The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-20
MASONS DEDICATE
THEIR NEW TEMPLE
Fraternal Organization Has
Home Now After Many
Years of Waiting.
Continued from First Page.)

4
cooperating the Masonic Temple was ap-
proved by the President.
To raise funds. the Masonic bodies
here held a fair. stock was sold, and at
the close Of 1900 about S125 900 had been
raised. The lot for the building was
purchased in 1901 for $4,000. a second
fair was held, more stock was sold, and
at the close Of 1908. $15O,S5O had been
raised. and the provision of the charter
had been met.
1t was decided that. as washington
was the Nations Capital, the Masonic
Temple here ought to be Of great dig
nifty. and simplicity, and in keeping with
the public buildings for which the city
is famous The classic style OF archi-
lecture. which was finally decided upon.
is the most enduring of all styles, and be-
Heved to be the one in which the TEN
pie Of the Ancients reached its greatest
beauty and highest development.
Its Peculiar Shape
The peculiar. practically triangular.
shape of the site at the intersection OF
New York avenue and Thirteenth street
northwest made It possible 90 impress
On the shortest, but mos important,
facade facing fifty feet and eight inches
o
the temple, so that the most ignorant
might know without inquiry it's purpose.
The sides extending down New York
avenue 132 feet and II street IA feet
are a continuation OF the II street mo-
tive, but here the windows are made
much more archaic in character. and
by their shape, size, and arrangement
lend mystic character to the structure.
frnra Sc OF
of the building Will be for public use
and inspection, but the larger part will
forever remain as a closed book, filled
with mysteries to the uninitiated.
The building is six stories high. the
total height being 10 feet above the
sidewalk, the greatest height allowed
by law on this site. 1t Is heated by
steam, and has a special ventilation
system for the auditoriums. banquet
hail, lodge. and locker rooms. The
structure is freproof throughout, with
steel frame construction.
The exterior walls are self-sustaining
The auditorium and lodge rooms are
practically free from columns. with 90
foot plate girders spanning. from wall
70 wall
The COlonnade Of the superstructure is
rflanked at either end by heavily rusti-
Gated piers. which complete that part
Of the composition. An attic crowns the
building with a balustrade on top to
give scale 20 the whole.
Limestone Base.
- The massive base IS of limestone. The
cOrnice and other architectural features,
such as the caps and bases Of pilasters.
trims around windows. and the columns,
and balUstrades, are also OF limestone
or terra Gotta 10 match in color, and
the main body Of the whole is Of a Sc
lected gray brick, pleasing to the eye
and in perfect harmony with the lime
stone trimmings The whole compost
ton was designed for a light-colored
material.
4 large auditorium occupies the entire
first floor. This, with its gallery, seats
about 1900 people. and last evening
there were about 200 people standing in
the rear. The room has been designed
as a music hall. and will be rented for
the revenue that il viii bring. An espe-
cially fine floor has been provided for
dancing. There are extra exits 10 the
sidewalks, and all laws have been COM
piled with IN this respect.
The second and third floors are given
I'D TO the blue lodges There are four
lOuBt IOOIlS. VIII preparation ana ante
rooms to each. There are also commit
tee rooms. and rooms for the grand Of
hcers. There IS a library on the third
floor.
The third floor is devoted to the
knights Templar, with asylum and COM
mandery and ante-rOOm.
The First Floor
The fifth floor is the Scottish Rite.
with lodge rooms. preparation room.
ante-rOOms, and an auditorium with
stage and gallery. This Will be used by
both the Scottish Rite and the Mystic
Shrine. The latter occupies the sixth
floor This auditorium seats 200 on floor
and gallery. The Aral Patrol and the
auditorium may be reached from the
gallery Space has been provided for
an organ in space opposite the stage.
Every floor has its { 'let rooms.
The total cost of the Masonic Temple
was $4,000. Wood, Dom & Deming
were the architects. chosen out of a
large number who submitted designs.
The cornerstone was laid as told in
the remarks by Matthew 'Crlmble.