The first image comes courtesy of the Scottish Rite Valley of Bloomington. The second image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library. The third and fourth photographs were captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster. on 21 September 2008.

Please click here for images of Bloomington Chapter’s hall (known as the “Gold Room”) in the Bloomington Scottish Rite Cathedral.

The imagery to the left come to us through the courtesy of Bridgeport York Rite bodies.

The first image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.

The second photograph depicts the building's cornerstone, now displayed in front of Springfield's current Masonic Temple, and was captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster. on 14 September 2008.

These photographs were captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster. on 14 September 2008.

Each of the four halls boasted lavish ornamentation, murals, detailed mouldings, and powerful pipe organs. One of the halls featured what may have been the first horse-shoe balcony in a Freemason hall in the United States.

Despite being equipped with a 4,000-gallon reservoir in its attic, and a basement steam pump capable of propelling water fifty feet above the roof, building was gutted by fire on 17 June 1930.

Please click here for more details and cited references.

Please click here to see the interior.

The mid-construction photograph and the blueprints, both shown to the left, come to us through the courtesy of Hesperia Lodge No. 411, A.F.&A.M.

La Fayette Chapter’s monthly convocations are held on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month. Click here to visit the chapter’s website.

Please click here for images of La Fayette Chapter’s hall in Jefferson Park Masonic Temple.

[1] See Bruce Barnes, ed., “History and Rededication of Jefferson Masonic Temple,” The Hesperian (Chicago), vol. 70, no. 3 (July 2005): 1, 16. See also Edward E. Gaunt, A Historical Account of the First 100 Years of Providence Lodge No. 711, A.F.&A.M., (date unknown [c. 1968?]).

Formerly located at 122 [o.s.] 18 North [n.s.] LaSalle Street, in Chicago, Oriental Hall was home to Washington Chapter No. 43.

The more significant building in the complex, from our perspective here, however, is the large structure built, and first occupied in 1905, by the Scottish Rite[5] in the centre of the block, adjoining the south side of the church, and accessing the street via a stone-faced corridor extension constructed in the vacated alleyway at 923 North Dearborn Street [n.s.] (293-5 Dearborn Avenue [o.s.]).[6] The Valley’s so-called “Small Preceptory” occupied the third floor of this building in the centre of the block, and was the meeting place of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 from the 1960s until the complex was turned over to the property developers on 19 December 2006.[7] The structure was carefully razed over the course of several weeks in September and October 2007;[8] care and precision were required in order not to damage the surrounding structures.

Despite it having been constructed by the Scottish Rite, rather than a Royal Arch chapter or other York Rite entity, notice the keystone design of the apex of the west wall in the second photograph on the left. In later years, large ductwork obscured the view of the keystone shape.

Both buildings face Washington Square Park, popularly known in the early 20th Century as “Bughouse Square.” [9]

The colourised postcard to the left depicts both Medinah Shriners’ church building and the Scottish Rite’s structure (albeit with the entrance to the latter erroneously coloured as brick, rather than as its actual grey stone), sometime between 1905 and 1911, C.E. The monochromatic photograph of the Scottish Rite structure and the 1891 George B. Carpenter mansion comes to us by the courtesy of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago. The aerial or orbital photographs of the complex are copyright by MapQuest and are used herein pursuant to the fair use doctrine. The areal photograph of the demolition were captured by Companion Stanley W. Smith of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 on 13 September 2007. The ground-level photographs were captured by Companion David A. Miley, Grand Webmaster, also of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 on 15 September and 1 November 2007.

Please click here for our page about La Fayette Chapter’s hall in the former Scottish Rite Cathedral.

Please click here for more images and information about the former Scottish Rite Cathedral.

[2] Sam Loiacono & Harry Strouse, eds., Scottish Rite Cathedral Tour, Valley of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois: Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago (2003): 1.

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When dedicated in 1926, the temple was the home of La Fayette Chapter No. 2, Wiley M. Egan Chapter No. 126, Hyde Park Chapter No. 240, and Temple Chapter No. 252. No Masonic bodies meet there at present.

The first photograph on the left is a post card from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives of the Lake County Discovery Museum.

The second photograph was captured by the Chicago Architectural Photographing Company and is found among the University of Illinois’ Northwest Architectural Archives (American Terra Cotta Company Photographs). The tall, dark building, seen half a block to the east, is the Daniel Burnham-designed Masonic Temple Building (1892-1939).

The third image is the cover of the temple’s leather-bound dedication book, and is a part of the archives of La Fayette Chapter No. 2.

The final image comes to us from Planet99.com.

A formal cornerstone laying occurred on 2 November 1907, yet the northeast corner is bare of markings. Whether there is a ceremonial cornerstone elsewhere on the structure is currently under investigation.

The photographs were captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster. The image of the commemorative fob images comes courtesy of Excellent Companion Paul A. Scheeler, Past High Priest of La Fayette Chapter No. 2. Click on the fob image to see an enlarged view of the reverse side shown; click here to see an enlarged view of the obverse side.

Please click here for images of the Macon Chapter’s hall in the Decatur Temple.

Please click here for images of the alternate hall in Decatur Temple, configured for the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason.

The imagery to the left come to us through the courtesy of Grove Lodge No. 824, A.F.&A.M.

Please click here for our page featuring West Suburban Chapter’s hall in the Downers Grove Masonic Temple.

Please click here to visit the chapter’s website.

The 1928 temple was designed by world-famous architect, the late Companion John A. Holabird, and replaced a previous temple built downtown in 1889.

The second photograph on the left is a screen capture from Toth and Parsons Productions’ The Freemasons: The Mystery, Myth and Truth (1995, 2005), which was filmed almost entirely in and around Evanston Masonic Temple, Medinah Shriners’ former ‘mosque’ in Chicago, and the former Scottish Rite Cathedral in Chicago.

The third photograph was captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster.

This photograph was captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster.

Freeport Chapter’s monthly convocations are held on the first Tuesday evening of each month, less July and August when the chapter is dark.

The upper image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library. The lower image is from the website of the Valley of Freeport.

Oracle Chapter’s monthly convocations are held on the second Thursday evening of each month. Click here to visit the chapter’s website.

The images were captured by Most Excellent Companion, Richard E. Yena, Grand High Priest (then Right Excellent Deputy Grand High Priest), on 12 January 2008.

Granite City Chapter’s monthly convocations are held on the first Thursday evening of each month, less July and August when the chapter is dark.

The image was captured by Most Excellent Companion, Richard E. Yena, Grand High Priest.

The colourised postcard images to the left depict the temple circa 1909, and, like the modern photograph of the front door, come to us through the courtesy of Excellent Companion Paul A. Scheeler, Past High Priest of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 in Chicago, and Past Master of Hinsdale Lodge No. 934, A.F.&A.M. The monochromatic photograph depicts the temple circa 1920 and comes to us by the courtesy of Hinsdale Lodge No. 934, A.F.&A.M.

Please click here for our page featuring Hinsdale Chapter’s former hall.

Please click here to read more about the history of Hinsdale Masonic Temple.

This image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.

This photograph comes to us through the courtesy of Most Excellent Companion Franklin E. Cline, Past Grand High Priest.

This image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.

The cornerstone was laid in an elaborate ceremony on 9 September 1916. The following is the newspaper account from the 13 September 1916 issue of the former Naperville Clarion:

Corner Stone Laid For Masonic Temple

The corner stone of the new Masonic Temple in this city was laid on Saturday afternoon with impressive Masonic ceremonies, before a large assemblage of residents and Masons of the city and from surrounding counties. Bro. Ralph H. Wheeler, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, officiated, assisted by an occasional Grand Lodge composed as follows: Brothers H. H. Benjamin, Deputy Grand Master; C. W. Reed, Senior Grand Warden; C. A. Ashley, Junior Grand Warden; Claude V. Leffler, Grand Treasurer; Isaac Cutter, Grand Secretary; A. E. Randell, Grand Orator; Harry Woodward, Grand Chaplain; C. V. Wellner, Senior Grand Deacon; Edward Enck, Junior Grand Deacon; Wm. H. Bird, Grand Marshall; C. F. Wm. Schultz, Grand Pursuiviant; John Eisele, Senior Grand Steward; Earnest Rich, Junior Grand Steward; Ralph Steele Shepardson, Grand Architect; C. S. Gurney, Grand Tiler; John A. Bell, Master of Oldest Lodge.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master was escorted from the depot to the Masonic Hall by Aurora Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar, under Commander F. Merritt Pepper and Captain-General C. E. Cooley, which was headed by the Lounge Factory Band and the G. A. R. Drum Corps of Aurora.

The Grand Lodge was then convened at the Masonic Hall where together with a delegation of Master Masons, the procession was again formed, the line of march being east on Jefferson Ave. to Washington St., south to Water St., west to Main St. to Jefferson Ave., and east to the Temple site. The Grand Lodge then counter-marched through the line of procession and assumed their places on a tastefully decorated platform, erected for the occasion.

Worshipful Master Sankey S. Good, after a few introductory remarks, then requested the Most Worshipful Grand Master and the Grand Lodge, on behalf of Euclid Lodge No. 65, to officiate at the ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone, which was performed with Masonic honors. The occasion was most impressive and will never be forgotten by those who were priveleged to witness it.

Appropriate vocal selections were rendered in the course of the ceremonies by the Oriental Quartet of Chicago and a feature most appreciated was an oration delivered by Rev. A. E. Randell, the gist of which was the relation and benefits of Masonry to society in general and the fact that the importance and desirability of any edifice to a community, no matter how beautiful architecturally, rested absolutely on the nature of the institution which it houses.

The corner stone was the gift of Bro. Arthur R. Beidelman, a member of Euclid Lodge No. 65; it is exceptionally beautiful in design and will be a lasting and worthy monument to Masonry and to the beneficence of Bro. Beidelman.

Please visit the history section of Euclid Chapter’s website to see the buildings that formerly served as their temple.

These images are presented through the courtesy of Euclid Chapter No. 13.

The wording on the front of the building, between the second and third floors, reads “Crockery Hardware Dry Goods Groceries”. From the Naperville Historic Walking Tour, courtesy of the Naper Settlement Museum:

Henry Peaslee, 1850. This is one of Naperville’s oldest commercial buildings, similar to [214 North Ellsworth Street]. The building housed a grocery and dry goods store, with dances and social gatherings held in a hall on the third floor.

Please visit the history section of Euclid Chapter’s website to see the other buildings that formerly served as their temple.

The picture to the left shows the first lodge hall building as it currently looks, as of April 2007. These images are presented through the courtesy of Euclid Chapter No. 13.

This image comes to us through the courtesy of the Bridgeport York Rite bodies.

Please click here for an image of Henry Godeke Chapter’s former hall in Olney Masonic Temple, configured for the conferral of the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason.

Notice the globe lights bearing the symbols to indicate the various Masonic organisations in the temple, including the triple-tau, equilateral triangle, and circle, representing the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason, and thus Ford Chapter No. 113.

This photograph was captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster.

Notice the lights bearing the symbols to indicate the various Masonic organisations in the temple, including the triple-tau, equilateral triangle, and circle, representing the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason, and thus Sterling Chapter No. 57.

These photographs were captured by Wikimedia user IvoShandor. Click here to see more.

This photograph was captured by J. A. Brown, and comes to us through the courtesy of Image Community.

For one month in early 1864, the temple was the temporary home of Asboth Military Chapter UD to whom a dispensation was issued in 1863. The chapter was officered by civilians attached to the military work at Columbus, Kentucky, where it existed from 6 July 1863 until 20 January 1864, when it was moved to Vicksburg, and it met there from 28 January to 24 February 1864. The Grand High Priest, Hiram W. Hubbard, went with the chapter to Vicksburg, Mississippi. He said upon arrival:

We found the Masonic Temple under control of the Military Authorities. The Lodge room was occupied by three Military Lodges, the Chapter room by the Military Commission, who cheerfully gave way. We found several Royal Arch Masons there from Illinois, and a number of the former officers and members of Vicksburg Chapter No. 3, who rendered every assistance in their power by furnishing robes, jewels and fixtures, and aiding in the work.

The simple yet substantial building, an example of late Georgian architecture, had cast-iron lintels, brick pilasters and cornices. The brick entablature consisted of a wide capitular architrave and frieze, and a cornice with dentils ran across the east and south sides.

The second photograph shows a close-up of the large stone inset on the west side, between the second and third floors. It bears a Square and Compasses, within a capitular archway, flanked by a level and plumb.

The third photograph shows the south entrance at 717 Grove Street, which had been converted into a window. It features a capitular architrave, the keystone of which is inscribed with the Square and Compasses.

The fourth photograph shows the east and south sides. The white × in the background, less than two blocks west, marks the Illinois Central Railroad tracks.

These photographs were produced in 1972, by the Library of Congress' Historic American Buildings Survey, a year before the building's demolition. Click here to see the complete file on the temple.

This photograph was captured by Companion David Miley, the Grand Webmaster.