A Masonic Reflection for the Craft
Among the figures honored in Freemasonry, few speak as quietly – and as profoundly – as Saint John the Evangelist. Revered alongside Saint John the Baptist as one of the Two Holy Saints John, the Evangelist occupies a distinct place in Masonic symbolism: he is the apostle not of preparation or warning, but of illumination.
His writings, imagery, and feast day together form a coherent symbolic lesson – one especially meaningful to Masons laboring to build not only outward institutions, but the inner temple.
The Apostle of Light
The Gospel of John begins unlike any other:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God… In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
This opening is cosmic rather than historical. John does not begin with lineage or chronology, but with first principles. Light, in his Gospel, is not merely physical illumination – it is understanding, truth, and divine order. Darkness is not simply evil, but ignorance, confusion, and separation from meaning.
For Masons, this language is immediately familiar. The journey from darkness to Light is the central metaphor of the Craft. John’s Light is not seized through force or conquest; it is received through reflection, discipline, and love of truth.
The Eagle and the Elevated View
Christian tradition assigns each Gospel writer a symbol. John’s is the eagle – the bird that soars highest and looks directly into the sun. Symbolically, the eagle represents elevated understanding, contemplation, and vision beyond the immediate and material.
This elevated perspective aligns with Masonic teachings that urge us to rise above passions, prejudices, and distractions. The eagle does not deny the earth; it simply sees more of it, from a higher vantage.
In this sense, Saint John the Evangelist reminds Masons that wisdom is not merely accumulation of facts or ritual proficiency. It is the ability to perceive relationships, harmony, and meaning – to see the whole, not just the parts.
Saint John and the Balance of the Two Saints
In Masonic tradition, Saint John the Evangelist is paired with Saint John the Baptist. This pairing is not accidental.
- Saint John the Baptist represents moral rectitude, purification, and preparation.
- Saint John the Evangelist represents illumination, understanding, and spiritual insight.
Together, they form a balance: conduct and comprehension, discipline and wisdom, action and contemplation. Freemasonry, at its best, requires both. A Mason must live uprightly – but also understand why he lives as he does.
Without the Evangelist, morality risks becoming rigid. Without the Baptist, wisdom risks becoming abstract. The Craft stands between them.
The Winter Feast and the Triumph of Light
The Feast of Saint John the Evangelist is observed on December 27, in the heart of winter. In northern places – especially Alaska – this timing is powerfully symbolic. The longest nights remind us that Light is not seasonal sentiment; it is a principle affirmed precisely when darkness feels strongest.
This mirrors the Masonic lesson that Light is not dependent on circumstances. The work continues whether the world is bright or dim, orderly or chaotic. The Mason’s task is to keep the lamp trimmed, even when the night is long.
Love as the Foundation of Wisdom
John is often called the Beloved Disciple, and his writings return again and again to love – not as emotion, but as ordered relationship:
“He who does not love does not know God.”
In Masonic terms, love is not sentimentalism. It is brotherly regard, charity rightly understood, and recognition of the divine spark in others. John teaches that truth without love becomes harsh, while love without truth becomes unmoored. Wisdom requires both.
Building the Inner Temple
Ultimately, Saint John the Evangelist speaks to the Mason engaged in inner work. His message is contemplative, patient, and enduring. He reminds us that the Temple is not built in haste, nor is Light grasped all at once.
Stone by stone. Insight by insight. From darkness toward Light.
In honoring Saint John, Masons reaffirm their commitment to seek truth with humility, balance moral action with understanding, and cultivate wisdom that illuminates both mind and heart.