temple, while the
magination almost pictures one Ill the
midst of the gorgeous Alhambra OF
Spain in its palmy days. This hall
seats about 300.
From the Main Hall rises two majes-
tie staircases; the Grand Staircase from
the front. leading to the Grand Lodge
and Grand Chapter Rooms; and the
Central Staircase from the center, lead
ing to the various Lodge Halls, and the
: ASYLUM of the COmmandery, &c. The
: Grand Staircase is massive structure
of iron, with heavy ratings of granite
finish. tianked with Lisbon marhl,
wainscoting. 1t is lighted from Il sky
light by beautiful stained glass; 1T
: brilliancy being greatly enhanced by !
l large reflector. which casts the RAINBOW
colors of the stained glass upon thu
staircase and hail beneath.
Upon the record floor is the Crane
; Lodge Hall which is tie hall of tn
building. Looking up you see. centla
b on the north and on the south tacadc>
+ ornaments representing the working
!. tools of the Masons, and also figure
;, and details emblcmatic of architecture
!. On the east and west facades are orna
Il ments representing vessels of Corn
G Wine, and Oil. Over the Grand Ear
II are the Square and CompaSSes, an
L above all the Rising sun in basso-rclie
e vo over the Grand South is the in
= sun at high meridian: and over til
Grand West is the setting sun. Til
+ whole hall is beautiful beyond dcscriI
( ton. 1t is lighted 10y day 10y il sky
' light, and by night four magniticer
i bronze chandeliers cast brilliant foo
e of light over the room.
The remaining rooms on this Hoe
e numbering about twelve, corrcspon
E. in beauty with those already described
Is The Wells of the Temple are % fe,
Is high, by - feet wide, and contain l2C
yards of satin francais. They are raj.
ed and lowered in few seconds, h
NJ an admirably balanced windlas
d Fountains casting their sparkling W;
IN tiers into the varied light of the inter
or, and falling with quiet murmur
Ia add their wondrous beauty towards til
II perfection of the whole. And ii
ia whole represents such perfect bull,
m ing, that America may well he prou
of the workmen who wrought sue
- workmanship. TETIA Moss.