Introduction
If you’re a man between 21 and 32 years old, chances are you’ve heard of the Freemasons. But what exactly is this fraternal society that’s been shrouded in mystery for centuries? Are the Freemasons just another group of guys who like to get together and drink beer? Or is something sinister at play here — like devil worship or government corruption?
In this guide to Freemason history and membership requirements, we’ll explore these questions and more about this secretive brotherhood with roots going back hundreds of years.
Freemasonry started in medieval Europe with stonemasons who built cathedrals, castles, and other structures.
The first Freemasons were stonemasons who built cathedrals, castles, and other structures in medieval Europe. They formed guilds that protected their trade secrets from outsiders.
The guilds had strict rules about who could join them and how they worked, including using secret handshakes to identify each other and passwords to gain admission into the building site at night.
The formation and growth of the Freemasons coincided with an era of great religious upheaval in Europe.
The formation of the Freemasons coincided with an era of great religious upheaval in Europe. The Catholic Church was trying to exert its authority over people, and the masons were trying to create a fraternity.
Freemasonry spread to America around the time of the Revolution. Founding Fathers like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington were Masons.
Freemasonry had been established in America before the Revolution by British soldiers, who brought it over from England. The first Masonic Lodge was established in Boston in 1733 and had a membership of 54 Masons. Lodges were also found in Philadelphia and Charleston. Masonic lodges were established in the Southern colonies as early as 1730, with one meeting at Williamsburg, Virginia.
Masons played an essential role during the American Revolution, helping to organize troops and supply them with food and weapons.
Writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, and Rudyard Kipling drew from their experiences with the Masons when creating their work.
When you’re a Freemason, getting lost in the symbols is easy. The compass and square are such an integral part of the organization that they can be found on everything from plaques to rings. The Eye of Providence—the all-seeing eye on top of an unfinished pyramid at the back of your dollar bill—is another symbol used by Masons. No wonder writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, and Rudyard Kipling drew from their experiences with the Masons when creating their work. All three were members of this secretive society; in fact, Poe was possibly its most famous member even—though he never actually became a full member because their Grand Lodge didn’t approve his membership application before he died suddenly at age 40 in 1849 (his membership was retroactively reinstated posthumously).
There are only a few things required to become a Mason: You’re a man at least 21 years old, you profess belief in one (and only one) God, and you desire to become a Mason “of your own free will.”
There are only a few things required to become a Mason: You’re a man at least 21 years old, you profess belief in one (and only one) God, and you desire to become a Mason “of your own free will.”
The members of their local lodges must vote on men who apply for the York Rite of Freemasonry membership. Acceptance is not guaranteed; it’s up to the discretion of these other members as to whether they deem you worthy.
To apply for membership with any branch of Freemasonry, there are several steps you must follow. The first step involves contacting an existing member or lodge secretary who can tell you how long applications typically take before being approved or rejected.
The Masons have long been accused of being a cult or even a front for devil worship — but these allegations have mostly been proven false.
The Masons have long been accused of being a cult or even a front for devil worship — but these allegations have mostly been proven false. At their core, Masons are just a group of people who enjoy meeting up with other like-minded individuals to engage in charitable activities and rituals that celebrate life.
However, if you’re not interested in joining the Freemasons and prefer to stay away from secret societies altogether, there’s nothing wrong with that! You should be fine if you don’t plan on torturing animals or sacrificing babies in your basement or any other nefarious activity.
Anti-Mason politicians have argued that Masonic societies foster government corruption by awarding lucrative contracts to one’s fraternal brothers.
Anti-Mason politicians have argued that Masonic societies foster government corruption by awarding lucrative contracts to one’s fraternal brothers. As we’ve seen, the accusations aren’t unfounded. In 1737, the Grand Master of the Masons of London (at that time, only one Masonic Lodge in England) was found guilty of fraud and bribery for awarding a contract to a company he owned. This wasn’t an isolated incident; instead, it was indicative of a more significant trend within English Freemasonry, as many lodges were accused of similar practices. Over 60% of all members who served on local government committees between 1737 and 1760 were Freemasons—and these weren’t just small-time municipal positions either: they included sheriffs, coroners, and justices!
But how much truth is there to these accusations? It’s hard to say because no one has ever done any research on this topic—but considering how secretive the Masons tend to be about their rituals and proceedings (especially their initiation ceremonies), some members might try to use them for ill-gotten gains if given half a chance…
Masonic symbols are generally related to architecture and geometry. Despite what conspiracy theorists might say, there’s nothing dark or evil about them.
Masonic symbols are generally related to architecture and geometry. Despite what conspiracy theorists might say, there’s nothing dark or evil about them.
The most commonly used Masonic symbol is the square and compasses, representing morality and justice. In addition to being depicted as two interlocking squares (one flat, one hollow), it can also be seen as a compass with a small rectangle superimposed over it—a tool used for drawing perfect circles and squares.
Other common symbols include the all-seeing eye of God; the letter “G” for “Great Architect of the Universe,”; an open book representing knowledge; or even just a hand gesture that means “stop.”
All Masons must swear to keep certain aspects of Freemasonry secret — otherwise, they’ll face severe punishment, including expulsion from the Lodge. But many Masons argue that this is more of a symbolic gesture than anything else.
The penalties for breaking this oath are severe. Breaking your promise can result in expulsion from the Lodge, and even if you don’t leave the organization, it may mean that you’re no longer allowed to speak about what goes on behind closed doors. And yet many Masons argue that these punishments are more symbolic than anything else — they encourage secrecy within the organization, but they aren’t meant to be taken literally.
Many Masons believe these rules exist only to encourage their brothers to keep their secrets safe and not share them with outsiders or non-Masons.
Conclusion
These days, there’s a lot of misinformation about Freemasonry. Some people think it’s a secret society that promotes racism and violence against women, but these accusations have no basis in truth. The Masons have been around for centuries and have helped countless people, including founding fathers like George Washington himself! If you’re interested in joining this fraternal organization or want to learn more about it, I recommend starting with our introductory guide above.
