The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-17

ask the Masonic bodies Of the city to
empty their treasures that they might
build a temple2 Certainly from no
sordid, meTcenary motive; not that
their lives might be nude less burden
some.
In assuming this work they were we'll
aware Of tho labor it would entail, the
jealousies so inseparable from all such
undertakings it would arouse. They
knew 1t impossible to avoid the Censuro
Of those who could not agree with them
in all the details, the manner of of pro-
curing the funds necessary to accom-
plish the work they were about to I'M
dertake, the selection and location OF u
site for the building, the size and archi-
tectuTal features Of the building, the
choice OF architect, the cost; all these
and more confronted them,
Not the least was the historical fact
that other similar projects had come to
naught. All would seem sufficient to
cause men who loved ease and freedom
from distFacting thought to shrink from
that from which they could expect no
pecuniary reward to result, certainly
none commemorate with the labor in
volved,
Nay, all the money the association
could command would not nay them. A
nobler aim was theirs. They saw ma
aonry without home. They saw q
gem richer than any in monarchs'
crown hid In q setting betaking OF pow
erty and squalor. They saw Masons in
city OF forty thousand people conven-
ing in hot and sweltering room 1t
we're sacrilege to call lodge room. AS
citizens protesting masonry they We're
ashamed TO invite sojourning brethren
from other societies to visit their differ
ent bodies, albeit under all the circum-
stances the visiting brother OF whatever
degree could find no fault or lack OF
cordial greeting, save that which arose
from the discomfort OF our rooms a,
November 80, 1875, began the record
Of disaster to the Masonic bodies. In
light Of the experience OF intervening
years, it should have been the begin
ming OF our prosperity.
On the 30Eh OF November, 1875, the
Washington hall building was totally
destroyed by fire. From 1854 the Ma
sonic bodies had occupied the third
story OF Washington hall building as u
place OF meeting, and Tor several years
had owned this third story, having
purchased II OF the Washington Hall
association soon after the building was
completed.
BY the terms OF purchase OF this third
story, in event OF fire such rs had oc-
CURED, the Washington Hall associa-
ton, in rebuilding, was to erect q build
ing Of two stories, and the Masonic bodies
we're then privileged to build upon
these stories their hall, the association
being bound by the agreement to build
its part OF the structure OF sufficient
strength to support this third story.
After the fire it was found that
whilst the Washington Hall Association
had been paying its stockholders an
nual dividends for several years, 1t had
created no reserve fund. The property
was insured, but the amount OF insur-
ance was not sufficient TO replace the
building, hence before the association
could rebuild itwould be necessary for
it to borrow quite large sum OF
money.
The insurance held by the Masonic
bodies upon their portion OF the build
ing was scarcely sufficient to replace the
third story, had the association itself
been able to rebuild.
The hall association in making appli-
cation for loan met with this rebuff:
that while the franchise OF the Masons
to place on the upper part OF any
building it might erect was in force, II
could not mako clear deed for the
properly; consequently it could not
make proper mortgage deed to secure
the loan it asked for.
At this juncture the trustees OF the
Masonic bodies, especially appointed
and confirmed by the circuit court for
the purpose of holding the property,
the bodies not being incorporated, con-
cluded the only way to relieve the hal
association was to sell the franchise oil
the Masons to tho hall association
This was done. The hall association
was now enabled to procure the needed
money, and the new building was
erected.
The rooms intended for occupancy by
the Masons were completed and fur
nished ready for occupancy in the latter
part of March. 1873 Our lease began
April /, 1870, to run ten years upon {
rental OF S672 per annum, divided at
follows:
Four lodges, each paid sSi..".."......."......s3
Wheeling Union IL
Two Communicates, 500 each.., ................ TO-
ro.al.........................
On the 4th OF April, 1878, the lodge
room was dedicated to the uses OF Ma
sonry with most brilliant ceremony
Most Worshipful Brother George Baird
grand master, officiating.
The money received Tor our insurance
and sale OF tho third story was in great
part invested in the stock OF the Wash
ington Hall Association. That not &C
invested was used in the purchase O
carpets and furniture for the lodge ant
ante rooms, also for the purchase Of ar
elevator.
Our ten-ycar lease expired April /
1883 in the meantime the revenues O.
Washington Hall Association, consist
ing Of the rents paid by tho different
Masonic bodies, rent paid by occupants
Of store rooms on first floor, and OF the
second floor, occupied rs an oper;
house, little more than suiliced to pay
tho interest on its loan, the insurance
premiums, taxes, floating dobt in
CURED in building, and incidental OK
penses. The bonded dobt still 70
NAMED rs at the start. Tho stock o
tho Hall Association, in hands OF out
sido parties, was selling away below
par.
Previous to tho expiration Of oul
lease, an attempt was mado to have {
renewal made at n much lower rental
but this attempt met with decided
opposition on tho part OF the assoca
tion. AT tho last moment an ole