St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-06-22
The Building Dedicated Burlington Imposing
monies, Marking the MostI Important of Masonic Week

The Temple, for the cut of which the
CALIFORNIAN is indebted to the Burling-
ton News, looms up over 100 feet high
in the air and is the most conspicuous
building in the lower city, while it is one
OF the most imposing and elegant struct-
ures ever erected in Burlington, and will
compare very favorably with any Temple
outside of the larger cites in the country.
1t is five stories high and the general
appointments and facilities are thorough
ly modern. The first floor is devoted to
stores, which are very nicely furnished.
The second floor contains four large
offices, a public hall with banquet room,
kitchen, ladies' parlor and gentlemen's
reception room. On the third floor are
the grand officers rooms and the Blue
lodge room. The fourth floor contains
the halls of the Knights Templar, Royal
Arch Chapter, and council of Royal and
select masters. Also large drill hall
and banquet room for the commandery,
and the kitchen, armory, etc.
The entire fifth floor is devoted excu-
sively to the Scottish Rite Masons and
has been fitted up especially for their use.
On the floor of the hall to the south there
is large stage for the use in the exem-
plifcation of degrees of the rite.
The traditional and historical color of
the Rite is red, and carpets of this color
will be placed IN all the rooms used by
the consistory, and red hangings will be
suspended from the gallery. The furnl-
ture is to be of handsome quartered oak,
upholstered with fine material to cores
pond; and the oak is to be finished in the
new dark antique color.
The stage, auditorium and gallery are
finished in red birch, and the drop cur
tain of the stage will be oil a color that
will harmonic with the grand color
scheme.
The Temple is thoroughly lighted by
electricity, supplied by the Vermont cleo
trio company at the Gorge, the wires
entering the building on the third floor
Gas fixtures are in every room so that
this may be used as an auxiliary light.
Two large Bundy boilers OF 80 horse
power, situated in the northwest corner
of the basement, will furnish adequate
heat, which is introduced into the rooms
by indirect radiators.
The sanitary features of the building
have been well provided for. The eeva-
tor shaft is adjoining the main entrance,
and is six feet square. The carts finished
in black rustless iron, has capacity of
1900 pounds, and a speed of $50 feet a
minute. 1t is operated by dynamo sit
uated in the basement, just east of the
boiler room. The basement has cement
floor, and is perfectly dry. TIL, four
stores are separated by stone walls, Is
inches thick, laid in cement.
An embossed copper emblem adorns
the Church street side of the Masonic
Temple. 1t is the seal OF the Grand
Lodge, the center OF which is the coat of
arms of the state, with the word Masonic
on one side and Temple on the other.
Wednesday was the great day of the
Masonic convention, the day of the dedi-
cation of the new temple. In the morn
ing the regular business meeting was
held, at which the reports of committees
were read and miscellaneous business
was transacted.
Grand Master D. w. Nicholson deliver
ed his annual address, telling Of the past
years work, and the grand lecturer,
Charles c. Miller, read his annual report.
In the afternoon a procession was
formed on st. Paul street, in front of the
Van Ness House. 1t was lead by de-
tachment of police and the Sherman Mill
tary band, followed by the grand COM
mandery of Knights Templar. The line
of march was to the Temple on the corner
of Church and Pearl streets. There the
impressive dedcatory services OF the
Masonic fraternity were performed by
the officers of the grand lodge. Grand
Master Daniel F. Nicholson announced
the purpose of the occasion, and Charles
w. Miller, in behalf of the Masons of
Vermont, made the request that the
building be examined. Han,ItonS. Peck
made the surrender Of the working tools,
in behalf of the principal architect.
The request that the temple be dedicat-
ed was made by Deputy Grand Master
w. S. Nay, in behalf OF the Masons of
Vermont. The other main features OF
the ceremonies were as follows:-
decentralization by the grand
officers.
Prayer by Rev. Edward Wheeock,
grand chaplain.
Presenting vessel of corn, Charles R.
Montague, junior warden.
Temple dedicated to Freemasonry by
the grand master.
Presenting vessel of wine, w. F. Lewis,
grand senior warden.
Temple dedicated to virtue by the
grand master.
Presenting vessel of oil, w. S. Nay,
deputy grand master.
Temple dedicated to universal benevo-
lence by the grand master.
The dedicatory address was then de.
liyered bv Grand Master Nicholson.