45 Freemason Facts To Learn More About The Secret Organization

Since the Middle Ages, people have been apprehensive about Freemasons.

With their secret rituals and handshakes, the members of this secret society have managed to establish themselves as very reserved people. The ultimate goal of this secret society is to promote fraternity and truth.

The secrecy that the members maintain about the teachings and rituals of the society has led to many questions. Since the time of its conception, people have been offended by the fact that there would be a secretive guild that even had a language of its own.

Naturally, even the Catholic church has been very vocally against Freemasonry and its rituals. However, most countries have their own mason lodges and millions of people are masons by choice. Keep reading to learn more about Freemasons!

History Of Freemasons

The original guild that started the now-famous society of Freemasons is said to have started in the Middle Ages. At that time, the stonemasons created a guild for themselves, in which they could discuss the problems that were prevalent in their line of work.

Stonemasons who worked for the building of churches and houses had to abide by many rules and regulations, and the guild of stonemasons was created so that the workers could create a uniform decorum that they could be comfortable with.

As stonemasons slowly started losing work, the members eventually changed the nature of this society.

A series of changes gave birth to the secret society of Freemasons.

Slowly, the society started developing very elaborate rules and regulations, a lot of which have stayed to date.

In the 18th century, when Freemasons openly stated the existence of such a society, the Catholic church was suspicious of the nature of such a group and the motivation behind creating it.

This suspicion was strong and was even aggravated by the fact that Freemasons did not exactly reveal their mission or rituals.

The church eventually banned Catholic people from becoming Freemasons and also declared that the society was strictly against God.

Such claims were last made in the late 20th century.

In the Middle Ages, only men worked as stonemasons, and hence, the founding fathers of the guild were all men.

For the longest time, the members of many lodges forbade women to join the society.

It was only recently that women started becoming masons.

In fact, the society had to start a completely different wing in order to accept women as Freemasons.

In some parts of the world, accepting women as Freemasons remains forbidden.

The first Grand Lodge was built in the early 18th century.

This lodge was established in 1717.

The concept of the organization was unclear to most people back then because the members were very reserved about their rituals and practices.

There also was some apprehension as to why people from all walks of life would congregate in such a way.

In the Medieval Ages, most workers were not allowed to find work in any place other than their own village or locality.

However, the stonemasons were an exception to this rule.

This is because the stonemasons had to build churches and cathedrals.

This exposed them to people outside of their own village.

Hence the stonemasons made their own guild.

The symbol used by stonemasons is the same as the one that is used to symbolize the organization of Freemasons.

Once cathedral building came to an end, stonemasons still wanted more people to join their organization.

Eventually, they started accepting men from all walks of life.

Mysteries Behind Freemasons

The society of Freemasons has a very secretive air around it. This is because the members of this secret society remain extremely quiet about the nature of their work and the fashion in which their society educates people.

The society of Freemasons is full of secret rituals and other things that the members refrain from talking about.

The way in which the members are educated is also kept secret from anyone who is not a member.

The Freemason lodges operate in a secretive way and the members meet around twice every month.

In this organization, there are people of several different levels.

The apprentices or people who have just joined remain in the first level.

The second level is attained through further education and the third and last level requires utmost knowledge about the foundational values of the organization.

There are secret handshakes for the different members of the organization depending on the level at which they stand.

As of the present day, both men and women can take part in the educative rituals of the organization and hold the same amount of opportunities when it comes to attaining knowledge.

Although Freemasons claim for their organization to be global in nature, such is not the case.

For centuries, women were forbidden from entering the organization.

Atheists and agnostics are also not allowed to be members of the organization.

This is because the primary rules of joining the organization are such that the applicants must believe in a religion.

If they do not believe in any religion, they will have no faith in a supreme being and would hence not be able to follow the morals of the organization itself.

Many countries do not have any Freemason lodges, which is why many communities do not even know about the existence of such an organization that has its own philosophies, secret codes, and way of functioning.

Rituals And Symbolism Of Freemasons

The rituals of the organization of Freemasons are not clearly declared to anyone outside of the guild. Moreover, it is believed that the rituals and meetings do not follow the same rules in every lodge. However, the symbols in the organization have a uniform set of meanings.

When a person is initiated into the organization of Freemasons, they are asked to go through the first level of education.

The freemason tools that the person is introduced to at that point would include a 24 in (61 cm) gauge.

This gauge is symbolic of how a person should be spending the 24 hours of their day.

According to the teachings of the guild, a Freemason should spend a portion of the day praying, a portion in their work, and the remaining time resting.

Another symbol that an apprentice is introduced to is the gavel.

This gavel is symbolic of the need for Freemasons to give up on their superficial desires and needs.

In the second level, Freemasons are introduced to other tools, such as the square.

This square is supposed to guide the Freemason in keeping their actions in check.

The pencil stands for the authority of the Grand Architect or the Supreme Being.

The Grand Architect and his schemes are symbolized through the pencil.

FAQs

What do the Masons believe?

Masons or Freemasons believe in a set of values that the group has established for itself over the past few centuries. Freemasons often have very secretive rituals and gestures, which are hard to decipher.

However, the core values shared by all Freemasons around the world are those of truth, brotherly love, and relief. Freemasons also believe in the existence of a superior being and that the soul of a human being is immortal. They have their own philosophies and most Freemasons engage in philanthropic deeds.

What are the benefits of being a Freemason?

The objective of Freemasonry is to help people in being better. Freemasons believe in a set of core values that they uphold throughout their lives.

Through the heightened community spirit that exists amongst Freemasons, people are brought together. Members go through some education which makes them competent in life. The Masonic lodge is also known for being tremendously successful in terms of maintaining a proper order.

What is the Freemason symbol?

The typical Freemason symbol is that of a compass and a square. However, there are other symbols in Freemasonry.

Some of these symbols are quite difficult to decipher and since members never speak about the values of their organization, people have mostly only been able to make guesses about the nature of these symbols. The eye symbol in Freemasonry is thought to be indicative of the fact that the superior being has control over everyone and sees everything.

On the other hand, the square is supposed to be a symbol of how grounded Freemasons are expected to be.

This symbol also asks the Freemasons of the world to keep their own actions in check. The 24 in (61 cm) gauge stands for how people of the Masonic lodge are supposed to be dividing the 24 hours of their days.

What is a Freemason lodge?

The Freemason lodge does not refer to a building but to a congregation of Freemasons. It is known to be the basic unit in terms of Masonry and every member is first supposed to join a lodge in order to become a part of the organization.

How much are Freemason dues?

The cost of joining such a secret society can differ based on where it is. The more famous and desirable freemason lodges charge more money while others charge less. The average dues on an annual basis are about $100.

What is the definition of a Freemason?

A Freemason is essentially a member of the Masonic temple, who abides by the values and rules of the Masonic lodge. A Freemason is obliged to abide by their own religion and believe in the existence of a supreme being.

How to become a Freemason?

In order to become a Freemason, people are required to fulfill a few parameters such as having faith in a supreme being and being an adult, among others. Once these parameters are met, people may contact their nearest Mason lodge and enquire about the initiation process.