Our secret isn’t ancient rituals or secret ceremonies. It’s our members. Meet some of them here. Our members come from all backgrounds and all walks of life. The average age of new members is about 36.

While the Masons of California represents the largest Masonic organization in the state, it isn’t the only one. See a list of other Masonic groups here.

There are about 5 million Freemasons worldwide, and approximately 40,000 in California.

Organizations around the world practice slightly different forms of Freemasonry. The Grand Lodge of California admits men age 18 and older who believe in a supreme being and are found to be of good moral character. To become a Mason, a person must be recommended by two current members of the lodge and voted in unanimously by the members of a lodge.

New members progress through three degrees of Freemasonry, culminating with the Master Mason degree. Each degree involves a ceremony where the moral and ethical teachings of Masonry are expressed and illustrated. One of the most rewarding parts of becoming a Mason is receiving your degrees—and supporting others as they get theirs.

There are three degrees, each containing unique life lessons.

• First degree: Entered Apprentice
• Second degree: Fellow Craft
• Third degree: Master Mason
• These ceremonies aren’t open to the public; they are for members only. But we can tell you this much: When you’re part of a degree ceremony, you’re part of history.

Candidates typically apply directly to the Masonic lodge they intend to join. To do this, you can either approach a lodge directly and request information or fill out this request for information, and we’ll reach out to help answer questions and connect you to a lodge. If there are multiple lodges in your area, it’s often a good idea to visit several. Since each Masonic lodge has a unique identity, you’ll be able to tell which fits what you’re looking for.

A Masonic lodge is essentially a local chapter. The term “lodge” refers to both the members of that chapter (for example, Illinoistown-Clay Lodge No. 51, seen here) and the building in which they meet. Use our Lodge Locator tool to find a lodge near you.

Every lodge has at least one recurring event on the calendar: A stated meeting. That’s where members share announcements, vote on new members, and do the ongoing work of running the lodge, which is a nonprofit organization. It’s also a regular chance for members to catch up and support one another.

The lodge is also where new members advance through the degrees of Masonry, and where members hold parties, community events, and communal dinners.

While lodges almost always have a regular meeting place, they can actually meet anywhere as long as they follow a few rules. Historically, that’s included some strange places, like the underground cave in the town of Volcano, Calif.

Other Masonic groups have different requirements for membership—including co-ed and women’s lodges. For a list of other Masonic bodies in California, see here.

Some people are members of just one Masonic lodge. Some are members of many. You can even join lodges in different states and countries.

Keep in mind that Freemasonry exists in nearly every country in the world. Lodges in a given region are overseen by a grand lodge, or larger administrative organization. The Grand Lodge of California is made up of more than 330 local lodges. Other Masonic organizations, like the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California and the Women's Grand Lodge of California, have local lodges, as well—some of which meet in the same buildings as ours.

The experience of becoming a member of a Masonic lodge is divided into three ceremonial stages known as “degrees.” These three degrees are loosely based upon the journeyman system, which was used to educate Medieval craftsmen. At each educational stage, a craftsman was required to achieve proficiency before moving to the next stage. Symbolically, the degrees represent the three stages of human development: youth, manhood, and age.

As a candidate’s first experience with the ceremonies of the fraternity, this degree is intended to be an introduction to Masonry. It is, like all Masonic ceremonies, a solemn and meaningful event. The Entered Apprentice is entrusted with secrets of the Masonic Order, which are all moral and ethical in nature, and is expected to honor them in accordance with Masonic law. Once a candidate completes the Entered Apprentice degree, he takes his first step as a Freemason and enjoys the title of “Brother.”

Fellowcraft is a term used by the ancient Guilds of Operative Masons that refers to skilled members of the craft – a literal ‘fellow of the craft.’ Within Freemasonry, the Fellowcraft references a more advanced search for Masonic wisdom, symbolism, and philosophy. For skilled craftsmen, this degree would have marked a person’s progress from an apprentice to a journeyman, which brings with it increased responsibility, learning, and work. Once completed, the candidate may advance to the third and final degree.

The third degree symbolizes man’s maturity in life or age and his increase in knowledge and wisdom. The last of the lodge ceremonies, the Master Mason degree completes the initiation ceremonies into the fraternity, and the new Master Mason may enjoy both the rights and responsibilities of membership. A Master Mason has the right to visit lodges throughout the world, sharing in fraternal fellowship with like-minded men who now share a common bond.