Concord Masonic Lodge

The absolute requirements for becoming a Mason are:

• Be a man;
• At least 18 years old;
• Have belief in a Supreme Being (of any faith, all are welcome.)

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A brief definition is: an organization of men believing in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, using the builder's tools as symbols to teach basic moral truths, thereby impressing upon the minds of its members the cardinal virtues of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth which they should apply to everyday activities.

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For many years Freemasons have followed three great principles: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures, pouring his brotherly love over him. By relief Masons mean relief to the community from their sufferings. When a candidate is initiated in the Lodge, he is reminded of this duty he is expected to fulfill to those who need his help. Freemasons are taught to practice charity, and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals. 

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Everyone uses symbols every day because it allows us to communicate quickly.
When you see a red light, you know what it means.
When you see a circle with a line through it, you know it means "no."
In fact, using symbols is probably the oldest method of communication and teaching.

Masons use symbols for the same reasons. Certain symbols, mostly selected from the art of architecture, stand for certain ethics and principles of the organization. The "Square and Compass" is the most widely known symbol of Masonry. In one way, this symbol is the trademark for the fraternity. When you see it on a building, you know that Masons meet there.

The "Plumb" is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to try perpendiculars, the "Square" to square their work, and the "Level" to prove horizontals, but we, as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to use them for more noble and glorious purposes. The "Plumb" admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations before God and man, squaring our actions by the Square of Virtue, ever remembering that we are traveling upon the Level of Time, toward "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.

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It really isn't secretive, although it sometimes has that reputation.

Masons certainly don't make a secret of the fact that we are members of the fraternity. We wear rings, lapel pins, and tie clasps with Masonic emblems like the Square and Compass. Masonic buildings are clearly marked, and are usually listed in the phone book. Lodge activities are not secret - events are often listed in the newspapers, especially in smaller towns. But there are two traditional categories of secrets.

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Masonry is a fraternity, not a religion. Masonry acknowledges the existence of God, but Masonry does not tell a person which religion he should practice or how he should practice it. That is a function of his house of worship, not his fraternity.

Sometimes people confuse Masonry with a religion because we call some Masonic buildings "temples." But we use the word in the same sense that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called the Supreme Court a "Temple of Justice." Neither Masonry nor the Supreme Court is a religion just because its members meet in a "temple." Most California lodges now refer to their buildings as Masonic centers.

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U.S. Presidents  

GEORGE WASHINGTON P.M.
JAMES MONROE (E.A. only 1775)
ANDREW JACKSON P.G.M. R.A.M.
JAMES K. POLK R.A.M.
JAMES BUCHANAN R.A.M.
ANDREW JOHNSON 32~ - 1867; R.A.M; K.T.
JAMES A. GARFIELD 14~ - 1872; R.A.M; K.T.
WILLIAM McKINLEY R.A.M; K.T.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
WILLIAM H. TAFT
* WARREN G. HARDING 32~-1920 R.A.M; K.T.
* FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT 32~ - 1929; R.A.M; K.T.
* HARRY S. TRUMAN 32~-1929/33~-1945 R.A.M; K.T.
LYNDON B. JOHNSON (E.A. only 1929)
* GERALD R. FORD, Jr. 33~-1962; R.A.M; R.& S.M.

* next to name indicates Shriner.

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"o relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on Masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view. On this basis we form our friendships and establish our connections. . . . On this theme, we join in promoting each other's welfare and rejoicing in each others prosperity."  The preceding is from the first degree lecture on the three principal tenets of Freemasonry: Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

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The Officers of a lodge :

• Master
• Sr. & Jr. Wardens
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Sr. & Jr. Deacons
• Sr. & Jr. Stewarts
• Chaplin
• Tyler
• Marshal

(please note that due to Freemasonry being a world-wide organization not all lodges will be set up in the manner as described below)

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The Lodge Room is basically as you see above. The Worshipful Master sits in the East (usually is in the East literally). The Junior Warden sits on the center chair on the right. The Junior and Senior Stewards sit on either side of him. The Senior Warden is sitting opposite of the Worshipful Master (can't be seen). The Junior Deacon sits to right of him (You can see the arm of his chair in the lower left hand corner). The Senior Deacon sits in the chair in front of the American flag. The Secretary is on the right side of the platform and the Treasurer on the left side (facing the East). The Altar is in the center of the room with 3 light stands surrounding it in a triangular pattern. There is usually a big "G" hanging in the East, but I don't see it. The wall decorations are peculiar to this Lodge. There are usually 2 to 4 rows of seats on the North and South sides (left and right in the picture) for the non-officers to sit in.

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