The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-11-26
A MASONIC TEMPLE OF cURu 4
Many Rare Relics Carefully Preserved il
New York.

| New York.
Few people are aware that hidden
hway in carefully guarded rooms Of an
| imposing structure at Sixth avenue
and Twenty-third street, New York
| City, are preserved rare relics Of by.
gone ages, works of art and priceless
curios. These rareties are to be found
In the Masonic temple, where strangers
are seldom permitted to enter.
The temple itself is one of the most
interesting objects Of interest in New
York. The massive bronze pillars at
the entrance excite curiosity. The mys
| terious figure at the foot and the mar
BILE statue of Silence at the head of the
| Inquiry to be made. The richly emblaz
oned coat-of arms of the Masonic fra
| ternity, over the grand lodge room door,
| cannot fail to attract attention, and
other features on the same floor viii
certainly lead the inquisitive to ask
what it all means. But these are about
all that the stranger is likely to see.
On the floor above the grand lodge
room are the library, reading room and
museum of the Masonic fraternity.
In the library of the Masonic temple
are books and records that have no
duplicate in this country. One is
three-volume folio work bound in vel
lum, printed in Latin with large type
In the year 1904. This gives a descrip-
ton Of King SOlomon's temple and has
several finely executed engravings,
maps, designs of architecture and pic
lures showing the customs Of the
ancient Jews. The work was gotten I'D
for and dedicated to Philip II. of Spain
by distinguished member of the So
ciety of Jesus. A "black letter Bible"
OF about the same date is n the library.
1t is supposed to be copy of the fam
GUS "Breeches Bible" but the pages
which should have proved this are alb
sent. With this exception the work is
perfect, and has many curious charts.
An old English work, giving the his
tory of the Masonic society, or Society
Of Builders. from the time of William
the Conqueror to the date Of publication
about the beginning Of the last CEN
tury-is curiosity. 1t gives the names
of all the grand masters for nearly q
thousand years. A number Of works
published during the exciting times of
the anti-MasOnic crusade are also in
the library. Both sides of the struggle
are therein related. These books were
preserved by Masons during that event
full period and now, when the principal
actors have passed away, become OBJ
tects Of curiosity. Masonic magazines,
works Of distinguished Masonic au-
thOrs and encyclopedias go to make this
library one Of the most valuable for
reference to be found anywhere in the
United States.
The greatest interest, however, CEN
ters in the museum of Masonic curiosi-
ties and antiquities. In this collection
can be found the gold trowel used by
Benjamin Franklin while master Of the
lodge in Pennsylvania, preserved by
Franklin lodge of New York State and
presented by that body to the museum.
A model Of the Obelisk, made under the |
direction Of the late Commander Cor,
ringe, has been deposited in the
museum by Anglo-Saxon lodge of |
Brooklyn, to which he was attached as |
q member. Three candlesticks used by |
Ancient Chapter No. 1 of Royal Arch |
Masons during the last century are
A past grand masters |
Jewel, presented to the grand lodge of |
New York by the grand lodge of New
Jersey in 1882, recalls the early period |
Of Masonry in this country. The jewels
md records Of Rainbow lodge of New
York State, stolen by British soldiery
Turing the war Of 1912 to 1914 and pre-
served by lodge in Montreal, to which
place they had been taken, is found
commemorated here by u past masters
jewel, on which the whole history of
lhe affair is engraved. Coins and
Masonic medals of great antiquity are
preserved. One, commemOrating the
creation of a son of King George III.
rs grand master of Masons in America
and England. struck before the revolu-
lion, is Of great interest to American
Free Press.