Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-18

of the wood of historic Hastol!'
tree that still stands near the o.(
home of Albert Pike at Little Rock
Ark.
The rites included the pouring O.
water symbolic Of purity and inno
| eence of act, word and thought; of oil
SYMBOLIC of mutual concession, charl
table Judgment and liberation: of wine
symbolic Of charity, compassion ant
sympathy; of wheat, symbolic of JUS
tice, right and truth; of corn, sym
! 1olic of universal hencvolence, and O;
| salt, symbolic of fidelity 70 obligation
and loyalty, with an invocation in.
| Lldring mercy and loving-kindcess
| for the brotherhood. and the bulnin@
Of incense, symbolic Of gratitude T.
and of veneration and love for :Ile
Deity.
The benediction by the grand rri-
mate, who also made the opening
prayer, was preceded by the unflIrl-
:! ing of the Scottish Rite standard anG
the American flag. with the singing Of
''The Star-Spangled Banner" by the
entire assemblage in mighty chorus,
accompanied by the orchestra.
Sovereign Grand Commander
Moore delivered the grafton.
At the close of this address the
grand commander summoned the en-
lire assenblage to stand, and the
grand primate said the opening
prayer.
1t was twilight when the services
we're concluded, with the patriotic
demonstration and the unfurling of
he national flag, and an added climax
vas attained in the brilliant illumi-
!ation of the House Of the Temple in
side and outside.
In the evening, at o'clock. the
Iouse of the Temple will be thrown
ppen ttor grand reception to Scot
ish Rite and Blue Lodge Masons and
heir ladies, and musical program
will be provided in the way of enter
,ainment, with refreshmenJ.
In attendance upon the dedication
we're a host of distinguished Masons
rom all parts Of the country.
The new House of the Temple,
which is said to be the most magnl-
lcent structure in the world wholly
ievotad TO Ma soric pu-.-s'ses. as wel
as the first to be specially erect
I'd and dedicated as House of the
Temple for Scottish Rite purposes
anywhere, sands on site at 166th
and B streets northwest, with
'rontage of 217 l2 feet and depth
.1f PIP feet. Viewed from the exterior
It presents plain base upon which
est thirty-three massive pillars sup
lorting a lofty pyrar;Gal entablature
IS approach is by four flights of steps
.vmboliZing the numbers three, five,
even and nine. and the way to the
main entrance leads between two
olossaI sphinXes, symbolic of divine
power and wisdom, one with open
nd the other with closed eyes. On
he plinths of these. figures are IN
icriptions in Phoenician and Egyptian
lieroglyphcs. Just before. the mair'
loor, let into the payment. are two
laming swords and between them the
inscription "The Temple Of the Su-
oreme CounGi! Of the Thirty-thrd
Degree of the .Ancvicnt and Accept
ID Scottish Rite Of Freemasonary
or the Southern Jurisdiction Of the
United States, Erected to God and
Dedicated to the Service of HUI
manity. Salve Fratcr!' Carved in
o the frieZe over the main entrance
5 "Freemasonry Builds It's Temples
in the Hearts of Me nand Among
Nations" A PLAGUE on the great
loor bears an ob!ong square with a
'ayed triangle in its center and with
he figures "3333" in the center.
Ground was first broken for the
new House of the Temple May 81,
1911, by the late Sovereign Grand
Commander James Daniel Richardson
to commemorate the 110th annlver-
sary Of the foundation Of the Supreme
| Council. The cornerstone was lad
with imposing ceremonies, preceded
by a Masonic parade, by the Grand
lodge of Masons of the District OF
Columbia, October IS, l9li. The
interior of the building is not yet
completed
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