The morning call., 1892-07-09


of space of sufficient magnitude at a rea-
sOnable cost.
"All three matters were finally adjusted,
ana a lot finally chosen located upon the
corner OF Suffer street and Van Ness ave-
nue. fulfilling every possible requirement.
1t was first resolved that 81, SOC, 900 should
be expended In the construction OF the
building, and some enthusiastic member oil
the order even advocated an increased
amount" said Mr. Graves. "but more
moderate counsels have prevailed. and it
has now been decided that sum of 81 ,0O0-
700, wisely expended, will be adequate for
our purposes, and it is not probable that
this amount will be exceeded We then
invited the architects of the city to submit
plans, and that of Mr.. John NJ. Curtis, 1875
kearny street, seems to strike the trustees
as the best that las been shown us up to the
present time.
The capital stock of the Masonic Temple
Association has been placed at 81 600 600 of
which considerably more than one-balf has
been subscribed. To purchase the lot, fur
nlsh and erect the building. and with Incl
dental expenses, will probably exhaust that
SUN, but II II IS necessary TO the complete
realization OF our plans that this sum should
be exceeded IT Is not thought probable that
any serious objection would be made TO the
additional expenditure"
MasOns are enthusiastic over the pros
poets OF the new temple. and are subscrib-
Ing for the necessary stock with greet
premptitude. The construction of the new
temple will, il is said. be proceeded with as
soon as a small additional subscription to
the capital stock is secured.
The plan OF the new Masonic Temple con-
templates structure seven stories high,
with lofty manSard roof and surmOunted
by i've towers. one at eacn of the four cor
hers and one over the grand entrance on
Suffer street. The site purchased has long
been familiar to the general public as that
OF the Castle mansion and embraces an area
OF 2O6 3 feet OH Suffer street by 120 feet on
Van Ness avenue. and fronting on Austin
street the same length as on Suffer, thus
giving three unObstructed elevations to the
building. The site cost $4,000 and was
purchased some months ago by the trustees
OF the Masonic Temple Association. The
lot slopes gently from Van Ness avenue to
the rear. aff0rding excellent facilities for
the entrance to a beautiful public hall " hich
Is to be located on the ground floor OF the
temple. The general style of the whole
building is to be composite or Renaissance
and is calculated TO combine lightnpss and
variety with that massiveness which so
great a structure naturally requires. The
hrst story aud basement Is TO be of granite
together with the pillars and arch of the
grand entrance, as well as the entrance TO
the public hail. All above the first story is
TO be built Of pressed brick with the orna-
mentations OF stueco, altogether forming an
agreeable combination of color and adding
to the general fine effect In order TO give
variety TO the design without affecting the
unity Of the whole the fourth story will be
arched as shown In the cut.
The temple, with the exception of the
stores on Van Ness avenue, is to be used
exclusively for the purposes of the order
he stores on the avenue will be used for
business purposes, and possibly few
offices Tor professionals viii be- rented on
the second floor. 1t is intended to make the
public hall on the Suffer street side a
model OF its kind. 1t is TO be provided with
stage, galleries, DRESSING Ooms, BANQUET
halls and other appurtenances, so that 1t
could be used for every social purpose for
which 1t may possibly be demanded. The
hall is TO be very lofty. and takes III the full
second story, and is TO be decorated in such
style and elegance as to quite throw in the
shade any similar auditorium on this
coast On the second floor the grand
0fflcers OF the Masonic organizations of the
State will be located. The third aud fourth
floors are to be arranged for the blue lodges
exclusively. while all the space above is ap-
propriated for the chapters, Communicates
ana shrines, together with the banquet
and other rooms required by the higher de-
grees. The structure Is planned by the
architect for all time, aud Is TO be con-
StTucted from the basement to the extreme
altitude Of the tower of granite. brick and
iron. Elevators will communicate with the
upper floors. and. Of course, electricity is to
be the Illuminating agent. While the plans
OF the interior are not yet sufficiently adj
yanced TO be described as yet, it has
been determined that no expense shall
be spared to make them the mosr
spacious aud convenient that the require
ments OF the order shall demand, neither
will the highest taste that can be procured
be lacking In order to render the whole
temple as complete and ornamental as any
similar temple the country can boast of.
and that ii may be worthy of the greatness
and character Of the order which is to &C.
cupy It,
TIE towers are to rise to an elevation of
LAB feet above the line of Van Ness avenue,
aud as the site itself occupies nearly the
ioitiest portion OF the street the temple will
20 visible from every point of view and
form most commanding feature of the
landscape WV
Inc ola Masonic Temple, which before
.ons VIII PROBABLY be a thing of the past,
las always peen one OF the most prominent
Oh the architectural features Of the civ
Iue cornerstone was laid in 1860 and il
was completed In the following wear.
Inc old temple occupies 1GO feet on Posi
street by IS feet on MONTGOMERY street and
LICK place. 1t cost. together with the lot
SooO,0OO. The figure which has been offered
recently for the property is $3.50, 900 or an
advance OF S505, 600 in less than one genera
tloDs out this last sum has been declined
and price of S625, 600 placed upon the
property, and it Is confidently believ ed will
be secured just as soon as the order jndj-
Gates its intention to vacate.
Senator Fair, anxious, it Ia presumed. te
extend the Lick House so as to embrace the
site OF the present temple, has offered
$4,000, but this sum has been declined.
Missing Husband.
hrs NJ