California Freemason: What first interested you in Freemasonry?
Oscar Arguello: As a teenager, I was drawn to science, political theory, and philosophy. While reading about Enlightenment thinkers like Isaac Newton, I kept running into Freemasonry. I thought, How great would it be to ride on the shoulders of giants and join the same fraternity that helped shape some of the world’s great thinkers?
CFM: What does Golden Rule Lodge mean to the community?
OA: Education has always been at the heart of Golden Rule Lodge. We’ve long supported Edenvale Elementary School and students in the surrounding community because our members believe education can change lives, especially for those in underserved communities. Through fundraisers and scholarships, we help students take that next step toward college.
CFM: What do you enjoy the most about Masonry?
OA: My fellow Masons. Having a community that stands with you through thick and thin is invaluable. Too many men don’t have close friends or people they can rely on. As Masons, we’re surrounded by members who will go out of their way for one another.
CFM: Describe a time when Masonry became that community for you?
OA: When I was in my mid-twenties, I traveled to El Salvador and planned to visit a local lodge. Instead, I became seriously ill and was hospitalized. Masons I’d never met came to my aid—offering to drive me to appointments, pick up medicine, whatever I needed. I was in a country that wasn’t mine, but I never felt alone.
CFM: You’re involved in the Masonic Builders. What do you enjoy most about that work?
OA: I love getting to know scholarship applicants beyond their grades. I learn about their life circumstances—whether they’re working to make ends meet or helping support their families. These are the things that often shape a student’s future. If a little financial assistance can help someone reach independence or open the door to a new opportunity, we’re going to do our best to help.
CFM: What does it mean to live your values—as an advocate for education, the son of immigrant parents, and a Mason?
OA: What keeps me going is the love for the process and trying to be the change you want to see in the world. It starts with yourself, and those small actions grow into something bigger. We have a duty to leave the world better than we found it, and if I can help change someone’s life for the better, then that’s why I’m here.
Photography by:
Martin Klimek
