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'''Freemasonry''' is a fraternity for men, with a worldwide membership of around 4 million. Local branches are called 'lodges', and the members meet together and perform rituals teaching moral truths, similar to short plays, supposedly based on Biblical imagery mostly concerned with the building of [[Solomon's Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]].  

'''Freemasonry''' is a fraternity for men, with a worldwide membership of around 4 million. Local branches are called 'lodges', and the members meet together and perform rituals teaching moral truths, similar to short plays, supposedly based on Biblical imagery mostly concerned with the building of [[Solomon's Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]].  

Perhaps the best-known Freemasons appendant body in the USA are the Shriners, who raise funds for children's hospitals and other charities.  

Perhaps the best-known Freemasons appendant body in the USA are the Shriners, who raise funds for children's hospitals and other charities.  

Membership dues can vary widely between jurisdictions and individual lodges. Meals are often eaten before or after meetings. Lodges also frequently raise money for charity.  

Historically, Freemasons played a pivotal role in the [[United States]] in blocking [[communism]] from taking control of the [[White House]] or [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. In 1944, the dying Freemason President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] put a fellow Freemason [[Harry Truman]] on his ticket to replace his Vice President, [[Henry Wallace]], a communist sympathizer. This enabled the Freemason Truman to become president in 1945 and he subsequently appointed four Freemasons (Burton, Vinson, Clark, and Minson), all anti-communists, to the Supreme Court.

 

The central tenets of Freemasonry are:  

The central tenets of Freemasonry are:  

Truth - being true to himself, his brother Masons, and others around him.  

Truth - being true to himself, his brother Masons, and others around him.  

 

The most recognizable symbol of Freemasonry is the "Square and Compass," which is used to teach, respectively, "square conduct towards others" and "keeping passions and prejudices within due bounds". For most jurisdictions of Freemasonry there is a rule that the members must believe in one god or supreme being and in the immortality of the soul. As a result, members of different religions, if monotheistic, are admitted to membership with no expectation that they accept as correct or affirm the religions creeds of any other member.  

The most recognisable symbol of Freemasonry is the "Square and Compass," which is used to teach, respectively, "square conduct towards others" and "keeping passions and prejudices within due bounds". For most jurisdictions of Freemasonry there is a rule that the members must believe in one god or supreme being and in the immortality of the soul. As a result, members of different religions, if monotheistic, are admitted to membership with no expectation that they accept as correct or affirm the religions creeds of any other member.  

[[File:Brownsville Masonic Temple.jpg|thumb|left|Brownsville Masonic Temple]]

[[File:Brownsville Masonic Temple.jpg|thumb|left|Brownsville Masonic Temple]]

Various [[Christianity|Christian]] churches are opposed to Freemasonry and state that its teachings are incompatible with Christianity.<ref>[http://www.equip.org/article/should-christians-join-the-masonic-lodge/ Should Christians Join the Masonic Lodge]</ref><ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/masonry.html Freemasonry and the Christian Church]</ref><ref>[https://www.gotquestions.org/free-masonry.html What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?]</ref>  The Roman Catholic Church opposes Freemasonry, which it first condemned in an encyclical issued by Pope Clement XII in 1738.<ref>[https://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/BACAFM.HTM/ Catholicism vs. Freemasonry—Irreconcilable Forever Rev. Robert I. Bradley]</ref> The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is opposed to Freemasonry.<ref>[http://www.orlutheran.com/masoniclodge.html]</ref> The Orthodox Church in America also opposes Freemasonry.  

Various [[Christianity|Christian]] churches are opposed to Freemasonry and state that its teachings are incompatible with Christianity.<ref>[http://www.equip.org/article/should-christians-join-the-masonic-lodge/ Should Christians Join the Masonic Lodge]</ref><ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/masonry.html Freemasonry and the Christian Church]</ref><ref>[https://www.gotquestions.org/free-masonry.html What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?]</ref>  The Roman Catholic Church opposes Freemasonry, which it first condemned in an encyclical issued by Pope Clement XII in 1738.<ref>[https://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/BACAFM.HTM/ Catholicism vs. Freemasonry—Irreconcilable Forever Rev. Robert I. Bradley]</ref> The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is opposed to Freemasonry.<ref>[http://www.orlutheran.com/masoniclodge.html]</ref> The Orthodox Church in America also opposes Freemasonry.  

Freemasonry is also illegal in most Islamic countries, including all but two of the Arab states, and Masonic lodges are sometimes called "Houses of the Devil" by Muslims.<ref>Short page 170</ref><ref>http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/layiktez1.html</ref> Sultan Mahmut I of Turkey outlawed Freemasonry shortly after the Pope condemned it in 1738. In 1978 the Islamic Jurisdictional College, perhaps the most important important group involved in Islamic law interpretation, issued a statement condemning Freemasonry, and said, "Any Muslim, who affiliates with it, knowing the truth of its objectives, is an infidel to Islam”.  

Freemasonry is also illegal in most Islamic countries, including all but two of the Arab states, and Masonic lodges are sometimes called "Houses of the Devil" by Muslims.<ref>Short page 170</ref><ref>http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/layiktez1.html</ref> Sultan Mahmut I of Turkey outlawed Freemasonry shortly after the Pope condemned it in 1738. In 1978 the Islamic Jurisdictional College, perhaps the most important important group involved in Islamic law interpretation, issued a statement condemning Freemasonry, and said, "Any Muslim, who affiliates with it, knowing the truth of its objectives, is an infidel to Islam”.  

Many right-wingers oppose Freemasonry. These have included [[David Icke]] and [[Alex Jones]].<ref>Deciphering the Lost Symbol:Freemasons, Myths, and the Mysteries of Washington, D.C. by Christopher L. Hodapp page 7</ref>

A few right-wingers oppose Freemasonry. These have included [[David Icke]] and [[Alex Jones]].<ref>Deciphering the Lost Symbol:Freemasons, Myths, and the Mysteries of Washington, D.C. by Christopher L. Hodapp page 7</ref>

There is a degree in Freemasonry called the Holy Royal Arch where an ancient God called Jahbulon is referenced. He is supposed to be a mystic trinity consisting of Yahweh (Jah), God of the Jews, Baal (Bul), a Celtic god, and On, a God of Egypt also named Osiris.<ref>Short pages 90-105</ref><ref>Sora, Steven The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery Destiny Books Rochester, Vermont 1999 page 233</ref>

There is a degree in Freemasonry called the Holy Royal Arch where an ancient God called Jahbulon is referenced. He is supposed to be a mystic trinity consisting of Yahweh (Jah), God of the Jews, Baal (Bul), a Celtic god, and On, a God of Egypt also named Osiris.<ref>Short pages 90-105</ref><ref>Sora, Steven The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery Destiny Books Rochester, Vermont 1999 page 233</ref>

There is little known for certain about the beginnings of Freemasonry. Masonic legends claim various theories about its origins, including some considered, even by Masons, to be improbable. Certainly, lodges of "operative" Freemasons (men who worked stone and built with it) were formed around the major religious and civil work places during the Middle Ages in Europe and the British Isles. These lodges were early societies or guilds for the craftsmen, and places where an apprentice could be taught. The lodges also taught  morality.

There is little known for certain about the beginnings of Freemasonry. Masonic legends claim various theories about its origins, including some considered, even by Masons, to be improbable. Certainly, lodges of "operative" Freemasons (men who worked stone and built with it) were formed around the major religious and civil work places during the Middle Ages in Europe and the British Isles. These lodges were early societies or guilds for the craftsmen, and places where an apprentice could be taught. The lodges also taught  morality.

When a man moved to another site he took special symbols, signs, and handshakes that were recognisable to the senior masons and formed a means of recognition of his standing in the wider society of masons. Over time, non-masons learned of the moral teaching and social atmosphere of the lodge and were admitted as non-operative or "speculative" masons. (However, some claim that the lodges first started with the ancient Hebrews or with Pythagoras or Euclid, both ancient Greek geometers. This is supposed to explain Masonry's emphasis upon geometric symbolism.)  

When a man moved to another site he took special symbols, signs, and handshakes that were recognizable to the senior masons and formed a means of recognition of his standing in the wider society of masons. Over time, non-masons learned of the moral teaching and social atmosphere of the lodge and were admitted as non-operative or "speculative" masons. (However, some claim that the lodges first started with the ancient Hebrews or with Pythagoras or Euclid, both ancient Greek geometers. This is supposed to explain Masonry's emphasis upon geometric symbolism.)  

In 1717 four lodges met together at a public house (pub, or hotel) in London and formed the Grand Lodge of England. It later chartered grand lodges in other countries.

In 1717 four lodges met together at a public house (pub, or hotel) in London and formed the Grand Lodge of England. It later chartered grand lodges in other countries.

[[John Glenn]] (1921 - ): Pilot, Astronaut and United States Senator<ref name="space"/>  

[[John Glenn]] (1921 - ): Pilot, Astronaut and United States Senator<ref name="space"/>  

<u>Historically well-known Masons:</u>  

<u>Historically well-known Masons:</u>