Madison Lodge No. 23: News

A Conversation with ChatGPT About Freemasonry

What does ChatGPT have to say about Freemasonry? In the newest issue of California Freemason magazine, we asked the AI for its take.

Fall 2024 Issue Out Now: The Heroes of Freemasonry

Whether it’s the super idea behind a new charity, the fantastic team powering the state’s fastest-growing lodges, or the marvels of lodge administration, these heroes don’t wear capes, but they do wear aprons.

A Conversation With Two Grand Masters

Check out our latest video feature, an enlightening conversation between Grand Master G. Sean Metroka and Prince Hall Grand Master David San Juan, two distinguished leaders in California #Freemasonry.

Discovery Masonry on Freemason.org

Say hello to a series of brand-new web resources for prospects and new members available on freemason.org, the online home of the Masons of California.

Summer 2024 Issue Out Now: Prince Hall, Then and Now

Take a deep dive into the history and legacy of Prince Hall the man, as well as the history of the organization that today bears his name.

Download the Simple Guide to Freemasonry

Discuss your Masonic experience with others easily by downloading the simple guide to Freemasonry and brushing up on the basics.

Brick by Brick: Inside a Lodge-Building Boom

In this issue of California Freemason, we’re exploring what it takes to get new lodges off the ground, and how they define themselves within the landscape of Masonry in the state.

Join Us and Let Your Network Know #ImAMason!

Between July 10–21, we’re asking all members who are comfortable doing so to post a short message on Facebook or Instagram saying why Freemasonry is important to you. 

California Freemason: The Magic Issue

In the Magic Issue of California Freemason magazine, we’re casting a light on some of those similar connections between magic and Masonry.

Learn About Freemasonry Symbols

Maybe you’ve seen the square and compass logo on buildings around town or wondered about the meaning of emblems like the Masonic trowel. What’s the history behind Masonic symbols, and how do they factor into what happens in a lodge?

California Freemason: In Masonry and Politics, Finding Common Ground

Most people know that there are two things that Masons don’t discuss in the lodge room: politics and religion. Instead, they focus on the things that bind them, not that divide. Could that be a model for a more harmonious world outside the lodge?

California Freemason Magazine: The Temple Issue

In this issue of California Freemason Magazine, we’re casting our gaze anew at our fraternal home, the California Masonic Memorial Temple in San Francisco.

New Online Exhibition from the Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Explore some stunning examples of this fraternal craftwork through the ages in From the Hands of Fellowship, a new virtual exhibition from the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

California Freemason Magazine: Freemasonry in Latin America Now

In this special issue of California Freemason, we take a Masonic road trip south of the border to learn about the long history of Freemasonry in Latin America.

Working as Death’s Doormen

These Masons working with death have an intimate familiarity with the other side.

Underwater, Reminders of a Forgotten Masonic Cemetery

A tiny, sandy cove, San Francisco’s Aquatic Park is one of the most reliably sunny spots in town. Yet clues of the city’s distant past are still there.

At a Masonic Cemetery, a Forever Home

Beginning in 1852, Masonic cemeteries have provided a final resting place for some of the most important figures in California’s history. From Shasta to San Diego, they’ve brought Masons together to celebrate, mourn, and pay homage.

For Freemasons, Death is Not the End

The Masonic funeral ceremony is often the first encounter of the craft for outsiders—which is fitting, because the concepts of death, rebirth, and legacy are important elements to Freemasonry.

California Freemason Magazine: The After Life Issue

In the newest issue of CaliforniaFreemason, we celebrate life by examining the Masonic customs and traditions related to mortality, death, and whatever comes next.

The Mayor of Dub

Thirty years after helping launch Sublime, Marshall goodman is still well-qualified to represent the LBC.

String Theory

Meet three Masonic craftsmen combining technical and artistic wondery to create, repair, and restore musical instruments—making moments of harmonic brilliance possible.

A Masonic Whodunnit

In September, NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, debuted a new television adaptation of Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol which touched off a sudden explosion of interest in Freemasonry and provided a mysterious backdrop to the plot of the story.

California Freemason: The Music Issue

In this special issue of California Freemason Magazine, we delve into the unique power of music—the power to heighten the ritual, to find and make meaning, and to bring people together.

Worth the Trip

As master of his not-so-nearby lodge, Barstow Boron Lodge 682, Miguel Vazquez makes the long trip into the Inland Empire numerous times each week to sit in the East. Still, you won’t hear him complain. Neither will the other 122 members of the Masonic lodge.

Eye of the Beholder

Could a hiding-in-plain-sight Masonic icon change the way we understand a Diego Rivera masterpiece?

Spanning the Divide

For many lodge leaders, navigating the tangles of intralodge conflicts and beefs isn’t just challenging—it can feel totally outside their skill set. Yet a lodge master’s greatest responsibility isn’t just balancing the books or organizing events; it’s maintaining lodge harmony.

Past Present

When Bob Sachs first peered inside the vault in the basement of his lodge hall, he wasn’t totally sure what he was looking at, but there, wrapped in canvas, was a five-foot-tall painting of George Washington dressed in a Masonic apron.

Pyramid Scheme

What started as an idea to turn a quick buck on a national holiday morphed into a million-dollar idea for North Bay Mason Jim McCullough.

Trust Fall

During lockdown, the usually reserved Rio Santonil was compelled by an urge for action. And so, in September, he resolved to fulfill a lifetime goal and go skydiving. And then he did it again. And again. And again.

A Second Home

Fraternal organizations played a historic and civic role within Filipino American communities. Learn more about the rapid growth of Fil-Am Freemasonry.

California Freemason: The Filipino Issue

In the latest issue of California Freemason, we explore that special bond and celebrate the many ways Filipino American Masons have and continue to strengthen the fraternity.

An Absolute Corker

Shrouded in equal parts mystery and merriment, Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks is a bit of an outlier even within the sometimes bewildering world of Freemasonry.

At Refreshment

A curious thing happens at the close of many Masonic lodges. Drinks are poured. Glasses clink. Mirth swells. The lodge is “at refreshment,” an important if unofficial custom that encapsulates so much of what #Freemasonry is all about.

The Spring Refresh

Belly up to the bar and pour yourself a drink: It’s California Freemason magazine’s Spring Drinks issue, our libatious celebration of the spirit-raising power of a good drink shared with good friends.

Strength in Numbers

In a year without lodge, California Freemasons made their presence felt like never before.

The Annual Report 2020

From virtual gatherings  to lifesaving Masonic relief programs, learn about how California Masons and donors have continued to create profound impact and further define what it means to be a Freemason for years to come.

Designing the Future

Read the latest issue of California Freemason magazine and learn more about the ways California Masons are designing the membership experience of the future.

The Mystery House

When Bay Area resident William Arney—a member of Marin Lodge No. 191 and California Lodge No. 1—noticed a For Rent sign at the former home of detective novelist Dashiell Hammett, he had no clue what he was getting himself into as he began to look into the real estate mystery. Read more in the newest issue of […]

Online Masonic Speaker Series

Dive into Masonic education with the Grand Lodge of California’s online Masonic Speaker Series, featuring insightful presentations from renown historians and experts on Freemasonry.

The Getaway Gang

Meet the Black Sheep Scooter Club, a Masonic vintage-scooter enthusiast group founded 35 years ago by Barry Gwin of California Lodge No. 1.

A Homeric Tale

On the 25th anniversary of the Simpsons season 6 episode 12, “Homer the Great,” we pay homage to one of the best, and certainly the funniest, send-ups of Freemasonry ever to hit the airwaves.

A Beautiful Experiment: Public Schools Month at 100

Learn more about the Masons of California’s century-long support of public education, and about the present and future of those efforts, in the latest issue of California Freemason magazine.

The Forever Home

For more than 60 years, California Masons have called the California Masonic Memorial Temple on San Francisco’s Nob Hill their home. At long last, it’s also their lodge.

Challenge Accepted

California masons responded to the #bluelodgechallenge, highlighting acts of everyday charity that are transforming their communities.

Family Matters

Meet American Canyon Lodge No 875, California’s youngest Masonic lodge—both in terms of its members and in terms of its charter, presented November 17, 2019.

He’ll Never Ride Alone Again

Last summer, Long Beach Lodge No. 327 member Dave Romero hit upon a fun idea to give back to his favorite charities: a 550-mile fundraising bike ride from Long Beach to the California Masonic Memorial Temple in San Francisco.

Annual Report 2019: The Future is Bright

Learn about the overview of the present and very bright future of the fraternity, from the charitable work being done in lodges up and down California to exciting developments on the campuses of the Masonic Homes of California to expanded relief operations launching in the Central Valley.

R.I.P. Finally

How did a 19th century Masonic tombstone from Piedmont find its way to the side of the road in Stanislaus County, 100 miles away? That’s exactly what members of Oak Summit Lodge No. 112 set out to discover—and to lay a long-lost brother to rest.

Golden Revival

Up and down California’s Gold Country, lodges are tapping into their unique history to chart their way into the future. Read more in the latest issue of California Freemason.

Striking Gold: Masonry in the Mother Lode Now

Learn about the new sound coming out of Auburn’s Eureka No. 16, a legendary Nevada County gearhead, and the curious case of a lost Masonic headstone in the latest issue of California Freemason Magazine, this month dedicated to the foothill lodges of California’s Mother Lode.

Rising From the Ashes

In the wake of the 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed his entire hometown of Paradise, Nate Smith—member of Table Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 124—turned to music as an artistic outlet—and found the big break he’d been searching for.

The Pin Code

Every fall, as the Grand Master prepares for the busy year ahead, he’s faced with the task of articulating the theme which will both guide his administration and define its legacy. And it needs to fit on a lapel pin.

Secrets of the Cloth: The Mystery of Masonic Folk Arts

Whether it’s through floor cloths, jewelry, woodwork, or aprons, learn about the stories Masons have been telling through these precious objects of interest. Learn more in the newest issue of California Freemason, Crafting their Legacy.

Tales From the Underground

Whether in underground caves or quarries, Masons have been known to meet in some unusual places. Learn more about how these underground meeting spaces elevated the lodge experience.

Take the #BlueLodgeChallenge

Whether your lodge is funding generous scholarships for local students or clearing trash from the roads or beach, we want the world to know about it with #bluelodgechallenge.

Gold Country Trestle Board October 2024

GCTB October 2024

Photo Gallery

The Forever Pace

For most of the past year, Loren Newman ––member of Prometheus Lodge No. 851–– had a set morning routine: Wake up at 5 a.m. and get ready for an early jog… up and down a 1,000-foot-high mountain… five times.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Armin Houshmandi, a master Mason with Golden Rule Lodge No. 479 and the founder of the riding association the Seekers of Light, puts it this way: “The asphalt is unforgiving and physics are unforgiving, and you have to learn to work within the rules and laws of life… Where do you really do that, aside from Masonry?”

Read the Newest Issue of California Freemason!

The July/August issue of California Freemason magazine is now available on our newly redesigned online edition: californiafreemason.org!

Symbols of Femininity

On aprons and teapots, in the first degrees and the virtues and lessons of Freemasonry, feminine symbols are threaded into the very fabric of Freemasonry.

Of Their Free Will and Accord

Freemasonry’s relationship with women evolved during its long history. How has this relationship changed over time, and why are separate streams of Masonry likely to continue?

The Flame Within a Heart

The Order of DeMolay supports young men in building character and leadership skills that serve them for a lifetime. Its close friendship and enduring values provide vital support, cultivate deep understanding, and nurture emotional intelligence at a pivotal point in life.

Generations Connected

Two Senior DeMolays cross a generational divide and find commonalities through their experience in DeMolay International.

Mentorship is Meaningful

Adult mentors of our youth orders find that not only is mentorship helping the kids thrive and build important skills, it’s also fulfilling for the mentors themselves. Watch this brief video featuring Masons who mentor DeMolay chapters at their lodges.

Coming Together to Give Back

In the 2017-2018 fraternal year, 18 lodges pledged – as Pace Setter donors – to the Let’s Write the Future campaign between $100,000 and $300,000. Learn why three lodges chose to write a better future for California communities.

For Our Children. For Our Future.

California masons’ partnership with raising a reader has brought crucial literacy training to nearly 600 classrooms – and we’re not close to done yet!

Memorable Moments

At Orange Grove Lodge No. 293 in Southern California, fraternity, and family are deeply intertwined with Freemasonry. Learn more about what inspires these brothers and their fun-filled Masonic experience – from luaus to support for California public schools.

Welcome Grand Master Wright!

Last Sunday, October 21, Most Worshipful Brother Stuart A. Wright was installed as grand master of Masons in California. We look forward to a year of growth and prosperity under his leadership, inspired by his theme: “Freemasonry… the difference is you.”

Commemorating a Masonic Monument

Earlier this summer, Grand Master Galloway joined the Masons of King David’s Lodge No. 209 for a ceremonial resealing of the Dorn Pyramid, a 23-foot tall granite mausoleum originally constructed in 1905. Robert Sachs, master of King David’s Lodge, shares the history and rumors of the Dorn Pyramid.

A Big Spark

Raven’s Rock Lodge, since it’s opened its doors on June 10, 2017, has been producing local events that revolve around education and the arts, aiming to lift the community while staying true to Masonic tenets and traditions.

Wonders of Masonic America

If you’ve been seeking an excuse to see the country, there’s no better time than the present. The lens of Freemasonry offers a fascinating perspective!

Masons4Mitts: Baseball Is Back!

Dust off those gloves and get ready to knock one out of the park for your team: The 2018 Masons4Mitts season is now underway!

Help Us Celebrate #MasonicDads!

California Freemason is launching a new hashtag campaign, #MasonicDad, to correspond with our July/August issue, which will focus on the theme of “Freemasonry and Fatherhood.” To participate, show us what Masonic fatherhood means to you!

A Tradition of Scholarship

The 2018 Symposium – taking place June 9 in San Francisco and June 10 in Long Beach – will explore the fraternity’s whirlwind arrival in California, and the daring brothers who led the way.

Of a Divine and Moral Nature

The term “sacred geometry” can be somewhat intimidating: How might geometry be sacred, one might wonder. And, how does Masonry fit in?

California Freemason: Sacred Geometry

In Masonic philosophy, sacred geometry reveals ephemeral spiritual realities and personal truths through tangible architectural forms. From its roots in classical philosophy to contemporary applications, sacred geometry’s contemplation oftentimes leads to revelation.

Why I Became a Mason

For Past Grand Master John L. Cooper III, the promise of Freemasonry inspired a life devoted to its craft.

The Rites and Rituals of Freemasonry

One of the most interesting – and sometimes confusing – aspects of Freemasonry is its varied rituals and rites. To study them is to understand the fraternity’s wild creative streak and its ability to adapt to diverse social and cultural trends.

Mozart’s Masonic Magic Flute

Learn about this Masonic masterpiece from one of our fraternity’s great scholars.

A Spectacular Occasion

Masons from around the world gathered at the Royal Albert Hall for the United Grand Lodge of England’s tercentenary celebration. They celebrated the history and future of Freemasonry.

California Freemason: The Prospect Issue

Read about members throughout California whose Masonic experience brought them exactly what they were seeking: brotherhood, friendship, and the path to a more meaningful life.

The Masonic Hand of Charity

From the beginning, fraternal relief was both innovative and practical.

California Freemason: Into the Future

This year marks the 300th anniversary of our great fraternity! Join California Freemason in exploring the history of Freemasonry – from today’s brotherhood to what might be possible in the future as society continues to evolve.

AMERICAN MASONS WHO SHAPED THE WORLD

In the mid- to late- 20th century, our country’s Masons led the way for lasting change.

New Video: We Make a Profound Impact!

A new video created by the California Masonic Foundation offers an inspiring perspective of our Masonic quest to live a meaningful life.

July/August California Freemason: 1941-Today

This year marks the 300th anniversary of our great fraternity! Join California Freemason in exploring the next chapter in the history of Freemasonry – from World War II to today’s brotherhood.

July Is Support Our Veterans Month

Grand Master Heisner has declared July 2017 to be Support Our Veterans Month in California. Read his proclamation now.

300th Anniversay Gala and Banquet

Join your brothers and toast to Freemasonry during an unforgettable night at the 300th Anniversary Gala!

From Enlightenment to Revolution

Freemasonry’s fledgling years had an enduring impact on the future of Western civilization. Read the latest California Freemason feature now.

Masons4Mitts Supports Children in Need

Masons are teaming up with Major League Baseball teams’ charitable progarms to support children in need.

June Is Masonic Homes Month

Masonic Homes Month is the perfect opportunity to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of Masonic relief in California. Follow these helpful tips for starting a celebration of your own.

CALLED FROM LABOR

In November 1910, San Francisco’s California Lodge No. 1 held its 61st annual banquet and ball. The program, which included remarks by several lodge members, as well as music, was accompanied by a mouth-watering four-course meal. Each guest received a printed program and menu card listing the courses. Presented in French, the menu suggests a high level of elegance.

Around the Masonic Table

For hundreds of years, sharing meals with brothers has been a treasured Masonic tradition. In the newest issue of California Freemason, we delve deeply into this practice – from the beginning of the fraternity to today’s traditions. Join us for a trip around the world from Masonic tables to toasts and beyond!

The First and Most Important Care of Leadership

As Masons, we have made the choice to join a group of like-minded individuals to assist in our personal growth and improvement. Many of us have chosen to become leaders within this fraternity, as we find this aspect of the craft to be fulfilling.

Get Ready for Public Schools Month!

A priority of the 2020 Fraternity Plan is to make a positive impact on society. When public schools get the support they need, that impact is made not only in classrooms, but in the future of each student. Here are some ways you and your lodge can make a difference. Donate to the California Masonic […]

Celebrate Youth Orders Month

Throughout our state, young men and women turn to DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, and Rainbow for Girls for a unique environment of brotherhood and sisterhood. There, they transform from timid youths into confident leaders. They learn respect, patriotism, tolerance, and reverence. They form friendships that last a lifetime. To recognize our Masonic youth and to encourage […]

History at Your Fingertips

Freemasons have been active in California even since before it was officially a state, and many notable artifacts from every age are available online to interested Masonic scholars. Kick off a research project or ignite your inner history buff by exploring the collections of the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry. CLICK HERE […]

Freemasonry Set Free

DECIPHERING THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PRINCE HALL MASONRY AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. By Tyler Ash For nearly 200 years, the Underground Railroad has been an elusive, almost mythical aspect of American history, shaping the way we view the cultural and sociopolitical landscapes of the American psyche during the 1800s. A key question continues to elude historians: […]

Masons of California Annual Report

In 2016, California Masons led the way on many different fronts for our fraternity — and now we are looking forward to our future. Read the 2016 Annual Report to learn more about statewide initiatives that will come to fruition in the coming year, and discover how you can apply the lessons and successes of […]

Acacia Creek Receives National Distinction

At Acacia Creek’s founding, its board members set out to create a different kind of retirement community: One that would unite Masons and non-Masons alike in a shared culture of respect, community, and enthusiasm for life. One where the desire to “age successfully” — to establish continued growth and learning as an integral part of […]

A New look at the mythology of The Travelling Man

In addition to the symbolism attached to architectural tools, Freemasonry is built upon stories and legends. And, no story is more intriguing than the one about the “traveling man” – the stonemason who traveled from work site to work site in search of a job. We have little direct evidence of how traveling stonemasons did […]

Welcoming California’s Newest Lodges

On September 16, 2016, the fraternity celebrated the institution of Regius University, U.D. in Fresno. This was followed by the institution of Benicia’s Carquinez Lodge, U.D., on September 23, and that of The Downtown Masonic Lodge, U.D. in Los Angeles on September 30. Between 75 and 100 brothers attended each celebration. It’s the beginning of […]

The Modern Masonic Maker

Since the beginning, Freemasonry has captured the minds and hearts of some of the most imaginative men of each generation. Though far removed from the stonemasons who envisioned and built Europe’s grand cathedrals, the desire to create something new, beautiful, and impactful carries through to present day. In this issue of California Freemason, Mark Frauenfelder […]

An Early California Leader, and a Mason

The Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry has among its archives an 1857 petition for the Royal Arch degrees of John Bidwell. Shown here, with punctuation added for clarity, the certificate reads: To the M.W. High Priest, King, Scribe, and Companions of Washington R.A. Chapter No. 13: The petition of the subscriber respectfully […]

Brothers Across the Pond

In 2014, Bro. Mark Rosen of America Lodge No. 3368 in England visited Pasadena Masonic Lodge No 272. Rosen had grown up in Pasadena and settled in England after moving there for an Air Force assignment. Since moving to England, he had been married, started a successful business, and become a Mason. During his visit […]