Freemasonry in Popular Culture: 1700 to Yesterday, Part 1 Exploring Freemasonry’s Influence on Popular Culture. The 13th International Conference on Freemasonry is returning to the campus of the University of California in Los Angeles on March 22, 2025, with a focus on “ Freemasonry in Popular Culture: 1700 to Yesterday, Part 1″. When Dr. Susan Mitchell Sommers, Chair of the International Conference of Freemasonry, issued the call for proposals for this conference, she hoped scholars would creatively interpret the theme of “Freemasonry in Popular Culture: 1700 to Yesterday.” The response exceeded expectations, delivering diverse and engaging perspectives. From its inception, Freemasonry has interwoven with popular culture—borrowing symbols, rituals, and myths while influencing countless other fraternal organizations. This cultural exchange, formalized during the rise of Grand Lodge Freemasonry in the 1720s, has shaped both masonic and non-masonic ...
