The age-herald., 1900-03-23
GREAT NEED OF A
 MASONIC TEMPLE Receipts from Fair to Form Nu-
 cIeuS of a Fund THE MANY LOCAL BODIES Present Quarters Are Inadequate-As- sooiation Will Soon be Formed for the Purpose of Carrying
 Out Proposed Plans
THE MANY LOCAL BODIES

The Freemasons of Birmingham have been for some time past agitating the ques- ton of erecting Masonic temple, but no definite plans have yet been formed. It will not be long, however, before an active organization is effected. The Masonic fair
 which begins next Monday night, is being given for the benefit of the temple scheme, and if it is as successful financially as it's promoters expect it to be the association
 will lose time in taking steps to push the enterprise referred to.
 Leading members of the Masonic frater-
 nifty express the belief that with a cash
 start of several thousand dollars, which
 will be in hand at the close of the fair, 1t
 will be easy to raise enough money by stock subscriptions to purchase a desirable site, and that with a lot paid for it would
 be only a comparatively short time when a handsome building, something worthy of the institution and creditable to Birming
 ham, could be financed.
 The growth of Freemasonry in this city has been quite rapid in recent years. The blue lodges have almost doubled their membership since 1S9O Within the past few months two new bodies have been or ganized here one being the Council of Ka- dosh of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the other the Or der of the Eastern Star; and very soon an- other body of the Scottish Rite, a consisto- ry of masters or princes of the royal se- cret, will be instituted, charter for that purpose having been granted by the su- preme council at Washington. When the
 consistory gets to work, the bodies meet ing in the present Masonic quarters, corner
 of First avenue and Twentieth street. will consist of two blue lodges, one Royal Arch chapter, one Council of Royal and Select
 Masters, one commandery of Knights Tenn plar. one lodge of Perfection, one chapter of Knights Rose Croix, one Council of Knights Kadosh, one consistory one Tenn pie of Ancient Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and one chapter of the Eastern
 Star. Before a great while it is probable that a third blue lodge will be instituted The various organizations have now to
 use the same assembly room. The regalia and costumes require much wardrobe space and the degree properties of the Scottish rite and the shrine are very bulky. The present quarters answered quite well unti the new bodies were formed, but with the addition of the bodies named, the hall i: said to be entirely inadequate.
 In many cities in this country the Scot. | tish rite bodies, which require a great dea | of working room, have homes of their own | But if the Masonic temple project is ear | ried out there would be ample space fol | all the branches of Masonry under ont | roof; for in large temple one or two rooms
 could be set apart for blue lodge meetings l one for royal arch and council meetings one for the commandery, one for the Scot l tish rite, and one for the shrine. Besides l the assembly rooms there would be numer l ous ante rooms, property rooms, a librar, l and reading room, and a banquet hall. l It is reasonable to say that whenever thu | temple shall be reared it will be the mos l imposing Masonic structure in the south.