I’m probably getting annoying asking all these questions so I apologize. But I hope they are questions that wouldn’t be answered automatically once joining. (so I would have to ask anyways)

I am a 2nd year apprentice in bricklaying and stone masonry and I have noticed that your temples are very intricate and beautiful almost to an unbelievable extent.

1) where is the architecture from?
2) who builds/designs these? stone masons who are also Freemasons?
3) why are there always 2 pillars? (assuming it isn’t coincidence)

Japes - 28 June 2011 06:26 PM

I’m probably getting annoying asking all these questions so I apologize. But I hope they are questions that wouldn’t be answered automatically once joining. (so I would have to ask anyways)

I am a 2nd year apprentice in bricklaying and stone masonry and I have noticed that your temples are very intricate and beautiful almost to an unbelievable extent.

1) where is the architecture from?
2) who builds/designs these? stone masons who are also Freemasons?
3) why are there always 2 pillars? (assuming it isn’t coincidence)

The architecture varies from lodge building to lodge building. Some are town buildings repurposed as Masonic Buildings others are purpose built. The design is up to the people putting up the money to build it. They hire a qualified Architect who designs a building to their specifications. The Architect does not have to be a Mason.

The two pillars are symbolic of the pillars on the porch of King Solomon’s Temple.

Brother windrider’s answer is perfect.  I’ll only add to it that if you look at the following illustration of the porch of King Solomon’s temple, you can get an idea of the inspiration for some of the Masonic temple designs:

http://www.templemount.org/templesolomon.jpg