New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-05
The Phila delphia Masonic Templc,

new Masonic Temple at Philadelphia. an
is solemn dedication to the services of I'll
various arms Of the Masonic service. is fro
the New York Times C, the th;rtleth:
The new Masonic Temple in this cit,
which is now bein g dedicated with imposin
ceremonies. was five years in course OF ere
ton, and is the largest. costiest and mos
magnificent structure consecrated to Masol
~ in the world. II is situated upon spt
cious plot of ground at the northeast corne
OF Broad amt Filbert streets. and drectl
| opposite to the public buildings Of the city
which are now being erected. The splendi
structure. unique III its massiveness an
architectural beauty, is the most prom
nent object upon the broad and fin
boulevard upon which it stands. its dinner
sions being SD extensive and its tow
ers so lofty, that, whether viewed iron
tie streets Immediately surrounding i,
CT from the distan: Georges Hi! il
tire park. the huge tower, with its ;ich EN-
| belllshments. stands ont in bold relic
against The SKY, GROWING the most elabo!
ate building in Philadelphia. Tie struc
ture ia bounded by Broad, Juniper. F.lbeit
! and Cuthbert streets. ard covers the entire
| block. 1t extends 30 feet east and west
while it's breadth is $50 feet. The site
| which Is one of the most valuable in III,
city, cost .l56.793. and the next week ate,
| It's purchase could have been :esold fol
| 100000. The corner stone Of the new
building was laid with appropriate and
| most imposing Masonic ceremonies June .,
| 1868, The procession attending being com.
| posed Of over ten thousand Masons. The
gavel used upon the occasion was The same
employed BIZ General Washington when he
laid the corner stone OF the fedora! Cap:o!
at Washington City.
Tho nf .6.
ture is Si,515000. including TIE sum 9aid
for the ground. The money was securt.,
chiefly by Masonic loan, which is very
popular from the fact that the Grand Lod -
was authorized by special legislative
enactment TO borrow money a. I. rate vi
interest not exceeding eight per cent. aud
tine loan was issued at seven and three.
:enths per cent interest. Ii Is d singular
fact that various lodges. both IL and GU, OF
the city. OF kindred charitable bodies such
as the odd Fellows. Knights az Pythias
and the American Mechanics. hold many
thousand dollars worth of these Masonic
bonds. The Grand Lodge also owns :ne
old temple ION e, es nu. street. which was
dedicated in 1898. and is now valued at
$4,000.
The furnishing of the temple. which has
Deen done III the most magnificent and Ella.
borate manner. cost $l25. 600. ant. in this
AhC Aul LII uIt "a Inc tIh temple was SNalIeO
Of as far as possible. The entire work is a
model of economy and judicious expendi.
ture. and but little protit has been made by
the contractors. The work OF erection was
entrusted 10 building committee COM
posed OF the most prominent members of
the order in the city and State. The arciii-
tect was James II. Wiudrim, of philadel.
phia. and during the construction OF the
building he has devoted himself solely to
the supervision Of the work. The temple
has two tronts--the west on Broad street
and tie south on Filbert. The latter, being
the hroadside view. is admired by reason
OF its imiEensltv and grandeur of every
detail OF construction. The western
front is the most imposing in the beauty of
its architecture and finish, and possesses
the advantage OF an extended view down
South Broad street. Both are splendid
specimens OF the Norman style OF archltec.
ture, the profile IN liz conception being very
bold and without a trace of iiainess. Cape
Ann syenite. of a grayish white color, is the
maferla! sD,r'cred in the construction of the
western ara southern fronts. The northern
and eastern fronts aye hlilt OF Sc. Island
granite from the coas: OF Maine. The Nor.
man porch or doorway upon Broad street is
the mos, beautiful aud costly work of the
kind IN the United States. I,.s bui!: of hard
Quincy granite. carved with highly embel.
.lshed Masonic symbols and embiems. 1t
Is moGeled irom some Of the finest speci.
mems OF this style of architecture IN Europe,
and Is made up OF four pairs Of receding
pillars, surmounted by arched se1ni-circular
enriched by beautiful Norman de.
wees and dec brations. The foundations of the
grand tower are sunk thirty.four feet be.
low the sidewalk. and the walls are built of
massive stone to secure permanence and
absolute safety. 1t rises in grandeur and
sol!dity many feet above the roof of the
temple. having turrets at the angles. Sur
mounting the turretS are spires. which ap.
pear almost Ike pigmies. at such {. height
ire they elevated above the street. At the
northwestern angle is another tower, of
smaller dimensions. while between the two |
Uses the higher portion o: the elaborate |
acade. com bln!n. so many beauties that il |
makes the Broad street front picturesque |
IND at once unique. and without an equal |
's building III the entire city. The root is |
beautiful IL pattern, being a combination Of !
urrets. peaks and spires. W bile the windows |
md heavy ccrn1ces are models of |
he skilled Heneilins,. OF the erchi-
&c: and the chisel Ci the artist |
Lechanic. The interior is 70 less wonder.
III than the outside. Though practically !
4 two stories IN height. i: is three in the
ear. Inc basement is an interesting por-
ION 81 .Ie building, and contains the
itcheh and heating apparatus. while IN
are the sut-ceIlars. containing a
ERECT maze OF passage ways for the pur-
'ses "I ventilation and for the conveyance
fresh ar from without. and also OF warm
II 70 every part .; the interior. Ten mil.
oHs OF tricks were consumed in the int. |
or masonry. and some of the huge blocks
granite in the foundation wa! weigh
even tons. A spiral sewer has been con.
'ructet. leading 70 enc OF the city mains,
lie entire structure :s thoroughly fire.
root. The floors are a series Of brick
rshe-. the grders being of iron. and the
hole covered with cement. upon
Inch the flooring itself is laid. Upon
le first floor are the grand masters
oartments and the grand secretarv's. The
rand treasurers rooms adjoin those of the
,cretaries. Committee rooms take up the
eater portion OF the southern side of this |
)o'. while the library of the Grand Lodge |
,cuples the southeastern corner. On the |
,,thern side of this floor. occupyiny |
ar one-halt OF the floor, i. the banquet
~. while the Oriental hall, fine large
ON, takes up the remainder. The second |
the principal floor Of the temple. a
agnlhcent hallway sweeps through, The
st moor. from which ascends to the one !
'ove the grand staircase. This is model |
elegance and massiveness. An entresol |
c'lon between the ceiling of the first and
cond floors furnishes space for various
epro0t purposes devoted to the keeping
valuable documents and costly regalia ,
"a other paraphernalia. The upper floor {
y, extends over that portion Of the prin-
ID! floor occupied by three subordinate /
ige rooms. as the Grand Lodge and ,
Hrand Chapter halls are elevated
the roof of the temple. The asv- I
N Of the communicates Of the knights !
mplar is situated on the upper floor, and
The only purely Gothic hall in the build
:. There Is also here a banquet nall and /