An Inside Look at the Masonic Temple

Jacob Blickenstaff, a blogging music photographer, sent us these images of the Masonic Temple, that beautiful and mysterious building that happens to be located across the street from the Brooklyn Flea. Like so many once grand ~~religious~~ institutions, this one seems to be in its faded glory days but gorgeous nontheless. You can see the full gallery here.

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Great photos but hardly illustrating the Masonic temple. Mostly closeups of peeling walls and rusting signs. Except for the one room shot, you really don't see how beautiful the building is (or was). I think the photographer says there were lighting conditions and I guess that may have prevented the him from taking photos that give a better sense of the architecture.

Posted by: bxgrl at August 13, 2008 10:33 AM

Stoner, I know you did not mean to imply that the Masonic Temple is, or ever was, a religious institution, but for some of your, er, younger readers, your write-up may give the wrong impression. Just for the record, the MT is a fraternal order, a club, one of the oldest. Washington and Jefferson and other founding founders were Masons.
It is surprising that the interiors are shabby. Most Masonic Temples are beautifully maintained and restored. The one on West 23rd Street in Manhattan is amazing inside.

Posted by: sam at August 13, 2008 10:39 AM

oooooh.........purty

Posted by: troll at August 13, 2008 10:44 AM

and for the conspiracy theorist on the forum, I'll take offense to the Masons being merely a "club".

; )

ps: amazing photos

Posted by: Prodigal_Son at August 13, 2008 11:06 AM

Has anyone been to a concert there?
( http://www.masonicboom.com/ )
The pics on the masonicboom webpage look great! It would be nice to have a decent music venue in the 'hood.

Posted by: qis4quincy at August 13, 2008 11:10 AM

I went to a concert (man man and yeasayer) there back in April. sound quality was avergae at best but pretty cool venue overall. nice size gym floor downstairs and a balcony with seats up above.

Posted by: bktycoon at August 13, 2008 11:18 AM

we have one of these in bushwick too (mysteriously called the Ridgewood Masonic Temple). it has been used as a music venue as well. what's next? Sonic Youth at the VFW hall?

Posted by: Jimmy Legs at August 13, 2008 11:33 AM

I think it is fair to say that the Masons are a fraternal secret society with quasi-religious trappings. (Religious groups as diverse as the Mormons and Haiti's Voudou have borrowed symbolism and practices from the Masons.)

The Mason's main temple in Philadelphia is right near Chinatown, and it is mind-blowing inside, very Raders of Lost Ark, like a Hollywood copy of an Egyptian tomb. You have to make an appointment to take a tour, though, you can't just walk in.

There is also a Chinese Masonic temple in Boston. Some people think Mason thought is based on ancient Chinese philosophy!

Posted by: WonTon at August 13, 2008 1:44 PM

That I would love to see, WonTon. Are any pictures posted on the internet?

Posted by: bxgrl at August 13, 2008 1:50 PM

Masonic Temple Grand Lodge Online Guided Tour:

http://www.pagrandlodge.org/tour/entry.html

Posted by: WonTon at August 13, 2008 2:20 PM

WonTon- omigod omigod omigod. Thanks you! That place is without a doubt, fabulous! I sent the link to a couple of people. (and thanks for the comment on the fence thread too)

Posted by: bxgrl at August 13, 2008 2:53 PM

As recently as the eighties this building's entrance on the Clermont Ave. side boasted what appeared to be pieced Tiffany glass world globes as lights. They were very beautiful, although missing some glass and one was part collapsed. They painted those pedestals an awful beige (I think they're bronze) at about the same time the globes vanished. I hope they're somewhere safe, but it's more likely they were stolen along with the neighborhood's copper drainpipes, which were all swiped around that same same time.

Posted by: Stonergut at August 13, 2008 8:11 PM

My father was a quaker and a mason. he would have been rather surprised to hear that a masonic temple was a religious institution. believe me, the masons do not talk about theology. it is mostly business and philanthropy.
basically they are the rotarians with more decor. so american, so good hearted. really.

Posted by: Gary Cooper at August 13, 2008 10:22 PM

But such great decor!

Posted by: bxgrl at August 14, 2008 1:09 AM

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August 13, 2008

An Inside Look at the Masonic Temple

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