|
Welcome to our website
History of Freemasonry
 |
The inception of Freemasonry
In the Middle Ages, the term “freemason” was awarded to highly skilled
Stonemasons who were hired as free agents to build castles and cathedrals in
England and Scotland. Because of the inherent danger of their work, stonemasons
formed local organizations, called lodges, to take care of sick and injured
members as well as the widows and orphans of those who were killed on the job.
The first Grand Lodge was established in 1717 in London. In 1718, English
|
Freemasonry spread to France and Spain, and after 1729, to India, Italy, Poland, and Sweden. Freemasonry spread
to other parts of Europe and eventually made its way to the American colonies. In 1733, the first American lodge
was established in Boston, under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England. Of the 39 men who signed the U.S.
Constitution, 13 were Masons.
Freemasonry comes to California
Freemasonry has been an integral part of California for more than 150 years. During the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands
of settlers came to California in search of fortune. Many of these men had been Masons back East and brought with
them the tradition of Freemasonry. Not surprisingly, some of California’s first MasonicLodges were established in the
mining towns of the Gold Country. In 1850 – the same year that California became a state – the Grand Lodge of California
was established in Sacramento. Within 10 years, the number of Masonic Lodges had grown from 11 to 130, while
membership soared from 258 to more than 5,000. Over the years, the Masons have played a key role in shaping the
history of California. To date, 19 California governors have been Masons, and at least four California Masons have been
elected to the U.S. Senate. Today, the Grand Lodge of California has over 75,000 members and about 350 Lodges located
throughout the state, making it one of the largest Grand Lodges in the world.
San Fernando Lodge Room
  
|
