Freemasonry

The Freemasons are "a worldwide fraternal organization where members are joined together by a common belief in a Supreme Being and a desire to live by high moral standards ...," present throughout the world. Freemasonry is an "esoteric art," in that certain aspects of its internal work are not generally revealed to the public. There are many reasons for this, one of which is that Freemasonry uses an initiatory system of degrees to explore ethical issues, and this system is less effective if the observer knows beforehand what will happen. Freemasons are expected to exhibit religious and political tolerance both in "lodge" (the meeting place of a group of Freemasons) and in their daily lives. Freemasonry is thus completely philosophically compatible with most denominations of Christianity, excepting those which view ecumenism with a negative eye or insist on intolerance for other forms of belief and worship. Despite this, however, [Pope Leo XIII]?, the primary representative of the Catholic church condemned Freemasonry in 1884, in the Papal encyclical Humanum Genus, as did Pope Clement XII in his 1738 bull, Eminenti Apostolatus Specula. One reason the Free Methodist Church was founded in the 1860s was that its founders believed the Methodist Church was being influenced by Freemasons and members of secret societies. The Free Methodist Church continues to prohibit its members from also joining societies such as the Freemasons. Recently the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest association of Baptists in the United States, also stated that participation in Freemasonry is inconsistent with their beliefs.

The position of women within Freemasonry is complex. In North America and many other parts of the World, women cannot become Freemasons per se, but rather generally join an associated body with its own, seperate traditions, the Order of the Eastern Star. In Britain and France, as well as certain other countries, women may join co-masonic Lodges such as those under the jurisdiction Le Droit Humaine which contain both men and women, or Lodges which comprise only women.

Freemasonry is connected to several "appendant bodies" such as the Scottish Rite, the [York Rite]?, and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners), all of which claim to expand on the teachings of Freemasonry while improving their members and Society as a whole.

Freemasonry has been the object of a number of attacks throughout its history, including the famous Taxil hoax.

The Freemasons rely heavily upon the architectural symbolism of their erstwhile medieval namesakes who actually worked in stone. One of their principal symbols is the square and compasses, tools of the trade, so arranged as to form a quadrilateral. An expression often used in Masonic circles is "to be on the square", meaning to be a reliable sort of person, has entered common usage. The practice of Freemasonry is known by its adherents as "The Craft".

It is believed by many non-Masons that Freemasons are involved in theurgy? as well as worship, as well as being members of a vast [social network]? that is constructed to aid and further member interests.

Many conspiracy theories involve the Freemasons.

Mozart's opera, [The Magic Flute]?, makes extensive use of the symbolism of freemasonry.

History

Freemasonry has been said to be an institutional outgrowth of the medieval guilds of stonemason?s (1), a direct descendant of the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon" (the Knights Templar)(2), an offshoot of the ancient [Mystery schools]?(1), an administrative arm of the Priory of Zion(3), the Roman Collegia?(1), the [Comacine masters]?(1), intellectual descendants of Noah(1), and to have many other various origins.

In 1717?, four Lodges which met at the "Apple-Tree Tavern, the Crown Ale-House near Drury Lane, the Goose and Gridiron in St. Paul's Churchyard, and the Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Westminster" in London, England (as recounted in (2)) combined together and broke their oaths of secrecy to form the first public Grand Lodge. Later, another Grand Lodge, known colloquially as the "Ancients" formed, causing a schism which was resolved with their amalgamation into the [United Grand Lodge of England] (UGLE).

In 1775, an African American named Prince Hall was initiated into an Irish Constitution Military Lodge, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom were free by birth. When the Military Lodge left the area, the Black gentlemen were given the authority to meet as a Lodge, form Processions on the days of the Saints John, and conduct Masonic funerals, but not to confer degrees or do other Masonic Work. These individuals applied for, and obtained, a Warrant for Charter from the Grand Lodge of England in 1784 and formed African Lodge #459. Despite being stricken from the rolls for non-payment of dues after 1813, the Loge restyled itself as the African Grand Lodge #1 (not to be confused with the various Grand Lodges on the Continent of Africa) and separated from commonly recognised Masonry. At the present time, it is recognised by some Grand Lodges and not by others, and appears to be working its way toward full recognition. ([1])

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that their Temple Endowment ceremony, which shares some elements with those of the Freemasons, are similar because the Freemasons' rituals are corrupted forms of the rituals given by God at the [Temple of Solomon]?.

• (): All of these theories are noted in several different texts, and the following are but examples pulled from a sea of books:

1. In "A History of Freemasonry" by H.L. Haywood and James E. Craig, pub. circa 1927
2. In "Born of Blood" By John Robinson, pub. 1989
3. In "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, pub. 1982

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