On Friday night I gave a presentation at the Indianapolis Masonic Temple to an audience of Masons and theatre folks about the role that our city's three Grand Lodge buildings have played in the community ever since the first one opened in 1851.
Many thanks to WBro. Patrick Elmore for recording this event and editing my presentation into a watchable video (see above). My apologies in advance for the audio. It's one of the deficiencies of recording on a phone.
As I pointed out, each of our three Temples' auditoriums (all officially known as 'Freemasons' Hall') were designed to accommodate our two large statewide Masonic meetings each year – but those massive rooms weren't really built for us. These big spaces were really designed to be used by the city for the rest of the year. And use it they did.
The First Temple
All three of our Masonic Temples over the years were intended to be an integral part of the community. In Indianapolis our large halls were used for theatrical shows, concerts, speeches, travelogues, public assemblies and debates, and much more. There were magic acts and circus performers, traveling authors and musical prodigies, famous scientists and inventors, story tellers and celebrities. Despite our strictures against the discussion of politics and religion in lodge itself, Freemasons Hall was the setting for Indiana's second Constitutional Convention in 1851, political rallies (Abraham Lincoln spoke there in 1859), stump speeches and tax debates, anti-slavery protests and rallies. It was even rented out to two different churches for their Sunday services.
 |
| The first Indianapolis Masonic Temple 1850 |
In 1855 our Masonic Hall was the site of the inaugural public procession and "sumptuous banquet" of Indiana's 'African Freemasons,' descended out of Prince Hall's African Lodge in Massachusetts. The next year they would form the Independent Union Grand Lodge (Colored) of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana, which was the precursor to today's MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana.
In the 1870s it held the distinction of becoming the first noteworthy building in the city outfitted with gaslights—apropos, since Masons are always desirous of "more light...".
The Second Temple
 |
| The second Indianapolis Masonic Temple 1875 |
Indianapolis' second Masonic Temple was built in 1875, and there was a huge uproar when the architectural firm failed to include an auditorium in the initial design. The Indianapolis lodges and Grand Lodge were far more interested in having downstairs rental income property. The protests became so heated that they were forced to purchase the next lot to the south at great expense to hastily add an auditorium to the new Temple's backside. It became just as popular as the first one had been to the city.
When the second Temple caught fire in 1905, thousands of people swarmed downtown to watch it burn and mourn its passing. They lined the streets and the small hillside of the State House across the street to watch in horror as the roof collapsed and was consumed by the flames. One brave firefighter ran into the building and emerged from the flames moments later carrying a massive silver drill team trophy of Indianapolis' nationally famous Raper Commandery No. 1 to safety. The crowd erupted in cheers. Indianapolis' Masons were considered a vital part of the city then, and our loss was a loss to the whole community.
The Third Temple
 |
| Cornerstone ceremony of the third Indianapolis Masonic Temple on June 6, 1908 |
When the Grand lodge of Indiana laid the cornerstone of the third Indianapolis Masonic Temple in 1908, 5,000 people attended the event to cheer us on. The whole city knew that the Masons would be erecting yet another significant building that the community could be proud of. When it opened in 1909, 1,500 people crammed into the building, and another 3,000 surrounded it outside. The Governor couldn't manage to squeeze through the crowd to give his scheduled speech, and finally went home out of frustration.
 |
| Freemasons' Hall auditorium of the present Indianapolis Masonic Temple as it appeared in 1913. Note the pipe organ at the back of the stage(one of seven in the whole building). It was removed a few years later to increase the depth of the stage. |
During Word War II, our present auditorium made up a portion of the Masonic Service Center that expanded throughout the Temple – similar to a U.S.O. It provided services, meals and entertainment for 10,000 U.S. servicemen between 1943 and 45. It was considered the premiere relaxation and service facility in the city for members of the military and their families. The whole community knew they could count on the Freemasons.
In the 1950s Freemasons' Hall was regularly used for swearing-in ceremonies for newly naturalized immigrants. The federal judges who oversaw these events expressed the belief that Freemasonry embodied the American rights of freedom of assembly, expression and religious practice. So our auditorium was the ideal setting in which to express these values to new citizens embarking on their new lives in a new land.
After the 1960s our present Hall fell into disuse. We have not one, but three, major Masonic buildings in downtown Indianapolis, and that meant that the Grand Lodge could take advantage of those other venues without investing in and upgrading its own. The Scottish Rite and the Shriners both built bigger and better theaters, and so Indiana's Masons used them instead.
Grand Lodge moved the annual communication to the larger, more comfortable (and air conditioned) Scottish Rite Cathedral theater across the street. It's been there ever since.
Founders' Day didn't begin until 1961 and was first held at the Murat Shrine Theater (operated today as the Old National Center). That event eventually moved to the Cathedral.
By the 1980s the Masonic Temple's auditorium had become an elaborate broom closet, and Grand Lodge used it to pile up junk, old paperwork and floor buffers. Despite a couple of promising fits and starts in the late 90s and again in the early 2000s, the auditorium again went dark, the doors closed, and it remained largely unseen by our own members. Years of ego fights, hurt feelings, neglect, burnout, frustration and a one-foot-out-the-door attitude all took their toll. The city itself had long ago forgotten it even existed.
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can rise again.
In May of this year the Grand Lodge F&AM of Indiana officially took over the management of the Indianapolis Masonic Temple. Decision making has been streamlined, the logjam of inaction has been been broken at last, and great things are on the horizon. A fundraising and preservation foundation for the Temple has been reactivated, and major news is coming.
More important, this presentation on Friday was part of what will soon be announced publicly about an exciting new chapter in the Indianapolis Masonic Temple's history. Stay tuned!
In the 1950s Freemasons' Hall was regularly used for swearing-in ceremonies for newly naturalized immigrants. The federal judges who oversaw these events expressed the belief that Freemasonry embodied the American rights of freedom of assembly, expression and religious practice. So our auditorium was the ideal setting in which to express these values to new citizens embarking on their new lives in a new land.
After the 1960s our present Hall fell into disuse. We have not one, but three, major Masonic buildings in downtown Indianapolis, and that meant that the Grand Lodge could take advantage of those other venues without investing in and upgrading its own. The Scottish Rite and the Shriners both built bigger and better theaters, and so Indiana's Masons used them instead.
 |
| Indianapolis Scottish Rite Cathedral auditorium |
 |
| The Murat Shrine Theatre (operated today as the Old National Center) |
By the 1980s the Masonic Temple's auditorium had become an elaborate broom closet, and Grand Lodge used it to pile up junk, old paperwork and floor buffers. Despite a couple of promising fits and starts in the late 90s and again in the early 2000s, the auditorium again went dark, the doors closed, and it remained largely unseen by our own members. Years of ego fights, hurt feelings, neglect, burnout, frustration and a one-foot-out-the-door attitude all took their toll. The city itself had long ago forgotten it even existed.
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can rise again.
In May of this year the Grand Lodge F&AM of Indiana officially took over the management of the Indianapolis Masonic Temple. Decision making has been streamlined, the logjam of inaction has been been broken at last, and great things are on the horizon. A fundraising and preservation foundation for the Temple has been reactivated, and major news is coming.
More important, this presentation on Friday was part of what will soon be announced publicly about an exciting new chapter in the Indianapolis Masonic Temple's history. Stay tuned!
The three buildings are a unique cluster and possibly the most exceptional Masonic center in the world in terms of architecture.
ReplyDeleteOf course Washington has its share of Masonic buildings but not a campus like Indianapolis.
Great article Bro. Chris!
ReplyDelete