Sunday, June 3, 2012

Modern Wagoneers Tour Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie, OK

The Oklahoma Good Sam Chapter, “The Modern Wagoneers,” toured the Temple of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Guthrie, Oklahoma.  Five couples attended the camp out at Cedar Valley Park.
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Said to be “one of the largest Masonic Centers in the world,” the temple was built in 1919 in the Classical Revival style and designed by architects, Parr & Hawk. 

The temple is constructed of limestone and is situated on a 10-acre parcel of land in the heart of Guthrie, Oklahoma.  Our members spent a little over an hour on a guided tour of the temple, which contains 14 individually styled rooms, including Assyrian, Egyptian, English, French Gothic, Italian, Pompeian, and Ancient Roman cultures . . . .
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The above picture was taken in the Masonic Library of the temple, which contains an authentic copy of “The Complete Works of Mark Twain,” signed by Samuel Clemens. 
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The above plaque was mined from the identical quarry of stone used to build King Solomon's Temple. 
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The above carpet is situated in the “mirror room,” and is said to be priceless.  Although the room contains no mirrors, the design on the carpet is the identical design that is on the walls and ceiling, i.e., the leaves, etc., are also found on the wall coverings and light fixtures. 
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Susan was very impressed with the tonal quality of the pipe organ.  It is is situated in the theater and has over 500 pipes.  The tour guide demonstrated its rich and powerful sound for the members of our chapter. 
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Beautiful stained glass is found throughout the building.  Several windows contain portraits of deceased members.  Visitors get an eerie feeling while walking through the room of the above window while the gentleman’s eyes follow your every step. 
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The eagle quill pen in the above photo is the actual pen used by President Theodore Roosevelt to sign the proclamation on November 16, 1907, that made Oklahoma the 46th state in the Union.
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The above photo depicts a chandelier hanging from a stained glass ceiling.  However, the fixture is affixed to a steel I-beam running the length of the ceiling above the glass. 
We found this structure to be one of those “precious gems” Oklahoma has to offer simply for the viewing.  Tours are conducted 2 times daily, Monday through Friday, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  The price of the tour is $5.00 per person.  If interested, you can find more helpful information at http://www.guthriescottishrite.org/

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for coming and viewing the building. It is special place. The history of the building is amazing, but for me, is knowing that my great-grandfather, gradfather, and my two uncles onmy mom's side went through the exact same thing I went through to become a Scotish Rite Mason.

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