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freemason.org

Publication board frank Loui, grand master allan L. Casalou, grand secretary and editor-in-Chief editorial Staff Terry mendez, managing editor angel alvarez-mapp, Creative editor megan Brown, senior editor sarah gilbert, assistant Creative editor michelle simone, assistant editor Photography p. 3, 2527: scott gilbert Photo p. 11: Courtesy of the Henry W. Coil Library and museum of freemasonry Illustration Cover and feature Wayne Brezinka p. 56, 8, 13, 2021 Chen Design associates Design Chen Design associates Officers of the Grand Lodge Grand Master frank Loui, California no. 1, san francisco no. 120 Deputy Grand Master John f. Lowe, Irvine Valley no. 671 Senior Grand Warden John L. Cooper III, Culver City-foshay no. 467 Junior Grand Warden russell e. Charvonia, Channel Islands no. 214 Grand Treasurer m. William Holsinger, Pgm, evergreen no. 259 Grand Secretary allan L. Casalou, acalanes fellowship no. 480 Grand Lecturer Kenneth g. nagel, Pgm, Liberty no. 299 freemason.org
CaLIfornIa freemason (UsPs 083-940) is published bimonthly by the Publishing Board and is the only official publication of the grand Lodge of free and accepted masons of the state of California, 1111 California street, san francisco, Ca 94108-2284. Publication office Publication offices at the grand Lodge offices, 1111 California street, san francisco, Ca 94108-2284. Periodicals Postage Paid at san francisco, Ca and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to California freemason, 1111 California street, san francisco, Ca 94108-2284. Publication Dates - Publication dates are the first day of october, December, february, april, June, and august. subscriptions CaLIfornIa freemason is mailed to every member of this masonic jurisdiction without additional charge. others are invited to subscribe for $2.00 a year or $2.75 outside of the United states. Permission to reprint Permission to reprint original articles in CaLIfornIa freemason is granted to all recognized masonic publications with credit to the author and this publication. Phone: 800/831-8170 or 415/776-7000 fax: 415/776-7170 e-mail: editor@freemason.org

I do think of myself as a pioneer. I think most scientists do. Were doing new things and creating new knowledge and advancing our field.
Jerome Nilmeier

cONteNtS
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F e at u r e

The World Within

The globes white spaces were filled in two generations ago, but theres still plenty to learn about the world we live in. Modern-day explorer and California Mason Jerome Nilmeier is filling in those gaps in knowledge by charting new territory on a microscopic scale: Biophysics.

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a r O u N D t h e WO r L D From Canadas ice-bound Northwest Passage to the sweltering deserts of Africa, some of the greatest exploration of the past 300 years has been accomplished by Masons. Heres a roundup. LO D G e S P Ot L I G h t In 1848, no Masonic charters existed in the then-Mexican territory of California. This is the story of the arduous journeys that brought the first two charters to California. m a S O N I c e D u c at I O N At its core, Freemasonry is a journey that often holds an unknown destination for its many travelers. John Cooper explores the timeless question, Whither are you traveling? h I S tO ry American explorers and Masons Meriwether Lewis and William Clark opened the door not only to the nations western expansion, but also to the growth of Freemasonry west of the Mississippi. m a S O N I c a S S I S ta N c e Sometimes, real life seems ripped from the pages of an adventure novel. Read the incredible stories of three Homes residents.

eXecutIve meSSaGe
Frank Loui, Grand Master

Great Adventure
T he N e x t

will raise funds to bring Raising A Reader to the most vulnerable and lowest-performing elementary schools in our state. California currently ranks near the bottom of the United States in child literacy but we can change that. We can turn the page for child literacy in California. Literacy is an appropriate topic for this issue of California Freemason magazine, which is dedicated to Masonic explorers, past and present. When we talk about exploration today, we

dont necessarily mean finding the ruins of Machu Picchu or elcome to the start of a new Grand Lodge year, and thank you for the honor and privilege of serving as your Grand Master. discovering the source of the Nile; we mean expanding our vision of the world. When we talk about the spirit of exploration, we mean being open to new challenges. We explore to make sense of the world around us, and to make sense of ourselves. As Masons, thats a quest near and dear to our hearts. For a young child, books are often the first step in cultivating that spirit of exploration. Books can take us to far-off places and teach us wonderful and surprising things. They spark our curiosity and help us dream bigger. The knowledge they hold shapes our understanding of the world, and our role in it. Early literacy not only gives youngsters the educational skills they need, but a sense of adventure about learning. We have a big year ahead of us. Lets approach it with a spirit of exploration: Lets push ourselves outside the comfort zone of our lodge buildings and into our communities. And, through the power of books, lets expand the horizons of thousands of children in California. We can make a profound difference in child literacy.

The theme this year is ConnectCommunicateCommit. Our

fraternity was built on the idea of community, and it has thrived through the power of connection of fellowship, and the bond between people. Many members join because of our legacy of community service. With that in mind, I want us to get out of our lodge buildings and connect with our communities. Lets not wait to introduce ourselves to our neighbors and ask how we can help them. Lets make a commitment to strengthen our communities. One way well do this as a fraternity is through my Grand Masters Project, a partnership with Raising A Reader. Raising A Readers red book bags have become a symbol for early literacy throughout this country: The parent involvement read aloud program provides a single family with more than 100 high-quality childrens books a year, along with training and support. The program has already instilled literacy skills and a love of books in more than 800,000 children. We plan to bring this program to California schools. Its a well-documented, and frightening, fact that many U.S. states use third-grade reading skill levels to project how many prisons theyre going to need 20 years down the line. To make a difference, we have to get involved early. Masons have always supported public education. Thats why our fraternity

member PrOFILe

FaceS OF maSONry
Meet Nicholas WisNieWski, Physicist, MasoN siNce 2009
by Laura Normand

When Nicholas Wisniewski observes the world around him, he sees things we dont. He sees the interplay of matter and energy; gravity and quantum mechanics; geometric principles and elegant mathematical solutions. As a physicist, Wisniewski is exploring something that may trump all previous feats of exploration: Hes searching for a new understanding of our existence. When hes not at his job (by day, he researches high-level methods of analysis for MRIs), he is developing a theory to connect physics with neuroscience. One of physics principal pursuits is finding a Theory of Everything a theory that links together everything in the natural world. So Wisniewskis ideas could change how we think about, well, everything. As an academic, Wisniewski feels connected to the nomadic lifestyle of early operative Freemasons, and the philosophical roots of the fraternity. He is honoring the latter by developing a new Masonic education program for his lodge, Liberal Arts Lodge No. 677 in Los Angeles. The program features presentations by local UCLA experts, on liberal arts themes such as global civil society. So while Wisniewski is working on his theory to connect Everything with the study of consciousness, hes also enriching the consciousness of his lodge. of colleagues. Thats why I joined Masonry. In Masonry you get to interact with people who have different ideas, but who share the same general outlook on life.

W h at m o t i vat e s h i m at W o r k :
The mathematics itself is extremely beautiful. In all academia, you have to be able

In his own words:

W h at d r eW h i m to m as o n ry:
Both my grandfather and uncle were Masons, so it was in the family. I was feeling a sense of isolation, even within my circle

to find beauty in your work, or you will quickly lose interest. But what drives me is this: Everyone is contributing towards a collective understanding. I want to contribute towards that collective consciousness, too.

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mIDDLe SchOOLerS ON marS

With helP froM VesPer lodge, studeNts exPlore the red PlaNet
by Laura Normand their discovery. After scouring some 200 NASA images of the Mars landscape, they saw something unusual: a black dot near Mars Pavonis Mons volcano.

Support from Vesper Lodge

MSIP is only possible through funding by the school and community. Vesper Lodge, located in nearby Red Bluff, has become an important partner for Evergreen Middle Schools young

Last spring, NASA received some unexpected news: middle school students from Cottonwood, Calif., had discovered a rare cave opening on Mars. The 16 students had been working extra hours before and after school, during recess and even over vacation on the Mars Student Imaging Program (MSIP). Across the nation, about 50,000 students have participated in the program since 2004. The 2010 Evergreen Middle School team was the first to make a discovery with national impact.

space explorers. The partnership began when the lodge made a donation to the California Police Activities League. One of the leagues daughters was in the MSIP program, and Vesper Lodge invited the students to give a presentation at the lodge. According to Master Andrew Rieland, the brothers were blown away. Our lodge was overwhelmingly in favor of supporting the program, says Rieland. Part of it was the Strategic Plans focus on supporting public schools. But it was also the concept. There are basic, required courses for science but there is a step missing: to build excitement. This is exciting stuff. Vesper Lodge asked the program director how they could help, and received a wish list of equipment. The lodge donated nearly $9,000 to provide that equipment. Our criteria to spend lodge funds is always, Is this going

Extraterrestrial credit
MSIP is run out of the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University. It gives seventh and eighth grade school students access to NASA images, cameras, and even science teams. Each student team develops a yearlong research project focusing on geologic features on Mars. They present their research proposals and findings remotely, via web conferences with a NASA team. The Evergreen students were investigating lava tubes, a common feature on both the red planet and Earth, when they made

to make a difference? Rieland says. Few school districts can fund programs like these. Were lucky that ours can, and we want to keep it going.

New era in exploration

The 2010 Evergreen students had discovered a rare skylight cave, an area where the roof of a cave has collapsed. The site is now being considered for additional imaging by NASA. Why is it significant? The caves mild temperatures mean it can contain water, and water can mean life on Mars. NASA robots may someday explore the site. These students are literally reaching out to another planet, Rieland says. This is exploration at a whole other level.

arOuND the WOrLD

cONquerOrS OF the uNkNOWN

freeMasoNs Who risked life aNd liMb to MaP our World
by Laura Normand initially set out to discover the source of the Nile. Although he never found it, he spent more than a dozen years in North Africa and Ethiopia tracing the origins of the Blue Nile, one of the rivers tributaries. His travel tales were so extraordinary that most of his contemporaries dismissed him as a fraud. However, subsequent investigations seem to have confirmed that Bruces stories, alMaybe its the natural extension of Masonrys quest for knowledge. Maybe its the fraternitys draw towards something bigger, something that shapes mankinds experience of the world. Whatever the reasons, some of the greatest exploration during the past 300 years has been accomplished by Masons. Here, we profile several international Freemason explorers whose stories of adventure and survival seem to border on the impossible. (For their American counterparts, see this storys sidebar.) though incredible, were true. Among them: Bruce was shipwrecked off the coast of North Africa. He was held hostage for two months by the ruler of Massawa, a Red Sea port city. He spent a year in Gondar, the imperial capital of Ethiopa (then called Abyssinia), where he was invited to command one of the kings cavalry troops and, allegedly, used his knowledge of medicine to cure the queen of smallpox. He spent two years traversing the

Shipwrecked off the African coast

James Bruce, a Scotsman raised in Edinburghs Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, is a famed explorer of North Africa and Ethiopia. Like many adventurers before and after him, Bruce

mountains and deserts of Sudan.

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Some speculate that Bruces adventures may have been fueled by more than his public goal to trace the source of the Nile: He was also rumored to be searching for the Ark of the Covenant, described in the Book of Exodus as containing the original stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments.

Sourcing the Nile

Sir Richard Francis Burtons many titles include geographer, writer, soldier, spy, poet, and diplomat. This British Mason led explorations through Africa, India, Arabia, and the midwestern United States, filled with adventures that seem lifted from the pages of The Arabian Nights which, incidentally, he published an English translation of in 1885. Burton, who was a captain in the army of the East India Company, was initiated into Masonry in a British lodge in Scinde, India. He first gained renown as an explorer in 1853 when, with the backing of the Royal Geographical Society, he disguised himself as an Afghan to embark on the risky pilgrimage to Mecca, in western Saudi Arabia. Perhaps his most famous exploration was a joint expedition with John Hanning Speke to east central Africas great lakes, in the hope of discovering the source of the Nile. The explorers became the first Europeans to reach Africas Lake Tanganyika, but fell short of their ultimate goal. Upon their return, their diverging theories on how to find the Niles source fueled a bitter public dispute, which mounted when a later expedition by Speke claimed to have discovered it, and Burton loudly dismissed the claim. The dispute ended in controversy: Speke was declared dead by suicide just days before a public debate with Burton.

Merciless terrain
From icebound passages and barren terrain to a harsh, unforgiving climate, the Arctic remains one of Earths most remote and inaccessible regions. Sir Albert Markham, a British Freemason, explorer, author, and officer in the Royal Navy, braved it long before modern gear and adventure tourism paved the way. In 1875 Markham commanded a British Arctic expedition that set out for the North Pole, exploring Smith Sound and the coasts of Greenland along the way. Despite suffering from scurvy and lacking in supplies, Markham led the final leg of the journey by foot; he and his men hauled heavy sleds over the sea ice without the help of sled dogs. The party didnt reach the North Pole, but they came closer than anyone before, reaching the highest latitude ever attained at the time. Their record stood for 20 years. In the years that followed, Markham returned to the Arctic numerous times to study its animals, plants, and geology. Markham distinguished himself within the fraternity, too. He and a handful of British Masons led the formation of Londons Navy Lodge No. 2612, which prides itself on being the premier naval lodge in the world. The lodges membership roll includes four monarchs, as well as fellow polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott.

Marked by Masons
many famous Freemason explorers have occupied high offices in the fraternity and proudly displayed their fraternal ties. a few took their allegiance even further, leaving masonic markers in some of the most remote areas of earth and beyond. Polar explorer and pioneer aviator RichaRd ByRd and his pilot, BeRnt Balchen, are said to have dropped masonic flags on both Poles; during a 1930s flight over the South Pole, balchen allegedly added his Shrine fez. When astronaut leRoy GoRdon coopeR JR. famously orbited the earth 22 times, he carried a blue masonic flag and a masonic coin with him. he later presented the flag to his lodge in colorado. edwin euGene Buzz aldRin supposedly brought a masonic flag to the moon in 1969. aldrin, a member of clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 in texas, is even rumored to have carried a special deputation from the texas grand master claiming the moon as a territorial jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of texas. and according to an article in montana: the magazine of Western history, MeRiwetheR lewis left evidence of his masonic affiliation in montanas waterways. the states modern-day big hole river, ruby river, and Willow creek were originally named the Wisdom, Philanthropy, and Philosophy names bestowed by Lewis, in all likelihood the first mason to set foot in the region, alluding to masonic ritual.

Last of the Vikings

Roald Amundsen was the first man to reach both the North and South Poles, and the first to successfully lead a ship through Canadas treacherous Northwest Passage, an ice-bound route winding between the northern Canada mainland and Arctic islands. He made the Northwest Passage journey, which began in 1903, with a 70-foot shipping boat. It took three years; he and his crew had to repeatedly wait for the frozen sea to thaw before they could continue. Henry Larsen, also a Mason, would trace Amundsens journey in the 1940s, becoming the second man to captain a ship through the Northwest Passage. Larsen was also the first to sail the Passage both ways in the same season.
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In 1910, after hearing news of Freemason explorer Ernest Shackletons failed attempt to reach the South Pole, Amundsen set out on a secret expedition to claim the title. With a carefully selected team of sled dogs affectionately referred to as our children, Amundsen and his crew became the first men to reach the South Pole in December 1911. Amundsen, who proclaimed himself the last of the Vikings, set out on subsequent polar adventures, including another first for mankind: flying over the North Pole in a dirigible, or blimp, in 1926. He was killed on a rescue mission in 1928 when his plane crashed into the Arctic Ocean.

Early American Masonic Explorers

hiRaM BinGhaM (1875-1956) Discovered machu Picchu ruins RichaRd ByRd (1888-1957) Polar explorer and pioneer aviator MeRiwetheR lewis (1774-1809) explorer of the Louisiana Purchase

A test of Endurance
Ernest Shackleton, initiated into the prestigious Navy Lodge No. 2612, first ventured into Antarctica under the leadership of his lodge brother, Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Scotts expedition, which aimed to be the first to reach the South Pole, failed when scurvy, frostbite, and a shortage of supplies forced their return. In 1907 Shackleton returned to Antarctica for a second attempt, this time as the leader of his own expedition. His party reached further south than anyone before them, but in a decision that has drawn admiration from generations of explorers, Shackleton decided to turn back within 97 miles of the Pole rather than risk his mens lives. He famously wrote to his wife, I thought youd rather have a live donkey than a dead lion. In 1914 Shackleton set his sights on the first transcontinental crossing of Antarctica. What ensued has been hailed as one of the greatest survival stories of all time. Shackletons ship, the Endurance, became frozen in pack ice and sank, stranding its crew of 28 men in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica. The crew set up camp on an ice floe for five months before they were forced onto lifeboats. After seven grueling days at sea, they reached the ice-covered Elephant Island. Shackleton and his five strongest sailors set sail once more; this time, for help. They embarked on an improbable 800-mile journey aboard a 22-foot open lifeboat. After navigating 17 days in

elisha Kent Kane (1820-1857) early arctic explorer John KendRicK (1740-1794) explored the northwest coast of america RoBeRt peaRy (1856-1920) Discoverer of the North Pole

e B extRa
To learn more about the historic accomplishments of these American Masonic explorers, view the digital edition of California Freemason, available online at freemason.org under News & Events.

stormy seas, the crew miraculously reached the west coast of South Georgia only to trek 36 hours over glacier-clad mountains before reaching civilization. Nearly two years after the Endurance set sail, Shackleton returned to Elephant Island to rescue his remaining crew. All 28 men survived.

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LODGe SPOtLIGht

race FOr FIrSt

the treacherous jourNeys of califorNias earliest charters
by Heather Boerner back to his rancho in whats now known as Tehama County. Shuffleton describes Lassen as prospecting and adventuring. He was a Mason and he wanted to bring a lodge back with him when he returned to his adopted home. Enter Kentucky native Saschel Woods, a Presbyterian minister and past master of Wakanada Lodge No. 52. Together, the pair made an application to the grand master of Missouri for a charter, which was issued in May 1848. That charter was handwritten on a large piece of parchment The history of Freemasonry in California begins with two charters. One, folded over and over again and pressed against the boot of a Presbyterian minister. The other, carefully stowed away from the damp heat of equatorial jungles. Both made the slow, perilous journey from their home lodges to new, alien territory. And with them, came the birth of Freemasonry in California. Its very special, spectacular, really, to be part of the oldest lodge in California, says Hugh Shuffleton, a past master and unofficial historian and archivist for Western Star Lodge No. 2 in Shasta. Its a point of pride that we survived this long. At the dawning of 1848, there were no charters in the Mexican territory of California. By 1850, the state boasted six lodges. This is the story of the arduous journeys that brought the first two charters to the state. and declared, to all and every our worthy and well beloved Brethren, send greeting. Woods and Lassen set out on the slow wagon train to California, accompanied by several others, intent on creating a new town out of Lassens Rancho Bosquejo. Woods, as the only member of the wagon train who was a Master Mason, was entrusted with the charter. How long the journey, whether they were set upon by Indian warriors, and what illness and challenges they faced are lost to history. What we do know is that the charter, by all accounts, made the trip in the Woods boot, folded and refolded from its 11-by-17 size to letter size for easier travel. The charter still bears the fold marks, says Shuffleton. Actually, we went to have it restored and the archivist we talked to said, I wouldnt do that because these marks are the story of this document, he says. Now the charter is stored in a glass case in the lodges museum room.

California Lodge No. 1

California Lodge No. 1s charter made its journey in quite a different way. Far from the dusty and dry months Woods and Lassen spent in their overland journey, the San Francisco lodges charter spent its nearly year-long trip in the damp of

Western Star Lodge No. 2

The birth of Masonry in California begins in Carrolltown, Missouri, a small town northeast of Kansas City. It was there to which homesteader Peter Lassen returned as he attempted to bring a wagon train

ocean and jungle. But lets start at the beginning. In this case, the charter started its life in another seat of power: Washington, D.C. At the time, Mason James K. Polk, then president of the United States, approved a charter for Brother William Van Voorhies and Brother Samuel Yorke At Lee to bring a new lodge to California. The

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westeRn staR lodGes chaRteR caMe to califoRnia By dusty waGon tRail, folded in the Boot of a KentucKy MinisteR.

charter was signed by nine Masons. But only three made it to California. At Lee decided to stay in Washington and Brother Levi Stowell resigned from his lodge, New Jerusalem Lodge No. 9, to become master of the nascent California Lodge No. 13. The charter was approved in November 1848 and Stowell began his journey. But he didnt go west. Instead, he set sail from New York aboard the Falcon, the first steamship to ferry U.S. mail west via the Isthmus of Panama. According to a report on mail routes at the time, the journey would have been fraught with danger and delays. If the Atlantic were tumultuous, ships often had to wait days in rain-tossed seas before they could anchor. When Stowell arrived at the Chagres River on Dec. 27 of that year, he found the U.S. mail system had made no provisions for the 200 passengers on the ship to make it from the Isthmus of Panama to Panama City, a 60-mile stretch of river and rain forest. In the end, he paid the native men of the area up to $60 and some brandy to ferry him 40 miles to Cruces. Once in Cruces, he faced a 30-mile journey to the town of Panama. There, travelers often endured weeks of waiting before a vessel became available to travel north again. Although the exact conditions of Stowells journey are unknown, at least one report called the crossing nightmarish. But according to Richard Modolo, master of California Lodge No. 1, one thing is known: At some point Stowell was bit by a mosquito carrying malaria. Thats what eventually did him in, Modolo says. Still, Stowell lived long enough not only to arrive in San Francisco but to help create the first building in which the brothers met. The lodge room was in the attic of the building, draped in chintz and lit by candles in tin candleholders at the east and west. The masters pedestal was an upturned box and the altar was a boot box draped in the American flag. The lodge still has its charter, stored away from prying eyes, says Modolo. It may be restored at some point. After all, men join the lodge not just for its location but for the men who came before them. Its an honor and we try to live up to their example, he says.
to BRinG califoRnia lodGes chaRteR fRoM d.c., levi stowell set sail on a steaMship, then BaRteRed with natives in the Rain foRest of panaMa.

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maSONIc eDucatION

the maSONIc eXPLOrer

fiNdiNg the courage to face the uNkNoWN
by John L. Cooper III, Senior Grand Warden the challenge that it presents. And when they arrive, they have to incorporate all their previous experience into making the new present understandable. And this new present may take years, if not many generations, to truly understand. When the courageous return home with new information, they may never know how great an impact their courage has made on the future. In a sense, we are asking each Mason to have the courage to seek a future that he cannot yet know. Our symbolic way of expressing this is Whither are you traveling? but what we There is an old question asked of a Mason at an important point in his Masonic life: Whence came you and whither are you traveling? When the question is asked, there is not much time for contemplation. The question is answered quickly, and ritualistically and then often forgotten as the more dramatic sequel in the ritual captures our attention. It is too bad, in a way, that we cannot stop at this point in our ceremonies and take time to think about the question and formulate an answer which is specific to each Mason who is asked it. Where are you coming from? and knowing what you now know about Freemasonry Where are you going? There is an old joke about Christopher Columbus which is singularly unfair to him, but which nonetheless is still being told. In one form it goes like this: When he started out, he didnt know where he was going. When he got there he didnt know where he was. And when he got home he didnt know where he had been. The joke is unfair because anyone who has the courage to strike out into the unknown is to be commended, not ridiculed. The courageous do not stay home. They go forth to places that they have never known before because of I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. are really asking is Do you have the courage to seek out the unknown toward which Freemasonry points? Freemasonry is a journey, and when a man stands for the first time at its gate the West Gate he cannot know where that journey will lead. We present him with tools and implements to use along the way, but we do not tell him how to use them. He must figure that out for himself. He is surrounded by friends and brothers at the beginning of the journey, but there will be a time when he will be alone, and when he must discover the way forward without any guidance except for the guidance of the Supreme Architect of the Universe. He learns that the road ahead will not always be smooth. It will sometimes be a rough and rugged road, one filled with dangers, real or imaginary, but dangers nonetheless. Only courage will cause him to begin the journey, and only courage will cause him to pursue the journeys end, even when assailed by forces stronger than he is, which may, in the end, prove fatal. Masons should frequently ask themselves the question that was once posed to them: Whither are you traveling? It will take courage to ask it, for it is easier to drift through life without answering the question than it is to accept its challenge. But in the end, the journeys end, it will be worth it. The words from Robert Frosts poem The Road Not Taken say it all:

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Feature

The World Within

Mapping new worlds, one protein at a tiMe

by Heather Boerner

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vEry cEll in your body is a littlE world, alivE with molEculEs that kEEp it spinning in its own orbit and away from thE biological astEroids of pathogEns and sickly mutations that could harm it. and insidE Each of thEsE worlds arE thousands of protEins that do thE bulk of thE labor to kEEp thE world functioning as it should. thEy build walls, dElivEr mEssagEs, spur changE as catalysts, transport, and morE.
It is into this world that Jerome Nilmeier dips every day. Nilmeier, a biophysicist at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, spends his time mapping this new world. Through pixels and 3D renderings, he is tracking the entry points into proteins the catalytic sites that turn proteins into potent carriers of new medications and potential cures. The work is slow and meticulous and, much like the
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explorers of old, renders a cartography of an unknown landscape. In this way, Nilmeier is not so different from explorers who mapped the New World. Hes a pioneer, but probably not a pioneer like any youve seen before. Nilmeiers tools are not machetes or parchment maps. He doesnt ride a horse or wear a flak jacket. He needs no firepower to defend his position. He jokes, instead, that his only uniform is his computer reading glasses, which make it easier for him to stare at his computer screen all day. Indeed, Nilmeiers pioneering work is notable in part for its mundane trappings. Nilmeier rises in his family home in Livermore next to his wife, Jennifer, every morning. He greets and plays with his three children, Sofia, 7, David, 3, and Charlie, 1. He dresses in khakis and a blue shirt. And he gets in his car and drives to an office in Livermore, where he spends his day, like many of us, staring at a computer and making notes. There will be no pictures of me in a lab coat, says Nilmeier good-naturedly. It looks more like going to work and sitting in front of a computer. The work I do is all computational. The building I work in doesnt even have a laboratory. How this mild-mannered, Clark Kent type became the pioneer he is today is a story of chance, aptitude, and Freemasonry. household appliances in his familys Fresno home to see how they worked. Instead, he was thoughtful, introspective, and observant. He liked to write short stories. As the son of an Army captain and a homemaker, he spent his very early years in Iran and Georgia. But by the time he started kindergarten, Nilmeiers life had settled into the typical suburban routine. He rode his bike. He played kickball. He watched TV. And he wasnt sure what hed do for a living. Looking back, Nilmeiers first clue that he might have an inclination toward science and exploring the scientifically unknown came his junior year in high school, when he did well on an Air Force-administered science test. It popped up again when he was in junior college in Fresno, when he did well in physics. But his scholastic goals were sidelined when, after a few years of junior college and one year at the University of California, Berkeley, he dropped out to go back to work. I wasnt ready to hunker down, he recalls. I went out and was bartending and just living life. I was reading a lot, learning about Freemasonry. I dont think I would have come across Masonry if I had stayed in school.

Curiosity to Craft
In fact, it was in the late 1990s, when Nilmeier was tending bar in Oaklands Rockridge neighborhood, that he became interested in the craft. He was passing time reading Whos Afraid of Freemasons: The Phenomenon of Freemasonry by Alexander Piategorski a dense, scholarly look at Freemasonry from its early European roots forward. He found himself fascinated by the conspiracy theory of Freemasonry as a secret society con-

Early EndEavors
Nilmeier was not the kind of child who had a chemistry set. He did not take apart

trolling the universe. And then he met his first Mason. It turned out his bar, George and Walts, was right next to Oakland Durant Rockridge Lodge No. 188.

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Almost any project I work on is some very small facet of a larger problem. I write codes and develop new algorithms, but Im connected to a larger purpose that hopefully creates something people can use to make medicines.
JeRoMe nilMeieR

I talked to Roger Gilmore. He owned the hardware store a few blocks down and he used to come in; a lot of guys from the lodge would come in, he recalls. I kept talking to Roger, asking him to invite me in. It took a few months of him hemming and hawing. I think he saw me as a young guy interested in the intrigue of it. But the fact was, the more Masons he met, the more Nilmeier realized that these men have qualities I want to emulate, he remembers thinking. It was the conspiracy mystique at first, but I started going and the men I met just struck me as very lucid, intelligent, and well dressed. They seemed like a sophisticated group. The respect was mutual, says Don Nelson, past master of Oakland Durant Rockridge Lodge, a 40-year member who met Nilmeier when he first came upstairs from the bar and into the lodge. He remembers thinking that Nilmeier was very outgoing, interesting, and well-versed. Hes the sort of person youd want your son to be like, says Nelson, who attended Nilmeiers wedding in Rochester, New York. Hes always got a smile. Ive never seen him upset. And hes really very interested in learning the work perfectly. Nilmeier was raised in 1999, and served as junior warden in the lodge before moving to San Francisco for his PhD work in biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. He calls Freemasonry the anchor that steadied him as he underwent the life-changing transitions of college and grad school. It was during this time as he was approaching his graduation from UC Berkeley that he finally started to see himself as a scientist. Up until then, it was about the challenge of succeeding and doing well and solving puzzles, he says. But then I started to think of myself as a scientist. When Nilmeier graduated from UCSF with his PhD, he gave a copy of his dissertation to both Oakland Durant Rockridge Lodge and to California Lodge No. 1, which he joined in 2007. To him, being a scientist and being a Mason are much about the same things. Almost any project I work on is some very small facet of a larger problem, he says. I write codes and develop new algorithms, but Im connected to a larger purpose

that hopefully creates something people can use to make medicines. Nilmeier likens his work to the work of Freemasonry: It gives you a breadth of knowledge, a broader sensibility, and connects you to history through the traditions. It makes you more interested in things other than what youre doing specifically. Its about connecting you to a larger, vaster machine. Nilmeier is attuned to symbology. He loves, he says, that rituals are conducted in this beautiful, ornate language. He loves that Freemasonry gives members the space and the place to ponder larger things. He was gratified to discover that, like him, many of his brothers are something of selftaught historians, loving the same kind of nonfiction history books that he does.

thE sCiEnCE of frEEmasonry

And as far as hes concerned, the connection between science and Freemasonry isnt only in how both connect him to a greater whole. Theres a real history of science affecting Freemasonry and vice versa, he says. The connection is in the symbology, he says. Take, for instance, alchemy. The medieval science, whose magnum opus was the conversion of lead to gold, was replete with scientific symbols, and described real scientific phenomena, but added a layer of symbolism that was about the spirit. Nilmeier points to the process of sublimation. Its a real chemical process in
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Feature

seeking the greater whole not just knowledge thats new to the world, as he does in his day job, but also knowledge that is new to him through his practice of the craft. But that doesnt mean he talks about his pioneering work with most people. Nelson says he hasnt a clue about what his fellow Mason has been working on. He was always somewhat secretive about his work, he says. I dont even know what department he works for in the lab. which a material moves from one solid state to another without going through the intermediate step of becoming a liquid. The classic experiment is about forming crystals on a glass. Those crystals are turned to a vapor and then put on a cool glass. Crystals will then form on the glass, he says. But alchemical texts also talk about sublimation in terms of the growth of angels wings on a wall. They use this allegorical language to describe a physical process, another type of transformation. Thats what people mean when they talk about a sublime process. Likewise, he says, Freemasonry trades largely in allegorical symbols in the form of its working tools the compass, the square, the level. They are actual working tools for men in the trades, and symbols of steadiness, equality, and forthrightness. I see a similarity between how symbology is used in the alchemical tradition and in the Freemasonry tradition, he says. The coupling of images with symbols is wonderful. It brings a great richness to life. Indeed, for Nilmeier, the life of the mind is rich and broad, not limited to the everemerging map on his computer screen. In both the craft and science, his work is about

ProtEins for lifE

But Nilmeier is willing to share this: The point of mapping the proteins isnt just for intellectual discovery, but for specific purposes. Proteins are also a mystery. Scientists may have mapped the human genome, but they have yet to map the structures of each of the more than 100,000 serpentine, squiggly proteins. When weve unlocked their secrets, scientists will be able to turn proteins into something new, something useful something potentially lifesaving. For instance, some proteins in our bodies, guided by our genetic code, build cell walls. If Nilmeier can find a way into those proteins, he can stop cell wall creation. Normally that wouldnt be desirable. But when cells are growing out of control, as they do with cancer growths, its an advantage. It could be a cancer cure, says Nilmeier. Or if you think of it another way, we all have a whole bunch of proteins that do all kinds of things. If we can figure out where those proteins binding sites are and use those in the drugs were making, the drug can not only do its purpose but interact with all the other proteins favorably. That means, potentially, fewer toxic side effects for the medications we take now. And while Nelson says he would never characterize Nilmeier as anything but humble, Nilmeier is not afraid to say that he is charting new territory. I do think of myself as a pioneer, he says. I think most scientists do. Were doing new things and creating new knowledge and advancing our field.

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IN caLIFOrNIa

makING the GOLDeN State

MasoNic exPlorers helPed shaPe califorNia
by Cason Lane historical records, U.S. forces were attacked and surrounded by Californios Spanish and Mexican settlers, some of whom were born in California. Carson and two others successfully slipped through enemy lines and made a treacherous journey to San Diego to request reinforcements. When the war ended in 1847, Carson traveled to Washington, D.C., bearing disFreemasons from all walks of life explored, settled, fought for, and helped shape Californias early statehood. Go west, young man was a popular call to action in 19th century America, and thousands heeded the call. For many, the ultimate destination was California a promised land of sunshine, opportunity, and gold and Freemasons were among the throngs of adventure seekers and settlers. These Freemasons from all walks of life played key roles in Californias early history. Here are two of them. patches from California. President Polk commissioned him a lieutenant of the United States Mounted Rifles; however, Congress refused the commission due to Carsons lack of education. As a result, Carson returned to New Mexico, where he became a Mason at Montezuma Lodge No. 109 in Santa Fe.

The minister
Thomas Starr King, a minister at a Unitarian

The frontiersman
Christopher Kit Carson was a fur-trapper, explorer, and soldier who helped California win its independence from Mexico. According to historians, Carson led numerous trapping expeditions throughout the West from his base in Taos, N.M., and in 1842 he met John C. Frmont, a U.S. military officer and explorer. Frmont hired Carson to be his guide on an upcoming expedition along the Oregon Trail, which would be the first of several western journeys and the start of an important relationship. On June 14, 1846, Frmont and Carson became involved in the Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma, during which American settlers declared Californias independence from Mexico. Three weeks later, war with Mexico was made official when Commodore John D. Sloat, a Freemason, sailed into Monterey Bay and claimed California for the U.S. Carson fought throughout the Mexican-American war, but he is best known for his bravery at the Battle of San Pasqual in a small town northeast of San Diego. There, according to

church in San Francisco, was only in California for a brief time, but he had enormous impact on the future of both California and the U.S. According to a biography from the Starr King School for the Ministry, King was a transplant from Massachusetts who was known for his soaring oratory skill, his position as an abolitionist, and his advocacy for Californias siding with the Union during the Civil War. At speeches throughout the state, King reportedly draped the American flag around his pulpit and made a fiery case for preserving the Union. He also threw his support behind tycoon Leland Stanford, who won the governorship in 1861, solidifying Californias place in the Union.
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IN caLIFOrNIa

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Kings attention then turned to the health and needs of the Union army, which lacked proper provisions and medical care. He became an active fundraiser for the U.S. Sanitary Commission a predecessor to the American Red Cross and raised more than $1.25 million in California. An avid naturalist, King enjoyed exploring Californias vast wilderness. In fact, according to the essay Thomas Starr King: Apostle of Liberty, Brother of the Craft by Brother Adam G. Kendall, King successfully lobbied for the protection of Yosemite Valley. In 1864, President Lincoln designated 20,000 acres for public use. Kendall adds that King, a member of Oriental Lodge No. 144 in San Francisco (now Phoenix Lodge No. 144), served as grand orator of the Grand Lodge of California in 1863. When King died in 1864 from diphtheria, the state legislature adjourned for three days of mourning and flew its flags at halfstaff, according to the Starr King School for the Ministry. More than 20,000 people reportedly paid tribute to King as he lay in state, his coffin draped in an American flag. Posthumously, King was voted as one of Californias greatest heroes by the state legislature and had a Yosemite mountain named in his honor.

e B extRa
Visit freemason.org to learn about two other important explorers and California Masons, John Townsend and William H. Eddy.

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hIStOry

GateWay tO maSONry
the role of leWis aNd clark iN freeMasoNrys WestWard exPaNsioN
by Cason Lane When the expedition returned from the Western wilderness in the fall of 1806, Lewis and Clark received land grants in the new Louisiana Territory, which stretched more than 800,000 square miles from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west, and from the Canadian border in the north to the tip of Louisiana in the south. The two heroes also received prestigious appointments: Lewis was named governor of the Louisiana Territory, and Clark was eventually appointed

i n 1804, Fr e e masons West oF th e m iss iss i ppi m i g h t h av e b e e n c o u n t e d o n t W o h a n d s. F o u r y e a r s l at e r, t h e r e W e r e t Wo lo d g e s i n t h e t e r r i to ry, a n d by 1817, t h e r e Was a g ran d lodg e, too. th is Weste r n e x pa n s i o n o F F r e e m as o n ry, c h r o n i c l e d by m as o n i c au t h o r r ay v. d e n s loW, Wa s d u e i n pa rt to t h e e a r ly e F F o rts o F m e r i W e t h e r l eW i s a n d W i l l i a m c l a r k .

brigadier general for the upper Louisiana Territory. The two were successful not only in blazing new trade routes and opening land for settlement, but also in paving the way for Freemasonrys expansion into the Western U.S.

Charting new territory

According to the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, Meriwether Lewis was a 27-year-old Mason and captain in the U.S. military when President Thomas Jefferson called him in 1801 to serve as his personal secretary and aide. Two years later, Jefferson tapped Lewis to lead the Corps of Discovery expedition. The goals of the expedition were to explore the uncharted land northwest of the Mississippi River, much of which the U.S. had recently acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, and locate a northwest water route to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis asked William Clark, a lieutenant he had served with in battle, to join the expedition as cocommander, and in 1804 they set out from Illinois to explore the Pacific Coast.

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Masonry in a new land

After becoming governor, Lewis turned his attention to local Masonry. A member of Scribe of the Door to Virtue Lodge No. 44 in Albemarle County, Va., Lewis now joined a small group of fellow Masons to establish a lodge in St. Louis. In 1808, he wrote the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania requesting a lodge charter. Meriwether Lewis was a name to conjure with and no time was lost by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, writes Denslow in Territorial Freemasonry: The Story of Freemasonry and the Louisiana Purchase. Six days after the letter was written, the much desired warrant was on its way to its destination, where the little band of eleven Master Masons waited to receive it. With the charter granted, St. Louis Lodge No. 111 was established. Lewis became its first worshipful master, and Clark

joined the lodge in the fall of 1809. Though St. Louis Lodge No. 111 was well known due to the fame of its members, it was not the first lodge west of the Mississippi.

According to Denslow, that honor belonged to Louisiana Lodge No. 109, which was established in 1807 in St. Genevieve, a settlement on the west bank of the Mississippi that later became part of Missouri.
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hIStOry

The great Masonic colonizer

Denslow writes that the St. Louis Lodge gradually disbanded following Lewis untimely death in 1809 and the War of 1812, in which many Masons fought. However, in 1815, the Grand Lodge of Tennessee granted a charter for a new lodge in St. Louis: Missouri Lodge No. 12. Clark was among the members, and he reportedly held many lodge meetings in his home.

Shortly after Missouri became the 24th state in 1801, Denslow writes, the Grand Lodge of Missouri was established, which eased the formation of lodges in Missouri and other territories west of the Mississippi. The Grand Lodge of Missouri proved to be the great Masonic colonizer, granting charters to its members, which were carried over land and sea to the furthermost borders of the Fatherland, Denslow writes. The Santa Fe and Oregon trails were dotted with members of the fraternity.

Masonic Mystery: The Death of Meriwether Lewis

In October 1809, meriwether Lewis, then governor of the Louisiana territory, set out for Washington, D.c., from St. Louis. While traveling through tennessee on the Natchez trace, Lewis and his small entourage stopped at a local inn for the night. hours later, Lewis was dead from gunshot wounds. according to historian ellen baumlers article the masonic apron of meriwether Lewis and the Legacy of masonry in montana, there were no eyewitnesses, so the circumstances of the death remain a heated debate. While many scholars insist that Lewis committed suicide, there is ample evidence to suggest murder, baumler writes. baumler cites a story passed down through the Lewis family. as the story goes, meriwether Lewis had his masonic apron with him on his journey, possibly even in his pocket when he died. his silk and linen apron was decorated with hand-painted masonic symbols, including the two pillars, an hourglass, and the all-seeing eye. but the aprons most notable feature might be the bloodstains on the front. In the 1970s, lab tests identified the stains as deer blood and human blood, which has not been linked to Lewis. baumler also provides accounts of two incidents that further fuel the murder theory. the first was in 1848, when the state of tennessee initiated plans for a gravesite memorial. Lewis body was partially exhumed so it could be identified and examined by the memorial committee. at the time, the committee determined the cause of death to be assassination, though no reason for this judgment was given. the second incident was in 1928, when an accidental exhumation of Lewis remains revealed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the back of Lewis skull. though a request was made in 1996 to exhume and examine Lewis remains, the National Park Service denied it. While the facts about his death might never be known, there is no doubt about Lewis important role in american and masonic history. today, Lewis is memorialized with a monument along the Natchez trace Parkway in tennessee. the apron, passed down from one Lewis generation to the next and from collector to collector is now a treasured possession of the masonic Grand Lodge of montana museum.

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maSONIc aSSIStaNce

reaL aDveNture
the true stories aNd extraordiNary tales of three hoMes resideNts
by Laura Normand Rosen walked 150 miles to freedom. Occasionally I had a companion. Usually I was on my own. Everybody was on their own, Rosen says. Finally, he met up with American soldiers. He was free. I was lucky to be alive, Rosen says. Later as I grew older and had more sense, I thought to myself: So I wanted to escape, but what then where was I going to go? At the Masonic Home at Covina, three residents whose lives have spanned continents, cultures, and remarkable events provide inspiration to future generations. They are seen as explorers because of their adventurous spirits, and their ability to adapt to whatever new and difficult circumstances befell them. These are not carefree travel tales; they are stories about fighting for the right to explore another day, and a better future.
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How would I find food, shelter? Prisoners and soldiers dont think about those things.

Walk to freedom
Covina resident David Rosen describes his life as though he is analyzing the emergence of the Federalist party calm, thoughtful, matter-of-fact. Its a manner that befits his former career as a college political science professor. But this is no account from a history book. Its the story of his survival. Rosen was born and raised in South Africa. At age 19, with World War II raging, he joined the military. He was captured by Italian forces in North Africa, and spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war: in Italy until the countrys collapse, then in a German camp along the border of Germany and Poland. Rosen attempted escape several times. Each time, he was recaptured. Each time, he resolved to try again. I decided that I was going to escape and meet up with the Allies, Rosen says. At last, in a moment of chaos in the camp, he was able to slip away undetected. After three and a half years, he had escaped.
david Rosen spent MoRe than thRee yeaRs as a pRisoneR of waR, until his BRave escape.

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maSONIc aSSIStaNce

Eventually, Rosen moved to the United States. A member of Joseph L. Shell Daylight Lodge No. 837, he is the first known member of his family to join the fraternity. When asked what kept him going during his imprisonment and on the long walk to freedom Rosen says simply, One doesnt think like that. Its only later, when I reflect on it, that I wonder how I did it.

Culture chameleon
When John Lissenberg was 19, World War II wrenched him from his home in the Netherlands. Germany had invaded, and Lissenberg was forced into Germany, where he worked as a prisoner for the Nazis. He says that if he hadnt been taken to Germany, he likely would not have survived. Back in the German-occupied Netherlands, where Lissenbergs mother still lived, citizens had been cut off from food and fuel shipments. By order of President Truman, American bombers airlifted food and supplies to them. The Dutch are eternally grateful to the Americans, Lissenberg says. And my mother, who was very patriotic Dutch, loved America after that. After the war, Lissenberg followed a job opportunity to Australia, where he lived for nearly 17 years, at first in Sydney, and then in the seaside town of Wollongong. (In Aborigine, Wollongong means Where the mountain meets the sea.) There, he worked for Australia Iron and Steel, and used his knowledge of the English, German, and Polish languages to help recruit new employees. He lived and worked alongside Aboriginal people, and soaked up the culture, describing the Australians he met as all very jolly, good people. But in the end, mom knew best. My mother didnt like getting letters from Australia. She kept telling me to go to America, Lissenberg says. He followed her advice in 1965, and shortly after became a U.S. citizen. Lissenberg, who is a member of Menifee Valley Lodge No. 289, found Masonry in Australia, but couldnt join because he
John lissenBeRG was Raised in the netheRlands, suRvived nazi-occupied GeRMany, and lived aMonG aBoRiGines.

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wasnt a citizen. When he submitted his Masonic application in California, he included a letter of recommendation from a lodge in Australia. Today Lissenberg lives at the Masonic Home at Covina. He much prefers American coffee to Australias, but finds this countrys tea too weak. One of the Homes staff knows how he likes it, and prepares a special brew for him at mealtime. On days that she doesnt work, he brews it himself, extra strong.

the Arab passengers extensive luggage rolled in blankets and roped into a 5-foot heap atop the bus raining down at every pothole. His favorite city is Brussels, where the streets are sparkling clean and the locals are the most partying bunch of people youve ever seen. Riedel, a member of Sunnyside Lodge No. 577, became a Mason in 1976. He was inspired by his father and older brother,

Five continents at a time

When the Baghdad nuclear plant was bombed in 1981, Covina resident Robert Riedel was there. Once, on a flight to Paris, his plane made an emergency landing in politically volatile Syria and he didnt have a Visa. He was threatened by Peruvian Indians, and out-bluffed a would-be extortionist at the Jordan airport. I was accustomed to having guns pointed at my head, Riedel says drily. All part of the job for this chemical engineer and nuclear physicist. Riedel started out designing chemical plants, and moved up the ranks to project manager, overseeing the design and construction of chemical processing plants all over the globe. At one time, he was in charge of six major projects on five continents. Although his work schedule didnt allow much time for traditional tourist activities, Riedel still saw the sights, in his own way. Every morning, no matter what the city or country, hed walk from his hotel to the job site. At the end of the day, hed take a different route back. Even when like in Mexico City his hotel was seven miles away. Riedels stories paint a vivid picture of far-off cultures. He was evacuated from Iraq via 16-hour bus ride across the desert, with

both Masons. We say that Masonry makes a good man better, Riedel says. I saw that with my dad. I deeply believed in it.

fRoM the deseRts of iRaq to the valleys of peRu, RoBeRt Riedel has woRKed in countRies acRoss the GloBe and he has the stoRies to pRove it.

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Connecting with Masonic Assistance

m a S O N I c S e N I O r O u t r e ac h Masonic Senior Outreach, a program of the Masonic Homes of California, provides the senior members of our fraternal family access to the services and resources they need to stay healthy and safe in their homes or in retirement facilities in their home communities. These services include: * Information and referrals to community-based senior providers throughout California * Ongoing care management at no cost * Financial support Masonic Senior Outreach also provides interim financial and care support to those who are on the waiting list for the Masonic Homes of California. Contact us at 888/466-3642 or masonicassistance@mhcuc.org. m a S O N I c Fa m I Ly O u t r e ac h Masonic Family Outreach support services are available to California Masons and their families who need help dealing with todays complex issues, such as the impact of divorce, the stresses of a special needs child, job loss, and other significant life challenges.

Our case management services are broad, flexible, and able to serve families in their own communities throughout the state. If you are in need of support or know of a family in distress, contact us at 888/466-3642 or masonicassistance@mhcuc.org. m a S O N I c c e N t e r F O r yO u t h a N D Fa m I L I e S The Masonic Center for Youth and Families provides integrated psychological services to youth ages 4 to 17 struggling with behavioral, academic, emotional, or social difficulties. To learn more about MCYAF, visit mcyaf.org or call 877/488-6293. ac ac I a c r e e k To learn more about Acacia Creek, our new senior living community in Union City, visit acaciacreek.org or call 877/902-7555. S tay I N F O r m e D You may request a presentation be made at a lodge meeting about the Masonic Homes and Outreach programs by contacting Masonic Assistance at 888/466-3642 or masonicassistance@mhcuc.org. vISIt the hOmeS Arrange a private or group tour to get a firsthand look at residential services on our two campuses. Be sure to call ahead (even if on the same day) so we can announce your arrival at the front security gate and make proper tour arrangements. Contact the Home at Union City at 510/471-3434 and the Home at Covina at 626/251-2232.

m a s o n i c a s s i s ta n c e
F r at e r N a L car e baSe D ON m aSONIc vaLue S
We support and serve the whole family masonic Homes of California masonic senior outreach masonic family outreach masonic Center for Youth and families call
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888/466-3642

for information and support

granD LoDge f & am

1111 CaLIfornIa sTreeT

of

CaLIfornIa

san franCIsCo, CaLIfornIa 94108

PerIoDICaLs PosTage

PaID
aT san franCIsCo Ca anD aT aDDITIonaL maILIng offICes

GraND maSterS PrOject

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th e Fac tS are StartLI NG

2012

W e W I LL turN th e PaGe FO r

chILD LIter acy I N c a LI FOr N Ia

The vast majority of low-income families dont have a single book in their homes California ranks near the bottom of the United States for child literacy 90% of children who cannot read at grade level by 3rd grade will never catch up Together, the Masons of California and Raising A Reader will make a profound difference in child literacy for those who need it most: kindergartners in Californias lowest-performing public schools, who are at the highest risk for educational failure. We will circulate childrens books to homes, engage families in shared reading of those books, and help thousands of children develop reading readiness skills. Your generous contributions will support our goal to significantly improve child literacy in California, changing the lives of thousands of vulnerable children.

tO cO NtrI but e, cON tact the OFFIce OF PhILa N thr OPy at 41 5/292-9117 Or DavILa @Fr eemaSON .Or G