It is an honor to receive your confidence to serve as your Worshipful Master. I appreciate your trust in me to guide the lodge for the next year. St. James has a long and glorious history – a history that we can all be proud of. I will do my best to continue that legacy in the next year. The office of Worshipful Master has three aspects. It is an office to rule, a title to honor, but most importantly a duty. This is a serious responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I promise to serve the lodge with all my skill and dedication.
St. James Lodge No. 47 is the oldest living lodge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, predating the Civil War. Originally chartered in Port Allen, St. James Lodge now rests in downtown Baton Rouge, just a 10 minute walk from the Louisiana State Capitol. Our lodge upholds a proud legacy of freemasonry that has survived our nation’s most trying times.
Despite our age, St. James Lodge boasts the youngest line of principle officers in Louisiana, averaging 27 years old. The variety of age and the willingness for our young men to take mantles of leadership is a badge of pride for our lodge. It serves as proof that the future of our lodge and fraternity is alive and well.
Freemasonry is the oldest living fraternity in the world. It was officially organized with the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) in 1717. However, the origins of freemasonry are far older than the UGLE. The exact origins of the fraternity are unknown, but freemasonry does trace back to the stonemason guilds of the late Medieval Era. Our traditions are the same. In the dark ages we built cathedrals. Today, we build men.
Over the years, St. James Lodge has engaged in a number of charitable causes. Historically, the lodge has supported groups such as the Shriner’s Children Hospitals, Demolay International, Rainbow Girls, and other organizations aimed at supporting children. Dyslexia assistance for children is has also been the primary philanthropy of Louisiana freemasonry, since 1998. There have also been countless times we’ve provided relief to distressed brothers and their widows.
If you would like to learn more about Freemasonry or are a visiting brother from outside the area, please feel free to reach out to us. We may not get back to you instantly, but we promise to respond to you as soon as possible.