Evening star., 1911-05-31

Croix" and the twenty-ffth the prince
OF the Royal Secret. Scottish Masonry,
he said, was introduced into America by
Etienne or Stephen NORM, who held a
patent from the Rite of Perfection Of
Heredom. Orient of Paris. bearing date
August %. 1861. His patent emanated
from the deputies general of the grand
masters. 'the grand lodge of ST John of
Jerusalem" through the wardens and Of
ficers. and the grand council of the reg
ular lodges under the protection Of the
grand and sovereign lodge, by its perfect
grand Masons.'
brief history of the degrees of the
rite was referred to- leading up to the
founding of Lodges of Perfection by
NORM in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1859.
the organization of the sovereign
scription of those eligible to member
ship and the decree directing the es-
tablishment of supreme council of
grand inspectors general. or grand
council of appeals and legislation.
which resulted in the founding and
institution at Charleston in 1901 of the
present supreme council for the south
ern jurisdiction of the United States.
In Unbroken Line.
This supreme council, he declared
has been in continuous existence ever
since with an unbroken line of sovereign
grand commanders. embrac cling some of
the ablest and most learned men in
freemasonry. including Albert Pike.
who was sovereign grand commander
from 1880 to the date of his death in 1891.
a longer period than that of any who
had preceded him. This supreme coun
Gil. he declared was known and ac-
knowledged throughout the entire
world of regular Masonry as the moth
er council of the world, and the new
temple was to be it's permanent home
The ground Is located on the southeast
corner of 18th and s streets northwest.
and the plot is 30 feet square. The
temple. which is to be of purely classic
design, is to be erected in it's center A
full description of it has been already
given in The Star. 1t will be built of
granite as far as the first story and
blue Indiana limestone. so faint in color
a to be almost dove color. 1t will be
surmounted by massive gilt dome. with
an ornate interior of highly artistic and
classic ornamentation.
The architects are John Russell Pope
Of New York and Elliott Woods, SUI
perintendent Of the United States Capitol
building.
structure at once. said Mr.. Richardson
this morning. and it will be pushed to
completion as rapidly as proper ex
ecution of the plans will permit The
corner stone will be laid the third week
of next October, on a date to be named,
when the Supreme Council will be in
session. 1t will be laid by Grand Master
J. Claude KEEPER of the Grand Lodge,
F. A. A. NJ, of the District of Columbia.
President Taft has promised to be
present at the ceremonies. it is stated.
1t was hoped to complete the new. tenn
pie by October of next year. when the
international conference of the Supreme
Council of the Scottish Rite Of the world
will take place at the House of the Tenn
pie in this city, and it is yet possible 1t
may be dedicated at that time: but. the
grand commander said. the temple will
not be finished in it's entirety until at
least year later. because OF the time re-
quired for it's ornate establishment in
the interior. 1t will cost approximately
a million and a quarter. and when COM
pleted. it Is declared. will be the most
beautiful Masonic temple in the world
All that art. architecture and money
can procure will be employed in its con-
struction.