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California Freemason: Giving Back

Winter 2025: Giving Back

Current Issue

Every day, Masonic lodges across California give back to their community in ways large and small. Taken together, they represent a massive, if overlooked, engine of community support and Masonic philanthropy.

The Massive, Invisible Impact of Everyday Masonic Charity

A celebration of the pancake breakfasts, the blood drives, the Teacher of the Year dinners—and the million other ways Masons give back.
The San Francisco Masonic Board of Relief in the wake of the 1906 earthquake and fire. For more than a century, Masonic relief boards provided support to Masons from around the world.

How Masonic Relief Boards Provided Support for 100 Years

For more than a century, California Masons supported one another—and brothers from around the world—through a vast network of boards of relief.

Friends of Friends: Meet the Masons Extending Our Reach

Meet the California Masons putting Masonic philanthropy into practice through like-minded community organizations.
Masons want to give back. Now the Grand Lodge of California, through its Keystone Initiative, is working to help them do just that.

Whether in Lodge or at a Soup Kitchen, a Chance for Masons to Give Back

Masons want to give back. Now the Grand Lodge of California, through its Keystone Initiative, is working to help them do just that.
A child reads a book given to her by Raising a Reader, a children's literacy nonprofit. Thanks to the Masons of California, Raising a Reader has expanded its childhood literacy program into 1,000 California public school classrooms.

How California Masons Brought Literacy into 1,000 Classrooms

California Masons and Raising a Reader have brought their childhood literacy program to 1,000 classrooms around the state. That’s just the first chapter of their story.
Christina FitzGerald says of her father, Vernon Dandridge, a past master of Atwater Larchmont Tila Pass № 614, “Masonry was everything to him.” When it comes to leaving a gift for the California Masonic Foundation in a will or trust, it's about more than money. It's leaving a legacy.

Why a Masonic Bequest Was a Final “Act of Love”

When it comes to leaving a gift for the California Masonic Foundation in a will or trust, it's about more than money. It's leaving a legacy.
Members of East San Diego № 561

The Center of It All

East San Diego № 561 has made service to others paramount. For that, it is the 2025 Joe Jackson Award Recipient.

Lodge master Alexander Verbrugghen with Dennis Caoile at Most Worshipful John R. Heisner № 442.

At John Heisner No. 442, the Roll Up Your Sleeves Gang

At Most Worshipful John R. Heisner № 442, a legacy of service lives on and becomes central to the Masonic experience.
Remembering the most over-the-top Masonic floats from years past at the annual Tournament of Roses parade before the Rose Bowl.

At the Rose Parade, Remembering the Masonic Floats of Yesteryear

Remembering the most over-the-top Masonic floats from years past at the annual Tournament of Roses parade before the Rose Bowl.
From 1916 to 1961, the Fraternity Club of San Francisco, headquartered at the Palace Hotel, was the social center of California Masonry.

Remembering the Fraternity Club, San Francisco’s Masonic Private Club

From 1916 to 1961, the Fraternity Club of San Francisco, headquartered at the Palace Hotel, was the social center of California Masonry.
Meet a Darryl Watts, member of Elk Grove No. 173, who helped organize a 3,000-pound donation with fellow community organizations.

Member Profile: Darryl Watts

Meet a Darryl Watts, member of Elk Grove No. 173, who helped organize a 3,000-pound donation with fellow community organizations.
2026 International Conference on Freemasonry. Nazi propaganda poster depicting Masonic conspiracy theory, courtesy of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Hans Pauli

At the International Conference on Freemasonry, a Masonic Fact Check

The International Conference explores Masonry in film, politics, and propaganda.
In Albany, there lies a Masonic Avenue with no Masons.

Why Albany’s Masonic Avenue Is a Road to Nowhere

In the East Bay town of Albany, there lies a Masonic Avenue with no Masons, leaving behind a fraternal mystery.
A new pilot program from the Masonic Foundation is bringing everyday math into young students' homes.

For the Masons, a New Family Math Program Is Adding Up

A new pilot program from the Masonic Foundation is bringing everyday math into young students' homes.
Caifornia Freemason: Shaunt Der-Grigorian

Donor Profile: Shaunt Grigorian

Meet one of the state’s top Masonic ritualists, who says Masonic philanthropy is the key that unlocks it all.
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Articles By Topic

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History
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Pop Culture
Members of Palos Verdes No 883 celebrate the lodge′s charter ceremony on February 4 in Gardena. It is one of several new Masonic lodges to have gone up in California in recent years.

Meet the Builders of California’s Newest Masonic Lodges
California Prince Hall Grand Master David San Juan and Grand Lodge of California Grand Master G. Sean Metroka

For Two Grand Masters, an Opportunity to Build Bridges Between Masons
Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall: America’s Masonic Father Figure
Members of La France No. 885, the newest French-speaking lodge in California.

At La France No. 885, a Lodge of Bon Vivants

The Heroes of Masonry: They Wear Aprons, Not Capes
Mason of the Year Dennis Caoile of Widows Sons No. 869

The Exemplars: Meet the 2024 California Masons of the Year

Stephen Doan: The Mastermind
Grand Lodge of California Celebrates 175 Years

The Masons of California at 175: State of Evolution
Grand Lodge of California Timeline. Masonic history.

A Timeline of 175 Years of California Masonic History
San Francisco's historic Masonic meeting places

The Masonic Map of San Francisco
An expansion of the Mission Masonic Temple in the 1930s resulted in the installation of a new ceramic tile façade featuring three Masonic symbol medallions.

The Mission Masonic Temple, a Splendid Survivor
Members of Fidelity No. 120 (now part of San Francisco No. 120), circa 1950s. Fidelity No. 120 was for many years home to a significant number of Jewish Masons in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

At Fidelity No. 120, a Fraternal Home for San Francisco’s Jewish Masons
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East San Diego No. 561, 2025 Joe Jackson Award Recipient
East San Diego No. 561, 2025 Joe Jackson Award Recipient
San Francisco Mission Masonic Temple
San Francisco Mission Masonic Temple
Member Profile: The King Pin
Member Profile: The King Pin
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Past Issues

Fall 2025: Masonic San Francisco

Fall 2025

Summer 2025: The Performance

Summer 2025

Spring 2025: 175 Years

Spring 2025

Winter 2024: A Sense of Belonging

Winter 2024

Heroes of Masonry

Fall 2024

Prince Hall, Then and Now

Summer 2024

Brick by Brick

Spring 2024

Common Ground

Winter 2024

Transforming Relief

Fall 2023

The Magic Issue

Summer 2023

Revolutions

Spring 2023

Small Town Masonry

Winter 2023

The Temple Issue

Fall 2022

Southern Exposure

Summer 2022

The After Life Issue

Spring 2022

The Music Issue

Winter 2022

Bridge Builders

Fall 2021

The Filipino Issue

Summer 2021

The Drinks Issue

Spring 2021

Designing the Future

Winter 2021

The Noir Issue

September / October 2020

Dads & Daughters

July / August 2020

The Relief Issue

May / June 2020

A Beautiful Experiment

March / April 2020

2019 Annual Report

January / February 2020

Striking Gold

November / December 2019

Crafting Their Legacy

September / October 2019

The Outdoors Issue

July / August 2019

Women and Freemasonry

May / June 2019

100 Years of DeMolay

March / April 2019

2018 Annual Report

January / February 2019

Friendship

November / December 2018

Our Material Worlds

September / October 2018
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