The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-07

the thirty ninth anniversary OF the laying
of the corner stone. The ~ceremontss we're
attended by over co. 600 people. A copper
plate inscribed with historical data, various
church publications. photographs. etc..
were laid in the capstone.
IL is surmounted by n figure representing
the angel .'Mnroni," a statue twelve feet IN
height, Of hammered copper plated with
heavy gold leaf; 1t stands 222 fest nbove
the earth and is indeed a most graceful and
pretty object. holding to its lips = golden
trumpet. through which i: being und
she glad tidinas of 'ths Latter Day saints
TO the people Of the earth. The angel
''Maroni," according to tho Mormon belief.
appeared and revealed to Joseph Smith ths
hiding place OF the golden tablets on which
is inscribed the book OF Mormon. I'M
statue. az seen from the street. 10 q most
fitting crown 10 the grand architectural
lines on which the temple 10 built.
Its whole length 10 lS6 feet and width
ninsty-nine feet. There are six towers.
three on the east and three on tho west end
highest spire, 222516 feet; height Of walls.
1875 feet; the thickness Of walls at bottom,
mir feet: thickness of walls " tor, six
feet. The whole rests on a foot-wail aix-
teen feet thick and sixteen feet deep; tho
building covers an area OF 81. $50 feet. Sit
and power house. Here four engines fur
nish the power for four dynamos OF over
1000 candle power, by which the whole in
terror OF the building is lighted, as well rs
the powerful lamps on each OF the spires.
The lamp surrounding the figure OF
''Maronr 10 2~OO-oandle power. From here
10 also furnished through a twelve-tnch
main, laid in a rook-linsd tunnel, where ii
can DO reached at any time. the hot water
heating for the building. From this house
also comes the power for two powerful
passenger elevators. The most modern
plans of heating and vsntilatinR have
been adopted, and have alrsndy proved sue
~cessful. Ventilation is secured by the
pressing of an electric button. BY which
ventilators and transoms are thrown open
and electric fans put in motion. Tho build
ing is absolutely ire proof. still every pre-
caution has been taken against fire.
In each of the four corners OF the build
ing are winding stairs; over 200 steps Of
solid granite reach from the basement to
the tor. These blocks of granite arc built
into solid wall and newell Josts. and give
the impression that this building will stand
while time lasts.
The basement room occupies the whole
building. It is tiled with and its bate ia OF
marble. In this room 10 the baptismsl
font. The font is OF bronze and rests on
the backs of twelve life-sized bronzs oxen;
three looking to the est. three to the west,
three to the north and three to the south.
As we ascend we meet strength and dura-
OlllLys CuLuOlucA Wlb k'uOoAuA ~ Ps0~o"
ing lines OF architecture on every hand.
The prevailing colors throughout the in
terror are blue and gold, but with such an
artistic blending of snbdulna tints. that
nowhere is there the unpleasant suggestion
of dazzling brightness.
There are three floors above tue base
ment; the first and second are divided into
rooms large and small, in which the rites
and ceremonies of the church will take
place-marriages. the endowment. and
other secret ceremonies, on which I, of
coui 90. could not be enlightened. All OF
these rooms are vety beautiful indeed. A
large room on the north side is a dream of
beauty. Th decorations OF this room will
surely compare with anything on this CON-
tinent, if not in the world.
The upper door consists Of one large
room, as does the basement. 1t Is 12O by
eighty feet, and thirty-six feet to the osil-
the room, and the seating capacity, includ-
ing the gallery. is over 5000 persons. The
gallery is rallied with bronze and has hand
carved decorations. The ceilings are
artistically paneled and encircled by a
frescoed freeze. There ara innumerable
permanent lights, and five large ornamental
chandeliers.
w%ashbasins of delicately tinted nntive onyx
with appropriately pretty plumbing
fixtures. which are seen in all parts of the
building. The hardware of the temple was
made to order, and ia ornamented with
either the bee hive or the clasred hands.
the symbols of the church, in connection
with the motto, holiness to the Lord"
In the basement the knobs. hinges. etc.,
are of brass. On the first floor they are of
plated gold, on the second of plated silver,
or the third of old silver and on the fourth
Of old brcnze,