Category archive
for Masonic Education

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

We say farewell to an accidental Masonic icon.

For more than 150 years, the Folger cipher had Masonic experts stumped—until Dr. Brent Morris and his team at the NSA took their turn.

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.

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.

From Count Basie to Cab Calloway to Duke Ellington, many of the American jazz greats of the early- to mid- 20th century […]

Lodges accumulate a mountain of records over the years, in the form of papers, books, artifacts, and photos. The sheer volume can get overwhelming.

Use these guidelines and tools to get rid of the clutter, and to take proper care of your lodge’s important records.

The archives of the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry in San Francisco contain more than 100 years’ worth of significant Masonic artifacts.

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

One lodge’s near-casualty inspired a renewed interest in preserving Masonic artifacts, and revealed a treasure trove of California history.

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

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.

Track DeMolay’s expansion from the United States to Canada, Europe, and beyond.

Written in 1919, the DeMolay ritual is an amalgamation of Masonic traditions and influences.

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