Square & Travel

Very few countries have experienced Freemasonry’s dramatic oscillations between acceptance and persecution as intensely as Russia. For nearly three centuries, Russian Masonry has alternated between periods of flourishing growth and total extinction, between Imperial patronage and Imperial ban, between revolutionary enthusiasm and revolutionary suppression. The story involves emperors and empresses, poets and publishers, mystics and … Read more

In 1717, four London lodges met at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House to form the first Grand Lodge. At that moment, speculative Freemasonry as we know it was essentially limited to England, with perhaps a few scattered lodges in Scotland and Ireland. Just 150 years later, lodges operated on every inhabited continent. Brothers met … Read more

The story of Freemasonry in Yugoslavia is one of unity forged from diversity, brilliance followed by catastrophe, and a phoenix rising from ashes after 50 years of darkness. For just 21 years, from 1919 to 1940, the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia represented something extraordinary: Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews, meeting … Read more

The Balkans, that complex peninsula where Orthodox Christianity meets Islam, where empires clashed and nations were forged in fire, holds a Masonic history as intricate and dramatic as its political past. From the earliest lodges established under Austrian and Ottoman rule to the rebirth of Freemasonry after communism’s collapse, the story of Balkan Masonry reflects … Read more

When you think about remote Masonic lodges, your mind might drift to rural towns in Alaska or mountain villages in Scotland. But the most remote lodge in Masonic history wasn’t in a small town at all. It was established on February 5, 1935, in a place where humans weren’t meant to survive: Antarctica. Antarctic Lodge … Read more

Few places on Earth concentrate as much Masonic history in such a compact area as the greater Washington D.C. region. From the moment George Washington laid the Capitol’s cornerstone in full Masonic regalia to the towering memorial that bears his name in Alexandria, the nation’s capital tells the story of Freemasonry’s profound influence on American … Read more

There’s something about Masonic temples that seems to attract ghost stories. Maybe it’s the age of the buildings, many constructed over a century ago. Maybe it’s the Gothic architecture with its soaring ceilings, shadowy corners, and dramatic stonework. Or perhaps it’s the mysterious nature of what happens behind closed doors during degree work, when candidates … Read more

Traveling as a Freemason or history enthusiast unveils a world of hidden symbols, grand halls, and enduring brotherhood. This ultimate bucket list spans continents, showcasing must-visit Masonic landmarks. From centuries-old lodges to modern temples, each destination offers a meaningful connection to the Craft and local culture. Pack your passport and prepare to journey through Masonic … Read more