Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-09
new MASONIC TEMPLE
W ILL BE DEDICATED WITH
APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES
TOMORROW.
First and Second Degrees Will be
Conferred i'm the Afternoon, Fol
lowe. by Banquet. In the
evening Address by DIR.
Shanklin and Third
Degree.

tomorrow Will De
gala day for Masonry I'm
N DEBORAH, for on that ZNHgTNM -
day the newly rebuilt XNS4Ix
Masonic Temple in the w
Barthell Building just east of the
National Bank of DEBORAH will be
dedicated with appropriate ceremon-
les. 1t is expected that large num-
Der of visiting Masons from
neighboring lodges will be in attend
ance.
The days program will commence
at two o'clock in the afternoon, when
the first degree will be conferred up
on a candidate by the Cresco lodge,
C. A. Marshall, w. Nj. This will be
followed by the comforting of the
second degree at $3.50 p. m. by the
Waukon lodge, ID. III. Bowen, w. NJ.
At $3.50 o'clock a banquet will be
served in the new banquet hall by the
ladies of the Eastern Star The
evening program will begin at seven
O'Clock, when the dedicatory address
will be delivered by Rev. William
Arnold Shanklin, ID. D., l.. l.. D.,
President of Upper Iowa University,
Fayette, and at eight o'clock the third
degree will be conferred by the Dec
orah lodge, II. J. Green w. NJ.
The New Temple.
Since the middle of the summer
workmen have been busy rebuilding
the building which is occupied as
Decorah's Masonic Temple, under the
terms of a long lease. IL Is practic-
ally a new building throughout. The
entire front was torn down and
new modern front put in, containing
large windows, which give ample
light. The ground floor was lowered
to the level of the sidewalk. The
first story is occupied by the Empire
Theatre, and it has been fitted up in
fine shape for this use. The second
and third stories are occupied ex-
clusivly by the Masonic bodies of the
city. The second story is approached
by an easy new stairway, with land
mig and swinging door midway up.
In the front is a fine large parlor or
club room, about % feet square,
which will be kept heated and lighted
day and night for the use of Masons.
Behind this is large dining room,
about 22x70, and to the left in the
rear a convenient kitchen and pantry.
Cloak rooms, ladies and gents water
closets and a hallway leading to the
third story are also upon this floor
The third story is occupied exclus-
lively for lodge purposes, the hall
proper now being one of the hand
soonest and most comfortable lodge
rooms of similar nature we have
seen in some time. 1t has been
beautifully decorated with Masonic
designs by Artist A. NJ. Kelly, with a
tasty arrangement of electric lights
in rows and clusters. The floor is
covered with fine Brussels carpet,
and the room is provided with every
equipment and convenience necessary
for the proper working of the lodge.
In the rear are three anti-rooms, and
closet. The lodge has installed a
steam heating pA mt, and added every
comfort and convenience possible to
make the Temple attractive and use
full. Over 900 has been expended
by the Masons, exclusive of the re-
construction of the building by Mr..
Barthell, in the fitting up of the lodge
rooms, parlors, banquet hall and
kitchen, and they now have a
Masonic home in which they may
well take pride.
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