The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-10
MAGNIFICENT MASONRY.
GRAND AND GORGEOUS TEMPLE.
FLASHING SWORDS, BRIGHT BAN
NERS AND BEAUTIFUL REGALIA.


PROCESSION - TWENTY SIX THOUSAND
CRAFTSMEN IN LINE-HALF' A MILLION
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND IMPRESSIVE
CEREMONIES.
The Sentinel gave by telegraph brief de-
scription of the dedication of the new and
most magnificent Masonic temple in New
York. The following full and graphic par
ticulars are from the Suns report: Free
Masonry's noblest monument on the Amer
lean continent, completed nearly two years
ago, was dedicated yesterday. The
vast temple at the northeast corner
of Twenty-third street and Sixth ave-
nue., in its massive solidity, COM
bined with the raIest architectural beauty,
is a home worthy of the highest body of
Free MsSons in the state. 1t is 81 years
| since the necessity FOR such an edifice began
TO be felt, at a time when the brethren OF
the mystic tie were by no means so numer-
Gus as they have since become In 1543 the
first subscriptions, single dollar, was PAID
] to the fund. For many years thereafter II
was not by hundreds or thousands, but by
fives and tens, and even smaller amounts,
that the dollars were contributed.
Most OF the old subscribers passed away, as
well as the earlier supporters OF the scheme,
without seeing any material results OF their
labors, content, however, to know that the
fund was gradually out surely increasing.
Masonic fairs as well as gifts swelled IL, ouL
it was not until 1860 that the trustees were
enabled to purchase the property at Grand
and Crosby streets Tor $4,000. The
buildings had been previously used Tor
church purposes, and were not very well
adapted for the use to which they were
then put. The property was, moreover, TOO
far down town, and in 1869 it was sold Tor
sl6I, s75, profit of ,s75 on the original
outlay. In 1873 grand Masonic fair was
held, and from it $4,000 was realized. The
| trustees of the fund then felt themselves in
position to enlarge their field of opera
tons, and they purchased six lots at the
northeast corner of Sixth avenue ana
Twenty Third street, at cost OF SS4O.OOO.
Mr. NAPOLEON LIE Brun was elected as the
architect of the proposed building, and on
jane 8, 1870 the cornerstone was laid, with
imposing ceremonies. The building was
planned and
EXECUTED ON srUPENDoUs SCALE,
but not one step had been taken until the
trustees of the fund felt the ground firm be-
meath their feet. The WORK therefore was
not retarded by lack of funds, but neither
was it pushed forward with injudicious haste.
On October 4, 1872. little more than two
wears from the laying of the corner stone,
and nearly thirty years after the first dollar
had been subscribed to the fund, the
cOpestone was hoisted into position.
The headouarters of the procession were
established at Delmonico's, Fifth avenue
and Fourteenth street, and there the staff
and mounted aids reported to the chief of
staff at a. II. About the same hour the
divisions began to form in Washington
SQUARE, and the chiefs, together with the
several organizations reported before
O'Clock to II. Clay Preston, Msrshs al of the
Day, at general headquarters. AT O'Clock
three guns were fired in quick sue
cession in Washington square, a roll OF
drums followed, and the head of the line
moved off to the inspiring strains OF mar
tial music from scores of bands. First in
the order of march were two lines OF
mounted police, extending across the street,
fourteen men in line, followed by two
platoons of foot police, all under command
of Inspector DilSs, assisted by Inspector
Thomas w. Thorne and Capt. Theoron S.
Copeland. X. w. III. Preston Clay aud
his mounted staff followed. The Grand
Marshal was dressed in the handsome
uniform of the Knights Temp
lar, his breast decorated with Masonic en-
blems, crosses, and insignia of bis rank.
Close behind him rode Edward III. Kent,
chief of staff. followed by William 81. Stiner, |
secretary of staff, and w. Edward Gilon and
Bro. Jacob Hess. The staff was composed of
w. Charles s. Arthur, Samuel A. Lewis, jr., |
and William T. Lloyd, Bros. John Il. Ben
dix. Hiram Calkins, Sydney p. Nichols, |
Alex. b. Mott, Daniel ID. Wylie. John b. |
Woodward, Robert Irwin, George Scott,
Walter w. Adams, George c. f. Wright, w. |
George Schoonmakef, and Robert j. Lev |
craft. Close behind these rode Sir K. M. l.. |
Ehlers, marshal of Knights Templsrs, and |
his mounted staff, Sirs John s. Dickerman, |
William L. Gardner, NJ. ID. MEYERS, III. FL
Brockway, John Whitaker, Charles Hilton, |
Claudius F. Beatty, George Kinkel, William
w. Lawson, and Frederick G.. Gedney.
There were in all twenty-six divisions. The ]
first seven were composed exclusively OF
Knights Templsrs, each commandery
PRECEDED BY BAND OF MUSIC,
and bearing banners, many of which were
very beautiful. That of the Palestine Com
mandery, No. Is, New York, in the third
division, bore superbly executed battle
piece front, and on the reverse red cross
with the motto of the ORDER In Hoe SignO
Vinces. The Philadelphia Commandery
No. 2, was preceded by a banner bearing
on one side crown with a sword
passed through 1t. and on the other the
words, "Be thou faithful unto death
and / will give thee crown OF life"
The uniform of the Knights Templar was a
black velvet chspeau, with a white plume
over blsck one, and bearing on the eide
small red cross, bordered with gold; black
frock coat with red waist belt and white
cross belt; q sword with a cross hilt of
ivory, tortoise shell, or silver, and gaunt-
lets with red velvet crosses on the wrists.
The marching was simply perfection, and
the rspidity and ease with which the Masons
performed various evoiutions on the parade
would have won plaudits for regiment CT
veterans. While moving they formed in
lines, columns three deep, single and
DOUBLE CROSSES, AND EVEN TRIANGLEs.
The seventh and last division of the knights
Templar was brought up by the Grand Off
GERS of the Grand Commandery of the state
of New York in carriages, and among them
was Sir Knight Thomas Hoge Scale, chief
of the Grand Priory, Canada, who was
dressed in white blooded cloak, and wore
a red hat with side pieces. The eighth !
division was made no of Royal Arch |
assisted by Ill. W. ". Alexander and Ill. |
Samuel Jones, all of the thirty-tbird, or |
highest degree. The rest of the division |