Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-07-24
Over q Thousand PoopIe.
WE'RE AT THE MASONIC RECEP.
TION.

The Masonic fraternity Of Stauntor
made last Saturday night gala night fol
the people. They had just completed tn,
7 furnishing Of the three lodge rooms Of the
Temple and dozen ante rooms in thu
fourth and fifth floors, at an expense of
/ So 600, and the Blue lodge No. IS, Roya
Arch Chapter No. 2, and Stevenson Com
mandery No. Knights Templar. conclud
ed to give their friends sight of them. A
public invitation was given to the ladies
and gentlemen of the community generally
through the press saying that the recep-
tlon would last from T. M. to 10
P. NJ. and between those hours
there was continuous throng Of
peoDle going through the rooms
They did not lack guides. for the lodges had
thoughtfully appointed members to receive
and guide them. And the costumes of the
receiving members! The people were
familiar with the plain white aprons of the
Blue lodge, and the grand chapeaux of the
Knights Templar through street
acquaintance. but the Royal Arch! Here
was a surprise; nobody had ever dreamed
of the wealth of fine clothing hidden in the
recesses of that branch of Masonry. Here
were Kings in full and costly costumes,
with crowns studded with precious stones.
and High Priests in wealth of finery with
breast-plates Of precious stones, like the
old priests of the Temple. And there were
Masters of the Wells in all their glory. It
was dazzling exhibition under electric
lights and all the more effective because it
was a surprise.
Visitors We're taken up by the elevator
to the fifth floor. They passed through a
reception room furnished with antique oak
furniture and heavy curtains and other
hangings and through the Tier room, in
which there is picture of Smith Thomp-
son who was tiler of the lodge in 1912, into
the Blue lodge room, 65x3O feet. The car
pet, curtains, and all the hangings are blue
and in the centre is the rich altar Of oak
with the pillars East, West and South
which carry the lights. Near the Chair IN
the East. which like all the other furniture
is antique oak, are portraits of the Past
Grand Masters of the State that belonged
to this lodge, and hanging near is the char
ter of the lodge granted Oct. 26th, 1885,
signed by Edmund Randolph who was the
military Secretary of Washington and
afterwards Attorney General and J
Secretary of State under him.
Up in the ceiling among the heavy oak
beams are the electric lights. One curiosi-
ty in this room is the Bible on the altar
which was printed in 1888 presented by
W. L. Olivier and the Tiers sword which
has been in use in the lodge since 1872. On
this floor is the Banquet Hall and Kitchen
with hot and cold water throughout.
A search of the Masonic records
shows that in 1882 Smith Thompson,
mentioned as Tiler above, was Grand Mas
ter of the LIST Veil and was then in his s5th
year and in his 42nd year as a Mason.
This would show that he was member of
the lodge IN 1890 just four year after it was
chartered.
Next the tourist descended to the lodge
room of the Royal Arch Chapter. Here
are the arches, the four wells. the taberna-
Gle. the altar of oak and the throne chairs
Of the King and High Priest. The prevail
ing colors of the carpet and hanglngs are,
scarlet and terra Gotta.
The wardrobe room of this Chapter is
The receptacle of wealth of costume that
induces the belief that King Solomon in
all his glory, Though during his life
4 member of this lodge) was not arrayed
like unto one of these. A curiosity in this
room was the Ark. made of oak,
made with his own hands over half GEN.
Jury ago by the late Adam Lushbaugh {
hen High Priest of the Chapter. In the ]
Chapter room are the seven branches of the
;andlestick.
The last lodge room to enter was that of
stevenson Commandery of Knights Tenn
liar. In going through the armory where =,
re the lockers of the Knights. wesaw many .
till bearing familiar names now passed I
W. H. Fl. Lynn, VIM. '
!. Bumgardner, R. R. Andrews and others. 9
Passine! E 18th lodge room you find the