En: The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia

The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest and largest Grand Lodges in the United States.

Courtesy of Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania

The Masonic Temple we know today wasn't the first such structure in Philadelphia. In fact, several buildings pre-date it, but they were destroyed by fire, sold, or met other sad fates. The immediate predecessor of the current structure was located at 713-721 Chestnut Streets. It was completed in 1855 and featured an ornate Gothic style. Shown here is a commemorative print depicting the Grand Lodge room at the Chestnut Street Hall. If the furniture and style look familiar, they should - much of it ended up being re-used in Gothic Hall in the current building. (Source: The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of PA, 2013)

Historie

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  Cornerstone

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  The Masonic Temple was constructed before Philadelphia's current City Hall. This lantern slide, dated 1887, show's City Hall under construction as seen from the Masonic Temple. (Source: The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of PA, 2013)

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  This photo dates from the 1880's. It shows the recently-completed Masonic Temple with Arch Street United Methodist Church at left and the construction site of City Hall on the right. Photograph by James Cremer (The Library Company of Philadelphia.) (Source: The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of PA, 2013)

George Herzog

George Herzog was arguably Philadelphia's leading decorative painter in the 1890's. He was already well known when the Art Association of the Masonic Temple first hired him to re-imagine the white walls of Egyptian Hall in 1888. The quality and quantity of the work he executed at the Masonic Temple over the next twenty years only increased his renown. (Source: The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of PA, 2013)

Renderings

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  Before beginning work on any of the rooms in the Masonic Temple, artist George Herzog would produce renderings of the finished product. This piece shows the proposed design for Norman Hall, circa 1890.

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  Egyptian Hall

Richard Vaux

Richard Vaux, former Mayor of Philadelphia, served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania from 1868 to 1869. He was very involved with the construction of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, laying the cornerstone of the structure using the same gavel George Washington used during the placing of the cornerstone at the United States Capitol building.