Temple Temple Lodge No. 14
Freemasonry is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Temple Lodge stands as a place of fellowship, instruction, and brotherhood, where men seek light, virtue, and the betterment of themselves and mankind.
What is a Masonic Lodge?
A Masonic Temple or Masonic Lodge is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where Freemasons meet. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting.
How do I become a Freemason?
You need some basic qualifications, which vary from one lodge to the next, but some general rules apply. Meeting the criteria still means going through a process — from petitioning to becoming a full member.
Do I need money to join?
Masonry doesn't care about worldly wealth or social position. Both the bank's president and the bank's janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified.
The qualifications to join
These vary by jurisdiction, but some basic qualifications are common to all regular Masonic lodges — see below.
Is there an age requirement?
You must be of lawful age. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25.
The Qualifications
Important Questions
You'll be asked other important questions down the road, before you're allowed to join a lodge.
Unbiased Motives
Are you unbiased by friends and uninfluenced by any mercenary motives? Membership isn't a networking tool or a way to dodge a speeding ticket.
Favorable Opinion
Do you have a favorable opinion of Freemasonry, and a sincere wish to be of service to mankind — not just curiosity about what goes on behind locked doors?
Follow the Rules
Do you agree to follow the rules? Nothing especially scary here — health clubs and city parks have the same requirement.
Our Tools
Visita ∴ Interiora ∴ Terrae ∴ Rectificando ∴ Invenies ∴ Occultum ∴ Lapidem ∴
The Gavel
Teaches that it is an instrument of power, to be used with caution — symbolizing great good or greater evil.
The Square
The symbol of a regulated life and actions — the masonic rule for harmonizing conduct on principles of morality and virtue.
The Compass
Its meaning is reserved for Free & Accepted Masons — understood only by those initiated into the Order's mysteries.
Sonoma Mayor Patricia Farrar-Rivas Makes Proclamation
November 15th, 6025 A.L.
Quotations on Freemasonry
Reflections from brethren on the nature, purpose, and enduring value of Freemasonry.
“Masonry is the science of life in a society of men, by signs, symbols and ceremonies; having as its basis a system of morality and for its purpose the perfection and happiness of the individual and the race” — Bro. G.F. Moore
“Freemasonry is founded on the immutable laws of Truth and Justice and its grand object is to promote the happiness of the human race” — Bro. George Washington
“More than an institution, more than a tradition, more than a society, Masonry is one of the forms of Divine life upon earth” — Bro. Joseph Fort Newton
Appendant Bodies
Through its appendant bodies, Freemasonry extends opportunities for study, fellowship, charity, and continued labor in the service of humanity.
A Brief History of Temple Lodge No. 14
Free and Accepted Masons · Sonoma, California
Temple Lodge No. 14 traces its roots to a dispensation granted in late 1850, when a small group of local Freemasons was authorized to organize a lodge in the town of Sonoma. Meetings began the following spring under the name Sonoma Lodge, and within weeks the Grand Lodge of California issued an official charter — dated May 6, 1851 — under the new name Temple Lodge, a nod to Sonoma's Native American meaning of "moon," paired with Freemasonry's traditional solar symbolism.
Roots in the Bear Flag Era
Freemasons were deeply woven into Sonoma's earliest pioneer history. Several men connected to the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt were known Masons, and the Lodge's founding generation included U.S. Army officers stationed in the area after the Mexican War — some of whom went on to national prominence, including a future California governor and the first Grand Master of Masons in California.
A Lodge on the Move
Over its history, Temple Lodge has met in several historic Sonoma buildings — from an upstairs room in an old adobe near the Plaza, to a bank building later damaged in the 1906 earthquake, to a Plaza-facing lodge hall used for over eight decades. Today the Lodge meets at its current home on Broadway, remodeled in the 2000s while preserving the character of a working Masonic hall.
Notable Members
Temple Lodge counts several notable figures among its ranks, including five-star General Henry "Hap" Arnold, a formative figure in U.S. military aviation who settled in the Sonoma Valley after WWII, and Chuck Williams, raised a Master Mason at Temple Lodge in 1956, who went on to found Williams-Sonoma just blocks from the Lodge's door.
Temple Lodge Today
Today, Temple Lodge No. 14 continues its tradition of fellowship, Masonic education, and community service — including its long-running sponsorship of the Sonoma Valley "Teacher of the Year" award — while honoring over 170 years of Masonic history in the town it calls home.
Read the Full HistoryContact
Temple Lodge No. 14
669 Broadway Ste D
Sonoma, CA 95476-7085
Phone: +1 (707) 996-2450
Email: [email protected]
Meets 1st Wednesday, 7:30 PM, monthly.
Interested in Joining?
Reach out directly, or visit the Grand Lodge of California to learn more about the fraternity and the path to membership.
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