One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Freemasonry

The Real Story of the Masonic Lodge on the Moon.

When Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969, they took more than just “one small step for man.” Unbeknownst to the millions watching this historic event unfold live on television, Bro∴  Aldrin, a member of Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 in Texas, was also taking a giant leap for Freemasonry. In his personal belongings, Aldrin carried a Special Deputation from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas A∴F∴ & A∴ M∴, J. Guy Smith. This document granted Aldrin the authority to claim Masonic Territorial Jurisdiction for the the Grand Lodge of Texas A∴F∴ & A∴ M∴ on the entirety of the Moon, and to establish the first ever lunar Lodge – Tranquility Lodge No. 2000, named after the Mare Tranquillitatis where Apollo 11 made its momentous landing. The Lodge is thus located at (8°30′N 31°24′E / 8.5°N 31.4°E) Moon coordinates.

But why was this Masonic mission kept under wraps at the time? And why, 50 years later, are many people still unaware of this fascinating footnote in the annals of both Masonic and space-faring history?

According to documents from the Grand Lodge of Texas, the plan was set in motion by then-Grand Master J. Guy Smith. Smith, a former Texas Highway Patrolman described as a “quiet and modest, but very efficient man,” saw the potential for Aldrin’s lunar mission to serve a greater purpose.

“Just as a Mason set foot on the Moon, can’t Masonry help solve some of today’s problems?” Smith wrote in a 1969 article. “Can’t our teachings of Charity and Brotherly Love be used to lead America out of its current dilemma?“

Indeed, 1969 was a tumultuous time in American and world history. The Vietnam War was raging, the Cold War had the world on the brink of nuclear annihilation, and social and political upheaval was the order of the day. In the midst of all this chaos, Smith saw Aldrin’s lunar mission as an opportunity to make a symbolic gesture of universal peace and harmony. And so, in the months leading up to the Apollo 11 mission, Smith quietly issued the Special Deputation, designating Aldrin as his official representative on the Moon. Aldrin was directed to carry out a Masonic ritual establishing a new lodge on the lunar surface and return an account of his actions.

On July 20, after the dramatic lunar landing and the tense minutes making sure the module hadn’t landed on an unstable surface, Aldrin pulled out the discrete Masonic items he had carried with him. In the cramped confines of the lunar module, he conducted a brief ceremony, thereby establishing Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 as the first – and so far only – Masonic lodge on another celestial body. While the details of this ceremony have remained discreet over the years (as is often the case with Masonic rituals), what we do know is that Aldrin claimed the Moon as being under the territorial jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Following Masonic tradition, the number 2000 was chosen for the lodge, as it was believed that by the year 2000 there would be a functioning lodge on the Moon where Masons could meet regularly.

This might seem like an outlandish notion today, but in the heady days of the Apollo missions, anything seemed possible. Many believed that by the turn of the millennium, lunar colonies would be well-established, and a quick trip to the Moon would be no more extraordinary than a flight across the country. Of course, history took a different trajectory. The Apollo program was scaled back, and the last manned mission to the Moon was Apollo 17 in 1972. The dream of lunar colonies and casual trips to the Moon faded, and with it, the vision of a fully operational Tranquility Lodge No. 2000.

However, the lodge was not forgotten. In the year 2000, in honor of the Texas Grand Lodge’s vision, and to commemorate Aldrin’s historic Masonic act, the Grand Lodge of Texas officially chartered Tranquility Lodge No. 2000. While the lodge doesn’t have a physical presence on the Moon (yet), it operates as a regular lodge under the Grand Lodge of Texas A∴F∴ & A∴ M∴, with a special focus on promoting Masonic principles and supporting space exploration.

Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 is what’s known as an “Affinity Lodge” in Masonic parlance. Rather than being tied to a specific geographic location, these lodges bring together Masons with a common interest or profession. In the case of Tranquility Lodge, that shared passion is space exploration and the ideals of universal harmony and brotherhood that Aldrin’s symbolic gesture represented.

Membership in Tranquility Lodge is open to Masons from all recognized lodges worldwide. The lodge meets quarterly in various cities across Texas, with an annual meeting held in July in Waco to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and Aldrin’s Masonic ceremony. At these meetings, members discuss not only Masonic business and principles, but also developments in space exploration and ways to support and promote space-related education and charitable endeavors.

One of the lodge’s primary missions is supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation of space explorers. The lodge also supports the Conrad Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting science education in honor of the late astronaut Pete Conrad.

But the lodge’s activities and membership extend far beyond Texas. With over 1,200 members worldwide, including Masons from as far afield as Germany, Japan, and Holland, Tranquility Lodge has become an international symbol of the universal scope of Masonic brotherhood. Among the lodge’s most prized possessions is the original “special deputation” carried to the Moon by Aldrin. This historic document, bearing the signatures of Aldrin and then-Grand Master J. Guy Smith, is a tangible link to that extraordinary moment when Freemasonry reached beyond the confines of Earth.

As Bro∴ Aldrin himself has said, “The goal of going into space fits precisely into our principles of upholding the values of science and education. Civilization absolutely depends on it, constantly investigating, discovering new things. If we ever stop doing that, we’re going to go backwards.“

This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000. While the lodge may not yet have a physical presence on the Moon, it stands as a powerful symbol of the Masonic commitment to progress, knowledge, and universal brotherhood. In an era where space travel is once again capturing the public imagination, with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin vying to make space tourism a reality, the dream of a functioning Masonic lodge on the Moon may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed. Who knows – perhaps one day, Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 will hold its meetings in a lunar temple, with visiting brothers from Earth mingling with Masons from lunar colonies and passing spacecraft.

Until then, the lodge continues its work here on Earth, keeping alive the spirit of exploration, the pursuit of knowledge, and the ideal of universal brotherhood that Buzz Aldrin embodied when he took that giant leap for Freemasonry a little more than half a century ago. As we celebrate the golden anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, let us also remember this little-known piece of Masonic history. Let us honor the vision of those like Grand Master J. Guy Smith and Bro∴ Buzz Aldrin, who saw in the exploration of space an opportunity to spread the light of Freemasonry to new frontiers.

And let us, like the brothers of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000, continue to reach for the stars, both in our personal lives and in our shared quest for a better, more harmonious world. For as every Mason knows, the journey towards light and truth is an eternal one, whether on the familiar paths of Earth or in the uncharted territories of the cosmic void.

In the immortal words of Bro∴ Buzz Aldrin, as he stepped onto the lunar surface: “Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation.” May we all strive to see the beauty and grandeur in the world around us, and in the vast potential of the human spirit. And may the example of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 inspire us to keep exploring, keep seeking, and keep building bridges of brotherhood, to the Moon and beyond. As brothers we should never forget to Dream Big.

By Antony R.B. Augay

Robert Burns Lodge 59.