Not Just a Man.
A Mason.
A Freemason is committed to bettering himself, his community, and the world. He is on a journey of self-discovery believing in something greater than himself, a journey in which he will be supported by other good men.
Become the best version of you. Answer the call. Begin the journey.

Our Mission & Vision
What Is Masonry?
Masonry, also known as “Freemasonry,” is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. Its main purpose is to make good men better.
Masons are men of charity and good works, respected leaders of their communities. Many of our nations’s founding fathers were Masons, including thirteen signers of the Constitution. Fourteen U.S. Presidents were brothers of the craft, beginning with George Washington. Over four-million Masons in the U.S., from diverse religious, professional, and political backgrounds, have built this fraternity on the cornerstones of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love.
Our Mission
The Freemasons of South Dakota engage and inspire good men, who believe in a Supreme Being, to live according to Masonic tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Our mission is guided by the core values of our fraternity:
- Freedom: Freemasons champion the liberties and values outlined in the founding documents of the United States of America.
- Integrity: Freemasons strive to be honest, truthful and reliable, living in a just and upright manner.
- Tolerance: Freemasons embrace diversity of opinion, religious, ethnic, cultural, social, and educational differences.
Organization
Each Mason belongs to a local lodge, sometimes called a “Blue Lodge.” The elected chairman of the local lodge is called the “Master of the Lodge.” Local lodges are organized into state groups, known as “Grand Lodges.”
The Blue Lodge confers three sequential degrees: the Entered Apprentice degree, the Fellowcraft degree, and the Master Mason degree.
There are many other Masonic bodies, such as the Scottish Rite, York Rite, the Shriners, Job’s Daughters, DeMolay, Eastern Star, and Rainbow for Girls. Some of these affiliated bodies confer degrees. For example, the Scottish Rite confers degrees 4 through 32, and an honorary 33rd degree for special service. Although these degrees are numerically greater than the 3rd degree conferred by the Blue Lodge, they are not superior degrees. As Brother Mitchell M. Waring wrote in the Scottish Rite Journal (January 2003):
“No degree is higher than a Master Mason…. They amplify the Masonic story, add to knowledge, and increase interest. But, as they cannot make more complete that which is already perfect, they cannot be considered ‛higher’ than the Master Mason Degree.”
Masonic Symbols
One goal of Masonry is to make good men better men. To accomplish this, Masonry teaches morals and virtues through the use of symbols, metaphors, and allegories.
To newcomers, these symbols seem strange and even unsettling, but I assure you that they have no sinister purpose. For example, you have probably seen a single eye on Masonic decorations. This eye is intended to remind us that our Creator watches over us. It is a symbol, or metaphor, of God’s omnipresence; it is not an image of God, nor is does it represent anything deeper than that. The use of this symbol is common in many cultures and many religions. In slightly different forms, it appears on the American dollar bill, in stained glass windows in many European churches, and in Latin American Christmas decorations.
This — with other symbols, metaphors, and allegories — is intended to make you a better man, reverent to your Creator, helpful to the Brotherhood of Man, and mindful of the virtues of temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice.
Masonic Family Entities
DeMolay

DeMolay in South Dakota…a Bright New Opportunity…for Your Young Men
Job’s Daughters

York Rite

Order of the Eastern Star in South Dakota
The Order of the Eastern Star is a Masonically-related fraternity of women and men banded together by spiritual values and beliefs which exemplify the noble characteristics of charity, truth and kindness to all mankind. This Fraternity is international and has about one million members worldwide. It is not a secret organization and not a part of the Masonic Fraternity. The Order is also not a religion and does not practice any religious dogma. Membership eligibility, however, is based on a Masonic affiliation or relationship, and the belief in the existence of a Supreme Being. In this country, the Christian Bible rests upon an altar within the chapter room. In other countries, books of other religious faiths may be used.
South Dakota Lodge of Masonic Research

South Dakota Rainbow for Girls
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is the only youth club that teaches what matters most — leadership, confidence, and citizenship.
Every day, across the globe, hundreds of thousands of girls come together to laugh, share, and grow through fun events and challenging workshops designed to empower girls of all ages. Rainbow Girls volunteer for their community and travel around the world, visiting other clubs and making lots of new friends. Along the way, they gather invaluable life skills that help them become the best daughter, sister, student, and friend they can be. There is a local chapter in Redfield, SD.
History
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls was founded in 1922, by William Mark Sexson, a Christian minister and active member of the Masonic Lodge. The Rev. Sexson spent his life dedicated to both fraternal organizations, and his ministry. He saw the need for an organization for young women who were from a Masonic background. Today, membership is open to any girl regardless of Masonic affiliation. Rainbow helps prepare today’s young women to be tomorrow’s leaders.
Former Rainbow girls include Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner; astronaut Dorothy “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger; actresses Lee Merriwether, Ruth Buzzi, and Dawn Wells; Bobbie Shunk Gaunt, first woman president and CEO of Ford Motor Co. of Canada; State Senator Carol Hudkins; and U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, just to name a few.
What Is Rainbow?
Rainbow is a nonprofit organization that strives to give girls the tools, training, and encouragement to let their individual spirits shine bright. By providing members with a safe, fun, caring environment where responsible, older girls can interact and mentor younger girls through family involvement.
Rainbow Girls are busy!
By participating in fun events and activities, keeping up with new friends, and traveling to different cities and states, members experience the excitement of what a productive life has to offer.
Rainbow Girls love a challenge!
From volunteering for different charities, to working to improve their public speaking, to mastering the lessons of Rainbow, members tackle lots of challenging hurdles but ultimately walk away with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Rainbow Girls are ready for life!
Whether they dream of becoming a successful veterinarian, a talented musician, or a loving mother, Rainbow Girls learn that they can accomplish anything and that they can make a difference.