The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-05
MASONIC TEMPLE
WONDER OF THE WORLD

The Masonic Temple In Philadelphia is
the finest edifce OF its kind in the world.
and Is The most costly ever erected for
the exclusive uses Of the Masonic fra
ternity. Its massive and picturesque
tower, the Masonic landmark Of the
City Of BrOtherly Love. rising majesti-
cally above all other buildings, can De
seen for miles around. and is. the first
object TO attract the attention OF
strangers.
The beauty Of this temple has been
discussed far and wide, and Il has been
appropriately named the Masonic Won
der OF the world" II IS a perfect speci-
men Of Norman architecture, built Of a
grayish White granite. and, like Solo
mons temple Of old. has three gates,
Of which the eastern. on Broad street, is
the grand entrance.
On June q. 1865. the cornerstone was
laid by Grand Master Richard Vaux. in
the presence Of 1900 NIasons.
The building was consecrated on Sep
TENDER 26, 1873, with unusual splendor,
in the presence Of over twenty thousand
Masons, and four days later the
Knights Templar cOnsecrated their asy-
lum in the temple with the-most bril-
liant pageant ever seen in Philadelphia,
twenty-siX grand Communicates and
subordinate Communicates being in the
public parade.
The interior Of this famous temple is
the very perfection OF beauty in every
respect, both from the artistic and the
Masonic points o.: view. The spacious
and lofty Railways and staircases. COM
posed Of a variety Of most exquisite
marbles, adorned with mosaics, reliers,
and paintings. are in perfect keeping
with the stately lodge rooms to (which
they lead, all Of which are constructed
IN the most characteristic STYLES OF
architecture. from the ancient 10 the
modern, the Egyptian. the DOric the
Ionic, the COrinthian, the Mauresdue
the Byzantine, the ROmanesdue. the
Gothic, and the Renaissance periods he
Ing represented.
George HerzOg, CT New York and
philadelphia. is the successful artist
whose designs were accepted by the
temple committee. and under whose per-
sOnal supervision all the decorations
were done. all the important historical
and allegorical paintings being executed
by himself.
The walls Of the grand staircase show
Masonic emblems from all over the
world. from Solomon seal down to the
seals Of the various grand lodges in the
Union. The coats-Of-arms OF all the
states of the Union are also represent
ed here In the large cove above IS
seen a procession of the fine and indus
trial arts. the life-siZe figures clad in
the rich costumes of the Renaissance
marching toward the east. where the
rising sun IS greeted joyously by youths
VIII hail the life-giving orb with songs
Of praise.
In the decoration Of Egyptian hall the
effort to gain archaeological accuracy
has been successfully attained. One
almost expects to find one Of the
Rameses wOrShiping here. Twelve
huge columns stand in massive gran
deur on the four sides Of this room, ]
surmounted by capitals peculiar TO the
temples Of Luxor. Karnalg. Philae and
other ancient edifiCes in Egypt. each
column having it's original in that coun-
trv. The frieze Of the cornice represents
lie seasons and the hours Of the dav. as
found in the temple a Edfou The
scenes Of domestic life as depicted upon
the walls are taken from the hypogea
Of the old empire and later sepulchers.-
New York Herald.