Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple |
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French: Temple maçonnique de Montréal
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Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple
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| Alternative names | Grand Lodge of Quebec French: Grande loge du Québec |
| General information | |
| Status | Operational |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Location | Downtown Montreal |
| Address | 2295 St. Marc Street and 1805 Sherbrooke Street West |
| Town or city | Montreal, Quebec |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°29′41″N 73°34′59″W / 45.494645°N 73.582982°W |
| Current tenants | Various Masonic Lodges, Julien-Leblanc Traiteur and Centre De La Petite Enfance Genesis 87 |
| Construction started | 1929 |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Inaugurated | June 22, 1929 |
| Owner | Masonic Foundation of Quebec |
| Landlord | Masonic Foundation of Quebec |
| Height | |
| Top floor | 7 |
| Technical details | |
| Lifts/elevators | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Smith Archibald |
| Awards and prizes | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada First Award, Class I, Monumental Buildings |
| Designated: | 2001 |
| Type: | Immeuble patrimonial classé |
| Designated: | 2012 |
The Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple (French: Temple maçonnique de Montréal) is a special historic building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It stands at the corner of Sherbrooke Street and St. Marc Street. This beautiful building was officially opened on February 12, 1930. In 2001, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is an important part of Canada's history. It is also a great example of the Beaux-Arts style of building design.
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History of the Temple
The Masonic Memorial Temple was built for two main reasons. First, it was a meeting place for a group called the Freemasons. Second, it was a memorial to Freemasons who died in World War I. Before this temple, the Freemasons met in another building on Dorchester Street since 1895.
In 1923, the Freemasons started raising money for a new building. In 1928, they hired an architect named John Smith Archibald. He had worked on their old temple before. His job was to design the new temple and watch over its construction.
Building the Temple
The first stone of the temple was laid in a special ceremony on June 22, 1929. About 2,000 Freemasons marched from their old temple to the new one. The Grand Lodge of Quebec, which is a main group of Freemasons, met in the new temple for the first time on February 12, 1930. This building also honors Freemasons who died in the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean War.
Temple Design and Style
The outside walls of the temple, on Sherbrooke and St-Marc streets, are covered with a type of stone called Queenston limestone. The front of the building, facing Sherbrooke Street, has a strong stone base. It features four openings and a large main entrance. This entrance is special because it has two tall columns. These columns are topped with globes showing the Earth and the sky.
The main door is made of detailed bronze. Above the base, there is a decorative band of stone. It has carvings and words like FIDES, VERITAS, CARITAS, LIBERTAS, SPES. These words mean "Faith," "Truth," "Charity," "Liberty," and "Hope" in English.
Architectural Recognition
In December 1930, a magazine called Construction wrote about the temple. It praised the building very highly. The article said the Montreal temple was one of the finest examples of Greek-style architecture in Canada. It even compared it to famous buildings like the Lincoln Memorial in the United States.
Just one year later, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada gave the Montreal temple a top award. It won the First Award in the "Monumental Buildings" category. This shows how important and beautiful the building's design was considered.
Conservation Efforts
On January 30, 2010, the Canadian government announced funding for the temple. They provided $425,000 to help with its upkeep. This money helps protect the Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Images for kids
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Detail of the globe-and-bull sculpture atop one of the pillars.
