Part 692: The Kansas City, Kansas, Scottish Rite, 1904
In 1904, Kansas Scottish Rite Masons constructed two new homes in Fort Scott and Kansas City. The Kansas City, Kansas, Scottish Rite was designed by architect W. W. Rose at the corner of 7th and Ann.
On April 1, 1904, The Lincoln Journal included the article “New Temple. Kansas City Scottish Rite Masons Open Splendid Edifice With Big Reception.” Here is the article in its entirety:
“The new and very fine temple of the Scottish Rite Masons of Kansas City was opened for the first time Wednesday night, when the members tendered an elegant reception to their wives and friends. The building has been furnished in every detail and is fully complete, except for some changes in the lighting, and more than 1,500 persons accepted, the invitation sent out for the affair, that they might have a look at what is termed the palace of secret society work in the west. The building spacious as it is, was so crowded at times during the evening that it was badly congested, and lies of members had to be formed to keep the throng all moving one way, especially on the stairs.
The new building is well adapted for social purposes. One on entering steps into a spacious hall and finds the secretary’s office on the right, while on the left is a large parlor. Beyond the secretary’s office is the director’s room and back of all these is the great banquet hall, finished with a polished maple floor for dancing. Still in the rear is a perfectly appointed kitchen so that social functions may be given in the building without the necessity of calling upon a caterer.
On the second floor of the building one first enters a candidates’ room and passes from thence to the great cathedral, their sessions. This is a splendid room, with a beautiful ceiling, lighted in a novel fashion, and a gallery on three sides, including and organ and choir loft. The stage, which was concealed last night, is thirty-two feet deep and thirty seven feet to the gridiron and has a full equipment of scenery and appointments including a switchboard, which controls every light in the room from the stage. To the rear of the cathedral is the blue room, for smaller bodies, all fitted up in blue, in which is hung a fine portrait of the later Albert Pike.
All these apartments were thrown open to guests. The rooms were lavishly decorated with flowers and flags; in the banquet hall Zeiler’s orchestra played and a mandolin orchestra furnished music in the cathedral, while a pianist did the same in the blue room. In these three rooms were also booths from which punch was dispensed.
Every member of the order in Kansas City was a committee of one to show his friends through the new structure, and all callers were taken care of in good fashion. The music, lights and flowers, with women in pretty gowns and men in somber evening attire formed a delightful picture, and it was late when the affair broke up.
The 1904 Scottish Rite building is now the home of the Seventh Street Casino, run by the Wyandotte Nation.
To be continued…
