Library Hall, circa 1909, now the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

The decoration of one of the spectacular rooms in the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia was completed 100 years ago. Originally planned and serving for many years as Library Hall, the present Museum is the first ornately decorated room that the visitor to the Temple encounters.

The Hall, forming the southeast corner of the building, is 40 feet wide by 60 feet long. Its main ceiling beam rests on four Corinthian columns, and divides the ceiling. Each half is further divided into 66 coffers by lighter beams. All of the woodwork is walnut. The entire room, including the floor is decorated in Byzantine style, with some Renaissance flavoring, and was done by Bro. George Herzog, who decorated many other areas, among them Norman, Egyptian, Ionic, Corinthian, and Grand Banquet Halls, as well as the upper walls of the Rear Staircase.

Bro. Herzog also painted the official portraits of R.W. Past Grand Masters Matthias H. Henderson, William J. Kelly, Samuel C. Perkins, and Edgar A. Tennis. He spared no effort with the painting in Library Hall: depicted on the walls are allegorical figures of "natural happiness," e.g., Charity, Peace, International Commerce; Fidelity and Virtue; the mediaeval departments of human knowledge; and the important cities of the ancient world. Each of the 66 ceiling coffers has its own painting: 20 of them are of seals of various Grand Lodges, including Pennsylvania, and other Masonic bodies; the other 44 are of ancient stonemasons' marks. Recesses and borders have beautiful interwoven tracery, and the friezes are decorated with Latin mottoes.

On Dec. 19, 1898, the Committee on Temple held a special meeting. The minutes recorded that Bro. Herzog was paid $7,000 for "decorating the walls and ceiling, mosaic floor, leaded glass transoms and refinishing woodwork." Everything else - the conversion of the gas fixtures to electricity and other wiring, bookcases, new furniture, and repairs to old, leaded glass windows, window shades, and brass foot rails together - cost $3,140.75. The Library Hall was reopened in January 1899 and on June 7, 1899, the decorations executed by Bro. Herzog under the supervision of the Art Association were turned over formally to Grand Lodge.

Bro. Herzog (1851-1920) was born and trained in Munich, Germany. He was a member of Lodge No. 51 (now University Lodge No. 51). He also was known for his work in New York and especially throughout Philadelphia, where he decorated many interiors, including some in City Hall, the Union League, the Academy of Music, Girard College for the Centennial Exposition, and several churches and private mansions.