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 1850 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 (also known as French: Temple maçonnique de Montréal) is a very important historic building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It stands proudly at the corner of Sherbrooke Street and St. Marc Street, in an area called the Golden Square Mile.
This beautiful building was officially opened on February 12, 1930. In 2001, it was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's considered one of Canada's most elegant buildings, showing off the amazing Beaux-Arts style.
A Look Back: The Temple's History
The Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple was built for two main reasons. First, it was meant to be a meeting place for a group called the Freemasons. Second, it was created to honor Freemasons who bravely served and lost their lives during World War I. Before this temple, the Freemasons met in another building on Dorchester Street since 1895.
In 1923, the Freemasons started collecting money to build a new, grander temple. By 1928, they hired a talented architect named John Smith Archibald. He had experience with their previous building and was chosen to design and oversee the construction of this new memorial temple.
A special ceremony took place on June 22, 1929, to lay the cornerstone of the new building. Many Freemasons marched from their old temple to the new site for this important event. The main group, called the Grand Lodge of Quebec, held their first meeting in the new temple on February 12, 1930. Today, the temple also remembers Masons who died in the Second World War and the Korean War.
Architectural Design and Features
The outside walls of the temple, facing Sherbrooke and St-Marc streets, are covered with a beautiful light-colored stone called Queenston limestone. The main front of the building, on Sherbrooke Street, has a strong stone base. It features four large openings and a grand central entrance.
This main entrance is special, with two tall, free-standing columns on either side. These columns are topped with sculptures of globes, one showing the Earth and the other the sky. The main door itself is made of detailed bronze. Above the base, there's a decorative band with carved words: FIDES, VERITAS, CARITAS, LIBERTAS, SPES. These words mean "Faith," "Truth," "Charity," "Liberty," and "Hope" in English.
The design of the temple was highly praised. In 1931, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada gave it a top award for monumental buildings. This showed how impressive and well-designed the Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple was.
Keeping the Temple Safe
It's important to protect historic buildings like the Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple. On January 30, 2010, the Government of Canada announced funding to help maintain this National Historic Site. This money helps ensure the temple stays in good condition for many years to come.
