Part 706: Scottish Rite Fire in Louisville, 1923
Yesterday I explored the Masonic Temple Theatre fire that occurred right after the Louisville Masons moved into a new building; they were fortunate as the majority of their possessions were out of the space at the time. The year was 1903 and the fire started in the theater; a commercial theater intended for touring productions. The losses of the visiting shows and tenants were substantial.
Skip ahead two decades and a similar event happens after the Scottish Rite Masons leave their home at the corner of Sixth and Walnut Street. Fortunately the damage to did not destroy the building.
On June 27, 1923, the old Louisville Scottish Rite was sold, becoming the R. E. Jones Temple, Methodist Episcopal Church. This is a fascinating side note about this church and its namesake. During April 1924, the new owners of the building celebrated a significant event: Rev. Dr. Robert Elijah Jones received a memorial tablet commemorating his election as the first African-American general superintendent in the Methodist Episcopal Church at the General Conference, held in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 19, 1920. Prior to his election, African-American bishops often only held missionary posts. As general superintendent, Jones became the resident bishop of the New Orleans area, with an office and residence in New Orleans. His area comprised seven conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. In total, Jones was responsible for 1,905 churches.
The April celebration included an address by the Rev. Dr. John L. Fort, pastor of the Trinity Methodist Church who said, “It is a church wide enough in affection to include both rich and poor, and universal enough to believe that salvation is intended for blacks as well as whites (Courier-Journal 14 April 1924, page 16). Jones (1872-1960) dedicated his career to religion, the racial unification of the Methodist Episcopal Church, racial equality, community development, and education. He is a fascinating figure in the history of the Methodist church, but was also a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason. Jones’ story and papers are now part of the Maistad Research Center. Here is a link that is well worth reading about R. E. Jones: http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/?p=collections/findingaid&id=51&rootcontentid=31039
Sadly, tragedy struck the mext month. On May 27, 1924, the Courier-Journal reported “Five Firemen and a negro preacher were overcome by smoke last night when flames of undetermined origin ignited debris in the basement of the R. E. Jones Temple, formerly the Scottish Rite Cathedral at Sixth and Walnut Streets. At least a dozen other firemen narrowly escaped being overcome by the dense smoke…slight damage was done, though, on account of the smoke, firemen were an hour putting out the fire” (page 5). No name was given for the preacher who died of smoke inhalation.
To be continued…
