MASONIC TEMPLES

Some Masonic buildings have significant associations to the fraternal organization of Freemasonry. The basic organizational group of Freemasonry is the Masonic Lodge. The buildings in which lodges meet are variously referred to as Masonic buildings, Masonic halls, or Masonic temples. Some of these buildings may used by one lodge in particular, others are used by more than one lodge (or by associated groups such as Scottish Rite bodies or Knight Templar commanderies.) Some of these buildings may have historically been used to house Masonic lodge meetings, but are now used for other, non-masonic, purposes and are no longer owned by the Masons.

There are thousands of Masonic buildings around the world. Between 1870 and 1930 a large number of the Masonic buildings in the United States were built. American architects who designed them include Burnham & Root, Napoleon LeBrun, Osgood & Osgood, John Russell Pope, and John C. Austin.

Shrine mosques are related buildings that were built by the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (more commonly known as the Shriners), a separate group that happens to require membership in Freemasons as a prerequisite for joining.