As I said on my main page, this picture is my official Lodge picture. In 2002, I was the
Master of Placerville Lodge #26, which is the highest ranking officer in a Masonic Lodge.
This is a very special honor for me, as I was the 150th Master of my Lodge. I am also one
of the youngest Masters in my Lodge's 150 year history.
In early 2003, I affiliated with another Lodge in my area, Hiram-Tahoe #43. Due to an unexpected opening in the
Officers line there, I was asked to get in their Line as Junior Warden in 2004. This opportunity is of special
significance for me for several reasons. First, I loved the experience so much the first time through, I had always
hoped that I would someday have the chance to be Master again. Secondly, my carpool partner that I
drive to work with will be Junior Warden of Placerville #26 in 2004, so he and I will get to be
Masters at the same time. Lastly, and certainly not the least important, in the year 2006, the Grand
Master that year (the current Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of California, Rite Worshipful Fred Sorsabal)
is a member of Placerville #26, and it will truly be a great honor for me to be the Master of a Lodge
from the same Masonic District that has produced the Grand Master.
What Is Freemasonry?
Here are some key facts about Freemasonry, the worlds oldest and largest
fraternity. This information is published by the Center for Masonic Information
and the Masonic Service Association.
- Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a religion or substitute for religion.
We respect the religious beliefs of all our individual members.
- Masonic Charities raise over $525 Million a year, with 58% going to the general public.
Freemasons desire to be of service to mankind.
- Freemasonry is an open, not a secretive society. Our only "secrets" are
traditional passwords, signs of recognition, and dramatic presentations of
moral lessons.
- Freemasonry is open to all men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being.
- The Masonic family of organizations is open to all, and includes womens'
groups and organizations for young men and women.
- Freemasonry does not require improper oaths. The so-called "ancient
penalties" are strictly symbolic. The refer only to the pain any honest
man should feel at the thought of violating his word.
- Both the famous and the common man have been Freemasons over the past 300
years. These include statesmen, such as President George Washington and
Benjamin Franklin; Military leaders, such as General Douglas MacArthur
and Major General James Doolittle; entertainers, such as John Wayne and
John Philip Sousa, and religious leaders Normal Vincent Peale and Peter
Marshall.
- There are 2 1/2 million American Freemasons and nearly 6 million worldwide.
My grandfather wass a 50 year Freemason, as of 1997, and it was an honor for me to
finally decide to follow in his steps when I decided to join Masonry that year
myself. I joined El Dorado Lodge #26 (renamed to Placerville #26 in October 2003),
Free & Accepted Masons of the State of California in July 1997, located in Placerville.
I underwent my 3rd Degree on December 18, 1997, thereby becoming a Master Mason, which
means that I was then a "full" Mason, entitled to attend Lodge meetings and travel to
other Lodges around the country,or even the world, if I choose to do so.
Early in 1999, I completed my journey through the York Rite, which is composed
of three bodies: The Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Council of Cryptic Masons
and Commandery of Knights Templar. I also am a member of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, as well as the Shrine. Many people are
familiar with Shriners, either from seeing those men in the funny little red hats
riding in those little cars in parades, from the annual East-West Shrine football
games around the country, and even from the various Shriners Hospitals for Children
around the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Shrine, like all Masonic
organizations, is a great philanthropy. Every single child which is treated at
any of the 22 Shrine Hospitals is treated absolutely free of charge to the family.
Some of the hospitals even have a few hotel like rooms in which family members
may stay while their child is in the hospital receiving treatment, if the family
has had to travel a long distance. This too, is completely free to the family.
Some things which you may be familiar with, but never knew were associated with
Freemasonry:
- Phrases such as "getting the third degree" or "being put through the
degrees" are a reference to the three degrees of entrance into Freemasonry.
Before a man is a "full blooded" Mason, he must successfully complete these
first 3 degrees. There are other Masonic organizations which offer
additional degrees, such as the Scottish Rite and the York Rite, and even
the Shrine, but these are optional and not required to become a Mason.
- Did you know Shriners are Masons? The Shrine is what is referred to as an
appendant body of Masonry, just like the York and Scottish Rites. Which means
a man must first become a Freemason by petitioning a Masonic Lodge, and then
successfully completing the first 3 degrees. Then to become a Shriner, he must
go all the way through either the Scottish or York Rite bodies of Freemasonry,
then petition to join the Shrine.
- The full name of the Shrine is actually Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Many things in Freemasonry have an Arabic theme, which alludes to the ancient
beginnings of Masonry. While "modern" Freemasonry is considered to have been
established in its current form in England in the early 18th century, Masonry
actually has its roots as far back as ancient Egypt. King Tut was buried with
his Lamb skin apron, which is one of the universal symbols of Freemasonry.
- Each of these members of the Masonic family has its own specific philanthropic
endeavor. As mentioned above, the Shrine has its famous Hospitals. The York
Rite has an eye foundation, the Scottish Rite has a speech/language disorder
clinic and the Blue Lodge, which is the basic Masonic Lodge, or foundation of the
Masonic family is a strong supporter of the public school system.
- Freemasonry does not have any central governing body on a national or global
scale. In the United States for example, each of the 50 States has its own
governing body, which is known as the Grand Lodge. Each Grand Lodge, in America and
all around the world, are autonomous, and completely independent of each other.
No Grand Lodge has any jurisdiction over any other Grand Lodge. However, it
requires an existing Grand Lodge to officially charter and recognize a new
Grand Lodge in order for a new Grand Lodge to be created. Each Grand Lodge
has its own bylaws and Constitutions, which may differ slightly from other
Grand Lodges. But in order for a Grand Lodge to remain officially recognized
and in good standing with all the other Grand Lodges, they all must adhere
closely to the same basic tenets and guidelines of Freemasonry, and they
must each recognize each other. What exactly does it mean to recognize each
other? Well, Since I am a member in good standing of a Masonic Lodge in the
jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California, I can attend a Stated Meeting
at a Masonic Lodge in any Lodge anywhere in the world that falls under the
jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge which is recognized by, and recognizes the Grand
Lodge of California.
I hope you have enjoyed my Masonic page. If you're interested, here are a few links
to some other sites of Masonic interest. If you're ever in the Placerville area and would like to stop in
and visit our Lodge, please feel free to do so. We always enjoy visitors, and welcome any and all
who pass by our way. Our Stated Meeting is always the Second Thursday of every month, dinner at 6:30 PM and the
meeting at 7:30 PM. Please see the below link to our Lodge's web site, which will provide you with
our address and phone numbers. For Hiram-Tahoe #43, our Stated Meetings are the first Friday of every
month, dinner is at 7:00 PM, Stated Meeting at 8:00 PM.
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Last modified: Wen Mar 3 08:27 PST 2004
tom@tomgolden.org