The Washington times., 1905-10-01
CLASSIC BEAUTY
TO DISTINGUISH
MASONIC TEMPLE
Magnificent Structure to
Rise on New York
Avenue.
NEED FOR SEWERAGE Sc "
Handsome Business House to
Be Built on Street-Big
Add ton to Hotel.
NEED FOR Sc SEWERAGE v

Pictures showing the exterior as well
as portions OF the interior of the pro-
posed new Masonic Temple are seen to-
day In public print for the first time
since the plans for this potable edifce
have been perfected. From these pictures
fair idea can be obtained of how i'm
portant an Improvement of the National
Capital the Masonic fraternity is con-
templating. AS is probably generally
known, the temple will be erected on
ground bounded on the north by New
York avenue, on the west by Thirteenth
street. on the south by h street, and
running east nearly TO the alley inter-
secting that square. This plot of ground
was purchased for s115.0o0 and the rents
from the improvements thereon have
paid FOR the maintenance of the proper
ty, leaving also a neat surplus each year
10 be applied to other uses
Plans Invited.
About the middle of the year 1902 the
Masonic Temple Association Invited a
number of architects to submit tenta-
tive plans for the ediffce and finally ac-
cepted the plans presented by Wood,
DOM & Deming, of this city These
We're duly elaborated and according TO
them the temple will be built Including
the land the temple will probably rep
resent an outlay of about $3.50, 600.
As VIII be seen from the accompany
ing pictures the style of architecture
employed is on the classic order. The
Pecuhar shape of the site makes it pos
'sibie to impress on the shortest but
most important facade, facing fifty feet
on Thirteenth street, the character OF
the temple. The sides of the building.
extending down New York avenue 1ss
teet and along II street IA feet, are a
continuation OF the Thirteenth street.
motif. but the windows are more archaic
IN character. The building will be six
stories high. the main auditorium on the
hrst moor being th.==tsy; feet in height.
ana the total height of the edifice 10
ieet above the sidewalk. 1t Is to be
nreproof throughout with steel frame
construction. The auditorium and lodge
rooms are to be practically free from
columns with ffty-foot plate girders
spanning from wall to wall.
Fine Auditorium.
ne Auditorium. practically at side
Walk level occupies almost the entire
nrst moor Its seating capacity, includ
ing tne gallery, is for nearly 1900 peo-
pie III conforms to all the requirements
OF the building regulations regarding
exits, etc, II has also been designed as
a music hall. and will have a grand or
gan for use at the presentation of ora
torios, as well as for especially largely
ATTENDED Masonic rites. A fine floor win
DC provided for dancing. and when balls
are given the banquet hall in the base
ment can be used as supper room.
The second and third floors will he
given up TO the blue lodges, a library
VIII be on the taird, the Knights
Tempiar will occupy the fourth. and the
nftn hoor VIII be for the Scottish Rite.
having an auditorium with gallery and
stage for use of both the Scottish Rite
and the Mystic Shrine, which occupies
the sixth floor, its seating capacity be-
ing about 200 The stage is to be so ar
ranged that the most elaborate services
OF the Scottish Rite can be given in
their entirety.
1t Is hoped that work on the building
can be begun before the close of 1896.