Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-02-24
Masonic Temple Dedication.

| We're IN harmony with tne enter
prise, bright and temperate. such as
is rare in a Wisconsin winter, and in
strong contrast with the blizzard
that prevailed during the two days
Immediately succeeding.
| 2:3O O'Clock in the afternoon the
brethren, over 100 strong, We're form
ed in column by Captain ;. E. Shep-
ard, acting Marshal, and led by the
Mineral Point Band, marched down
Fountain street to Commerce, thence
to High and along High back to the
Temple. The impressive ceremony
of dedication then followed, con-
Quoted by Grand Master Gitfin, of
Fond du Lac, with Deputy Grand
| Master j. G.. Monahan, of Darling
ton, Past Grand Master Aldro jerks
and Past High Priest j. T. Pryor, of
| Dodgeville, Hon. j. w. Rewey, of
Rewey, and Others assisting. After
the formal dedication, Mr.. j. g..
|
dress congratulating the Masonic
brethren on the completion OF their
splendid Temple and encouraging
! them to continued zeal in dissent
mating the principles of the order.
| Grand Master Gitfin then, in IA speech
| of half an hour, gave the brother
hood and the audience most force
ful and instructive presentation Of
what good Mason should be. Re-
| ferring to the prosecutions suffered
| by Masons in early times, and the
| sacrifices they were subjected to, he
| warned his brethern of to-day that
| there is present danger that, through
unworthy and inconsiderate mem
bers, the order may be brought into
disrepute. Masonry has met and
successfully withstood all opposition
from without, it now has to guard
only against dangers from within.
The afternoon exercises concluded
with the Grand Masters address.
| The evening, from $50 until 10
O'Clock, was occupied with the BAN
quet, to which 500 people sat down,
| and from 7:3O until the above men
toned hour with short talks, singing
| and instrumental music. 100 guests
| were served at once in the banquet
room, leaving about 400 to be enter
tanned in the lodge room at the same
time, and there was pot an iutermls-
sion during the two and a half hours.
| Ten to fifteen minute speeches We're
given by Hon. G. Spensley, J. G..
| Monahan, Aldro jerks. Geo. Craw-
ford, A. :. White, r.. NJ. Crawford,
| Mrs. Martha Ross, Grand Worthy
| Matron of the Eastern Star, and
Others. A pretty finale of the whole
was the display of several fine stere-
optican views upon the stage, under
the management of DR.. w. q. Hales
and Mr.. w. p. Bliss.
| At ten O'Clock dancing was begun
in the banquet hall with grand
march led by w. G. Hales, Master of
| Mineral Point Lodge, No. /, and
wife, in which about fifty couples
participated. At $3.50 o'clock a. M,
Saturday, the company dispersed,
and the much anticipated Masonic
Dedication Party had become a
pleasant memory.
THE BUILDING
is one Of the few in the state design
ed and erected exclusively for Ma
sonic uses. 1t is 10 by 50 feet III d.
mentions, two stories high in rear
and one story in front, the roof eX-
tending 26 feet above the street III
front. The walls are Of stone and
red brick, roof iron and glass. In
terror finish, natural red oak and
nine. On the main floor. with an en-
trance on High street is the lodge
room. 30x47. with stage l0X30, fully
equipped with scenery to illustrate
the work OF the several degrees; a
ladies parlor and toilet room, ante
rooms. closets, etc. On the lower
floor or basement, with two conven-
lent entrances from the side street,
are the banquet hall, about 40x5O,
kitchen, pantry, engine room, closets
etc. All lighted by electricity and
heated by hot water system. The
floors above are covered With the
best body brussels carpet, and those
below are OF hard wood. The cost oi
lot. building and furnishing has not
. vet been definitely determined. but
/. i generally estimated at from $1,000
!. to $1,000
As is usually the case in such en-.
ternrises, a few individuals have
/ been conspicuously devoted and
; Jealous workers from the beginning
I to the completion Of this beautiful
!. Temple. Their brethern know whs