Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-30

the sides OF the hall viii accommodate fOu
hundred persons. nfagniicent chandelier
light it at right, while skylight gives lighi
by day-an original cevice of the architec
being awaited of to distribute the rays from
this skylight equally through every part %
the spacious room. The hall is CONSTRUCTED
and decorated upon the Corini hian order
\ everything being in keeping. There Is tht
deep and polished capital and the large cor
nice. In this, as in all the apartments
the decorations are intended as studies
each being complete representative Of the
order selected, in detail and aggregate.
This Corinthian Hall is also replete wifi
Masonic emblems. Central on the north
and south facades are ornaments re present
ing the working tools of the Free Masons,
With figures emblematic Of architecture. Or
the oornice there are fragments of an
Egyptian capital, to which the figures hold
ing the working tools are pointing. The
east and west facades contsia ornaments
representing the vessels of corn, wine and
OIL, The platform in the center of the east
end of the bah, the station Of the Grand
Master, has over it the square and compass
es, the universal Masonic emblem, together
with the rising sun. In the center of the
southern side is the Junior Grand Warden's
station. having over it the sun at high noon.
| The Senior Grand Warden's station, in the
west, is marked by the setting sun. The
magni6cence of this apartment is increased
by its great size and height, the elaborate
Recommendation and the appropr .ateness OF
the furnishing. Attached TO the hall are
| he usual waiting rooms, all of them finish
ed in corresponding style. This lodge room
is thu representative of Freemssonry in ev-
| cry part, and its vast size, completeness and
grandeur give it the frat place among the
lodge rooms of the world. s,
THE GRAND CHAPTER HALL.
The apartment fol- the meeting place of
the Grand Chapter is similar in magnit-
ceEee to the Grand Lodge hall and fit
companion to it. Though somewhat smaller
it is still very large room, differing from
the other only in the length. 1t is ninety
feet long, fifty feet wide and fifty feet high.
The decoration and finish are the Italian re-
Nuisance. There are in relief around its
walls two stages of columns. The first are
Corinthian, with choice ornamental details.
The second represents series of columns,
with foliated capitals, from which springs
the vadlted ceiling, which may be divided
into three portions. The centre is circular
skylight, twenty feet in diameter, whilst east
and west Of il are two compartments flush
cd with ellipticai panels. Throughout the
walls and ceilings the peculiar emblems OF
Royal Arch Masonry are displayed, and the
skylight sheds the light tqually throughout
the room by day, whilst at night the light
is furnished by series of elaborate bronze
chandeliers. In the centre of the eastern
end of the apartment is the triple chair of
tho Hioh Dr;oef Zinc nd r,aar,iier
to Royal Arch Masonry, sUfmOunting the
throne. This, like all the furniture, if Of
the richest character, being made of walnut,
inlaid with mahogany and California red
wood. Red is the prevailing color here, as
blue Is in the Grand and other Lodge halls.
A striking feature of this apartment is the
wells of the Temple, which perform an i'm
portant part in the mysteries of Royal Arch
Masonry.
LHE EGYPTIAN HALL. .
The central staircase, upon reaching the
principal floor, east Of the Gfaud Lodge ard
Grand Chapter Halls, conveys the visitor to
the vestibule and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
three subordinate lodge-Fooms, wi ich are
ranged across the eastern portion of the
building. These are the Norman, Egyptian,
and Ionic Halls, The Egyptian, which we
will first describe, being the central one of
the three halls, which are substantially of |
the same size. Egyptian Hall is 65 feet |
long, so feet wide, and 80 feet high, and is |
the only perfect specimen Of Egyptian srchi-
lectures in America. Ii is an extraOrdina- |
~ room, decorated in the massive and pc
culiar style of the Egyptian period. Twelve |
alephantine columns stand on either hand |
in massive grandeur, and are surmounted |
by fac-SiDaiLes of those on the peculiar capt. |
als ancient temples on the Nile, Luxor, |
Ksrnak, Philas, and others, photographs of |
which famous structures were procured |
especially for the exemplifcation of this
work. Each OF these columns has an origi-
lal in Egypt, from which it was copied,
md this hail is an exhibit of thu greatest
wonders lefs by the ancient Egyptian build
IFS. They are the hooded viper cobra de
,apello), the pyrami and the other deco
atoms of the Ptolamies. These columns,
which stand clear OF the walls, divide each
ide into sections, aud these are enriched |
With the panel ornaments found in :he Egyp-
ian temples, thsre icing borders Of rec is
md rushes, fluted frieze, the globe, cobra
md wings, and he surmountiDg lion and
obrz. Lotus flowers Irvine around the
,ases of the columns, and sppear il the
,aneIs, and there are reed decorations on
he cornice, whilst pyramidal filings COM
'lete the panels.
THE IONIC HALL.
South of Egyptian hall, and in the south
asteID corner Of tie Temple, is another
lodge room, Ionic hall. This,
Ike Norman hall on the northern side, is
omewhat larger than the hall above de-
cribed, each being about ten feet longer.
onic hall is seventy-fve feet long, fifty feet
vide and thirty feet high, aud its decora
ion is the purest Grecisn Ionic, elegant and
rsceful, but not elaborate. It does not
IMPRESS the visitor so profoundly at first as
be elephan:ire columns of its neighbor,
ut the architecture is not without many
dmirers, who are pleased with the light
I'd airy style and unpretentious beauty.
here are twenty-four columns around 5he
pom, with capitals decorated with the well
noWn spiral volutes. The bases of these
olumns are also attractive, while the whole
re surnnounted BY c0rnice, with the Ionic
EMIL band and handsome honeysuckle or
aments at the corners. Being located at
re southeast angle, this ball has windows
q two sides, and is thus furnished with
le natural ventilation and ample light dur
70 the day. At night the besutifal chan ,
eliers give light which adds greatly to
le attractions of the room. The furniture
this hall is made of natural woods
alnut, with butternut and cedar inlaid, I
i'd covered with rep of blue and gold. The !
sster's station, with his pedestal at the t
ght hand, and the stations of the wsrdens a
g in thorough unison with the character
the room. o
THE NORMAN HAIL
In the northeast corner of the building IS C
lother subordinate lodge-room, Norman
all. The ornamentstion of this apart Y
ent is similar to that of tie porch, the h
bile zig-zag, nail head, billet, rosette, and n
her Norman ornaments prevailing. This
Ill is thorough example $
Norman decorative art, and,
It'll It's furniture, is made 10 be as q
rfect as possible q representation of that
der. It has windows on the northern and 7
stern sides, whist six chandeliers pendant
ON the ceiling furnish ample light at
GIT. The settees have luxuriant spring
ats that are covered with yellow leather,
hist the stations of the three officers are
lrosing and much admired. The furni-
re is made OF walnut and fir, and in the
rpet the prevailing color is blue.
THE ORIENTAL HALL, -
The fourth of The subordinate lodge
oms is located in the northeastern angle '
the first floor, imm 3diately beneath Nor
III Id a. III