The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-19
A BEAUTIFUL LODGE-ROOM
CENTENNIAL LODGE IN ITS NEWLY
DECORATED QUARTERS.
WOrshipfu1 Master Small Confers the
NJ. Nj. Degree on Three Candidates
Sumptuous Banquet Partaken of
by Two Hundred Masons.

Last Wednesday evening was memorable
one for the officers and members of Washing
ton Centennial Lodge No. IA, F. A. A. NJ,
and their many guests, there being represent
atives from Hyattsville, Md; Alexandria and
Manassas, Va; Georgetown, Hiram Lodge
No. 10, and other sister lodges of the District.
The occasion of this large assemblage of Ma
sons was the reopening of Lodge-room No 2,
Masonic Temple, after it had been completely
refitted and refurnished. 1t must have been
highly gratifying to the gentlemen who had
charge of the renovation to hear the encomi-
ums showered upon its present appearance, so
far surprising as it does its appearance TWEEN
ty-odd years ago, when 1t was first furnished,
and then considered the finest lodgeroom in
the District, and now conceded to be as hand
some as any in the country.
The walls are papered with light electric
blue, fecked over with neat gilt figures, the
frieZe being combination of old rose, blue,
and gilt in most elegant and artistic design
The canopes in the east, west, and south are
OF rich dark-blue plush, with futings of sky
blue at the back reaching from the top to the
floor, with sunbursts overhead of old gold.
The six windows are handsomely draped with
fine lace curtains, with hangngs of blue plush
the same as the canopies. The sixteen sofas
are also upholstered with the blue plush, with
trimmings of old gold, and the chairs with fine
leather. The columns, pedestals, desks, etc.,
have been reglded, oiled, ETC., and put in per
feet order.
The lighting of the room is complete, there
being three chandeliers and many side lights.
The organ, one of the best, seems to be only
rendered sweeter and more mellow by time,
all supplemented by Brussels carpet of ma
room and old gold. The ante-rooms are in
keeping Herewith, having been recarpeted
refurnished, and the windows redraped with
curtains
Amid these beautiful surroundings Bro j. H.
Small, w. M. of said Lodge, conferred in a
very impressive manner the M. M, degree upon
his brother and two other candidates, and was
ably supported by line of young officers.
Beautiful music suitable to the occasion was
rendered by the quartette. There was present
Brother Thomas +. Gibbs, NJ w. e. M. of the
Grand Lodge, accompanied by the other Off
GERS of the Grand Lodge of the District of Col
umbia. At the conclusion of the work the
members of the lodge, with their guests, re-
paired to the large banquet hall on the second
floor of the temple, where fine collation.,
consisting of all the delicacies of the season,
was spread with two hundred covers. The
hall was most beautifully and elaborately
decked with palms, ferns, and flowers, the
roses being superb.
During the repast not only was the inner
man regaled sumptuously, but the ear was
| banqueted with sweetest strains of vocal and
instrumental music. At the close of the sup
per Brother Small called upon the Grand
Master to respond to the toast, ''The Grand
Lodge of the District of Columbia" which he
did in his usual happy, eloquent style.
| Brother Mcklnsey responded to the toast,
"The Grand Chapter of the District of Colum-
bia." Many other toasts were responded to
! by members Of the lodge and their visitors.
Congratulations were offered upon the present
! prosperity of the lodge, and the festivities
| closed with the singing of ''Auld Lang Syne''
and the unanimous declaration that there was
nothing Small about Washington Centennial
Lodge or its w NJ. but his name