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MASONRY FAQ - "Frequently Asked Questions"
Over the years, many questions have arisen about Freemasons. Some of the answers have been quite fanciful, others outright wrong. Below you will find a collection of numerous questions, some of the more popular, organized into four broad topics. Please select a specific question to jump right to it or browse them in any order you wish.
I. WHO/WHAT ARE MASONS?
(1) What is Freemasonry?
(2) What is the Scottish Rite?
(3) What is the York Rite?
(4) What is the Shrine?
(5) What is the Eastern Star?
(6) What is DeMolay?
(7) What is Rainbow?
(8) What are some other Masonic organizations?
(9) What is Co-Masonry?
(10) What is Prince Hall Masonry?
(11) What is a 33rd degree Mason?
(12) Are there any Masonic functions that I can
attend as a non-Mason?
(13) Who is the head of the Masons?
(14) Are there dues, fees, etc. associated with being
a Mason?
(15) I hear Masons refer to an "apron."
What is that?
(16) What is a "Masonic Funeral"?
II. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS & MYTHS
(1) Are Masons just a bunch of old men? Isn't Masonry
dying out?
(2) Aren't Masons racist/elitist?
(3) Isn't Masonry just a place where businessmen make
deals?
(4) I see titles like "Worshipful Master"
and "Senior Deacon" -- is this some kind
of cult?
(5) Masonry is a secret society, right?
(6) Masonry is a religion, right?
(7) Are Masons really controlling the world/meeting
with the Bavarian Illuminati/members of the
Trilateralist Commission/etc?
(8) Masons are anti-Catholic, right?
(9) Masonic rituals are demeaning or embarrassing
to the candidate, right?
(10) I heard/read a Mason talking about a
"Masonic Bible." Do Masons have their
own Bible?
(11) I see that Masonic buildings are called Temples.
Does that mean that Masons worship there?
III. HOW DO I BECOME A MASON?
(1) What are the requirements for becoming a Mason?
(2) Can <fill in an ethnic group>s be Masons?
(3) Can homosexuals be Masons?
(4) I have a physical disability. Can I be a Mason?
(5) Can <fill in the name of the religion> be a
Mason?
(6) Do Masons accept Catholics?
(7) Can Wiccans be Masons?
(8) What if my religion does not allow the swearing
of oaths?
(9) Do I have to be invited?
(10) OK, I'm interested -- how do I proceed?
IV. HISTORY
(1) Where
did Masons come from?
(2) What US Presidents
have been Masons?
(3) Was Thomas Jefferson a Mason? Patrick Henry? Abraham Lincoln?
(4) What famous people
have been Masons?
(5) What famous buildings in the US have been laid Masonically?
(6) What's
the difference between AF&AM and F&AM?
(7) Was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, a Mason?
(8) What
is the oldest Lodge Room in the world? In the US?
(9) Is it true that all of George Washington's generals during the
Revolutionary War were Masons?
(10) Is it true that all the signers of the Declaration of Independence were
Masons? The Articles of Confederation? The Constitution?
(11) George Washington turned down the title of "Grand Master of the United
States" -- true?
(12) Why do some Lodges meet on a certain day of the week "following the
full moon"? Are Masons some kind of moon worshippers?
(13) Did Masons
suffer at the hands of the Nazis?
(14) Are Masons connected to Greek-letter college fraternities?
(15) I want information on Masonic history. What books would be good
introductions?
(16) My local Library doesn't have any books on Freemasonry, where can I
find them?
(17) What movies/books
feature Masonry?
ANSWERS
I. WHO/WHAT ARE MASONS?
(1) What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry (or simply, Masonry) is a fraternal order
whose basic tenets are brotherly love, relief (philanthropy), and truth. We
strive to enjoy the company of our brother Masons, assist them in times of
personal trouble, and reinforce essential moral values. There is an old
adage that Masonry "takes good men and makes them better," which
is our goal.
It has often been observed that men are the products
of everything they come into contact with during their lifetime. Masonry
offers a man an opportunity to come into regular, enjoyable contact with men
of good character, thus reinforcing his own personal moral development. Of
course, Masonry is also meant to be enjoyed by its membership, so the order
should not be viewed simply as a philosophical club, but rather a vibrant
fellowship of men who seek to enjoy each other's company, a fraternity.
To maintain this fraternity, discussion of religion
and politics within the Lodge is forbidden, as these subjects are those that
have often divided men in the past. Masons cover the spectrum of both
religious and political beliefs and encourages a man to be religious without
advocating a particular religion, and to be active in his community without
advocating a particular medium of political expression.
While there probably are some actual stone-workers
who are Masons, Masonry does not teach is membership the literal techniques
of stonework. Rather, it takes the actual "operative" work of
Medieval Masons and uses it as an allegory for moral development. Thus, the
symbols of Masonry are the common tools that were used by medieval
stonemasons: the gavel, the rule, the compass, the square, the level, etc.
Each of these has a symbolic meaning in Masonry. For example, Masons are
said to meet "on the level," meaning that all Masons are brothers,
regardless of social status, personal wealth, or office within the Lodge or
in the world at large. Similar symbolism exists for other tools.
Masonry is distinguished from other fraternal orders
by its emphasis on moral character, its ornate rituals, and its long
tradition and history, which dates back to at least the 17th century in
modern form, the 14th century (c. 1350-1390) in the written evidence of its
precursors, and back to the mists of antiquity in its origin. Masonry has a
continuously documented paper history (i.e., Lodge to Lodge) since 1717,
though historical analysis shows Masonry to be much older.
There are also a great many things that Masonry is
NOT: a religion, a secret society, etc., and these will be covered later in
this FAQ.
There are three degrees in Masonry. Other appendant
bodies confer additional degrees, up to the 32nd (or the honorary 33rd) of
the Scottish Rite, but in symbolic Masonry (or Blue Lodge Masonry) proper,
there are only three. At the Blue Lodge, Masons receive the degrees of
Entered Apprentice (first degree), Fellowcraft (second degree), and Master
Mason (third degree). Promotion generally requires the mastery of a small
body of memorized material, the contents of which varies from jurisdiction
to jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, only the signs, tokens, and grips of
each degree must be learned; in others, a longer amount of material.
Of course, no Mason would ever look down upon a
Brother simply because he was of a lower degree -- the degrees do not exist
to create a pecking order or to confer rank. Rather, they are a system of
initiation that allows men to become familiar with the august and ancient
history and principles of Masonry at a comfortable pace. Proceeding from
Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in the US can take as little as three
months, while in England, the degrees are spaced apart by a year's interval.
Most Lodges have regular communications (meetings)
once a month, that are also referred to as "business meetings." In
the US, these are typically only open to Master Masons. In England, these
meetings are usually opened in the first degree, and EAs may attend.
Conferring of degrees is usually done at other meetings during the month.
While conferral of degrees and mundane business do
take up a lot of a Lodge's time, there are a host of other activities that
Masons engage in within the fraternity. Charitable work is often done, in
the form of fundraisers, community volunteer work, etc. And there are also a
great many things done for the simple pleasure of company: monthly
breakfasts or dinners, picnics, card/chess matches, lecturers on Masonic
history, you name it. Masonry is a fraternity, and its membership seeks to
have fun.
Local Masonic Lodges are organized under Grand
Lodges. In the United States, each state has its own Grand Lodge, which is a
peer with every other Grand Lodge. There is not "Grandest Lodge" --
each Grand Lodge is supreme in its jurisdiction (e.g., in the US, in its
state) but has no authority elsewhere. Of course, this does not mean that
Masonry in New York is radically different than Masonry in Scotland or New
Mexico. Masons are very traditional and the differences between Grand Lodges
are usually minor.
The head of a Lodge is given the title Worshipful
Master. This, of course, does not imply that Masons worship him; it is
merely a stylish title. Masonic Lodges can be found in many cities, of all
sizes, around the world. There are presently approximately 5 million Masons,
half of which are in the United States.
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(2) What is the Scottish Rite?
The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of Masonry,
meaning that it is not part of the Blue Lodge per se, but closely associated
with Masonry. It requires that a man be a Master Mason before joining the
Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite confers the 4th through 32nd degrees. The
degree work may be, but is not necessarily, completed at one time.
Any Master Mason is eligible to join the Scottish
Rite. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the symbolism of the first
three Masonic degrees. For a discussion of the 33rd degree, see question 11
of this section.
The above refers to the Ancient Accepted Scottish
Rite (AASR), not the Rectified Scottish Rite, which exists both in
UGLE-recognised and non-recognised Masonic bodies in Europe.
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(3) What is the York Rite?
The York Rite, like the Scottish Rite, is an
appendant body of Masonry, and confers degrees beyond the Blue Lodge's three
degrees. It consists of either eight or nine additional degrees: Mark Master, Past Master (U.S. only),
Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason; the Cryptic Degrees of the
Royal Master, Select Master, and Super Excellent Master; and the Chivalric
Orders of the Order of the Red Cross, Order of the Knights of Malta and the
Order of Knights Templar.
The Temple degrees, which comprise the top degrees of
the York Rite are specifically Christian. Or at least, it can be stated that
the oath is: in some Grand Lodges in the US and abroad, one need not be a
Christian, but rather only be willing to take a Christian OATH. The
difference here is that there are some who would willingly swear to defend
the Christian faith on the grounds that they would defend any man's faith.
The Chapter (or Royal Arch) and Council Of Royal And Select Masters (Cryptic
Rite), which comprise the first two sections of the York Rite, are not
specifically Christian. As with most things Masonic, discuss any concerns
with your local York Rite, who can advise you regarding your eligibility.
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(4) What is the Shrine?
The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry,
though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional
degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Temple in New York City) and an
Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear
at official functions.
Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the
Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for "A
MASON") are members of the Scottish Rite's 32nd degree, and/or Knights
Templer of the York Rite. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on
philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life-- it has been called "the
playground of Masonry." This is expressed as "Pleasure without
intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without
coarseness."
The Royal Order of Jesters is a group drawn from
Shrine membership, by invitation only.
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(5) What is the Eastern Star?
The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of
Freemasonry with teachings based on the Bible and objectives that are
charitable and benevolent. The founder of OES was Dr. Robert Morris, a
lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who was a Master Mason and
Past Grand Master of Kentucky. Dr. Morris intended his creation to become a
female branch of Freemasonry, but he failed to overcome the great opposition
this idea engendered. After his first published ritual in 1849-50, he became
associated with Robert Macoy who wrote and published a ritual based on
Morris' in 1867. The first Grand Chapter was organized in Michigan in the
same year. (There is evidence for an organization of the same name founded
variously in 1788 or 1793, but this group was defunct by 1867.) Subordinate
(local) chapters operate under charter from state level grand chapters which
are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the International Eastern
Star temple in Washington, D.C.
Members must be eighteen years or older and either
Master Masons in good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in good
standing. The latter category includes wives; widows; sisters; daughters;
mothers; granddaughters; step-mothers; step daughters; step-sisters; and
half-sisters. In 1994 this was expanded to include nieces, daughters-inlaw,
and grandmothers.
Each chapter has eighteen officers, some elected and
others appointed. Two offices are specifically male (Patron and Associate
Patron) while nine offices are specifically female (including Matron and
Associate Matron). While the Worthy Matron is considered to be the presiding
officer of the chapter, the degrees cannot be conferred without a presiding
brother in good standing (hence the Patron and Associate Patron).
Each chapter retains the right to decide who shall be
a member of the organization. Election to the degrees must be unanimous,
without debate, and secret. The successful candidate must profess a belief
in a Supreme Being and is initiated in five degrees, which are conferred in
one ceremony. (When Eastern Star was created, it was intended to be the
first of a three degree series. The second and third degrees were Queen of
the South and the Order of the Amaranth, respectively.)
Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in
a Supreme Being even though the degrees are based in both the Old and New
Testaments. While non-Christians are not specifically barred from
membership, it would seem to be difficult to be other than Christian and
belong to the Order.
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(6) What is DeMolay?
The International Order of DeMolay is the world's
largest fraternal organization for young men between the ages of 13 and 21.
The Order was founded in Kansas City, Missouri on March 24, 1919 by Frank
Sherman Land. DeMolay Chapters are sponsored by Masonic Lodges, and some
members of the sponsoring body also serve as Advisors on the Chapter's
Advisory Council. Structurally, it is similar to Masonry. The officers of a
Chapter are the Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior
Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Orator, Scribe,
Marshal, Chaplain, Standard Bearer, Sentinel, Almoner, and seven Preceptors.
DeMolay Chapters hold monthly or bi-weekly meetings with Masonic-like
Ritual. Other activities include athletic tournaments and events, social
functions (joint activities with Rainbow are encouraged), fund-raising
activities, Masonic service activities, and civic and philanthropic
activities.
DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal virtues of the
Order -- filial love, reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship,
fidelity, cleanness, and patriotism -- and the importance of practicing them
in their daily lives.
The Order's namesake is Jacques DeMolay, who was the
last Grand Master of the Knights Templar and who was executed by the
Inquisition on March 18, 1314. Louis Lower, the first DeMolay, and his group
of friends, when asked by Dad Land to choose a name for their group,
believed that his heroic fidelity and loyalty to his fellow Templars were
qualities with which they wanted their group to be identified. Mind you, Dad
Land explained this to them before they chose their name.
A fascinating book about the history of the Order and
the life of Frank S. Land (1890-1959), titled Hi! Dad, is
available from the DeMolay and More Store or practically any member of the
Order. The phone number of the DeMolay and More Store is 1-800-DEMOLAY.
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(7) What is Rainbow?
Rainbow is the complement to DeMolay, enrolling girls
between the age of 13 and 20 if they are related to members of a Masonic
Lodge or the Eastern Star. It confers two degrees, the Initiatory and the
Grand Cross of Color.
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(8) What are some other Masonic organizations?
Acacia: A college fraternity for Master Masons, the
sons of Masons, and young men recommended by two Masons one of whom is an
Acacian himself. The national governing board is composed exclusively of
32nd and 33rd degree Masons.
Order of Amaranth: Open to Masons and their wives,
mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters. At least one Master Mason must be
present at every initiation. It confers only one degree.
Daughters of Mokanna: An auxiliary organization of
the Grotto comprised of the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters
of the Master Masons in the Grotto.
Daughters of the Nile: An auxiliary organization for
the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters of members of the Shrine.
Desoms: An organization for deaf Masons.
Grotto: A fun organization open to Master Masons. It
imitates the Shrine to a large degree, but requires only that a member be a
Master Mason rather than a 32nd degree Mason or Knight Templar. Officially
known as The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (MOVPER).
High Twelve International: An organization of Master
Masons that usually meet for lunch, enjoy fellowship, and support Masonic
causes, with special emphasis on youth and patriotic endeavors.
Job's Daughters: Enrolls girls between the ages of 13
and 20 that have some Masonic relative. They must profess a belief in God,
the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's prayer.
L.O.S. of N.A.: The Ladies' Oriental Shrine of North
America. Another auxiliary for the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and
sisters of Shrine members.
National Sojourners, Inc.: Open to Master Masons
who are U.S. citizens and who have served or are serving as a commissioned
or warrant officer in the United States military or in any armed service of
a nation allied with the US in time of war.
Philalethes: A group for Masons interested in Masonic
philosophy and history.
Royal Order of Scotland: An organization for
Christian Masons who have been 32nd degree Masons or Knights Templar for
five or more years.
Tall Cedars of Lebanon: A fun organization for Master
Masons similar to the Grotto. It confers the two degrees of the Royal Court
and the Sidonian.
White Shrine of Jerusalem: For Master Masons and
their wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters. Members must profess a
belief in the defense of the Christian religion.
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(9) What is Co-Masonry?
Co-Masonry refers to Masonic Lodges that admit both
men and women. Co-Masonry traces its heritage back to the 19th century.
There are two Grand Lodges of Co-Masonry with
jurisdiction in America: Le Droit Humain, a GL based in Paris, France and
the original Co-Masonic organization in the US, and the American Federation
of Human Rights (aka American Co-Masonry), which is based in Larkspur,
Colorado.
The degree structure differs slightly from standard
Blue Lodge structure (e.g, the Scottish Rite is worked as part of the
regular Lodge, not a separate organization), but in most things Co-Masonic
lodges function as regular Masonic lodges.
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(10) What is Prince Hall Masonry?
NOTE: This section is excerpted from the Grand Lodge
of New Brunswick's annual communication.
"There are some schools of thought that Prince
Hall (his name not a title) was born in Barbados to a free black woman and a
Scottish father. He emigrated to the Colony of Boston, Mass. and acquired
real estate, making him eligible to vote. It was also documented that he was
a devout Christian and a leather-worker by trade. On March 6, 1775, during
the American War of Independence, Prince Hall along with fourteen men of
color were made Masons in Army Lodge #441 of the Irish Constitution. When
Army Lodge moved on, the aforesaid brethren were issued a permit authorizing
them to appear publicly as a Masonic body for the purpose of celebrating the
feast of St. John and to bury their dead.
On March 2, 1784, these same brethren applied to the
Grand Lodge of England for a charter, which was subsequently issued to them
on September 29, 1784. They were warranted under the name of African Lodge,
No. 459 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England by authority of then
Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland. Prince Hall was the first Master. That
charter, which is authenticated and in safekeeping, is believed to be the
only original charter issued from the Grand Lodge of England still in the
possession of any Lodge in the United States.
African Lodge allowed itself to slip into arrears in
the late 1790's and was stricken from the rolls after the Union of 1813,
although it had attempted correspondence in 1802 and 1806. In 1827, after
other unreplied-to attempts at communication, it declared its independence
of any external authority and began to call itself African Grand Lodge No.
1.
It is interesting to note that when the Massachusetts
lodges which were acting as a Provincial Grand Lodge declared themselves an
independent Grand Lodge, and even when the present Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts was formed by the amalgamation of two separate Grand Lodges,
African Lodge was not invited to take part, even though it held a warrant
every bit as valid as those others. This may be explained in part by this
1795 quote from John Eliot, who later became Grand Chaplain of the Gr. Lodge
of Mass. He wrote, "White Masons, who are not more skilled in geometry
than their black brethren, will not acknowledge them... .the truth is they
are ashamed of being on an equality with blacks."
Today there are 45 Grand Lodges (the latest being the
just formed "Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the
Caribbean") that trace their origin back to African Lodge #459. There
are more than 5000 Prince Hall Lodges and over 300,000 members. So far as it
is known, their ritual, their secrets, their procedures, their requirements,
their beliefs, their tenets or fundamental principles, are all either
identical with ours, or recognizably similar." (by WBro Roy
Cassidy)
Additional information:
The United Grand Lodge of England has now officially
recognized Prince Hall Lodges. Many US Grand Lodges have recognized PHGLs
within their jurisdictions, and it has been or is being discussed in other
jurisdictions. Since every Grand Lodge is autonomous and the supreme
authority in its jurisdiction, this issue must be approached on a
state-by-state basis.
Some have criticized Masonry as "segregated" due to the Prince Hall Lodges, but this is a
ridiculous claim, since there are many black Masons in non-PH Lodges and
white members in PH Lodges, and displays a fundamental ignorance of Masonic
history.
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(11) What is a 33rd degree Mason?
The Scottish Rite awards a special honorary degree,
the 33rd, to those it feels has made an outstanding contribution to Masonry,
the community as a whole, and to mankind. There is no way to
"achieve" this degree or "take" it, in the sense that
one takes the 4th through 32nd degrees in the Scottish Rite. It is a
singular honor, rarely bestowed, and greatly admired.
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(12) Are there any Masonic functions that I can
attend as a non-Mason?
Yes. Many Lodges open their installation of officers
to the public. Once a year, a new Worshipful Master takes office. The
ceremony performed during his inauguration is public. It is not the same
ceremony as would be performed in a regular Masonic ritual or degree, but it
does have the flavoring of Masonic symbolism and allows the public to
"get a feel for Masonry" without being Masons. NOTE: Not all
jurisdictions have public installations. Call or write your local lodge for
details.
In addition, many Lodges sponsor public functions
throughout the year, such as dinners or charity functions, designed to allow
non-Masons who are interested in Masonry the chance to talk with Masons and
ask questions. For information, call your local Lodge.
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(13) Who is the head of the Masons?
No one. Each Grand Lodge has its own jurisdiction and
is the supreme authority within that jurisdiction. Obviously, many Grand
Lodges have regular communication with each other, but official policy in
one has no effect in another.
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(14) Are there dues, fees, etc. associated with
being a Mason?
Yes. Like all organizations, Lodges must be able to
pay their light bills. Typically, there is a one-time fee for the three
degrees of Masonry, as well as regular annual dues. But these vary widely
depending on the number of members, cost of living (rent in Manhattan is
higher than it is in rural Oklahoma), the actual physical facilities of the
Lodge, etc. The fees and dues, however, are not prohibitively expensive (the
author is a college student and has no problem with them). Rather than give
a single figure which may be very different than your local Lodge charges,
or publishing an extended table of costs, it is easiest to simply refer the
interested to their local Lodge.
Incidentally, many Grand Lodge jurisdictions provide
for "life membership" after a Mason has paid dues for a long
period. For example, in Michigan a Mason is no longer asked to pay dues
after he has been a Mason for forty years. Other jurisdictions allow members
to pay a lump sum for life membership. As with almost everything in Masonry,
check with your local Grand Lodge or Lodge for more information.
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(15) I hear Masons refer to an "apron."
What is that?
"During the ceremonies of his initiation, each
Mason is presented with a white apron. It is, to him, an emblem of innocence
and the badge of a Mason. It has, in all ages, been cherished by the rich,
the poor, the high and the low. It is his for life. He will never receive
another one and has, therefore, been cautioned to take it home and
instructed in its care. While perfectly satisfactory for him to do so if he
desires, he need not bring it to Lodge, as linen aprons are provided for his
use meetings." (From a pamphlet, "To the Lady and Family of a
Mason")
The above applies to the US. In many other countries (including Canada),
the Master Mason owns his regalia and brings it to the Lodge.
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(16) What is a "Masonic Funeral"?
"Any member who was in good standing at the time
of his death is entitled to a Masonic funeral if he or his family requests
it. Such a request should be made to the Master of his Lodge who will make
the necessary arrangements with the family, the mortuary, and the minister.
A service is authorized by the jurisdiction in which you are located, and
consists of participation at the mortuary, the beginning at the mortuary and
the closing at the graveside, or graveside only. Pallbearers will be
furnished at the request of the family. In general, the Lodge will do as
much or as little as the nearest relative wishes it to do." (From a
pamphlet, "To the Lady and Family of a Mason")
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II. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS & MYTHS
(1) Are Masons just a bunch of old men? Isn't
Masonry dying out?
There is no doubt that the population of Masons is
aging. There was a huge increase in membership in almost all fraternal orders
after World War II, including Masonry. This peaked at sometime in the late
50s. During the social turbulence and generational strains of the 60s and
70s, new membership fell off, with the result that by the 1980s, total
membership was in sharp decline.
However, there are signs that membership has leveled
out, or is gaining in some areas. In many lodges, there are a great number
of 50-and-up members, and a number of 30-and-under members, with a gulf in
between, representing where Baby Boomers would have been. Of course, we are
speaking in broad generalities here -- there is no way to know the
demographics of your local Lodge without asking one of its members.
The overall point is that Masonic membership, when
talking on a national scale, has probably hit a stable membership base,
after a huge surge and then fall in membership.
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(2) Aren't Masons racist/elitist?
Regarding racism: Masonry explicitly states the
equality of men, regardless of race, creed, or color. But there are some
Masons who are prejudiced, and this is unfortunate, saddening, and unMasonic.
However, it is not representative of Masonry as a whole, or representative
of anything except a tiny minority of Masons. There are Masons of all ethnic
backgrounds.
"Elitism" is harder to define. If you mean
that Masons are highly selective in their membership, then yes, Masons are
elitists. But just criteria is used: men of good character, of good report,
who believe in God. Does the majority of the population fit that criteria?
If you think not, then you could say that Masons are elitists.
The idea that Masonry is only open to the patrician
class, the landed gentry, and the wealthy is incorrect. There are Masons of
all economic backgrounds. Indeed, there are Lodges which are mostly or
wholly made up of blue-collar workers due to local demographics.
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(3) Isn't Masonry just a place where businessmen
make deals?
No. In fact, most Masons believe that to trade with a
Brother Mason only because he is a Mason is unMasonic. Even more
importantly, anyone who attempts to join a Lodge solely for business reasons
will not be given a petition.
Masons, however, are friends, and it is not
surprising that many Masons do trade with Brothers. For one thing, they are
dealing with people that are of good character and can be trusted, which is
no small statement in the modern marketplace.
But Masonry is not a "place to network." Yes, some men do view one of the benefits of membership as an additional
source of customers or partners, but few would say that is the only reason
they became Masons. The work involved in the degrees alone would make this a
poor investment -- better to join the Rotary Club or other business group.
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(4) I see titles like "Worshipful
Master" and "Senior Deacon" -- is this some kind of cult?
No. The titles are simply colorful, stylish, and full
of ancient symbolism. No Mason worships the Master of the Lodge, nor does a
Senior (or Junior) Deacon engage in religious actions, as a Deacon of a
church might.
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(5) Masonry is a secret society, right?
Wrong. Secret societies are generally defined as
organizations which are unknown to the public and whose existence is denied.
The Bavarian Illuminati and the Mafia would be examples of secret societies.
Masonry, on the other hand, is well-known and proudly
displays its existence. Masonic Temples are clearly marked as such, and many
Lodges are listed in the yellow pages (usually under "Fraternal
Orders"). Members often wear rings or tie-clips that identify
themselves as Masons, and Masons often participate in community charity
work. Finally, some Masonic functions are open to the public.
Masonry is not a secret society, but rather a society
with a few secrets. These are mainly modes of recognition -- the signals,
grips, signs, and phrases by which Masons recognize each other. The actual
degree rituals are considered secret as well, not because there is anything
that would harm Masonry by their revelation, but rather because they are
more meaningful if the candidate does not know what is going to go on during
them beforehand (see question 9 of this section if that makes you nervous).
It should be pointed out that many other
organizations have a similar class of secrets. College fraternities (a.k.a.
"Greek letter organizations") often have small secrets known only
to their members, allowing them to travel from house to house and still be
known.
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(6) Masonry is a religion, right?
Wrong. Masonry is not a religion "by the definitions
most people use. Religion, as the term is commonly used, implies several
things: a plan for salvation or path by which one reaches the after-life; a
theology which attempts to describe the nature of God; and the description
of ways or practices by which a man or woman may seek to communicate with
God. Masonry does none of those things. We offer no plan of salvation. With
the exception of saying that He is a loving Father who desires only good for
His children, we make no effort to describe the nature of God. And while we
open and close our meetings with prayer, and we teach that no man should
ever begin any important undertaking without first seeking the guidance of
God, we never tell a man how he should pray or for what he should pray.
Instead, we tell him that he must find the answers to these great questions
in his own faith, in his church or synagogue or other house of worship. We
urge men not to neglect their spiritual development and to be faithful in
the practice of their religion. As the Grand Lodge of England wrote in
'Freemasonry and Religion', 'Freemasonry is far from indifferent to
religion. Without interfering in religious practice, it expects each member
to follow his own faith, and to place above all other duties his duty to God
by whatever name He is known.' Masonry itself makes only a simple religious
demand on a man--he must believe that he has an immortal soul and he must
believe in God. No atheist can be a Mason." (Dr. Jim Tresner, 33rd
degree)
"Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It
teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his choice
and to be faithful to it. A good Mason is made even more faithful to the
tenets of his faith by membership." (Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, who was
also a Mason)
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(7) Are Masons really controlling the
world/meeting with the Bavarian Illuminati/members of the Trilateralist
Commission/etc?
Yes, not to mention the International Jewish
Conspiracy, the Elders of Zion, Inver Brass, S.P.E.C.T.R.E., and the minions
of Cthulhu.
<ahem> Anyone who believes that Masons are the
Master Puppeteers of the globe either is pulling your leg, has read too much
Robert Anton Wilson, or is in need of serious psychotherapy.
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(8) Masons are anti-Catholic, right?
Wrong. There is nothing anti-Catholic in Masonry, in
its traditions, its rituals, or its beliefs.
(9) Masonic rituals are demeaning or embarrassing
to the candidate, right?
Nothing could be further from the truth. The rituals
(degrees) are designed to reinforce virtues that the Craft finds desirable,
such as Justice, Brotherly Love, Truth, and the like. The rituals are
actually quite beautiful and filled with ancient language and much
symbolism. At no point, however, is the candidate asked to do anything that
would embarrass or demean him, nor anything that would violate his
obligations to his faith, country, or the law.
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(10) I heard/read a Mason talking about a
"Masonic Bible." Do Masons have their own Bible?
"No. The Bibles sometimes called 'Masonic
Bibles' are just Bibles to which a concordance, giving the Biblical
citations on which the Masonic Ritual is based, has been added. Sometimes
reference material on Masonic history is included. Anyone is welcome to read
one." (Dr. Jim Tresner, 33rd degree) Masonic Bibles are usually the
King James version.
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(11) I see that Masonic buildings are called
Temples. Does that mean that Masons worship there?
No. "Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary
provides a definition for the word 'temple' which is as good an explanation
as any: 'a building, usually of imposing size, serving the public or an
organization in some special way; as, a temple of art, a Masonic
temple.'" (Dr. Jim Tresner. 33rd degree)
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III. HOW DO I BECOME A MASON?
(1) What are the requirements for becoming a
Mason?
Candidates must be male, at least 21 years of age,
able to profess a belief in God, and of good character.
For information on mixed-sex Masonry, see the
discussion on Co-Masonry in Section I, Question 9.
Some Grand Lodges also have a residency requirement;
for example, the Grand Lodge of Michigan requires candidates to have lived
in its jurisdiction (Michigan) for a minimum of one year.
There are some exceptions to the age requirement. For
example, in England and Virginia, the direct relatives of Master Masons in
good standing are eligible to join at the age of 18. In some jurisdictions,
DeMolays may join upon reaching their 18th birthday.
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(2) Can <fill in an ethnic group>s be
Masons?
Any human who meets the requirements listed in
question (1) of this section is eligible, regardless of race or colour.
Some have speculated that while there is no official
prohibition against, say, blacks or Asians from becoming Masons, there is a
de facto prohibition because they would never be voted into a lodge. This is
false. There are Masons of all ethnic backgrounds.
However, it is fair to state that Masons, as humans,
are prone to the kinds of prejudices that all humans may succumb to. Since
the vote to admit a candidate is anonymous and must be unanimous, one man's
unspoken prejudice is sufficient to deny entry to a man (except, of course,
in those jurisdictions which require more than one 'no' vote to deny
entrance, but you get the idea). Prejudice is inexcusable and irreconcilable
with Masonry, but then, it is also irreconcilable with Christianity,
Judaism, and Islam, and there are certainly Christians, Jews, and Muslims
who harbor prejudices.
So it is possible that a Mason, acting unMasonically,
could act to keep a member out without due cause. But this is not common,
nor is it representative of Masonry in general, nor does it conform to the
high ideals of Masonry.
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(3) Can homosexuals be Masons?
Yes, and there are homosexual Masons. Everything said
in question (2) of this section holds true in this case as well. There is
the consideration that some men may view homosexuality as being immoral,
i.e., that homosexuals are not men of "good character." This is
generally not due to any specific prejudice but rather due to religious
belief (depending on how one interprets St. Paul, for example). However,
judging by conversation on alt.freemasonry, it is safe to say that Masons
generally would not regard homosexuality as a barrier to membership.
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(4) I have a physical disability. Can I be a
Mason?
The answer is almost certainly yes, provided you can
attend Lodge (and meet the non-physical criteria in question (1) of this
section). Paraplegics have been made Masons, as have the blind, the deaf,
and others with a variety of physical handicaps. Minor modifications may
need to be done to the rituals (e.g., employing sign language, modifying
points where the candidate stands if the candidate is in a wheelchair, etc.)
but most Lodges are willing to accommodate candidates.
In medieval times, the requirement to have a sound
body "free of physical defect" was a serious one, since the work of
stonemasonry was physically difficult. Some Grand Lodges did carry this
requirement into symbolic (i.e., non-operative) Masonry. However, in recent
times this has all but been eliminated. Talk to your local Lodge if you have
any questions.
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(5) Can <fill in the name of the religion>
be a Mason?
The only religious requirement is that candidates
believe in the Supreme Being. If you can in good faith profess a belief in
the Supreme Being, you are eligible to be a Mason. No atheists will ever
knowingly be made a Mason.
There are Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Mormon),
Jewish, and Muslim Masons. It would be tedious and pointless to go into a
religion-by-religion (and then denomination-by-denomination) discussion. The
key points to remember are the requirement of belief in the supreme being
and the fact that Masonry is a fraternity, not a religion.
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(6) Do Masons accept Catholics?
Catholicism is only mentioned specifically because it
has generated a lot of traffic in the past on the Masonic newsgroups. There
is no prohibition in any Grand Lodge jurisdiction against Catholics being
made Masons.
Please bear in mind that discussion of this subject
on the Masonic newsgroups invariably generates a very high noise-to-signal
ratio.
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(7) Can Wiccans be Masons?
This religion is specifically mentioned only because
it has been often debated on alt.freemasonry. It is possible to get into
very involved discussions on the nature of Wiccan beliefs and their
compatibility with Masonry, but the only possible arbitrator is your Grand
Lodge. To that end, it is suggested that if you have more specific
questions, contact your local Lodge.
Again, the same could be said about a number of
religions, and Wicca is only mentioned specifically because it has been
brought up repeatedly on the Masonic newsgroups. Please bear in mind that
discussion of this subject invariably
generates more heat than light.
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(8) What if my religion does not allow the
swearing of oaths?
Some Grand Lodges allow affirmations to be used
instead of the traditional Masonic oath. This is more common in Europe than
in the United States. In all cases, it is best to check with the Grand Lodge
in your jurisdiction (or your local Lodge) for more specific information.
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(9) Do I have to be invited?
Don't wait to be invited -- you will die waiting.
Masons are prohibited from actively recruiting or asking non-Masons to join
the fraternity, to insure that candidates come of their own free will.
As with many things Masonic, there are some
exceptions to this rule. Some Grand Lodges allow solicitation, provided it
is low-key and with the strict provision that no pressure be applied. Still,
you don't need to be invited in any jurisdiction, and if you're
interested, act.
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(10) OK, I'm interested-- how do I proceed?
If you know a Mason, ask him about membership. He
will be glad to tell you all about the Craft and the local lodge, and give
you a petition if you wish to join.
If you do not know a Mason, drop a letter to the
local lodge, and one of the officers will call you (or call the lodge,
though you may not get an answer unless someone is actually there).
Typically, the process is as follows:
(a) the applicant fills out a petition. The petition
asks for two sponsors, though if you meet and talk with the officers, they
can usually find sponsors or act as sponsors themselves if you do not know
anyone in the lodge.
(b) the petition is read at the lodge during the next
business meeting, which for many lodges is during the first week of the
month. A committee is formed to investigate the candidate. The petition also
asks for two character references.
(c) the committee meets with the candidate to answer
questions, ascertain that he meets the criteria for membership, and find out
a little about him. This is not a "grilling session", but rather a
friendly and casual chat to make certain that the candidate has been
properly informed about Masonry and that was not improperly solicited. The
committee also contacts the character references listed on the petition
(typically asking if they know any reason why the candidate should not be
accepted, etc.).
(d) The committee reports back to the lodge during
the next business meeting and the candidate is voted on. If accepted,
someone from the lodge (often the Secretary) contacts the candidate and
informs him that he has been accepted and schedules a date for the Entered
Apprentice degree.
NOTE: This is based on the summation of several
experiences in the U.S. Your mileage may vary.
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IV. HISTORY
(1) Where did Masons come from?
A fascinating question! And, alas, impossible to
answerwithin the confines of this FAQ. There are a number of theories, a lot
of debate, and a lot of musty history books. Some of the books listed in
question 15 of this section should be of help. As a *very* brief overview,
here is part of an essay by Henry C. Clausen, a noted Masonic author. This
is, of course, just one point of view-- many other theories exist, but
Cluasen nicely covers the basics:
"Our Masonic antiquity is demonstrated by a
so-called Regius Manuscript written around the year 1390, when King Richard
II reigned in England, a century before Columbus. It was part of the King's
Library that George II presented to the British Museum in 1757. Rediscovered
by James O. Halliwell, a non-Mason, and rebound in its present form in 1838,
it consists of 794 lines of rhymed English verse and claims there was an
introduction of Masonry into England during the reign of Athelstan, who
ascended the throne in A.D. 925. It sets forth regulations for the Society,
fifteen articles and fifteen points and rules of behavior at church,
teaching duties to God and Church and Country, and inculcating brotherhood.
While the real roots of Masonry are lost in faraway mists, these items show
that our recorded history goes back well over 600 years. Further proof is
furnished through English statutes as, for example, one of 1350 (25 Edward
III, Cap. III) which regulated wages of a "Master...Mason at 4 pence
per day." The Fabric Role of the 12th century Exeter Cathedral referred
to "Freemasons."
The historical advance of science also treats of our
operative ancient brethren who were architects and stonemasons of geometry.
It is apparent from this portrayal that they had a very real and personal
identification with the Deity and that this fervent devotion provided energy
to build cathedrals. They embraced the teachings of Plato and understood and
applied Pythagorean relationships. Just as there is a beauty of harmony
credited to mathematical relationships on which music is based, in precisely
the same way these master geometricians treated architecture. The architects
and stonemasons became the personification of geometry, performing
extraordinary feats with squares and compasses. Geometrical proportion, not
measurement, was the rule. Their marks as stonemasons were derived from
geometric constructions. The mighty works they wrought, cathedrals with
Gothic spires pointing toward the heavens, and especially their
"association," were not without danger and opposition, bearing in
mind the Inquisition established in 1229, the Saint Bartholomew's Eve
Massacre of 1572, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. These
historical points remind us of the need for our cautions against cowans and
eavesdroppers.
Our operative Brethren of the Middle Ages thus were
the builders of mighty cathedrals throughout the British Isles and
continental Europe, many of which still stand. These skilled craftsmen wrote
in enduring stone impressive stories of achievement, frequently chiseled
with symbolic markings. With these architectural structures of these master
builders there was a companion moral code. These grew up together. Out of
this background modern Freemasonry was born.
Although "Lodges" had existed for
centuries, four of the "old" Lodges met in London on St. John the
Baptist's Day, June 24, 1717, and formed the first Grand Lodge of England,
thereafter known as the Premier Grand Lodge of the world. No longer
operative as of old, the Masons carried on the traditions and used the tools
of the craft as emblems to symbolize principles of conduct in a continued
effort to build a better world.
The American colonial Masonic organizations stemmed
from this Grand Lodge of England and were formed soon after 1717. Its then
Grand Master appointed Colonel Daniel Coxe as Provincial Grand Master of New
York, New Jersy and Pennsylvania on June 5, 1730, and Henry Price of Boston
as Provincial Grand Master of New England in April 1733." -- Henry C.
Clausen
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(2) What US Presidents have been Masons?
George Washington
James Monroe
Andrew Jackson
James Polk
James Buchanan
Andrew Johnson
James Garfield
William McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
William Howard Taft
Warren G. Harding
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
(Lyndon B. Johnson)
Gerald R. Ford
Notes (in chronological order):
William McKinley's Masonic membership has not been
confirmed 100%, though his name does appear on several lists. Hopefully,
someone will be able to provide a definitive yes or no.
William Howard Taft was made a Mason At Sight by the
Grand Master of Ohio and later raised to Grand Master of Ohio in 1909.
Harry S. Truman was also Grand Master of his home
state, Missouri.
Lyndon Johnson was an Entered Apprentice, but never
progressed beyond that degree.
Ronald Reagan was not a Craft Mason. He was made an
honorary 33rd degree Mason by the Southern Jurisdiction of the AASR and an
honorary member of the Imperial Council of the Shrine, but he was never
entered, passed, and raised as a Mason, nor was he ever made a Mason at
sight. (Source: John J. Robinson's Born in Blood)
Bill Clinton is not a Mason, though he was involved
in DeMolay for a time.
Many other leaders in government have been Masons:
"They have included fourteen Presidents and eighteen Vice Presidents of
the United States; a majority of the Justices of the United States Supreme
Court, of the Governors of States, of the members of the Senate, and a large
percentage of the Congressmen. Five Chief Justices of the United States were
Masons and two were Grand Masters. The five were Oliver Ellsworth, John
Marshall (also Grand Master of Masons in Virginia), William Howard Taft,
Frederick M. Vinson and Earl Warren (also Grand Master of Masons in
California.)" -- Henry C. Clausen
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(3) Was Thomas Jefferson a Mason? Patrick Henry?
Abraham Lincoln?
No, no, and no. As for the first two, an
exhaustive search of Masonic records in Virginia, and elsewhere, offers no
iota of evidence to make them Freemasons. Jefferson participated in the
cornerstone laying of his University at Charlottesville, which was done
Masonically. He praised Freemasonry and his own words proved he had never
been a member of the Craft.
There is some evidence that Abraham Lincoln intended
to become a Mason when he returned to Springfield after his second term in
office, had he not been assassinated in 1865.
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(4) What famous people have been Masons?
This is by no means a complete list. This list also
includes Prince Hall Masons.
FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (other than Presidents):
Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Paul Jones, LaFayette,
Rufus King, James Otis, Baron von Steuben, Joseph Warren, Benedict Arnold
(well, you can't win them all).
POLITICAL LEADERS: Winston Churchill, Simon Bolivar,
Edmund Burke, Benito Juarez, Edward VII, George VI, Bernardo O'Higgins,
Jose' de San Martin, Francisco de Paula Santander, Jose' Rizal, Jose Marti,
Pandit Nehru, Lajos Kossuth, Jonas Furrer, Guiseppe Mazzini, Eduard Benes,
John A. MacDonald, Aaron Burr, George McGovern, Barry Goldwater, Estes
Kefauver, Adlai Stevenson (not the governor of Illinois, but his father who
was Vice President in 1892), Thomas E. Dewey, Alf Landon, Hubert H.
Humphrey, Wendell Wilke, W.E.B. DuBois, William Jennings Bryant.
MILITARY LEADERS: Omar Bradley, John J. Pershing,
Douglas McArthur, General Winfield Scott, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy
Doolittle, General Mark Clark, General George C. Marshall.
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS: Sam Houston, Stephen Austin, Davy
Crockett, Jim Bowie, William B. Travis (and, it should be added, General
Santa Ana).
FINE ARTS: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (and his father,
Leopold), Ludwig von Beethoven, Jean Sibelius, Franz Liszt, Josef Haydn,
Irving Berlin, Gutzon Borglum, Charles W. Peale, Alfons M. Mucha, John
Philip Sousa, both Gilbert & Sullivan, George Gershwin, George M. Cohen,
Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Signmund Romberg.
ACTORS: John Wayne, Red Skelton, Clark Gable, W.C.
Fields, Will Rogers, Burl Ives, Roy Rogers, Danny Thomas, Ernest Borgnine,
Oliver Hardy, Tom Mix, Audie Murphy, Gene Autry, Wallace Beery, Eddie Cantor.
INDUSTRY & LABOR: Henry Ford, Samuel Gompers,
Walter P. Chrysler, John Wanamaker, S.S. Kresge, J.C. Penney, John Jacob
Astor, John L. Lewis.
ADVENTURERS: Lewis & Clark, Charles A. Lindberg,
Kit Carson, Roald Amundsen, Adm. Richard Byrd, Commodore Robert Peary.
PHILOSOPHERS: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Gotthold E.
Lessing, Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet).
ATHLETES: Bob Feller, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, Paul
"Dizzy" Trout, Harry Carey, Dell Rice, Jimmy Fox, Joe Tinker (of
"Tinker to Evers to Chance"), Jack Dempsey, Arnold Palmer, Jack
Arthur Johnson.
ASTRONAUTS: Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr.,
Leroy Gordon Cooper, Donn F. Eisele, Virgil I. Grissom, Edgar D. Mitchell,
Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Thomas P. Stafford, Paul J. Weitz, James B. Irwin,
John Glenn.
WRITERS: Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), Sir Walter
Scott, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Burns, Wassily I. Maikow, Heinrich Heine,
Jean P.C. de Florian, Leopoldo Lugoner, Antonio de Castro Alves, James
Boswell, Alexander Pushkin, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde.
LAW: John Marshall, Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall.
MEDICINE: Drs. Alexander Fleming, Jules Bordet,
Antoine DePage, Edward Jenner, Charles and William Mayo, Karl and William
Menninger.
SCIENCE: Hans C. Orsted, Jons Jakob Frk. von
Berzelius, Alfred Edmund Brehm, Luther Burbank, Johan Ernst Gunnerus, Albert
Abraham Michelson, Gaspard Monge, C.F.S. Hahnemann, Pedro N. Arata,
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, Alexander Fleming, James Smithson.
...as well as Harry Houdini, Norman Vincent Peale,
David Sarnoff, Thomas J. Watson, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Cecil J. Rhodes, Marvin
Zindler, and many, many more.
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(5) What famous buildings in the US have been laid
Masonically?
The U. S. Capitol
The Smithsonian Institution
Jackson Hall
The National Education Association Building
The Army War College Building
House of Representatives Office Building
The Washington Monument
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(6) What's the difference between AF&AM and
F&AM?
F&AM means "Free & Accepted
Masons."
AF&AM means "Ancient Free & Accepted
Masons."
In practical terms, there is no difference, since the
jurisdictions that are termed "ancient" F&AM are no different
than those that are simply F&AM. The distinction is a historical one,
owing to differences in Grand Lodge names.
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(7) Was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon
Church, a Mason?
(NOTE: This section provided by Bro. Bob Dixon; the use
of the first person is his.)
"Joseph Smith was a mason, as were the following
four presidents of the LDS church.
From about 1839 to about 1846 most of the members of
the church gathered to Nauvoo, Illinois, and there were at least four lodges
in operation there. Joseph Smith was a very flamboyant individual and had a
disagreement with the Grand Lodge of Illinois over the way the Nauvoo lodges
were operated. Accordingly, their charters were revoked by the Grand Lodge.
He was murdered by a mob in 1844, and Brigham Young
felt it was as a result of a masonic conspiracy. He prohibited Mormons from
being Masons, which remained in effect until the last ten years or so. The
ill feelings went both ways, as the Grand Lodge of Utah refused to accept
Mormons as members until about 1984.
There are no particular restrictions on Mormons being
Masons. We are continually counselled to put our families and Christ first,
which many interpret as counsel to avoid most activities outside family and
church. This is a personal choice, though, and not a matter of strict
doctrine.
We perform certain ordinances such as baptisms for
the dead and eternal marriages in our temples, and minor portions of those
ordinances bear very surface similarity to parts of the Masonic degrees. The
whole scope and character is much different, though. Where (I feel, anyway)
that the masonic degree work revolves around our place in God's kingdom here
on the earth, our temple rituals deal with creation and our place in the
eternities."
(A minor historical note: Smith was made a Mason at
Sight by the Grand Master of Illinois.)
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(8) What is the oldest Lodge Room in the world? In
the US?
"St. John's Chapel, Edinburgh, Scotland is said
to be the oldest Masonic Lodge Room (1736) in the world. The oldest known
Lodge Room in the U.S. is situated in Prentiss House, Marble head,
Massachusetts (1760).The oldest Masonic Lodge Building is the Lodge Hall of
Royal White Hart Lodge No. 2, Halltax, Northings, North Carolina
(1771)."
Other information disagrees with this, stating that
the oldest American Lodge Room is "Masons Hall in Richmond, Virginia,
the home ofRichmond Randolph Lodge No. 19 and Richmond Royal Arch Chapter
No. 3. The building owned by Royal White Hart Lodge wasn't built until 1821.
Masons Hall was built in 1785. It was originally the home of Richmond Lodge
No. 10, the first wholly new Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
It was also the first permanent home of the Grand Lodge of Virginia."
(from Northern Light)
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(9) Is it true that all of George Washington's
generals during the Revolutionary War were Masons?
No. 33 of the generals serving under Washington were
Masons. While that is a substantial number, it is not "all."
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(10) Is it true that all the signers of the
Declaration of Independence were Masons? The Articles of Confederation?
The Constitution?
No. Masons constituted ten of the signers of the
Articles, nine signers of the Declaration, and thirteen signers of the
Constitution.
Additionally, Edmund Randolph, Grand Master of
Virginia, was an active participant at the Constitutional Convention, though
he didn't sign the document. It should also be noted that four Presidents of
the Continental Congresses were Freemasons: Peyton Randolph of Virginia,
John Hancock of Massachusetts, Henry Laurens of South Carolina, and Arthur
St. Clair of Pennsylvania. (Northern Light)
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(11) George Washington turned down the title
of "Grand Master of the United States" -- true?
Yes, sort of. The American Union Lodge proposed that
Washington become "General Grand Master of the United States," a
title to be held in the "National Grand Lodge." However, there
were many others who also disagreed with the idea, so it was never a serious
proposal.
Washington was Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 in
Virginia, whose Grand Master was then Edmund Randolph. Washington was never
Grand Master of Virginia (or any other jurisdiction).
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(12) Why do some Lodges meet on a certain day
of the week "following the full moon"? Are Masons some kind of
moon worshippers?
The reason is actually simple practicality. Masonic
Lodges meet at night, since their membership typically works during the day.
Before street lights were available in the 19th century, men walked to Lodge
in the dark of night and it was common to schedule Lodge meetings shortly
after a full moon to provide maximum illumination for Brothers' walk to and
from Lodge.
Obviously, this is no longer an issue, though some
Lodges whose history stretches back into the 19th century or earlier still
schedule their meetings by the moon's period. These are sometimes referred
to as "Moon Lodges."
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(13) Did Masons suffer at the hands of the Nazis?
Yes. The exact numbers are unknown. Lt. Col. David
Boyd wrote that 85,000 German Masons were killed by the Nazis, though other
research has found that this number may be off by as much as a third. This
figure does not include any of the nations the Nazis occupied.
Regardless of the actual number killed, it is clear
that Hitler viewed Masonry, which exalts truth, toleration, brotherly love,
and free thought, to be dangerous and a threat to his regime. Ironically, in
his last days in his bunker in Berlin, Hitler had a painting of Frederick
the Great in his chambers. Frederick the Great was a Mason.
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(14) Are Masons connected to Greek-letter
fraternities?
No.
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(15) I want information on Masonic history.
What books would be good introductions?
Virtually anything by Allen Roberts.
Robinson, John J., A Pilgrim's Path.
Robinson, John J., Born in Blood.
Stevenson, David, PhD., The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century 1590-1710.
Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia is also an excellent reference.
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(16) My local Library doesn't have any books on
Freemasonry, where can I find them?
Many Lodges maintain their own libraries as do the
Grand Lodges. Some larger public Libraries also may have a better collection
than a smaller Library. Unfortunately, bookstores do not typically carry a
wide assortment of Masonic related books, however, there are several sources
to purchase books:
Macoy Publishing (804) 262-6551
P.O. Box 9759
Richmond, VA 23228
Anchor Communications (804) 737-4498
110 Quince Ave.
Drawer 70
Highland Springs, VA 23075
Please see the Masonic Links page of this website for more publishers and information.
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(17) What movies/books feature Masonry?
The Man Who Would Be King, by Brother Rudyard
Kipling. A good story, later made into an excellent film by director John Huston, starring Michael
Caine, Sean Connery, and Christopher Plummer. Its portrayal of Masonic
history is quite fanciful, of course.
Murder by Decree. A Sherlock Holmes movie,
concerning the master sleuth's hunt for Jack the Ripper. It does not portray
Masonry in an honest, accurate, or favourable light. A good movie, but it is
important to remember that no Mason would ever knowingly commit a crime for
a Brother. Incidentally, Edward VII was actually a Mason. (The story is not
one of Brother Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's).
The "Turmgesellschaft" in Goethe's
"Wilhelm Meister" novels is certainly of Masonic origin.
In Tolstoy's War and Peace, the Masonic
initiation ritual of the character Pierre Besouchoff is described in great
detail.
There is also a modest body of Masonic poetry:
Kipling's "The Palace" and "Mother Lodge," Burns's
"Masonic Farewell," Goethe's "Mason Lodge," Leigh Hunt's
"Abou Ben Adhem," Carruth's "Each in His Own Tongue,"
Burns's "On the Apron," Meredith's "Ebony Staff of
Solomon," Bowman's "Voice of America," Malloch's
"Father's Lodge" and Nesbit's "I Sat in Lodge with You."
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