During the Middle Ages, the Knights Templar protected Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. But by 1321, members of the military-religious order, known for their role in the Crusades, were tried for heresy and the group disbanded.

In recent years, the order of monks has become a subject of renewed interest, and have become more popularly known as guardians of spiritual treasures, in particular the mysterious lost Holy Grail, the chalice believed to have been used by Jesus during the Last Supper.

The Templars have been featured as key players in the juicy plot lines of blockbuster motion pictures and best-selling novels — fueling keen interest in what became of the secretive group nearly 700 years ago.

The reproduction set of Vatican Templar Trial Transcripts, here for a one-day presentation, are owned by the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library of Grand Lodge in Manhattan. The Masons’ ownership of the documents is somewhat ironic, because the Catholic Church historically has opposed Freemasonry and has banned Catholics from joining lodges.

Thomas M. Savini, the library’s director, acknowledged that the acquisition “will raise some eyebrows” inside and outside the Masonic fraternity.

(Read article here)

Sunset Lodge has experienced a very successful year in terms of membership growth.  A substantial number of exceptional young men continue to knock at our door, seeking admission into our lodge.  Joining Worshipful Konstantine Kabilafkas in this photo are our three newest Master Masons, Bros. Juan Rocha, Guy Churchouse III and Vito Lapicolla.

We are excited to welcome these outstanding individuals into our lodge, and look forward to sharing many years of fellowship with them as they journey along their Masonic path.

In pursuit of his Christian duty, the Rev. Matthew Wissell used to dress up as a clown.

Pastor of Eastham United Methodist Church on Cape Cod and a Freemason, Wissell spent six years entertaining young burn victims at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. The Shriners are part of the Freemasons, the global fraternal organization founded in 18th-century England that spends millions of dollars on charitable works, motivated in part by its minimalist religious requirement that members profess faith in one God.

Wissell followed his grandfather’s footsteps into the Freemasons 15 years ago.

“As a United Methodist, we understand that faith is more than simply adhering to a group of beliefs,” he said. “It’s living out our beliefs in the world in a very tangible way.”

(Read article here)

Some of the oldest, most popular and famous Masonic publications, written by Master Masons of a Grand Lodge of Ancient & Accepted Free Masons, recognized as regular by the United Grand Lodge of England, by the Grand Lodges of the United States of America, including Prince Hall Grand Lodges.

P-S Review of Freemasonry was established on July 17, 1996 and since then eminent Masonic Scholars, members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 United Grand Lodge of England, Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Research Society USA and The Philalethes Society USA, have published their Masonic papers on this site.

Mainly in English , but with a lot of Masonic research papers available also in Italian , French , Spanish and Portuguese , this site is a reliable resource for Masonic Education on the net, allowing you to become more acquainted with the Origin of speculative Freemasonry.  The site emphasizes the Ritual performed in  Masonic Lodges, and contains research papers about the history of Freemasonry, the symbols of Freemasonry and Masonic ritual. P-S also publishes several Masonic Books which you may read free of charge.

This is a Masonic educational resource open to both Masons and non-Masons, where you can find relevant information on the world’s oldest and largest fraternity.

(Visit website here)

A video produced by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts that examines Masonic lifestyle and values.

This Tuesday, October 21st, Sunset Lodge will be holding a 3rd Degree for Bro. Juan Rocha. Please join us for refreshments prior to the degree in our dining area, followed by the ritualistic raising of Bro. Rocha to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.

Dinner is served at 6:30 PM and the lodge will open at 7:30 PM.

This event is open to all Master Masons. If you are a visiting Master Mason and would like to attend the degree, you are reminded to bring your current dues card, in order that we may verify your good standing in a regularly recognized lodge.

Al Malaikah Shrine will be hosting a reception for Most Worshipful Larry L. Adamson, Grand Master of Masons in California, on Saturday, November 15th at the Shrine Auditorium.

The festivities begin at 11:00 AM with a social hour, followed by a lunch at high twelve. The festivities resume with the reception of MW Adamson at 1:00 PM, followed by the performance of the French 1st Degree at 2:00 PM.

There will be a fashion show for ladies and guests.

Cost is $15.00, and reserved tickets are necessary. For information and to make reservations, please call 213 748-0173

We are arranging car pooling from the Lodge to the Shrine Auditorium. Please contact Konstantine Kabilafkas, Master of Sunset Lodge, for more details.

Attendance at the French Degree is open to all Masons. Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft must be accompanied by a Master Mason from Sunset Lodge who can vouch for them. All Master Masons are reminded to bring a current dues card to gain admission.

This video give a glimpse of Prince Hall Masonry in Massachusetts.

Members of the state’s predominantly white Masonic organization struck down a vestige of the segregation era Friday when they voted to recognize members of the black organization as brother Masons.

The vote — at the annual convention of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina in Winston-Salem — follows years of frustration among the group’s leadership, which each year had introduced a resolution to recognize the black group.

“Old ways, old cultures and old traditions die hard,” said the group’s grand master, David Cash, a Methodist minister from Kannapolis. “And that’s why this is so monumental.”

(Read article here)

They are popularly known as a shadowy organisation connected with the Holy Grail, the global illuminati and who knows what other manner of shadowy conspiracy theories.

But now the freemasons are hoping to reveal a new image to the public after years of misinformation.

Richard Goddard, the provincial grand master for Worcestershire, says he is hoping to radically modernise the public profile of freemasonry with a new policy of openness.

(Read article here)