Spring 2025 Issue Out Now: 175 Years
In this issue of California Freemason, we’re celebrating 175 years of incredible Masonic history in this state.
Making true friends,
improving ourselves, having an impact
Masonry is the world’s first and largest fraternal organization. It is guided by the enduring belief that each man has a responsibility to make the world a better place. For 300 years, Freemasonry has enhanced and strengthened the character of individual men by providing opportunities for fellowship, charity, and the search for truth – within ourselves and the larger world.
Carpinteria Lodge #444 is nestled in a community whose traditions, and very name-sake hail from the art and sciences of building. Native sailors and navigators traversed the waters of the Central Coast region and perhaps far beyond, in sea-fairing vessels built locally of regional materials. The native Chumash villagers crafted prodigious numbers of these boats, beckoning Spanish explorer Juan Crespi to refer to the region as “Carpinteria” or ‘The Carpenters shop.’ Chumash stone artifacts and symbols preserved at the local “painted cave” and elsewhere suggest that Masonry has been practiced here in some form since time immemorial.
Nowadays the Carpinteria Lodge #444 continues to grow as it commits to the betterment of its members and the Carpinteria community where it belongs, providing scholarships to local students, extending fellowships even to the senior brothers and widows of our Lodge. The Lodge is fortunate to have some real estate properties which enable it to deliver its mission to “aid and assist”.
The Carpinteria Masonic Lodge is proudly affiliated with the Santa Barbara Scottish Rite. The Santa Barbara Scottish Rite provides scholarships for graduating high school seniors from the public schools in our district. We have been giving grants since 1982. All this has been made possible by you. Perpetual scholarships can be named in honor of the memory of a friend or relative. For more information or to apply, please visit this link.
Read our lodge trestleboards here.
Read our lodge mentions from news outlets here.
Masonry is a community of men and their families who share similar beliefs and values. The fraternity finds it important to connect with other men of honor, compassion, love, trust, and knowledge, regardless of their race, color, religious beliefs, political views, sexual orientation, physical ability, citizenship, or national origin. We are friends and brothers, and are connected through this vital and uplifting organization of moral men.
Our continuing pursuit of truth, knowledge, ethics, and leadership skills makes us better men and brings more meaning to our lives. Learning the tenets of Freemasonry, paired with being an active part of our community, gives us the opportunity to develop leadership and organizational skills, and builds self-discipline through commitment and self-confidence.
As a member of the Freemasons, the Grand Lodge of California, and Carpinteria Lodge No. 444, we are a part of a worldwide organization that values tradition, history, and timeless wisdom. The traditions and core values of our fraternity are meaningful today and will endure for centuries to come because of our direct impact in our community, through our charities, and on a personal level.
Carpinteria lodge membership is open to men 18 and older who meet the qualifications and standards of character and intention, and who believe in a Supreme Being. Men of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are welcome. One of Freemasonry’s customs is not to solicit members – men must seek membership on their own initiative. Anyone is welcome to request information about the fraternity. If you are interested in applying for membership to our lodge, now is a good time to start. Please contact us to schedule a visit during an event, or request more information.
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In this issue of California Freemason, we’re celebrating 175 years of incredible Masonic history in this state.
Say hello to a series of brand-new web resources for prospects and new members available on freemason.org, the online home of the Masons of California.
In Sacramento, the California Masonic Foundation is refining an approach to philanthropy that benefits all.
Maybe you’ve seen the square and compass logo on buildings around town or wondered about the meaning of emblems like the Masonic trowel. What’s the history behind Masonic symbols, and how do they factor into what happens in a lodge?
Could the simple act of joining a MasonicLodge be the key to rebuilding trust and strengthening democracy?
In this issue of California Freemason Magazine, we’re exploring the ways in which groups like the Masons can help members build social capital—a term first popularized by the sociologist Robert Putnam.
What does ChatGPT have to say about Freemasonry? In the newest issue of California Freemason magazine, we asked the AI for its take.
Whether it’s the super idea behind a new charity, the fantastic team powering the state’s fastest-growing lodges, or the marvels of lodge administration, these heroes don’t wear capes, but they do wear aprons.
Check out our latest video feature, an enlightening conversation between Grand Master G. Sean Metroka and Prince Hall Grand Master David San Juan, two distinguished leaders in California #Freemasonry.
Take a deep dive into the history and legacy of Prince Hall the man, as well as the history of the organization that today bears his name.
In this issue of California Freemason, we’re exploring what it takes to get new lodges off the ground, and how they define themselves within the landscape of Masonry in the state.
Between July 10–21, we’re asking all members who are comfortable doing so to post a short message on Facebook or Instagram saying why Freemasonry is important to you.
Read all of our lodge’s trestleboards here.
Check out our handsome lodge!
Read all of the mentions of our lodge from local news outlets here.
