Scottish Rite Temple (Again?!)

Scottish Rite Temple: Human progress; liberty of thought;
freedom of conscience; and the guarantee of equal rights--
the cause, wish, mission, and goals of the Freemasons

2800 16th Street NW is the location for the Scottish Rite Temple in D.C....

Whoa! Wait a minute. Haven't we seen a Scottish Rite building already on 16th Street? Yep, we have. The previous building--Scottish Rite 33' Supreme Council--is the national headquarters for the Scottish Rite in the U.S. This building is, as best I can ascertain, the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.

There are two lines of Freemasonry: Scottish Rite and York Rite. In the former, members must profess a belief in a divine being. As a result, Scottish Rite Masons represent a broad range of religions among their members. I'm told that in Springfield, Virginia, a Scottish Rite lodge has inducted a Sikh into its ranks. The Scottish Rite consists of 33 degrees, while the York Rite has 12. In the former, the story of the rite extends back into the Old Testament of the Bible and the building of King Solomon's Temple.

In the York Rite, members are required to confess a belief in God and Jesus Christ. Members of this rite also make up the Knights Templar, the Knights of Malta, and several other knightly orders. The story of the York Rite incorporates the New Testament of the Bible and is specifically Christian in its focus. (Update on 03.27.08: Please see a correction in the comment section of this entry regarding the York Rite. My thanks to Just A Mason for clarification.)

In the U.S., Freemasons are heavily engaged in charitable work in their communities. According to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry, Masons spend over $2 million per day in philanthropy. A lot of their philanthropic activity is embodied in groups like the Shriners--those dudes in the funny hats driving clown cars in parades and civic events all over the country.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Scottish Rite 33'

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry--the national headquarters for the Supreme Council
(Taken at around noon on President's Day, 2008)

Several weeks ago, I featured photos from the Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. Masonic temples are not an uncommon sight in the D.C. area. On the corner of 16th and S Streets NW stands an imposing structure: The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Supreme Council 33’ (1733 16th Street NW.)

Sunday afternoon warmth at the Scottish Rite Temple

The cornerstone was laid in 1911 and the building was completed in 1915. It is the national headquarters of the Supreme Council and is an adaptation of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. The architect for the building was John Russell Pope who also built the Jefferson Memorial and the west wing of the National Gallery of Art.

Scottish Rite Temple at night (taken at midnight, to be precise)

The building is open to the public for guided tours. Unfortunately, I have yet to go inside. When I took the first picture, it was closed for President's Day. The second picture was taken on a Sunday and they were closed. And the third picture was taken after midnight. Obviously not open then either! However, you can take a virtual tour.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08 and 3/08

Masonic

George Washington National Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia

About seven miles south of Washington, D.C., on the Potomac River lies the port city of Alexandria, Virginia. One of the oldest cities in the United States, Alexandria was a bustling seaport in its heyday. It was also the halfway point between the new U.S. capital in Washington and Mt. Vernon, the home of America's first president, George Washington.

Washington was, like many of his contemporaries, a Freemason. He became a member in 1752 in the Fredricksburg, Virginia Lodge and remained a Freemason his entire life. In 1793, he and fellow masons laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. Washington also belonged to the Alexandria Lodge and, four years after his death and shortly after the death of Martha Washington, the lodge began to receive items belonging to the Washingtons. Wanting to ensure the safety of these objects, Freemasons from all over the country banded together and created a memorial association.

Side view of the memorial

In 1923, construction commenced on a memorial temple and was completed in 1932. Located in Alexandria, the George Washington National Masonic Memorial is home to many important artifacts related to the life of Washington as a soldier, farmer, president, and mason. The Masonic Memorial is also home to two lodges: the Andrew Jackson Lodge and the Alexandria Lodge.

The memorial is open for tours seven days a week and includes a final stop on the 9th floor observatory where visitors can enjoy a million dollar view of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08