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1. George Washington Memorial Banquet Hall 

The George Washington Memorial Banquet Room seats over 400 and is used for banquets, receptions, special events and lectures. The Albert Hanauer collection of Royal Arch chapter pennies is located under the glass top of each table. They are arranged alphabetically, by state, provinces and countries. The walls in this room are painted in colors and forms taken from the fragments found in the streets of the ruins of Pompeii. The doors are trimmed in marble and the walls have a low marble wainscot. The furniture is oak and the chairs have pigskin seats. The carpet was made in three pieces especially for this floor.

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2. The Hall of Regalia 

The Hall of Scottish Rite Regalia is one of the several special areas developed in the House of the Temple during the 1992-1993 biennium. It consists of 36 original oil paintings by Bro. Robert H. White, 32°. The concept behind the Hall of Scottish Rite Regalia was for White to create an artistic and ultra-realistic still life of the various elements (apron, cap, cordon, baldric, jewel, ring, gloves, etc.) of each of the Scottish Rite Degrees (4th through 33rd), including the honors of the Knight Commander Court of Honour and the Grand Cross. Also, for historical purposes only, paintings of the aprons for the first three Scottish Rite Degrees, as envisioned by Albert Pike, were also created. Brethren, unfortunately, seldom see some of the regalia associated with the non-obligatory Degrees.

Custom cove lighting, was installed in the Hall of Scottish Rite Regalia so that each painting is individually and dramatically illuminated. In addition, a bronze plaque placed under each painting in the Hall indicates the number of the Degree, its title, and a brief statement of its duties.

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3. The Cornerstone Hall of Freedom

The Cornerstone Hall of Freedom commemorates the bicentennial Masonic reenactment in 1993 of the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. The stone used during the ceremony, a perfect 18-inch cube, serves as the exhibit’s centerpiece. The display also includes other memorabilia from the event including a photographic collage, a replica of the engraved silver plate affixed by George Washington under the original stone, and a copy of an 18th-century Masonic apron.

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4. The International Library

Formally established in 1933, the International Collection was dedicated with the following words: “To Universal Freemasonry and especially to those Masonic Bodies with which this Supreme Council holds fraternal intercourse and representation.” With more than 4,000 volumes from 68 countries, the number of items on each country varies widely and ranges from a single book for countries such as Zambia, Korea, and Malta to several bookshelves for countries such as Canada, England, and Germany.

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5. Masonic Philanthropies Exhibit

The Masonic philanthropies exhibit highlights the philanthropic activities of the Scottish Rite, particularly, the Scottish Rite Speech and Language Centers, hospitals and scholarship programs.

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6. Grand Commander's Collection

The Grand Commander's Collection features gifts from the Grand Commander’s travels around the world.

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7. Room Under Construction

 

 

 

 

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8. Burl Ives Collection

For many decades, Ill. Burl Icle Ives, 33°, Grand Cross, an award-winning singer and actor, touched the hearts of young and old. Beginning his performance career at the age of four, Ill. Ives spent his entire life bringing joy to those around him through both his artistic talent and his kindness. Although most of the world knew him as an entertainer, his membership in Masonry meant a great deal to him, and he constantly devoted himself to numerous charities.

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9. Albert Pike Museum

Albert Pike was Grand Commander of this Supreme Council from 1859 until his death in 1891, at the age of 82. During these 32 years, he wrote and compiled many books and became familiar with numerous languages, among them Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit. He is recognized as a great Masonic scholar, philosopher, and historian. He used his vast talents to research and rewrite the Rituals of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. His renown as a jurist, orator, philosopher, scholar, soldier, and poet extends throughout the world.

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10. Architect’s Hall of Honor

The dedication of the Supreme Temple Architects Hall of Honor was one of the highlights of the 1991 Biennial Session. An original oil portrait of President Harry S. Truman, 33°, donated by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri in 1990, was the premier painting installed in the Hall. Among them are such outstanding American Scottish Rite Freemasons as General James (Jimmy) Doolittle, 33°, G.C.; Gene Autry, 33°, G.C.; Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 33°, G.C.; Will Rogers, 32°; Senator Sam J. Ervin, 33°; and Bishop Carl J. Sanders, 33°, G.C. In addition, special lighting and a custom-woven carpet complete the Hall's distinctive character. In upcoming years, this illustrious pantheon of Masonic heroes, both past and present, will be completed with pride by the Scottish Rite, for in donating a portrait to the Temple Architects Hall of Honor, the Brethren not only honor our nation's most outstanding Scottish Rite Masons, but also give support to the House of the Temple, thus preserving it for generations to come.

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11. Americanism Museum

The Americanism Museum contains a rich and varied exhibit of artifacts that illustrate our Fraternity’s dedication to personal, social, and intellectual freedom. Here are displayed relics of the colonial and other periods of American history. For instance, there is a foundation stone from the White House which dates back to the original construction. Discovered during renovation started in 1948, the stone bears Masonic markings and is authenticated by a letter from former President Harry S. Truman, 33°. The collection also includes a life mask of President Abraham Lincoln and a lodge lantern used by a Union Army Lodge during the American Civil War.

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12. Past Sovereign Grand Commanders' Collection

This room contains a variety of interesting contributions from the Supreme Council’s Past Sovereign Grand Commanders. Among them are a mounted collection of railway watches, portraits and busts of Past Sovereign Grand Commanders, the Maurice H. Thatcher collection of memorabilia and books relevant to the Panama Canal, and the Kenneth S. Kleinknecht, 33°, display honoring his significant contributions to America's space program.

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13. Robert Burns Library

During his lifetime, Bro. William R. Smith, 32°, former Director of the National Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C., assembled one of the most complete collections of published works by and about Scottish poet Robert Burns. Recognized as one of the finest of all Burns collections, second only to the Burns Collection in Glasgow, Scotland, it was cataloged by Mr. William Thomson of the Public Library of Edinburgh, Scotland. The industrialist Andrew Carnegie, trustee of Mr. Smith’s estate, decided that because Robert Burns had been an ardent Freemason, it would be appropriate to place the Burns collection in the library of the Supreme Council, with the condition that it be housed in a special room available to the public and community of scholars.

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14. Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery

In 2003, The Supreme Council, 33°, added a new place of honor to the Scottish Rite Donor Recognition Program: The Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery at the House of the Temple. The Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery honors individuals who donate $1,000,000 or more to the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc. or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. This Portrait Gallery is not reserved to Scottish Rite Masons, but it is open to any friend of the Scottish Rite who makes the requisite donation. By having his or her original oil portrait mounted in the Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery, the Supreme Council, 33°, will honor each individual who donates $1,000,000 or more to the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc. or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc.

In the spirit of our partnership with our local Scottish Rite Foundations, The Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery also honors individuals who divide their gifts between a local Scottish Rite Foundation and the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc. or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. As long as $500,000 of a gift of $1,000,000 or more is designated for either the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc. or to the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc., the donor will qualify for this recognition. We are proud to announce that we already have 10 donors who qualified for portraits in this place of honor. Soon, we will add portraits of Bro. Elwin O. Studebaker, Jr., 32°, and his wife, Mrs. Terry Studebaker to this fine Gallery. Each of these individuals has helped to support the Scottish Rite charities and we are truly grateful for their generosity.

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All photographs of the House of the Temple unless otherwise noted are © Maxwell MacKenzie, Washington, D.C., and may not be used without written permission. Click here for more information.

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