Why is St. John the Evangelist important to Freemasons?

The questions to consider.

Why is St. John the Evangelist important to Freemasons?  More importantly, why should he be important to you and to your Lodge? This paper will get you to consider your own personal answers to those questions.

A short history of patron saints and feast days

Adoption of patron saints by Lodges

Early History

Virtually all of the operative guilds of the Middle Ages had patron saints.  The Masonic guilds were no exception.  In each case the feast days for their patron saint became an important day for celebrations, installations etc.  It would appear that St. Thomas, early on, was often a patron saint of Operative Masonic Lodges.  The Regius Poem which dates to the turn of the 15^th Century implies that the Four Crowned Martyrs (Quatour Cornati) had a  role as patron saints.  One or the other of the Saints John are noted as patron saints of Lodges by the 17^th Century.

The two Saints John

 The two Saints John, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, were the Patron Saints of Freemasonry at the formation of the Grand Lodge of England on St. John the Baptist’s day June 24, 1717.  Lodges and Grand Lodges in the United States generally adopted that practice and it remains true today.  The adoption of one or both of them as Patron Saints by individual operative Masonic Lodges predates the formation of speculative Freemasonry. 

Historically the lodges in Scotland generally favored St. John the Evangelist and English lodges opted for Saint John the Baptist.  It appears that speculative lodges generally adopted Saint John the Baptist.  When the Grand Lodge of Scotland was formed in 1736 it overcame the potential dispute by adopting St. Andrew. 

The Saints John are logical choices for a fraternity dedicated to seeking light.  Their feast days occur near the summer and winter solstices (June 24 for St. John the Baptist and December 27 for St. John the Evangelist).  Also, important Masonic lessons can be drawn from their exemplary lives.

Celebration of the Feast Days by Freemasons

Unfortunately the celebration of these feast days no longer seems to have as much significance in the United States as it once had.  None-the-less, several Grand Lodges, including the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, still use the Feast Day of St. John the Evangelist for their Annual Communication and installation of officers.

In the United States during the 1700s these days were marked by major gatherings and feasting. In an article in Pietre Stones, George Washington is said to have made it a point to attend his Lodge’s celebrations of these two dates.  Large gatherings on these dates, even without Covid, seem to be occurring less often.

Many lodges still celebrate the Feast of St. John the Baptist in June of each year on St. John’s Sunday. However, the reduced attendance experienced by main-line churches and the decreased numbers of Masons have combined to reduce their significance.  It requires a solid relationship to be maintained by the Lodge and pastor of the church and that can be challenging.

Saint John the Evangelist

Who was St. John the Evangelist and why should he be important to Masons?

His writings

Our ancient Brethren would have known him as the “beloved disciple” who was the author of the Gospel of John, First and Second John and the Revelation of St. John the Divine.  This is the St. John the Evangelist to whom they chose to dedicate their Lodges.  Even if some of the modern criticism is correct and he is, in effect, a composite of several men named John, it makes little difference.  It is through these writings that we know him, and it is through these writings we find the basis for dedicating our Lodges to him. St. John is revered as an author with exceptional spiritual insight.  For this reason he is often pictured with an eagle as his symbol and is the patron saint of authors.

His life

St. John is thought to be the youngest of the disciples and is often pictured as a very young person. He was evidently the younger brother of James.  It is generally accepted that he is the only one of the 12 Disciples to have not died a violent martyrs’ death.  Instead in 94 A.D. he was banished to the Isle of Patmos.  St. John lived, by some accounts, to the age of 96, dying in the year 100.  If that is correct, and Jesus’ ministry took place at roughly 30 AD, he would have been about 26 during that ministry.

He did not flee when Jesus was arrested.  He apparently attended the trial by the Sanhedrin and was at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified.  At that point he was entrusted by Jesus with the care of St. Mary, Jesus mother.  The account of the Last Supper has him leaning on Jesus breast.  All of which would indicate that he had a special relationship with Jesus, consistent with him being the “beloved disciple”.

This special relationship and his presence at the foot of the cross would have been persuasive in according him a special position by our ancient Brethren in dedicating their lodges.  It also makes him a logical bookend to St. John the Baptist with one representing the beginning of Jesus public ministry and the other representing its conclusion.

His teachings

Based on his teachings and the example of his life, he is the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendships and authors. 

Who better to be a patron saint of Freemasonry than the patron saint of love, loyalty and friendships.  In addition, he is committed to seeking the light.  A few examples follow:

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, That God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1: 5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. …4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men….5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  John 1:1.

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:8 

These quotes are offered as examples of St. John’s use of light as a symbol of truth, brotherly love, and something to be sought after.  All of these are concepts that can resonate with Freemasons, even if they do not accept the Christian context in which St. John presents them.  They clearly would have resonated with our ancient Brethren.

Conclusion

The answer to the question “Why is St. John the Evangelist  important to Freemasons?”  is fourfold.

1. There is a long history of Masonic Lodges being dedicated to him. One that predates speculative Masonry.
2. His feast day near the winter solstice and his appearance at the cross are natural bookends to the feast day of St. John the Baptist near the summer solstice and his role at the beginning of Jesus public ministry.
3. His example of loyalty and the focus he placed on the importance of brotherhood and seeking and living within the light in his writings is consistent with focus we place on those same attributes.
4. His is the patron saint of Love, Loyalty and Friendships. All of these are values we treasure.

For every question we answer we raise several more to be explored.  Hopefully, this paper will inspire you to a fuller appreciation of those words  “dedicated to the holy Saints John”.   These are words we hear, but may not always listen to.  I respond to comments so please Post a Comment and request to receive notifications of new posts.

Remember, your mind is not a vessel to be filled, it is a flame to be kindled.  Stay curious, kindle that flame and have a great St. John the Evangelist’s feast day.