A Research lodge is a particular type of Masonic lodge which is devoted to Masonic research. It is a lodge, and as such has a charter from some Grand Lodge. However, it does not confer degrees, and restricts membership to Master Masons of some jurisdiction in amity with the jurisdiction that the research lodge is in. Related to research lodges are Masonic research societies, which serve the same purpose but function fundamentally differently. There are research lodges in most countries where Freemasonry exists.
The oldest research lodge is Quatuor Coronati No. 2076, founded in 1886 under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England. It accepts members from all over the world through its Correspondence Circle. A book of transactions called Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (which includes the papers given in the lodge) has been published every year since 1886.
Most research lodges have some type of transactions, proceedings, or even just a newsletter that is published regularly.
United States
California has five research lodges chartered under the Grand Lodge of California: The Northern California Research Lodge in San Francisco was chartered in 1940. The Southern California Research Lodge publishes a monthly magazine, "Fraternal Review" and meets quarterly at the South Pasadena Masonic Temple in Los Angeles County. The El Camino Research Lodge, located in Palo Alto, California The Orange County Research Lodge The Golden Compasses Research Lodge, based in Folsom, Sacramento County. Colorado has one research lodge: Research Lodge of Colorado, chartered in 1953 in Denver, and currently meets at the Park Hill Masonic Hall in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver. Connecticut is home to two research lodges: The Philosophic Lodge of Research, based in Cromwell The Masonic Lodge of Research No. 401, in New Haven Delaware Lodge of Research, in Wilmington The District of Columbia is home to the David A. MacWilliams, Sr. Research and Education Lodge, F&AM - Prince Hall Affiliated. Working under the Prince Hall Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, it is dedicated to the conduct of research and education about Freemasonry in general and Prince Hall Freemasonry. The Florida Lodge of Research, No. 999 - charter issued by the Grand Lodge of Florida. Georgia Lodge of Research - As well as Research Lodge #1 of Savannah. Illinois is home to the Illinois Lodge of Research, charted by the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Illinois in 1976. Indiana: The Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research (U.D.) - Indiana's only Lodge of Research. Usually meets in Indianapolis. The Iowa Research Lodge #2 Kentucky has two research lodges: The Ted Adams Lodge of Research in Paintsville The William O. Ware Lodge of Research in Covington. The Maine Lodge of Research - charter issued by the Grand Lodge of Maine, AF&AM in 1982. The Massachusetts Chapter of Research - notable in that it is chartered as a York Rite Royal Arch Chapter, and tends to focus on Chapter-specific research. There is also the Massachusetts Lodge of Research. Michigan has four research lodges chartered under the Grand Lodge of Michigan:
The Michigan Lodge of Research & Information No. 1, F&AM, which began as a conversation between Brothers Robert Osbourne and Donald Van Kirk in December 1982, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Michigan, F&AM, on May 29th, 1985. The lodge is located on the 5th floor of the historic Detroit Masonic Temple, the world's largest Masonic Temple. The Michigan Lodge of Research & Information No. 1 is the successor of the Masonic Library of Detroit, that operated from October 14th, 1882, to ca. December 1932.
Alexandria Lodge of Research & Study No. 2, F&AM. The lodge is located at the Grand Rapids Masonic Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Pythagoras Lodge of Research and Information No. 3, F&AM. The lodge is located at the Lansing Masonic Temple Association in Lansing, Mich.
Fiat Lux Lodge of Research and Education U.D., F&AM. The lodge is located at the Marquette Masonic Lodge in Marquette, Mich.