The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-08
SAY THEY WILL BUILD ANYHOW
FOUR MASONIC LODGES WANT THE
NEW TEMPLE.

/ They VIII Hold "A Meeting to Con-
slider the Matter as soon as They
Receive an OmciaI Report of the
Action of SOIOmOn's LOdge-They
Say They Have Bought and Paid
for the Property and are Ready to
Go Ahead with the BuiIdIng-The
Report Made by the Committee
That Investigated the Matter for
SOlOmon's Lodge.
! The Masonic lodges Of Savannah, Solo,
mons Lodge excepted, as it will not
/ go into the scheme have announced
/ their intention of going ahead with the
| building of a new temple, and Bull and
! Charlton streets, in spite of the fact
/ that they will not have the cooperation
| OF Solomons Lodge in the work
| Members Of the committee on building
| from Clinton, Zerubbabel and other lodges
| were seen yesterday and announced their
| intention emphatically Of going ahead with
the work, despite the refusal Of Solo
mons Lodge to join in the plan. OF course.
they would have received valuable aid
| from SOlomon's Lodge had it seen fit to
enter the plan, but they say they are able
to carry out their arrangements, and that
! they intend to do so.
Nothing definite has been done as
yet" said one of the prominent commit
teemen, but just as soon as we receive
official notice of what action was taken
| by Solomon's Lodge, we will hold meet
| ing and decide at once just how we win
proceed. We are going to have the new
temple, there is no doubt about that The
property at Bull and Charlton streets is
| bought and paid for, and do not antic-
pate that we will have any extraordinary
amount of trouble in securing building.
| However, we have not decided as yet
| just what course will be pursued"
The refusal of Solomon's Lodge to en-
ter the plan was due to the belief that it
was not a good one financially. The COM
mittee on property from that lodge, con-
| ssting of Capt D. G.. Purse, Nessrs. w.
b. Spann and F. w Clarke, reported to
| that effect. and their report was adopted
| by the lodge at its regular meeting night
/ before last
The committee from Solomon's Lodge.
| which met with the joint committee from
| the other lodges with reference to this
| subject, was requested to ask it's lodge TO
| join with Zerubbabel Landrum, Clinton
| and Ancient Landmark in the purchase Of
/ the lot and the necessary improvements,
consisting Of the new temple and all nee
! essary appurtenances. The committee, in
| its report, stated that NEST earnest re-
/ quest came from the sister lodges. The
| property purchased a site for the new
| temple, IT was stated, cost so 800, on which
a part has already been paid. The COM
mittee, however deemed IT necessary to
| place other information before the lodge
| for its aid in reaching conclusion with
| regard to the matter. 1t was reported that
| the four lodges mentioned above had con-
tributed $1,000 of the $22,5GO which was
| paid for the property.
No action of the committee, 1t was stat
| ed, had in any wise bound Solomons
IL IL.
| purchase. The former committee from the
! lodge expressed its dsapproval ii was
! stated on the ground that suitable tenn
! pie erected upon it could not sustain it.
| self financially, and to attempt to sus-
| tain it by increased rent charges, I'M
| posed upon the lodges and other Masonic
bodies, would make 1t necessary to place
| upon them burdens that only two of the
| eight bodies could possibly bear and ex-
! list. The report then gave an illustration,
| with liberal estimates each way, showing
| what the financial results would be.
| The cost of the lot was so, 500, the cost
| of the temple was estimated at $4,000,
| and the cost of the furniture at $4,000,
| making a total of $9,500 The estimated
! income was, from three stores, $500, max
| ing 1t necessary to raise $5.675 from the
| eight Masonic bodies, as the expenses,
| on very low estimate, would be 1t least
! $S,l75. II is believed, however, that such
| a temple as is wanted would cost nearer
| 100000 than $4,000 as stated, and in the
! estimate of expenses per cent calcula-
| tons have been used instead of per cent,
! which is the usual basis in monetary
| transac tions here.
The committee stated that the income
| from a temple should be sufficient to
maintain the building and pay fixed
| charges on every portion of ii, except that
| used by the Masonic bodies themselves.
| They quoted the experience of Solomon's
! lodge. in this respect, which was only re-
| lieved from Indebtedness on its present..
! temple by the receipts from a bazaar held
| in 1879. The committee, therefore, in
sisted, that in such project the site
/ selected 50
| constructed as to yield a rental equal to
| fixed charges, and a fair income on the
| investment which it considered a simple
common sense proposition. The report
| concluded as follows:
"Solomon's Lodge. in entering the Joint
! committee, measurably diScredited her
own property, but that did not cause her
| to hesitate a moment in acquiescing in
| the urgent request of sister lodges 10
! join them in their efforts to erect a new
| temple. Solomon's lodge wanted Masonic
harmony, and was ready to make sacri-
! fees to secure it.
IF Masonry in Savannah was strong
| enough to build without mourning inter
| eSt-bearing obligations. the matter would
be much simplifed. but as the situation
| confronts us, any scheme for a new tenn
| pie must face this difficulty and wisely
| provide TO meet 1t adequately or the
| low"
This is what Solomon's lodge thinks Of
the matter, as it has already passed it's
| opinion on the report of the committee
| The joint committee, however, which is
| composed of committees from other lodges
mentioned, says through several of its
! representatives that the work in connec-
| ton with the new uildng will 40 on lust
! the same. The other lodges will no doubt
receive communications to-day with re-
! gard to what SolomOns lodge has done
| in the matter ana they will decide then
! when they viii hold a meeting to con-
slider the question at issue.
GEORGIA WANTED S3OO,OOO.