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- DictionaryFree·ma·son·ry/ˈfrēˌmāsnrē/
noun
- 1. the system and institutions of the Freemasons.
- 2. instinctive sympathy or fellow feeling between people with something in common: "the unshakable freemasonry of actors in a crisis"
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 14th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients.
Apr 19, 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
- What are the origins of Freemasonry?The origins of Freemasonry are not known definitively. National organized Freemasonry began in 1717 with the founding of the Grand Lodge—an associa...
- What do Freemasons believe?Freemasonry has always been religious in character, though it subscribes to no particular orthodoxy. To become a Freemason, the applicant has to be...
- Does Freemasonry still exist today?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
- 8 min
Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that unites men of different backgrounds and beliefs in the pursuit of self-improvement and brotherhood. Learn about its origins, degrees, symbols, and how to join a lodge near you.
Freemasonry in the United States is the history of Freemasonry as it was introduced from Britain and continues as a major secret society to the present day. It is a fraternal order that brings men together (and women through its auxiliaries) to gain friendship and opportunity for advancement and community progress.
Learn about Freemasonry, the oldest fraternal organization in the world, and its values of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Find out how to join and become a better man with the support of other good men.
Masonic bodies. Views on Masonry. People and places. Related. By country. v. t. e. The history of Freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as Freemasonry. It covers three phases.
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