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  • Jan. 1, 1905
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The Masonic Illustrated, Jan. 1, 1905: Page 2

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    Article The Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. Page 1 of 3 →
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Masonic Temple, Philadelphia.

The Masonic Temple , Philadelphia .

IN view of the interest now centreing on the providing of a temple more adequate to the requirements of the Craft and a worthier home of the mother Grand Lodge , we extract the following description of a building which is described by our valued contemporary , The American Tyler , as the finest Masonic temple in the world .

" Nowhere else on the face of the globe is there a Masonic temple , devoted wholly to the uses of the Craft , so large , so magnificent or so perfect in its architecture as the temple in Philadelphia . It is the most costly edifice ever erected for the exclusive use of the Masonic Fraternity .

Beautiful and splendid as it is to-day , and representing as it does an expenditure of nearly $ 2 , 000 , 000 , it is constantly being improved in various details , and when the schedule of improvements now under contemplation shall have been completed , it will represent an investment of considerably over $ 2 , 000 , 000 . The ground on which the temple stands was purchased in 1867 and has a frontage on four

streets—ORIKNTAIi HAIJ-.

one hundred and fifty feet on Broad and Juniper Streets , respectively , and two hundred and forty-five feet on Filbert and Cuthbert Streets—the temple occupying the entire block . The corner stone was laid June 24 th , 1868 , and the temple was completed and dedicated September 26 th , 18 73

, the cost up to that date being $ 1 , 569 , 092 . About $ 300 , 000 have since been expended on alterations , improvements and decorations . It is a perfect type of Norman architecture , and was built of Quincy and Fox Island granite . In its construction and furnishing none but the best and most

durable materials were used , and , after a lapse of over thirty years , no fault has been discovered in the structure . It is indeed a lasting monument to the Fraternity it represents . It has been well said that , when all proposed improvements shall have been made , it will be one of the wonders of the

world , and will attract , delight and instruct visitors from every part of the globe . "An idea of the splendour of the interior of the structure may be had from the accompanying reproductions of various halls in the building . For the magnificence and beauty one

finds there , too great credit cannot be given to ' The Art Association of the Masonic temple , ' which was organized October 22 nd , 1887 , with the object of decorating and embellishing the various halls , of giving them artistic , historic and Masonic beauty , and also of adorning them with statuary , paintings and other works of art . The funds for this

purpose were supplied by the members of the association , from annual dues of one dollar each , contributions from individuals and from the various bodies meeting in the tunple . In a profusely illustrated booklet , Bro . William Steffe , secretary of the association , has described in detail

the extensive work of that organization . Under its immediate supervision Egyptian , Ionic , Norman and Oriental Halls and the library have been decorated , and handsome bronze gates have been installed near the entrance . " The beautifying of Corinthian Hall , grand banquet hall , the Grand Master ' s and Grand High Priest ' s apartments , and other offices and corridors , by the Grand Lodge ' s

Committee on temple , is largely the result of the impulse given by the association . "The association has sought ' to beautify , lo dignify , to vivify the cold , dead walls , the naked pillars , and the blank ceilings , so that they might speak through the mystic symbols

and the historic figures which adorn them , and thus teach Freemasonry to the eye , while its ritualistic ceremonies teach it to both the eye and the ear , and through them to the understanding and the heart . ' " Norman Hall is an oblong apartment elaborately

decorated and rich in gold and colour , yet quiet and dignified . In the panels on the walls appear life-size ligures represented as bearing the working-tools of the Freemasonthe plumb , trowel , square , mallet , rule and compasses . Ionic Hall is notable for its refinement and elegance , both in

architecture and artistic decoration , and is a marvel of beauty . The pillars are finished in an ivory ( one and their capitals are enriched with gold . The panels , which are filled with full-length portraits of Past Grand Masters , are in Pompeiian red , while the walls are a delicate blue . The

“The Masonic Illustrated: 1905-01-01, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 10 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mil/issues/mil_01011905/page/2/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
The Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. Article 2
The Library and Museum of the Grand Lodge of England. Article 4
Orpheus Lodge, No. 1706. Article 7
Sheraton Lodge, No. 3019. Article 8
The Masonic Temple. Article 9
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
The Purple. Article 10
At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar. Article 11
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 13
Untitled Ad 13
Trafford Lodge, No. 1496. Article 14
Mozart Lodge, No. 1929. Article 14
Bro. Viscount Ridley, R.W. Provincial Grand Master for Northumberland. Article 15
Fubilee of St. Augustine's Lodge, No. 885. Article 16
Some Notes on Freemasonry in Australasia.– – (Continued). Article 18
Untitled Ad 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Masonic Temple, Philadelphia.

The Masonic Temple , Philadelphia .

IN view of the interest now centreing on the providing of a temple more adequate to the requirements of the Craft and a worthier home of the mother Grand Lodge , we extract the following description of a building which is described by our valued contemporary , The American Tyler , as the finest Masonic temple in the world .

" Nowhere else on the face of the globe is there a Masonic temple , devoted wholly to the uses of the Craft , so large , so magnificent or so perfect in its architecture as the temple in Philadelphia . It is the most costly edifice ever erected for the exclusive use of the Masonic Fraternity .

Beautiful and splendid as it is to-day , and representing as it does an expenditure of nearly $ 2 , 000 , 000 , it is constantly being improved in various details , and when the schedule of improvements now under contemplation shall have been completed , it will represent an investment of considerably over $ 2 , 000 , 000 . The ground on which the temple stands was purchased in 1867 and has a frontage on four

streets—ORIKNTAIi HAIJ-.

one hundred and fifty feet on Broad and Juniper Streets , respectively , and two hundred and forty-five feet on Filbert and Cuthbert Streets—the temple occupying the entire block . The corner stone was laid June 24 th , 1868 , and the temple was completed and dedicated September 26 th , 18 73

, the cost up to that date being $ 1 , 569 , 092 . About $ 300 , 000 have since been expended on alterations , improvements and decorations . It is a perfect type of Norman architecture , and was built of Quincy and Fox Island granite . In its construction and furnishing none but the best and most

durable materials were used , and , after a lapse of over thirty years , no fault has been discovered in the structure . It is indeed a lasting monument to the Fraternity it represents . It has been well said that , when all proposed improvements shall have been made , it will be one of the wonders of the

world , and will attract , delight and instruct visitors from every part of the globe . "An idea of the splendour of the interior of the structure may be had from the accompanying reproductions of various halls in the building . For the magnificence and beauty one

finds there , too great credit cannot be given to ' The Art Association of the Masonic temple , ' which was organized October 22 nd , 1887 , with the object of decorating and embellishing the various halls , of giving them artistic , historic and Masonic beauty , and also of adorning them with statuary , paintings and other works of art . The funds for this

purpose were supplied by the members of the association , from annual dues of one dollar each , contributions from individuals and from the various bodies meeting in the tunple . In a profusely illustrated booklet , Bro . William Steffe , secretary of the association , has described in detail

the extensive work of that organization . Under its immediate supervision Egyptian , Ionic , Norman and Oriental Halls and the library have been decorated , and handsome bronze gates have been installed near the entrance . " The beautifying of Corinthian Hall , grand banquet hall , the Grand Master ' s and Grand High Priest ' s apartments , and other offices and corridors , by the Grand Lodge ' s

Committee on temple , is largely the result of the impulse given by the association . "The association has sought ' to beautify , lo dignify , to vivify the cold , dead walls , the naked pillars , and the blank ceilings , so that they might speak through the mystic symbols

and the historic figures which adorn them , and thus teach Freemasonry to the eye , while its ritualistic ceremonies teach it to both the eye and the ear , and through them to the understanding and the heart . ' " Norman Hall is an oblong apartment elaborately

decorated and rich in gold and colour , yet quiet and dignified . In the panels on the walls appear life-size ligures represented as bearing the working-tools of the Freemasonthe plumb , trowel , square , mallet , rule and compasses . Ionic Hall is notable for its refinement and elegance , both in

architecture and artistic decoration , and is a marvel of beauty . The pillars are finished in an ivory ( one and their capitals are enriched with gold . The panels , which are filled with full-length portraits of Past Grand Masters , are in Pompeiian red , while the walls are a delicate blue . The

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