The Hiram Abiff stained-glass window at the Advance Masonic Temple is framed like a recessed lantern in brick—at night it becomes a local beacon of wisdom, radiance, and thresholded meaning

To the left of the Advance Masonic Temple, a stained-glass window depicts King Solomon under a daytime sun, turning light into a lasting message of wisdom and clarity.

The stained glass windows at the front of Advance Masonic Temple present two important figures in Masonic tradition: King Solomon on the left and Hiram Abiff on the right. This introductory article looks at the windows as a pair and links to fuller descriptions of each individual window.

Above the entrance of Astoria’s Advance Masonic Temple is an ancient symbol with deep architectural meaning: the bucranium, or ox skull. Far from a macabre flourish, it is a classical emblem of sacrifice, consecration, ritual, and permanence.

High above the columns of the Advance Masonic Temple in Astoria, Queens, a carved limestone egg-and-dart relief preserves one of classical architecture’s most enduring motifs. More than ornament, it expresses rhythm, order, and the symbolic seriousness of the building itself.

Four carved limestone lions crown the columns outside the Advance Masonic Temple in Astoria, Queens. Their presence draws on a long architectural history of guardianship, courage, authority, and ceremonial protection.

The entrance of Astoria’s Advance Masonic Temple is composed like a ceremonial threshold. Limestone columns and arched masonry create structure; carved stone details transform the façade into a language of strength, order, and consecration—setting up a series on the lions, the egg-and-dart, and the bucranium.

Advance Masonic Temple on 30th Avenue is undergoing a thoughtful restoration that honors its historic architecture, symbolic design, and longstanding role in the Astoria community. From gold-accented details and custom doors to stained glass and renewed lighting, the project reflects both preservation and pride of place.