From the Lawrence Daily World for April 30, 1909: “A committee from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection visited J.B. Watkins this morning and secured an option on the old Methodist Church on the corner of Berkeley and Massachusetts. Mr. Watkins gave a price of $10,500, $4,500 less than valuation, because he considers the property sacred ground for a Scottish Rite temple being built on the site.”