The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-28

Gotta. Ia the center of the ceiling is
a ma, sive dome, by which ventilation
is afforded. On the face Of the ceiling
are heavy massive panels in relief, fin
ished in white and gold,
At the east end of the lodge room is
the stage, which is the particularly
distinguishing feature of the temple.
The proscenium opening is a large
elliptical arch Is feet in height and "a
feet in width. The arch has a large
diagonal depth of four feet, is finished
in heavy relief and decorated in white
and gold. The stage, which has no
superior in any Masonic temple in
America. and few If any equals, is "a
feet deep from the curtain line, which
has an elevation of Is inches from the
floor, and has everything o necessary for
q stage in Masonic work The purpose
is TO have the stage blend into the
auditorium rather than to have it dis
tinctive, as in a house of public anuse-
ment.
On the stage there are thirty four
drops, each being thirty feet wide. In
addition to these pieces of scenery
there are a number of said pieces, the
use and purposes of which are known
only to The memb bers of the rite.
In the lighting OF the stage there are
employed four hundred lights. giving
red green and white colors. The switch
board and DINNERS are models of the
electricians art and are complete in
every detail and capable of producing
effects and com mbinations that are sell
dom found upon any theatre stage.
The main lodge room is handsomely
carpeted in a crimson Wilton carpet
which runs up to the curtain line; tho
being carpeted with the regulation
stage carpet.
The drop curtain is in drapery ef-
feet, containing in the center the
emblem of the supreme council of the
southern jurisdiction. 1t is beauti-
full piece of work and all of the scenery
is artistic in every detail, having been
purchased by the best known scenic
artists in Amer lea. Connecting with
the stage on the east is large proper
ty room, Immediately over which is
the dressing or ward robe room. This
room is neatly carpeted, provided with
closets in which some of the hand
soonest costuming in America is to be
found.
Immediately in font of the dressing
room and occupying the east side of
the building is another room known
as the Blue Lodge" room. This eX-
tends over the space occupied by the
two parlors on the first floor. 1t is
larfe and spacious room, the walls Of
which are tinted; the floors being car
peted with ricn blue Wilton carpet.
In the southeast corner of the sec
ond story over the smoking room,
above referred to, is the music room,
This is light, cheerful room, neatly
furnished entrance being made there
from to the balcony, where those who
furnish music during ceremonies of
the RiLe, gain entrance behind a
screen which obscures their view
the stage and lodge room floor. In
this corner stands the handsome Pipe
organ, which was giftP # the citi-
zens of Guthrie.
lhe structural part of the building
represents an expenditure of little
over $50 900. The scenery required an
outlay Of 81 900. the stage lighting an
other thousand and the customes re-
Gently purchased with those purch hased
two years ago represent an outlay of
S. 900 more. To this is added 81, 200,
the cost of furnishing, making the
total outlay represented in the temple
in the neigh borhood $4,000.
This temple ranks first with similar
structures, and is one of only two ex-
clusively devoted to Masonic purposes,
The other one, at Fargo, N. D., is now
nearing completion.
indianapolis, Ind, has the distinc-
ton of owning the most expensive
and extensive Scot ish Rite temple IN
the United States. 1t was erected and
equipped at a cost of S170. 900. A per
t on of the ground floor, however, is
devoted to business purposes.
From the first the work has been
superintended by Mr.. e. l.. Blincoe. II
is a remarkable feature of the progre'
of the construction that no accident
has occurred, unless it be mentioned
that a carpenter f,ll by the breaking
of a scaffold arm, from which he sus-
tained fractured rib. Later, on his
recovery, he was re-emp Dyed. Mr., U.
c. Guss has been closely ident fed with
the work. He has been the purchas
ing agent and deserves much credit
for his able service.
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE VALLEY.
The history of the Consistory OF OK
lahoma, Valley of Guthrie, is very In
terestlng. 1t shows from what a little
beginning great achievements can be
wrought. The Scottish Rite OF Okla
homa starting ten years ago with ou'
three members, now bnasts member
ship of 1O4, scattered throughout al
the cities of the territory, composed o.
some of the best and strongest mer
financially. socially and intellectual
ly in oklahoma.
On the Thursday preceding Easter
in 1890, Judge Harper s. Cunningham
33o published a call in the territoria
press for all Scottish Rite MasoDs IL
OklahomA to meet with him in Guth