The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-26
Il H T. L ID / L / Q E
A Complete Description OF the
New Headquarters.
A GALA SEASON OF PARADES AND BANQUETS
A Small Army Of Good Knights
Expected.


late the silent energy with which the entire or
ganZation have moved onward IN achieving the
noble purposes Of their Order. While our country
has been growing great in developing its vast ma
terial resources: while literature art and in
dustries are everywhere showing the handiwork
OF genus; while civilization and progress are
planting fresh milestones by the wayside ana
bringing TO the front fresh forces wnerewlth to
continue the battle OF lie, Freemasons OF the
country have not been step behind in contribut-
ing 10 the aggregated results or the age. Look
where we may we find representatives OF the
craft among the first In almost every field. At
the Bar, the press in the pulpit
giving vigor 10 commerce, holding the threads Of
finance. never forgetting the grand corner stone
or cnarlty ana brotherly love; penetrating mys-
terIousy through myriad or channels into thou
SANDS OF homes, where the hand or Waat would
Otherwise rest mere essly; dong good BY stealth.
interfering nowhere with religion or conscience,
yet illus ra,ing always the counsel Of our Savlou.
In his Sermon On the Mount. who shall say that
the Masonic order is NOT element OF the
worlds advance, power TO accomplish good, and
an agency which, not misused, may continue to
exert potent influence IN the principal affairs or
our national and social llfey
The ceremonies ere expected to be or al unusu-
ally Interesting character. partial description
has already been published in the HERALD.
Further details appear below.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TEMPLE.
The exterior OF the Temple is in what IS called the
pure French renaissance style. This architectural
method, though an outcome OF the Middle Ages
IL one thoroughly adapted 10 modern building.
Ii accords grace to a structure, while at the same
time it allows for The application or those
features 10 an edince which the uttarianism OF
modern times demands. 1t Is q style when Free
masons claim as The invention o. their medieval
brethren. When the craftsmen OF that period
were debarred from building churches and
cathedrals, IN whose constructions during
several centuries they hau elaborated the
Lombardlan IDEA into the Gothic style or
architecture, they found that they were
left without occupation unless they devised some
new system OF architecture suited TO the growing
needs OF the people. The Gothic and the purely
classic styles were all unsuIed 10 houses III 10 be
lived IN: but the talent OF the architects was abe
TO supply their lack. Classic were dear
to De cast aside, 50 they were taken as starting
point, and through an entire century the process
OF combining them with new conceptions went on
IN Italy and France. until in the latter country
and In the sixteenth century the style which
the new Masonic Temple expresses was produced
The Temple Is considered good example OF the
effect Of the method OF the renaissance period 1t
IS dignined b. soae elements OF grace aud beauty
and many more OF utility. IL Is massive yet aoes
not look neavy; 1t Is big and not rambling or APP
p~reLsy incongruous IN parts. In It's construc-
ton ali the classic styles are used with success.
Each story mas an exterior design differing from
the plans OF It's companions The first story IS OF
the Tuscan order the Doric sImpllfed, ma ssive
and quiet The second Is supported by Ionic
columns the third oy Corlntnian and tue fourth
by composite. Thus richness ana lighrness are
approached by easy degrees. The nlth story IS
the Mansard. The massiyeness and STABILITY
OF the first story are emphasized BY tue
character OF the facing stone used IN II,
wRicn IL Quincy syenlte, darker OF hue
than the granite OF which the Temple Is
manly built; aud this appearance OF sturdiness In
the Tuscan story Is also heightened by the oeptn
10 which the windows and doors are sunk, ana
the consequent bold rellefo the columns, pllasters
and buttresses. Tne Twenty-tnird street facade
OF the Temple has five divisions; central col.
umniated pavilion, constructed entirely OF granite,
and rising 10 quadrangnlar apex. Fanklng
this pavilion are two sections OF tue building
marks the limit OF projection 81 the central Sec
tion and OF the TWO smaller payilions which rise
up at the angles or the ydGade These retired sec
tons are technically called 'curtans.r perhaps
because they appear TO try 10 hide themselves.
Their roofs are lower than those OF the pavons;
each has In It's lace four inches, I'm which allego-
rical figures are TO be placed The central pa
vIlion - so feet wide; the lesser pavlliUns are
each 20 feet across. and the curtains nave each a
width OF 49, ieet The distance from the side.
walk 10 the main cornIce 10 o. ieet the top or the
Mansard IL 80 feet beyond that, and the summit
or tue main pavilion is l6j feet above tne eve or
the curb. The sixth avenue FACADE OF the Temple
IS enclosed by Two payllons. one OF whicn IL tbs
southwest buttress OF the central section OF the
Twenty-third street side OF the edifce. rhe space
between these paullons. which, by the way, Is
with pilastcrs TO agree with tue column OF the
front o. the main section OF the Temple. The first
ioor of the Temple Is divided into stores except
two spaces reserved on Twenty-third street one
for the principal entrance, another being prepared
as the onlee anu safe room OF SAFE deposit COM
paET, and an interval on Sixth avenue TOT a prl.
yate entrance 10 the building.
THE MAIN ENTRANCE
Is in the southwest 'curtainn IN the Twenty.thlrd
street Jtcade. Ii ~ approached through a hne
portcO formed by plain eutablature supported
by four Tuscan columns two on either side OF the
passageway. On tue sidewalk Ia front OF each
pair Of columns Is handsome pillar OF pure
French bronze. Each oil these pillars Is fourteen
ieet high and stands upon q pedestal or asnlar OF
Tose-cOlored scotch granite, highly polished. Both
are representatives OF toe pillars JacEin and
BOaz. wnicn Hiram, OF Tyre, VINO 'was filed with
wisdom aud understanding aud cunning 10 work
IN al KINDS Of BRASS" made aud set up IN tue
porch OF the Temple or solomon. They were
mo5elled after careful study OF the ce-
scnpton, q their prototypes IL the nrst
suits OF archaeological research. Their pnths,
which are thrty-two inches square, are sur
shafts, each tweniy-seven inches at Its greatest
diameter. Inc lower portions OF the shafts are
proacnng the capitals the shafts are ornamented
with Images or reeds. the chapters or capitals
Of the pillars are decorated with pomegranates in
nigh rehef and lines. globe surmounts each
SHAFT and Is set In sort OF basketwork. The
globe on the Westerly pillar Is marked with tue
signs Of the zodiac that on the easterly pillar
bears map or the word. Passing bet cen these
pillars up several steps that traverse the porch,
IL narrow apartment, but long from wan to wall.
IL IS rich IN adornment, but all the decorations
are OF such shades OF cOlors that ~ would be
gloomy but for the light when foods IL by ienec-
zion from ne white ceiling and sides oil tue main
corridor above the stairway. IL ID wAnseotted with
part.colored marbles Its upper walls are painted
maroon color ana Its ceiling Is finely mescoed.
Tne visitor Will upon entering it al first NOS note
these details. The eye will probably then be at
trae Ell by TWO bronze Sphinxes, symbols OF the
awful secrecy belonging 10 the craft OF Freema-
sonry.
THE MAIN CORRIDOR
OF the Temple Is reached from the vestiDule BY q
grand stairway OF marble, which the Sphinxes
guard on either side. Tie walls between wnicn
tbs stairway ascends are paneled ana decorated
with slabs OF marble or many nues. These walls
are protected from the hands and feet OF careless
people BY slight nand rails OF bronze. the balus-
trade Dy which the weli-nOle OF the staircase Is
guarded anc shut in from the corridor IL or
bronze. handsomely figured and capped with ails
OF Belgian black marble. TIE corridor - 20 ieet
wide, Go feet long ard % feet hlgh and It's afchl
lecture IS OF toe Ionic order It's pnntn course
Is or polished marble, but the upper
walls are merely painted white, without