06/24/2020
THE MASONIC SUMMER FESTIVAL ON
THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST:
Today (June 24) is the Feast Day of the first Holy Saint John revered in Masonic Ritual – John the Baptist. Several theories exist as to why Masons (and the original Knights Templar) commemorate the Feast of St. John the Baptist – from the date’s close proximity to the Summer Solstice, to the fact that early Masonic Lodges were called St. John’s Lodges. Masonic Ritual even declares that Masons come from Lodges dedicated to the Holy Saints John. It is for this reason why Lodges purposely align the dates of their important undertakings to the Feast of St. John. In fact, today marks the anniversary of the formation of the original Grand Lodge of London in 1717, which years later became the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). It adopted the said date as one of its Feast Days, calling it the SUMMER FESTIVAL.
Some say that prior to 1717, the "ancient grand lodges" held only annual General Assemblies of the Craft, and that a certain Grand Master Inigo Jones instituted quarterly communications at the beginning of the 17th century, which were continued by his successors, the Earl of Pembroke and Sir Christopher Wren, until the infirmities of the latter compelled him to disregard these communication dates (see Constitutions, 1738). Then on June 24, 1717, marking the beginning of the modern-day Grand Lodge system, a provision was said to have been made for the resumption of the said communication dates, one of them being the Summer Festival of June 24th.
May you serve with the passionate zeal of Saint John the Baptist and the learned reason of Saint John the Evangelist.
“HAPPY SUMMER FESIVAL AND FEAST OF THE HOLY SAINT JOHN” to all initiated Masons of the Ancient Craft Lodge, whether Apprentice, Fellow, or Master.
