Masonic Education

Education in Freemasonry is meant to be a lifelong process, furthering our understanding of the fraternity and its relevance to today's world.

The Institute for Masonic Studies was founded in 1997 to foster Masonic knowledge and understanding among the Masons of California and the larger world of Freemasonry. The Institute hosts a number of important programs and resources for members and lodges, including the following:

Candidate Mentor Program

Candidates are encouraged to seek an explanation of the history, purpose, operation, symbolism, philosophy, obligation, and ideals of Freemasonry. Lodges provide assistance to candidates in this pursuit with the.

International Conference on American & Latin American Freemasonry

The Freemasonry and Civil Society Program is a collaborative partnership between UCLA's History Department, the Grand Lodge of California, and the Institute for Masonic Studies. The Program, which offers courses investigating the history of Freemasonry within the context of civil society, sponsors a post-doctoral fellow each year. The International Conference on American & Latin American Freemasonry is offered in conjunction with the research of this year’s fellow, María Eugenia Vázquez Semadeni.
 
The 2011 International Conference on American and Latin American Freemasonry will be held on December 3 in Los Angeles. For further information and to register online, please click here. For questions, please contact Adam Kendall, museum & library collections manager, at 415/292-9137 or akendall@freemason.org.

Annual California Masonic Symposium

The Grand Lodge of California and the California Masonic Foundation sponsor the Annual California Masonic Symposium. Each year this event, open to Masons and the public, addresses a topic of historical and philosophical relevance to Masonry. Past symposium topics have included Freemasonry in Mexico and Latin America; Freemasonry and Secret Societies; Issues in Contemporary Freemasonry; The Age of Franklin: Freemasonry, the Declaration of Independence, and the American Enlightenment; Freemasonry and the American Frontier; and Freemasonry and Women's Role.

The 2012 California Masonic Symposium will be held on June 30 in San Francisco and July 1 in Pasadena. For questions, please contact Adam Kendall, museum & library collections manager, at 415/292-9137 or akendall@freemason.org.

Archive of papers

History of Freemasonry Summer Classes

Each summer, attendees learn about Freemasonry's role in the development of modern thought, culture, and politics from one of the most highly acclaimed History departments in the nation.

In 2008, the Grand Lodge of California initiated an important partnership with the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Margaret C. Jacob, one of the world's foremost Masonic scholars, led the development of two courses on the history of Freemasonry.

In 2010, Grand Lodge and UCLA began offering the public the chance to participate in accelerated versions of the courses: Freemasonry's impact on Latin America during the 19th century; and American Masonic history from the Enlightenment to present day.

Classes meet once a week for three consecutive weeks from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Masonic Formation Certification Program

This one-day training workshop certifies Masonic formation officers in the lodges. Combining candidate education with a lifelong learning experience for all members, Masonic Formation is a powerful tool to inspire candidates and renew the spirit of Masonry in the lodge. For questions, please contact Kim Hegg, program coordinator, at 415/292-9111 or khegg@freemason.org.

Basic Education for Candidates

In addition to the memorized proficiency, each candidate is expected to read an education booklet designed specifically for the degree that he has most recently completed. To demonstrate his understanding of the material, he is asked to answer several questions about the material.

Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum

The Grand Lodge of California opened the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum in 1997 at the California Masonic Memorial Temple on California Street in San Francisco.

The museum contains over 8,000 titles and includes Masonic art and artifacts from California and around the world.

The Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum seeks to:

• Tell the story of Freemasonry in California to Masons and to the general public.
• Serve as a research source for both lay and professional Masonic scholars and researchers.
• Assist Masons who seek to increase and develop their personal knowledge of Freemasonry.

To volunteer as a library docent, contact the Grand Lodge office at
(415) 292-9137 or visit masonicheritage.org.

Research Lodges and Research Organizations

Research Lodges in California conduct research, hold discussions, gather and preserve Masonic information, maintain libraries, supply papers or speakers at the request of other Lodges, and conduct a program of general service in the field of Masonic education and information.