STB-81-09
MASONIC SITES in
HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA
So much of Masonry in America had its roots
in Philadelphia. This Short Talk Bulletin notes
the Masonic connections and heritage of many of
these sites, a heritage overlooked or ignored by
non-Masons. As you visit this great city with its
landmarks in American history, we know you
will share our pride in the pervading influence of
Freemasonry in the founding of our nation and
in the development of its culture. This will help
you identify Masonry with historic Philadelphia.
1. MASONIC TEMPLE-One North Broad
Street-is the home of the Grand Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. One of
the wonders of the Masonic world, the
Temple's symbolic turrets and spires form part
of Philadelphia's downtown skyline. The Temple was designed by Brother James H. Windrim, a noted architect and member of Lodge
No. 72. The Temple has seven Lodge Halls, the
finest examples of Corinthian, lonic, Italian
Renaissance, Norman, Cothic, Oriental and
Egyptian styles. The Temple also contains the
offices of the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter
and Grand Commandery; committee rooms;
banquet rooms; and modern kitchen facilities.
The Temple houses the Grand Lodge Museum,
with one of the greatest collections of Masonic
treasures in the world, and a library of more
than 70,000 volumes, many of them rare items.
The huge granite cornerstone was laid June 24,
1868. The Temple was dedicated September 26,
1873, in solemn ceremonies. Directly across
from the main entrance is a bronze statue of
"Benjamin Franklin-Master Craftsman" which
the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania presented to
the City on June 27, 1981.
2. SCOTTISH RITE CATHEDRAL-Broad
and Race Streets. Designed by Brother Horace
W. Cantor and completed in 1927, the massive
seven-story, gray limestone structure of Greek
Doric design, contains exhibits of Masonic
significance in its main lobby. The Cathedral
contains an auditorium with a seating capacity
of 1,960, acoustically one of the finest in the
United States. It is the headquarters of the
Valley of Philadelphia, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.
3. CITY HALL-Broad and Market Streetsis the most prominent landmark in
Philadelphia. The tower is 547 feet tall, including the huge statue of William Penn,
founder of Pennsylvania, at the top. Brother
John McArthur, Jr., architect of the Hall, was
assisted in its details by Brother Thomas U.
Walter. The cornerstone was laid at high
twelve, July 4, 1874, by Brother Alfred R. Potter, R.W. Grand Master, in the presence of His
Honor the Mayor, Brother W.S. Stokley,
Members of Councils, and a large number of
citizens, many of whom were members of the
Craft. The inscribed cornerstone may be seen in
the Northeast corner (inside North Arch).
4. JOHN WANAMAKER'S DEPART-
MENT STORE- I3th and Market Streets-was
opened in 1876 in the former freight depot of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. The present
building was completed in 1910. It is famous
for the bronze eagle in the grand court, a
popular city meeting place, and for its daily
organ concerts. Brother John Wanamaker,
merchant prince, was a distinguished Mason, a
member of Friendship Lodge No. 400 until his
death, December 12, 1927.
5. LIBERTY BELL-on Independence Mall
directly across from Independence Hall and
facing it on Chestnut Street. The "Liberty
Bell" was moved from Independence Hall to its
new pavilion at one minute past midnight,
January 1, 1776. The Bell was ordered from
London by the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751
to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of
William Penn's Charter of Privileges insuring
freedom to the citizens of his province. The
original Bell cracked on its first ringing and was
recast by Pass and Stow in 1753. It was rung on
July 8, 1776, to summon the citizens to the
State House yard to hear the Declaration of Independence read by Brother and Colonel John
Nixon.
6. INDEPENDENCE HALL-Chestnut
Street between 5th and 6th Streets-was originally the State House of Pennsylvania. It was
begun in 1732 and completed in 1756, and served as the seat of Pennsylvania's Government
until 1799. In the Assembly Room, the Second
Continental Congress adopted the Declaration
of Independence, July 4, 1776. Here in 1787,
the Federal Constitutional Convention framed
the Constitution of the United States. From
1800 to 1802, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
used the west room on the second floor of Independence Hall.
7. CONGRESS HALL-6th and Chestnut
Streets is one of two buildings adjoining Independence Hall, the other being Old City Hall
on the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets. Congress Hall had originally been built, 1789-1790,
as the Philadelphia County Court House, but
was turned over to the Federal Government for
the use of Congress and has since been known
as Congress Hall. The House of Representatives met on the first floor and the United
States Senate on the second floor between 1790
and 1800. Brother George Washington was inaugurated for his second term in this building.
Many prominent Masons, members of both
legislative bodies, met in Congress Hall. A
number of Masonic Lodges have had the honor
of meeting here.
8. OLD CITY HALL-5th and Chestnut
Streets-was built between 1789 and 1791. Upon
its completion, it was offered to the United
States Government for its use, and it was here
that the Supreme Court convened, 1791-1800.
Brother George Washington, in selecting judges
for the Supreme Court, stated that he considered the new judicial system one that would
"give dignity and justice to our national
character. " He named Brother John Jay as
first Chief Justice. On April 21, 1779, Jay had
written to Washington a letter of Masonic
significance. "The dissolution of our governments threw us into a political chaos. Time,
Wisdom and Perseverance will reduce it to
Form and give it strength, Order and Harmony.
In his work you are (in the style of your profession) a Master Builder, and God grant that you
may long continue a Free and Accepted one."
After the Federal Government moved to
Washington, D.C. in 1800, this building
reverted to its original purpose and became
Philadelphia City Hall until the city government moved to the present City Hall in 1887.
9. PHILOSOPHICAL HALL-104 South
5th Street-is the home of the American
Philosophical Society, which Brother Benjamin
Franklin helped to found in 1743. The Hall was
built between 1785 and 1789, and contains
many Franklin items. Although the building is
not open to the public, it is Masonically important because of Franklin and other Masons who
were connected with it. It is the oldest society
devoted to scientific learning in America.
LIBRARY HALL, across 5th Street from
Philosophical Hall, is a reconstruction of a
building originally erected 1789-1790 for the
Library Company of Philadelphia, another of
Brother Franklin's institutions. The building
today houses the library of the American
Philosophical Society. In its collections are
about 58ø70 of all Franklin documents. The
Library may be visited from 9-5, Monday
through Friday.
10. CARPENTER'S HALL-320 Chestnut
Street-was built in 1770 by the Carpenter's
Company, a guild of master carpenters, which
still owns and maintains it. The First Continental Congress met there in 1774. Among its
members were bricklayers, stonecutters, and
various craftsmen, a number of them members
of Philadelphia Masonic Lodges. Brother
Robert Smith, one of America's most successful "architects," designed Carpenters' Hall, as
well as Christ Church steeple and other early
buildings, including Brother Benjamin
Franklin's house on High (Market) Street.
11 . FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED
STATES-I 16 South 3rd Street, between
Chestnut and Walnut Streets-was erected
1795-1797 and is the oldest bank in the United
States. When its charter lapsed in 1811, Brother
Stephen Girard, merchant, shipowner and
philanthropist, bought it for his private bank in
1812. Brother Girard is well-known in
Philadelphia for his acts of charity, including
Girard College and the Stephen Girard Charity
Fund he established in the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania.
12. BISHOP WHITE HOUSE-309 Walnut
Street-was the home of Brother William White,
rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's and
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
Pennsylvania, 1787-1836. He was Chaplain of
the Continental Congress. Many important persons of the period, including Washington, dined at the Bishop's House.
13. FRANKLIN'S COURT-Orianna Street
between 3rd and 4th Streets. In this little alley is
Franklin's Court where Brother Benjamin
Franklin built his home in 1765. He lived here
until he died in 1790 at the age of 84. Although
the house no longer exists, a skeleton structure
shows where it once stood. Archaeological diggings on the site have uncovered the foundations and many interesting artifacts. Brother
Franklin left his mark in many fields-science,
politics, diplomacy, literature, humanities and
Freemasonry.
14. CHRIST CHURCH-2nd Street north of
Market Street-was established as a parish in
1695. Its church building dates from 1727 and is
generally regarded as the most historic of
Philadelphia's colonial churches. The tower
and spire were added in 1754, financed by a lottery of which Brother Benjamin Franklin was
one of the organizers. A number of its clergy
and parishioners were Masons. Brothers
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
had family pews there. While Washington was
in Philadelphia in 1778, the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania held a procession in honor of St.
John's Day (December 27). Some three hundred Brethren marched to Christ Church to
ceremonies in which "His Excellency our Illustrious Brother George Washington, Esq."
participated. "An excellent and well-adopted
sermon was preached by our worthy and
revered Brother William Smith, D.D.", Grand
Secretary of the Grand Lodge.
15. BETSY ROSS HOUSE-239 Arch Street-
is the home of the seamstress who has been
credited with making the first American flag.
Brother John Ross, husband of Betsy, was a
member of Lodge No. 2, Philadelphia.
16. CHRIST CHURCH BURIAL
GROUND-Sth and Arch Streets-contains the
graves of seven signers of the Declaration of Independence. Francis Hopkinson, George Ross,
James Wilson, Benjamin Rush and Brothers
Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris and Joseph
Hewes. The grave of Franklin and his wife
Deborah has a bronze plaque upon which is inscribed an epitaph written by Franklin when
twenty-two years of age. "The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer, like the cover of an old
book, its contents torn out, and stripped of its
lettering and gilding, lies here, food for worms.
But the work shall not be wholly lost; for it
will, as he believed, appear once more, in a new
and more perfect edition, corrected and amended by the Author." Christ Church still maintains this burial ground which has been in existence since 1719.
17. FREE QUAKER MEETING HOUSE-
5th and Arch Streets-was built in 1783, two
years after the battle of Yorktown. The Free
Quakers, "Fighting Quakers" as they were
sometimes referred to, took the oath of allegiance to the new United States and bore arms in
its defense. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
met here between 1790-1799.
18. GRAFF HOUSE-7th and Market
Streets. Here Thomas Jefferson wrote the
Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's
Masonic membership is accepted by some
Masonic historians, while others question it.
19. CITY TAVERN-2nd Street between
Walnut and Chestnut Streets-was completed in
1773, and was a favorite gathering place for the
businessmen of the period and a center for
revolutionary activities. It was also the temporary meeting place of the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania, 1777-1778, during the British occupation of Philadelphia. City Tavern has been
reconstructed and is once again open for food
and refreshment.
20. TUN TAVERN-Mattis and Spruce
Streets-was also known as " Peggy Mullen' s
Beefsteak House." This famous tavern was razed some years ago and the land it occupied on
Water Street between Chestnut and Walnut
Streets was incorporated into the Delaware Expressway. The Marine Corps War Memorial
Foundation has broken ground at the Spruce
and Mattis Streets site for the new Tun Tavern.
The historic significance of this building is
threefold. It was the birthplace of the United
States Marine Corps, when in 1775 Captain and
Brother Samuel Nicholas opened a recruiting
office there. The St. Andrew's Society was
organized in the Tavern in 1749. On St. John's
Day, June 24, 1732, William Allen was elected
Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania (Moderns) in Tun Tavern,
which also served as the meeting place of St.
John's or "First" Lodge and of Tun Tavern
Lodge.
21. POWEL HOUSE - 244 South 3rd
Street-is one of the fine Georgian houses in the
United States. It was the home of Samuel
Powel, often called the "Patriot Mayor"
because he headed Philadelphia's City government until 1789. The last mayor under British
rule, he was also the first under the free nation.
Frequent guests of Powel were Washington,
Lafayette and other great Masonic patriots.
22. PHILADELPHIA CONTRIBUTION-
SHIP FOR THE INSURING OF HOUSES
FROM LOSS BY FIRE-212 South 4th Street-
founded by Brother Franklin in 1752, is the
oldest fire insurance company in the country. It
grew out of the Union Fire Company,
Philadelphia's first volunteer fire-fighting
organization, which Franklin founded in 1736.
The present Contributionship building dates
from 1836.
23. WASHINGTON SQUARE-bounded
north and south by Walnut and Locust Streets
and east and west by 6th and 7th Streets-is one
of the original squares laid out in 1682 by
William Penn's surveyor, Thomas Holme. In
1704, Penn designated the area as a potter's
field, a burial ground for strangers. Near
Washington Square were located the city jail
and the State House. During the Revolution,
the British used the jail for military prisoners
and the State House for a hospital. Hundreds
of Continental soldiers who died in these
buildings were buried here in common graves.
Today, there is a monument to the Unknown
Soldier of the American Revolution in
Washington Square.
24. MIKVEH ISRAEL BURIAL GROUND
occupies a small parcel of land on Spruce Street
east of 9th Street. The ground was granted to
Rabbi Nathan Levy by the Penn family in 1740.
Buried there are many Philadelphians of the
Jewish faith, including Brother Haym
Solomon, banker and broker, who negotiated
all Revolutionary War securities from France
and Holland on his own personal security
without loss of a cent to America. When
Solomon died in 1784, the United States was indebted to him to the extent of $300,000. This
debt has never been repaid. For many, the most
notable grave in Mikveh Israel Cemetery is that
of Rebecca Gratz, the inspiration for Rebecca,
the heroine in Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe.
25. PENNSYLVANIA HOSPlTAL-8th
and Spruce Streets-is the world-renowned institution founded in 1751 by Brother Franklin
and Dr. Thomas Bond. Pennsylvania Hospital
was a pioneer in the treatment of the mentally
ill. The hospital still occupies its original site
and uses, along with other buildings, the
original hospital structure which appears today
much as it did more than 200 years ago. Benjamin West's famous painting "Christ Healing
the Sick in the Temple" hangs in the lobby of
the main building.
26. LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA-1314 Locust Street-is the oldest
subscription library in America, founded in
1731 by Brother Benjamin Franklin. Housed
since 1966 in its present building, the library is a
treasury of books on American culture, many
of them rare editions. Perhaps the most
outstanding single collection is the personal
library of James Logan. The Library Company
also contains paintings, portraits, maps and
Franklin's electrical apparatus (Leyden jars).
Next door to the Library Company on Lucust
Street stands THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OF PENNSYLVANIA, 1300 Locust Street,
founded in 1824. It is the repository of priceless
collections of historical manuscripts, papers,
portraits and personal possessions of famous
Americans. Among its many rare items is
"Liber B," the Secretary's ledger account of
members of St. John's Lodge from June 24,
1731 to June 24, 1738.
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