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

Across the winding roads of rural America and nestled in quiet towns with names like Sierra City, Mariposa, Chalk Mountain, and now Coronado Heights, a subtle but meaningful Masonic tradition continues to glow—lodges that meet under the phases of the moon. These “Lunar Lodges,” as they are known, reflect one of the Craft’s oldest and most symbolically rich practices. Through a national research project, I have been working to rediscover, document, and celebrate this extraordinary facet of Masonic heritage.

A National Update

Since beginning the project, I have reached out to the Grand Lodges of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As of this writing, 24 jurisdictions have responded, and I’ve identified 50 active or ceremonial Lunar Lodges across 15 states and Washington, D.C. Additionally, six states have confirmed they have no current Lunar Lodges, and two states—Vermont and New Hampshire—have requested formal permission through the Grand Lodge of California before participating further.

From these responses, a pattern of loss, memory, and revival is emerging—and it speaks not just to lunar tradition but to the broader question of how Masonry remembers, reinvents, and sustains itself.

A Unique Example: Kansas' Lodge of the Full Moon

One of the most compelling recent conversations was with Tracy Bloom, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, who shared the story of the Lodge of the Full Moon—a special meeting held once a year under special dispensation. Unlike traditional lodges that meet regularly by the moon, this Kansas gathering is purely ceremonial, founded by a small group of Brothers seeking to create a meaningful Masonic experience under the stars.

The Lodge meets outdoors—often on Coronado Heights, a castle-like site atop a hill in the Kansas prairie. One year, the timing of the meeting was orchestrated so that the lodge would open just as the full moon rose over the eastern horizon. The event has grown to include ritual, Masonic education, and even powerful moments of personal storytelling—such as a year when attendees brought their own family Bibles to re-obligate themselves, sharing the emotional history behind each one.

As Tracy put it, “Some of the newer guys coming in are absolutely interested in those kinds of traditional things.” His account reminds us that ritual becomes relevant when it is made meaningful—and that symbolic traditions like lunar cycles offer a powerful avenue for engagement.

A Reminder from History

Tracy also shared that Kansas, once rich with Lunar Lodges, saw a dramatic decline. A 1956 Grand Lodge of Kansas pamphlet titled One Hundred Questions About Freemasonry noted:

Question 66: What is a Moon Lodge?
In 1903 there were 101 Lunar Lodges in Kansas.
By 1944, there were 7.
In 1945, only 2 remained: Maple City No. 342 and Xenia No. 47.

Today, The Lodge of the Full Moon stands as a remembrance of those lodges and traditions—reimagined in a way that both honors the past and speaks to the present.

The Ethnographic Approach

This research is not limited to dates and records. It’s ethnographic, meaning it’s rooted in the voices, memories, and lived experiences of Masons. Through structured interviews with lodge members, officers, and Grand Lodge historians, I am gathering a tapestry of stories that reflect how lunar traditions were practiced, why they faded, and how they might be revived.

So far, these conversations have revealed:

• A genuine emotional attachment to lunar meetings, especially among Masons in rural and historical lodges.

• A gradual fading of lunar scheduling—often unintentional—as lodges moved toward daylight or fixed weekday meetings due to age, convenience, or loss of memory.

• A growing interest in symbolic renewal, particularly among younger Masons, who find deep meaning in esoteric, ritual-based gatherings.

New Opportunities

One of the most exciting outcomes of this project is the possibility of establishing a World Wide Association of Lunar Lodges—a fraternal network where Lunar Lodges (past and present) can share traditions, collaborate on moonlight events, and preserve symbolic practices that have long been neglected.

I recently learned of the World Wide Association of Harmony Lodges, and it immediately brought to mind Harmony Lodge in Sierra City, California—a lodge with three Past Grand Masters among its members. It may well be the ideal place to seed the idea of a formal association for lunar observance. Imagine what could grow from a shared recognition of the moon’s quiet light and the historic rhythms it once gave to Masonic labor.

A Living Tradition

This is more than just history—it’s about what we choose to keep alive.

“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 light of the moon, I would love to hear your story. You can reach me at raymondefostersr@gmail.com.

Together, let’s keep the light alive.