From the East
Joseph Wallach - Worshipful Master
Greetings, my Brothers.
Happy 4th of July!
A time to celebrate the founding of our Country with family, friends, and Brothers of the Craft.
Of course, the best way to celebrate is with some fireworks. The flash of light, the sound of explosions, a vivid reminisce of how the United States started by exploding forth and breaking away from being a subjugated colony.
Although never perfect, the Founding Fathers gave us the Constitution and, with it, the ability to grow, change, and amend with the maturity that only comes with the fullness of time.
If there is a time when feelings of being unsettled arise, remember that where we are today is not where we were in the past, and where we will be in the future is not where we are today.
Embrace that which is good in our lives and our Country, and embrace those who can make, what requires more time, a better thing in the future.
Fraternally,
Joseph Wallach WM
From the West
William Workman - Senior Warden
“Hence ’Tis a Common Observation here that our Cause is the Cause of all Mankind; and that we are fighting for their Liberty in defending our own. ’Tis a glorious Task assign’d us by Providence, which has, I trust, given us Spirit and Virtue equal to it, and will at last crown it with Success. ”
”
WB Benjamin Franklin
Brethren, Greetings!
I am always excited about July for many reasons, stemming from my childhood memories of Summer, BBQ, beaches, sun, picnics, camping, vacations, and so much more. It has always been a month that has brought me great joy and excitement. I think the most influential event in July has always been Independence Day, July 4th.
Why is the 4th of July so important, and why should we celebrate with exuberance the birth of our Nation?
It is much deeper than getting to blast off some whistlin' bungholes, spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, and whistlin' kitty chasers. Although those are fun too.
The first sentence of the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is perhaps one of the most memorable, and rightly so.
It is quite a statement. The next several paragraphs describe the injuries and usurpations suffered under the King of Great Britain, then King George III. We, the people, had legitimate beef with the tyranny forced upon us. (Not beef Wellington!)
The Declaration then concludes, “WE, THEREFORE, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.“
While the road to independence had been long and twisted, the effect of its declaration made an impact right away. It changed the whole character of the Revolutionary War.
They were people who, for a year, had been making war against a king with whom they were trying to effect a reconciliation, to whom they were publicly professing loyalty. Now, heart and hand, as one person said, could move together. They had a cause to fight for.
So, why is celebrating the 4th of July so important?
The Fourth of July serves as a reminder of the resilience, courage, and ideals that shaped the nation. It’s a day to celebrate freedoms hard-won and to appreciate the democracy we enjoy today. Additionally, it fosters a sense of unity among diverse Americans, emphasizing shared history and values.
I will be celebrating proudly as I’ve done with exuberance since my earliest memories! I hope that you will all have a safe, joyous celebration this 4th of July, and may our paths cross at our Stated Meeting and dinner on Thursday, July 3rd!
If not, I look forward to seeing or speaking with you soon!
From the South
Brandon Jenkins - Junior Warden
Happy July, Brothers!
July is a very special month for us, and not only because it’s the month of my birthday, but also because several other lodge brothers also celebrate birthdays this month. Please congratulate Kelvin Kimball (Fellow Craft), Christopher Hamilton (Marshal), Jon Isaacson (Past Master), Richard Wilson (Past Master), and Maury Hicks (Senior Steward) on yet another trip around the sun.
We also commemorate the Masonic Anniversaries of quite a few of our Members. Brothers Dan Dailey (Past Master) (30 Years), Floyd Tritt (43 Years), M.A.C. Contreras (11 Years), and Jerry Livingston-Joy (27 Years) will all celebrate their membership in our Ancient Craft this month. Well done, Brothers!
May I also take this opportunity to thank all of you who came out to our Day of Service for Chicks in Crisis back on May 31st. We made a great contribution to the overall well-being of that organization, as well as enjoyed some enriching camaraderie, and I look forward to working with them again for future lodge charity opportunities.
The Month of July and Its Masonic Significance
July is rich with symbolic, historical, and astronomical features that resonate with Masonic values.
In the United States, July is best known for Independence Day on July 4th. This celebration of liberty and self-governance parallels the Masonic standards of personal and collective enlightenment.
Many of America's Founding Fathers were Freemasons, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock. The principles they espoused—freedom, equality, and rational discourse—mirror core Masonic ideals.
Astronomical Alignments and Masonic Symbolism
July marks the annual heliacal rising of the star Sirius, also known as the "Dog Star," in ancient Egyptian tradition. This astronomical event signaled the coming of the Nile flood, bringing renewal and fertility to the land.
For Freemasons, Sirius holds symbolic value as a star of insight and illumination, sometimes associated with the "Blazing Star" seen in Masonic tracing boards, representing truth and enlightenment.
Notable Masonic Events in July
-
July 3, 1863 – Confederate General Lewis Addison Armistead, a Freemason, was mortally wounded at Gettysburg. In a touching moment of fraternal compassion, Union Captain Henry H. Bingham, also a Mason, cared for him in his final hours, demonstrating the Masonic ideal of brotherhood across divided lines.
-
July 21, 1924 – The cornerstone of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, was ceremonially laid, honoring Washington’s legacy as a prominent Freemason.
A Time for Reflection
While July invites barbecues and fireworks, it also offers deeper opportunities for reflection on freedom, responsibility, and personal development. These are the very principles Freemasonry encourages its members to explore, not just in lodge halls, but in everyday life.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JULY
• 01 Executive Committee Meeting (Zoom) Tuesday 6:30 PM
• 03 Stated Meeting Dinner (Banquet Room) Thursday 6:00 PM
• 03 Monthly Stated Meeting (LR1) Thursday 7:30 PM
• 10 DARK
• 17 DARK
• 24 Third Degree Practice (LR1) Thursday 6:30 PM
Officers and Past Masters
• 31 DARK
AUGUST
• 05 Executive Committee Meeting (Zoom) Tuesday 6:30 PM
• 07 Stated Meeting Dinner (Banquet Room) Thursday 6:00 PM
• 07 Monthly Stated Meeting (LR1) Thursday 7:30 PM
• 14 Table Lodge (Festive Board) (Banquet Room) Thursday 6:00 PM
• 20 OSI (Officers School of Instruction) (LR3) Wednesday 7:00 PM
Topic: First Degree, Advanced Stations
• 21 Third Degree Practice (LR1) Thursday 6:30 PM
Officers and Past Masters
• 28 Third Degree - Brother Jonathon Miller (LR1) Thursday 6:30 PM
Past Masters' Night
JULY
BIRTHDAYS
-
05 Kelvin Kimball (Fellow Craft)
-
11 Robert Cole (Master Mason)
-
17 Andrew Wilson (Master Mason)
-
18 Wesley Jackson (Master Mason)
-
23 Daniel Mueller (Master Mason)
-
23 Albert Lazare (Master Mason)
-
29 Thomas Ansell (Master Mason)
MASTER MASON ANNIVERSARIES
-
08 Dan Dailey (Past Master) (30 Years)
-
08 Floyd Tritt (43 Years)
-
10 Nico Montero (11 Years)
-
16 Mac Contreras (11 Years)
-
22 Jerry Livingston-Joy (27 Years)
-
22 Josh Pane (30 Years)
-
23 Joshua Djubek (16 Years)
-
24 Jason Sibbring (11 Years)
-
29 Alex Chompff (15 Years)
Washington Lodge No. 20 F. & A. M.
Mission Statement
To practice and promote a way of life that binds like-minded men in a worldwide
brotherhood that transcends all religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational differences.
Through Masonic principles and tradition, and by the outward expression of these
through its fellowship and compassion, Washington Lodge No.20 Free & Accepted Masons provides ways in which to serve God, family, country, neighbors, and self in an environment that contributes to the enrichment and betterment of its members, mankind, and its communities.
Freemasonry is
Kindness in the home,
Honesty in business,
Courtesy in society,
Fairness in work,
Pity and concern for the unfortunate,
Resistance toward evil,
Help for the weak,
Forgiveness for the penitent,
Love for one another and,
Above all, reverence and love for God.
Freemasonry is many things but
Most of all:
Freemasonry is a way of life.
Signers of the Declaration of Independence:
A Biographical Introduction
by Robert G. Ferris
Signers of the Declaration of Independence: A Biographical Introduction provides contemporary readers with a brief summary of the lives of the fifty-six revolutionaries who signed the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States of America.
Signers of the Declaration of Independence include:
John Adams [Massachusetts],
Samuel Adams [Massachusetts],
Josiah Bartlett [New Hampshire],
Carter Braxton [Virginia],
Charles Carroll [Maryland],
Samuel Chase [Maryland],
Abraham Clark [New Jersey],
George Clymer [Pennsylvania],
William Ellery [Rhode Island],
William Floyd [New York],
Benjamin Franklin [Pennsylvania],
Elbridge Gerry [Massachusetts],
Button Gwinnett [Georgia],
Lyman Hall [Georgia],
John Hancock [Massachusetts],
Benjamin Harrison [Virginia],
John Hart [New Jersey],
Joseph Hewes [North Carolina],
Thomas Heyward, Jr. [South Carolina],
William Hooper [North Carolina],
Stephen Hopkins [Rhode Island],
Francis Hopkinson [New Jersey],
Samuel Huntington [Connecticut],
Thomas Jefferson [Virginia],
Francis Lightfoot Lee [Virginia],
Richard Henry Lee [Virginia],
Francis Lewis [New York],
Philip Livingston [New York],
Thomas Lynch, Jr. [South Carolina],
Thomas McKean [Delaware],
Arthur Middleton [South Carolina],
Lewis Morris [New York],
Robert Morris [Pennsylvania],
John Morton [Pennsylvania],
Thomas Nelson, Jr. [Virginia],
William Paca [Maryland],
Robert Treat Paine [Massachusetts],
John Penn [North Carolina],
George Read [Delaware],
Caesar Rodney [Delaware],
George Ross [Pennsylvania],
Benjamin Rush [Pennsylvania],
Edward Rutledge [South Carolina],
Roger Sherman [Connecticut],
James Smith [Pennsylvania],
Richard Stockton [New Jersey],
Thomas Stone [Maryland],
George Taylor [Pennsylvania],
Mathew Thornton [New Hampshire],
George Walton [Georgia],
William Whipple [New Hampshire],
William Williams [Connecticut],
James Wilson [Pennsylvania],
John Witherspoon [New Jersey],
Oliver Wolcott [Connecticut] and
George Wythe [Virginia].
Signers of the Declaration of Independence: A Biographical Introduction is an abridgement of Signers of the Declaration: Historic Places Commemorating the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, produced under the direction of Series Editor Robert G. Ferris, et al., and published by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service in 1973 as a part of the series, The National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, Volume XVIII.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ROBERT G. FERRIS served with the National Park Service as series editor of the National Historic Landmark book project for fifteen years.
ASIN : B0892DP4PH
ISBN-13: 979-8642783122
The Declaration of Independence
iMember 2.0
Update your
profile information on
Profile Picture
Phone Number
Email Address
Mailing Address
Emergency Contact
Masonic Title
Occupation
Information Privacy
Communication Options
Other Memberships
Or just email
your updates to the
PAY YOUR 2025 DUES HERE
Masons of California
Masonic Health Services
The Pavilion at the Masonic Homes
MCYAF Across the Lifespan
Masonic Value Network
Masonic Homes of California Resources
Masonic Philanthropy
Masonic Youth Order Resources Library
California Masonic Foundation Cornerstone Society
Washington Lodge No. 20 F. & A. M.
2025 Officers
Joseph Wallach
Worshipful Master
William Workman
Senior Warden
Brandon Jenkins
Junior Warden
Eric Hixson (PM)
Treasurer
Francisco Marques (PM)
Secretary
Ramey Packer
Chaplain
Luis Montero (PM)
Assistant Secretary
Kevin Hall
Senior Deacon
Nicholas Johnston
Junior Deacon
Christopher Hamilton
Marshal
Maury Hicks
Senior Steward
Carlos Brusel-Casals
Senior Steward
James Dimmitt
Organist
Martin Buff
Tiler
Matthew Mason (PM)
Junior Past Master
D. Edward Entrican (PM)
Treasurer Emeritus
Matthew Mason (PM)
Officers' Coach
William Workman
Head Candidates' Coach
David Lagala (PM)
Inspector 414th Masonic District
