06/24/2023
Today June 24, Freemasons around the world celebrate the Feast of St. John Baptist.
A curious thing for a non-sectarian group to do. Freemasonry historically acknowledges St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist as its patron saints, reveres their memory, points to their exemplary lives in its ritualistic work, and dedicates its Lodges to them.
It was the custom of organizations of workmen in medieval times to adopt a patron saint. Operative Masons selected St. John the Baptist as their patron because of his many virtues.
It is believed That St. John the Evangelist was added as a second patron saint a great many years later for the same reason, probably in the later part of the sixteenth century.
