The Washington herald., 1906-10-21
TO LAY CORNERSTONE MAY d
site for New Masonic Temple TO BE
Vacated Soon.

AT meeting Of the executive commit
tee OF the Masonic Temple Association
held in Scottish Rite Hail. i00 G street
northwest. last evening, resolutions were
unanimously adopted which declared that
he cornerstone OF the temple should be
laid not later than May /. 1867 and that
the tenants now occupying the property
secured for the purpose shall yield pos
session to the association by December
of this year.
The resolutions also included a vote Of
thanks TO retiring Consulting Architect
Brother T. a. Crane. whose removal
from Washington occasioned his resigna-
ticn. 4 similar vote was extended to
Brother Elliott Woods, who viii fiji the
position left vacant by NIr. Cranes res
ignation.
1t was further decided 10 hold fair.
probably in April next, which will con
tinue for week, the proceeds of which
VIII be devoted to the building of the
temple
The site Of the temple is the triangular
piece OF property bounded by New York
avenue. Thirteenth and II streets north
west. 1t contains about 1G.000 square feet.
and has been purchased and paid for, the
price being Sll5.C00
The temple itself win be a magnificent
structure seven stories in height ana
win cost in the neighborhood of $500. COO
The plans of the architects, Wood, Dom,
& Deming, have already been accepted.
The building will he Of the classic style
of architecture. massive and grand. yet
beautiful BY its very simplicity. while the
archaic windows. by their shape size.
and disposition. will lend d mystic char
ccteT to the structure.
The basement viii be constructed or
Indiana limestone, as viii the cornice and
other architectural features, including
the columns ard balustTades, while the
main body viii be of selected gray brick.
The whole will be surmOunted by an
attic with 4 balustTade.
The main portion of the basement and
the vaults extending under the sidewalk
will comprise an immense banquet hall:
on the first floor viii be great audi
torium designed as music hall and fitted
with a grand organ; also a specially fine
floor for dancing
On the second and third floors will be
the rooms of the Blue Lodges, and IL
brary. The Knights Templar will be ac-
commodated on the fourth floor, wifi
asylum, commanders. ante-rooms, &c.
The Scottish Rite will occupy the fifth
story, So arranged that the most elabor-
ate ceremonies can be given in their en-
tirety, with ninety-nine sliding scenes.
The Mystic Shrine VIII be on the sixth
floor. while the Arab Patrol will be reach
ed from the gallery below By a broad
stairway to the fifth story. The building
will contain ali necessary adjuncts in the
way of Offices, lodge-rcnuns, toilets, stor-
age rooms. &c. ard space for second
organ is provided in the gallery opposite
the stage. The grand auditorium viii seat
1.S00 persons, and the great banquet hall
viii give accommodations for 500
The executive committee which has had
charge of the work is composed of Pres
ident J. II. Small. jr.; Vice President Mat
thew eTrimble, Secretary John H. Olcottl
Treasurer James A. Sample; Frank N
Thomas chairman of the beard of audit
ing; Thomas p. Morgan, chairman OF the
building committee; George w. Evans,
chairman of the ways and means commit
tee; S. r. Bond, Benjamin S. Graves and
j. II. Cunningham.