The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-24
FINAL CHAPTER
 IN BUILDING OF :. LODGE TEMPLE kn MA
Two Pipe Organs, White
 Way And Marquees To ~ Be Finishing Touches

Final chapter of the building of the present Masonic temple was written Monday night, February IS, when the Building committee made it's final re- port announcing the completion of the temple to the board of directors of the Masonic Temple association.
 The building committee consisted of S- l.. Newhinney, chairman; R. B. Watts, secretary; Frank c. Shepard, Jr., c. A. Moffett, J. D. Matlock, and F. B. Keiser, chairman of the board of directors of the Masonic Temple as sociation as ex-offico chairman.
 In the report of the committee, sev- 6ral recommendations were made, in- auding the installation of pipe organs in the big auditorium and the Scottish Rite auditorium, the inauguration of a white way," around and approaching the temple, the erection of steel and glass marquee over the main entrances of the Temple. and some minor inn provements. The recommendations were adopted and will be put into effect at once. .. >-.
 The movement to erect the new temple stared in 1916, when joint committee was appointed from each Masonic body to devise. plans for the carrying out of the project. This com !, nnittee met from time to time and dis cussed the situation but no definite action was taken, until Ernest Mat thews was elected high priest of Min erAl City chapter. During his term of office he took letter ballot among the membership of the chapter and the vote was almost unanimous for the new temple.
 The main point of difference in re- gard to the temple was the question as to whether to build one large joint temple or whether the Scottish Rite would build separate cathedral, the Shrine separte mosque, and the other bodies remain in the old temple.
 In 1918 when Ernest Matthews was elected venerable master of the Lodge of Perfection, he directed his energies toward having the Scottish Rite en- dorse the joint temple idea, and succeeded so well that on January 8, 1919, the Rite ordered a letter ballot taken on the question, with the result that it was endorsed by an overwhelm- ing majority.
 The building committee was appoint ed and immediately went to work, lots adjoining the old temple were pur- chased, until piece of property 175x190 feet was acquired and the building of the temple was commenced. It was to have cost approximately $1,000,000 but before its completion, t6at amount had been exceeded by thousands of dollars.
 The corner stone was laid with elab- crate ceremonies by the late Warren G. Harding, president of the United States, and on April IT, 1923, it was officially. dedicated by the grand lodge of A. E. and A. M. of Alabama with Jul ian F. Spearman and other grand lodge officers conducting the dedication exer- cises. At this time Zamora Temple Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of which Ernest Matthews was potentate staged large ceremonial, one of the largest ever held in the south, which, was at. tended by James S. McCandless, i'm. perial potentate and other notables and thousands of Shriners.
 < The temple is considered one of the best in the country both in architec tural beauty and the elegance and con venience of its Appointments. and is the pride of every Mason of high and low degree, not only in the Birmingham district but throughout the entire state.