Freemasonry: The 5 Interesting Affairs You Need Know About Them

Freemasonry is the earliest fraternal organization and the largest worldwide secret society devoted to fellowship, mutual assistance, and moral discipline. The group started as a guild of skilled builders in the Middle Ages in Europe and they don’t publicize their activities such as customs and rituals to the public.

Freemasonry became known through the British Empire and is still the most popular in the British Isles and originally within the empire in other countries. In the early 21st century, the estimation of the total membership of Freemasonry in the world ranged from two million to more than six million.

Freemasonry

1. The Definition of Freemasonry

The professor of history at the University of California, Los Angeles, and author of  Living the Enlightenment: Freemasonry and Politics in Eighteenth-Century Europe, Margaret Jacob defined Freemasonry as a social and philanthropic organization meant to make its members lead more virtuous and socially.

A Freemason, historian of Freemasonry, and professor at the University of Bordeaux, Cecile Revauger defined Freemasonry as still conveying the era’s core values, thirst for knowledge, religious tolerance, and sociability.

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2. History of Freemasonry

The pore of the society changed with the decline of cathedral building, so honorary members to bolster were accepted by some lodges of operative masons.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Freemasonry adopted the rites of chivalric brotherhoods and trappings of ancient religious orders from a few of these lodges. The first Grand Lodge was founded in England which is an association of lodges 1717.

Freemasonry is not a Christian institution but, it has many features of a religion such as charity, land law should be obeyed, and teaches morality. Although, Roman Catholic and other religions from various states have gone against Freemasonry.

However, in most customs, all applicants who want to join the organization must believe in the existence of a supreme being and it is mandatory to be an adult male.

In the 19th century, it was founded in the modern custom of french that men and women are permitted to join the organization known as Co-Freemasonry or Le Droit Humain.

There are many degrees: sometimes as many as a thousand and superimposed on the three major divisions in numerous lodges but, Freemasonry is categorized into three major degrees: a fellow of crafts, entered apprentice, and master mason in most lodges in most countries. There are certain lodges where women are not admitted in Britain and other specific countries.

Furthermore, the female relatives of master masons can be admitted into the Order of the Eastern Star, which is open to both women and men and boys may be admitted into the Order of the Builders or the Order of the De Molay and girls can join the Order of Job’s Daughter or the Order of the Rainbow.

3. The salutation of Freemasonry

Their salutation is based on one’s status within the organization through greeting one another with different kinds of handshakes. Cecile Révauger said “There is a handshake for each degree: Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master, that is the first three degrees and also in the higher degrees, and each rite has its own handshakes, so there is quite a variety. They are used during Masonic ceremonies.” 

Freemasonry

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4. The symbols of Freemasonry

However, the tools of stonemasonry are used as visual symbols such as the “All-Seeing Eye” which has been used by Freemasonry to represent the omniscience of God. The most popular symbol known by the public is “The Square and Compasses” which describes a builder’s square joined by a compass and is still the popular symbol on masonic rings. The belief of the “G” symbol at the center is that it represents geometry which means a vital field to the first freemasons though others claimed it symbolizes God, the “Grand Architect of the Universe.”

The All-Seeing Eye, also known as the Masonic Eye or Eye of Providence, is one of the most recognized Freemason symbols. This is especially so considering its characteristics on none other than the American dollar bill.

It’s been around since way back in 1797 when it was introduced in a publication of the Freemason’s Monitor. It represents the eye of God and serves as a reminder to Freemasons that God is always watching, seeing all of their actions and thoughts.

However, the anchor is most used as a Christian symbol and has been taken on by the Freemasons having a similar meaning. Basically, it represents hope, as well as peace against stormy weather. An anchor is used, quite literally, as a way of grounding a ship, and in the same way this symbol talks about living a life that is grounded in hope and peace.

Furthermore, Coffins usually symbolize mortality, but within the world of Freemasonry, the meaning behind them can get a little cloudy. Sometimes coffins are symbolized with a Sprig of Acacia, which would describe immortality and it has a 5-pointed star associated with it. The meaning behind the coffin seems to be similar to whatever context it’s offered in.

The moon is held in great regard by the Freemasons, who see it as the biblical ruler of the night and as a reminder of the regularity of the conduct of the Master of the Lodge. But there’s also a higher symbolism ascribed to the moon: it represents the Senior Warden in the West, which is an Egyptian tradition that associates the moon with that direction. Some Masonic researchers believe that the moon symbolism is meant to be a parallel to the “Worshipful Master” who is associated with the sun and the Ionic pillar of Wisdom.

5. The popular members of Freemasonry

however, there are so many members in the organization but, the most popular ones throughout history are The former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill. who was a Freemason, The former President of America, George Washington was a Master Mason, and Benjamin Franklin was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in America. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the reformer and founder of the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk fought for independence alongside seven high-ranking military staff officers – of whom six were Freemasons. Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was part of a Masonic lodge called Propaganda Due, which was disbanded in 1981.

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