Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-12
FITTINGLY OPENED,
E<val Lodge a Scene Of Beauty Last
Night
New Masonic Temple and Its Artistic
Fair-COmmissiOner Ross Makes
an Address.

A triumphant epocn, ID .tHe HiStoly VI
Masonry in this city was marked last even
ing by the opening of a fair and at the
same time the new Masonic Temple which
has been erected by Naval Lodge, No. 4,
F. A. A NJ, at the corner of 4th street
and Pennsylvania avenue southeast The
building of the structure was begun in
July last, and 1t was completed but few
weeks ago. For the purpose of properly
furnishing their new home. and also for
diminishing a debt incurred in the erection,
the members of Naval Lodge decided that
the public should first view the inside of
the temple when a fair should be in pro-
gress and the place gaily decorated. Wives,
daughters. sisters, aunts. mothers, cousins,
sweethearts and female friends were called
upon to aid the project. and, although OF
the weaker sex, they proved strong In
their aid.
The result was the opening last evening
CT fair on such an elaborate scale as has
seldom been seen east OF the Capitol.
The fair proper comprises the greater
portion of the new building. On the second
fiocr lisa large room fitted up with booths,
and there are a number of smaller rooms
where refreshments are served. shoot
ing gallery has been fitted up, and various
other attractions are presented. On the
fourth floor is a large hall, also fitted with
booths, but with q floor space free for
dancing. There are also number. of
smaller rooms, In which are located what
might be termed side shows
The entire building was literally packed
before 3 o'clock last evening or course,
there were pretty girls galore, charnllngly
sowned many of whom were escorted by
young men with fat purses and those are
the kind the lodge is particularly DESTROYS
of seeing. A stiffness became apparent
when a party, comprising Commissioner
Ross, d. G. Dixon, grand master; George
W. Baird, deputy grand master; Matthew
Tr;r T.,
Palmer junior grand warden: c. b. Smith,
chaplain; Harry Standford, Junior deacon,
and George II. Walker, past grand high
priest mounted the speakers gallery. The
chairman of the entertainment committee,
Geo c. ODER, announced to the throng be-
low that he was happy to see so many
possible victims present, and he added tnat
he would like to tell what the lodge wanted
TO do with Them but it was his duty to
introduce Grand Master Dixon, and that
only.
The grand master remarked that he was
sure he voiced the sentiment of all present
when he stated that Naval Lodge deserved
the utmost credit for erecting such nome,
which was credit to themselves ana 10
the fraternity, credit not only 10 East
Washington but to the entire city. He
congratulated the lodge on the presence
and help of the ladies. and added that ne
had no doubt but that the enterprise would
be an entire success.
Commissioner Ross.
Commissioner Ross was then introduced
and was greeted with applause. He took
great pleasure, he said, in being present.
When the corner stone OF the building was
laid the speaker was away from the city,
which fact he regretted deeply, as it was
his desire to be present on that occasion;
Mr. Ross declared that he was astounded
at what Naval Lodge has accomplished
The erection of the temple was begun in
July last, when building operations
throughout the city were practically sus-
pended, but in spite of all obstacles sue
cess had been attained. He wished the eX-
ample would prove contagious. ana ne
urged these lodges who cannot build IN
dividually to unite and erect a temple
worthy of the District of Columbia. 1t was
surmised that the enterprise OF Naval
Lodge would set the other lodges thinking.
LAS a Commissioner, l represent the
whole city," continued Mr.. Ross Il am
proud of what has beer accomplished. now
ever. in East, Washington: You have the
Capitol building, the new library building,
and soon, think, will have new build
ing for the Supreme Court of the United
States, and before many years, In my Opin-
ion. this old avenue will be lined with lire
structures. I congratulate Naval Lodge
that 1T has put up one among the first.
There never was time when Free Mason
ry was more respected than at present.
I am proud to be a member OF the organi-
cation. / congratulate you on the assist
snce of these fair ladies, and 1 sincerely
trust that the fair itself will be complete
success.
Grand Master Dixon then touched an
Ina ginary button, and the machinery of
the fair was in motion.
Some Features.
The upper hall is fitted up, to accord with
the architecture of the room, In the Egypt
ian style. Flags and banners of every hue
covered the walls, and the booths, without
exception, are things Of beauty. Almas
Temple of the Mystic Shrine conducts
far from quiet paddle stand, where sacks
of -four, market baskets, feather fans and.
in fact almost everything imaginable. from
a ton of coal to a brick house. may be
chosen by the holder of a lucky paddle.
The main room on the lower floor Is dec
a ated in the Indo-Grecian style. There an
orchestra 6iscoursed music throughout the
evening, while the special attraction In the
upper hall was fancy dancing by Mr..
Percy Leech. in female attire.
In one of the side rooms is administered
for a small fee what is termed the thirty
fourth degree of the New York rite Of the
order of high mork-a-monk." The pre-
siding genius of this unique initiation is an
individual disguised by a most startling
costume of skulls, bones. wings and other
horrible conceptions. There were nshng
ponds. graphophones, fortune tellers and
all the other usual fixtures of fair room.
At 10 o'clock general dancing was COM
menced. The fair. judging from the OPEN
ing night. will prove an unqualified sue
cess.