The Freemasonry Temple (Templul Francmasoneriei) is an unusual building that formerly housed a Masonic Lodge in Oradea, Bihor County. The building is now open for visitors who can admire its architecture while wandering around the different rooms which also house some expositions.
History Of The Freemasonry Temple
The Freemasonry Temple was designed by the architects Zoltán Bálint and Lajos Jámbor, who were members of the Masonic Lodge in Budapest, and also designed the Füchsl Palace in Oradea. Its construction took place between 1901 and 1902 when it was inaugurated and dedicated to King Ladislaus, the patron saint of the city. The architecture has a hermitic appeal with no windows on its facade, which underlines the somewhat secretive character of the Masonic order.
For more than two decades the building housed the Saint Ladislaus Masonic Lodge, which had been founded by Dr. Berkovits Zsigmond in 1876. In 1912, some of the members of the Saint Ladislaus Masonic Lodge split off and started a new lodge, the Bihar Lodge, which used the same building as its headquarters. During the First World War, the building was also used as a hospital. In 1919, both lodges were abolished under the Hungarian communist regime of Béla Kun, and the building was later sold. In 1929, the Masonic lodges resumed their activities elsewhere until they dissolved themselves in 1937.
In 1923, the Prince Mircea Society, a charity that operated a dispensary for orphaned children and young mothers, moved into the building and was inaugurated by Queen Mary. Over time the building has been used for various purposes, including a military barracks, a police station, a kindergarten, and an office building.
Visiting The Freemasonry Temple
From the outside, the most impressive part of the building is the entrance, which has a massive neo-Greek portico with Doric columns and a pediment. You can also observe 8 sfinxes on the roof, which were thought to protect the members of the society from evil spirits.
The inside of the building is however much more spectacular and consists of the Hall of the Lost Steps, the temple called the Reflection Hall, and the Office of the Master of the Lodge. There are several exhibitions with historic items related to the society and the history of the building and you can learn more about the history of the Saint Ladislaus Masonic Lodge.
