jjapitana – Freemason blog

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:

californiafreemason.org/cal-epic

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.

Learn About Freemasonry Symbols

Learn more about Freemasonry at: freemason.org/freemasonry-symbols

An introduction to the symbols, signs, and emblems of Masons and Masonic lodges.

Maybe you’ve heard rumors about the “Freemason pyramid” on the dollar bill, seen the square and compass logo on buildings around town, or wondered about the meaning of emblems like the Masonic trowel. What’s the history behind Masonic symbols, and how do they factor into what happens in a lodge?

Why Does Masonry Use Symbols?

From soaring architecture to dime-sized lapel pins, symbols adorn every part of the Masonic experience. Why? Symbols allow people to communicate quickly, and to transcend language barriers. When you see a green light or a circle with a line through it, you know what it means. Likewise, Masons use metaphors from geometry and the architecture of stonemasonry to inform their continuing pursuit of knowledge, ethics, and leadership skills.

From the Square and Compass to the Letter G: The Meaning of Masonic Emblems

When speculative Masonry began in the 17th century, it adopted the stonemason’s tools as symbols to illustrate life lessons. Freemasonry’s symbols today remain remarkably true to the first stonemasons’ working tools.

Here are some of the best-known Masonic symbols:

Apron: Known as the “unique badge of a Mason,” the apron is the most recognizable item of a Mason’s attire. Masons wear aprons while at lodge, and at certain public events. The tradition dates back to the fraternity’s operative days, when stonemasons wore protective work aprons.
Square and Compass: The Masonic square and compass is probably the most common symbol in Masonry, used to represent Freemasons and Masonic lodges around the world. Ancient stonemasons used the tools to create 90-degree angles and test the accuracy of their stones. In “speculative” Masonry, the square is an emblem of morality. The compass represents the relationship between the individual and society.
The Letter G: The letter G is often seen in the center of the square and compass symbol. It stands for geometry, the basis for stonemasonry—and, symbolically, for modern Freemasonry.
Plumb and Level: In stonemasonry, the plumb and level ensure surfaces are vertically and horizontally flush. For today’s Freemasons, the plumb is a symbol of justice, rectitude, and the importance of living in an upright manner, while the level is a reminder that all men are equal. You may have heard the phrase, “To meet on the level and part on the square.” That’s where it comes from!
Trowel: One of a stonemason’s most important working tools is the trowel, used to spread mortar that binds stones together. In Freemasonry, the trowel is used to spread the “cement” of brotherly love to unite a sacred band or society of friends.
Rough and Perfect Ashlars: The ashlars are two stone cubes placed near the master’s platform in the lodge; one is rough-edged, delivered straight from the quarry; the other is smooth and ready for building. The rough ashlar represents man in his crude form, while the perfect ashlar represents the man, who, through the teachings of Masonry, has become more polished. We never become a perfect ashlar, but we work toward it.
Columns: Every Masonic lodge has representations of two pillars, replicas of the two columns that flanked the entrance to King Solomon’s temple. The pillars are said to represent strength and establishment.
Winding Staircase: The winding staircase is another symbol inspired by King Solomon’s temple, referring to the steps leading from the entryway to the middle chamber of the temple. It’s an allegory for a member’s progress from Entered Apprentice to Fellow Craft.
Other Masonic symbols include: The beehive, the acacia tree, the 47^th Problem of Euclid, the Ark of the Covenant, the anchor, cable tow, sheaf of corn, gavel, and blazing star. Here’s a resource explaining some less-well-known Freemasonry symbols.

What’s the “Freemason Pyramid?”

Hollywood blockbusters like National Treasure and bestsellers like Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol have done much to sensationalize Freemasonry’s symbols. A lot of the time, they contain more fiction than fact.

Take, for example, the image of the eye and the pyramid on the dollar bill. The pyramid does not appear in regular Masonic ritual or symbolism. The all-seeing eye, sometimes called the eye of providence, is used by Masons to represent the omniscient eye of God. But in the 18th century, when the U.S. was designing its Great Seal, the symbol was common among non-Masonic groups, too.

So what should we make of the rumors that Masons designed the dollar bill, or that the Great Seal of the United States is a Masonic emblem? They’re false, and false. According to Masonic historian S. Brent Morris, the only known Mason on the design committee was Benjamin Franklin, and his ideas didn’t make it into the final design. Artist Pierre Du Simitiere, a non-Mason, contributed the design for the eye. Another non-Mason, Francis Hopkinson, contributed the pyramid.

California Freemason: There’s No Place Like Lodge

Could the simple act of joining a MasonicLodge be the key to rebuilding trust and strengthening democracy? Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone, thinks so. He argues that declining membership in social groups—like lodges, churches, and even bowling leagues—has contributed to rising polarization and social distrust.

Freemasonry offers a remedy: it fosters ‘social capital,’ creating connections that cross racial, political, and socioeconomic lines. By building trust and promoting civic engagement, Masons help strengthen the bonds that hold our communities—and democracy—together. Oh, and it might even help you live longer.

Author: jjapitana