Fall Issue of California Freemason: Masonic San Francisco

Read the Fall Issue of California Freemason

Masonry has played a crucial role in almost every stage of San Francisco’s development—from its earliest days as a remote Mexican settlement through the Gold Rush era, the 1906 earthquake, and its growth into a cultural, political, technological mecca.

Consider: Practically every one of the boldface names associated with the founding and growth of city was a Mason. So too were many of its great builders, along with its financial tycoons and political leaders. Before San Francisco had a proper City Hall, it had 14 Masonic lodges—including one working in French. By 1860, just a decade after the Gold Rush began, there were nearly 1,000 Masons working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California in the “instant city.” In that way, Masonry has had a massive influence on San Francisco, from its attitudes to its laws to its physical layout.

Fast-forward 170-something years, and the city is still the place where the echoes of Masonic history ring loudest.

Read more about the history of Masonry in San Francisco in the latest issue of California Freemason Magazine.

Unpacking Masonry’s Relationship to the Great Architect

Questions abound about Masonry and religion. Unpacking Masonry’s relationship to God, the church, and the Supreme Architect of the Universe.

Is Freemasonry a religion? What religion are Masons? Can Catholics be Masons? What’s the Masonic bible? Are Mormons Masons? What’s the deal between Freemasonry and Catholicism? Questions about the relationship between Masonry and religion are among the most frequent inquiries we receive.

The question of the connection between Freemasonry and religion is not an easy topic to tackle. On the one hand, Masons are adamant that Freemasonry is not a religion, and not a substitute for religion. It encourages its members to be active in their own faith community but does not favor or promote any particular faith.

On the other hand, Freemasonry requires that all its members have a belief in a God. It begins and ends its meetings with prayer. Members take their promises as Masons on sacred book, often a Masonic Bible. Its rituals have frequent references to God. Their meeting places are often called Masonic temples. So if it isn’t a religion, why is religion such a feature of Freemasonry?

The History of Masonry and Religion— and Why Any Religion Can Be a Mason

It would be easy just to say that requiring a belief in God is a part of our Masonic heritage, and a part of the fabric of Freemasonry. It is, but it is also something more.

The Judeo-Christian tradition was a crucial influence in the early days of modern Freemasonry. That can be seen in the many references to Christian religious iconography in its ritual, from the story of Solomon’s Temple to St. John the Baptist (one of two patron saints of Freemasonry), and the bible as one of the “three great lights” of Masonry.

When the first Grand Lodge was organized in London in 1717, its leaders asked one of its prominent members, a Presbyterian minister named James Anderson, to write a set of rules to govern the new society, called “charges.” His “Six Charges” became the standard interpretation of the craft and still remain an important source for understanding the fundamental principles of our institution.

His first charge, “Concerning God and Religion,” was probably the most important. It read, “But though in ancient Times Masons were charg’d in every Country to be of the Religion of that Country or Nation, ’tis now thought more expedient to oblige them [Masons] to that Religion in which all Men agree, leaving the particular Opinions to themselves; that is, to be good Men and true, or Men of Honour and Honesty, by whatever Denominations or Persuasions they may be distinguish’d…”

In other words, the fraternity would not be divided by religious differences.

Are Masons Christian?

As we’ve seen, Anderson’s careful language started a new chapter in Freemasonry—one of religious tolerance, and one that that stated plainly that the fraternity was open to men of any faith. (Although they had to be men of some faith.)

While Masonry is and has always been open to men of all religions, 18th century Britain was a predominantly Christian world. Historian David Hackett has written that while Anderon’s First Charge was a radical change, he was probably thinking more about uniting Unitarians, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Anglicans, and Catholics—in other words, various Christian denominations.

As a result, Masonic rituals retain many elements and symbols of Christianity. Perhaps most important is the fundamental mythology of Freemasonry, the Biblical story of the building of King Solomon’s Temple. Even today, Freemasonry bears the marks of the era in which it was founded.

That said, Masons today belong to practically all world religions. People of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, and many other faiths are welcomed as members.

Why Is St. John the Patron Saint of Freemasonry?

Freemasonry has two patron saints: St. John the Evangelist and St. John the Baptist.

The reasons for this connection go back centuries—and remain shrouded in mystery. What we know for certain is that it isn’t strange that during the Middle Ages, many societis and guilds were dedicated to a particular saint. That figure received special devotion from the members of the society, and, in turn, he would offer its members special protection and favor. At some point in, the two St. John figures became known as the patron saints of Freemasonry. When and where that happened remains a mystery.

From the Masonic perspective, we can understand the balanced dualism of John the Baptist on one side and John the Evangelist on the other. Together, they represent two sides of a coin: the passionate zeal of the baptist and the knowledge of faith of the apostle. A Masonic lodge dedicated to the two patron saints of Freemasonry can be seen as a space to both reflect on and channel our passions. Taken as an abstract compilation of symbols, they represent a well-balanced path toward enlightenment. Even more, their feast days are closely associated with the summer and winter solstice—underscoring the symbolic duality of the two figures.

Masons recognize St. John the Baptist’s Feast Day on June 24 with a large dinner celebration, and St. John the Evangelist on December 27.

Can Catholics Be Masons?

Catholicism’s relationship to Freemasonry continues to confuse many people. That’s been the case all the way since Pope Clement XII in 1738.

The short answer is that Yes, Catholics can be Masons. Many Masons throughout history and today have been practicing Catholics. But over the years, the Catholic church has issued several statements on Masonry that have muddied those waters.

In 1738, a Papal Bull from Rome announced that attending a Masonic lodge would be punishable by death. That condemnation of Masonry has been reiterated by at least seven popes over three centuries. They rest largely on the grounds that the fraternity adheres to an idea described as “religious indifferentism,” according to at least one Catholic publication. The most recent missive was issued in November 2023 in a letter sent from the dicastery to a bishop in the Philippines, reiterated that membership in a Masonic lodge warrants an automatic excommunication that can only be lifted by the Holy See.

However, at other times, the church has appeared to walk back those rules. In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, in 1974, a letter from the Vatican’s prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith seemed to imply that Catholic laymen were able to join Masonic lodges, provided the lodges were not intrinsically anti-Catholic. The letter suggested that Catholics were simply forbidden from joining “associations which plot against the church.”

However, just a few years later, in 1981 (and again in ’83 and ’85), the same Vatican office reversed course, reiterating that the removal of Masonry by name in its Code of Canon Law did not change its position on the fraternity. However, in the U.S. and elsewhere, confusion has lingered.

In the end, Catholic Masons are left with a deeply personal question, just as they are with countless delicate matters. Arthur L. Salazar, the 2024-25 Grand Master of California, who is Catholic, says his deacon presented him with a piece of advice that he passes along to others in a similar position: “He said if I’m ever a member of any organization and feel like it’s not aligned with my moral compass, that’s when it’s time to walk away.”

Further Reading

For more articles on Freemasonry, visit freemason.org/masonic-education/articles-about-freemasonry/

The Common Denominator: Examining the Divisive Issue of Religion That’s Unified the Fraternity

Why Is St. John the Patron Saint of Freemasonry?

The Long Shadow: In the Wake of the Catholic Church’s Latest Statement on Freemasonry, the Question Remains, Why?

Concerning God and Religion, and Freemasonry’s “Center of Union”

Thanks to California Masons, a New Program Introduces Students to EV Green Careers

This spring, students from Sacramento City Unified School District got their first look at a new mobile classroom: a customized Rivian RCV 700 electric van full of battery chargers, safety gear, and components that’s being driven from school to school to introduce young people to careers in electric-vehicle battery manufacturing, engineering, and repair.

The rolling classroom is part of a first-of-its-kind new partnership between the California Masonic Foundation, Sacramento City Unified School District, and the California Energy, Power, and Innovation Collaborative (Cal EPIC). Through the deal, students at some of the district’s most under-resourced schools will have the opportunity to take a 10-week training class in precision manufacturing and green-energy technologies like EV maintenance. The aim is to offer a pathway to well-paid jobs in growing fields that don’t require a college degree.

Read more in the latest issue California Freemason:

Download the Simple Guide to Freemasonry

How did you first learn about about Freemasonry? Was it by stepping into a lodge hall and meeting with members? At a community event? From a movie or TV show?

PROBABLY NOT!

Research shows that by far, the most common introduction that current members had to the organization came from a personal connection such as a relative or colleague. In other words, not from the Internet. That’s why it’s so important that current members feel comfortable talking about Freemasonry with the people around them—and that those searching for more information are provided with simple and accurate answers.

To that end, this short booklet is designed to help current members answer some of the most common—but often confusing—questions about Freemasonry.

Download and read through this guide to brush up on the basics. And share it with those around you who’d like to learn more. Don’t worry about memorizing answers. The most powerful thing you can do is share your personal experience. Consider this a tool to help you get started.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE

As members, you’re encouraged to discuss your Masonic experience with people around you. It’s how the tradition stays alive, from one person to the next.

Masonic Ritual Takes the Stage

Behind the doors of every Masonic lodge, something profound unfolds—something few outside the fraternity will ever witness. It’s not broadcast or written down. And yet, for those who’ve experienced it, it’s unforgettable.
This is the power of the Masonic ritual: a centuries-old tradition performed with precision, reverence, and secrecy. It’s a play of sorts—with high drama, poetic language, and powerful symbolism—delivered for an audience of one.
What happens in that darkened room has been passed down, unchanged, from generation to generation. It connects today’s Masons with the likes of Mozart, Bolívar, and Churchill. And within that ritual lies the heart of Freemasonry—the mystery, the meaning, the bond that unites brothers across centuries and continents.
Read more in the latest issue California Freemason: californiafreemason.org/masonic-ritual

Summer Issue of California Freemason: The Performance

Read the Summer Issue of California Freemason: The Performance

The Masonic ritual is a play with an audience of one, Tony Gilbert writes in the cover feature for the latest issue of California Freemason Magazine. And that one person is also the star of the show. Within that performance, there is high drama, powerful poetry, and profound life lessons. People who have seen it call it one of the most memorable events of their lives. When the players leave the darkened room, they’ll say they feel transformed. And they’ll mean it.
In the most elemental way, this private show is Freemasonry; it’s the what and the why and the how of the entire enterprise. So it’s no surprise that Masons devote so much time and energy to performing it well. Because if you’re putting on a show that promises all that, you’d better make it great.

In this issue of California Freemason Magazine, we’re taking a deep dive into the many ways that Masonry and performance collide. Most notably, that’s through the performance of the ritual. But there’s so much more: An interview with a theater scholar investigating the connections between the Masonic ritual and 18th century French theater; an illuminating photo essay taking us behind the scenes as the Pasadena Scottish Rite stages its annual performance of The Spirit of Hiram; and a trio of profiles of California Masons who double as performers outside of lodge.

The Masonic degree is, of course, elemental to Freemasonry. It’s the highlight of any candidate’s experience. But it’s just the start—a first step on the journey of a lifetime. The ritual is the moment at which the curtains are raised. But it’s everything that happens next that constitutes the real drama.

Read the Summer Issue of California Freemason: The Performance

#WeAreMasons: Join our NEW Social Media Campaign!

For the past three years, the Masons of California have led a summer social media campaign called #ImAMason, celebrating the many reasons we love being part of this historic and timeless fraternity. That effort has helped us reach more than 8.6 million users and inspired posts from as far away as England, Africa, South America, and beyond!

This year, we’re keeping the momentum going—with a twist.
Since belonging and community are such integral parts of Freemasonry, this time around, we’re tweaking our message. That’s why, we’re inviting you to post on your favorite social media platform with the hashtag #WeAreMasons.

Share photos of a lodge volunteer effort, a group outing to a ballgame, or a local charity drive. Let’s show the world what Masonry looks like in action—because #WeAreMasons, and together, we make a difference.

Spring 2025 Issue Out Now: 175 Years

Spring 2025 Issue Out Now: 175 Years

Raffi Bedrossian of San Marino № 408 had just returned home on January 7 when his life changed. As he, his wife, and their daughter landed in Altadena, his phone lit up with warnings about the fast-moving Eaton Fire. Within hours, his home was gone, every possession of theirs left in ruins.
When Bedrossian was finally able to return to his home, there was nothing left except one thing. Under the rubble, he found a Masonic stone ashlar, given to him several years ago by Past Grand Master David Perry. Now, two months later, Bedrossian counts himself as one of the lucky ones. His family is safe. They’re getting ready to leave the hotel they’ve been staying in and move into a new apartment. His world has changed dramatically, but in time he’ll rebuild it.
In this issue of California Freemason, we’re celebrating 175 years of incredible Masonic history in this state. And what that history shows us is that moments like these are when our fraternity is at its best. When disaster strikes, Masons have always been there to help. That is the real legacy of California Masonry. We’ve been heartened to hear stories of our members and lodges reaching out to people throughout L.A. to offer money, supplies, or a place to stay. This is, after all, what we do. It’s what we’ve done for 175 years, and it’s what we’ll always do.

Spring 2025 Issue Out Now: 175 Years

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. These new, interactive pages are designed to answer some basic questions about Freemasonry and how to join a lodge. Share them with prospects, new members, and anyone interested in learning more about the fraternity.

 

What is Freemasonry?

Becoming a Freemason

History of Freemasonry

Inside a Lodge Room

2024 Fraternity Report: The Win-Win

In 2024, the California Masonic Foundation made a profound impact by expanding its literacy initiatives and career-readiness programs, forging partnerships that strengthen communities across the state.
From launching a dual-language Farsi and English book program in Sacramento to setting new fundraising records with Masons4Mitts, the Foundation’s efforts have touched thousands of lives. Read more in the 2024 Fraternity Report.