El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-10

~ itOrs. estimated at nearly 1000
filled the elevator and staircases
of the new Masonic temple. fronting
Carnegie square, Tuesday night to &C
cept the open house invitation of ii
PasO lodge No. $50, Ancient, Free and
Accepted Masons.
For three hours members of FL
Paso's Masonic orders, their families
and friends called to inspect the build
ing and its furnishings Musical num-
bers played by the lOdgemen on the
pipe organs, supplemented the weekly
concert Of the Second United States
cavalry band on Cleveland square.
Punch was served in the wOmen's
apartments and the temple was nlum-
mated from basement to roof Men
and women who have seen the import
ant lodge buildings of the continent
were unanimous in the opinion that FL
PasO's York rite temple is the great
est of its kind west Of the Mississippi
river and there were many VINO de-
clared it the finest on the continent
Committees representing the lodge,
chapter, council, eastern star, com
mandery and shrine were stationed on
each floor of the building to explain
details to the visitors Only the
esOteric mysteries of the allied orders
and the shriners' menagerie remained
under lock and key
The library. reading room and bill
lard room, on the first floor, first
claimed the attention of the crowds,
entering through the south and west
portals. On this floor also are the
public and private offices Of the Secre-
tary of FL Paso lodge No $50 and the
parlOr and dressing rooms for women
The west entrance and elevator lobby
is finished in mottled Bowie tArlz-)
marble, which also flanks the wide
staircase to the second floor Mosaic
and polished cement floors are covered
with rugs and carpets of special de-
signs The color scheme IN the UomanS
retiring rooms is red, the furniture IS
mahogany, upholstered IN plush, ana
the rugs are Wiltons.
In the library a rich Spanish mis-
sion scheme has been fully carried out
The ceilings have heavy beams, the
bookcases are built IN, around the
large room with art glass doors; the
lighting fixtures are unique and the
floor is covered with Bundhar wilton
rugs of harmOnizing color and texture
The furniture in library and billiard
room is Of Flemish oak finish II was
built to order A rich stenclled border
adorns the walls and the draperies are
simple but elegant. The woodwork en-
closing the massive pillars IS OF Sc
Iected oak, corresponding IN finish 10
the furniture
CIubmen say that this department of
the temple surpasses in its magnifl-
cence that Of any clubhouse in the
country. The library Ct books, which
has been donated by members Of the
Masonic fraternity and supplemented
by the current literature, is a most i'm
portant investment within itself The
is open to Masons and their !
guests at all hours
Banquet Room for 600.
In the basement is the banquet room /
with a seating capacity CT coo, equipped /
with kitchen and pantry There also IS 4
the steam heating plant, the machinery 4
of the 20-paSSenger electric elevator !
nd Hat nrnr y
TEN of ventilatinS is in operation, /
which changes the air in the entire Z
building every 10 minutes The living :
apartments of the secretary. George r. 1
also are in the basement
On the second floor is the working /
hall of FL PasO lodge No. 1S0, = F d I
A NJ Its interior finish is of the DOrlc /
order of architecture, the details OF :
which have been carried out in all the /
furniture and equipment. even To the
new pipe organ. The furniture IS OF 1
solid mahogany. dull polished. uphoi- /
stored IN red Spanish leather. The car !
pet is a green Rigo Wilton. Tiers I
room, the reception room and the can I
didates' waiting room are all furnished {
in the same manner From the door
knockers to the letter @ in art glass, /
there is no detail lacking in the sym
bolism of ancient craft Masonry
Hall Set Apart for Auxiliary.
In the hall set apart for the Order I
OF the Eastern Star, on the second ;
floor. the walls are tinted in tan. with
cream ceiling The furniture is of /
carved oak with high backs. and the
carpet is red brown Reception rooms
Tiers room and storage rooms give
ample facilities for the wOmen's aux
Hilary for years to come
The second mezzanine floor is occu-
pied with various. corridors and rooms
for the accommodation of candidates
and lodge workers, among which is the /
one used for the stereOpticon. which I
projects the views for lectures into the (
blue lodge hall
Knights Templar, Royal Arch Ma /
sons and Royal and Select Masters have !
their meeting place on the third floor !
in Gothic hall and chapel This de- I
partment, when finished, viii show the /
Gothic scheme Of architecture in detail
in ceilings and walls. with the appro-
pirate emblems Of the militant, the
capitular and the cryptic orders The
furniture is of fUmed oak. Gothic de-
sign, with red Wilton carpet The
chapel is done in white enamel. On this