About Our Lodge
Fraternity!
It will be the answer of man
to the prayer of God.
Bro. Edwin Markham
California's First Traditional Observance Lodge
Academia Lodge № 847 is a Traditional Observance lodge in the San Francisco Bay Area, working under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of California.
Our lodge offers every member and guest the opportunity to participate in a Masonic experience that deliberately echoes the best traditions of our great Fraternity. Meetings tend to be intellectually challenging yet accessible, formal but friendly. We love ritual; we love to philosophize; but most importantly to love to maintain a truly Masonic atmosphere which encourages everyone to engage the lessons of Freemasonry more deeply. Simply put, we believe that Freemasonry is meant to be lived.
To this end, Academia Lodge promotes a complete program of Masonic formation, in accordance with the recommendations of the Grand Lodge of California. This includes a comprehensive system of one-on-one mentoring, small group discussions, readings and lodge presentations. For candidates who enjoy learning as much about Masonry as they can, this approach represents a rare opportunity to get the most out of going through the three degrees.
A Traditional Emphasis
Freemasonry represents Western culture's most venerable initiatic tradition that is open to qualified men of any religious or social background. Academia Lodge regards the process of initiation as its main work, and all lodge activities are designed to promote the teachings of the Craft. Careful reference to traditional Masonic practice is of great assistance when forming both the overall direction of the lodge as well as incidental concerns. See our Statement of Principles for a summary of the commitments that make us a lodge of Traditional Observance.
About Our Name
Our name, Academia, doesn't refer to the kind of academic study one associates with today's universities. Instead, we are named for the sacred grove in Athens where Plato and his students engaged in open dialogue about geometry, ethics and philosophy. It was known as Akademeia, and it is from this ancient stand of trees—so central in the development of Western culture—that our lodge has taken not only its name, but its quest for lasting truth and its spirit of open inquiry. The works of those accociated with this academy—Euclid, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Proclus—have often been referenced by Masonic tradition.
Above the door of Plato's Academy was inscribed the phrase, "Without a working knowledge of Geometry, enter not"--referring of course not just to a textbook knowledge of lines and angles, but to the philosophical implications of geometry as a truly universal language. True liberal arts education is a rarity, however, in today's world, and we do not expect anything of those who visit or join our lodge other than an ability and desire to learn. In Academia Lodge, we promote mindful discussion in a fraternal spirit, and strive to become a true Akademeia... a shaded grove and a calm refuge where brotherly love, relief and truth are cultivated as real virtues.
A Typical Meeting
Academia Lodge holds business meetings to attend to the important administrative functions of the organization. However, we place the greatest emphasis on our special meetings, which are held either for initiation or for Masonic instruction.
Degrees (initiations) in Academia Lodge are performed with seriousness, focusing on the candidate's experience and aiming to make the most lasting and meaningful impression upon his mind.
If no degree is scheduled during a given month, we hold a meeting in support of the initiatic function of the lodge, called a Lodge of Instruction (LOI). In most LOIs, two talks are given pertaining to the degree under consideration, and a piece of thought-provoking music (often by one of the great Masonic composers) is played.
Whether we have met for a degree or a Lodge of Instruction, we concluded with a Festive Board or "Agape" feast. At the Agape, the brethren enjoy fine libations and dining while conversing with one another. If papers were read that night, the floor is opened for questions and free discussion of the topics raised. Through it all, the Master and his Wardens preside.
Read more about our recent events.
Gathering in Fellowship
Academia Lodge is marked by a spirit of openness and a desire to share wisdom and good fellowship whenever possible. Like Masons everywhere, our members treasure opportunities to visit other lodges, as well as to welcome guests to our own.
For several years, a relationship has grown between Academia Lodge and the brethren of Sarastro Lodge in Stuttgart, Germany. One of Sarastro's Masters has a son who lives in northern California and who took his degrees in Academia Lodge. Wanting to participate, members of Sarastro Lodge travelled repeatedly to America, often bearing gifts to our lodge. Upon the conferral of the sublime degree, both lodges agreed that it would be fitting for the fraternal tie to persist. In March 2008, the Masters of both lodges became signatories to a pledge of ongoing fraternal support and affection. To make this friendship more than symbolic, our lodges have each agreed to share ideas and inter-visit as frequently as circumstances allow.
Our Seal
The seal of Academia Lodge is a careful arrangement of Masonic symbols, arranged in a style inspired by Masonic artwork of the eighteenth century. A summary of the meaning of the seal is available.
Our Motto
The motto of Academia Lodge, not depicted on the seal, is in viam initiatorum, meaning "in the way of the originators." It reflects the central value of the Lodge: to establish our Masonic practice in the footsteps of the legendary founders of our ancient Craft (the original three Master Masons). While nobody has a perfect knowledge of the original plan of Masonry, who the historical founders were, or what their intentions had been, we are committed to a reliance upon tradition as it can best be discerned and most profitably applied.