Changes

'''Freemasonry''' is a [[fraternity|fraternal]] organization, that is, an organisation for men, with a worldwide membership of around 3 million. Local branches are called 'lodges', and the members meet together and perform rituals teaching moral truths, similar to short plays, based on [[Bible|Biblical]] imagery mostly concerned with the building of [[Solomon]]'s temple in [[Jerusalem]].  

'''Freemasonry''' is a [[fraternity|fraternal]] organization, that is, an organisation for men, with a worldwide membership of around 3 million. Local branches are called 'lodges', and the members meet together and perform rituals teaching moral truths, similar to short plays, based on [[Bible|Biblical]] imagery mostly concerned with the building of [[Solomon]]'s temple in [[Jerusalem]].  

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.

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]].

== Beliefs ==

== Beliefs ==

== History ==

== History ==

There is little known for certain about the early beginnings of Freemasonry. Masonic legends claim various theories about its origins, including some considered far fetched and 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 [[guild]]s for the craftsmen, and places where an apprentice could be taught. The lodges also instilled moral teaching. 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 it was founded by [[Pythagoras]] or [[Euclid]], both ancient [[Greece|Greek]] geometers, which is supposed to explain Masonry's obsession with geometric symbolism.)  

There is little known for certain about the early beginnings of Freemasonry. Masonic legends claim various theories about its origins, including some considered far fetched and 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 [[guild]]s for the craftsmen, and places where an apprentice could be taught. The lodges also instilled moral teaching. 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 it was founded by [[Pythagoras]] or [[Euclid]], both ancient [[Greece|Greek]] geometers, which is supposed to explain Masonry's obsession with geometric symbolism.)  

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