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Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that traces its origins to medieval stonemasons' guilds. It consists of various degrees and rituals, and has different recognition groups and jurisdictions. Learn about its history, symbols, controversies and more on Wikipedia.
Jul 30, 2024 · Freemasonry, the teachings and practices of the fraternal order of Free and Accepted Masons, the largest worldwide secret society. Spread by the advance of the British Empire, Freemasonry remains most popular in the British Isles and in other countries originally within the empire.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- The origins of Freemasonry are not known definitively. National organized Freemasonry began in 1717 with the founding of the Grand Lodge—an associa...
- Freemasonry has always been religious in character, though it subscribes to no particular orthodoxy. To become a Freemason, the applicant has to be...
- Freemasonry remains most popular in the British Isles and countries that were originally within the British Empire. Estimates of the worldwide memb...
- The Freemasons Are The Oldest Fraternal Organization in The World
- Freemason Symbols Aren’T What You Think
- Yes, There Is A Freemason Handshake. Several, Actually
- The Catholic Church Forbids Members from Being Freemasons
- Freemasons Inspired America’s First Political Third Party
- It’S Still A Boys’ Club…Mostly
- Famous Freemasons Are Everywhere
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Freemasons belong to the oldest fraternal organization in the world, a group begun during the Middle Ages in Europe as a guild of skilled builders. With the decline of cathedral building, the focus of the society shifted. Today, “Freemasons are a social and philanthropic organization meant to make its members lead more virtuous and socially oriente...
Freemasons have long communicated using visual symbols drawn from the tools of stonemasonry. The “All-Seeing Eye,” or Eye of Providence, while not designed by Masons, has been used by the group to represent the omniscience of God. The most well-known Freemason symbol, “The Square and Compasses,” depicts a builder’s square joined by a compass. The “...
Freemasons greet one another with a variety of handshakes, all based on one’s rank within the organization. “There is a handshake for each degree: Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master, i.e., the first three degrees and also in the higher degrees,” says Révauger. “Each rite has its own handshakes, so there is quite a variety. They are used during Mas...
While Freemasonry is not itself a religion, all its members believe in a Supreme Being, or "Grand Architect of the Universe.” Members come from many faiths, but one denomination in particular bars any crossover. The Catholic Church first condemned Freemasonry in 1738, prompted by concern over Masonic temples and the secret rituals performed within ...
In the realm of politics, the first third party in the United States, the Anti-Masonic Party, formed in 1828 in response to fears that the group was growing too secretive and powerful. Many of its members touted conspiracy theories about the Freemasons, with some leaders claiming that an infamous murderof the time had occurred at the hands of the M...
Traditionally, Freemason membership has only been open to men. In the group’s “1723 Constitutions,” a kind of guidebook to the organization by James Anderson, written under the aegis of the Grand Lodge of England, women and atheists were excluded along with enslaved people. Now, “masons come from all walks of life, provided they can afford to pay t...
Famous Freemasons can be found throughout history: George Washington was a Master Mason, and Benjamin Franklin was a founding member of the first Masonic Lodge in America. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gerald Ford were Masons, as was Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Davy Crockett, Duke Ellington, Na...
Learn about the oldest fraternal organization in the world, its origins, rituals, beliefs and famous members. Discover the meaning of the square and compasses, the beehive, the all-seeing eye and more.
- Jessica Pearce Rotondi
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- Acacia. NB: Aspiring Masons and Master Masons from all over the world look forward to our emails. If you’d like to join them, sign up for Masonic Find’s newsletter.
- All Seeing Eye. It is also known as the Eye of Providence or the Masonic Eye. In Freemasonry, the All-Seeing Eye is a symbol used to remind members that the Great Architect of the Universe (God) is observing all deeds, actions, and human thoughts.
- The Square and Compasses. The Square and Compasses are one of the most recognized Freemasonry symbols. Its origin is traceable back to the Middle Ages from the stonemasons guild.
- The Letter G. The letter G appears inside the Square and Compasses and (sometimes) at the center of the Blazing Masonic star. Its symbolism in Freemasonry often differs from one jurisdiction to another.
Learn about the scripted words and actions, and the symbolism of Freemasonry, a fraternal organization that uses allegories and symbols to teach moral and ethical lessons. Find out how Masonic rituals vary across jurisdictions, and how they relate to the story of Solomon's Temple and the Supreme Being.
To become a Freemason, the applicant has to be an adult male and must believe in the existence of a supreme being and in the immortality of the soul. The teachings of Freemasonry enjoin morality, charity, and obedience to the law of the land.
Freemasonry's long history includes its early development from organised bodies of operative stonemasons to the modern system of speculative lodges organised around regional or national "Grand Lodges".
