Tag archive
for History

The forgotten history of Prince Hall Masonry’s brief Filipino lodge boom—and long decline—in California.

Largely overlooked by historians, Prince Hall remains a towering figure of both Masonic history—and American history writ large.

A new pilot program aims to archive the records of California’s extinct Masonic lodges.

For 175 Years, the Grand Lodge of California has left its mark on the state.

Since its founding in 1850, California Masonry has had a profound influence on the state we call home.

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.

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

Mapping San Francisco’s historic—and current—Masonic meeting places.

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.

The International Conference explores Masonry in film, politics, and propaganda.

In the East Bay town of Albany, there lies a Masonic Avenue with no Masons, leaving behind a fraternal mystery.

Hiding in plain sight on one of the city’s busiest blocks, the Mission Masonic Temple is a living link to the area’s wild and wooly past.

For more than a century, Fidelity No. 120 was home to a robust Jewish membership.

The Prince Hall Apartments, built by the fraternal order during San Francisco’s urban renewal, are a testament to the city’s black history.

With his Jazz Age flair, architect Timothy Pflueger brought a signature style to San Francisco’s skyline.

Throughout San Francisco, street names share subtle reminders of a fraternal past.

The influential artists Arthur and Lucia Mathews once designed the interior of the Grand Lodge Temple. So where’s all their artwork gone?

Masonic remains from the 1906 earthquake recall San Francisco’s darkest days—and its rebirth.

Researchers hope to uncover local history within the small Gold Rush-era Jamestown Masonic Cemetery.

Behind the terra-cotta tiles of the arts and crafts, a Masonic influence.

Founded in the 1850s and still active today, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California is building on a proud history.

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

Last fall, the Vatican once a gain reiterated its position on Freemasonry—one that’s caused confusion for 300 years.

At Logos No. 861 in San Francisco, handmade, lovingly crafted material culture is part of the very fabric of the lodge.

The forget-me-not is a Masonic symbol of brotherhood, sacrifice, and remembrance.

How a century-old Masonic lodge boom is still reverberating today.

A new exhibition explains the groundbreaking illustrations in a 300-year-old manuscript.

During WWI, the Masonic Ambulance Corps was a grassroots effort by Masonic volunteers who were passionate to serve their country.

A new exhibition by the Grand Lodge of California puts past master’s jewels under the spotlight.

An archival Masonic baseball jersey reveals a colorful American history of Freemasonry, lodges, and baseball.

For centuries, Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist have been the patron saints of Freemasonry. But why?

For generations, the world’s greatest magicians have found a second home in Masonry. Why have Masonry and magic shared such a close connection?

For 200 years, magician Richard Potter—once the most famous performer in America, and a Prince Hall Mason—has kept the public guessing.