The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-01
THEIR PLANS MADE
GRAND MASONIC CATHEDRAL TO
BE BUILT IN WICHITA.

1t will be Erected on the Site OF the Present
Cathedral and will Cost Thirty Thous-
and DoIlars-When Completed IL will
be Made the Permanent Home for All
the Masonic Bodies and viii be Kept
Open All Hours for the Benefit Of Visit
ing Masons-Mr. Fitch Gives the Details
to the Eagle.
A new Scottish Rite cathedral is now
assured.
Postmaster Thomas G.. Fitch who
takes deep interest in the matter was
seen last night by reporter for the
Eagle and in speaking about the mat
ter he said: Yes, 1 believe there IS
no doubt but what the new cathedral
will be built and that soon. AT the ban
quet few nights ago the matter was
suggested and inside OF an hour over
$1,000 was subscribed and that too after
many OF our best and most substan-
tial members had gone home. Next
day met many OF these and they were
not only heartily in sympathy with the
matter but stated outright that hey
would subscribe literally towards it,
Isn't il a fact that many OF the mem
bers of the Scottish Rite body were not
in the city?''
THE fact is that only about cne-sixth
Of the members were present when the
matter was suggested. Now then you
see that if in one hours time We could
raise 5000 among one-sixth of the
members it would be an easy matter
10 raise enough among all Of them TO
erect a fine building"
How much of a building do you in
tend TO erect?'
I'VE think We can put up a building
that would be credit 10 Wichita for
$4,000. Labor and material are now
comparatively cheap and We think now
is the time TO build
Where VIII it be located?"
THE sentiment is 10 have it located
on the site of the present building. We
have a piece of ground 50x150 and We
possibly could get another lot or two.
If not that much ground would be suf-
ficient for fine building. Plans are
being drawn now by two or three par
ties and they will probably be on exhi-
bitiOn in a few days. Our idea is TO
have permanent home for all the ma
benefit of masOns visiting our city.
ut is probable that the building.
when completed, VIII be kept open all
the time and supplied with reading
rooms.
Our present building was secured in
1890 when We had less than 100 mem
bers and We thought it would be large
enough for several years, but the phe-
nominal growth of our order has been
such that larger cathedral is an i'm
perative necessity. We have spent
in all, about $4,000 in our old building
since We have had it and still it is too
small. There are a great many gen.
tlemen here in Wichita DESTROYS OF be-
coming members, but owing to a lack
of room no effort has been made TO
encourage them. We have still a great
field for membership as our Jurisdiction
extends all over Southern Kansas, Ok
lahOma and the Indian territory"
How are your funds for the contem-
plated building raised; by donatiOn?"
Not at all. There are no donations
The members simply advance specified
amounts without interest until such a
time as the condition of the treasury
is such that the money can be refunded
That is the way we secured our pres
ent building four years ago and all the
obligations incurred have been paid
long ago. That experiment was sue
cessful and is an assurance that we
can erect the new building with equal
success
From what Mr.. Fitch stated it could
be inferred that the funds advanced
would be for non interest bearing and
non dividend paying stock, said stock
to be taken up from the individuals
by the lodge from time TO time as the
funds would accumulate in the treas
Ilry