The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-10-19
The New Masonic HalIs.

The following description of the Masonic
Halls in the Savings Bank building, now IN
pro cess of completion is from the Masonic
Token:
The larger hall will be some feet bigger than
before and the addition of another whole hoor
above, gives nearly one-half more total space
This should allow for the increase of the Order
for many years to come In 1857 our tnree
lodges returned 317 members. This year tney
returned 973. Most of this was gained dur,o
the flush war times, as they returned in 1867,
1885, gain of 80 a year (the average OF tne
twenty years., in 1867, 744, gain of 5S a year.
or nearly double the average; in 1872, 95S, a
gain of 81 year, 4 over the average; and IN
1877, 973, a gain of 8 a year, which lesson IN
statistics shows that we may not expect to
much more than double our numbers in the
next twenty years, and unless the attendance
at meetings increases much more rapidly IN
proportion than in the last twenty years, we
shall have room enough.
The entrance from the second story has heen
moved to conform to the change of the big hall
to the northern end of the building, and now
runs up straight from the main entrance. hav-
ing window at the head to light it, in lieu OF
the black darkness that prevailed of yore. The
entrance will be ornamented with Tuscan
arch in stucco Arrived at the third floor, we
find an entry running back towards the front
of the building, which terminates in the Tyler's
room. l5xl7 feet. which is placed in the centre
L no IJlCI lOOLl anu CuUIy Will Do nUUTeu Will
tiles. From this room we turn to the right,
where two entrances, one on either side of the
Junior Warden's station, open into the main
hall. which is 664x37a, with height of 26 feet
This is finished in Corinthian style, the stucco
work being done by Craig & Galley and the
frescoing by Schumacher. The furniture which
will also closely follow the architecture in style,
is being carved by Theodore Johnson, and up
holstered and furnished by Dean Brothers. The
upholstery will be green plush. The pedestals
ho Tn,,Ta nj 4,
orders. The altar will be like that in Bangor,
made from design kindly furnished by Bro.
George W. Orff of that city. The organ is to
be placed over the Junior Warden's station,
and finished into the wall 1t is building by
Labsgh & Kemp of New York CITY, will be
blown by water-mcter, and will be larger
and much better instrument than the former.
South of this hall is preparation room 10x
IL, and robing room 1921 Beyond them,
on the front. is a small hall, 25x39 feet, with
height of 49, feet. This will be neat aud ele-
CANT, will be much used for ordinary meetings
and will probably be the favorife of the Scot
fish Rte, the Council, etc. Back of this is the
hre-pIoof vault, opening into the library on the
east corner. which is very light az conven-
lent room, 18x20 feet. Outside of the library,
towards the stairs. and communicating with
both entry aud Tyler's room, is a reception
room 12x193 feet. The wash room, water
closets, &C., are in the rear of the Tyler's
room.
Ino fourth story is reached by an iron STAIR
case leading from the Ty ler's room, and by an
other door rom the entry, the latter providing
for the admission of servants to the dining hail
when needed. The large hall runs up into this
story on the northerly ED AT the southerly
end, in front, is the Armory, 39x40a feet and
123 feet high. This will be frescoed with the
emblems of chivalry, and the woodwork of the
stalls is to bs done by W Fl. Phillips. Back
of this is dining roop 1Sx231 and kitchen
12x22. A dumb watt, ru-s from this k tchen
to the fifth story, wLeie is the great dining
room 4SxS5 feet This wi II be available as a
drill hall. The work of completion is going
rapidly forward, and in our January number
we hope to record that the bodies are settled in
their new quarters.