Evening star., 1922-07-16

Beneath the spreading boughs OF
famous oak, whose sturdy trunk is
said to be more than 1000 years old,
and in the presence of many high
disnitaries of the craft. the most
momentous incident in the history OF
local Freemasonry took place yes
terday afternoon. when the deed and
full title rights of the noted Dean
property, at Florida avenue, 18th
street and Connecticut avenue, was
transferred from the Woman's Ma
tional Foundation to the Grand Lodge,
F. A. A. NJ, of the District of Column
bia.
The simple ceremonies. which were
wheus Dean Caldwell,
representing the former owners. pre-
sented the documents to l. Whiting
Estes, acting for the trustees of the
Grand Lodge, as purchasers Of the es-
tate, who. in tuFn,< delivered them into
the hands Of Grand Master c. c.
Coombs of the Grand Lodge of the
District, mark an epoch in Masonic
activities here. for on the site will be
erected towering temple, which. ac-
cording to present plans. will not
have its duplicate in any part of the
world. Ua{, o. - {
J The property was recently acquired
by Mr.. Estes, Eugene E. Thompson
and John Poole, on behalf Of a group
of prominent local Masons, for $780,
600. and, following a meeting Of the
Grand Lodge. it was unanimously
voted to take over the tract for the
future home of the Masonic bodies OF
the District
5000 Attend Ceremony.
Fully 5000 master s'Masons, with
their families, and a alarge-delesation
from the. Eastern Star order. assem-
bled around the specially erected
stand, when Rev. John c: Palmer.
grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge
of the District, pronounced the fnvo-
cation, and, after the Kaliipelis Grott9
Band had rendered several selections,
George Roscoe Davis, chairman of the
on arrangements. who pre-
sided, outlined the purpose of the
gathering, and. in q glowing triouIe
would stand out to all the world as
a new civilization. and.
he hoped, would draw all men to the
great doctrine of human equality.
In a. brief address Grand Master
ssr fas tn h e. Ss
Masens Of tho District to see the
huge project through, solsmnly
christened the site. in the name OF ta
Grand Lodge. Temple Heights.
He then presented DR.. Thomas d.
Green, director Of the speakers, bu-
chief speaker of the afternoon. who
chose for Ais subtett, 1.-The Builders"
Through all the ages Of the earth's
past men have gathered upon the
hilItops to enshrine in the most i'm
perishable substance at their cem-
mand the embodiment Of their high
est ideals and ioftiest aspirations,
said Dr. Green. in part. 1.-THE build
ers have always been the expenents
of the highest phases of civilization.
Mere construction has created shelf
ers, defenses and treasure houses,
where were garnered and guarded
the products and the essentials Of
material life. Z
"But architecture is something
more. 1t has been through all the eoH-
turtles the most constant sxprsssieH1 .1
na mirror of cotemporary society : and
it IL At enca the most material and
the most ideal of the Ane arts, Even
the cFumbling ruins OF ages that are
passed and gene esxpress.i III their ats-
csFnible outlines the soul OF the life
that brought them. into being. ana
and erumbling frieaes are syilabtes
broken, and yet Readable, that tall
al the philosophy, the faith and the
Ideals OF epochs that are forgotten in
the fight of years.
Taught Significance.
"As Masons we have been taught
both the historic and the symbolic
Significance of architecture. Begin
ming with the fabric of nature itself
we have been taught to revere the
great Arohitect Of the Universe, who
in infinite wisdom builded the mas.
siye structure of the solid earth and
fiung forth the spfegdors Of the over
arching sky. The stupendous union
of strength and beauty that is His
is witness to His wisdom
.Historicaiiy and empirica1ly." con-
tinued DR., Green, sFfaeMRsoHry CEN
ters about the science and the art of
architecture. Our ancient grand mas
ters were builders Ihey found their
temple whose psrfectnsss- aad. sym
belle beauty were tAR expsetsfeH of
their faith and the seal ef their DE-
votfon. KS.
give q reason. for yitselfs-thet II can
In q time Of confusion, suncertaiItty
and confiict 1t COMES claiming in Its
history, it's ideals and ita operattens 10
be a constructive force In the midst
of civilization.
II believe there has never In human
history been n time when 30 vast an
opportunity lay before us ~ at the
present 1t is not an opportunity for
snowy ceremonial or the gtldad pomp
Of circumstance: IT is not an cppora
tunity Tor msrs prepAgsAdtsm or m
sffort tor Axpand9d numbers or
6rosder material euccesa, u ID rather
en cpportunify To 1nplant ard 4eyeiDp
Ia mons lives q tFue phaleeephy ss9
s.:n sss ,sss afis is.:s e ss:s sRs 1 ssss
ita lsllOw man: