Masonic Temple
Encyclopedia
Masonic Temple is a term commonly used in Freemasonry
with multiple but related meanings. It is used to describe an abstract spiritual goal, the conceptual ritualistic space formed when a Masonic Lodge
meets, and the physical rooms and structures in which a Lodge meets. When used to describe a structure the term is interchangeable with the term Masonic Hall.
All lodges are, symbolically, a continuation of that founding lodge in Jerusalem. Whenever Masons meet, they claim to do so "in a place representing King Solomon's Temple". This representation is created by the officers and brethren of the lodge sitting or standing in a rectangle, facing inwards (thereby forming the symbolic walls of the Temple). In the center of this space is a table or altar, upon which is placed the bible (or other holy book, depending on the religious make-up of the lodge) representing the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple. Thus, the brethren form a "Masonic Temple" whenever they meet, regardless of the location of the gathering.
In the early years of Freemasonry, from the 17th through the 18th centuries, it was most common for Masonic Lodges to form their Masonic Temples either in private homes or in the private rooms of public taverns or halls which could be regularly rented out for Masonic purposes. This was less than ideal, however, meeting in public spaces required the transpiration, set-up and dismantling of increasingly elaborate paraphernalia every time the lodge met. Lodges began to look for permanent facilities, dedicated purely to Masonic use.
The first Masonic Hall was built in 1765, in Marseille
, France
. A decade later in May, 1775 the cornerstone of what would come to be known as Freemasons' Hall
, London, was laid in solemn ceremonial form spurring a trend that would continue to present day. Most lodges, however, could not afford to build their own facilities, and instead rented rooms above commercial establishments (hotels, banks and opera houses were the most common landlords). With permanent facilities, the term "Masonic Temple" began to be applied not just to the symbolic formation of the Temple, but also to the physical place in which this took place. It began to be applied to the lodge rooms themselves. (A similar transfer took place with the term Masonic Lodge, which in ritual terms refers to the people assembled and not to the place of assemblage. In common usage, however, it began to be applied to the place as well as the people.)
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, as the popularity of Freemasonry grew, more and more lodges began to have the financial wherewithal to own their own premises. In many locations this was spurred by changing tax laws that allowed fraternal and benevolent societies to own property and lease space without being taxed as commercial landlords. In larger towns and cities, where there were many lodges, it became economical for groups of lodges to band together and either purchase or build their own buildings with both commercial space and lodge rooms in the same building. The rents from the commercial space going to the upkeep of the lodge rooms. This was especially true in cities where the Grand Lodge met. These buildings, too, began to be referred to as "Masonic Temples", "Masonic Halls", or "Masonic Lodges".
In smaller towns the trend was different. Here, instead of building large impressive buildings (in the hopes of attracting commercial tenants), the local lodges tended to build more modest structures or purchase buildings that had historic value. This was especially true in the United States, where the Freemasons wanted their fraternity to be associated with the history of the local community. Thus they looked to purchase old churches, schools and the homes of community founders, which they would convert into lodge meeting space. These too began to be known as "Masonic Temples".
The 1920s marked a heyday for Freemasonry, especially in the United States. By 1930, over 12% of the adult male population of the United States were members of the fraternity. The dues generated by such numbers allowed state Grand Lodges to build on truly monumental scales. Typical of the era are the Dayton Masonic Center
and Detroit Masonic Temple
(the largest Masonic Temple in the world).
However, the good times were not to last. The Great Depression hit Freemasonry as hard as it hit the rest of the world, and both local Lodges and Grand Lodges turned away from erecting buildings and towards helping those in need. World War II saw resources were focused on supporting the War effort. While there was something of a resurgence in the 1950s, the anti-establishment attitudes of the 1960s and 1970s affected membership numbers even further. Lodges began to close and merge. Many lodges could no longer afford to maintain their buildings and sold them to developers. Many Masonic Temples and Halls were converted to non-masonic uses. They were converted to completely commercial spaces, hotels, night clubs, and even condominiums. Many lodges have returned to renting rooms, and there is even a small movement calling for Freemasonry to return to its roots and open their Masonic Temples in taverns.
Several Masonic Temples were designed by notable architects, including Burnham & Root, Napoleon LeBrun, Osgood & Osgood, John Russell Pope, and John C. Austin
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
with multiple but related meanings. It is used to describe an abstract spiritual goal, the conceptual ritualistic space formed when a Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
meets, and the physical rooms and structures in which a Lodge meets. When used to describe a structure the term is interchangeable with the term Masonic Hall.
Origins in Masonic ritual
The term Masonic Temple originates in Masonic ritual and tradition. Masonic tradition, as expressed through the fraternity's ritual, holds that the first Masonic Lodge was formed at the building of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, and that Freemasons are the philosophical heirs of the operative stonemasons who build it. A Freemason engages in building "a spiritual temple in his heart" a "house not made with hands" that echos the physical temple built by operative stonemasons in Jerusalem.All lodges are, symbolically, a continuation of that founding lodge in Jerusalem. Whenever Masons meet, they claim to do so "in a place representing King Solomon's Temple". This representation is created by the officers and brethren of the lodge sitting or standing in a rectangle, facing inwards (thereby forming the symbolic walls of the Temple). In the center of this space is a table or altar, upon which is placed the bible (or other holy book, depending on the religious make-up of the lodge) representing the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple. Thus, the brethren form a "Masonic Temple" whenever they meet, regardless of the location of the gathering.
Development and history
The first Masonic Hall was built in 1765, in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. A decade later in May, 1775 the cornerstone of what would come to be known as Freemasons' Hall
Freemasons' Hall, London
Freemasons' Hall in London is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and a meeting place for the Masonic Lodges in the London area. It is in Great Queen Street between Holborn and Covent Garden and has been a Masonic meeting place since 1775...
, London, was laid in solemn ceremonial form spurring a trend that would continue to present day. Most lodges, however, could not afford to build their own facilities, and instead rented rooms above commercial establishments (hotels, banks and opera houses were the most common landlords). With permanent facilities, the term "Masonic Temple" began to be applied not just to the symbolic formation of the Temple, but also to the physical place in which this took place. It began to be applied to the lodge rooms themselves. (A similar transfer took place with the term Masonic Lodge, which in ritual terms refers to the people assembled and not to the place of assemblage. In common usage, however, it began to be applied to the place as well as the people.)
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, as the popularity of Freemasonry grew, more and more lodges began to have the financial wherewithal to own their own premises. In many locations this was spurred by changing tax laws that allowed fraternal and benevolent societies to own property and lease space without being taxed as commercial landlords. In larger towns and cities, where there were many lodges, it became economical for groups of lodges to band together and either purchase or build their own buildings with both commercial space and lodge rooms in the same building. The rents from the commercial space going to the upkeep of the lodge rooms. This was especially true in cities where the Grand Lodge met. These buildings, too, began to be referred to as "Masonic Temples", "Masonic Halls", or "Masonic Lodges".
In smaller towns the trend was different. Here, instead of building large impressive buildings (in the hopes of attracting commercial tenants), the local lodges tended to build more modest structures or purchase buildings that had historic value. This was especially true in the United States, where the Freemasons wanted their fraternity to be associated with the history of the local community. Thus they looked to purchase old churches, schools and the homes of community founders, which they would convert into lodge meeting space. These too began to be known as "Masonic Temples".
Heyday and decline
Dayton Masonic Center
The Dayton Masonic Center, formerly known as the Dayton Masonic Temple, is a significant building in Dayton, Ohio.It was built by a Masonic Temple Association formed from 14 Masonic groups...
and Detroit Masonic Temple
Detroit Masonic Temple
The Detroit Masonic Temple is the world's largest Masonic Temple. Located in the Cass Corridor of Detroit, Michigan, at 500 Temple Street, the building serves as a home to various masonic organizations including the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. The Masonic Temple Theatre is a venue...
(the largest Masonic Temple in the world).
However, the good times were not to last. The Great Depression hit Freemasonry as hard as it hit the rest of the world, and both local Lodges and Grand Lodges turned away from erecting buildings and towards helping those in need. World War II saw resources were focused on supporting the War effort. While there was something of a resurgence in the 1950s, the anti-establishment attitudes of the 1960s and 1970s affected membership numbers even further. Lodges began to close and merge. Many lodges could no longer afford to maintain their buildings and sold them to developers. Many Masonic Temples and Halls were converted to non-masonic uses. They were converted to completely commercial spaces, hotels, night clubs, and even condominiums. Many lodges have returned to renting rooms, and there is even a small movement calling for Freemasonry to return to its roots and open their Masonic Temples in taverns.
Naming conventions
When Freemasons first began building dedicated structures the more frequently used term for a Masonic Temple was Masonic Hall. This began to change in the mid 19th Century when the larger Masonic Halls most often found in major cities began to be named with the term Masonic Temple. As time went on more and more American buildings began using the name Masonic Temple regardless of their size or location. In US Freemasonry today the term Masonic Hall is experiencing a revival motivated in part by the public misconception that Masons conduct a form of religious worship in their Temples.Usage
Though Masonic Temples in their most basic definition serve as a home to a Masonic Lodge they can also serve many other purposes as well. Smaller Masonic Temples will often consist of nothing more than a meeting room with a kitchen/dining area attached. Larger Masonic Temples can contain multiple meeting rooms, concert halls, libraries, and museums as well as non-masonic commercial and office space.Masonic architecture
Since their inception the proper design of a Masonic Temple has been a serious subject debate among Masonic scholars. And because of that ongoing debate a number of different standards have been proposed throughout time. Despite these attempts at standardization, Masonic Temples often vary widely in design and only the layout of the lodge room its self is fairly consistent across Masonic Temples world wide.Several Masonic Temples were designed by notable architects, including Burnham & Root, Napoleon LeBrun, Osgood & Osgood, John Russell Pope, and John C. Austin