Friday, October 30, 2009

Los Angeles Freemasonry - Worshipful Lodge Aletheia



The first lodge that I would like to acquaint my readers with is lodge Aletheia of the the Women's Grand Lodge of Belgium.

Aletheia means "Truth" in Greek. It is used in the philosophic context of truth that first appears when something is seen or revealed.

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of Aletheia last September. I was visiting with my Worshipful Master from lodge New Isis.

The Women's Grand Lodge of Belgium came into being in 1981. Prior to that, the lodges that constituted the obedience were part of the Women's Grand Lodge of France operating in Belgium.

The desire of several sisters in the United States to establish feminine lodges led, after years of hard work, and numerous trips to Belgium, the founding of a branch of the WGLB in the U.S.

Today there are three lodges of the Women's Grand Lodge of Belgium in North America. Aletheia in Los Angeles, Emounah in Washington, D.C., and Universalis in New York City.

These sisters have proven that with hard work, and determination, great things can be acheived.

I can personally attest to the quality of the masonic work these women are involved with. Several members of Aletheia assisted in my initiation in 2008, and as I mentioned, I have visited their lodge as a guest. They are hard-working and dedicated masons. Any women interested in an exclusively female lodge should certainly consider Aletheia.

They meet monthly in West Los Angeles and work the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite craft degrees.

Aletheia can be contacted through the link provided on this site.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Los Angeles Freemasonry - Adogmatic Masonry


I have posted a link at the bottom of the blog to Clipsas, the "Centre of Liaison and Information of Masonic Powers, Signatories of the Strasbourg Appeal", which can be accessed by clicking on the image of "Marianne", a symbol of Liberty and the French Republic.

Clipsas is an organization that was founded in 1961, and consists of some 60 Grand Lodges, and Grand Orients that subscribe to the Strasbourg Appeal. This appeal recognizes the absolute freedom of conscience that guides the member jurisdictions in their practice of Freemasonry.

Under this system, the member bodies do not require religious, or political committments by their members, allowing each to be guided by their personal beliefs in those areas.

Clipsas members recognize the right of humanity to practice Freemasonry, regardless of race, religion, or gender.

Masonic jurisdictions that belong to Clipsas have been in the forefront of working for human dignity, the end of social oppression, and the struggle to find peaceful resolutions to the many problems that face our world.

The Los Angeles lodges that are the focus of this blog all belong to Jurisdictions that are either members of Clipsas, or Simpa, "The International Secretariat of the Masonic Adogmatic Powers", a kindred organization, and support those values.

The photo above is of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man", a milestone in the evolution of Human progress, promulgated in 1789, during the French Revolution.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Los Angeles Freemasonry - An Introduction




My name is Peter and I am a member of Lodge New Isis #8 of the George Washington Union of Freemasons, which is located in the city of Los Angeles, California.

I reside in sunny San Diego, and have a blog that I call "San Diego Freemason". I have provided a link for those who might enjoy visiting.

I have started this blog as a way of educating people outside the masonic community about the existence of European style Freemasonry available in the Los Angeles area.

I will post brief articles about those lodges, as well as their contact information. I hope in the future to post regarding some Los Angeles masonic history as well.