The Grand Lodge of Philadelphia

The Masonic Temple of Center City Philadelphia

The Grand Lodge of Philadelphia

The main symbol that represents the Masons

            Through years, religions have been created to fulfill one of the most important needs for people: faith. Today, one of the most mysterious institutions that exists as an abstract spiritual goal is Freemasonry. It is believed that Freemasonry roots come from older eras because this initiative organization gave life to the mysteries of ancient Greek and Egypt and it is considered the only one that has survived in the modern west.  This institution is not part of any religion; however, Masons believe that only one god exists in the universe but people seek it in different ways. Therefore, Freemasonries pray to the “Grant Architect of the Universe” (God).   Their ceremonies are placed on temples called Masonic Temples or Lodges. There are many Masonic Temples around the world, mostly in the USA. The main Masonic Temple of Philadelphia is located at 1 North Broad Street, directly across from  City Hall at the center of the city. Even though Freemasonry is considered as a secret society, the Grant Lodge of Philadelphia is totally exposed in the middle of this city for easy access. Maybe there are more Masons in Philadelphia than people think. However, there exists signs that shows Freemasonry has always been in front our eyes, mostly in Philadelphia because it was the first city where Masons arrived in the USA. Also, Philadelphia is the city where many historical events happened that involved the people that may wanted to leave this fraternity on the naked eye of its citizens. In fact, secrecy over this fraternity may never have existed at all. It actually seems that there has always been more openness over this “secret society” than what people think. In other words, it seems that the Lodge located in Philadelphia is exposed to general people on purpose. Affirming this point, it will be necessary to understand what Freemasonry and Lodges are. The Freemasonry historical development at first in England the its spread in the USA, actions and events in the United States that involved important characters of the history, the different types of representation of Mason’s sings in the country and finally, how important the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia is to conclude this idea of Freemasonry as an open but never secret association. 

What Freemasonry is: 

Freemasonry is an institution of discrete character, founded on the ideology of equality, fraternity and liberty. This institution is based on four different ideologies. Philosophic because it drives man to the rational investigation of the natural law that drives human’s lives. Symbolic, because it represents the effort of thought by geometric symbols until the metaphysic abstraction.  Philanthropic because it practices the altruism, looking for the welfare of human kind, no matter race, gender or either religion. For example, there are many Masons who are Jewish, Christians, Indians, African Americans and so on. Finally, progressive because this institution practices solidarity and the absolute freedom of thoughts. In other words, Freemasonry looks for the truth, discarding fanaticism but putting in front human’s investigation, universal morality sowing culture and art as creations of human kind.

Where Freemasonry Comes From:

Although, the roots of the Masonic society started at England in 1717 at the hands of British Protestant pastors James Anderson and J. T. Desaguliers, followers of the spiritual movement inspired by Comenius, they quickly spread all around USA together with the installation of the Masonic temples that are also called Lodges. The Lodges are architectural structures where Masons organize their meeting and ceremonies. Today, there are many Lodges around the world thanks to the spread of this fraternal institution. However, the most flourishing lodges in the world are in the Unites States of America, which possesses four of the five million masons that are around the world, including a half million in England. After the colonization of the British Empire in North America, not only language but also mores and traditions were transferred from one continent to the other, including Freemasonry.

Philadelphia is the first city where Freemasonry began first during the colonization, which makes this city to be considered as the house of the first American masons. In fact, Philadelphia is the city where the Lodge of Saint John  was consecrate, which is considered the first Lodge in the Americas. Therefore, Philadelphia is the city where the history of the American Masonic started.

Henry Price, “The Father of American Freemasonry.”

Around 1730s, cities such as Massachusetts, Boston and mostly Philadelphia were occupied by Masonic lodges thanks to the Henry Price, “The Father of American Freemasonry.” This prestigious British man immigrated to the American Colonies in 1723 at 26 years old as a normal mason from England. However, during a visit back to his land in 1730, was named by the English Grand Lodge as Provincial Grand Master of New England, the authority next year will be extended to all of North America. The first news recorded about the organized lodges in the American colonies where Benjamin Franklin published an article in The Pennsylvania Gazette realizing the installation of Freemasonry in the colony. In fact, Franklin joined the Lodge Saint John of Philadelphia, which was the first Lodge of four established  in the Pennsylvania Colony by the Grand Lodge of England, in 1731, and went on to become Grand Master for many years shortly after print published as Anderson’s Constitutions. After Benjamin Franklin published the news at the prestigious gazette that everyone used to read during the time, can still been considered the masonic institution as a secret society in the USA?

Important Masons in the History of the United States. 

George Washington

Through the American history, there were many great names of the participants of the American Revolution that were Masons. Many of them were presidents, coronels, important merchants of the time, and so on. Such as Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, Robert Treat Payne, Richard Stockton, George Walton, William Whipple and Thomas Jefferson (nine signers of the Declaration of the independence of the United States were masons.) George Washington, for example, is a great representation of the masonic influences in early American history. George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States by Robert Livingston, Grand Master of New York’s Masonic Lodge. The Bible with which he took his oath was from his own Masonic lodge (Lodge #1 of San Juan, New York). In fact, it has been noticed that 9 of the 56 who signed the declaration of the independency in July 4^th, 1776 were masons. It seems like a small number now, but for that time it was considered a big deal because during this particular time is when the masonic lodges started to spread in the US. In fact, there are many Lodges in every city in this country. In case that this Lodges are secret places and temples as people affirm then why are they so exposed in cities and which such easy access to the public?. Then why all the secrecy rumors about this fraternity? What is secret and what is not about it?

There are many mysteries about the knowledge of Freemasonry as a fraternity but it is not a secret or either hided society. As an esoteric organization, Masons carry a secret that is the essence of its message and its reason for being. This message is transmitted through secret channels validated for the layman that could never be revealed, bounded by oath. It is the called “Masonic Secret,” of which most have been saying but not with great rigor. Many teaching can only be understood by the constant exercise of piety, integrity and honesty. In addition, through history, Freemasons have been persecuted for their ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity; therefore, it has required the utmost secrecy for meetings. Now, even though times have changed, we cannot make sure we always respect ideas, people or freedoms. Today’s constant “secret meetings” are just for precaution. For this reason, no one can decide to be a Mason by the person him/herself. The Masons can choose you to be part of this fraternity because they think you have the ability to understand their main objective. It seems complicated but it may not be at all. Masons have expose their objectives in very different ways but in every single place but just few people recognize the Masonic sigs.

Freemasonry mysterious  symbols: 

 Myth ?

The one dollar bill of the United States of America

As it was already explained, there were many Masons before and during the Independency of the United States of America. In fact, we can observe symbols and Masons since the beginning of the history of the Freemasonry in America. One of them is the American one dollar bill. Its symbols on the back have connection with Freemasonry society. The dollar was approved by the president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Mason of the #32 Lodge. It is noticed that on the back of the dollar there is a pyramid (Egyptian symbol of Excellency) with the eye of Horus or Isis on the top that represents the eye that sees everything (all seen eye), between many others.  This eye symbol together with some words and numbers shown all around the American dollar bill definitely shows Masonic presence. The statue of liberty is another historical monument that represents the existence of the Masonic sings. It was built on the top a Mason’s star where it used to be celebrated Masons ceremonies. The torch and the book together with the 33 steps where the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar stands are masons symbols created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and Gustave Eiffel, the French creators and designer of this statue who were masons from the great French Lodges. The American shield, as well, shows many of the masonic signs that has been observed until now. The star at the top formed by other stars, the number 13 represented by the arrows sustained by the eagle’s right leg, the 13 leaves of olive at the left leg of the eagle as well, and so on. As it is observable, all these signs and symbols has been always exposed to people in their everyday life like the one dollar bill. In fact, people can see that Masons exists everywhere and that they can interact with Masonic ideologies if they really want to. One of the greatest proofs to highlight this point is the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia.

The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia from inside

The Temple of Philadelphia, designed by James H. Windrim in 1868 and completely built by 1873, seems to be exposed by the mason not for secrecy, but rather for exposition to people. It is located at 1 North Broad Street, directly across from  City Hall at the center of the city. The huge beautiful wood doors are always opened to people who wants to get in and see the place, not only for Masons member, it also is opened for general people to visit the temple by itself and the Masonic museum that is behind it. That is right. There is a public museum inside the temple  where people in general can go and satisfy their wonders about what Freemasonry is about. This ornate structure shows beautiful inner architectures that provide information of the historical evolution of the fraternity. Also, the museum provides many tours where people can even register online to see the Masonic presidency tour, the museum architect tour, the temple tour and even an album expositions with many pictures that shows more about the American Masonic history and the people who were and has been involved in the fraternity through years. There is also a Masonic library where people can definitely investigate more about this society.  There is a big schedule on the internet website that provides prices and times to visit the place for people of all ages as also many contact numbers. In addition, there is always someone who talks to people explaining why they may consider to join the cause. Information which also appears at the website of the temple. In summarize, this Masonic Temple is opening their doors to let people in general be part of the fraternity. Therefore, people can no longer think that this community has things to hide from the citizens of the city when they can actually interact with this community like with any other that society considers as a normal one.

In conclusion, people have classified Freemasonry as a sect or hidden fraternity with lots of secrets involved, however, it has been provided enough proofs to concrete that all this secrecy and hidden society “rumors” are erroneous. Historically, Masons have tried to involve the right people to their community itself, but they never tried to occult it from others. Masons put clues and signs everywhere you can possible turn your head so people will be always dealing with Masonic meanings. There cannot exist a secret society if such society is not hidden. The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia is the greatest proof to conclude this point. People from everywhere around the world come to meet this great Lodge of Pennsylvania. In fact, the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia has been listed on the National Register of Historical places. Any tourists who comes to Philadelphia to appreciate historical architectures, sculptures and records can also visit the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia because it forms part of the history of this city. Not only because the Temple has been standing for longer than 130 years but because it is meaningful representation of the historical records of the city and the country itself. In summarize, this wonderful architectonical structure that is located at one of the most wonderful cities of the country opens doors for people who is interested and curious about such community as it is Freemasonry; its history and its significance and purpose as a fraternity. There is nothing hidden about it and people can interact with it as much as they want because it is not a secret society, quite the contrary, it is an opened one for everyone without discrimination of race, religion, believe or either gender and available for all ages. Reason why the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia is exposed to all the citizens at the center of the city of Philadelphia.