The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-01
IS Gift OF KING.
Edward VII, Prominent English
Mason, Gives Medallion.
Library of Grand Masonic
Lodge Interesting Museum.
FRANKLIN WAS EARLY MASON
State Library Contains Some
1900 Volumes.
FireprOOf Building Situated at
Eighth and Harrison.
FRANKLIN WAS EARLY mason

A pendant bearing the three plumes
of the Prince of Wales crest links To-
peka masonry with the royalty of Eng
land. The gold ornament, which is in
tended to be hung about the neck with
purple ribbon. was presented to AL
bert K. Wilson, 915 West Tenth street.
by King Edward VII. then Prince of
Wales.
1t is on display at the office and Ii
brary building of the Grand Lodge of
Kansas, corner of Harrison and Eighth
streets.
Many valuable ornaments and doc
uments are kept in the library, which
is fireproof Some 1000 volumes on
Masonry are on the shelves. The Ii
brary has been built onto a former
private residence and is made of steel
and cement. The doors leading from
the old residence rooms to the library
are of steel and are closed every night.
Forty Masonic publications are re-
ceived from all over the United States
and everywhere that Masonry has
gone One comes from South Africa,
another from Cuba, and still another
from Italy. These are bound by vol
umes and filed away in the library,
thus giving Kansas Masonry a COM
plete history of the day.
The library was originally indexed
by Theodore Morrison now dead who
was librarian at Paramount college at
Wichita. The index system used is the
Cutter Sanborn, which Is similar to the
Dewey decimal system and furnishes
complete cross-indexes.
Apron Made in 1887.
On the walls of the library are pic
lures of past masters. An interesting
exhibit is a sheepskin apron made in
1frf h. 80
Topeka member, who presented it to
the Grand Lodge. The skin is covered
with emblems and although a little
faded is well preserved.
Many charters and pictures have
been framed and placed in slides. This
is because of lack of space to hang
them up.
There is a deed on display bearing
the signature of Benjamin Franklin.
The founder of the Saturday Evening
Post has written his signature on the
edge of the parchment in big round
letters little larger than the usual
printed facsimiles. There is another
document signed by the Penn brothers,
descendants of William of Pennsyl-
vania fame. George Washington's pic
ture with the first president CARRIED
,, as a Mason is on exhibition.
Benjamin Franklin, George Wash
ington and, several famous early Amer
leans were Masons. Washington was
the master of a lodge. Another noted
signature in the building is that of the
Earl of Warwick.
Several show cases are filled with
medallions of different meetings of the
| lodge. Early ballot boxes and Bibles
are on exhibition and furnish an in
teresting contrast with the present
day. Many boxes of curios have been
piled away in obscure corners because
of lack of room to put them on dis
play While the building is fireproof,
it has been overcrowded for some time
and will probably be replaced at some
early date.
Albert K. Wilson. secretary of the
grand lodge, is in charge of the build
ing, and is assisted by his son, F. H.
Wilson. No regular librarian is en-
ployed.
While the public is not absolutely
barred from the library, it is primarily
for Masons, says Mr.. Wilson. The
place resembles a private residence
and most people pass it by never
thinking that it contains the best Ma
sonic library in Kansas.