Please note that this is not our home lodge but is a lodge that one of our brethen has visited. Our lodge is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 On one very hot afternoon, I walked to the GL of Utah and arrived in front of a very impressive building with some features of the Southern Jurisdiction Scottish Rite House of the Temple. After walking around the building where the entry was located, I was greeted by Marianne, the GL office manager who promptly introduced me to the Grand Secretary, VW Lawrence F. After briefly explaining the reason of my visit and credentials, he offered to give me a tour of the GL building even if it was after hours. I may have inclined to refuse to not importunate them any further but the building was so impressive from the outside that I wanted to see the inside.
  And boy, I was right. This is along the GL of Massachusetts probably the most magnificent Grand Lodge I have seen. The GL was dedicated in 1927 but the splendor and finesse of each lodge room is just a delight. Marianne took me on the tour and made sure to give me a lot of interesting facts that you don’t find in the brochure or if you don’t know where to look. It started with the main corridor where one side was a staircase and the other side a ramp. She explained to me it was not because of disability concern in 1927 but because funeral services were held in the GL building and they needed to roll the casket in the upper floors. The elevator (which is still in service and the oldest in Utah) was too small

 Then I discovered the Colonial lodge room dedicated to George Washington and illustrated a plantation style room where the WM sits in the East under the outdoor porch of his house. Why outdoor? Because a man in that day didn’t wear a hat indoor and it would have been impolite for the WM to wear his hat indoor.

 Another interesting detail was that each lodge has a physical staircase consisting of 3, 5 and 7 steps. A touch, which I am sure, makes the initiation of the new FC even more realistic.

 Then the Egyptian room, dedicated around the same time Tutankhamen grave was discovered. A lot of refined details and mixture to make the wall look like parchment were made.
  Then we went to the Commandantery and the Scottish Rite main room. It was just as impressive as the smaller lodge rooms. One room, for the Templar was so refined in its details that it was very hard to believe it was done in 1927. It could have been an old English manor or court room from few centuries back.
  After being showered with a lot of memorabilia and information about the GL, VM Lawrence allowed me to purchase ties with the Universal Masonic Tartans. Any Masons can buy them online at http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/freemasons-universal-tartan.html but since I was there, I was going to buy them straight. However, not having enough cash or my checkbook, he allowed me to pay with PayPal! Now that’s what I called a 21st century Grand Lodge!
  And then, after bidding farewell to Marianne for a great hospitality, patience and humor during the tour, VN Lawrence gave me a ride back to the hotel. Thanks to the GAOTU because it was very very hot outside!

Submitted by Wor. Sebastien Taveau, P.M.