From your Roving Mark Mason Reporter
 
The Historic Masonic Temple in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  Sept 2017
 
There are a couple of Masonic meeting places on the island of Tenerife, one in the South at Los Christianos the other in the North at Puerto de la Cruz not far from wonderful Zoo and Wild Life preservation centre “Lorro Park”. I have often read about a large Masonic Hall in Santa Cruz but couldn’t find anything out about any present day meetings and thinking this was strange decided to investigate, what follows is a brief history of Freemasonry in Spain and the actual Lodge building in the Capital of Tenerife.
San Lucas Street
The Street where is it?
Found it at last
The origins of Freemasonry in Spain are reckoned to date back to the 18th Century, however all was to change specifically in 1928 the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera ordered the abolition of it in Spain, one of the two Grand Lodges was closed and approx 200 Masons including the Grand Master were charged with plotting against the Government! Even worse was to follow following the military coup of 1936 many Freemasons trapped in areas under Nationalist control were arrested and summarily murdered by indescribable means. Two men Father Terrats and Francos personal Chaplain over the next two years drew up a list of 80,000 suspected Masons even though there were little more than 5000 members in Spain. The Masonic Temple in Cordoba was burnt to the ground and the Temple in Santa Cruz was confiscated and transformed into the headquarters for the Falange, (Fascist Movement), in Salamanca 30 members were shot, as were lots more across the country, few towns escaped the onslaught and carnage from Cadiz to Granada. The slightest suspicion of being a Mason was often enough to earn a place in front of the firing squad. After Dictator General Franco’s victory Freemasonry was officially outlawed in Spain until 1940, being a Mason gave an automatic minimum 12 years jail sentence, these laws were not really abrogated (cancelled) until 1963.
Found But No Entry
The All Seeing Eye 
a
Front
Now to happier times, Linda and I set off early one morning to catch the local service to Santa Cruz, here may I say the buses in Tenerife are usually all first class, comfortable and on time, the journey took approx one hour from Las Americas, we pulled into the bus station which is close to the harbour and got out the trusty i phone complete with Google Maps, fed in the post code and off we went. Up and down the streets we trekked some wide some very narrow always keeping an eye out for vehicles which I think get bonus points if they run you over. We passed a fabulous indoor food market and thought we must have a look round there on the way back, it seemed to be a long search but eventually we came to San Lucas Street where we hoped to find the Temple, gazing down the street we could see nothing which resembled anything Masonic, slowly we walked along in the shade and there it was before us a magnificent building well set back from the rest of the street line. My heart sank when I saw the very large rusted chain and padlock wrapped around the entrance gates. 
Sphinx (one of four)
All Chained up
General View
Gates
The building was constructed between 1899 and 1902 for use by Anaza Lodge, it was considered to be the finest example of a Masonic Temple in Spain before it was occupied by Franco’s military. The edifice contains a strong symbolism, most of which was inspired by architectural traditions in ancient Egypt. The facade is divided into three sections, the central has two huge columns (embedded) with plain shaft and palm tree capitals, supporting a triangular pediment complete with a radiant “All Seeing Eye” Flanking the columns at ground level are two sets of Sphinxes to either side of the Main entrance doors which is carved with geometric patterns, the lintel above is decorated with palm leaves and a sun with wings of an Eagle. (The symbol of the Horus deity) In the year 1899 a commission of Freemasons presented a report with the purpose of purchasing a plot of land to build a private lodge, this was found to be on San Lucas Street, it was 18.4 metres long by 30 metres wide with a considerable price (at the time) of 2,208 peseta, 4 pesetas per square metre. The first plan or sketch only included the essential elements as the Lodge members could not build it all at once, included were the Lobby, Paris (room before the Temple, the Temple itself, Sec’s office, Dining hall and several service rooms. The building was opened and consecrated on the 24th September 1904 although several aspects were still not finished, (cladding and decoration etc). Work was still being carried out on the interior decoration in 1920 when the Anaza Temple was and possibly still is the largest Masonic Temple in Spain constructed as a Masonic Temple. The building construction budget cost was 15,000 pesetas rising to 20,000 pesetas when a front fence was added, this was funded by supplying members of Anaza Lodge with 200 shares, the building was used also as a free school funded by the Lodge. It was finally ceded to the city for the cost of 1 peseta so long as it continued to be used as a free training centre.
Inside as was
4 Sphinxes
In its pomp you entered to a spacious hallway into a an open room, this space has in fact still got a preserved mosaic floor and embossed columns, however the ceiling frescoes have unfortunately been repainted and covered by a aluminium ceiling, down in the sub soil through a natural volcanic tube was a chamber of Reflection. On the second floor was the Banquet Hall with large windows to the front, there is another level with no specific rooms.
Underground Chamber of Reflection
Original Drawing / Early Workers
Back to the 18th July 1936 the Military rebellion took place and on that same day the Temple was confiscated along with all the records, it became the Military Pharmacy, optics store and barracks, still being occupied by troops right up until 1990 when it was closed.
Another View          
Old View
The state sold the building to the City of Santa Cruz in 2001 for 470,000 Euros, it was declared a Cultural Monument in the State of the Canary Isles Government which in turn was authorised by the Governing Council. It is sad that such a Historic (Masonic) Building is in such a semi derelict state, however there is light at the end of the tunnel, in 2016 the Masonic International Congress was held in Santa Cruz, an event which is held annually in different parts of the world, this conference is now helping to raise funds for the restoration of this once great Masonic Temple. Estimates are around 4 Million Euros and it is hoped that funds will come both from the private and public sectors especially as it is an Asset of Cultural Interest. (2007) It is hoped to be open in approx 5 years and some limited tours are being organised to view what’s left of the interior to small parties which unfortunately I couldn’t take advantage due to the visit being on my last day, ah well there’s always next year, we made our way back towards the bus station not forgetting to call in at the indoor market which was full of lots of fresh produce including some excellent local cheeses, had to take some away, well you do don’t you, found the bus and sat back to relax on the journey home, we both said it was a great day out and well worth the effort, I hope this story was of interest to my Brothers in the Friendly Degree.
Here’s to my next Mark meeting with friends I know and those I have yet to meet. 
 
Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher.
Flixton Shepherd Eastwood. No.1173
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