November 2025

From the East

Joseph Wallach - Worshipful Master

Greetings, Brethren.

It’s hard to believe, but we are already in November.

A time for turkey and reflection.

As we gather in Lodge and in our homes, we should reflect on what we are thankful for as we share a meal.

I’m very thankful for all the members of our Lodge and for all the support our Officers have given me this year.

I’m thankful for all the good times and great memories as well.

Remember to make time for friends and family this holiday season.

There are many things that you can make up for in this life, but lost time is not one of them.

I look forward to seeing you all at our November Stated Meeting.

Fraternally,

Joseph Wallach WM

From the West

William Workman - Senior Warden

Brethren,

It was my honor to represent Washington Lodge No. 20, Free & Accepted Masons of the State of California, as your Senior Warden, along with several other members, including our Master, Worshipful Joseph Wallach, our Junior Warden, Brother Brandon Jenkins, and Past Masters Worshipful Joseph Dongo, PM, Worshipful Richard Wilson, PM, Worshipful Matt Mason, PM, at the 176th Annual Communication in San Francisco.

The business session successfully concluded with the unanimous election of all nominees for the Grand Lodge positions, who received a standing ovation. Several key recommendations and resolutions were passed and will be enacted this month.

Over 1,300 Master Masons from California and neighboring states attended the event. The Installation Ceremony, held on Sunday, October 26th, featured traditional fanfare and pageantry, including long, elegant herald trumpets.

The Grand Lodge extended their profound gratitude to the outgoing Grand Master, Most Worshipful Arthur L. Salazar, PM, for his 18 years of distinguished service.

Masons in California now pledge their trust to the new Grand Master, Most Worshipful Garrett S. Chan, PM, who will lead the 2026 Masonic Year with the theme and strategic plan, "The Keystone Initiative: Roadmap to a World in Harmony."

Our Lodge will adopt the core principles of this initiative and will provide members with further information on this worthy mission.

California Freemasonry's membership has increased by nearly 700 brothers this year, marking the first rise in several decades. This positive trend indicates the success of active transparency efforts, and our Lodge will likewise prioritize new prospect engagement in the coming year with a stronger social media and online presence, hosting public gatherings, both in-person and virtual events like open houses, educational sessions, or "bring-a-friend" nights for non-members to experience our values and fellowship.

I also want to express our gratitude for the Lodge's support, which enabled our Pillar Officers to represent Washington 20 at the 176th Annual Communication.

The Officers affirmed their commitment to conducting themselves with due order and propriety, in accordance with Masonic values and principles, and acted in good faith to promote the well-being of all Masons, whithersoever dispersed.

From the South

Brandon Jenkins - Junior Warden

This past weekend (October 24-26, 2025), I had the privilege of attending the Grand Lodge of California
Annual Communication in San Francisco — one of the most important gatherings in California
Freemasonry.

As Junior Warden this year, it was my duty to attend, but I was happy to do so since the
Annual Communication brings together Masons from across the state to conduct the business of the
Craft, renew fraternal bonds, and chart the future course of our fraternity.

During the sessions, delegates considered proposed additions and changes to the California Masonic Code.

It was inspiring to witness firsthand the democratic and deliberative nature of Masonic governance.

Each amendment was thoughtfully discussed, reflecting the Craft’s commitment to fairness, order, and improvement.

Observing this process underscored the value Freemasonry places on reasoned dialogue and collective decision-making.

Another highlight of the weekend was the election of new Grand Lodge Officers. Although the election generally follows the established tradition of following a line of succession, the proceedings were conducted with dignity and precision, and reminded all present of the trust and responsibility vested in our leadership.

I was pleased to see that each newly elected officer expressed sincere emotion and humility as his name was read for consideration. Brotherly Love permeated the auditorium. As the affirmative votes were cast in unanimity, it was plain to see that each officer was wholeheartedly overcome by the gravity of the trust we place in them, and they could also feel the love that their brothers have for them and all regular Masons.

Beyond the formal sessions, the Annual Communication offered opportunities for fellowship, education, and reflection. Conversations I had with our brothers highlighted the shared spirit that unites us, regardless of background or geography. Whether discussing ritual, community service, or lodge traditions, every exchange reinforced the enduring vitality of Masonry in our state.

Attending the Grand Lodge Annual Communication was a meaningful experience — one that deepened my appreciation for the structure, history, and heart of our fraternity. Witnessing the careful stewardship of our laws and the installation of new leadership reminded me that Freemasonry is not only a fraternity of the past, but a living institution continually renewing itself for the future.

READ THE MINUTES

Grand Master

Meet the Grand Master

Please join us in welcoming Garrett S. Chan, Grand Master of Masons of California!

We look forward to his leadership, vision, and guidance in the year ahead.

For more than 175 years, the Masons of California have been united by brotherhood, service, and integrity.

Now, we are united by a timeless vision: A WORLD IN HARMONY.

Across California, our lodges, communities, and charitable programs are brimming with potential. A new generation is knocking at our doors.

As we guide new members through their degrees, we're reminded of our own commitment to our great fraternity.

At its heart, the Keystone Initiative is about people— our brothers, their families, and the communities we serve.

Our members, prospects, and the public shared feedback about our fraternity—what its challenges are, and what we can do to make it better.

Together, we have built more than a call to action—we have built a roadmap to our future, built around three pillars.

The Keystone Initiative invites every Mason to take part in this plan.

Whether you are mentoring a new brother, strengthening your lodge, or expanding your charitable reach, your efforts are essential to bringing this plan to life.

Please visit The Keystone Initiative to learn more.

Legislation

GRAND LODGE LEGISLATION - RESULTS

Below are the results in summary form of the actions taken at the 176th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of California:

GRAND MASTER’S DECISIONS

Grand Master Salazar’s Decision No. 1:

Esoteric or secret part of the Ritual

PASSED (YES 61.14% vs. 38.86% NO)

Grand Master Salazar’s Decision No. 2:

Installation of Lodge Officers not included in the Ritual

PASSED (YES 75.52% vs. 24.48% NO)

GRAND MASTER’S RECOMMENDATIONS

Grand Master Salazar’s Recommendation No. 1:

Updates Grand Lodge committee membership, duties, and tenure

CARRY-OVER (YES 79.54% vs. 20.46% NO)

Grand Master Salazar’s Recommendation No. 2:

Eliminates code provision relating to Officers’ Associations

PASSED (YES 87.17% vs. 12.83% NO)

Grand Master Salazar’s Recommendation No. 3:

Centralized notification for Suspension due to Non-Payment of Dues (NPD)

PASSED (YES 91.30% vs. 8.70% NO)

Grand Master Salazar’s Recommendation No. 4:

Updates the duties of the Lodge Secretary

PASSED (YES 96.69% vs. 3.31% NO)

Grand Master Salazar’s Recommendation No. 5:

Permits charges to be withdrawn in the pre-trial phase

PASSED (YES 92.73% vs. 7.27% NO)

2024 CARRY-OVER LEGISLATION

Grand Master Metroka’s Recommendation No. 4:

Update required applicant contributions

FAILED (YES 58.95% vs. 41.05% NO)

Grand Master Metroka’s Recommendation No. 6:

Modifies Lodge vote required to restore a Mason suspended for NPD

PASSED (YES 85.61% vs. 14.39% NO)

Grand Master Metroka’s Recommendation No. 8:

Clarifies the process by which Lodges may use alternative Ritual

PASSED (YES 80.13% vs. 19.87% NO)

In addition to the above, the following actions were also taken:

In accordance with California Masonic Code §801.065, the Grand Lodge granted charters to the following lodges under dispensation and entered them into the registry of this Grand Lodge as:

High 12 Lodge No. 892 in El Segundo,

Oasis of Light Lodge No. 893 in Palm Springs,

Fiat Lux Lodge No. 894 in Berkeley,

Citlali Lodge No. 895 in Culver City and

Cicero Research Lodge in San Francisco.

In accordance with California Masonic Code §407.050, the Grand Lodge adopted the budget for 2025-2026 as proposed by the Deputy Grand Master.

The Background Check Fee was set at $45.00.

The Per Capita Assessment for the fiscal year November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027, as proposed by the Senior Grand Warden, was adopted and fixed at $72.50.

IMPORTANT:

WLN20 2026 Annual Dues are $102.50

$30.00 Lodge Dues

$72.50 Per Capita

Due by 12/31/2025

Click HERE to pay

A total of 1,336 registrations were received for the 176th Annual Communication, with 286 of the 330 Chartered Lodges represented.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NOVEMBER

• 01 Ladies Night: Oktoberfest (Ballroom) Saturday 7:00 PM

• 04 Executive Committee Meeting (Zoom) Tuesday 6:30 PM

• 06 Stated Meeting Dinner (Banquet Room) Thursday 6:00 PM

• 06 Monthly Stated Meeting Annual Election of Officers (LR1) Thursday 7:30 PM

• 13 DARK

• 19 OSI (Officers School of Instruction) (LR3) Wednesday 7:00 PM

• 20 DARK

• 27 DARK

DECEMBER

• 02 Executive Committee Meeting (Zoom) Tuesday 6:30 PM

• 04 Stated Meeting Dinner (Banquet Room) Thursday 6:00 PM

• 04 Monthly Stated Meeting (LR1) Thursday 7:30 PM

• 11 DARK

• 14 Annual Installation of Officers (LR1) Sunday 11:00 AM

• 17 OSI (Officers School of Instruction) (LR3) Wednesday 7:00 PM

• 18 DARK

• 25 DARK

NOVEMBER

BIRTHDAYS

01 Eric Hixson (Past Master) (Treasurer)
02 David Stallberg (FellowCraft)
04 Jonathon Brown (Entered Apprentice)
06 Tod Barnes (Master Mason)
08 Richard McCaleb (Past Master)
11 Nicholas Johnston (Senior Warden)
11 John Djubek (Master Mason)
15 Joseph Wallach (Worshipful Master)
16 Kevin Hall (Master Mason)
17 Jared Dailey (Master Mason)
23 James Ramey (Master Mason)
25 Arthur Henrikson (Master Mason)
27 Joshua Pane (Master Mason)
28 V. Allen Winter, Jr. (Past Master)
28 Victor Novak (Master Mason)
28 Tim Tyler (Master Mason)
28 John Day (Entered Apprentice)

MASTER MASON ANNIVERSARIES

03 Tod Barnes (33 Years)
10 David Freeman (Grammarian) (37 Years)
10 Gerald Van Wagner (31 Years)
14 Richard Wilson (Past Master) (57 Years)
15 Denton Carlson (13 Years)
15 James Clark (46 Years)
16 Eddie Haskins (26 Years)
17 Michael Quinn (20 Years)
17 Craig Spilman (48 Years)
19 Walter Santwer (27 Years)
20 David Keehner (56 Years)
28 Sonny Stormes (Past Master) (18 Years)
29 Luis Montero (Past Master) (Assistant Secretary) (13 Years)
29 Wally Clark (59 Years)
30 Alan Grundel (Past Master) (58 Years)
30 John Djubek (49 Years)

Visit: Sacramento Turn Verein Alpentänzer Schuhplattler (STV Alpentänzer)

Annual Election of Officers

Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 7:30 PM

Members of Washington Lodge No. 20

Please join us for the most important Stated Meeting of the year!

Master Masons must be in Good Standing in the Lodge to be permitted to vote in the Election of Officers.

Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts cannot vote.

General Protocol

This Ceremony is for Masons Only.

Before opening the meeting to nominations, the Master, Worshipful Joseph Wallach, will determine if there is a visitor present who will relieve the Tiler so that he may vote.

The Master will also appoint three Master Masons to serve as Tellers for the Election. A table with three chairs will be set up in the South-East corner of the Lodge for the Tellers' use.

The Secretary will have sufficient slips of paper available on his desk for ballots, as well as pencils or pens for WLN20 Members to use when voting.

Key Roles in the Annual Election

Elected Officers: WLN20 Members vote to elect specific positions for the ensuing Masonic Year, most notably:

⦿ Worshipful Master

⦿ Senior Warden

⦿ Junior Warden

Treasurer and Secretary: These roles are also elected, but the incumbents frequently serve for several years to ensure continuity and institutional knowledge.

Progressive Line: Officers move up a progressive line of positions year by year, with the Senior Warden typically becoming the next Worshipful Master.

Appointed Officers: The incoming Worshipful Master appoints the remaining Officers to serve alongside the Elected Officers for the new term:

⦿ Chaplain

⦿ Assistant Secretary

⦿ Senior Deacon

⦿ Junior Deacon

⦿ Marshal

⦿ Senior Steward

⦿ Junior Steward

⦿ Organist

⦿ Tiler

Men who volunteer to serve as Lodge Officers exhibit strong leadership, a commitment to personal and spiritual growth, integrity, and a willingness to dedicate time and effort to Washington Lodge No. 20 and its members, with a focus on the welfare of the Brotherhood and the Institution itself.

Masonic Lawn Association ("Cemetery Board"): Two WLN20 Members will be elected to serve as Directors on the Cemetery Board in 2026.

Masonic Temple Association of Sacramento ("Temple Board"): WLN20 Members will also elect seven Delegates to serve at the Annual Temple Board Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM, and held in the Banquet Room of the Sacramento Masonic Temple.

At the annual meeting, WLN20 representatives will elect one Delegate to serve as a Board Director for a three-year term.

The Board of Directors consists of twelve elected Directors, representing the Owning Bodies (Shareholders), as follows:

Union-Tehama Lodge No. 3 (with 46.75% of Ownership) has four Directors

Washington Lodge No. 20 (8.5%), one Director

Sacramento Lodge No. 40 (24.31%), two Directors

Chapter No. 3 of Royal Arch Masons (13.06%), two Directors

Council No. 1 of Cryptic Masons (0.69%), one Director

Commandery No. 2 of Knights Templar (6.69%), one Director

Plus one Director-at-Large, as the 12th Director, in compliance with the stipulations under Section 2.01 of the Bylaws of the Masonic Temple Association of Sacramento (Multiple Ownership).

ELECTION COUNTDOWN

Installation of Elected and Appointed Officers

The Installation Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

☞ This is a public event, allowing family, friends, and prospective members to attend and witness the ceremony.

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.

The Craft Driven Lodge

by Daniel D. Hrinko

Whether you’re an officer or you just want to get more involved with your lodge, The Craft Driven Lodge is sure to give you some inspiration for making your lodge the best it can be.

Brother Hrinko’s approach empowers Masons to reflect on their interests and resources, and then use that self-reflection to determine how to operate a lodge that provides fulfilling experiences for members.

This book empowers Brothers to create a Lodge experience that is to their liking without being tied to any particular set of actions, ceremonies, or even fundamental beliefs beyond those universal to Speculative Freemasonry across the globe.

Learn More at https://www.craftdrivenlodge.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brother Daniel D. Hrinko was initiated in January 1977, passed in March 1977, and raised in April 1977 in Clark Lodge No. 101, Springfield, Ohio, Grand Lodge of Ohio.

He has served as Worshipful Master of Clark Lodge No. 101 in 1982-1983, and again in 2004-2005.

He was the Worshipful Master of Arts & Sciences Lodge U.D. in 2009-2020, and served as the Charter Master of Arts & Sciences Lodge No. 792 in 2010-2011.

He has served on the Grand Lodge of Ohio Committee on Education and Information from 2007 through 2014 and served as a District Education Officer in 2013 and 2014.

Brother Hrinko lives in Springfield, Ohio, with his wife Lisa. They have two children and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

Among many hobbies, Brother Hrinko has a love for photography and personally took the 21 beautiful color photographs included in The Craft Driven Lodge.

Brother Hrinko received his Doctor of Professional Psychology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

He is a Psychologist in private practice specializing in psychological evaluations for the courts.

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0880531088

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0880531085

Purchase Book

The History of Veterans Day