Awaiting Degrees
Knocking on the Door Fellow Craft Master Mason
Eric Haggard, Juergen Hess
Sickness and Distress
Please keep all Brothers and their families in your prayers
Especially these
MW Bill Bray, Stephan Garner, Jack Kennedy, Sam Petriak & Jerry Brown
St. John the Baptist: Why is He A Prominent Masonic Figure?
As far as Freemasons are concerned, the Lodge of St. John in Jerusalem was the first Mother Lodge. The lodge was first devoted to St. John the Baptist before being dedicated to St. John the Evangelist in Jerusalem. The Mother Lodge is now devoted to both of them.
The Lodge of the Holy Saints John of Jerusalem is how Freemasons refer to this lodge in Jerusalem today. For Freemasons, the lodge is extremely important because it is from this primitive location that all other lodges around the world descend.
So why is St. John the Baptist revered by Masons? Let’s take a look at his life in more detail.
The life of St. John the Baptist.
St. John the Baptist had a strict demeanor and a positive personality. He grew a prominent ministry and a large following over the course of his long life, preaching on a variety of important topics at the time and is one of the most significant characters represented in the Bible.
He was a direct descendant of Abraham’s son and was Jesus’ age-mate, playing an important role in his life. He is best known for baptizing Jesus and referring to him as the Lamb of God. When Herod chastised John the Baptist, he imprisoned him and finally beheaded him.
Within Freemasonry, St. John is said to embody purity, zeal, simplicity of manners, and a strong desire to help others, as a result of his Biblical interpretations.
St. John’s Day.
The first Grand Lodge in England was formed on 24th June 1717, which is the feast day of John the Baptist. This was a deliberate act, and pays tribute to the Saint who was widely regarded as the patron of stonemasons right the way through the Middle Ages.
Every year, brothers come together to celebrate St John’s Day and celebrate his life. But it’s equally important to recognize St. John the Evangelist’s Day, which appears just as prominently on the Masonic calendar. This falls every year on 27th December. John the Evangelist is more associated with the Scottish lodges, even though the United Grand Lodge of England was itself formed on 27th December 1813. The two saints continue to be widely respected and revered figures for brothers studying the Craft.
The Holy Saints John.
When regarding St. John the Baptist in regard to Freemasonry, it’s impossible to consider him without also acknowledging the Evangelist. In fact, within Masonic circles, they are known as ‘The Holy Saints John,’ and contribute to many interesting and important Masonic symbols and rituals.
To this day, brothers the world over regard the two Holy Johns as the patron saints of our fraternity. We mark the 24th June and 27th of December in our calendars to celebrate the lives of the saints and to revel in their historical significance.
June Birthdays
Fred Tomlin 86
Shawn Williams 51
Joshua Fant 40
George Weil 69
Order Of The Eastern Star Of Arizona
Verde Valley Chapter No7
534 S 12th St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Secretary: Barbara Wunder, PGM
602-290-9547 barbara.wundervv7@gmail.com
Stated Meetings: First Tuesday at 7:30PM
Dark: July and August
June Masonic Birthdays
James Bradley 62 yrs.
Scott Donham 22 yrs.
Clarence Finch 63 yrs.
Timothy Hunt 39 yrs.
Sam Petriak 8 yrs.
2025-2026 GRAND LINE OFFICERS
Grand Master Most Worshipful Leigh Creighton
Deputy Grand Master Right Worshipful Roger Biede III
Senior Grand Warden Right Worshipful Eric Dupree
Junior Grand Warden Right Worshipful James Xie
Grand Secretary Very Worshipful Greg Vasquez, PGM
Grand Treasurer Very Worshipful Ron Richards
Deputy Grand Secretary MWPGM Jim Baker
Deputy Grand Treasurer Brother John Olson
Senior Grand Deacon Worshipful Brother Reed Houge
Junior Grand Deacon Worshipful Brother Steve Bracety
Senior Grand Steward Worshipful Brother William Carnell
Junior Grand Steward Worshipful Brother Michael Flutty
Grand Lecturer WB David Fierro
Grand Chaplain VR WB Nathan Schick
Grand Orator WB Thomas Carpenter
Grand Marshal WB Lew Ivy
Grand Standard Bearer David Aguayo
Grand Sword Bearer WB Timothy Strasser
Grand Bible Bearer WB Harold Lindamood
Grand Pursuivant WB DJ Arps
Grand Organist Jonathan Edward D’Emilio
Grand Editor WB George Balady, Jr.
Grand Tyler WB Augustin Delgado
Grand Counsel WB Richard Leland Brooks
Grand Photographer WB Allen Nichols