Spectacular Spaces
Do they speak to the importance of Freemasonry?
Tuesday night I spent some hours at the Doric Masonic Temple in Seattle. Perhaps the most memorable thing about the Temple (other than the massive statue of Lenin on the street corner) is its truly wonderful Library. Dark woods, a full bar, comfortable seating and conversation nooks. The perfect place to connect and reconnect with Brothers before and after a meeting.
Wednesday night I spent some hours at the Kelso Masonic Temple in, you guessed it, Kelso. Perhaps the most memorable thing about this Temple is its truly beautiful, and impeccably maintained Lodge Room. It is truly a gem, but not only a gem, a highly polished gem. The perfect place for Masonic ritual and ceremony. It was a superb space before the pandemic, made even more so with the improvements that were made while our Lodges were closed.
I believe that when Masonic spaces are as nice as these, it powerfully communicates something about our Ancient Craft. It communicates that we value our Craft. That it holds a place of high importance in our lives. It communicates that value and importance to ourselves, to our Masonic visitors, and to those who are considering Freemasonry.
It is, frankly, easy to enter a sacred mindset, or be filled with the joy of brotherhood when entering a space such as these.
It is also easy to be proud. I’m proud to be a member of Doric Lodge, knowing that my Lodge has created such a wonderful social space. I’m proud to be a member of Kelso Scottish Rite, knowing that we perform our ritualistic work in such a delightful Lodge room. I’m proud enough to want to drag my friends along with me.
But…
I believe that this can work in the opposite way as well.
I believe that when our Lodge rooms go obviously unmaintained, and our social spaces are very far from beautiful and comfortable, that communicates something powerful as well. It communicates that we don’t hold the Craft in very high esteem. That it just isn’t very important to us. It communicates these things to us every time we enter a neglected Masonic space, and it communicates these things to our Masonic visitors, and those thinking about petitioning our Lodge.
How many good new Masons do we receive every year because a Mason is proud of his Temple, and drags his friends in to visit his Lodge? How many good men are not exposed to Masonry each year because Masons are rather ashamed of their Temple, and as a result, don’t want to show it off to their friends?
We need to look at our Masonic spaces with a critical eye.
What are they communicating to our Masons? Is it a space that our Masons look forward to spending time in?
What are they communicating to our visiting Brothers? Do they show the high value we place upon Freemasonry?
What are they communicating to prospective candidates? Do they show that Freemasonry occupies an important place in our lives?
It costs nothing to sweep, vacuum, and dust. It costs little to paint. The return on investment is huge.
Let’s show our pride in being Freemasons by caring for our Masonic spaces. Let’s make them great enough that we are excited to show them off to our friends. This is one way we can strengthen and grow our Lodge, another way we can create Legendary Freemasonry.
nice things are nice. I'd rather stay in a nice hotel than a poor one.
But you don't ever want to be in a situation where it has to be nice for you to get the work done. We want a fraternity that can meet in a room above a tavern and scratch out some chalk on the floor, mopping up before we leave. We don't have to be so rustic, my point is just that none of the work requires splendor
God doesn't need silver candlesticks but the church might, if you catch what I'm saying.
My blue lodge in Albuquerque, Temple Lodge #6 was built in around the 60s. The old lodge downtown had burned down. Thankfully this lodge was well funded and able to buy land and build a new temple. The members at the time had the foresight to build not just a lodge for their needs, but for future generations. Of course, having the finances helped pull that off. When you walk in the lodge room, you feel that esoteric pull on your heart. The star light heavens, the floor, all of it combines for a wonderful meeting space. They have a library as described by MW. In addition, they had a pool hall and several small office spaces for members to practice with new brothers.
I have yet to see anything to match that in WA yet, but I have hope.
Likewise, the Valley of Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple is a thing of true beauty. The lodge room is magnificent. You can feel the history.
When I am in such a space, the boring parts of masonry, the mundane, slide away, and the light is easier to find.
Not all lodges have 100 or 200 year old buildings that have been as well cared for as we would like.
But it's our duty to our forefathers to improve upon what they left us, and leave future generations able to say they are proud of the lodge we leave them.