New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-30
THE MASONIC TEMPLE.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERIOR.

Twenty thtd-st., will DO occupied by the various
Lodges. Chapters and Communicates OF this city on
May Tue Temple was to have been dedicated before
the occupation by tho subordinate bodies Dut own6 10
various circumstances beyond the control OF the IrS
tees this Impressive ceremony will be postponed until
next Fall.
The Temple Is a massive building, constructed OF
granite and brick the fronts being entirely Of granite
and some of the blocks Weighing nearly 20 IONS INC
architecture is combination OF various ofders' WIN
the French or Mansard roof IL has frontage OF nearly
100 feet sixthaye. and one OF li3 feet on I"ehN
thirds The principal entrance to tho Duliung Is on
tho latter street. broad stairway leading to the upper
storie. The night OF the building from the streeteyel
to the top of the dome is about l5j feot to the capone
2o feet and to the cornce about OF feet The first floor
ia 70 he occupied as stores beneath which are extensive
Easements and subcelars, to be used for heating the
building and for other purposes. The second story
ia set apart the Grand Lodge Room ana the Offices OF
the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary Inc thlru
story is divided three Lodge rooms with adjacent
apartments the fourth story into two Lodge rooms ana
one Chanter ROOM and the fifth set apart FOR the use
NJ the Communicates OF Knights Tempar. In the dome
ia 10 be tho armOry with Accommodations iOf over 'O'
Knights Each OF these floors can be reached oS means
OF an elevator addition to the broad starcases con
eouently the hight OF the building Will not provo TO be
any serious obstacle 10 those who may attend the
regular meetings
tbirds IA constructed after the Ionic order of arch
lecture On the right at the head OF the first night OF
stairs is the Grand Lodge room the arms or the Masonic
Fraternity relief surrounding tho door This room Is
nearly square being "a feet by o. with hight of %
feet On the opposite side OF the stairway are the
Grand Masters and Grand secretary's Offices, which
form. together a suite OF four connecting rooms and
are fitted up with safes. closets pigeon-hoes, &c. Tor
the keepng Of the records and the various documents
Incidental 10 those positions. over tho door OF the
Grand secreary's Office is to DO placed also In relief
the arms Of the State Of NewYork. From TINS lo0r
broad staircase leads the next story and opens on
large hail. In the COrnthan style Of architecture tho
floor being covered with tiles representing the ground
floor of King Solomons Temple. on the right Of this
hallway will be the Grand Lodge library. in which
when regulated will be found OF the rarest works
on Masonic history. On the opposite side OF this hall
are tho entrances the three lodge rooms, constructed
after the Tuscan Doric and Ionic orders The Tuscan
room is on the north side of tho building. the Doric In
the center and the Ionic on the south, or Twenyhrd
ST. side To all of the lodgerooms are appended the
necessary ante-rooms, and in addition coatroom' In
which will be found toilet convenences All these ante
rooms are handsomely carpeted and furnished.
The Tuscan room is very plain in accordance with the
order OF architecture which represents 1t Is G. feet
long by az feet wide and has hight Of q feet The
Masters station raised three steps covered with
blue velvet the steps serving to conceal numerous ven
Masters station represents the portico OF temple, the
columns beng constructed according to the special
architectural style OF The floor is covered
with drab Wilton carpet. aud in the center stands
beautifully constructed altar answering TO the style OF
the room The altar and altar lights are fixtures. The
furniture is made OF walnut aud velvet, the officers
chairs having carved upon them the appropriate en-
blems At the end OF the concealed from the
occupants is the organoft Here arc also convenienees
o1,oi, he Il
room be used for the protection OF the lodge prop
erty.
The Doric room is not quite plain as the Tuscan
and all the fittings in conformity with that style Of
architecture. The is CO feet long by 80 feet Wde
and q feet high The floor Is covered with scarlet
carpet and the steps the officers stations with scar
let velvet. features 1t corresponds 10 the
Tuscan room Although the center, and thereby de-
barred of windows. the ventilators have
been literally arranged that the room can DC kept as
cool as any other In the building The Ionic room is the
same szo as the Tuscan room, and Is somewhat more
handsome in effect. blue Wilton carpet covers the
main floor wae the steps OF the officers stations are
covered with blue velvet.
The fourth story also reached by broad flight OF
stairs opening on to similar hallway to that on the
third story On the right this hallway is elegant
paror for the OF the Masonic Fraternity occupying
or visiting the building This parlor is e. feet long by
81 feet wide with hight OF 81 feet, and is handsomely
covering the floor On the opposite side OF the hallway
are the entrances to the COrnthian and Composite
lodgerooms and the ChapteT-ro0m. The COrinthlan
room Is on the north side Of the building and like the
Tuscan over which is situated is ca feet by a. aud Al
feet high The COrinthian capitals to the columns add
greatly 10 the beauty the every is carved
and stands out in relief. The officers steps covered
with blue velvet, and the main floor with
rich blue wilton carpet. The altar is fashioned
after the style OF the Grecian Temples and the altar
lights being formed of gas, are consequently fixtures
The upholstery of this Is also OF walnut and velvet
and is very handsome. The composite room, although
OF the same the Tuscan, Ionic. and Corinthian
rooms is considered by many persons TO be the finest
the highly ornamented capitals to the columns adding
greatly to the general effect and making the portico be-
hind the Masters chair appear more beautiful The
carpet on the floor OF this ia very rich IN color
The officers steps covered with blue velvet and the
altar is OF very rich design TIE five lodge
present the five orders Of architecture.
In the CENTER between the composite and Corinthan
rooms is the chapterroom. 1t designed to represent
the interior of Egyptian temple, and the High Priests
station forms the entrance to the inner temple The
massive capitals Of the columns out in bold relief
between which the wall Of the is cOored to repre-
sent the blue sky The heavy columns thus greatly
relieved as the effect. by this ooorng, is that OF an
open expanse above the walls Of the temple The Egyp
tian emDlems are also given In relief. The chapter
room proper inches long by feet WIDE
hight Of Il feet although the massive columns and
capitals make il appear 10 be much lower. thorough
ventilation OF this room has been secured by OF
concealed heating beneath the inner temple
and yentilatOrs behind the columns. The representa-
tions OF the Northeastern portion Of the Ruins" aud
the road 20 Jerusalem are well arranged The floor of
stations OF the council oiceSsis covered ih scarlet
velvet, while the main floor has on IL a rich scarlet
Wilton carpet, ornamened with emblems. The up
hOlstery walnut ana scarlet velvet.
The fifth story Is set apart for the Of the Knights
Tempar. The broad staircase leads directly SEN
timers Station, which guards the entrance all the
occupied by this branch OF Masonry. This IN
etructed the form OF tent the drapery OF which
painted the walls The Asylum proper has not yet
beeb completed, and for short time the knights will
have TO Occupy II In the unfinished When finished
l.