The relationship between the Masons and Philadelphia has deep historical roots, reflecting the evolution of Freemasonry in America and its intertwining with the city’s development. Freemasonry likely arrived in America through either Philadelphia or Boston, with early references to Masonic activities in Philadelphia dating back to 1715. The city played a pivotal role in the fraternity’s growth, particularly during the Enlightenment era and the American Revolution.
Philadelphia’s prominence as a commercial, social, and political hub in the new nation fostered an increase in Masonic activity. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Philadelphia, expanded its influence, founding lodges in various states and territories. The Masonic culture in Philadelphia was marked by ideas of civic participation, charity, and fraternity, mirroring the democratic and egalitarian spirit of the Revolution.
The Masonic Temple, located at One North Broad Street in Philadelphia, stands as a significant landmark. This temple, home to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Masonic Library and Museum, has served as a key meeting place for Masons since its inception in 1732. Its construction and evolution reflect the growth of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania.
During the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Masons were among the delegates, but their Masonic affiliation did not seem to directly influence the proceedings. The delegates, including Masons
The history of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia is a rich tapestry that reflects the growth and changes of Freemasonry in the area. Here’s a brief overview:
1730 – Early Meetings: Initially, Pennsylvania Masons met in local taverns, with the earliest meetings recorded at Tun Tavern. Notably, Benjamin Franklin became a Mason here in 1731.
1755 – Freemason’s Lodge: The first dedicated Masonic meeting space in the Western Hemisphere, known as the Freemason’s Lodge, was established in 1755. This site had various uses, including as a jail during the Revolutionary War.
1802 – Pennsylvania Freemason Hall: A new space was acquired for Freemasonry, marking the beginning of a more permanent home for the Masons in Pennsylvania.
1811 – Masonic Hall: A larger venue was constructed to accommodate the growing number of Masons. Unfortunately, this building caught fire in 1819 but was rebuilt the following year.
1855 – New Masonic Hall: Due to further increases in membership, the Masonic Hall was rebuilt again into a striking, Gothic-style structure on the same site.
1873 – Masonic Temple: The current Masonic Temple, located at One North Broad Street, was designed by James H. Windrim and completed in 1873, predating the nearby City Hall by nearly three decades.
1889 – Egyptian Hall Dedication: The first room in the Masonic Temple to be decorated was Egyptian Hall, which remains a favorite on tours.
1902 – Presidential Visit: President Theodore Roosevelt attended a Masonic event commemorating the 150th anniversary of George Washington becoming a Mason.
1963 – Corinthian Hall Rug Installation: The design of Corinthian Hall was finalized in 1903, but its notable rug was installed in 1963, gifted by the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico.
1973 – 100th Anniversary: The Temple’s centennial celebration attracted around 12,000 people.
2017 – Renovation of the Grand Ballroom: Major renovations were undertaken, including the installation of stained glass windows and a bronze statue of Ben Franklin.
2018 – Washington and Franklin Brotherhood Statue: A statue depicting Benjamin Franklin handing George Washington a Masonic apron was installed in front of the Temple.
2023 – 150th Anniversary: The Temple’s sesquicentennial was marked with special events and free tours.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was also a prolific inventor and scientist. Here are some of his most prominent inventions:
Lightning Rod: Designed to protect buildings and ships from lightning damage.
Bifocals: Eyeglasses with lenses for both distance and close-up work.
Franklin Stove: An improved wood-burning stove that was more efficient than traditional fireplaces.
Glass Armonica: A musical instrument that created sound from glass bowls.
Flexible Urinary Catheter: Designed for medical use to help patients with bladder issues.
Odometer: Used to measure the distance traveled by a vehicle, which he attached to his carriage.
Swim Fins: Franklin invented a type of swim fins for hands, not feet, while he was still a teenager.
Long Arm: A tool to reach high books on a shelf.
His contributions extended beyond these inventions, including significant work in understanding electricity and mapping the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean.
In William Penn’s original plan for Philadelphia, the streets were organized in a grid pattern, and their naming and numbering followed a specific system:
East-West Streets (Numbered): The east-west streets were primarily numbered. Starting from the Delaware River, the first street was named Front Street, and subsequent streets moving westward were numbered sequentially (Second Street, Third Street, and so on). This numerical system made navigation relatively straightforward.
North-South Streets (Tree Names): The north-south streets were named after trees, a reflection of Penn’s desire for a “greene country towne.” Examples include Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, Pine, and so forth. This naming convention provided a distinct and easy-to-remember system.
Broad and High (Market) Streets: Two major streets broke from this pattern. Broad Street ran north-south and was wider than the others, essentially bisecting the city. High Street, which later became Market Street, ran east-west and was central to the city’s commerce. These streets intersected at Centre Square, the heart of the city.
Expansion Beyond Original Plan: As Philadelphia grew, the grid system expanded beyond Penn’s original plan. The naming and numbering system of the streets, however, largely retained its original form, contributing to a consistent and orderly expansion of the city.
This systematic approach to street naming and numbering was a significant aspect of Penn’s urban design and contributed to the city’s functionality and navigability.
Dante Sisofo is a street and documentary photographer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His journey in photography began in 2016 while he was studying photography at university. Dante Sisofo is known for his people-centric photography, viewing his camera as a passport to the world. He graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, which likely contributed to his development and style as a photographer.
Sisofo has a notable background in street photography and photojournalism. His work, particularly in the realm of street photography, has been recognized and appreciated in various circles. He has shared personal histories and behind-the-scenes perspectives, especially in the context of returning to street photography in a post-pandemic world, demonstrating his adaptability and resilience as an artist. His approach and philosophy extend beyond just capturing images; they reflect a deeper understanding of the world and its people, as evident in his blog and photographic work.
Dante Sisofo’s journey as a photographer is marked by significant achievements and diverse experiences. He achieved early recognition, winning first place in the Miami Street Photography Photo Slam in 2016, judged by renowned photographer Martin Parr. In 2018, he further honed his skills under Magnum Photographer Alex Webb through a scholarship.
Sisofo’s experiences extend beyond the United States. He studied in Jerusalem at Hebrew University and spent weekends photographing in Jericho. He volunteered on a Kibbutz in Israel and volunteered in a hostel while living with a Palestinian family. His time there inspired him to join the Peace Corps in 2019, volunteering in Zambia, Africa. He was evacuated from Zambia due to the Covid-19 pandemic and returned to Philadelphia.
In addition to his street and documentary photography, Sisofo has experience in political photography, having worked as a photojournalist for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in 2016 and as a field organizer during the presidential election, contributing to the election of President Joe Biden.
These experiences and achievements reflect a deep commitment to his craft, an eagerness to engage with different cultures, and a willingness to explore various facets of photography.
Dante Sisofo’s blog covers a wide array of topics, often focusing on introspection, personal growth, and questioning conventional norms. Here’s a brief overview of some key themes:
Technology and Media: Sisofo discusses the future of media, emphasizing its increasing role in consumption and society
Digital Minimalism: He advocates for a reduction in digital footprints, suggesting steps like going off the internet grid and questioning the necessity of constantly checking emails
Artificial Intelligence: Sisofo touches on the potential of AI to enhance human thriving
Mental and Physical Health: Emphasizing the connection between mind, body, and soul, he talks about beauty being a reflection of one’s soul and life choices, and the critical nature of the mind-body connection
Energy and Motivation: The blog discusses concepts like mental energy, motivation, and the psychological aspects of feeling energized or drained
Photography and Art: He views photography as a lifetime adventure and discusses the concept of art as beauty
Personal Development: Themes such as exploring the unknown, advancing, evolving, and embracing the new are recurrent
Cultural Commentary: Sisofo offers perspectives on materialism, sports, news consumption, and social media, often challenging societal norms and encouraging readers to forge their own paths
Philosophical and Inspirational Thoughts: The blog includes motivational and philosophical posts on topics like dreaming the impossible, embracing chaos, divine nature of humans, and the unpredictability of life
Creativity and Self-Reflection: Encouraging creativity and intuition, Sisofo advises readers not to take themselves too seriously and to see everything as a work in progress
Photographic Techniques: There are also insights into photography techniques, advocating for embracing imperfections and not worrying about technical details like blur, grain, and sharpness
The blog is a blend of personal philosophy, self-help, and cultural critique, providing a unique perspective on various aspects of life and society.
Dante Sisofo’s thoughts on fitness and health emphasize the importance of simplicity, connection with nature, and integrating physical activity into daily life. His philosophy includes several key points:
Simple and Functional Fitness: Sisofo believes in the effectiveness of simple exercises like yoga, farmers’ walks, push-ups, pull-ups, and deadlifts. He emphasizes the value of walking and moving throughout the day, especially in pedestrian-friendly environments like Philadelphia. His approach to fitness is geared towards longevity, choosing routines that are sustainable over the long term.
Maximizing Sun Exposure: Sisofo stresses the importance of being outdoors and maximizing sun exposure. He sees a strong connection between human well-being and nature, particularly through sunlight.
Minimalist Lifestyle: His approach to life and fitness also involves a minimalist lifestyle, advocating for the removal of unnecessary distractions and focusing on essential activities that promote physical and mental health.
Diet and Fasting: Sisofo practices a carnivore diet, primarily consuming red meat, and believes in the health benefits of fasting during the day and eating a substantial meal in the evening.
Mental and Physical Connection: He also highlights the critical connection between body and mind, suggesting that focusing on health and fitness can lead to sharper mental functioning and clearer thoughts.
Home Gym: Sisofo finds value in having a home gym, as it saves time and allows for flexibility in workouts, contrasting it with the time spent traveling to and from public gyms.
These insights into Dante Sisofo’s fitness and health philosophy are based on his personal blog posts, which provide a more detailed exploration of his views. You can learn more about his perspectives on fitness and health on his website in posts like My Passion for Fitness, Health and Human Thriving, Gym Thoughts, and Stretch Your Body and Mind.
I’m extremely passionate about photography and walking. These two things go hand-in-hand. Without a camera, I would still be out there walking endlessly. There’s something so special about moving your physical body through the world and finding joy in this simple act.
In nature, we have two legs for a reason. To move, to hunt, to farm, and to do things physically. Perhaps this has gone overlooked in our modern society due to this newfound sedentary lifestyle and office work. Remember our true nature as humans and embrace the movement of our bodies consistently throughout the day. If you must be indoors, a standing desk is a great option. I believe that all offices should require these desks as a mandatory solution for computer work.
Childlike fun and discovery
One thing I love about walking is that I always discover something new each day. I can walk the same lane every single day and still find something new that I didn’t see previously. Specifically here in Philadelphia, there is such rich history to uncover. Read all of the signs, the historic monuments, And treat each walk as way to learn something new.
To walk is to be human
Maybe it’s just me, but sitting down does not feel natural. As soon as I get up in the morning and start moving my physical body through the world by walking, it seems that everything clicks and just feels right. Any minor back pains or feelings of muscle stress is immediately alleviated when I start moving. The greatest shoes that I’ve discovered for walking are the Vibram Five Finger ELX model. They are barefoot shoes that will strengthen your foundation, your feet. Try them out and see how it works for you, and keep on walking!
I believe that YouTube is a great place to index your thoughts, artwork, and anything in between.
Why?
YouTube has a powerful capability to archive and store things perhaps forever. Using YouTube as a way to direct people to your website is a good idea, even if you pull in just a few people that are interested in your work. The most joy I’ve ever had in creating has been this past year, publishing a variety of videos using my GoPro Mini as my main tool to document.
GoPro POV it all
In terms of uploading, we should not upload in terms of maximizing viewer count, pleasing the algorithms, or even seeking feedback. The goal is to simply share things so that you can relive your experiences in this augmented format. I believe using the GoPro as a notetaking tool is a great idea. Also, looking back at some of my travel experiences and simple everyday routines is a great way to spend some downtime and consume my own media. The power of a GoPro is incredible. You can put yourself back in your shoes and relive your memories directly through the screen. At the end of the day, this seems to be YouTube’s core mission initially.
Just disable it
A simple heuristic is that you should create the media that you wish to see manifest in the world. Because of this, just disable all statistics, such as likes and comments from your videos. Just create for yourself, and one other person.
Photography is all about taking action. I believe in order to improve your photography, you must do the thing itself. Walk with your camera every single day and try to make at least one new photograph. The goal is to continue flexing the muscle of making pictures.
One camera, one lens
The simplest approach to making photos on the street is sticking to one camera and one lens. Use one focal length and one camera choice for at least one year. This will allow you to develop your eyes and to find your connection to the camera itself. The more you fumble around with different lenses and cameras, the less you will improve over time.
Study the masters
I suggest finding a few books that resonate with you, and studying those books for inspiration. The goal is to learn from your masters, then kill them. You will pick up bits and pieces from different photographers from the past, and mesh them together to create your own unique voice. This is critical, because without a framework and foundational knowledge about what is possible, you will perhaps become lost.
Separate yourself from the work
It’s easy to become emotional about a particular photograph that you’ve made. In order to combat this, you must separate yourself from the work. What this means is, you allow yourself time to go through and find the exact photographs that stand out to you after a year of making pictures. This doesn’t mean you get lazy with keeping up with the archive. I suggest going through your photographs each day after your walks. This way you don’t give yourself a headache at the end of the year. Make your daily selections quickly, as it shouldn’t take you that much time using an iPad and the photos app. But at the end of the year, you want a disconnected mindset when it comes to evaluating the work. You want to make sure that you look at each frame objectively and detached from your emotional experience while making the work. At this point, you can give yourself as much time in the world to find those shots that resonate with you.
Make a sketchbook
After you’re done photographing for a year and find your selections, make a sketchbook of your best work. Use a Canon SELPHY CP 1500 printer at home and print out a selection of your photographs. If you’d like, make notes about each photograph and study them daily. Carry the sketchbook with you wherever you go and always have the work in your back pocket both physically and metaphorically.
Travel somewhere new
Once you spend your first year photographing in your hometown and flexing your muscles daily, it’s time for the real test. Find a location that you’ve always dreamt of visiting and spend one month in that location photographing and exploring. A location that I highly suggest is Mumbai, India. Mumbai is a bustling and diverse location filled with potential for you to explore with your camera. It seems like one of those cities that you could spend your entire lifetime photographing and always find new something new. You can watch some behind the scenes videos of my time photographing in Mumbai on my YouTube channel.
It’s always exciting to visit a new place and practice your photography. Don’t take it too seriously and get caught up in making good pictures. Enjoy yourself, take your time, and make sure to cherish each moment. This is why photography is so powerful. It brings us to these new places and allows us to explore with an open mind without any preconceived notions of what we will find. The combination of traveling and practicing photography will allow you to improve as you learn about new cultures and challenge yourself.
When I walk the streets with my camera, I often make many photographs of the same thing. If I pass by something that catches my eye, I don’t just make one photograph and move on. I will make sure to try new angles, vantage, points, and make multiple pictures of the same thing or scene.
Repetition is key
In street photography, repetition is important to consider. Move your body with the beat of the street. Watch the feet of the people that are moving as the theater of the life in front of you is a stage set for the people to dance upon. The more you walk on the block, the more you will find yourself in tune with the rhythm of every day life.
Study the street
Walk the same route every single day for one month. Observe the nuances and change in the skyline of your town. Whether it’s the clouds, the backdrops, or even recognize the same person that works at a street vendor. If you live in an urban city or even a small town, you’ll notice the same things happen year-round. Study the streets and recognize patterns that happen on repeat.
Fortune favors the prepared
In this particular scene of the pigeons flying by City Hall in Philadelphia, I studied the same street corner for many months to understand the flight patterns of the birds and at which time is best to photograph them. I made a direct effort to photograph the same location each day. The more I photographed this street corner, the more possibilities I recognized that could occur. I was interested in the way that the birds flew nearby the statue of William Penn on top of City Hall. As I moved my body around with my camera, I noticed the way in which the light was pearing behind the building, giving a beautiful and magical effect. I dropped to a low angle, and simply waited patiently while making many photographs. The more you put in the work on the street, the more the streets will deliver.
How to get “lucky” on the street? Photograph with intensity.
