The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-03
THE SCOTTISH AREOPAGUS.
Preparations for the Gathering OF the
Scottish Rite Masons.
The Most Elaborate ConvOcatiOn Yet Held in
indianapolis ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Men Expected-The Programme.

The eonvocation of Scottish Rite Masons of
Indiana, working in the Valley of Indianapolis,
will be held in this city on Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday of this week. This convooation
will be held in the new Scottish Rite Temple, and
will mark an epoch in the history of the Ancient
and Accepted Rite, not only in Indiana, but in
the United States and in the world. There will be
a class of seventy candidates, all from without
this city. and the entire list of Scottish degrees,
from the fourth Co the thirty second, inclusive,
will be conferred. II. L. Palmer. 800, of Milwau-
kee, the head of the Northern Masonic jurisdic-
ton, will be here, and Albert 8. Pike, the head
of the Southern jurisdiction, is also expected TO
be present and assist in the work. Distinguished
visitors are expected from New York, Washing
ton, Boston, and other Eastern cities, and larger
numbers are expected from Detroit, Cleveland,
Columbus, O., Louisville and ST, Louis, while
Cincinnati and Chicago are expected to send
large delegations.
The new temple Is the largest, finest and best
equipped Scottish Rite building in the world, and
is furnished With scenery and properties that
will allow the degrees TO be conferred with full
dramatic power. The accommodations are suf-
fclent for more than 500 persons, aud at this
conVocauion it is expected the degrees will be
conferred with greater scenic display and effect
iveness than ever before, not only In the tf-
teenth and sixteenth grades and In the seven
teenth and eighteenth, where this eonsistOryihas
already achieved the reputation of being first,
but in all the degrees, and particularly those of
the concluding series.
The first floor is occupied by the reception and
banquet rooms. The reception rooms, four in
number. are en- suite, Handsomely carpeted and
finely furnished, being hung with elegant por-
there's, lace curtains and lambrequins aud one of
the largest mirrors in the State. One of these
rooms contains the magnificent Masonic library.
a gift from the venerable william Hacker, Of
Shelbyville. The banquet room is of great size,
and, like the reception rooms, handsomely fur
nished. The ceilings of these rooms, as of all
the rooms in the building (the Rite occupies four
of the five floors, all but the ground floor, which
is rented for business purposes,) are richly fres-
coed. The front of the buiiding-it fronts west
on South Pennsylvania street-shows but five
rows of windows, but on the east line the build
ingis 1o2 feet from the top to the ground line
fully six stories high.
THE DEGREE ROOMS.
On the second floor are the rooms devoted to
work leading to and including the fourteenth or
perfection degree. The candidates room is
19x40 feet; the furniture being walnut and
E'Nohs 10 GOAOO loCb III lu0
auditorium, with a stage 90 feet deep. Adjoin-
ing this are scene-rooms, wardrobes, closets and
all conveniencss, including easy exits to the
floor below. On this floor, as on all others, are
water connexions, hose and chemical fire extin-
guishers.
In the two upper stories will be conducted the
work of comforting all the degrees of the Saraiah
Council, Princes of Jerusalem, the Chapter of
Rose Croix and of the Sublime Princes of the
Royal Secret, ana must be considered as forming
but one story. On the west side is the grand
auditorium, 40xS0 feet, including a stage 80
rect nigh. The scene-Foom and amphitheateF
on this floor Is 22x30 feet and 27 feet high, and
the candidates room is 19x40 feet. Around
three sides of the auditorium, which is a mag
nif1cent %theater. are wide and roOmy gal
lerles that will seat over $50 per-
soHs. From the ceiling depends a sun
light burner that diffuses a brilliant light over
the audtence-room. The proscenium opening
is 22x30 feet, and the height from the stage to
the rigging loft is ~forty-hve feet, great enough
TO enable drops twenty-five feet to lie carried up
without tripping. AS to scenery and mechanical
appliances the outfit is equal tn the require
ments of u spectacular drama, and is capable of
all the grand and intricate effects known to the
modern stage. The fifth-ti0Or room is twenty
four feet high, and will be used for scenic eff
fects in connection with a number of the de-
grees.
the grand organ (as well as the Scottish Rite
building) has been fully described in these col
uInns several weeks ago. 1. is a magnificent i'll
costing 81, 700, built by Mr.. Sanborn,
of this city, containing nearly LOO pipes, and
will be run by water motor. The organ is Tin
all but the finishing touches of ornaments
ton, which will have to be LETT until after CON
vocation. There are now nearly 700 members
In this consistory, and, as shown at the recent
meeting of the Supreme Council of the $50 it is
the most harmonious and prosperous Scottish
Rite body in the United States.
PROGRAMME FOR THE ooNvooATIoN.
The programme for the conferriDg Of degrees
will be as follows. The work begins with the
fourth degree. for the reason that she first three
degrees of entered apprentice, fellow craft and
mason are conferred in this country ex-
by the York rite:
Adoniram Grand Lodge of Perfection, 40 to
lao Inclusive. on Tuesday, Dec. A, at 2 and 7
P. NJ. N. r. Ruckle. 800, I. 2. G. NJ, presiding;
Jacob w. Smith, 800. Master of Ceremonies.
Saraiah Council of p. of j., $50 and 100,
on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 2 o'clock p. Nj.
E. Wright, $50, NJ. e. NJ, presiding; |
Henry Fl. McGatfey, 800, Master of Ceremonies. |
Indianapolis ChapJer of Rose Croix, 10 and
1So, on "Wednesday, Dec. 5, at z O'Clock r. NJ. By |
ron X Elliott, 800, NJ. W. & P. NJ, presiding; ia |
w. Smith, 800, Master of Ceremonies.
Banquet at $3.50 Z. NJ.
Indiana Consistory $. P. r. g., 1870 to 800 inclu-
sive, on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 10 A. NJ, and CON |
tinuing at aad 7 p. N. N. R. Ruckle, 500. M. |
Con. Joseph W.. Smith, $50, Master of
Ceremonies.
~ I