The Washington times., 1922-05-14
NATIONAL HOME
PLAN DROPPED
BYD. {. WOMEN
Dispute Over Foundations
Program Splits Organization.
Masons Acquire Site.

The $4,000, 900 program or the
Woman's National Foundation, for
the erection Of the largest woman's s
club in the world on the Dean tract,
at Connecticut avenue and Nine
teenth street northwest, on which
more than $500, 900 has been collect
| ed from members, has been aban'
| doned.
The abandonment of the Temple
| Triumphant, as the $5, 100000 wom-
ans club was to have been known,
| followed a dispute among members
| of the board OF governors and for
mer president, Mrs. Clarence Crit
| tenden Calhoun.
Dispute Over Plans.
AS a result OF the disagreement
over the plans, hard feelings follow
ed, with the result that when Presi'
dent Mrs. Calhoun resigned, taking
with her the members of the board
who were in sympathy with her pro-
gram.
The disa greement arose, 1t Is said.
over the fact that Mrs. Calhoun was
described as a visionary" and had
encompassed a program too large for
the members OF the foundation TO
finance.
Her refusal to rescind the original
program resulted in an open break
between herself and members OF
the board who agreed with her ana
majority, who disagreed. AS a
result of the disagreement, 1t was
stated, Mrs. Calhoun resigned from
the board with the declaration that
she would organize another Founda-
ton and carry out her program.
Following her resignation the
board was reorganized and Mrs.
James Carroll Frazer. former mem
ber of the executive committee, was
elected TO the head OF the founda-
ton.
The dispute between the officials
Of the foundation came out last
night when it was learned that the
Master Masons of the Masonic
clubs of Washington have secured
an option on the Dean tract, where
the Women's Foundation were TO
have built their temple.
An option on the property which
will expire at noon tomorrow calls
! for the sale of the site to the
000. 900 Masonic Temple. The, sop
Caldwell, realtor, provides for the
payment of 100000 for the prop.
erty.
Masons to Build.
The decision to sell the property,
It was learned, was made last De-
cember, when an audit OF the
Foundations books revealed that
the organization was heavily in
volved. During the past five months
a purchaser for the tract has been
sought.
No public announcement Of the
attempted sale Of the property was
made in the hopes that the trans
fer could be consummated with.
out the knowledge of the abandon.
ment OF the foundations plans
becoming public.
Members OF the board, in dis.
cussing the abandonment of what
was to have been the most ella bo.
rate woman's club in the world, ad.
| mitted that they felt "sheepish"
about having launched such a gi.
gantic program and having gone
so far, even to the purchase Of the
site, only to be defeated in their
plans, over the dispute as to the
program.
The site where the temple was to
have been erected comprises ten acres
of land Of beautiful terrain, with a
wealth of foliage that could not
probably be duplicated in Washing
ton. Thousands of dollars were
spent ia having the best architects
of New York draw up elaborate plans
for the buildings.
The center of the tract was to be
| occupied by the temple. which was
to have an auditorium seating 1000
people and be the most elaborate
building in Washington, with the
possible exception Of the Congress
sional Library and the Capitol. On
the Florida avenue side at the juno.
tion Of Twentieth street there was
to have been a sylvan theater seat.
ing thousands of people. North Of
the theater was the guest house with
courts, salons, and accommodations
for several hundred guests. To the
west of the guest house was the gar.
den and terrace and the founders
| club.
Funds for the foundation were be.
ing raised by 81 900 donations, initia-
tions and subscriptions, as well as
annual dues, and the program based
on 5000 membership, indebted each
member of the club to the extent Of
approximately 81 900 each.
To Spend S2,O00,000
Under the plans of the Master Ma
sons OF the District, the total invest.
ment of the erection of the Masonic
temple, It Is understood, will aggre-
gate S2,O0O,000. Approximately ST.
900, 900 will be spent in the erection
OF the building and 100000 for the
site.
Plans for the erection of the Ma.
sonic temple have been under way
for the last two years under the i'm.
mediate supervision of Chairman
Grantz E. Dunkum. At a recent
meeting of the grand masters Of the
different Washington lodges, II is
understood, the program Of the com.
mittee for the erection of the temple
were enthusiastically indorsed.
Trustees have been appointed to
take over the property and will hold
same until the grand lodge has an
opportunity to act officially. A spe.
cial communication OF the grand
lodge will be held at an early date
| IN naaa nnon he YIana Tho