An Historical Presentation about St. John the Evangelist

First and foremost, who is Saint John the Evangelist? 

He is quite famous actually; he is the author of the Gospel of Saint John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.  He was the apostle John, a trusted disciple of Jesus Christ and a pillar of the new Christian Church after Christ’s death.  By trade, Saint John was a fisherman who later found his calling as one of Christ’s most trusted disciples.  John was the lone disciple to sit at the foot of the cross on Calvary with the Mother of Jesus, Mary and known as the beloved disciple. 

John together with Peter were the first to see the newly risen Christ and he was the first to believe that Christ was truly raised from the dead.  After the Ascension, John and Peter played a prominent role in the founding of the Christian Church.  Saint John was very active in spreading the word of Christianity; it is believed that he traveled as far as Asia Minor to deliver the word of his Lord.  His acts earned him, along with Peter and James , the title of “Pillar of the Church”.  It refers to the recognition which his Apostolic preaching of a Gospel free from the law received from these three, the most prominent men of the old Mother-Church at Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9).

Traditionally, the Christian church believed that the Gospel, the three epistles and the Book of Revelations (which bears his name) were written by Saint John.  The actuality of that is disputed by historians and some theologians, but no solid evidence supports either claim.  (wikipedia)

The date of his death cannot be established, but it is widely believed that he lived to an old age at Ephesus (modern day Turkey) during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan , which is circa 100 A.D.   (Fonck)

Saint John is the patron saint of many things.  It is written that he is the Apostle of Charity and the patron saint of friendships, theologians, writers, and of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Wisconsin.  (Saints.spqn.com)  But most importantly since the 16^th century, he was adopted as the second patron saint of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  “The "Old Charges" of Freemasonry speak of St. John, the Evangelist, as a "Saint of the Craft."  He was constantly admonishing the cultivation of brotherly love.  Of all the gospels, The Gospel of St. John is the most Masonic for the central theme is LIGHT.  It portrays God as "the Light of the World."” (themasonictrowel.com)

The Roman Catholic Church, which calls him Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, has established his Feast Day on the 27^th of December which is considered one of the most important days of the Masonic calendar (Stevenson)  It was established by many Grand Lodges as the beginning of the Masonic Lodge year.  It is believed that the proximity of 27 December to the beginning of the calendar year made it expedient to do so.  Colonial Masonic records indicate that George Washington and Benjamin Franklin made it a point to visit their Lodges in observance of this feast day.  (Ward)

In conclusion, Saint John played a prominent role in the founding of the Christian church, he was loved by Christ and strived to promote friendship and brotherly love.  His evangelism and teachings has made him a prominent figure in Christian culture has made him a patron saint for those with a love of writing, books, friendship and brotherly love.  All of which played an important part of his becoming our patron saint.

I depart with this, the Prayer to Saint John the Evangelist, “O Glorious Saint John, you were so loved by Jesus that you merited to rest your head upon his breast, and to be left in his place as a son to Mary. Obtain for us an ardent love for Jesus and Mary. Let me be united with them now on earth and forever after in heaven.”

So Mote it be