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[[Bild:Zirkel und Winkel.jpg|right|frame|Symbol der Freimaurerei]]
[[Bild:Freimaurer Initiation.jpg|thumb|''Initiation eines „Suchenden“.'' Stich, Ende [[18. Jahrhundert]]]]
[[Bild:Gesellenarbeit.jpg|thumb|''Gesellen-Beförderung.'' Kupferstich von etwa 1830/35]]
[[Bild:Freimaurer_Erhebung.jpg|thumb|''Meister-Erhebung eines Gesellen.'' Stich, Ende [[18. Jahrhundert]]]]
Die '''Vrymesselaars''' is 'n wêreldwye humanitêre [[organisasie]], met lidmaatskapstoetrede beperk tot [[man]]s en deur middel van 'n inlywingsproses. Die belangrikste funksie van 'n vrymesselaar is om betrokke te wees by [[liefdadigheid]]swerk, en by gemeenskapsontwikkeling.
==Die aard van vrymesselary==
[[Image:Square compasses.png|frame|right|'''Die Vrymesselaarsreghoek en -kompasse''' (''Dit kom met of sonder die 'G' voor'').]]
Die organisasie van vrymesselary het geheime elemente: sekere aspekte van die interne funksionering van die organisasie is nie openbare kennis nie<ref>http://www.grandlodge-england.org/pdf/cr-rule-update2-141205.pdf Doelwitte en verhoudings van die kuns Paragraaf 11elationships of the Craft Para 11</ref>, ten spyte van die aanspraak van die Vrymesselaars dat hulle nie 'n geheime organisasie is nie, maar eerder 'n organisasie met geheime<ref>[http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/what-is-freemasonry.htm Wat is die Vrymesselary]</ref><ref>http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/YQA-secret-society.htm U vrae beantwoord oor geheime organisasies</ref>. Die private aspekte van die moderne Vrymesselary het te make met elemente van die rituele, asook die metodes van herkenning van medelede binne die ritueel<ref>Nabootsingsritueel (Eng: "Emulation Ritual" ISBN 085318187X pub 1991, London</ref><ref>http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/YQA-secret-society.htm U vrae beantwoord oor geheime organisasies</ref>.
==Struktuur van die organisasie==
Die organisasie het geen sentrale struktuur of gesag nie, en elke "jurisdiksie" funksioneer onafhanklik van enige ander, en selfbemagtend.
Die topgesag in enige Vrymesselaarsjurisdiksie is die ''[[Grand Lodge]]'', of soms die ''Grand Orient''. Die oppervlaksarea van die Grand Lodge bepaal of die gebied onderverdeel word in provinsies, distrikte of metropolitaanse gebiede.
==Geskiedenis van die organisasie==
Die vroegtse beskikbare aanduidings
Freemasonry's transition from an operative craft of working stonemasons to a fraternity of speculative accepted gentleman Freemasons began in Scottish lodges during the early 1600s. The earliest record of a lodge accepting a non-operative member occurs in the records of the Lodge of Edinburgh, 8 June 1600, where it is shown that John Boswell, Laird of Aucheinleck, was present at a meeting. The first record of the initiation of a non-operative mason in a lodge is contained in the minutes of the Lodge of Edinburgh for 3 July 1634, when the Right Honourable Lord Alexander was admitted a Fellowcraft.<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1961). Article: "Scotland," pg. 594. '''Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia''', (rev. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref>
<br><br>
The first Grand Lodge in Freemasonry was founded in 1717 when four existing Lodges met at the Goose & Gridiron Alehouse in London to form the governing body. Throughout the early half of the eighteenth century, a number of lodges operating in London and in other parts of England chose to remain independent from this new Grand Lodge. These lodges were often called "St. John lodges," and their members were called "old Masons," "Ancients" or "St. John Masons." Five of these independent lodges joined in forming a competing [[Grand Lodge]] at the Turk's Head Tavern, in Greek Street, Soho, in 1751.<ref>Batham, Cyril N. (1981). "The Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institutions, otherwise known as the Grand Lodge of the Antients". The Collected Prestonian Lectures, 1975-1987, Vol. Three. London: [[Lewis Masonic]]. ISBN 085318-155-1.</ref>
Claiming that the earlier Grand Lodge had broken with a number of traditions and was divergent from the principles of Freemasonry, members of the second Grand Lodge derisively referred to the older Grand Lodge as the "Moderns" Grand Lodge. The second, rival Grand Lodge became known as the ''Ancients'' Grand Lodge. The two finally merged in 1813, to become the [[United Grand Lodge of England]] (UGLE). It is today the only [[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|regular]] Craft jurisdiction in [[England]], and generally considered to be the oldest Grand Lodge jurisdiction in the world.<ref> Coil, Henry W. (1961). Article: "England, Grand Lodge of." Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (rev. ed. 1995) Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co. Inc.</ref>
The oldest jurisdiction on the continent of [[Europe]], and also the largest jurisdiction in [[France]], the [[Grand Orient de France]] (GOdF), was founded in 1728. At one time, the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Orient of France mutually recognized one other, but most English-speaking jurisdictions cut off formal relations with the GOdF around 1877<ref name="GOdF">Freemasons for Dummies, by Christopher Hodapp, Wiley Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, 2005, p.70, sec. "The Grand Orient of France"</ref>. The [[Grande Loge Nationale Francaise]] (GLNF) <ref>[http://www.grandelogenationalefrancaise.com/ The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF)], accessed [[February 6]] [[2006]].</ref> is currently the only French Grand Lodge that is in ''regular amity'' with the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and its many concordant jurisdictions worldwide.
In most Latin countries, the GOdF style of European Continental Freemasonry predominates, although in most of these Latin countries there are also Grand Lodges that are in "regular amity" with the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and the worldwide community of Grand Lodges that share "fraternal relations" with the UGLE. The rest of the world, which accounts for the bulk of Freemasonry, tends to follow more closely to the UGLE style, although many minor variations exist.
In short, Freemasonry is often said to consist of two different branches:
* the UGLE and concordant tradition of jurisdictions (termed Grand Lodges) in amity, and
* the GOdF tradition of jurisdictions (often termed Grand Orients) in amity.
===Regularity===
{{main| Regular Masonic jurisdictions}}
Regularity is a constitutional mechanism whereby Grand Lodges afford one another mutual recognition, in turn allowing formal interaction at the Grand Lodge level and members the opportunity to attend meetings at Lodges in recognized jurisdictions. Conversely, it also proscribes interaction with Lodges that are not recognized.
Regularity is based around a number of ''Landmarks'', which are those items set down in the UGLE Constitution and the constitutions of the Grand Lodges it is in amity with. There is some variance within the quantity and content of the Landmarks from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but there are a few Landmarks which do not vary (list forthcoming).
Grand Lodges that afford mutual recognition and allow intervisitation are said to be ''in amity''. However, even without formal recognition of regularity, many Grand Lodges continue informal relations and a number of vehicles for this exist.
===The Masonic Lodge ===
{{main|Masonic Lodge}}
A Lodge, often termed a ''Private Lodge'' or ''Constituent Lodge'' in Constitutions, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry. Every new Lodge must be warranted by a Grand Lodge, but is subject to its direction only in enforcing the published Constitution of the jurisdiction. A Master Freemason is generally entitled to visit any Lodge in any jurisdiction in amity with his own. He is first usually required to check, and certify, the regularity of the relationship of the Lodge - and be able to satisfy that Lodge of his regularity of membership.
Freemasons meet ''as'' a [[Masonic Lodge|Lodge]] not ''in'' a Lodge, although Masonic premises may be called ''Lodges'', as well as ''Temples'' ("of Philosophy and the Arts"). In many countries ''Masonic Centre'' or ''Hall'' has now replaced these terms to avoid arousing prejudice and suspicion. Several different Lodges, or other Masonic organisations, often use the same premises at different times.
According to [[Freemasonry#History of Freemasonry|Masonic tradition]]. operative lodges of medieval stonemasons engaged in the construction of ecclesiastical buildings constructed a lodge building adjacent to the work site to allow meetings for shelter, instruction and social contact. Normally this was on the southern side of the site, with the sun warming the stones during the day in Europe. The social gathering, ''Festive'' or ''Social Board'', of the lodge is sometimes called ''the South''.
Early Speculative Lodges, whose membership included those who were not actually stonemasons, would meet in a [[tavern]] or other convenient meeting place with a private annex.
Many Lodges are formed by Masons living within a given town or neighbourhood. Other Lodges, particularly in urban areas where there are many Lodges close together, are formed by persons who share a particular interest, profession or background; schools, universities, military units or hobbies such as [[motorcycle|motorcycling]] or [[Scuba diving|SCUBA diving]]. In some lodges of this latter type the interest may be of historic interest only as over time the membership has expanded into other areas. There are also specialists Lodges of Research, membership being open to interested Master Masons of other lodges with an interest in Masonic research such as history, philosophy or collections. Whilst research lodges are fully warranted lodges they generally do not initiate candidates.
A Lodge of Instruction allows Masons to rehearse and learn ritual in support of their office within a working lodge, enabling preparation for participation in the initiation, passing and raising of candidates. Such a Lodge requires a warrant but is not a separately constituted Lodge, instead being closely associated with a warranted Lodge.
=== Prince Hall Freemasonry ===
{{main|Prince Hall Freemasonry}}
Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historically unique events which led to a tradition of separate, predominantly African American, Freemasonry in North America. Prince Hall Masonry has always been ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|regular]]'' in all respects except constitutional separation.
In 1775, an [[African American]] named [[Prince Hall]]<ref>[http://www.mindspring.com/~johnsonx/whoisph.htm Who is Prince Hall?], accessed [[November 14]] [[2005]].</ref> was initiated into an Irish Constitution Military Lodge then in Boston, Massachusetts, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom were free born. When the Military Lodge left [[North America]], the African Americans 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, nor to do other Masonic Work. In 1784 these individuals applied for, and obtained, a Lodge Warrant from the Premier Grand Lodge of England and formed African Lodge, Number 459 (Premier Grand Lodge of England). When the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) was formed in 1813, all U.S. based lodges were stricken from their rolls – due largely to the [[War of 1812|U.S. and British War, 1812 to 1815]]. Thus, separated from both UGLE and any concordantly recognised U.S. Grand Lodge, African Lodge re-titled itself as the African Lodge, Number 1 - and became a ''de facto'' "Grand Lodge". (This Lodge is not to be confused with the various Grand Lodges on the Continent of [[Africa]]). As with the rest of U.S. Freemasonry, Prince Hall Freemasonry soon grew, and organised on a Grand Lodge system for each State.
Widespread [[Racial segregation|segregation]], in the 19th and early 20th century North America, made it difficult for African Americans to join lodges outside of Prince Hall jurisdictions - and impossible for inter-jurisdiction recognition between the parallel U.S. Masonic authorities.
Prince Hall Grand Lodges are, presently, recognized by some UGLE Concordant Grand Lodges and not by others, but appears to be working its way toward full recognition, with the majority of US Grand Lodges granting at least some degree of recognition. <ref>[http://bessel.org/masrec/phamapshistorical.htm Prince Hall Masonry Recognition details], Paul M. Bessel, accessed [[November 14]] [[2005]]</ref>. It is now quite usual for both Prince Hall lodges and non-Prince Hall Lodges to have ethnically diverse membership.
{{see also| Regular Masonic jurisdictions}}
===Other degrees, orders and bodies===
{{main| Masonic Appendant Bodies}}
Whilst there is no degree in Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason<ref name="Aims and Relationships">http://www.grandlodge-england.org/pdf/cr-rule-update2-141205.pdf Aims and Relationships of the Craft</ref> a number of organisations exist which require one to be a Master Mason as a prerequisite for membership,<ref>Beyond the Craft: The Indispensable Guide to Masonic Orders Practised in England and Wales, Keith B Jackson, ISBN 0853182485, Pub 2005</ref> none of which are considered to have any authority over the Craft<ref name="Aims and Relationships"/>. These organisations are considered as additional or appendant, membership being discretionary in order to provide a different perspective on some of the allegorical, moral and philosophical content within Freemasonry.
Appendant bodies are administered separately from craft Grand Lodges and within each there is a system of offices which confer rank within that order alone, these bodies are frequently styled ''Masonic'' due to the membership requirement that one hold the ''Master Mason'' degree, or even be a ''Past (Installed) Master'' in the craft.
Freemasonic jurisdictions vary in their relationships with such bodies, if a relationship exists at all. Some offer formal recognition, while others consider them wholly outside of pure Craft Freemasonry. As such, some such bodies are not universally considered as ''appendant bodies'', being simply as separate organizations that happen to require prior Masonic affiliation for membership. Some of these organizations have additional religious requirements (e.g. requiring members to profess Trinitarian Christian beliefs).
A number of youth organizations exist, mainly North American, open to the family of Masons, which are associated with Freemasonry, but are not Masonic in their content. These offer an extended social network around the lodge.
There are some organisations which are commonly perceived as being related to Freemasonry, but which are in fact not part of Freemasonry, such as the [[Orange Order]]. Styled along Masonic lines, using similar regalia and ritual, they are not however accorded recognition as being regularly Masonic.
==Principles and activities==
Both [[Encyclopædia Britannica|1911 Encyclopædia Britannica]] and [[Catholic Encyclopedia|1913 Catholic Encyclopedia]] agree that Freemasonry, according to the official English, Scottish, American, etc., Craft rituals, is most generally defined: ''A peculiar'' (some say ''particular'' or ''beautiful'') ''system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.''<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia. (1911 Encyclopædia Britannica agrees)</ref> The continued use of this definition is illustrated in the example of the 1991 printing of the English Emulation Ritual <ref>Emulation Ritual ISBN 085318187X pub 1991, London</ref>
=== Morality and Ritual ===
Freemasonry uses ritual to convey the principles of "Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth" - explained as Fraternity/neighbourliness, Charity and Knowlege/Honesty - or otherwise related, as in France: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity".<ref name="GOdF">Freemasons for Dummies, by Christopher Hodapp, Wiley Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, 2005, p.783, sec. "Masons marked for life"</ref>.
These moral lessons are communicated in allegorical ritual performances based around Biblical history, the candidate progressing through ''degrees''<ref name="Aims and Relationships"/> gaining in knowledge and understanding of himself, his relationship with others and his relationship with the Supreme Being. After taking each degree, the member will attend the same ritual many times, taking part in it from different points of view until he knows it by heart and so is in the best position to moralize about it.
The balance between ritual, philosophical and spiritual, charitable service and social interchange aspects varies between Lodges and subject to the cultures of the various Grand Lodges which govern Freemasonry around the world. Nevertheless, philosophy and esoteric knowledge remains a deep interest to many individuals. The philosophical aspects of the ''Craft'' tend to be discussed in Lodges of Instruction or Research, and sometimes informal groups. Freemasons and others frequently publish the scholarly studies that are available to the public.
===Charitable effort===
Outside the ritual context the fraternity is widely involved in charity and community service activities, as well as providing a social outlet for the members.
Money is collected within the membership of Freemasons, which is then attributed to charitable purposes. A number of structures exist within Freemasonry to disburse this money, a substantial proportion of which goes to non-Masonic charities: locally, nationally or internationally.
Masonic charities include:
*Homes <ref>http://www.rmbi.org.uk/</ref><ref>http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/glos/FMH/info.html</ref> that provide sheltered housing or nursing care.
*Education with both educational grants<ref>http://www.rmtgb.org/</ref> or residential education<ref>http://www.royalmasonic.herts.sch.uk/pages/default.asp</ref> which are open to all and not limited to the families of Freemasons.
*Medical assistance.<ref>http://www.nmsf.org</ref>
== Membership requirements ==
[[Image:Freimaurer Initiation.jpg|thumb|350px|Freemasonry initiation. 18th century]]
A candidate for Freemasonry must apply to a ''Private'' (or ''Constituent'') Lodge in his community, obtaining an introduction by asking an existing member. After enquiries are made, he must be freely elected by secret ballot in open Lodge. Members approving his candidacy will vote with "white balls" in the voting box. Adverse votes by "black balls" will exclude a candidate. The number of adverse votes necessary to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions is as few as one, is set out in the governing Constitution. Lodges conduct these elections in a number of different ways; a wholly secret ballot where every member is given the means to vote either way, or semi public where members who choose to vote go to the ballot box and cast a secret vote.
=== General requirements ===
Generally to be a [[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|regular]] Freemason, one must<ref name="Aims and Relationships"/>:
* Be a [[man]] who comes of his own free will. Traditionally Freemasons do not actively recruit new members.
* Believe in a [[Supreme Being]].
* Be at least the minimum age (18–25 years depending on the jurisdiction, but commonly 21).
* Be of sound mind, body and of good morals, and of good repute.
* Be free (or "born free", ''i.e.'' not born a [[Slavery|slave]] or bondsman).
* Have one or two references from current Masons (depending on jurisdiction).
A candidate is asked 'Do you believe in a Supreme Being?'. Since an initiate is obligated on that sacred volume which is applicable to his faith, a sponsor will enquire as to an appropriate volume once a decision has been made on the applicants suitability for initiation.
A number of Grand Lodges allow a '''Lewis''', the son of a Mason, to be initiated earlier than the normal minimum age for that jurisdiction.
Being of "sound body" is thought to be derived from the operative origins of Freemasonry, an apprentice would be able to meet the demands of their profession. In modern times Grand Lodges tend to encourage the use of the ritual in ways to mitigate for difficulty.
The "free born" requirement remains for purely historical reasons. Some jurisdictions have done away with it entirely.
Some Grand Lodges in the United States have a residence requirement, candidates being expected to have lived within the jurisdiction for certain period of time, typically six months.<ref>http://www.ilmason.org/Basic1/bainfo.htm</ref>
It is notable that the requirement for the candidate to have a belief in a Supreme Being is present in some, but not all, [[Co-Freemasonry|Co-Masonic]] bodies, leading to a significant divergence in organisational direction and philosophy.
{{see also|Regular Masonic jurisdictions}}
{{see also|Co-Freemasonry}}
{{see also|List of famous Freemasons}}
===Membership and religion===
[[Image:Santacruzmasontemple04.jpg|thumb|200px|Mason temple in [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], [[Spain]]]]
Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is no separate "Masonic God," and there is no separate or proper name for a deity in any branch of Freemasonry<ref>[http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/A2L-religion.htm UGLE: Is Freemasonry a religion?], accessed [[January 21]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-13/p-46.php</ref>.
Freemasonry requires that its candidates believe in a ''Supreme Being'', the nature of that being subject to the conscience of the candidate. As the interpretation of the term ''Supreme Being'' is left up to the individual members can be drawn from a wide range of faiths; the [[Abrahamic religions]] and other [[monotheistic]] religions. Some members of non-monotheistic religions are accepted subject to answering ''Yes'' to the question asked, these include, for example, [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] and [[Hinduism|Hindus]].
In the ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|irregular]]'' Continental European tradition, since the early 19th Century, a very broad interpretation has been given to a (non-dogmatic) Supreme Being — usually allowing [[Deism]] and naturalistic views in the tradition of [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]] and [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]] (himself a Freemason), or views of [[The Ultimate]] or Cosmic Oneness, along with Western atheistic [[idealism]] and agnosticism.
The Freemasonry that predominates in [[Scandinavia]], known as the [[Swedish Rite]] accepts only Christians.<ref name="scandinavia">Freemasons for Dummies, by Christopher Hodapp, Wiley Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, 2005, p.65, sec. "Religion and the Masons"</ref>.
==Women and Freemasonry==
{{main|Co-Freemasonry}}
The position of '''women and Freemasonry''' is complex, although traditionally, only men can be made Freemasons, in ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|Regular]]'' Freemasonry.
A supposed exceptional, (very [[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|irregular]] and perhaps unique), account of a woman being admitted to Freemasonry in, 18th century, is the case of [[Elizabeth Aldworth]] (born St. Leger), who is reported to have viewed the proceedings of a lodge meeting held at Doneraile House - the private house of her father, first [[Viscount]] Doneraile - a resident of [[County Cork|Cork]], [[Ireland]].<ref name="Leger">[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/aqc/aldworth.html The Hon. Miss St. Leger and Freemasonry] Ars Quatuor Coronatorum vol viii (1895) pp. 16-23, 53-6. vol. xviii (1905) pp. 46</ref> In the early part of the 18th century, it was quite customary for lodges to be held in private houses. This lodge was duly warranted for use by Lodge number 150 on the register of the [[Grand Lodge of Ireland]].
Apparently, she removed a brick and saw the ceremony in the room beyond. After being discovered, Elizabeth's situation was discussed by the lodge. It was decided that she should be initiated into Freemasonry. The story is supported by other accounts of her being a subscriber to the Irish Book of Constitutions of 1744. She frequently attended, wearing her Masonic [[regalia]], and gave entertainments, under Masonic auspices, for the benefit of the poor and distressed. She married Mr. Richard Aldworth of Newmarket, and it is reported that when she died she was accorded Masonic honours at her burial.
The systematic admission of women into International [[Co-Freemasonry]] began in [[France]] in 1882 with the initiation of [[Maria Deraismes]] into the Loge Libre Penseurs (Freethinkers Lodge), under the Grande Loge Symbolique de France. In 1893, along with activist Georges Martin, Maria Deraismes oversaw the initiation of sixteen women into the first lodge in the world to have both men and women as members, from inception, creating the jurisdiction [[Le Droit Humain]] (LDH). Again these are regarded as irregular bodies, by ''Regular'' Freemasonry.
In [[North America]], women cannot become [[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|regular]] Freemasons ''per se,'' but rather join an associated separate body with its own traditions. [[Order of the Eastern Star]] (OES) was created in the United States in the mid-19th Century for female Masonic relatives and Master Masons. Its members are mainly the wives and daughters of Master Masons. Le Droit Humain and number of other irregular masonic organisations have a presence in North America which are open to women either in an androgynous or wholly feminine manner. These orders work similar rituals to regular Freemasonry and their work contains similar moral and philosophical content to regular freemasonry.
In the [[Netherlands]], there is a completely separate, although Masonically allied, sorority for women, the Order of Weavers (OOW), which uses symbols from weaving rather than stonemasonry.
The GOdF and other jurisdictions, in the Continental European tradition, give full formal recognition to Co-Freemasonry and women's Freemasonry. The UGLE, and other jurisdictions concordant in that ''regular'' tradition, do not formally recognize any Masonic body that accepts women. The UGLE, has stated - since 1998 - that two local women's jurisdictions are regular in practice, except for their inclusion of women, and has indicated that, while not formally recognized, these bodies may be regarded as part of Freemasonry, when describing Freemasonry in general.
==Contemporary challenges==
As with other fraternal organisations in the 21st Century, Freemasonry in some districts of the United States, the UK and other jurisdictions has been losing members, faster than it can replenish them<ref>http://www.cornerstonesociety.com/Insight/Articles/Cornerstone%20Society%20%20Whither%20directing%20our%20course%202.pdf</ref>. The Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA)<ref>http://msana.com</ref> attributes the loss to six possible causes<ref>http://www.msana.com/itsabouttime_intro.htm</ref>:
*A downward cycle
*Loss of the Vietnam generation
*Busy lifestyles
*Joining organizations is no longer fashionable
*Loss of Masonic identity
*Lack of energy invested in Masonry
Many Grand Lodges in the U.S. have tried a variety of, often-controversial, measures to address declining membership. These have included "one-day ceremonies" of all the three degrees for large groups of candidates, (as opposed to individual degree conferrals taking months or years to complete); advertising on billboards, and even active recruitment of new candidates by members, (as opposed to the tradition of considering only those who actively seek membership for themselves). Some Masons object to the traditions and principles of Freemasonry being diluted by these changes, feeling that the Fraternity has survived centuries of social change without changing itself; others cite a need for Freemasonry to modernize and make itself relevant to new generations.
==Ritual and symbolism==
Freemasonic '''Ritual''' uses the [[architecture|architectural]] symbolism of the [[medieval]] ''operative'' [[Masonry|Masons]] who actually [[masonry|worked in stone]]. Tools from operative masonry are used by Freemasons to teach moral and ethical lessons and to encourage the development of a relationship with the Supreme Being<ref>http://www.cornerstonesociety.com/Insight/Articles/darkness.pdf Darkness Visible by Michael Baigent, paper for The Cornerstone Society</ref>. Two of the principal '''symbols''' always found in a lodge are the ''square and [[Compass (drafting)|compasses]]''. However, as Freemasonry is non-dogmatic, there is no general interpretation for any of these symbols. <ref> http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-10/p-61.php.</ref>
The square and compasses are displayed at all Masonic meetings, along with the open ''Volume of the Sacred Law'' (VSL). In English-speaking countries, this is frequently the [[King James Version of the Bible]] or another standard translation (there is no such thing as an exclusive "Masonic Bible"). <ref name="UGLE home"> [http://www.grandlodge-england.org/index.htm ''UGLE Freemasons''] Accessed [[February 23]] [[2006]].</ref> It is otherwise whatever book a particular jurisdiction authorizes. In many French Lodges, the Masonic Constitutions are used.
A candidate for a degree will normally be given his choice of religious text for his Obligation, according to his beliefs. UGLE alludes to similarities to legal practice in the UK, and to a common source with other oath taking. <ref>[http://www.cjsonline.gov.uk/defendant/walkthrough/the_trial/faqs/index.html#2642 ''UK Government information on Courts system''] Accessed [[March 8]] [[2006]].</ref> <ref>[http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/A2L-promises.htm ''Masonic Civil and Military Oaths compared by UGLE''] Accessed [[March 8]] [[2006]].</ref> <ref>[http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14184.html ''Masonic oath 1650 to 1750''] Accessed [[March 8]] [[2006]].</ref> <ref>[http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/feudal.htm ''Feudal Oath on the Bible''] Accessed [[March 8]] [[2006]].</ref> Christian candidates will typically use the Lodge's Bible while those of other religions may choose another book that is holy to them, to be displayed alongside the Lodges' usual VSL. In lodges with a mixed religious membership it is common to find more than one sacred text displayed representing the beliefs of the individuals present.
In keeping with the geometrical and architectural theme of Freemasonry, the Supreme Being is referred to in Masonic ritual by the attributes of ''Great Architect of the Universe'' (G.A.O.T.U.), ''Grand Geometer'' or similar. Freemasons use a variety of forms of words in make clear that their reference is generic, not about any one religion's particular God or God-like concept.
===Degrees===
The degrees of ''Craft'' or ''Blue Lodge'' Freemasonry are those of:
# Entered Apprentice (EA)
# Fellow Craft (FC)
# Master Mason (MM)
As a Freemason works through the '''degrees''', and studies the lessons they contain, he interprets them for himself. No Mason is dictated to as to the interpretation he personally gives, bounded only by the Constitution within which he works. <ref name="UGLE home"/> A common structure of speaking symbolically, and universal human archetypes, provides for each Freemason a means to come to his own answers to life's important philosophical questions. Especially in Europe, Freemasons working through the degrees are asked to prepare papers on related philosophical topics, and present these papers in an open Lodge.
There is no degree of Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason<ref name="Aims and Relationships"/>. Although some Masonic bodies and orders have degrees named with higher numbers, these degrees are considered to be supplements to the Master Mason degree rather than promotions from it<ref>Beyond the Craft: The Indispensable Guide to Masonic Orders Practised in England and Wales, Kieth B Jackson</ref> . Nevertheless, it is essential for one to be a Master Mason in order to qualify for these further degree bodies, each of which is organized and administered more or less similarly to Freemasonry itself. In each organization there is a system of offices which confer rank within that degree or order alone.
===Signs, grips and words===
Freemasons use signs (hand gestures), grips (hand shakes) and passwords to gain admission to their meetings and identify that a visitor is legitimate. However, there is no conclusive evidence that these modes of recognition were in use prior to the mid-1600s after non-operative members had been admitted to lodges. The "Mason Word" is the first mode of recognition to appear in early lodge records of the mid-1600s. The Grips and signs followed, and were probably never used by the operative Freemasons, the easiest way to determine an operative Mason's qualifications being the quality of his work. The preponderance of evidence supports the development of these modes of recognition by non-operative 17th-century Freemasons.<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1961). Articles: "Grip," pg. 306; "Modes of Recognition," pp. 504-506; and "Word," pg. 690. ''Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia'', (rev. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref>
<br><br>
Beginning in the early 18th century, many exposés have been written claiming to reveal these signs, grips and passwords for the uninitiated. However, as each Grand Lodge is free to create its own rituals<ref>http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-10/p-61.php</ref>, the signs, grips and passwords can and do differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as noted clearly by Christopher Hodapp.<ref name="different signs">Christopher Hodapp, Freemasons For Dummies, Wiley Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, 2005, p.18. However, these differences can cause difficulties for Masons who visit other Jurisdictions. Grand Lodges have had to issue "Masonic Passports" and dues cards to prove membership and ease this confusion.</ref>Furthermore, according to historian John J. Robinson, Grand Lodges can and do change their rituals frequently, updating the language used, adding or omitting sections.<ref name="changes">John J. Robinson, A Pilgrim's Path, M. Evans and Co., Inc. New York, p.129 </ref>The logical conclusion of Hodapp's and Robinson's assertions is that any exposé is only valid for a particular jurisdiction at a particular time, and therefore may or may not be accurate with respect to modern ritual.
===Landmarks===
The '''Landmarks''' are the ancient and unchangeable precepts of Masonry, the standards by which the regularity of a Freemasonic Lodge and Grand Lodges are judged. Each Grand Lodge is self-governing and no single authority exists over the whole of Freemasonry. The interpretation of these principles can and do vary, leading to controversies of recognition.
The concept of Masonic Landmarks appears in Masonic regulations as early as 1723, and seems to have been adopted from the regulations of operative masonic guilds. Nowadays the term ''Landmark'' is generally understood by the definition of Dr. Albert Gallatin Mackey, who laid down three requisite characteristics, namely: (1) immemorial antiquity (2) universality (3) absolute irrevocability.
In 1856, Mackey attempted to set down the actual Landmarks as he saw them. He determined there were 25 in all. Seven years later, in 1863, George Oliver published Freemason's Treasury in which he listed 40 Landmarks. In the last century, a number of American Grand Lodges attempted the daunting task of enumerating the Landmarks, ranging from West Virginia (7) and New Jersey (10) to Nevada (39) and Kentucky (54). <ref>[http://www.srmason-sj.org/web/journal-files/Issues/Feb02/botelho.htm ''Masonic Landmarks''], by Bro. Michael A. Botelho. Accessed [[7 February]] [[2006]].</ref>
==History of Freemasonry==
{{main|History of Freemasonry}}
===Origin theories===
In the ritual context Freemasonry employs an allegorical foundation myth - the foundation of the fraternity by the builders of [[Solomon's Temple|King Solomon’s Temple]].
Beyond myth, there is a distinct absence of documentation as to Freemasonry’s origins, which has led to a great deal of speculation among historians and pseudo-historians alike, both from within and from outside the fraternity. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject. Much of the content of these books is highly speculative, and the precise origins of Freemasonry may very well be permanently lost to history. The scant evidence that is available, points to the origins of Freemasonry as a fraternity that simply evolved out of the Operative Lodges of the middle ages.
The origin of Freemasonry has variously been attributed to <ref>''A History of Freemasonry'' by H.L. Haywood and James E. Craig, pub. ''ca'' 1927 </ref> :
*King Solomon, and the construction of the Temple at Jerusalem,<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1967). '''Freemasonry Through Six Centuries''' 2 vols., Vol. I, pg. 6. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref><br>
*Euclid, or Pythagoras,<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1967). '''Freemasonry Through Six Centuries''' 2 vols., Vol. I, pg. 6. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref><br>
*The Patriarchal Religion, Moses, the Pagan Mysteries, The Essenes, The Culdees, The Druids, The Gypsies, or the Rosicrucians,<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1967). '''Freemasonry Through Six Centuries''' 2 vols., Vol. I, pg. 6. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref><br>
*the intellectual descendants of [[Noah]]<ref>''The History of Freemasonry'' by Albert G. Mackey, Gramercy Books, 1996 , pp.406-411, sec. "Noah and the Noachites"</ref> or [[Enoch]]<ref>''The History of Freemasonry'' by Albert G. Mackey, Gramercy Books, 1996 , pp.396-405, sec. "The Legend of Enoch"</ref>,<br>
*an institutional outgrowth of the medieval guilds of stonemasons, <ref>''The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century, 1590-1710'' by David Stevenson, pub ''Cambridge'' 1990</ref><ref>''English Speculative Freemasonry: Some possible Origins, Themes and Developments. The Prestonian Lecture for 2004 in Ars Quatuor Coronatum 2004'' by Trevor Stewart, pub ''London'' 2005</ref>
*a direct descendant of the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem" (the [[Knights Templar]])<ref>''The History of Freemasonry'' by Albert G. Mackey, Gramercy Books, 1996 , pp.217-266, secs. "Freemasonry and the Crusades" & "The Story of the Scottish Templars"</ref><ref name="knighttemplars">Freemasons for Dummies, by Christopher Hodapp, Wiley Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, 2005, pp. 203-208, sec. "A crash course in Templar history"</ref>
*an offshoot of the ancient [[Mystery schools]], <ref>''The Hiram Key: Pharaohs, Freemasons and the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Christ'' by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, pub ''London'' 1997</ref>
*an administrative arm of the [[Priory of Sion]],<ref>''The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail'' by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln, pub ''London'', 2005</ref>
*the intellectual descendants of the Roman Collegia<ref>''Freemasonry and the Roman Collegia'' by H.L. Haywood, The Builder, 1923 [http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/collegia.html — Freemasonry and the Roman Collegia]</ref>,
*the intellectual descendants of the [[Comacine masters]]<ref>''Freemasonry and the Comacine masters'' by H.L. Haywood, The Builder, 1923 [http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/comacine.html — Freemasonry and the Comacine Masters]</ref>,
*the German Steinmetzen, or the French Compagnonage,<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1967). '''Freemasonry Through Six Centuries''' 2 vols., Vol. I, pg. 6. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref><br>
*Oliver Cromwell, or the Stuart Pretender to the British Crown; Lord Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Alban, Baron Verulam;<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1967). '''Freemasonry Through Six Centuries''' 2 vols., Vol. I, pg. 6. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref><br>
*Sir Christopher Wren and the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral,<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1967). '''Freemasonry Through Six Centuries''' 2 vols., Vol. I, pg. 6. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref><br>
*survivor of late 17th Century, enlightenment period, fashion for fraternal bodies with no real connections at all to earlier organizations (although various documents pre-dating the 17th Century tend to disprove this theory).
Early operative Freemasons, unlike virtually all Europeans except the Clergy, were ''Free'' - not bound to the land on which they were born. The various skills required in building complex stone structures, especially churches and cathedrals, allowed skilled masons to travel and find work at will. They were ''Lodged'' in a temporary structure - either attached to, or near, the main stone building. In this Lodge, they ate, slept and received their work assignments from the master of the work. To maintain the freedom they enjoyed required exclusivity of skills, and thus, as an apprentice was trained, his instructor attached moral values to the tools of the trade, binding him to his fellows of the Craft.
The early development of Freemasonry has two distinct growth periods:<ref>''English Speculative Freemasonry: Some possible Origins, Themes and Developments. The Prestonian Lecture for 2004 in Ars Quatuor Coronatum 2004'' by Trevor Stewart, pub ''London'' 2005</ref>
* '''Stage 1.''' Operative Freemasonry - associated with the craft guilds. Ritual elements are simple and there is no evidence beyond a rudimentary philosophical outlook.
*'''Stage 2.''' Freemasonry of the late 16th Century and into the 17th Century. Surviving Scottish Lodge records, as early as the [[1630s]], show a gentrification process - a transition from Operative to Speculative Freemasonry - evidenced by increasing non-operative notable gentleman within the membership. <ref>Stevenson, David (1988). ''The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century 1590-1710''. Cambridge Univ. Press.</ref> Virtually no records of English lodges survive prior to the, speculative, Grand Lodge period of 1717 onwards. The purely speculative ritual and lectures of William Preston (1742-1818) demonstrate an increasing use of a ritual infusion of [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] philosophy.<ref>http://www.cornerstonesociety.com/Insight/Articles/articles.html</ref>
===Name Origins===
The medieval stonemasons were called "freemasons." Historians have suggested at least three origins of the term:
* From the French term ''franc-maçon,'' a mason working in a Lodge that has been granted a [[franchise]] by the Church to work on Church Property and free from taxation or regulation by the King or the local Municipality.<ref>Naudon, Paul (1991). '''Les Origins de la Franc-Maçonnerie: Le Sacré et le Métier'''. Paris: Éditions Dervy.</ref>
* From ''Free Men'', that is they were not Serfs or Indentured, and free to travel from one work location to another.
* From working in "freestone," a type of quarry stone, and they were therefore ''Freestone Masons''.<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1961). Article: "Free-Mason; Freemason," pp. 272-273. '''Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia''' (ref. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.</ref>
===From historical foundation to 1717===
[[Image:Goose and Gridiron.jpg|thumb|Goose and Gridiron]]
A more historical source asserting the antiquity of Freemasonry is the Halliwell Manuscript, or Regius Poem - believed to date from ca. 1390. This makes reference to several concepts and phrases similar to those found in Freemasonry.<ref name="UGLE home"/> The manuscript itself seems to be an elaboration on an earlier document, to which it refers.
There is also the Cooke Manuscript, dated 1430 - the Constitution of German stonemasons.<ref name="UGLE home"/> The first appearance of the word 'Freemason' occurs in the Statutes of the Realm enacted in 1495 by [[Henry VII of England]], however, most other documentary evidence prior to the 1500s appears to relate entirely to operative Masons.<ref name="UGLE home"/>
By 1583, the date of the Grand Lodge manuscript,<ref name="UGLE home"/> the documentary evidence begins to grow. The Schaw Statues of 1598-9(4) are the source used to declare the precedence of [[Lodge Mother Kilwinning]] in [[Kilwinning]], Ayrshire, Scotland over Lodge Mary's Chapel in [[Edinburgh]]. These are described as Head and Principal respectively. As a side note, following a dispute over numbering at the formation of the [[Grand Lodge of Scotland]] (GLS) - Kilwinning is numbered as [[Lodge Mother Kilwinning]] Number 0 (pronounced 'Nothing'), GLS. Quite soon thereafter, a charter was granted to Sir William St. Clair (later Sinclair) of Roslin (Rosslyn), allowing him to purchase jurisdiction over a number of lodges in Edinburgh and environs.<ref name="UGLE home"/> This may be the basis of the Templar myth surrounding [[Rosslyn Chapel]].
From the early 1600s references are found to Freemasonry in personal diaries and journals. [[Elias Ashmole]] (1617-1692), was made a Mason in 1646, and notes attending several Masonic meetings. There appears to be a general spread of the Craft, between Ashmole's account and 1717, when four [[England|English]] Lodges meeting in [[London]] [[Taverns]] joined together and founded the Grand Lodge of England (GLE). They had held meetings, respectively, 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.<ref name="UGLE home"/>
With the foundation of this first Grand Lodge, Freemasonry shifted from being an obscure, relatively private, institution into the public eye. The years following saw new Grand Lodges open throughout Europe. How much of this growth was the spreading of Freemasonry itself, and how much was due to the public organization of pre-existing private Lodges, is uncertain.
===The introduction of the Third Degree===
In 1723, [[James Anderson (minister, author, Mason)|James Anderson]] wrote and published [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libraryscience/25/ The Constitutions of the Free-Masons], ''For the Use of the Lodges'' in London and Westminster. This work was reprinted in Philadelphia in 1734 by [[Benjamin Franklin]], who was that year elected Grand Master of the Masons of Pennsylvania.
Sometime after 1725, a third degree, the Master Mason's degree, began to be worked in London lodges. Its origins are unknown, and it may be older than its recorded appearance indicates. But it does not appear in the records of any lodge until April 1727, and its actual conferral does not appear in the records of any lodge until March 1729. Exposures of Masonic ritual, which began to appear in 1723, refer to only two degrees until the publication of Samuel Pritchard's "Masonry Dissected" in 1730, which contained the work for all three degrees. The Master Mason's degree was not official until the Grand Lodge adopted Anderson's revised Constitutions of 1738.<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1961). Article: "Degrees; 17. Master Mason," pp. 195-196. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia. (rev. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. & Masonic Supply Co. Inc.</ref>
===The Ancients' Grand Lodge—1751===
Throughout the early years of the new Grand Lodge there were any number of Masons and lodges that never affiliated with the new Grand Lodge. These unaffiliated Masons and their Lodges were referred to as "Old Masons," or "St. John Masons, and "St. John Lodges".<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1961). Two articles: "England, Grand Lodge of, According to the Old Institutions," pp. 237-240; and "Saints John," pp. 589-590. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia. (rev. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. & Masonic Supply Co. Inc.</ref>
During the [[1730s]] and [[1740s]] [[antipathy]] increased between the London Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland. Irish and Scots Masons visiting and living in London considered the London Grand Lodge to have considerably deviated from the ancient practices of the Craft. As a result, these Masons felt a stronger kinship with the unaffiliated London Lodges. The aristocratic nature of the London Grand Lodge and its members [[Social alienation|alienated]] other Masons of the City causing them also to identify with the unaffiliated Lodges.<ref>Jones, Bernard E. (1950). Freemasons' Guide and Compendium, pp. 193-204. (rev. ed. 1956) London: Harrap Ltd.</ref>
For many years, "The Great Masonic Schism" was a name applied to the sixty-two year division of English Freemasonry into two separate Grand Lodges. Some even attempted to attribute the division to the changes in passwords made in 1738-39 by the Premier Grand Lodge. Masonic historian Robert F. Gould in his "History of Freemasonry (1885) referred to the Ancients Grand Lodge as "schismatics". However, Henry Sadler, Librarian of the UGLE, demonstrated in his 1887 book "Masonic Facts and Fictions" that the Ancients Grand Lodge was formed in 1751 primarily by Irish Masons living and working in London, never affiliated with the older Grand Lodge. 72 of the first 100 names on the roll of the new Ancients' Grand Lodge were Irish. In 1776, the Grand Secretary of the Moderns' Grand Lodge referred to them as "the Irish Faction (Ye Ancient Masons, as they call themselves)". And so the myth of a "Great Masonic Schism" in English Masonry was laid to rest.<ref>Coil, Henry W. (1961) Article: "England, Grand Lodge of, According to the Old Institutions," pp. 237-240. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia. (rev. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. & Masonic Supply Co. Inc.</ref>
On 17 July 1751, representatives of five Lodges gathered at the Turk's Head Tavern, in Greek Street, [[Soho]], London - forming a rival Grand Lodge - "The Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons." They believed that they practiced a more ancient and therefore purer form of Masonry, and called their Grand Lodge ''The Ancients' Grand Lodge''. They called those affiliated to the Premier Grand Lodge, by the [[Pejorative|pejorative]] [[Epithet|epithet]] ''The Moderns''. These two unofficial names stuck.<ref>Batham, Cyril N. (1981). "The Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institutions, otherwise known as The Grand Lodge of the Antients." The Collected Prestonian Lectures, 1975-1987, Vol. Three. London (1988): Lewis Masonic.</ref>
An illustration of how deep the division was between the two factions is the case of [[Benjamin Franklin]] who was a member of a Moderns' Lodge in Philadelphia. Upon returning from France it transpired that his Lodge had changed to (and had received a new warrant from) the Ancients Grand Lodge; no longer recognizing him and declining to give him "Masonic Honours" at his funeral.<ref>''Revolutionary Brotherhood'', by Steven C. Bullock, Univ. N. Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1996</ref>
===The Union of 1813===
The two competing Grand Lodges in England were amalgamated into the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) in 1813, by twenty-one articles of "The Articles of Union" - specifing the agreements made regarding the various points of contention. A special lodge, ''The Lodge of Promulgation'', was established to [[Promulgation|promulgate]] the ancient landmarks of the Order, as well as instructing and negotiating with the members of the two factions to include the discontinuation of any innovations or changes introduced by the Moderns. The Union largely confirmed the Ancients' forms and ceremonies, and therefore considerably revised the Moderns' rituals. One of the most important changes was the reference in Article Two to the ''Royal Arch Degree'' as included in the, third, Master Masons' Degree - a practice that had always been peculiar to the Ancients lodges.<ref>Jones, Bernard E. (1950). Freemasons' Guide and Compendium, pp. 217-223. (rev. ed. 1956) London: Harrap Ltd.</ref>
Both the Antients and the Moderns had ''daughter'' Lodges throughout the world, and because many of those Lodges still exist, there is a great deal of variety in the ritual used today, even between UGLE-recognized jurisdictions in amity. Most Private Lodges conduct themselves in accordance with a single Rite.
===The great schism of 1877===
A great schism in Freemasonry did occur, however, in the years following 1877, when the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) started accepting atheists unreservedly. While the issue of atheism is probably the greatest single factor in the split with the GOdF, the English also point to the French recognition of women's Masonry and co-Masonry, as well as the tendency of French Masons to be more willing to discuss religion and politics in Lodge. While the French curtail such discussion, they do not ban it as outright as do the English.<ref name="Bessel recognition">see [http://bessel.org/masrec/france.htm Masonic U.S. Recognition of French Grand Lodges in the 1900s], Paul M. Bessel. Accessed [[November 14]] [[2005]]</ref> The schism between the two branches has occasionally been breached for short periods of time, especially during the [[World War I|First World War]] when American Masons overseas wanted to be able to visit French Lodges.<ref name="Bessel recognition"/>
Concerning religious requirements, the oldest constitution found in Freemasonry — that of Anderson, 1723 — says that a Mason ''"will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine"'' if he ''"rightly understands the Art"''. The only religious requirement was ''"that Religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves"''.<ref> [http://www.2be1ask1.com/library/anderson.html Anderson's Constitutions], accessed [[November 14]] [[2005]].</ref> Masons debate as to whether ''"stupid"'' and ''"irreligious"'' are meant as necessary, or as accidental, modifiers of ''"atheist"'' and ''"libertine"''. It is possible the ambiguity is intentional.
In 1815, the newly amalgamated UGLE modified Anderson's constitutions to include: ''"Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the Order, provided he believes in the glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth, and practices the sacred duties of morality."''
In 1849, France (GOdF) followed the English (UGLE) lead by adopting the ''"Supreme Being"'' requirement, but pressure from Latin countries produced by 1875, the alternative phrase ''"Creative Principle"''. This was ultimately not enough for the GOdF, and in 1877 it re-adopted the original Anderson document of 1723. They also created an alternative ritual that made no direct reference to any deity, with the attribute of the Great Architect of the Universe. This new Rite did not replace the older ones, but was added as an alternative, as Continental European jurisdictions, generally, tend not to restrict themselves to a single Rite — offering a menu of Rites, from which their lodges may choose.
There is some controversy, originating in the Roman Catholic Church, over how divided the jurisdictions were, with some American Freemasons in the early twentieth century (before the partial reconciliation of Freemasonry in the First World War) stressing the unity of Freemasonry.<ref name="MacCalla">"There is no universal church, no universal body of politic; but there is an universal Fraternity, that Freemasonry; and every Brother who is a worthy member, may feel proud of it" Past Grand Master Clifford P. MacCalla of Pennsylvania, The Freemason's Chronicle, 1906, II, page 132, footnote 172, in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm Masonry (Freemasonry)] in the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]]</ref>, which was viewed as evidence that the schism was only partial.<ref name="tylerkey">"Important Masonic journals, for instance, "The American Tyler-Keystone" (Ann Arbor), openly patronize the efforts of the French Grand Orient Party." in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm Masonry (Freemasonry)] in the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]]</ref>
{{see also| Regular Masonic jurisdictions}}
==Opposition to Freemasony==
Freemasonry has historically attracted criticism and suppression from the politically [[Far right|extreme right]] (i.e. [[Nazi Germany]]<ref>James Wilkenson and H. Stuart Hughes, ''Contemporary Europe: A History'', Prentice Hall:1995 p.237</ref><ref>Otto Zierer, ''Concise History of Great Nations: Hostory of Germany'', Leon Amiel Publisher:1976 p. 104 </ref>) and the [[Far left|extreme left]] (i.e. the former [[Communist]] states in [[Eastern Europe]]). The fraternity has encountered both applause for “founding”, and opposition for supposedly thwarting, [[liberal democracy]] (such as the United States of America). It has also attracted criticism and suppression from [[theocracy|theocratic]] states and organised religions for supposed competition with religion, or [[heterodoxy]] within the Fraternity itself.
In the [[Islam|Islamic]] world, Muslim Anti-Masonry<ref> [http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:-KpQ0W2v6cQJ:freemasonry.dept.shef.ac.uk/pdf/ovn.pdf%3FPHPSESSID%3Dbf5645aae288a112e6c99cacdca85a90+%22Islamic+anti-masonry%22&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=2 Muslim Ant-Masonry] accessed [[21 May]], [[2006]] </ref> is intimately related to [[Anti-Semitism]] and [[Anti-Zionism]].<ref>[http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:WSVRg4NVgqIJ:www.bilderberg.org/jewish.htm+Muslim+Anti-Masonry&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=13 Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism] accessed [[21 May]], [[2006]] </ref> The [[Muslim Council of Britain]] (MCB) currently maintains a policy of refusing to send official representatives to any of the official events associated with [[Holocaust]] Memorial Day.
In a controversial interview on the UK [[BBC]] programme [[Panorama (British television series)|Panorama]], first broadcast on Sunday [[21 August]] [[2005]]<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/4171950.stm Sir Iqbal Sacranie interview] accessed [[21 May]], [[2006]] </ref>, [[Sir Iqbal Sacranie]], the head of the MCB, denied that the policy constituted a boycott. The MCB subsequently made an official complaint to the BBC that their position had been misrepresented by selective editing of the interview. This complaint was rejected by the BBC.
===Political opposition===
{{See also|Anti-Masonry}}
{{See also|Freemasonry under Totalitarian Regimes}}
Perhaps influenced by the assertion of Masons that many political figures in the past 300 years have been Masons, Freemasonry has long been the target of [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] theories, which see it as an [[occult]] and evil power. Often associated with the [[New World Order]] and other "agents", such as the [[Illuminati]], the fraternity is seen, by conspiracy theorists, as either bent on world domination, or already secretly in control of world politics.
In 1799 English Freemasonry almost came to a halt. In the wake of the [[French Revolution]] the ''Unlawful Societies Act, 1799'' banned any meetings of groups that required their members to take an [[oath]] or obligation. <ref name="UGLE history"> [http://www.grandlodge-england.org/ugle/the-history-of-grand-lodge-1.htm''UGLE History''] Accessed [[March 8]] [[2006]].</ref> The Grand Masters of the Premier Grand Lodge and the Antients Grand Lodge called on the Prime Minister William Pitt, (not a Freemason) and explained to him how Freemasonry was a supporter of the law and lawfully constituted authority and was much involved in charitable work. As a result Freemasonry was specifically exempted from the terms of the Act, provided that each Private Lodge's Secretary placed with the local "Clerk of the Peace" a list of the members of his Lodge—once a year. <ref name="UGLE history"/> This continued until 1967 when the obligation of the provision was rescinded by [[Parliament]].<ref name="UGLE history"/> ''Regular'' Freemasonry inserted into its core ritual a formal obligation: to be quiet and peaceable citizens, true to the lawful government of the country in which they live, and not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion. <ref name="UGLE home"/> A Freemason makes a further obligation, before being made Master of his Lodge, to pay a proper respect to the civil [[magistrate|Magistrates]]. <ref name="UGLE home"/> The words may be varied across Grand Lodges, but the sense in the obligation taken is always there in ''regular'' Freemasonry.
Following the disappearance of anti-Masonic agitator [[William Morgan (anti-Mason)|William Morgan]], in 1826, claims circulated that he had been kidnapped and killed by rogue Freemasons. Despite the fact that no evidence was ever brought forward to implicate Freemasonry, these accusations helped an Anti-Masonic movement grow throughout the [[United States]], and culminated in an Anti-Masonic Party being formed. The Anti-Masonic Party fielded candidates for the Presidential elections of 1828 and 1832.
In modern democracies, Freemasonry is still sometimes accused of being a [[Old boy network|network]], where individuals become Freemasons through [[patrimony]]; and where political influence and illegal business dealings take place. This is officially and explicitly deplored. <ref name="UGLE home"/> An individual must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the fraternity. <ref name="UGLE home"/>
In Italy, the ''[[illicit]]'' and ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|irregular]]'' [[Propaganda Due]] lodge (aka P2) has been investigated. In the wake of financial scandals that nearly bankrupted the [[Vatican Bank]] in the late 1970s, there is suspicion of involvement in murders, including the head of [[Banco Ambrosiano]], [[Roberto Calvi]]. He was found hanging under [[Blackfriars Bridge]] in [[London]], [[England]].
The [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] Government , in the late 1990s and early 2000s, attempted to require all members of fraternal organisations who are public officials to make their affiliation public. <ref> [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldhansrd/vo020513/text/20513w03.htm ''UK Government Report''] Accessed [[March 4]] [[2006]].</ref>
<ref> [http://www.charlton.demon.co.uk/masonic/report.html ''UK Government Report''] Accessed [[March 4]] [[2006]].</ref>
This was challenged under [[European]] [[Human Rights]] legislation, and the Government in enacting the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, <ref> [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/19980042.htm ''UK Act, 1998''] Accessed [[March 5]] [[2006]].</ref> had to curtail the scope of their requirements. <ref> [http://www.charlton.demon.co.uk/masonic/statement.html''UGLE Statement''] Accessed [[March 4]] [[2006]].</ref> Arrangements for the declaration of freemasonry membership have been established for the current Lay Magistracy, Judiciary, and voluntary registration was introduced in 1999 for the Police Service.<ref> [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/newhtml_hl?DB=semukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=freemason&ALL=&ANY=freemason&PHRASE=&CATEGORIES=&SIMPLE=&SPEAKER=&COLOUR=red&STYLE=s&ANCHOR=30224w85.html_wqn6&URL=/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030224/text/30224w85.htm#30224w85.html_wqn6 Hansard (UK House of Commons Daily Debates)] accessed [[12 May]] [[2006]].</ref> No central register of freemasonry membership is held, and it is not possible to estimate the number of members who failed to declare their interest.
Decisions on whether information should be released are the responsibility of the public authority receiving the request, on a case-by-case basis, acting in accordance with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000. <ref> [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/newhtml_hl?DB=semukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=freemason&ALL=&ANY=freemason&PHRASE=&CATEGORIES=&SIMPLE=&SPEAKER=&COLOUR=red&STYLE=s&ANCHOR=muscat_highlighter_first_match&URL=/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050721/text/50721w69.htm#muscat_highlighter_first_match Hansard (UK House of Commons Daily Debates)] accessed [[12 May]] [[2006]].</ref>
Negative reaction to Catholicism's, at times, [[theocratic]] and authoritarian political influence, of "Grand Orient" Continental European Freemasonry, in countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal; historically tended towards [[anticlericalism]], secularism and at times even total [[Anti-Catholicism]].
=== Religious opposition ===
{{main|Christianity and Freemasonry}}
{{see also|Catholicism and Freemasonry}}
Although sections of other faiths cite objections, in general, it is [[Christianity]] and Freemasonry that has had the highest profile relationship, with various Christian denominations banning or discouraging members from being Freemasons.
While regular Masonry has always tended as much to [[rationalism]] as it does to [[mysticism]], the very existence of the possibility of [[Hermeticism|hermetic]] interpretations within Freemasonry has led Anti-Masonic activists to selectively quote works such as [[Albert Pike|Albert Pike's]] ''Morals and Dogma'' to try to show Freemasonry as naturalistic, a ritualized form of [[deism]], <ref>[http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5285 Letter of April 19, 1985 to U.S. Bishops Concerning Masonry] by Cardinal Bernard Law</ref> or even [[satanic]].
However, those Grand Lodges in amity with UGLE explicitly and adhere to the principle that Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion; There is no separate "Masonic god", and there is no separate proper name for a deity in Freemasonry. <ref>[http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/A2L-religion.htm UGLE: Is Freemasonry a religion?], accessed [[January 21]] [[2006]].</ref> Freemasonry is [[dogmatic|non-dogmatic]] and [[constitution|constitutionally]] governed. Pike's opinions are his own personal (and now somewhat outdated) interpretations. Most tellingly, Pike himself admits that his book is more culled from other sources than his original work. Most importantly, Pike is but one commentator amongst many, and no one voice has ever spoken for the whole of Freemasonry.
In the ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|irregular]]'' Continental European tradition, a very broad interpretation given; allowing Deist and naturalistic views in the tradition of [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]] and [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]] (himself a Freemason), or views of [[The Ultimate]] or Cosmic Oneness, along with Western atheistic [[idealism]] and [[Agnosticism|agnosticism]].
A number of Papal pronouncements have been issued against Freemasonry. The first was "In Eminenti" by Pope Clement XII and was issued on April 28, 1738. The last was "Ab Apostolici" by Pope Leo XIII and was issued on October 15, 1890. More recently, in [[1983]],the in [[Quaesitum est]] issued by Roman Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (the advisory body to the Pope responsible for ruling on matters of Church doctrine), states that "The faithful, who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion." This was signed by the then Prefect, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now [[Pope Benedict XVI]]).
Freemasonry welcomes Roman Catholics as members, and interestingly, in 2005 the Grand Lodge of Italy announced that it had installed a Roman Catholic Priest as its Chaplain. (This office requires that the holder is a Freemason, but not necessarily be in Holy Orders).<ref name="cathnews">[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=4581 Catholic News Agency] reported on August 8, 2005</ref>
=== Holocaust ===
[[Image:Forgetmenotflower.JPG|thumb|right|120px|'''[[Forget-me-not]]''']]
{{main|Holocaust}}
{{see also|Freemasonry under Totalitarian Regimes}}
The majority of those who suffered during the [[Holocaust]] were [[Holocaust#Jews|Jews]]<ref>A. Hitler, ''Mein Kampf'', pages 315 and 320.</ref> and [[Holocaust#Poles|Poles]]. The preserved records of the RSHA - Reichssicherheitshauptamt Office of the High Command of Security Service pursuing the racial objectives of the SS through Race and Resettlement Office, show the persecution of the Freemasons. <ref> [http://mill-valley.freemasonry.biz/persecution.htm Documented evidence from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum pertaining to the persecution of the Freemasons] accessed [[21 may]], [[2006]]</ref> The number of Freemasons from Nazi occupied countries who were killed is not accurately known, <ref name="HMD home"/> but it is estimated that between 80,000 and 200,000 Freemasons were murdered under the Nazi regime. <ref name="holocaust">Freemasons for Dummies, by [http://members.aol.com/brlodge/whymasons.html Christopher Hodapp], Wiley Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, 2005, p.85, sec. ''Hitler and the Nazi''</ref>. The [[United Kingdom]] Government established [[Holocaust Memorial Day (UK)|Holocaust Memorial Day]] <ref name="HMD home"/> to recognise all groups who were targets of the Nazi regime, and counter [[Holocaust denial]].
In 1948 the little blue [[Forget-me-not|Forget Me Not]]<ref>[http://www.galenlodge.co.uk/forgetmenot.htm ''Das Vergissmeinnicht The Forget-Me-Not''] Accessed [[February 6]] [[2006]].</ref> flower, or badge, was adopted as a Masonic emblem at the first Annual Convention of the United Grand Lodges of Germany, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons.<ref name="Flower Badge"/> The flower, or badge, is now universally worn as a Masonic emblem in the coat lapel to remember all those that have suffered in the name of Freemasonry, and specifically those during the Nazi era.<ref>[http://www.galenlodge.co.uk/forgetmenot.htm''Flower Badge as told by Galen Lodge No 2394 (UGLE)''] Accessed [[March 4]] [[2006]].</ref> <ref name="Flower Badge">[http://www.mastermason.com/monlou522/forget~me~not.html ''Flower Badge''] Accessed [[March 4]] [[2006]].</ref>
==Cultural references==
* [[Kipling|Rudyard Kipling]] used Masonic symbols and characters in some of his writings, most notably ''[[The Man Who Would Be King]]'', which was later made into a film. Two adventurers are taken to be Masonic representatives of [[Alexander the Great]].
*[[Thomas Paine]] was fascinated by the origin of freemasonry and wrote [http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/history/paine_t.html "Origin of Freemasonry"]
* One of the main characters in [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s ''[[The Cask of Amontillado]]'' is a Freemason.
* One of the main characters in [[Leo Tolstoy|Leo Tolstoy's]] ''[[War and Peace]]'' becomes a Freemason.
* The plot of the opera "[[Die Zauberflöte]]" ("The Magic Flute") contains several references to Masonic ideals and ceremonies. [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] and his librettist [[Emanuel Schikaneder]] were both members of the Masonic lodge Lodge of the Nine Muses.
*[[Joseph Smith, Jr.|Joseph Smith]], the founder of the [[Mormon]] religion, was a Freemason, as were the first five presidents of [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]]: Smith, [[Brigham Young]], [[John Taylor (1808-1887)|John Taylor]], [[Wilford Woodruff]], and [[Lorenzo Snow]]. All became Masons at a regular Lodge in [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]], [[Illinois]]. <ref name="LDS Presidents Who Were Masons">[http://www.freemason.org/cfo/may_june_2001/mormon.htm ''LDS Presidents Who Were Masons''] Accessed [[May 19]] [[2006]].</ref>
*The [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]] was a society founded by at least one Mason who also was a member of the [[Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia]] (a research and study group focusing on symbolic [[alchemy]], the mystical [[kabbalah]], [[tarot]], and Christian Symbolism). The Golden Dawn was never a Masonic body, and was open to membership from non-Masons and women.
* The [[graphic novel]] ''[[From Hell]]'' by [[Alan Moore]] - and the movie based upon it - feature as their basic premise a [[Jack the Ripper royal conspiracy theories|conspiracy theory]] linking "certain Freemasons" to the [[Jack the Ripper]] murders. The story is that "Freemason" [[William Withey Gull|Sir William Gull]], the then British Royal Household's physician, covered up a child of [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence]] born to a Catholic shop girl - "by killing her, and all the women who knew about the baby". The story depends on the assumption that such figures as the [[Marquess of Salisbury]], Sir William Gull and [[Sir Robert Anderson]] were Freemasons - but there is no actual record of their initiation into Freemasonry in any Lodge.
* Freemasons feature heavily in [[Robert Shea|Robert Shea's]] and [[Robert Anton Wilson|Robert Anton Wilson's]] satire, ''[[The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]''.
* [[John Cleese]], and other cast members, portray [[Parody|spoof]] Freemasons in the ''How to recognise a Freemason'' sketch of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''.
* The Freemasons are [[Parody|spoofed]] in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]],'' titled "[[Homer the Great]]," as [[Stonecutters|The Ancient Society of Stonecutters]], a secret organisation that controls everything from the [[British Crown]] to the [[Academy Awards]] (thereby securing [[Steve Guttenberg]]'s stardom).
* Another episode of ''[[The Simpsons]],'' entitled "[[$pringfield|$pringfield (or, How I learned to stop worrying and love legalized gambling)]]", has a scene where [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]], obsessed with germs and having become a "[[Howard Hughes]]"-like recluse, sees germs on [[Waylon Smithers|Smithers']] face. The germs chant "Freemasons run the country."
* [[Dan Brown|Dan Brown's]] novels, ''[[Angels and Demons]]'', ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'' and ''[[The Solomon Key]]'' draw heavily on supposed Masonic and Christian lore and symbolism.
* ''[[Foucault's Pendulum (book)|Foucault's Pendulum]]'' by [[Umberto Eco]] also deals with Freemasonic themes.
* [[The Cremaster Cycle]] films by [[Matthew Barney]] use Masonic imagery.
* The plot of the 2004 movie ''[[National Treasure (film)|National Treasure]]'' revolves heavily around the Freemasons and is somewhat unusual in that it depicts them in a benign light.
* In ''The Baron in the Trees'' Italian writer [[Italo Calvino]] includes Masonic lodges branching out into the lands of Ombrosa with the protagonist of the novel, Cosimo di Rondo, mysteriously and supposedly involved with them.
* [[Katherine Kurtz]] and Deborah Turner Harris use Freemasonry in their series ''The Adept'', most notably in ''The Adept Book Two: The Lodge of the Lynx'', and in Kurtz's [[American Revolution]] [[historical novel]] ''Two Crowns for America'', which links Freemasonry and [[Jacobitism]].
* In [[John Steinbeck]]'s novel ''[[East of Eden]]'' Adam Trask, the main character, is mentioned as becoming a Freemason later in life.
* In [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s short novel ''[["If This Goes On—"]]'', the lead character becomes a Freemason and Freemasonry figures largely in the plot.
* In [[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)|Holy Wood]], [[Marilyn Manson]] alludes to Freemasonry in song titles, lyrics, and sounds.
==Notes==
<div style="font-size: 90%;">
<references/>
</div>
== See also ==
* [[Anti-Masonic Party]]
* [[List of Freemasons]]
* [[List of Masonic Grand Lodges]]
* [[Masonic Knights Templar]]
* [[Pigpen cipher]]
* [[Propaganda Due]] - The P2 Masonic Lodge Scandal
* [[Taxil hoax]]
=== Appendant bodies and organizations with Masonic affiliations===
{{main| Masonic Appendant Bodies}}
==External links==
*[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ PS Review of Freemasonry] Masonic Magazine written by and for Freemasons
*[http://www.brad.ac.uk/webofhiram Web of Hiram]
*[http://www.geocities.com/stlaasr/masonic-books-online.html Masonic Books On-Line]
*[http://internetloge.de/masmon/masmon.htm Webb's Freemason's Monitor — including the first three degrees]
*[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/preston_illustrations_masonry.html Illustrations of Masonry]
*[http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libraryscience/25/ James Anderson, ''The Constitutions of the Free-Masons'' (1734). An Online Electronic Edition]
*[http://www.republika.pl/adnikiel/freemasonry.html Freemasonry in Poland - formerly and today. By Norbert Wójtowicz]
*[http://www.bessel.org/culture.htm www.bessel.org] Freemasonry in Culture by MLC - Masonic Leadership Center
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