Drypigment.net

Part 703: The Louisville Scottish Rite and Frederick Webber, 1907

I am getting ready to attend USITT in Louisville, Kentucky, and visit another Scottish Rite theater. I was perusing old newspapers to familiarize myself with the history of the Louisville Scottish Rite bodies, before hitting the road, and stumbled across in interesting article from 1907. Keep in mind that this was the same year the cornerstone was laid for the Wichita Scottish Rite and the Southern Jurisdiction was experiencing a building boom like never before.

In 1907, Frederick Webber, Secretary General of the Scottish Rite, passed away. This article is certainly worth reading, especially if you are a Scottish Rite Mason. He was one of the last men from that great generation of Scottish Rite Masons who personally experienced the transformation of their order.

The article about Webber was published in the Evening Star on November 5, 1907.

 

“The venerable Frederick Webber, secretary general of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, died at his residence, No. 523 3^rd Street northwest, shortly after 8 o’clock last evening. He was the dean of the Supreme Council, and had been active Inspector General for Kentucky since 1859, thirty-eight years.

Mr. Webber was a native of Ireland, having been born in Cork city June 21, 1827, and died in his eighty-first year. He removed to the United States in 1843 and located in Louisville Ky., which was his home for many years, and although he long resided in Washington, he always considered that he lived in Louisville. He was for a number of years actively engaged in business in the Kentucky metropolis before the civil war.

During that conflict he served as a quartermaster in the Union army, and was at various times under the command of Gens. Anderson, Sherman, Rosecrans and Don Carlos Buell, the latter a fellow-townsman of Louisville. After the war he again engaged in business, but in 1878 came to this city and took office in the adjutant general’s office, being subsequently engaged in the Treasury Department. For a long term of years, however, he had devoted himself exclusively to the advancement of the Scottish Rite of Masonry in his capacity of secretary general, in which he had served under Gen. Albert Pike and all his successors in the office of Grand Commander.

His Masonic career was a long and brilliant one, and exactly co-extensive with his manhood, for he was initiated in Antiquity Lodge, F.A.A.M., of Louisville, Ky., on his twenty-first birthday and died a member of more than sixty years later. He was the last of its surviving charter members and also enjoyed the unique Masonic distinction of having been a charter member of several other Masonic bodies, including the Louisville Consistory, A.A.S.R., and its subordinate organizations.

His activity in Masonic work in the Blue Grass state led to his being crowned at Charleston, S.C., March 28, 1859, as an active inspector general, thirty-third degree for Kentucky, which high and honorable Masonic station he occupied until his death combining its duties with those of the secretary generalship from his nomination to the latter office.

Although he had been very ill for the three weeks preceding the recent sessions of the Supreme Council, Mr. Webber pluckily left his bed and went through the hard work of the session with the same energy and fidelity that characterized all his official work. He was received with every attention by his colleagues, some of them older in years than himself, but none of them older in years than himself, but none of them older in the service of the council. He seemed to greatly improve during the week’s session, and his friends looked to quite an extended lease of life for him. He was last at the House of the Temple and at his familiar desk on Saturday.

The half-masted flag on the House of the Temple today gives expression to the deep sorrow that prevails among the official staff of Scottish Masons generally.

Sovereign Grand Commander James D. Richardson communicated by wire this morning with each of the active members of the Supreme Council, and during the day many telegrams came to the House of the Tempe and to the residence of the deceased, couched in terms of praise for the “Grand Old Man,” as he was affectionately called, and condolences for his family.

The sovereign grand commander said this afternoon, “The death of ‘Brother Fred’ touches me so deeply that I feel I cannot at this time make any expression of sentiment that would satisfy me. He was tenderly and truly loved by all of the Supreme Council, its active and honorary members.”

To be continued…

Part 702: Those Who Play Should Pay, 1907

I primarily focus on the Masonic stages hands and scenery. Scottish Rite stages may have rivaled their commercial counterparts, but the performers were primarily amateurs without any professional training. Would a degree team composed of bakers, ranchers, bankers, oil barons, attorneys or clerks understand that a director was really the one in charge? Here is the view of one frustrated thespian who was tired of watching and working with amateur actors. The following excerpt was from the article “Detail and the Drama of the Degree,” written by Epes W. Sargent and published in New Age Magazine (August, 1907, Vol. VII, No. 2, page 181). What was said in 1907 could likely be repeated today:

“… in a recent presentation of the Twenty-third Degree (Northern) we had Moses wearing gold-rimmed eye glasses without a beard that was the pride of every Hebrew of his time. The eyeglasses might have been excused upon the ground of necessity, but there was no excuse for the shaven and shorn appearance of the Patriarch. That the Moses of the moment was an officer who was presently to address the class of candidates in his proper person was no condonation. The costume was slipped off at his exit in character; the removal of the beard would not have required ten second additional delay.

The natural conclusion was that the player feared that by thus masking his identity behind a creation of false hair and wire he might fail to obtain full credit for his work.

It is conceded that few men devote their time to the degree team through some wholly unselfish motives. With some there is hope that efficient work upon the floor may lead to the chairs (as indeed, it often does), others find in their work a gratification of their love of acting, while a score or more of reasons may account for the interest in addition to the proper one of welfare of the rite. It is not to their discredit that they look for reward. That is to be expected.

But those who play should pay. It is not sufficient that they should memorize the speeches, attend some of the rehearsals, and otherwise devote their time to the presentations. They should yield unquestioning obedience to their director and strive with all earnestness to supplement his work by realizing to the fullest the meaning of the part entrusted to their care as well as paying attention to the details of dressing and conduct.

The director cannot be expected to devote his time to the observance of such petty details as personal appearance. Since the exemplar has volunteered for a part, and in someway expects reward, he should give more than passing thought to his work.

In the matter of the beard, the director saw that it was laid out. He could not patiently wait until the exemplar dressed to see that it was worn, nor could he, in this instance, insist that the beard could be put on.

It was the law of Moses that hair whould be worn upon the face. Several passages in Leviticus and elsewhere expressly allude to this, and yet we are asked to regard with due seriousness a Moses who had evidently visited a barber shop on his way to the Tabernacle, and to believe that this was the most majestic figure of Jewish history.”

To be continued…

Part 701: Wichita Scottish Rite, 1907 

In 1907, a remarkable article was published in the “Wichita Daily Eagle” titled “The Scottish Rite New Cathedral” (17 March 1907). Here it is in its entirety, as it is a wonderful snapshot of the times and the growing presence of the Scottish Rite.

“The Scottish Rite Cathedral.

Known Round the World for its Excellency.

Best in the World.

Valley of Wichita Leads the World in Beauty.

Under the most trying and adverse circumstances, with but twelve charter members, the Scottish Rite bodies in the Valley of Wichita were organized in the year 1887, when they rented two small rooms in the Hacker & Jackson business block, and where for months, with but little paraphernalia, consisting principally of calico curtains, numberless candles and a few cheap costumes, the beautiful and impressive degrees of the glorious Rite were conferred.

In sharp contrast with this humble beginning will be the glorious manner in which these degrees are now put on in the cathedral at the crone of First Street and Topeka Avenue.

In these short years the consistory has grown in numbers and in importance until today the beauty and excellence of the work as it is exemplified has not made Wichita Consistory No. 2 famous all over the whole United Stats, but wherever there is a cathedral of the Scottish Rite the world around, there also is the Wichita work spoken of an example to be imitated but not excelled.

Nothing daunted, and under the leadership of a few indefatigable for the up building of the Rite, and in a short while found their quarters too small. Then the little Baptist church on the corner of Market and First Streets was purchased, but in a few years, with a rapidly increasing membership, the same conditions confronted the order and they were again obliged to secure a more commodious home.

On May 23, 1898, the magnificent and perfectly equipped temple at First street and Topeka avenue, devoted entirely to Masonry, was dedicated with most impressive ceremonies and a class of one hundred and twenty-five initiated.

During the Jubilee year of 1901, 229 brethren were made Masters of the Royal Secret, and today, thanks to the spirit of harmony prevailing, Wichita Consistory No. 2, with a membership of 1,500, has the distinction of being the largest in the southern jurisdiction.

And again has her walls become so crowded that she had outgrown the temple, commodious and handsome as it was a few years ago, and it has been found necessary to enlarge the cathedral to double its present capacity.

From two little rooms decorated with calico curtains, the consistory will this year have advanced to a stately temple erected at a cost of $250,000, and with costly paraphernalia for the proper setting of the different degrees valued at not less than $25,000.

The temple, which was dedicated in 1901, was 75×100 feet. This proving inadequate an addition has been planned which will add 75×140 feet and will give a magnificent temple facing 100 feet on First street and 150 feet on Topeka avenue.

The cost will be $140,000, and the contract has been let to Brandy & Taylor of this city, and work will begin upon the building at once. It will be gratifying to citizens of Wichita to know that not only has this general contract been let to a home firm, but also that all sub-contracts have been let to Wichita, so that the entire work will be done by home people.

The addition, which will be on Topeka avenue, will include a grand banquet hall, 73 feet wide and 100 feet long, on the ground floor. It will be twenty feet high and will be furnished in the old Dutch style, with dark wainscoting, beautiful draperies in keeping with the prevailing color scheme of the walls, frescoing of the highest art, and the whole surmounted by a magnificent cut and art glass dome over the center.

On the ground floor there will also be a kitchen commensurate with the needs of an order which numbers 1,400 members. It will be 25×73 feet and will be fitted up with every convenience for the preparation of the most elaborate banquets of state.

Above the kitchen will be a dressing room of the same dimensions, 25×73 feet which will be fitted with handsomely carved and stained lockers for each degree in the Scottish Rite.

The second floor will contain an auditorium, candidate’s parlor and the stage. The auditorium will be 73×62 feet, beautifully finished in white and gold, with rich draperies, beautiful frescoing, exhibiting scenes and emblems of the various degrees of the Scottish Rite. On this same floor will be located the candidates’ parlor, 25×73 feet, and a large stage, 371/2 feet deep and 73 feet long giving ample rom to place upon it the work of the various degrees in even a more excellent manner than has been done in the old temple, and which already made Wichita Consistory known the world over. This stage will be the best equipped one in the United States and the consistory will be second to none for the beautiful and impressive manner in which it will confer the degrees.

Above the candidates’’ room will be a balcony with a capacity of 545.

Some of the walls of the new building will be 80 feet high and the front will be finished in keeping with the old building. The sides will be of brick.

The old temple will be entirely remodeled, re-decorated and re-furnished in accordance with the general scheme of the new. Every room in it will be changed. There will be a grand vestibule upon the first floor and the old dining room will be transformed into a reception room and library.

A lofty and massive entrance will be built on the Topeka avenue side and the whole of the reception hall will be finished in exquisite tiling. Upon entrance the first thing which will greet the eye will be a stairway ascending to the second floor, majestic in proportions and finished in colored marble. The part of the temple where the Scottish Rite work has been put on will be given over to the Albert Pike Blue lodge and auditorium, which will be as handsomely finished as the new part of the cathedral.

The corner-stone of the new building will be laid April 24, with impressive ceremonies by the grand master of the grand lodge of the state, accompanied and assisted by his grand lodge officers.

It is expected that the new cathedral will be dedicated in the spring of 1908 and the event will be accompanied with all the gorgeous ceremony for which the Scottish Rite is celebrated. It will be an international affair, as delegates with not only be present from all over the United States, but from Mexico and Canada.

From a small and widely scattered membership two hundred years ago, the Scottish Rite has grown until it now exerts a powerful influence on civilization and its members are a power in the council of nations. The appropriate strength of the Rite throughout the world is as follows: United States and Canada, 50,000; Great Britain, 5,00; Belgium and Northern Europe, 20,000; Spain and Portugal, 15,000; France, 150,000; Austria, 1,500; Hungary, 2,500; Italy, 125,000; Greece, 10,000; Turkey, 1,500; Egypt, 3,500; Mexico, Central and South America, 50,000.

Prior to 1801 the degrees of the Rite form a period starting about 1713, existed in fragmentary form only throughout Europe. The first supreme council, constituting all the degrees form 4^th to 32^nd, was organized in Charleston, S.C. on March 31, 1801.

From this supreme council twenty-nine other councils throughout the world have sprung. The United States was divided into two jurisdictions in 1813.

The Rite in the Valley of Wichita has kept pace with the advancement elsewhere This Valley, that forty years ago was part of the Great American Desert, and which witnessed the organization of the Rite only a score of years ago, now has a membership of 1,500, and are the owners of the most magnificent Scottish Rite temple in the world, furnished with every accessory necessary for the impressive rendition of the sublime degrees of the Rite.

To be continued…

 

Part 700: The Topeka Scottish Rite, 1906

I briefly return to the Topeka Scottish Rite. In 1906, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “The New Year found me at work on some new work for Topeka, Masonic Hall. Very nice work.”

The “Topeka Daily Capital” reported, “The Scottish Rite bodies of Topeka purchased the building now occupied by the local Masonic bodies three years ago, and they have spent over $20,000 in the last four months in furnishing a lodge room that will compare favorably with any in the United States. A new stage thirty-five feet in depth has been built, and it is said to have more scenery than any other in the country. There are 110 drops, over one hundred of which are the property of, and will be used by, the Scottish Rite in conferring their degrees, which are peculiarly adapted to stage work. The electrical effects that can be produced are almost without number, and are controlled by a marble switch-board eight feet long.” (21 Feb. 1906, page 5).

Sosman & Landis delivered the scenery to the Masonic building located on Jackson Street in Topeka, Kansas. $15,000 worth of scenery had been sold to the Valley of Topeka, allowing candidates to be conferred in full form during the spring reunion of 1906 (The Topeka Daily, 23 April 1906, page 2). For the event, there were 200 candidates, the largest class ever assembled in the state. The reunion took place over the course of three days (The Topeka Daily, 23 April 1906, page 7). Two of the candidates were Dr. F. O. Hetrick and A. Haggart from Ottawa, Kansas. Their local newspaper, “The Evening Herald” reported that the two men “went to Topeka this morning to attend the twenty-sixth semi-annual reunion of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies of the Orient of Kansas, Valley of Topeka. Both gentlemen are going to take degree work” (24 April 1906, page 3). This notice is not unusual, and often newspapers would list all of the candidates in a Scottish Rite class. Articles would also describe which degrees were conferred and communicated; conferred often meant that the degree was theatrically staged. Although Freemasonry might be considered a “secret” society, the identity of incoming members was often published in the local newspaper. It says a lot about the size and prominence of the organization at the time. Scottish Rite membership was on the rise and it meant something to be associated with the Fraternity.

The reunion in Topeka either ran like a well-oiled machine, or was one chaotic mess. With 100 drops and 17 of the 29 degrees staged, a lot occurred over the course of three action-packed days in 1906. The success of the region was evident as an addition was immediately planned. During November of 1906, the Topeka Scottish Rite again broke ground again for a $100,000 addition to the building. The second floor that contained the stage and auditorium remained unaltered, but the Fraternity needed more space if the membership continued to increase at the same rapid rate

To be continued…

Part 699: The New Orleans Scottish Rite, 1906

The same year that new Scottish Rite Cathedrals were dedicated in San Francisco, California, and Topeka, Kansas, another one appeared in the south – New Orleans, Louisiana. The Times Democrat reported, “Scottish Rite Masons of Louisiana yesterday afternoon officially dedicated the beautiful new home of the Louisiana Grand Consistory in Carondelet street, and later entertained at a reception the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and a large number of invited guests.”(30 Nov. 1906. Page 8).

The old Carondelet Street Methodist Church was transformed into a Scottish Rite Cathedral for the price of $10,000. Articles incorporating the Scottish Rite Cathedral were filed in the Probate Court on October 14, 1906, according to The Times-Democrat (page 28). The announcement stated, “The organization is a branch of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masons and the purpose is to erect a cathedral in this city which will be one of the first in the south, and the only one on the state.” The incorporators were R. W. Southerland, H. L. Gaines, Thomas M. McMillan, Robert L. Douglas (president) and P. B. Dixon (secretary).

The dedication ceremony took place in the theater, with the stage being occupied by members of the Grand Lodge and the Grand Consistory. Uniformed members of the Consistory were seated on the main floor and guests in the balcony.

In 1906, painted scenery for the newly constructed stage was gifted by the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Arkansas Consistory, Valley of Little Rock, Orient of Arkansas.

Gus D. Levy, Venerable Grand Master of the Grand Consistory, began the program, explaining that the decision of the Scottish Rite to buy the cathedral of their own had, at the time it was reached, created the impression that it grew out of a breach between the Scottish Rite and York Rote Masons. The Times Democrat included his explanation and his attempt to set the record straight. He allowed L. C. Allen of Shreveport, the Grand Lodge F and AM. To address the matter. The Times Democrat reported, “Mr. Allen first said he was glad of the opportunity to explain matters. The move of the Scottish Rite Masons had not meant that there was any conflict between the two bodies. As a matter of fact they were still intimately associated and closely affiliated with each other.” He concluded the explanation and then spoke of the original, history and present status of Scottish Rite Masonry as well as its relation to the York Rite branch of the order. I have to wonder what else was also going on between the two Masonic orders at this time.

The new temple was the first home for the Louisiana Consistory; the building bought a while back from the Methodists before an additional $10,000 was spent on the recent remodel. The building committee included Charles F. Buck, Gus D. Levy (chairman), Richard Lambert, Frank Chalonn, Joseph Meyers, George W. Voth, B. Lake Henry and W. H. Wood. The architects for the remodel were Stone Bros. With their new stage, the first work of the Scottish Rite included a candidate class of 112 applicants over two days.

On 2 March 1907, the Times Democrat announced “Many Masons Coming” (page 5). The Scottish Rite was to hold a reunion and Sovereign Grand Commander James D. Richardson of the Southern Jurisdiction attended to witness 198 candidates receive the 4th through 32nd degrees. Grand Commander was visiting the New Orleans Scottish Rite on his way to another reunion in Galveston, Texas.

In 2014, the building was listed for $4 million and was sold to developer Craig Boes for $3.25 million. The scenery collection sold for $1,000 during the middle of June in 2015. I know this fact, as I was trying to secure it at the same time on behalf of the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center. This was during the summer of 2015 while working as their Curatorial Director during the planning and construction of the center. We missed buying them by a week. Because we were unable to purchase the New Orleans collection, the Fort Scott scenery collection became an alternate.

In the end, a theatre group near Austin, Texas, purchased the New Orleans Scottish Rite scenery, cutting the ones they wanted off of the battens. In the end, the group who purchased the scenery, cherry-picked the collection, leaving about twenty drops behind. Lance Brockman and I were in touch with the developers in charge of the renovation for a while, as they sought to track down the artistic provenance. Their plan was to photograph the scenery and maybe hang it in a warehouse somewhere. Unfortunately, the remaining drops were removed during the renovation and their fate is currently unknown.

In looking at the very few images I have received over the years, it appears to be a compilation from a few different eras. I know that some scenery was delivered by Volland Studios in 1953, but am unsure of the rest. I believe that some of the earliest pieces were from Toomey & Volland, including a palatial backdrop posted on one blog. What I am curious about, however, was the stage right rigging, as is looked very similar to that in Yankton and Wichita; certainly not a Brown’s special system.

Almost three years ago, the historic building became home to Nolaluna, an entertainment and dining development company in New Orleans. The building now that features circus artists, singers, musicians, variety acts and comedians. The renovation was estimated at $8 million for the 162-year old building. There is something comforting that the building continues to include the performing arts.

To be continued…

There is a lovely little post by the Traveling Templar about his visit to the building in 2010: http://www.travelingtemplar.com/2013/08/sights-and-places-nola-scottish-rite.html

Part 698: The Oakland Scottish Rite

On April 13, 1906, The San Francisco Chronicle published the plan for the anticipated Oakland Scottish Rite, reporting:

“Oakland, April 12. – At a cost f $150,000 the new Scottih Rite Cathedral will be erected immediately the southwest corner of Harrison and Fourteenth streets, to a spacious lot 100 feet square, only three block from the business center of Oakland. Because the entire building will be devoted to the uses of the Scottish Rite bodies of this city, the structure has been designed especially to meet their needs, and, when completed, it will be the most perfect building of its king on the Coast. Three principals floors and mezzanine floors between will afford ample accommodations for the lodges. In the basement will be located the banquet room with stage and ante-rooms. A thoroughly appointed kitchen and pantry will supplement this. The banquet room will be reached by two broad staircases, connecting with the two streets o which the building will face. The hall will be finished in rich tints and will be effectively lighted with incandescent lights. A gymnasium and bowling alley, with the usual boiler and store rooms, will complete the basement floor. On the mezzanine floor will be the ornamental entrance of the building, including the offices of the managers of the building. Marble, mahogany, mosaic tile and bronze will be used lavishly in the furnishing of this section of the edifice. On the first floor will be the club rooms, library, smoking and card rooms, billiard rooms, ladies’ parlors, hat and coat rooms, and dressing rooms. The second floor will contain the lodge room and will be the principal floor, in the building. The apartment will be 63×65 feet in size, with a coffered ceiling forty-four feet high and a large art glass dome, lighted from behind. The seating capacity will be 450 and, with a gallery which can be added, 200 more can be accommodated. A stage, with a proscenium opening and equipped with complete scenery and settings for most of the degrees from the fourth to the thirty-second, will be part of the furnishings. Bestor G. Brown, who has fitted up most of the Scottish Rite stages in America, will have charge of this work. The cost of the scenery will be approximately $8,000. An organ oft with a pipe organ and choir is part of the equipment, as are dressing, property and candidates’ rooms” (13 April 1906, page 13).

This was to be the second Oakland Scottish Rite cathedral to include a theater for degree work. Only a decade earlier, the Scottish Rite bodies of Oakland purchased and remodeled an old synagogue in 1896. This was similar to the Little Rock Masons in 1896, who also renovated an existing synagogue to include a Scottish Rite stage with new scenery.

The first Oakland Scottish Rite cathedral was located off Fourteenth Street, between Webster and Harrison Streets; it was dedicated on September 21, 1896. Ten years later the Oakland Scottish Rite was planning to build another Scottish Rite on the southwest corner of Harrison and Fourteenth streets.

As elsewhere across the country, the Oakland Scottish Rite bodies quickly outgrew their first home at 305 Fourteenth Street, necessitating a larger venue to accommodate an ever increasing candidate class sizes. On April 9, 1906, the Oakland Scottish Rite approved the finalized plans for a new Scottishi Rite Cathedral at Fourteenth snd Harrison Streets. Unfortunately, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire that same month altered their existing plans. Real estate values skyrockets and the anticipated building expenses doubled, causing the Oakland Scottish Rite bodies to rethink their plans. The began the search for an alternative location, finally deciding upon a spot at the southwest corner of Fifteenth and Madison. It took a while, but by 1908, a second set of plans was approved by the Oakland Scottish Rite and construction commenced on their second cathedral. On March 15, 1909, the dedication ceremonies finally took place at 1443 Madison Street.

To be continued…

Part 697: The Los Angeles Scottish Rite 

On July 10, 1904, the Los Angeles Times announced “Big Masonic Enterprises” were being planned (page 47). They included “a site bought for the Scottish Rite Cathedral,” “ New Masonic Temple to be Part of Plan,” and “Fresh Torture Invented by Mystic Shrine.” I am not even touching on the third part of the article.

The Los Angeles Scottish Rite was planning to build a cathedral estimated at $100,000. The article reported, “The site has been purchased, and the deal closed yesterday.” The site was selected by committee as it was equally accessible from all parts of the city. In conclusion, the article noted, “There will be no business rooms in the building, and every section of the cathedral will be devoted to the exclusive use of the Scottish Rite Masons.”

On April 16, 1905, the Los Angeles Times announced,”Ground will soon be broken for a hansome and commosioud Masonic edifice, which promised to be one of the finest of its kind in the West” (page 9). In the article “For the Cathedral of the Scottish Rite,” the plans for the auditorium was described, “60×70 feet and 33 feet high with a stage 32×60 feet” on the first floor. The stage house would be “48 feet high and will be arrangd to permit the production of elaborate scenic effects.” A large balcony surrounding the main auditorium was included in the plans.

A committee of eleven members were selected to have full charge of the arrangements: Perry W. Weidner, Will R. Hervey, Willam D. Stephens, Simon Conradi, W. C. Patterson, Henry Baer, Franklin Jordan, Niles Pease, Otto Sweet, A. W. Skinner and Frank H. Pfaffinger. By this point in the planning, the endeavor was now estimated at $125,000. Hudson and Munsell were the architects.

The Los Angeles Times, published the article “Bedeck for Dedication” on June 1, 1906, (page 23). The newspaper described, “Over the banquet hall is the auditorium, capable of seating nearly 2000. The stage is a marvel, completely appointed and furnished with the finest switchboard in the West. Alongside of the rows of handles that controls the lights is a set of six dimmers with thirty-six switches, making it possible to shade the lights from nothing to the fiercest glare. On one wing is an orderly row of ninety-four weights in their slides show how many drops are hung up in the flies.” This was a description of Brown special system, with the “slides” being the wood arbor frames.

By July 23, 1905, the Los Angeles Herald further described the theater:

“The auditorium, where all the floor work will be illustrated, is off the foyer and is 62×71 feet in dimensions, extending from north to south, with stage 35×62 feet and a 26-foor proscenium arch, finished in stucco work, The stage is fully equipped with every accessory needful for the elaborate presentation of Scottish Rite work, The auditorium will be finished in mahogany and olive green, tipped with ivory, and will have an elaborate emblematic ceiling. The foyer, connecting with a hall at the south side of the auditorium from front to south and west, connecting with rooms for candidates and other purposes. The candidates’ room is 25×40 feet, the property room 30×48 feet, the storage rooms 18×24 and 18×18 feet. The auditorium balcony will seat 600 people. On the balcony floor is a billiard room 22×28 feet, a card room 16×20 feet, and the lodge room 35×38 fett. All of these rooms will be finished in maple and wainscoted and will be provided with ornamental fireplaces and bookcases.” (page 19).

To be continued…

Part 696: The San Francisco Scottish Rite, Feb. 6, 1905 – April 18, 1906

The cornerstone for the Albert Pike Memorial Temple in San Francisco was laid on July 9, 1904 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, F. and A.M. of California. The name causes a slight problem, as nearly two decades later an Albert Pike Memorial Temple would be built in Little Rock, Arkansas. In Little Rock, the Scottish Rite Masons left their previous home in the 1902 the Albert Pike Consistory Building to join other Little Rock Masonic orders at the Albert Pike Memorial Temple.

The San Francisco Scottish Rite’s Albert Pike Memorial Temple was located at 1859 Geary Street in San Francisco, between Steiner and Filmore Streets, the building occupied a 86 feet by 137 feet lot. On February 6^th, 1905, the new home of California Scottish Rite bodies was dedicated and a Scottish Rite Reunion commenced..

Fred J. H. Rickon was the president of the Albert Pike Memorial Temple Association, a group that consisted of some of the most prominent Masons in San Francisco. Other memebers were Frank B. Ladd, William Crocker, W. I. Brobeck and W. C. Ordway. Bestor G. Brown, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kansas and western sales manager for M. C. Lilley & Co., not only outfitted the new theater with scenery, stage machinery, lighting and costumes, but also “made the presentation speech, paying a graceful tribute to the energy of local fraters” (San Francisco Call, 7 Feb 1905, page 2). Other than the costumes, the theater’s scenery, stage machinery, and lighting were subcontracted to Sosman & Landis of Chicago, Illinois.

In “The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free-Masonry Transactions of the Supreme Council of the 33^rd Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America” from 1905, there was a report from W. Frank Pierce, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Valley of San Francisco. He stated:

“Only one reunion has been held in this jurisdiction, This one was at the dedication of the Albert Pike Memorial Temple, San Francisco, and held for the purpose of allowing the brethren from various parts of the State to witness the conferring of all degrees in a temple equipped with the most modern paraphernalia and stage fittings to present their dramatic part of the work.”

On February 6, 1905, the San Francisco Call included the article “Albert Pike Memorial to be Dedicated.” The article reported, “On this occasion the degrees will be conferred with full scenic effects and historically correct paraphernalia for the first time in California. Over $100,000 has been invested in this magnificent structure, of which fully $25,000 is in scenery and costume alone. It is anticipated that many of the craft from all over the State will take advantage of this occasion to receive these degrees, and it is thought that many prominent and distinguished visitors from other jurisdictions will grace the meeting with their presence” (“Albert Pike Memorial to be Dedicated.” 11 Dec. 1904, page 50).

Like many buildings in San Francisco, the Albert Pike Memorial Temple was destroyed during the fire that followed the 1906 earthquake on April 18. By April 22, 1906, the San Francisco Chronicle described the Masonic ruins after the fire: “On Geary street between Filmore and Steiner, two large, new, partly constructed brick and stone buildings, one the Albert Pike Memorial Temple and the other the Congregation Beth Israel Church, both practically collapsed, the roofs falling in. Not far away, on Sutter and Steiner streets, a large new building being constructed for the Golden Gate Commandery of the Scottish Rite fell with a crash” (page 6).

To be continued…

Part 695: Transactions of the Supreme Council, 1905

One of the more interesting publications to peruse is “The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free-Masonry Transactions of the Supreme Council of the 33^rd Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America.” There is an abundance of information tucked away in reports, statistics and recorded travels completed by the Grand Commander and other Supreme Council representatives. I have discovered more about the early use of stages and degrees productions here than in may othet records.

The 1905 “Report of Committee on Doings of Inspectors and Deputies” provides a sneak peak into the goings on of Scottish Rite Valleys througout the Southern Jurisdiction. Keep in mind that this was in the midst of a Scottish Rite building boom that began at the turn of the twentieth century. Each representative (Sovereign Grand Inspector General, or SGIG for short) was making a two-year report at each biennial session. In 1905, it was for the two years ending June 30, 1905.

This was an exciting time for the Southern Jurisdiction as membership rapidly increases and funds pour in, especially from the western region. I looked for the report by Harper S. Cunningham, Sovereign Grand Inspector-General from the Valley of Guthrie, Oklahoma and Indian Territories. I sought out more information pertaining to the McAlester scenery photographed in 1904, that was later sold to the Scottish Rite in Santa Fe, and rediscovered in Charleston by Rhett Bryson in 1995. Here is Cunningham’s 1905 report:

“I have the honor to report that Scottish Rite Masonry has made satisfactory progress in Oklahoma and Indian Territory during the past two years.

The bodies located in the Valley of Guthrie have prospered sufficiently to practically complete payment of the debt outstanding against their new temple, and now contemplate additional improvements that will make the temple more commodious, especially as regards the entertainment feature, by providing a banquet hall commensurate with the needs of the craft. In the Valley of South McAlester I revived the Chapter of Rose Croix and during the past year have granted letters of temporary for the Council of Kadosh and the Consistory. These bodies are thoroughly equipped as far as paraphernalia needs are concerned. They have temporary quarters, where the degrees are worked in style and manner second to none. They have a corps of enthusiastic workers, and much enthusiasm for the Rite is shown among the brethren. They have purchased a magnificent site for a temple, and have agreed upon the plans and specifications, and already contracted for the excavation and building of the basement. The temple will be 100 x 150 feet in size, and will contain all of the improvements which have been suggested by the experience of our sister bodies, for the exemplification of the degrees. All things considered, the bodies of South McAlester are progressing undermost favorable auspices, and I predict them great success in their work. They are holding a reunion during the present week, October 9 to 12, inclusive, at which they confer the degrees upon a large class. The work will be manifested in their returns and application for permanent charters. The Honorary 33ds of my jurisdiction are all enthusiastic in the cause of Scottish Rite Free-Masonry and bear their honors worthily.”

A couple of things to consider. The building being discussed (100 x 150) would necessitate grander scenery for a larger stage, thus supporting the sale of the existing scenery to the Valley of Santa Fe while their 1912 cathedral was being planned and built. The used scenery would prepare Santa Fe Masons for a new theater.

In looking at activities across the country during 1905, I wasn’t to mention a few other reports.

Frank Pierce, SGIG of the Valley of San Francisco noted, “Only one reunion has been held in this jurisdiction, This one was at the dedication of the Albert Pike Memorial Temple, San Francisco, and held for the purpose of allowing the brethren from various parts of the State to witness the conferring of all degrees in a temple equipped with the most modern paraphernalia and stage fittings to present their dramatic part of the work.” This was another Sosman & Landis delivery.

Francis J. Woodman, SGIG (Valley of Washington, D.C.), reported, “Harmony prevails throughout our valley, and ard and faithful work is being performed in the exemplification of the degrees of the Rite, which will now compare favorably, I believe, with that done in other Valleys of the Southern Jurisdiction.” Translation: they are staging degrees.

Edward Tears Taubman, SGIG of (Valley of Aberdeen) State of South Dakota noted, “Our regret was that the visit could not have been extended to the bodies at Deadwood, where you would have also observed that they were well-equipped for the work…” Traslation: they are using scenery to stage the degrees. We know that Twin City Scenic Equipment Co. provided some early Scottish Rite scenery to the Deadwood Scottish Rite.

A. B. Chamberlain, SGIG of the Valley of Galveston, State of Texas, reported, “With the organization of their Consistory (Dallas), the brethren began in earnest to provide means for the erection of a cathedral, one that would not only answer their present needs, but those for many years to come, and to that end they appointed a committee to take charge of the same….the bodies of Galveston have shown the same prosperity as in the preceding two years. The members have determined to remodel their stage and equip same with necessary scenery and electric equipment. This will enable them to confer the degrees equal to any.” Translation: Dallas is starting the construction of a Scotish Rite facility; there wil be a stage for future generations. Galveston already uses scenery, but is going to remodel their space house and purchase better versions to make their degree productions more impressive.

John W. Morris, SGIG of the Valley of Wheeling, State of West Virginia reported, “The interest shown by the brethren in ritualistic work is far greater than when the last report was made. Since the last session, we have purchased a very desirable piece of property 90×100 feet, costing $23,000, all paid for and a little cash left. We are now contemplating the erection of a Scottish Rite cathedral and will begin when we perfect plans and schemes to raise the money.” Translation: We are planning to build a Scottish Rite like everyone else, complete with a stage, howevre, we are just waiting to see which plans work best in other states.

Frank M. Foote, SFIG from the Valley of Evanston, State of Wyoming reported, “Scottish Rite Masonry in the States of Wyoming and Utah has made during the past two years satisfactory progress. The bodies of the Rite in Utah have lately purchased land in Salt Lake City for a Scottish Rite temple, and have let the contract for the building, which will be completed and occupied in less than a year from this date…The bodies in Cheyenne, Wyoming, have rebuilt and refurbished the temple, which was destroyed by fire early in 1903.” Translation: The Utah Scottish Rite is almost complete; there will be a stage. We know that the Cheyenne Scottish Rite were using some scenery, the fire was an opportunity to facilitate the inclusion of even more staged degrees.

My research suggests the there were twenty-five Southern Jurisdiction Valleys that were staging degrees by 1905: Little Rock, Arkansas; Wichita, Topeka, Salina, Fort Scott, Lawrence, and Kansas City, Kansas; Guthrie and McAlester, Oklahoma and Indian Territory; St. Louis, Joplin, and Kansas City, Missouri; Fargo, North Dakota; Yankton, South Dakota; Omaha, Hastings, and Lincoln Nebraska; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Portland, Oregon; Butte, Montana; Galveston, Texas; Duluth, Minnesota; San Francisco, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and Washington, D. C. There are likely more, especially in Iowa, but I have not confirmed the exact dates when stages were constructed and/or scenery was purchased. Considering the first Southern Jurisdiction stages were completed in 1896, (Oakland, California, and Little Rock, Arkansas), this number shows amazing growth in less than a decade!

To be continued…

Part 694: The Scottish Rite in McAlester, Oklahoma, 1904

There was something else happening in the world of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry when the Scottish Rite in Kansas City, Kansas, was dedicated. In 1904 the Scottish Rite in McAlester, Oklahoma, photographically documented a few of their scenes, complete with costumed characters for the corresponding degrees. I first encountered these photographs while restoring the Scottish Rite scenery collection in the 1929 Masonic Temple. In a room with south-facing windows, a glass display case held a handful of photographs. There were several old photographs that depicted a small Scottish Rite stage and costumed degree teams.

The typed card that accompanied the photographs stated:

“These are pictures taken of McAlester Scottish Rite degree teams in 1904, taken on stage “The Tabernacle,” McAlester’s first Scottish Rite Temple. It was located on the south side of Washington Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets, where the drive in facility of the Bank, NA, is presently situated.”

As with many onsite discoveries, I carefully tucked this little bit of information away and went on with my work for about a decade. I did not think about the photographs again until I was working on “The Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theatre” book (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018). We were trying to track down some interesting images of Harper S. Cunningham, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of New Mexico, when the Santa Fe Scottish Rite was being planned. Cunningham had also functioned as the S.G.I.G. of Oklahoma Territory before moving to Santa Fe to help with the impending plans for constructing a new home with stage. Cunningham was referred to as the “Temple Builder.” As possible images were passed back and forth, one included Cunningham seated in front of a candidate class. This was taken in front of Santa Fe’s first Scottish Rite stage on Water Street.

As with many Scottish Rite Valleys, the stage was constructed at the end of a Masonic hall. The intent of this stage was to get the members used to staging degrees, as they were planning a new theater in the proposed Scottish Rite building. Cunningham had directed the Snat Fe Scotish Rite to purchase the used scenery from the McAlester Scottish Rite Masons as they had just built a new stage and ordered new scenery.

As I looked at the photograph of Cunningham stoically seated amongst a candidate class of twenty-two men, I noticed the tassels on the drop curtain behind. Many Scottish Rite drop curtains during the first two decades of the twentieth century have a similar feel and composition, but I have yet to find two that are identical. When I compared the drop curtain in the Santa Fe photograph and the McAlester photograph, I realized that they were identical. The used scenery purchased from the McAlester Scottish Rite during the planning and construction of the Santa Fe Scottish Rite Cathedral was sitting in a display case in McAlester, Oklahoma.

At the time I documented the McAlester degree team images, they were deteriorating from direct exposure to sun and heat. I realized that it was unlikely a conservator had swept in after my departure from McAlester and removed the photographs form the cases to care for these significant images. I simply treasured the images that I already had and requested additional photographs depicting the scenery installed for the Santa Fe Scottish Rite Masons on Water street to get an understanding of the collection’s scope.

Jump ahead to the fall of 2018. I am carefully adding the research files of Professor Emeritus Lance Brockman to my own files. Years earlier, I had already added the research of Larry Hill, who thoughtfully sent me boxes of slides and past research about historic scenery, stage machinery, and panoramas upon his retirement. As I tucked Brockman’s “McAlester Scottish Rite file” in with my own, I quickly flipped through the contents. In one manila folder, there was a color copy of a 1995 letter from Rhett Bryson at Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina). It an old newspaper clipping. Bryson also traveled with Brockman and Hill across the country, documenting Scottish Rite scenery during the 18980s and 1990s.

The first 2” x 3” color image pictured in the letter was recognizable as the scenery behind the degree team for the 1904 McAlester Scottish Rite degree team photo. This was huge! Rhyson indicated that there were thirteen drops clearly marked “So. McAlister” on the back. This meant that the original scenery created for the McAlester Scottish Rite was used by the Santa Fe Scottish Rite and then shipped to and used by the Charleston Scottish Rite. The scenery had three lives! I was curious to see what I could find about the Scottish Rite stage in Charleston that used the scenery.

To be continued…