Changes
New page: Freemasonry is a very large worldwide organisation mostly for men, but there are some branches that also accept women and a few exclusively for women. Local branches are called 'lodges', a...
Freemasonry is a very large worldwide organisation mostly for men, but there are some branches that also accept women and a few exclusively for women. Local branches are called 'lodges', and the members meet together and perform rituals, similar to short plays, based on Biblical imagery mostly concerned with the building of [[Solomon]]'s temple in [[Jerusalem]]. For most types of Freemasonry there is a rule that the members must believe in a monotheist god, who is called 'The Great Architect of the Universe'.
Standard Freemasonry, like [[Druidry]] and [[Wicca]] and many other fraternal societies, is divided into three degrees. In Freemasonry the first is called Entered Apprentice, the second is Fellow Craft, and the third is Master Mason. Rising through the degrees involves memorising rituals. After the third degree a Freemason may go on to other orders such as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, which has 30 more degrees.
Freemasonry first evolved in [[Scotland]] in the 16th century, and originally grew out of stonemason's guilds that had existed since the middle ages. There are stories that these in turn had been set up by the [[Knights Templar]], but these stories are false. In 1717 four lodges met together at a pub in [[London]] and formed the Grand Lodge of England, and this later chartered grand lodges in other countries.
Because membership fees and initiation fees can be quite expensive, Freemasonry only tends to attract people of a certain economic status, and largely functions as a club for local businessmen. Once the ritual is over there is a 'festive board' involving eating, drinking, and socialising, where many informal deals are done. Freemasons also regularly hold events to raise money for charity.
Standard Freemasonry, like [[Druidry]] and [[Wicca]] and many other fraternal societies, is divided into three degrees. In Freemasonry the first is called Entered Apprentice, the second is Fellow Craft, and the third is Master Mason. Rising through the degrees involves memorising rituals. After the third degree a Freemason may go on to other orders such as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, which has 30 more degrees.
Freemasonry first evolved in [[Scotland]] in the 16th century, and originally grew out of stonemason's guilds that had existed since the middle ages. There are stories that these in turn had been set up by the [[Knights Templar]], but these stories are false. In 1717 four lodges met together at a pub in [[London]] and formed the Grand Lodge of England, and this later chartered grand lodges in other countries.
Because membership fees and initiation fees can be quite expensive, Freemasonry only tends to attract people of a certain economic status, and largely functions as a club for local businessmen. Once the ritual is over there is a 'festive board' involving eating, drinking, and socialising, where many informal deals are done. Freemasons also regularly hold events to raise money for charity.
