The Forrest City times., 1892-06-10
THE MASONIC TEMPLE.

lA 104Wb0e0ot 0STooS0bO SOcOuSty NOuh-
 Pleted In Little Noek.
 Arkansae Democrat.
 In the completion of the Masonic temple, which is now occupied, the board of trustees of st. Johns college have erected for themselves manu- ment that will stand unimpaired for centuries. The building is one of the handsomest structures of it's character in the South and is one of the substan. tial xdornments of the city. It stands seven stories above basement, with
 tower and turret presenting an at
 tractive and imposing appearance.
 In 1882 the grand lodge directed the trustees of St. Johns college to sell the property and apply tho proceeds to the erection of a temple.
 Tho board of trustees of St. John ' college comprise the following gentle men: John D. Adams, president; James l treasurer; George l.. Dodge, secretary; Samuel l.. Griiiith, Logan II. Roots, Fay Hempstead, John II. Haney, Sam W. Williams, John G. Fletcher, Benja- min $. Johnson, John J. Sumpter. The architects who designed the
 structure were OrlOpp & Kusener, the contractor E. B. Harris.
 Years ago the Masonic fraternity es- tablished what was known as St. Johns
 college, but, for lack of patronage, the institution was a failure. The property
 thus acquired by the promoters of the l enterprise lay idle for number of years, but was finally disposed of by the board of trustees and the proceeds turned toward paying for the erection of the beautiful temple on Fifth and Main. The entire cost of the structure is about $SO,O0O. Total cost, grounds
 and all, about SlO0,OOO. Of course this does not include the cost of furnitui c and lodge fixtures In the different xpxrtments. which are by far the hand. sOmest in the Southwest.
 The most magnificent stOrerOOm ever opened here is found on the first floor. IL is fifty feet wide by l50 feet long. Two grand plate-RlAss show windows, each the size of an ordinary store, are seen on either side of the entrance, and
 the massive stone pillars in front are finely polished and highly ornamental. l The stairway and two eley ators go up
 on the left, the hallway leading thereto being of checkered concrete. l On the second floor there are fifteen handsome offices, many of them al
 ready occupied by leading representa- tives of the various professions. Every
 possible convenience has been arranged
 for each floor, clear spring water being
 run through pipes from the basement
 The third floor also has fifteen offices
 accessible. a in the case of the other floors, by either stairway or elevator
 The grand officers have their head IQuarters on this floor, where they ar' always found industriOusly occupied II some effort for the benefit of the nOtl' } order.
 I Capt. James A. Henry, the veteran
 whom every Mason in Arkansas dc
 lights to honor, occupies an office du'
 south from tho elevator.
 Mir. Fay Hempstead occupies an of flee on the right of the stairway goinl } up. and Grand Treasurer Fredericl ! Kramer has his ofiice further to tn , left
 Up the elevator from this floor to th seventh story brings you to the armor. of Hugh DePayens Commandery. I is 20x70 feet, and is finished with thA skill and workmanship which charact erixes the whole building. It is neatl , carpeted and handsomely furnished
 A large number of cabinets with plat
 BioSo bAOhsSo 0AS 0PRAOPAsSs~hy osao"oV' for the paraphernalia and uniforms o Knights Templxr. Adjoining this is 1, storage room which is we'll fitted flo ! tho purpOee.
 From the windows of the sevent story the view is beyond question tn finest to be had in the city. The blue range of the Ozark noun tains is dimly discerniblc to the nortt ! and from every other point of Observs tion the horizen alone lntercepts tn vision. Looking down on the city on ' can see every street and alley, ever
 house and structure, and every favor l able point in the remotest portions c ! the corporate limits.
 The asylum for the Knights Templal - loccupving portion of the sixth an [ seventh stories. is 50x40 feet and tn - ceiling twenty-five feet from the hoo The furnishing of the asylum are luxt :, rious in every detail. Smoking room! | closets, lavatorv and rooms for lodg 2 purposes arc provided and neatly ful a nished.
 The Chapter hall, occupying pol
 tion of two stories, is one of the hanl somest apartments of the entire bull. , ing. The carpets are velvet Brusse | of the best quality, and the damas ! and tapestry used is superior articl' r The hall is decorated in red and th