Under the Light of the Moon: Rediscovering America’s Lunar Masonic Lodges

Across the winding roads of rural America and nestled in quiet towns with names like Sierra City, Mariposa, and Chalk Mountain, a subtle but meaningful Masonic tradition endures—lodges that meet under the phases of the moon. These “Lunar Lodges,” as they are known, represent one of the Craft’s oldest and most symbolically rich practices. Today, through a national research project, I’m seeking to rediscover, document, and celebrate this remarkable facet of Masonic heritage.

What Is a Lunar Lodge?

A Lunar Lodge is defined simply: it schedules its stated communications according to the phases of the moon—typically on or before the full moon. This custom dates back to a time before street lamps and highways, when the moon’s gentle glow was a brother’s best guide home.

But beyond practicality, the moon holds deep symbolic value within Freemasonry. It reflects rhythm, renewal, and the balance between darkness and light—mirroring the journey of the Mason through degrees of increasing illumination.

Historical Roots

References to Lunar Lodges go back centuries.

• The Cooke Manuscript, one of the oldest known Masonic documents (circa 1410), makes early mention of moon-based gatherings.

• In 1724, The Whole Institute of Masonry included the first known ritual mention of moon-governed lodges.

• By 1767, five lodges under the Grand Lodge of England operated by lunar schedules. By 1776, that number had grown to nine—some located in England’s colonial jurisdictions (Burke Lodge No. 833, Texas).

These Lodges were not exceptions—they were part of a living tradition that connected Masonic labor to the celestial order.

The Research Project: Scope and Method

This project began as a personal endeavor, rooted in my own experience as a member of Mariposa Lodge No. 24, a Lunar Lodge in California that has met under the full moon since its chartering in 1853. Motivated by the realization that this tradition is fading quietly across the country, I sought to document and preserve it before more is lost.

My approach is ethnographic—focused not just on written records, but on the lived experience of Masons. I developed an interview instrument to guide conversations with Lodge officers and members, with questions centered around symbolism, practice, and oral traditions.

I submitted a formal request to contact Grand Lodges across the United States and have since reached out to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As of this writing, I’ve identified 38 Lunar Lodges still meeting—or having recently met—according to the moon’s cycle.

What I’m Finding

Though each Lodge is unique, several common themes have emerged:

• Symbolism remains strong among members who continue the tradition. They speak of the moon as a symbol of gentleness, order, and timelessness.

• Traditions often fade gradually, especially when Lodges shift to daylight or quarterly meetings due to declining membership or logistical changes.

• Rekindling interest is real. In some Lodges, brothers are now organizing full moon events or reintroducing lunar customs to engage new and seasoned members alike.

Some Lodges host outdoor gatherings by moonlight. Others, particularly in rural or mountainous regions, preserve stories of Brethren who once traveled on horseback guided by the moon. A particularly inspiring example is Ohio’s 2022 Masonic Moonlight Journey, which included visits to 12 different Lodges with moon-themed activities.

A Poetic Reflection

The emotional value of the moon to the Craft was beautifully expressed in 1896 in Square and Compass:

“You are lazy and erratic, but you are the only moon we have, and we love you...
not for your faults, but in spite of them. We love you because you excite the tender passion which sometimes lies too long dormant within our breasts...
May each Master rule and govern his Lodge with the fervency presented by the blazing sun and with the loving kindness and affection of which the moon may be said to be a symbol.”

Opportunities and Next Steps

As I continue my interviews, I’m encouraged by the growing interest in reviving the lunar tradition. Some Lodges are already planning moonlight-themed events. Others are diving into their archives to rediscover what was lost.

This project will culminate in a formal article titled Under the Light of the Moon, which I hope will serve both as a historical account and as a call to reawaken this tradition.

A New Idea

One possible outcome of this research is the formation of a World Wide Association of Lunar Lodges—a fraternal network dedicated to sharing rituals, history, and inspiration among Lodges that still work under the light of the moon.

A Closing Thought

“As the moon reflects the sun, Lunar Lodges reflect the enduring light of Masonic tradition—quiet, cyclical, and deeply rooted in nature and fraternity.”

If your Lodge meets—or once met—by the moon, I’d love to hear your story. You can reach me at raymondefostersr@gmail.com.

Let’s keep the light alive.