The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-07-30
TEMPLE DEDICATED
AT ST. JOHNSBURY
Over 800 Masons Participated in Exer-
cises Yesterday-Buildlng
Cost $4,000.

ST. JOHNSBURN. July 80 Pas
sumpsic lodge of Free and Accepted Ma
sons dedicated their magnificent temple
yesterday afternoon under a bright sky
and with over 500 Masons participating
in the ceremonies. -Four bands and 5Oo
members of the various lodges and com
manderies in this jurisdiction, including
members of Sussex preceptory Of Sher
/ brooke III Canada, marched through the
principal streets and past the thousands
Of spectators who had gathered To see the
parade. Following the parade the grand
| lodge Of Vermont dedicated the temple,
Grand Master +. s Weston Of New la
ven and the other representatives of the
grand lodge performing this brief but
impressive ceremony. The address of the
occasion was delivered from the temple
steps by Col. Charles II Darling of Bur
lington, collector of the port, and deputy
grand master of the grand lodge of Yer
mont 1t was a strong plea for the Cos
Ipcl of work and a presentation Of the
ideals of Masonry, Last evening the fes-
tivities closed with ball in the large
banquet hall of the temple.
The Masonic temple at st. Johnsbury
was built by the members of Passumpsic
lodge Of AIasons at a cost of $4,000
and is considered one of the finest and
most complete in New England 1t has Il
frontage of so feet on Eastern avenue.
depth Of 60 feet and is built of brick
with manufactured stone trimmings.
Charles A. Calaerwood, 33d degree may
very properly be called the father of the
building as for many years, in the face
Of much opposition he urged the con
struction of the building and now as one
= of the grand officers participated in it,
dedication. The money for its construc
| ton was raised by subscription amona
the members Of the lodge and by dona
tions from the various treasures of tho
o different Masonic bodies now occupying
the magnificent structure.
In the spacious basement are the heat
ing and ventilating plant and eventually
Il there will be bowling alleys and billiard
tables As one enters the front hall 81
the first floor a door on the left open,
into the smoking room with a large fire
= place and numerous card tables. Tn,
large banquet hall or ballroom is tn,
principal room on this floor. connectcs
with folding doors with the women
parlor. Cosy furniture and a fireplace
add to the attractiveness Of this room
while beyond is a well-equipped kitchen
and all the facilities for serving refresh
4 ments In the northwest corner Is tn
5 reading room, richly furnished by M2
pah lodge Of Perfection, Scottish rite Ma
l. sons
n Opening from the hall upstairs is tn
5 commandery room finished in dark oa
# with red ceiling In the opposite corne
- of this floor is the council room, also fin
: shed in dark oak with red walls, am
richly furnished by HaSweIl ROYAL Arc
chapter The large lodge room is in tn
u southeast corner of the building It
" beautiful green carpet was presented h
:" the women of the Eastern Star. \. ]
Bailey presented the lodge with plan,
and the furniture is old black walnut. M
le holstered Ia green.
b. The officers of the grand lodge
at Vermont had charge of the imuressis
he exercises incident to laying the corns
Ill stone on June Is. 1872, and on Januat
II 10, 1913, the building was first used /
Passump>ic lodge The affiliated hodic
who now use the temple, are Haswe
Royal Arch chapter, Caledonia counc
- Palestine commandery. Mystic star cha
ter Of the Eastern Star, and Mizpa
ia lodge of Perfection of the Scottish III
To degree
~ Passumrsic lodge was chartered Jur
ne II, 49,. its members being former mcg
III hers OF Harmony lodge in the neiehho
ing town Of DanyiIic The latter lod.
- was instituted in 1874, but suspended j
meetings in 1880 because of the u:d
. spread anti Masonic agitation Pas~um
SIC lodge started with % charter mcI
hers. meeting in various halls in the V
| lage, and according to then records Si
rendering their ball during the Civil NJ
on numerous occasions that raw Iccrui
might use it for a drill room Calv
Jewctt, one Of the first citizens OF :
| Johnsbury, was its first worshipful raast
and its first secretary was Franklin Fai
banks, whose father. Gov Erastus Pa
banks, was the last delegate to the graz
lodge from Harmony lodge in $50 Fr
H. Doilott is the present woIshipiu ma
ter Of the lodge and its membership c
cecds 400