National Sojourners, Inc., has an unequaled Centennial history. Born of wartime requirements, the desire of displaced military Masons to seek each other\u2019s company, counsel, and aid continued to nurture the Order. Early in 1900, after the North Dakota Regiment departed the Philippines with its Field Lodge dispensation, a group of Masons organized an informal club and named it \u201cSojourners.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 1901, these Sojourners chartered Manila Lodge under the Grand Lodge of California. Captain Harry E. Stafford, 33\u00b0, an original Sojourner, was Chartering Master of Manila Lodge, and in 1913 he became the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines.<\/p>\n
The Philippine \u201cSojourners\u201d resurfaced in 1907, open to Masons who were not members of local Lodges. Within a year, it had 174 members from the U.S. and eight other countries. Many Philippine Sojourners eventually returned to the U.S. In 1917, a group of Masonic military officers stationed in Chicago organized the \u201cSojourners Club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sojourners Club, originally composed of U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and Coast and Geodetic Survey Officers (1917), began chartering Chapters on or near Army posts and Naval bases (1918), became National Sojourners Club (1919), became National Sojourners (1927), became National Sojourners, Incorporated (1931), added Air Force (1948), and added Space Force (2021).<\/p>\n
National Sojourners efforts focus on Americanism and Masonic activities.\u00a0 Patriotic activities include presentations, flag ceremonies, and other programs on national security and love of country, with focus on Youth. Our Bridge of Light Program directly supports Masonry by involving Sojourners in all Masonic activities, especially Blue Lodges.<\/p>\n