"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." -Albert Pike
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Albert Pike Masonic Center is the headquarters for the Masonic fraternity in Arkansas. Designed by architects George Mann and Eugene Stern, it was dedicated on May 12, 1924. Mann was considered the “dean of Arkansas architects” having designed several important Arkansas buildings, including the Arkansas State Capitol and the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. The building is a monumental three-story structure in the Neo-Classical Revival style, lined on its front facade with nineteen Greek Ionic columns.
As anyone could imagine, it is a monumental but worthy task maintaining the last great Masonic edifice in Arkansas. The building is an entire city block long and half of a block deep, totaling approximately 156,000 square feet. Operated and maintained by the Scottish Rite of Arkansas, the beautiful and historic Albert Pike Memorial Temple houses the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, Scottish Rite, York Rite and two Symbolic Lodges. The leadership of the Scottish Rite has made great progress in securing the building for the future by updating the air conditioning in most of the major spaces of the building, replacing the majority of the roof as well as other major repairs.....but the work is not done! There are still significant updates that will need to be done in the future, such things as painting the ceiling in the auditorium, refinishing the dining room floors, and other necessary maintenance requirements for such an enormous and beautiful building.
The Arkansas Scottish Rite Foundation has two main purposes, speech and literacy grants for children and the maintenance and operation of the Albert Pike Memorial Temple. Any individual that believes in the historic relevance of this stupendous structure, Mason or not, can make tax-deductible donations to the Temple Preservation Fund. You can do so by calling the office at 501-375-5587 or by clicking the PayPal "Donate" button below. We sincerely thank you for your consideration.
BIG NEWS!
For the first time in the Temples 95+ year history, there is now a Temple Endowment Fund! This fund has been created to receive tax-deductible donations to the Arkansas Scottish Rite Foundation that have been ear marked for this specific purpose. The corpus or principal of this account can never be spent, only the interest earned each year can be used for the restoration and preservation of this monumental Masonic edifice. One of the most significant ways we intend to fund this endowment is through the Arkansas Double Eagle Program. Of course, donations can be made to the Foundation at any time through any method. Please let the Orient Office know if you're interested in contributing to this new Endowment Fund through one-time or reoccurring donation or a planned estate gift.
Scottish Rite, Orient of Arkansas P.O. Box 2139 Little Rock, AR 72203 501.375.5587 mitchellhensley@att.net scottishritebodies@sbcglobal.net