Northern California Research Lodge

Building true fellowship, brotherly love and affection through education, scholarship and research.

What is a Research Lodge?

A research lodge is a particular type of Masonic lodge which is devoted to Masonic research and scholarship.

A research lodge is a lodge like any other lodge, with a charter from the Grand Lodge and regular stated meetings.

The main difference between a research lodge and a regular lodge is that the research lodge does not confer degrees.  Membership in a research lodge is restricted to those Masons previously initiated.

There are research lodges in most countries where Freemasonry exists.

The Northern California Research Lodge

Northern California Research Lodge’s mission is to promote personal growth and improve the lives of others.  We take responsibility for the well-being of our brothers, our families, and the community as a whole.  We value respect, kindness, tolerance, and our differences – religious, ethnic, cultural, generational, and educational, and strive for harmony in our individual lives, in our lodge, and in the global community.

Join The Northern California Research Lodge at its regular Stated Meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of March, May, September and November at 7PM at the Freemason’s Hall located in the Grand Lodge of California, 1111 California Street, San Francisco CA.

The NCRL sponsors additional special events throughout the year including the annual John L. Cooper III Fellowship of the Northern California Research Lodge.

Rewards of Being a Freemason

Making True Friends

Masonry is a community of men and their families who share similar beliefs and values. The fraternity finds it important to connect with other men of honor, compassion, love, trust, and knowledge, regardless of their race, color, religious beliefs, political views, sexual orientation, physical ability, citizenship, or national origin. We are friends and brothers, and are connected through this vital and uplifting organization of moral men.

Improving Ourselves

Our continuing pursuit of truth, knowledge, ethics, and leadership skills makes us better men and brings more meaning to our lives. Learning the tenets of Freemasonry, paired with being an active part of our community, gives us the opportunity to develop leadership and organizational skills, and builds self-discipline through commitment and self-confidence.

Having an Impact

As a member of the Freemasons, the Grand Lodge of California, and Northern California Research Lodge, we are a part of a worldwide organization that values tradition, history, and timeless wisdom. The traditions and core values of our fraternity are meaningful today and will endure for centuries to come because of our direct impact in our community, through our charities, and on a personal level.

Join Us

Northern California Research Lodge membership is open to any Mason in good standing.

Current NCRL members Visit here to pay your dues.

Research Lodges are unique as they do not confer degrees but rather offer education, intellectual stimulation and discussion on Masonry.

If you are not a Mason and wish to become one, Masonry is open to men 18 and older who meet the qualifications and standards of character and intention, and who believe in a Supreme Being.  Men of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are welcome.

One of Freemasonry’s customs is not to solicit members – men must seek membership on their own initiative. Anyone is welcome to request information about the fraternity.

If you are interested in applying for membership in a California Lodge, now is a good time to start.  Please look for the “Lodge Locator” on the Grand Lodge of California web site to find contact your local lodge.

 

Contact us

Our social

Upcoming events

Nothing from March 29, 2024 to March 29, 2025.

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Masonic news

Download the Simple Guide to Freemasonry

Discuss your Masonic experience with others easily by downloading the simple guide to Freemasonry and brushing up on the basics.

Discovery Masonry on Freemason.org

Say hello to a series of brand-new web resources for prospects and new members available on freemason.org, the online home of the Masons of California.

Join Us and Let Your Network Know #ImAMason!

Between July 10–21, we’re asking all members who are comfortable doing so to post a short message on Facebook or Instagram saying why Freemasonry is important to you. 

California Freemason: The Magic Issue

In the Magic Issue of California Freemason magazine, we’re casting a light on some of those similar connections between magic and Masonry.

Learn About Freemasonry Symbols

Maybe you’ve seen the square and compass logo on buildings around town or wondered about the meaning of emblems like the Masonic trowel. What’s the history behind Masonic symbols, and how do they factor into what happens in a lodge?

California Freemason: In Masonry and Politics, Finding Common Ground

Most people know that there are two things that Masons don’t discuss in the lodge room: politics and religion. Instead, they focus on the things that bind them, not that divide. Could that be a model for a more harmonious world outside the lodge?

California Freemason Magazine: The Temple Issue

In this issue of California Freemason Magazine, we’re casting our gaze anew at our fraternal home, the California Masonic Memorial Temple in San Francisco.

New Online Exhibition from the Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Explore some stunning examples of this fraternal craftwork through the ages in From the Hands of Fellowship, a new virtual exhibition from the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

California Freemason Magazine: Freemasonry in Latin America Now

In this special issue of California Freemason, we take a Masonic road trip south of the border to learn about the long history of Freemasonry in Latin America.

Working as Death’s Doormen

These Masons working with death have an intimate familiarity with the other side.

Underwater, Reminders of a Forgotten Masonic Cemetery

A tiny, sandy cove, San Francisco’s Aquatic Park is one of the most reliably sunny spots in town. Yet clues of the city’s distant past are still there.

At a Masonic Cemetery, a Forever Home

Beginning in 1852, Masonic cemeteries have provided a final resting place for some of the most important figures in California’s history. From Shasta to San Diego, they’ve brought Masons together to celebrate, mourn, and pay homage.

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