Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-24
MASONIC TEMPLE
TOBE COMPLETED
IN A SHORT Time
Contractors Putting Finishing
Touches on Beautiful Lodge
Building.
TOTAL COST NEARS $4,000
Special Scenery Being Secured for De-
gree Merchandising for
Structure Elaborate.

Within the next few weeks the con-
tractors, now engaged in putting the
nnlshlng touches on the new Masonic
temple on Eighteenth street, will fin
ish their work and Rock Island can
boast of one of the finest and most
complete lodge buildings in the tri-
cities. Through the kindness of H.
ID. Mack, a representative of The Argus
/ was taken through the new building
! yesterday afternoon Every room in
| the big temple was visited and al
though there yet remains many things
to be done an idea of how the building
Will look after 1t is completed was
gained.
COMPLETE BUILDING.
The main entrance to the temple
VIII be on Eighteenth street. Mas
sive marble steps will lead into a lob
by which will be finished in elegant
style. Branching off the lobby on the
north will be the gentlemen's lounging
room which will be equipped with pill
lard tables and other means of pass
ing an idle hour. The room across
from the gentlemen's smoking, loung-
ing and reading room is being fitted
for the ladies and when completed
will be surpassed by none in the tri-
cities. Directly back of the lobby the
large assembly room is located. This
room is As feet in width and SO feet
in length and will be used for large
meetings and social gatherings. Ii is
the intention of the lodge to rent the
assembly room for social purposes to
persons not members of the lodge In
the rear of the big assembly room
there is a kitchen which will be used
IN preparing banquets. The kitchen
when complete, will be one of the most
sanitary in Rock Island and is so ar
ranged that it will be possible to serve
large gathering without the walters
entering the kitchen.
Practically the entire second floor
is to be used for locker and store
rooms. The locker rooms are located
in the front end of the building anC
furnish a suitable place for marching
and performing various drills.
THIRD FLOOR.
The third floor has been fitted in al
artistic manner. On this floor thu
large lodge room is located with ;
smaller room adjacent in which small
meetings may be held. The main lodg
room is equipped with everything tina
lis necessary to carry on Masonic worl
and when completed viii rank amon
the first in the state. The room i
equipped with a large stage which vii
be fitted with curtains and scenery b.
a St. Louis firm. The contract ha
already been let and the scenic al
lists will start working as soon as tn
carpenters and painters finish thei
tasks.
" VENTILATING SYSTEM.
The whole building is to be ventila
- ell by ventilating system which ma
y, already been installed Two larg
boilers have been placed in the bass
ment and the place will be heated b
'e steam. In the lodge rooms the RAJ
k iators will be enclosed partly in tn
ID walls thus removing a great obstacl
49, which would impair the beauty of tn
3 room. The dimensions of the lodg
= room are so by 81 feet and ample spac
is furnished for carrying on work.
Use RED OAK.
The interior cf the building is to b
III flushed in red oak. Painters have a
is ready completed their work on til
r. third floor and the remaining room
= will be finished as soon as possiDl
= Each room in the temple can be cor
"a municated with by means of speakin
II tubes.
TO COST $4,000.
When completed the building VI
-, cost approximately $4,000. In ado
-, ton to this sum about $4,000 W
be expended for furnishings makiI
:, the cost of the building compile
nearly $4,000
On Nothing definite has been done
nd regard to the dedication of the ne
d. temple. 1t is understood that the CO
ms tractors expect to have their work fl
ished by the first OF July and the pla
will be dedicated soon after.