Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge #111 F&AM

09/09/2026

September stated meeting

09/07/2026

Honoring the hands that build, care, protect, and serve. 🛠️🩺🇺🇸

Happy Labor Day from Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge No. 111! Wishing everyone in Butte County a restful and safe holiday with family and friends.

09/07/2026

Brethren of Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge #111 attended the outdoor degree of Table Mountain Lodge #124 at Paradise CA

09/07/2026

"My Solemn Obligation"

It is the moral promise a candidate makes at the altar upon the Volume of Sacred Law to officially become a Mason. Entered into of his own free will, it is an indelible covenant of personal honor binding his conscience before God.

What It Entails:

* Fraternal Brotherhood: A promise to help, support, and defend fellow Masons and their families in times of need.

* Moral Integrity: A commitment to live by truth, practice self-control, and act with honesty in all personal and professional dealings.

* Discretion and Loyalty: A pledge to keep lawful confidences and preserve the traditional secrets and heritage of the Craft.

It is not merely a vow made in a Lodge room it is a lifelong compass meant to guide a Mason's character and actions in the outside world.

09/05/2026

I AM A MASON AND I BELIEVE IN GOD!

That conviction is the very bedrock upon which the Craft is built.

In regular Freemasonry, a sincere belief in the Grand Architect of the Universe isn't just a requirement it is the primary landmark and the foundation of everything that follows. From the moment an initiate first steps into the Lodge, the first lesson taught is that when your trust is placed in God, your faith is well-founded, and no true danger can ensue when guided by that Light.

It is what transforms simple geometry and builder's tools into profound symbols of moral living. The Square teaches morality, the Plumb uprightness, and the Level equality, but it is faith that breathes purpose into those virtues. It anchors the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, reminding every Brother that we are all accountable to something far greater than ourselves.

Stand firm in that faith, keep your passions within due bounds, and continue to let your light shine through your actions.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

STATED MEETING ALERT‼️

09/03/2026

Brother George F. Jones made a lasting mark on early Chico as both a prominent pioneer businessman and an active leader in the local fraternal community. Born in New Hampshire in 1828, he arrived in California during the Gold Rush era and eventually settled in Butte County.

Contributions to Civic Life & Business

* First Downtown Hardware Enterprise: In the late 1860s and early 1870s, Jones established the George F. Jones Hardware Store at the corner of 1st Street and Broadway. It catered heavily to the agricultural needs of early settlers, supplying tools, implements, buggies, and hardware essential to developing the Sacramento Valley.

* Building a Downtown Landmark: When constructing his hardware store in 1871, Jones partnered with local fraternal groups to add a second story. That 150+ year-old brick building stands today at 105 Broadway as Collier Hardware—Chico's oldest continuously operated commercial business and a designated downtown landmark.

Fraternal & Masonic Legacy

* Providing a Home for Chico Lodge No. 111: When Chico Masonic Lodge No. 111 needed a new meeting space after outgrowing its original room above John Bidwell’s general store, Brother George F. Jones proposed adding the upper level to his building. The Lodge (along with the Odd Fellows) raised $10,840 to construct the second story.

* The "Blue Room" Connection: Chico Lodge No. 111 met in the second-floor lodge room of the Jones Hardware Building from 1871 until 1908. Today, that historic second-floor space houses the Blue Room Theatre, a nod to the Masonic "Blue Lodge" degree work that occurred in the room for nearly four decades.

* Broader Fraternal Leadership: A Mason since age 21, Jones was active across multiple fraternal organizations throughout Butte County, helping foster the strong sense of community and civic charity that defined early Northern California history.

09/03/2026

In a Masonic Blue Lodge, officers are divided into Elected Officers (voted on annually by the lodge) and Appointed Officers (selected by the incoming Worshipful Master). Specific titles and minor duties can vary slightly depending on the Grand Lodge jurisdiction, but the core hierarchy remains universal.

♦️ELECTED OFFICERS
(The Progressive Line & Financial Officers)

* Worshipful Master (WM)
* Jewel: Square
* Station: East
* Duties: Presides over all lodge meetings, ritual work, and business affairs. Represents the lodge to the Grand Lodge and holds ultimate authority for the lodge's operation during his term.

* Senior Warden (SW)
* Jewel: Level
* Station: West
* Duties: Second-in-command. Assists the Master, presides in his absence, and is responsible for managing the lodge’s overall harmony and administrative continuity.

* Junior Warden (JW)
* Jewel: Plumb
* Station: South
* Duties: Third officer in line. Oversees the lodge during "Refreshment" (social hours and meals) and supervises candidate progression and ritual education.

* Treasurer
* Jewel: Crossed Keys
* Station: Near the Secretary (usually East/South)
* Duties: Manages the lodge’s financial accounts, deposits funds, pays authorized bills, and presents annual financial audits.

* Secretary
* Jewel: Crossed Quills
* Station: Near the Worshipful Master (East/North)
* Duties: Handles all official correspondence, records meeting minutes, manages membership dues, collects payments, and issues official notices.

♦️APPOINTED OFFICERS

* Senior Deacon (SD)
* Jewel: Square and Compasses with a Sun
* Station: In front of the Senior Warden (West) or near the East
* Duties: Acts as the Worshipful Master’s primary messenger on the lodge floor and serves as the guide for candidates during degree ceremonies.

* Junior Deacon (JD)
* Jewel: Square and Compasses with a Moon
* Station: Inside the inner door (West)
* Duties: Serves as the Junior Warden’s messenger, carries communications between the Wardens, and guards the inner door of the lodge.

* Senior Steward & Junior Steward
* Jewel: Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty)
* Station: South / West (near the Junior Warden)
* Duties: Assist the Deacons and Junior Warden with lodge preparation, assist candidates before degrees, and help manage meals and refreshments.

* Chaplain
* Jewel: Open Book / Bible
* Station: Near the Worshipful Master
* Duties: Leads non-sectarian prayers during lodge openings, closings, and degree work.

* Marshal
* Jewel: Crossed Swords or Baton
* Station: Near the West/South
* Duties: Organizes official processions, introduces visiting dignitaries, and maintains protocol during formal events.

* Tiler (or Tyler)
* Jewel: Drawn Sword
* Station: Outside the outer door
* Duties: Guards the entrance to the lodge, ensures only properly qualified Brethren enter, and alerts the lodge of arriving members or visitors.

* Organist / Musician (Optional)
* Jewel: Lyre
* Station: Near the instrument
* Duties: Provides musical accompaniment for degree rituals and lodge ceremonies.