Many people have heard about Masons and Freemasonry, but very few know about the world’s oldest fraternal organization. This is why everybody is asking: What is Freemasonry? The name of the Masonic organization, or Freemasonry as it is still known, is bandied about in connection with many facts and events that are still shrouded in mystery and have given rise to more or less credible conspiracy theories.
Freemasonry is an initiatory order, and its members are bound by moral, spiritual, and social ideals through initiation according to a familiar ritual. They take an oath on one of the holy books of the great religions such as the Bible, the Koran, the Dao de Jing, or other writings considered sacred and, in most branches, by belief in a “Supreme Power” called the “Great Architect of the Universe.” The Masonic organization is considered the most significant secret society in the world; some have even called it occult.
Freemason secrets are supposedly behind everything from the plotting of the capital of the United States of America to the development of the atomic bomb to the most horrific crimes that have shocked the world. Freemasons are known for donating tens of millions of dollars to various charities.
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Who are the Freemasonry?
The ranks of this mysterious organization include prominent politicians, founding fathers of the American nation, and business tycoons. Freemasons trace their European origins back to the Middle Ages and “recommend” themselves as a guild of skilled builders. For example, the poem “Regius” contains the earliest reference to Freemasonry, published in 1390.
Freemasonry is an organization representing a group of people of different genders and ideologies who unite to pursue the perfection of the individual and society. Freemasonry is usually identified with something secret, almost Machiavellian, although Masons deny this. Also, freemasonry does not promise anything; it simply pursues the development of the human being – or so it claims.
Freemasonry is rooted in the Enlightenment and upholds the fundamental values of the age, namely religious tolerance, thirst for knowledge, and sociability. Today, it is a social and philanthropic organization whose role is to encourage its members to lead more virtuous and socially oriented lives.
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Who are the Masons?
Freemasons belong to the oldest fraternal organization in the world, a group that began in the Middle Ages in Europe as a guild of skilled builders. Founded in the Enlightenment, the organization still transmits the fundamental values of age, religious tolerance, thirst for knowledge, and sociability.
The enigmatic Masonic brotherhood members are prominent politicians, founding fathers, and business titans. In today’s modern times, among other things, Freemasons donate significant amounts of money to charities.
For many, Freemasonry is like social networking. Masonic meetings discuss loyalty, make important decisions and hold secret ceremonies. It needs to be discovered what happens at their meetings.
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What are the Masons?
Whenever the word Freemasonry comes up for discussion, there is a quiet rumble, and many questions often go unanswered. It is widely seen as a secret organization, the largest secret society in the world, and some label it occult. It has been secret whenever it has been forbidden by law. Otherwise, its members prefer to talk about discretion and shared ideals, while many believe that they are the ones who run the world. But let’s see what Freemasonry is and what its stated purpose is.
The Masons are an institution with an initiatory order whose members are bound together by common moral, spiritual and social ideals, by initiation according to a familiar ritual, by an oath sworn on one of the holy books of the great religions. There are 33 Masonic ranks.
Among the reasons why Freemasonry has aroused so much speculation is the way it is organized, which is quite complicated at first sight. There are degrees, rites, lodges, and a whole fabric that does not seem accessible outside.
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Who founded Freemasonry?
The opponents of Freemasonry label it as an organization with satanic, manipulative rituals that rule the world from the shadows at will. Over the years, many false theories about Freemasonry have emerged, but they have influenced the beliefs of generations. Some of them, such as those constructed by the dreaded Joseph Goebbels, one of Adolf Hitler’s closest collaborators, continue to be presented today as the truth about Freemasonry and its followers.
One of the founders of Freemasonry is Robert Moray. The beginnings of Freemasonry are not known, but it is well documented that the first initiation in England was Sir Robert Moray (famous 17th-century Scot) on May 20, 1641. This took place in a Scottish Lodge near Newcastle-upon-Tyne while the Scottish army was under siege in Newcastle. Sir Robert Moray was initiated at the Edinburgh Lodge (St Mary’s Chapel) meeting.
There are two main theories of the origin of Freemasonry. According to one, the operative masons who built the great cathedrals and castles attended lodges where they discussed operational matters. They had simple initiation ceremonies, and because there were no certificates, tax cards, or membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words to demonstrate that they were trained Masons when they moved from place to place. Around 1600, these operative lodges began to accept non-operative Masons. Gradually these non-operatives took over clubs and transformed them from operative to “free and accepted” or “speculative” lodges.
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What are the beliefs of the Masons?
Freemasonry, the Order of the Eastern Star, and similar “secret” fraternal organizations seem harmless. It appears that many of them contribute to the belief in God. However, upon closer examination, we find that the only requirement for faith is that a person must believe not in the proper and living God. But instead – in the existence of a “supreme being,” which includes the “gods” of Islam and Hinduism. Or any other world religion. The beliefs and practices of unbiblical and anti-Christian organizations are partially hidden behind the appearance of supposed compatibility with the Christian faith. Below is a comparison of Bible teaching with the “official” position of Freemasonry:
The Masons’ beliefs concerning the biblical position are that Jesus was a victim for sinners to God, shedding His blood and giving His life as payment for the sins of all who ever believe in Him (Ephesians 2: 8-9; Romans 5: 8; John 3:16). The very process of getting into the box requires rejecting the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. According to Masonic beliefs, a person will be saved. And go to heaven as a result of their excellent works and self-improvement.
Also, Masons consider the Bible to be only one of several “books of the Holy Law.” Each of these is considered equally important in Freemasonry. It is a critical book only to members who consider themselves Christians, just as the Koran is important to Muslims. The Bible is not considered the whole Word of God, nor is God’s only revelation to mankind. But only one of many religious sources. It is an excellent moral landmark.
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What is Masonic religion?
Masons have the Sacred Law Volume, which is considered to be, in effect, the word of God, but not just as interpreted in the world’s religions, but through the knowledge, that man acquires in this world. It is the symbol of faith in the Great Architect of the Universe.
The Masonic religion is the Christian religion. There is only one God. His different names refer to the God of Israel and reflect certain qualities. Worshipping or appealing to other gods is idolatry (Exodus 20: 3). Paul spoke of idolatry as a disgusting sin (1 Corinthians 10:14). And John said idolaters would perish in hell (Revelation 21:8).
All members must believe in divinity. Different religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) honor the same God; they call him by other names. Freemasonry encourages people of all faiths to believe that even though they use different terms than the “Nameless One with a Hundred Names,” They pray to one God and Father of all.
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The Masonic Holy Trinity
Masons believe in Jesus Christ or the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – there is no exclusivity; therefore, the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus Christ is not held. Appealing to Jesus during prayer or mentioning His name in a box is inappropriate. The statement that Jesus is the only way to God contradicts the principles of tolerance. Jesus’ name has been omitted from Bible verses used in Masonic rituals. Jesus is on the same level as other religious leaders.
The Masonic doctrine of Jesus and the Holy Trinity is that Jesus was God in the human body (Matthew 1: 18-24, John 1: 1). Jesus is the second person of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19; Mark 1: 9-11). While on earth, He was fully human (Mark 4:38, Matthew 4: 2) and fully God (John 20:28, John 1: 1-2, Acts 4: 10-12). Christians should pray in Jesus’ name and proclaim Him to others, despite possible insults from non-Christians (John 14:13-14; 1 John 2:23; Acts 4:18-20).
All human beings are born with a sinful nature, are fallen and in need of salvation from sin (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Psalm 50: 5-7; Ephesians 2: 1). The Bible denies that mankind has the capacity for moral perfection (1 John 1: 8-10, Romans 1: 18-25). Through symbols and emblems, Freemasons teach that man is not sinful but simply “crude and imperfect in nature.” Human beings can improve their character and behavior in various ways, including acts of charity, moral living, and voluntary fulfillment of civic duty. Mankind can move from imperfection to complete perfection. Moral and spiritual perfection lies within a person.
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Masonic symbols
In the Masonic language, colors have a special meaning – for example, blue alongside white and black indicate the Masonic degrees, where blue represents universal friendship and goodwill.
Today, the main Masonic symbols are the “three great lights”: the “other,” the “compass,” and the “volume of the Holy Law” (the most famous of the Masonic symbols), as well as the letter “G,” written inside an archer and a compass, which represents the initials of the words “God,” “geometry, generation, genius, gnosis.”
The letter “G” in the center of the symbol remains subject to dispute. For example, some Massachusetts Institute of Technology experts believe that the letter “G” in the logo’s center represents a geometry critical to early Freemasons. In contrast, others believe it means God, the “Great Architect of the Universe.” There is another lesser-known Masonic symbol drawn from nature: the beehive. “Masons were originally hard-working people who had to be as busy as bees,” says one expert. “And the hive symbolizes the industriousness of the lodge.”
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The world’s greatest Freemasons
Here are the world’s most excellent Masons:
- Benjamin Franklin – remained active in the group for over 50 years, printing the first Masonic publication, The Freemasons’ Constitutions.
- George Washington – first President of the United States of America. Washington performed Masonic rites at laying the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol on September 18, 1793.
- Paul Revere
- François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Winston Churchill
- Steve Wozniak
Primary Takeaways
- The Antimasonic Society was founded in the US in 1828. In response to fears that the organization was secretly becoming too powerful. Some members claimed conspiracy theories about Freemasons. And others argued that a horrible crime of the time was the work of Freemasons so that the victim would not reveal the organization’s secrets.
- The tallest Masonic building was erected in Chicago in 1892. The skyscraper is 91 meters high and has 19 floors.
- It wasn’t just the Romans and Jews who fell victim to the Nazis. Hitler persecuted Freemasons because the Nazi leader believed they were all Jews.
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Conclusion
Those who become Freemasons are forced to recognize that they were in darkness before and that the light is within Freemasonry. They see themselves as enlightened, just as members of the Illuminati brotherhood claim to be. The concept of enlightenment is one of the most misunderstood (or deliberately missed)promoted ideas.
When a Christian takes the Freemasonry sacrament, he promises to abide by three great doctrines that God has declared to be false and sinful:
1. Man’s good works can accomplish this salvation.
2. That Jesus is only one of the equally revered prophets.
3. They will be silent in the box and not speak of Christ.
As you can see, Freemasonry contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture in many ways. Freemasonry also requires people to participate in activities that the Bible condemns. Thus, a Christian should not be a member of any secret society or organization related to Freemasonry.