The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-03
ST. ALBANs HALL.
The Recent Improvements Inside
Arrangements for the Observance OF
Asccnsion.Dny.

Recently the proper Masonic authoritie,
came 10 the conclusion that certain iptarna
| improvements were necessary at st. Alban,
Hall, in which Masonic temple a numbe,
OF communicates Of Knights Templar and
Masonic lodges here hold their sessions
A committee, consisting OF J. Thompson
Brown (chairman), j. +. Regnault, and
DR.. II. G.. Cabcll, were appointed to make
the necessary arrangements.
Mr.. Regnault was awarded the contract
for papering the ball. and the painting was
put in the hands OF Mr.. A. j. Vaughan.
The work in both cases has nearly been
completed, and reflects great credit on those
who executed it. The hall Is now one OF
the handsomest perhaps in the United
States, and in its appointments dlscloses the
very best taste. No stint OF money has
been INDUCED IN in the arrangement OF
the new order OF things, the improvements
having cost over 81, 900. The old stove in
the room in which the communicates meet
has been taken out, and the hall Is now
heated from q boiler in the basement. In
the dining-room there is an excellent
raage, and every apparatus necessary for
the furnishing and enjoyment OF first
class meal. At each meeting OF the COM
mlnderies and lodges a fine supper is
spread, and the tables look just like those
III n fin st-class restaurant.
On the first floor is the commandery hall
and their armorics and ante-rooms. The
armory OF Richmond Commandery, No. 2,
is worth seeing. The old-time aprons. the
foilS, banners, spears. and regalia worn as
far back rs 1882, are hanging around the
walls, while SOurenirS OF various kinds are
artistically arranged. The wardrobes OF
the various Sir Knights, occupying several
compartments in one large piece Of furni-
ture. have glass doors marked with the
name OF the Sir KNIGHT in eilded letters.
Through these glass doors the bright uni
forms of the Sir Knights, their plumed
hats, and Jewels, can be seen.
In the armory Of the Richmond Com
mandery is solid silver water-pitcher and
two goblcts. presented to the Richmond
Sir Knights before the war by their MaSsa-
chusetts brethren. In the Commandery hall
is miniature representation OF the monu-
ment on Bunker Hill. 1t is made of gran
ite. and is exactly one-hundreth part the
size Of the original monument, and was
presented to Richmond Commandery, No.
,. by two Sir knights, members OF the De
Molay Commandery. OF Boston.
On lIt cfNOlu ilVbl - Abt iVh-N-iONih'
This room is also elegantly furnished, and
contains some valuable and tlme-honored
relics. among which is n crown OF thornS,
presented by DR.. {. c. Biting, who gath
cred them, n near as could be aSccrtaned,
from the very spot from which the crown
came that pressed the Sayiours brow.
There Is also piece OF stone from the site
Of King SolomOn's temple, near Jerusalem,
and another brought from Joppa.
The Masons contemplate--as soon as all
their improvements are completed-the
throwing open OF the doors OF the temple
some day from IL o'clock \. NJ. until the
same hour in the evening, and allowing
the public to come in and inspect the vari-
GUS rooms in the hall. The many objects
OF curious interest here will make the visit
one full OF pleasure.
AsCENsION-DAY.
The knights Templar OF the st. Andrew
and Richmond Commanderles have made
appropriate preparation for the observance
Of AScenSion-Day, which is TODAY. They
have invited AppomattoX Commandery oi
Knights, from Petersburg, and these
Knights will leave home on chartered
train at ) O'Clock this evening, and reach
Richmond At 6 o'clock. They will be met
at the Byrd-Street depot by the Richmond
communicates and escorted to 81. Adams
Hall. where a collation. will be spread
After this they will form and march in a
body to the Monumental Church. where
the services of the day will be observed.
The services will consist OF the singing OF
hymn, PRAYER by the prclate 0he Knights
kneeling and repeating after HIM, the read
ing OF the lessons by the prelate uhc
knights sitting, the singing OF psalms an
tiphOnally. the confession of the articles OF
Christian faith, and a sermon, to be de-
livered by Rev. Sir Knight j. G. Arm
strong. ID. ID. These beautiful services
will no doubt attract large congregation.
The middle aisle OF the church will be re-
served for the Masons.