The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Close by the Capitol Is This Building,
Hedged About, in the Popular Mind,
With Fascinating Mystery.
Here Is the Center of the, Jurisdiction That
Reaches Out Over Three-Quarters
of the Country's Area

way of the ten characters chiseled and
tinted In gold which translated mean
Holy House of the Temple"
What might be termed the nucleus Of
the present Scottish Rite Temple was
formerly the private residence Of Col.
Wright Reeves, Of 1.-THE United States
Army. II was purchased by General
Filcc IN 1SS3 for the uses of the Supreme
Council. the money forming the pur-
chase fund having been collected by Cen
eraI Pike in his visits , Masonic bodies
throughout the Jurisdiction. The build
ing was dedicated with elaborate cere-
monies in 1884, and an interesting coinci-
dence was found in the fact that during
the dedicatory exercises, which were
held in the evening. a night blooming
cereUs suddenly famed into color.
twelve OF thirteen flowers opening dur
ing The interval
Fire and Burglar Proof.
Two houses adjoining the original
temple were purchased by the Supreme
Council several years ago These houses
were torn down and upon the site was
erected an addition TO the initial build
ing which conforms so closely 10 it in
every respect as TO present a structure
fully harmonious in the whole.
The property is now estimated TO be
worth fully $1,000 and will prove ample
for the needs of the Supreme Council
FOR many years to come. AS Is BETTING
In a structure which shelters so many
priceless treasures. the building Is well
provided with protection against fire
and burglary. The temple itself is OF
what is known as slow burning con-
stTuctiOn." layers of concrete having
been introduced between the floors.
a broad corridor bisects the building
on each floor. On the right of this cor
ridor on the first floor is the library
office, a handsomely furnished apart
ment. with racks containing a largo
representation of the leading periodicals
Of the day. Opening from this Office
are library galleries and the main IL
brary, which contains the great collec-
ton of books which constitutes one Of
the chief treasures Of the House OF
| the Temple
This library. il may be explained, IS
designed for the use Of all Masons and
| their families, as we'll as for students.
and for the reference purposes Of the
/ supreme Council, and any member of
the order may have any desired volume
sent to him. no matter where his resi-
l NNA41G may IIes II ne IS Wiling to
| the transportation charges thereon both
ways.
Gave Personal Library.
General Pike founded the library nv
donating his personal library Of about
/ 1900 volumes. Since then II has been
enlarged by donations and by regular
annual appropriations for the purchase
/ Of new books. II Is estimated that the
whole collection Of $1,000 volumes repre-
| sents an outlay on the part Of the Su-
/ preme Council Of fully $85, 90, indepen-
/ dent Of the requests OF books. The
/ library is remarkable in many respects.
| For one thing II contains the best col
/ lection Of Masonic literature extant
| comprising alone more than 10000 vol
| umes, and including many Unique and
/ invaluable documents, such as the pro-
| ceedings Of the older grand lodges
/ bearing dates prior TO $500, etc
! General Pike was famous as a col
! lector Of rare books, and his gift to the
! library has made it especially rich IL
/ rare publications upon folklore, religion
/ occult works, history. travel, fine arts,
etc. The library is administered on the
| most modern approved systems Of cata-
| lCguing and indexing, and no little at
/ tention is given 10 periodical literature
/ Of which there are on the shelves not
| less than 1000 bound volumes. In tho
main library stands the bronze bust OF