The Washington herald., 1911-05-14
Clubhouses of Vari-
GUS Bodies Pre-
sent Examples of
Best in Modern
Building Art.

BY no means the least conspicuous ad-
ditions to the architectural beauty Of
WASHINGTON are the homes of the frater-
nal organizations to be seen in the sew
eraI sections of the city. Among the
best known of these are the permanent
homes of the Masonic Fraternity. the In
dependent Order Of Odd Fellows. the
Benevolent and Protective Order Of Elks.
the knights of Pythias, the Fraternal
Order of Eagles, and the Knights Of
Columbus.
The initiatory step looking to the build
ing of the new Masonic Temple, which
now graces New York avenue and H
streets northwest, was taken in Columbia
Commandery No. ?, knights Templars. Of
this jurisdiction. on February S, 1887.
when, on motion of Past Grand Master
]. H. Small. jr., a special conclave was
called for February II following. for the
purpose of considering the proposition to
build a new temple. The result Of this
conclave was the adoption of a resolution
to the effect that a committee of five be
appointed by the eminent commander to
consider the question, and the outcome
was the cooperation of the various Ma
project
Washington being the Nations Capital.
the Masonic Temple located here is of
great dignity and simplicity and entirely
in keeping with the classic public build
jngs for which this city is noted. The
three facades, by their several parts. con-
vey to the mind the uses to which each
part is put-the public part by large
openings architecturally framed, and the
secret by small openings and large,
simple wall surfaces. The impression
conveyed is. that part of the building is
for public use, while a larger part will
forever remain 4 closed book, with all
its mystery, 10 the initiated.
The building is six stories high, with
the first story about thirty feet in the
main auditorium, the total height being
10 feet above the sidewalk the greatest
height allowed by Law on this site A
large auditorium with gallery, which oc-
cupies almost the entire first floor. seats
1,SO persons, and carries out all the re-
quirenentS of the District to prevent
fire and casualties from false alarms and
panics. The banquet hall is located in
the basement The second and third
floors are given up to the Blue Lodges |
floor. The fourth floor is devoted to |
knights Templars. and the fifth floor was |
designed especially for the use of both !
the Scottish Rite and the Mystic Shrine |
with an auditorium with gallery and |
stage. The auditorium and gallery |
v Thich together occupy the fifth and |
sixth floors. seat 7O0 persons. The lodge |
rooms on the fifth floor We're for the |
Tse of the Scottish Rite, and the sixth |
floor for the Mystic Shrine
The executive committee of the Ma |
scnic Temple Association was composed |
uH John II. Small. jr.. president: Mat |
tkew Trimble vice president; John II. :
OlCOtt, secretary: James 4. Sample, |
treasurer: Frank II. Thomas, chairman |
of board of audit: Thomas P. Morgan.
chairman of building committee; George
w. Evans. chairman of ways and means
committee; S. r. Bond, Benjamin S.
Graves, and J. H. Cunningham.
The corner stone of ihe new Masonic
Temple was laid by the Grand Lodge of
the District Of Columbia, headed by
Grand Master Francis ]. Woodman, ac-
cbrding to Masonic ritual, on June s. |
1907, in the presence of President Roose-
Welt. the Commissioners of the District,
ard many other distinguished men. The
gavel and trowel used by George WASH
ington to lay the corner stone of the