The New Masonic Temple At Philadelphia.

costliest hall in Christendom . It is the property of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , which is the wealthiest Masonic body in the world , and one of the most influential , its jurisdiction extending over the entire Commonwealth , and over three hundred and fifty lodges , with an aggregate

membership of nearly forty thousand . Thus far there has been expended upon the new building about 1 , 000 , 000 dols . and probably , 3 00 , 000 dols . more will be required to pay for the work now in contractors' hands , such as for chandeliers , furniture , upholstery , etc . This will

cover the entire outlay for the new Temple , which is considered very reasonable for so grand an edifice . ' Indeed , it is known that had the work been delayed even for a few months , the expense would have been at least twenty per

centum in excess of the sum expended . Many of the contractors will reap very small profits , and some of them will lose upon their contracts , but they have all been fulfilled in the most perfect and satisfactory manner .

The old hall which is now for sale , will probably be disposed of during the coming summer , and will yield a sum of sufficient proportions to form an ample sinking fund for the payment of the new Temple loans as they mature , so that the permanent capital of the Grand Lodge of

Pennsylvania will remain always intact , which fact alone insures a credit of very extended proportions , should it ever be asked for . Most of the furniture of the old hall has been re-upholstered , and will be used in the new Temple , as well as the statuary and paintings , which latter will adorn the library room .

Arrangements will be perfected for the formal dedication of the building to Masonry in September . It was at first designed to have the dedication take place on St . John the Baptist ' s clay , 24 th June , but it was found that the interior work of the structure would have to be hurried to carry out this intention , and so it was abandoned .

lhe estimated revenue to be derived from the rentals , kc , of the new Temple is about 5 , 0 , 000 dols . per annum , which will be paid by forty-seven lodges , ten chapters , three Mark Lodges , the Grand Chapter , five commanderies two councils and one consistory . It is proposed

to have the general management of the new building conducted by a committee of members of the Grand Lodge , with a superintendent and assistants , under a new code of regulations . In addition to these officers in charge there will

bean engineer , firemen , night and day watchmen , and several assistants about the structure . Certain days will be set apart for visitations by the public , and it is not unlikely that the new hall will be thrown open to inspection generally some time after the dedication in September next .

The basement has been splendily finished in white plaster , and besides containing a number of eli gible apartments for offices , contains the engine , pump , gas , fire kitchen , and heater rooms . These are fitted up with every known modern appliance and convenience . There are

two immense ranges fitted together for cooking in the kitchen . The spring water from the subcellar is utilised by being pumped into tanks . situated in dilfcreiit parts of the building . Altogether this basement floor is one of the ivost interesting portions of the edifice to the

initiated visitor . The gas fixtures are now being made from appropriate designs and models by Baker , Arnold & Co ., noted in their trade . The furnishing and upholstering is nearly completed , and reflects great credit upon the contractors , Messrs . Smith \ - Campton , South Third-street ,

above Spruce . On the lirst or main floor are placed rooms for the Grand Lodge Ollicers , for the library , one lodge-room , and other rooms . The library will be handsomely fitted up and will contain a fine collection of books . All the magazines and periodicals of the day will be kept on file , a ?

well as many of the most prominent newspapers of the country . It will no doubt prove a place of pleasant resort for the members of the Order . The idea of establishing a library for the use of freemasons , under the dinction of the ( hand Lodge , was originated in the last century , but the first real si CJCSS in the movement has just now been made by the Grand Lodge Committee on

The New Masonic Temple At Philadelphia.

Library , of which Mr . Charles Eugene Meyer is Chairman . On the upper floors are the Corinthian or Grand Lodge-room , four lodge-rooms , the banqueting , conversation , and committee-rooms , the Grand and Surbordinate Chapter and

Commandery-rooms . 1 hese latter have been fitted up with the furniture taken from the old Grand Lodge-room , replaced by temporary' furniture for use until the new temple is ready for occupation . The Corinthian-room is furnished most gorgeously in the Corinthian style , highly ornate

with a seating capacity' of nearly four hundred . This room will be occupied by the Grand Lodge and by about twelve of the surbordinate lodges . The next room in size is the Oriental , which seats over two hundred persons , and is furnished

in a profusely ornate style , embracing a score of brig ht tints . Next in order come the Ionic , Norman , Egyptian , and Gothic , all appropriately fitted up from designs furnished by the architect . The banqueting-room is provided with seats and tables to accomodate three hundred and fifty

persons . 1 he chairs are constructed so as to fold up , and are seated with perforated cherry wood . The furniture and upholstery of the chapter and Commander ' s rooms are gorgeous and elaborate , but are not sufficiently complete yet to warrant a detailed description .

Thus far the only persons who have been privileged to view the interior of the structure were the members of City Council and a few strangers , the idea and intention being that before the official inspection should be made the rooms should be sufficiently prepared to indicate their future magnificence and accommodation .

Rings And Signet Rings In Masonry.

RINGS AND SIGNET RINGS IN MASONRY .

The ring , as a symbol of the covenant entered into with the Order , as the wedding ring is the symbol of the covenant of marriage , is worn in some of the high degrees of Masonry . It is not used in Ancient Craft Masonry . In the Order of the Temple the " ring of profession , " as it is

called , is of gold , having on it the cross of the Order and the letters P . D . E . P ., being the initials of " Pro Den et Patria . " It is worn on the index linger of tin : right hand , lhe Inspectors General of the thirty-third degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite wear a ring on the little finger of the right hand . Inside is the

motto of the Order , " Duns MF . PM UUE JUS . " In the fourteenth degree of the same Rite a ring is worn , which is described as " a plain gold ring , " having inside the motto , " I'irlits juti . iit intir . i ntiii xrpnraHl . " It is worn in the Northern Jurisdiction on the fourth or ring finger of the left hand . In the Southern Jurisdiction it is worn on the same finger of the right hand .

The use of the ring as a symbol of a covenant may be traced very far back into antiquity . The Romans had a marriage ring , but , according to Swinbonrne , the great canonist , it was of iron , with a jewel of adamant , " to signify the durance and perpetuity of the contract . "

In reference to the rings worn in the high degrees o [ Masonry , it may be said that they partake of the double symbolism of power and affection . The ring , as a symbol of power and dignity , was Morn in ancient times by kings and men of elevated rank and office . Thus

l'haroah bestowed a ring upon Joseph as a mark or token of the power he had bestowed upon him , for which reason the people bowed the knee to him . It is in this light that the ring is worn b y the Inspectors of Scottish Masonry , as

representing the sovereigns of the Rite . ISut those who receive only the fourteenth degree , in the same Kite , wear the ring as a symbol of the covenant of affection and fidelity into which they have entered .

While on the subject of the ring as a symbol of Masonic meaning , it will not be irrelevant to refer to the magic ring of King Solomon , of which both the Jew * and the Mohammedans have abundant traditions . The latter , indeed , have a book on magic rings , entitled Scalcullv . il 00 . ' , ' in which they trace the ring ol Solomon front Jared , the father of Enoch . It was b y means

Rings And Signet Rings In Masonry.

of this ring , as a talisman of wisdom and power that Solomon was , they say , enabled to perform those wonderful acts and accomplish those vast enterprises that have made his name so celebrated as the wisest monarch of the earth .

The most prominent use of the ring among the ancients was as a signet or sign of power and authority . Signets are continually alluded to in Scripture , and the name by which they were known was expressive of their form and use ; for rings were called tabbaoth , which also

signified in its root " to impress a seal . " That they were in use at a very early period is evident from the relation , in the 28 th chapter of Genesis , where Tamar demands from Judah , as a pledge , his signet , his bracelets , and his staff . These signet rings were worn always on the

right hand , and generally on the index linger , which is illustrated by the passage in Jeremiah , ( xxii : 24 , ) where we read : " As I live , saith the Lord , though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the " signet upon my right hand , " yet would I pluck thee thence . " Signets always bore a device , which was

usually a religious symbol . Among the Egyptians , the sphynx , as the symbol of secrecy , and the scarabmus , or sacred beetle , as the symbol of eternal life , were the most generally adopted . The signets of the Bab ylonians were beautifully sculptured with images of Baal-berith and other Chaldean srods .

It is not therefore surprising that we should find a reference to the signet in Masonry . Thus in the ritual of the Royal Arch , according to the American system , we find as one of the symbols the signet of Zerubbabel . This is taken from that passage in the prophet Haggi , where God

is said to have promised that he would make Zerubbabel his signet . Jeremy Cross , whose knowledge of the principles of true symbolism , would not at this day be deemed respectable , gives in his * ' Hieroglyphic Chart" the form of the signet of Zerubbabel as a triangular plate ,

which is about as correct as if he had represented a Jewish shekel by a walking stick . As the ancient signet was , without any doubt , a finger ring , in the ceremony of the Royal Arch it should be so represented . What was its peculiar device we may presume from the usual nature of such

devices , and we perhaps would not be wrong in making it a sacred symbol , such for instance , as the " Yod" within a triangle , the hieroglpyhic form of the Tetragrammaton . This at least would be consistent with the teachings of the degree .

The signet of Zerubbabel , thus used in the ritual of the Royal Arch degree , is also there called the " Signet of Truth , " to indicate that the neophyte who brings it to the Grand Council is in search of Divine Trsth , and to give to him the promise that he will by its power speedily

obtain his reward , m the possession of that for which he is seeking . The Signet of Truth is presented to the aspirant to assure him tint he is advancing in his progress to the attainment of truth , and that he is thus invested with the power to pursue the search . — ( Mnckay ' s National Freemason . )

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

TESTIMONIAL TO DR . ROGERS . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent " F . Y . " is quite right—I am fully aware that " the testimonial " "has nothing to do with Masonry . "—But why refer to Masonry and Masonic feelings in a

Masonic periodical , in an appeal for subscriptions for a non-Masonic purpose ? I mean non-Masonic as regards Freemasonry . The proposed testimonial happens to be a house and therefore it rather concerns operative Masons , and should be advertised in The Builder . If in the " plan , " a garden be laid out and a

maze projected , 1 may suggest applications to the " Royal Geographical Society" " the Horticultural , '' Arc . Perhaps even the " Royal Geogra = phical Society" might take up the Grampian claim . We Freemasons certainly encourage " Speculative Masonry , " but then it is not in actual brick and mortar . We rear "Moral