[Jason]

TERRE HAUTE — Ornate doors to ancient works were opened wide on Saturday.

“It’s the greatest fraternity the world’s ever known,” Jerry Burns said inside the Terre Haute Masonic Temple, offering tours and answering questions about a society with secrets that wants the public to visit.

Almost 70 lodges throughout Indiana were opened from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday as part of the state-wide Grand Masters Open House Program. Freemasons representing numerous affiliate organizations were on hand to answer questions and explain their work. With roots in the stone masonry guilds which labored on King Solomon’s temple, the international fraternity of Freemasonry is one with an aim to improve its members through moral instruction via allegory and history.

Located at 224 N. Eighth St. across from Hulman Center, the Terre Haute Masonic Temple bears a plaque denoting its membership in the National Register of Historic Places. And Burns was quick to point out the many reasons why.

Inside one of the first floor’s sitting rooms, the antique furniture of Alexander McGregor is on display and used with regularity. McGregor purchased what would become McGregor and Co. Distillers in 1850, becoming one of the area’s wealthy 19th century industrialists. The dining room table, book shelves, chairs and other ornate pieces all date back to about 1870, Burns said.

Up marble stairs and past dozens of stained glass windows, candlestick holders bought in 1893 are still used for ceremonies. Resting in glass cases are gold-plated swords for ritual use, with the names of the men who donated them hanging above like their street signs throughout town, including among others: George Farrington, Francis Crawford, John Cruft and Charles Cruft.

read more Terre Haute News, Terre Haute, Indiana- TribStar.com - Freemasons open doors for membership inquiries and tours of lodges