Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-20
SCOTTISH RITE WORK
The Palatial Chapel of Freemason's
Hall Dedicated
AMID POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE
Working in the GOurgas Lodge of Per.
lection.
A GREAT CROWD OF MASONs PRESENT

The VALLEY of Pittsburg,'' Masonically
speaking, was housed in the finest and most
complete chapel-outside of Philadelphia
in the United States last evening at The
working of the ancient accepted Scottish
rite. The jurisdiction of the VALLEY" lie:
West of the Allegheny Mountains and in.
cludes "Gourgas Grand Lodge of Perfec-
ton, Pennsylvania Grand College Princes
of Jerusalem, "Pittsburg Grand Chapter oi
Rose-Croix de II. R. D. NJ" and Pennsyl-
vania Sovereign Grand Consistory s. P. R.
S. Thirty-second Degree. The meeting Of
these sehonorable bodies constituting the thirty
seventh annual reunion continues to-day and
tomorrow, yesterdays session being mostly
devoted to viewing the exquisite chapel and
hearing the Steere & Turner new pipe organ
already fully described in these columns.
The chapel is not yet finished, but it is to
be handsomely furnished with heavy carved
material, and various memorials are prom
ised as wall decorations. The immense
moquette carpet and the costly and luxurious
rugs are all in place. The stage will not be
used in the disposal of the chapel furniture,
the organ being the only thing not on the
level. That is in the gallery. The trustees
of Freemasons' Hall are James Kerr, Jr.,
thirty-thlrd degree, Joseph Eichbaum, thir-
ty-third degree, and John E. Haines, thir-
ty-second degree. DR.. William T. En-
glish, thlrty-second degree, is musical di-
rector, and John Pritchard, thirty-second
degree, is organist
AFTER MANY YEARS.
The formal invitation circulated among
the craft-amarvel of typographical beauty,
by the way-contains the following his
torical data of very general interest:
From June l6, 1852 to April l. 1873 the meet
ings OF the bodies were held in Masonic Hall.
inadequate that in September. 1872 rooms
were secured and fitted up in Library build
ing, Penn avenue, where the meetings were
held from April l, 1873, to October !, 1889.
The last meeting in Masonic Hall, Fifth ave-
nue., at which the degrees were conferred was
held on November %, 1872, and now after
period of II years we will again meet to confer
the degrees in Masonic Hall (nOw called Free
masonS' HALL, Fifth avenue, where the bodies
OF the A. and A. Rite were organized and held
their first meeting.
This meeting and the place in which we will
assemble will awaken memories in the minds
OF the older members which they alone can un-
derstand and appreciate. Signed by James ].
Buchanan, George Wilkins Guthrie, Charles G.
Baer, James Kerr, Jr. and John E. Haines,
Grand Secretary.
MANY MAsoNs PERFECTED.
As giving an idea of the magnitude of
the Scottish Rite proceedings of yesterday,
to-day and tomorrow, it may be said that
there are over 100 candidates for perfection
up to the thirty-second degree, many of
whom take nearly the full list of degrees,
ranging between the third degree, or Master
Mason. and the acme of ambition, Mason
ically, the thirty-second degree. This in
wolves a great deal of preparation. The
work is sub-divided into sections. Yester-
day afternoon and evening the following de-
grees were conferred: Secret Master, fourth;
Intimate, sixth; Provost and Judge, seventh;
Intendant of the Building, eighth; Master
Elect of Nine, ninth; Knight of the Ninth
Arch, thirteenth, and Grand Elect Perfect
and Sublime Mason, fourteenth. With these
the motto: "Behold how good and pleasant
it is for brethren to dwell together in unity"
The above degrees are under the head of the
"Gourgas Grand Lodge Of Perfection"
James Kerr, Jr., 7. P G. NJ.
OTHER WORK IMPENDING.
At $50 o'clock this morning the work in
the "Grand Council Princes of Jerusalem"
will begin with large number of candi-
dates, there being one degree, Knight of
the East or Sword, Sixteenth Degree"
At 1:30 o'clock work will commence in |
the Pittsburg Grand Chapter of Rose Croix,
in which are two degrees. In the evening
and on Thursday morning conslstory work |
will be the elimination of the sitting. In |
nearly all these degrees there Is considera- |
BILE pomp and circumstance, and the local |
Masons are taking extraordinary interest in
the sitting on account of the palatial quar-
ters and finely appointed surroundings.
The chapel and cloakrooms were crowded |
last evening.
One of the jolliest of those from abroad is
Charles E. Miller, now chief clerk at the
Hotel Lafayette, Philadelphia, formerly of |
the Monongahela House. Mr.. Miller is
fact that general description
suits him right down to the ground.
A feature of the services last evening was
the musical programme, which was in the
able charge of DR.. W. T. English. He was
assisted by Mr.. John Pritchard, organist,
and several picked male voices.