Beatitudes Panels by Eugene Savage

Inside the rotunda, alternating with art glass windows and the upper colonnade, eight panels by Eugene Savage depict the Beatitudes, which are eight blessings of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Savage chose to depict these murals in honor of the sacrifices of the American soldiers who served in World War I. One interesting panel, "Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven," depicts American soldiers receiving a wreath and crown of victory from the Roman god of war, Mars.

Fraternity, Charity, and Justice by Edwin Blashfield

Photos Copyright 2015 Mary Carp

In the vestibule that leads from the rotunda to the Grand Reception Room, three murals by Edwin Blashfield that once again depict the virtues of the Elks show further classical influence. "Fraternity" depicts Roman fasces and the Athenian ephebic oath, which also embodies fidelity. In "Charity," the horn of abundance is depicted in front of classical columns. The smallest mural depicts the figure of "Justice," which is often depicted blindfolded, but isn't here.

The Feast on Mount Olympus by Eugene Savage

Gabriel Caniglia

Eugene Savage's ceiling mural, a triptych located in the Grand Reception Room, is notable for depicting the Feast on Mount Olympus. In another example of Roman/American fusion, classical depictions of Jupiter and Mars contrast with a depiction of Juno in a 1920s American style. The mural's subject has special relevance to the Elks, who use a story of Mount Olympus to evoke the importance of Charity in their initiation rituals.