What is the importance of the Free Mason Temple in Emerson: Essays and Lectures?

This is one of the locations where lectures were given by Ralph Waldo Emerson. While the Free Masons are widespread as an organization, the audience that he typically addressed was located in Boston, Massachusetts during the beginning of the 1840s. There are no details provided about these places, other than the name of the city, state and nation. They are only mentioned as a place where Emerson did public speaking engagements.