Category archive
for Masonic Education

The Masonic ritual is an elaborate production seen by only a select few. And yet Masons are committed to putting on the best show possible.

Go behind the scenes at a performance of The Spirit of Hiram, a Masonic play put on by the Pasadena Scottish Rite.

The Masonic ritual is deeply emotional, says theater scholar Pannill Camp. Why? Because, as in theater, that’s what the audience wants.

The International Conference on Freemasonry shines a light on some strange fraternal pop cultural phenomena—including lodge goats!

At Prometheus № 851, candidates bring Masonic philosophy to life.

The most frequently asked questions about the historic branch of the fraternity.

Author and “manliness” expert Brett McKay explains how ritual helps us make sense of life’s progressions.

At the 11th International Conference on Freemasonry, expert historians train their sights on the lodge attic.

Fraternal societies like the Freemasons were born out of ancient, operative trade guilds. They weren’t the only ones.

For the select group of Masonic father-and-son combos, the Lewis Degree is a special ceremony binding generations of Masons.

From Mexico to Argentina, Latin American countries embody a wide range of Masonic rituals, from the familiar to the highly esoteric.

Freemasonry offers a framework to living a better life. That’s why it holds so many lessons for confronting death—and whatever comes next.

The California Masonic Symposium returns to explore Masonry’s spiritual roots.

Sacred geometry has been an important element of sacred architecture for centuries.

Decoding the patterns at the Masonic Homes.

A Masonic researcher on the unique nature of Filipino Freemasonry.

The inside story behind one of the most curious pseudo-Masonic rituals around.

A historian probes the enduring appeal of Masonic secrets.

Beginning in late April, the Masons of California will host an exciting and entirely digital speakers’ series featuring lectures and talks from Masonic experts on a range of topics.

The hunt for gold is—metaphorically, anyway—central to Freemasonry.

Lunar imagery has long shined in the Masonic lodge room, literally and symbolically.

Masonic wall charts and floor cloths were once banned as too revealing. Now, they’re central parts of modern lodges.

What a curious passage tells us about Masonry’s relationship to the world.

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.

While the women’s movement offered women more political power, Eastern Star
broadened opportunities for women across the country.

At the birth of our country, the Masonic Founding Fathers who signed the U.S. Constitution instilled the values of Freemasonry within our democratic government.

It was the late 1970s when Brett Welch, Garrett Chan, and Albert Lawson’s paths crossed for the first time.

The initiatic process of becoming a Freemason is one filled with symbols, some of which are easier to interpret than others.

Freemasonry’s material culture holds deep meaning for its members – and the same can be said for organizations throughout the world. Here, we look at examples of material culture within the fraternity and the wider world that convey emotional and experiential significance.

Material objects convey culture and reflect shared experiences that span time and geography. Few organizations have as rich a material culture as Freemasonry. Brothers’ lodge attire, jewelry, Masonic gifts, lodge rooms, and ceremonial tools have a profound effect on the member experience – and they do so by design.

The Masonic rods that deacons and stewards use within the ceremonial lodge are imbued with meaning and symbolism.

The historic namesake of the order of DeMolay carries with it a fascinating history that has long piqued curiosity and study.

New lodges and changes in membership demographics are positioning California Masonry to be stronger and more vibrant than ever.