MASONIC TEMPLE AT INVERCARGILL

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 73

MASONIC TEMPLE AT INVERCARGILL

A FINE BUILDING. THE OPENING CEREMONY. The official opening of the new Masonic Temple, Forth street, Invercargill, took place on Tuesday night, February 23, in the presence of a large number of Masons, many of the brethren attending being representatives of lodges in all parts of the Dominion. A most impressive ceremony took place, members of the Grand Lodge officiating. The structure, with its fine Grecian Doric columns, is stately and impressive, making an imposing elevation to Forth street. The interior is carried out in a simple though effective design. In the front of the building are two large rooms with an area of nearly 700 square feet, and these will be used as supper or cloak rooms as necessary. A small flight of stairs leads to the refectory, where an up-to-date kitchen is arranged. Gas

stoves, sinks, lockers, and many otl i conveniences have been installed, and a set of folding doors are provided to enable the room to be reduced in size should the occasion arise. In the basement below is the storeroom, the lavatories, and the hot w ter apparatus. From the grour floor a few steps take the visitor to the assembly hall, which can also be reduce* in size. Near at hand are the instruction room, the preparation room, and the property room. The main temple, capable of accommodating 500 members, is furnished with upholstered seats along both sides, the officers’ seats being erected on platformr at each end. Accommodation for a( orchestra and a choir have also been pro* vided at one end. The details of lighting, heating, and ventilation have been thoroughly lookeu after, and the temple is leplete with every modern convenience. The visiting brethren expressed the opinion that the temple is unequalled in the Southern Hemisphere, the construction exciting the favourable comment of northern visitors. The building cost £15,750, and was erected from plans and specifications prepared by Messrs C. J. Brodrick and T. P. IJoyds, wh also supervised the job, Mr T. Clark, of Waikiwi, being foreman of works.