Brethren, if you have not yet downloaded the Masonic Traveler app for your iPhone, get on it now. Or better yet, go get an iPhone and then go get it. This application has a catalog of Masonic lodges searchable and findable in conjunction with your iPhone’s location services. So if you are traveling somewhere and want to find the lodges near you, maybe for your lodge photography project or else to actually attend lodge, this app will help you get there.

Here is how it works. You can find the lodges near you, click and find their meeting times, or you can do a search by lodge name, area code, jurisdiction or by lodge type. Currently there are only blue lodges listed in the database but I hope the author sees his way to including other organizations, such as Shriners, Royal Arch and other appendant bodies. Who knows – this could become a giant community-supported project. Maybe we could get the Prince Hall lodges in there as well. With more and more of us having visitation rights across that formerly impenetrable jurisdiction barrier, it might be nice to encourage some friendly discourse in this way.

Once you find the lodge you are looking for, you can click to its information and have the program make a map for you from where you are to the lodge. Maybe it’s me but this mapping function blows my mind. Perhaps I am easily impressed. That’s okay, I suppose.

The database is not perfect, but it is definitely a work in progress. In fact, the author of the app even included a feedback link so you can send him corrections or even just general feedback, like, “This app rocks!” That’s how I feel about it, anyway. I don’t often see apps that allow you to whisper good council in the ear of the author.

The only downside is the cost. In the current climate of iPhone apps, the $7.99 price tag on this may seem excessive. However, I guarantee that this is worth every penny if you ever travel and want to find a nearby lodge. It beats the pants off looking at lodge directories on many Grand Lodge Web sites. Here are some screen shots:

My recommendation: Go get this app now.