Contact Us

Use the form on the right to contact us.

You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right. 

926 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403

(310) 395-3992

Santa Monica Palisades Lodge No. 307 is a historic Lodge in the heart of Santa Monica, California. Come learn more about Freemasonry and our ancient Craft.

3rd Degree.gif

Blog

This blog is a resource for the members of Santa Monica-Palisades Lodge No. 307. It is also intended to be read and shared amongst the community at large. We hope to share some interesting and enlightening insights on Freemasonry, and perhaps inspire others to come visit us and learn more. 

 

History of Freemasonry

Jay Milla

No one knows with certainty how or when the Masonic Fraternity was formed. A widely accepted theory among Masonic scholars is that it arose from the stonemasons' guilds during the Middle Ages. The language and symbols used in the fraternity's rituals come from this era. The oldest document that makes reference to Masons is the Regius Poem, printed about 1390, which was a copy of an earlier work. In 1717, four lodges in London formed the first Grand Lodge of England, and records from that point on are more complete.

Within thirty years, the fraternity had spread throughout Europe and the American Colonies. Freemasonry became very popular in colonial America. George Washington was a Mason, Benjamin Franklin served as the head of the fraternity in Pennsylvania, as did Paul Revere and Joseph Warren in Massachusetts. Other well-known Masons involved with the founding of America included John Hancock, John Sullivan, Lafayette, Baron Fredrick von Stuben, Nathanael Greene, and John Paul Jones. Another Mason, Chief Justice John Marshall, shaped the Supreme Court into its present form.

Over the centuries, Freemasonry has developed into a worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement, and social betterment via individual involvement and philanthropy. During the late 1700s it was one of the organizations most responsible for spreading the ideals of the Enlightenment: the dignity of man and the liberty of the individual, the right of all persons to worship as they choose, the formation of democratic governments, and the importance of public education. Masons supported the first public schools in both Europe and America.

During the 1800s and early 1900s, Freemasonry grew dramatically. At that time, the government had provided no social "safety net". The Masonic tradition of founding orphanages, homes for widows, and homes for the aged provided the only security many people knew.

Today in North America, the Masonic Fraternity continues this tradition by giving almost $1.5 million each day to causes that range from operating children's hospitals, providing treatment for childhood language disorders, treating eye diseases, funding medical research, contributing to local community service, and providing care to Masons and their families at Masonic Homes.

The four million Masons worldwide continue to help men and women face the problems of the 21st century by building bridges of brotherhood and instilling in the hearts of men ideals for a better tomorrow.

Welcome to the Santa Monica Lodge Blog

Jay Milla

Thank you for visiting Santa Monica-Palisades Lodge No. 307 of Free & Accepted Masons in the State of California. 

This blog is a resource for the members of Freemasonry in this community. It is also meant to be shared with the general public and community at large. It is our attempt to disseminate information about what it means to be a modern day Freemason in today's society. 

We will share news, stories, essays, and other information pertaining to the lodge, the fraternity in general, and our own personal lives. 

Please note that the views expressed reflect the personalities and beliefs of the members of this particular lodge, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Masons in other parts of the country, or the world. The purpose is to create a community of members who believe in the tenets of Freemasonry, and do their best to act upon those values everyday in our society, and in doing so to pass along those values to others. 

For the non-Masons who happen upon this site, we welcome you. We hope that you come away with some knowledge of the fraternity, and perhaps some inspiration to learn even more. 

If you are ever interested in learning more, always fell free to contact us.

Sincerely & Fraternally.