What are the masons?

Question

im not exactly sure what it is. i was watching the History Channel but i tuned in on it late. but they were talking about the American Dollar etc and its symbols. i also read a dan brown book and it says they were close to the illuminati. i am utterly confused.what are/were they ? and what are they doing now?

Answer 1

The Masons are a fraternal order.

Although Masonic ritual relates the order to the ancient stone masons and specifically to King Solomon, the order actually has its origins in the period known as the Enlightenment.

As such the early Masons were opposed to most of the established political and religious order. Therefore, to protect themselves from reprisals they were a secret organization with secret passwords, handshakes and various means of communicating with each other.

Even today, membership in the Masonic order is illegal in many countries as they are seen as a threat to tyrannical governments and/or religious fundamentalists.

Of course, the average American Mason simply belongs to a social and charitable organization and the earlier notions of the Masons as reformers and revolutionaries are long forgotten.

But the brotherhood still teaches the principles which make it dangerous to anti-democratic governments and intolerant religions.

NB:Although it has little, if anything to do with the Illuminati of legends, there is what is called Master's Club amongst the Masons, which is named The Illuminati.

Answer 2

The masons are a fraternal order, and I don't want to call them a secret society but they are very secretive about what they do. My father was a master mason and when I'd ask about what they do he'd often give me an indirect answer, but anything that he had told me I won't reveal for their sakes. I will say that they have strong religious ties to Christianity. The mason's are a very chairitable and community based group, almost always ready to help out somewhere if possible. They really aren't as bad as some people make them out to be. That whole deal with the supposed Illuminati?Not true. Masons have very little to do with politics from what I've seen (albeit little)

Answer 3

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Masons (also known as Freemasons) belong to the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. Today, there are more than two million Freemasons in North America. Masons represent virtually every occupation and profession, yet within the Fraternity, all meet as equals. Masons come from diverse political ideologies, yet meet as friends. Masons come from varied religious beliefs and creeds, yet all believe in one God.

Many of North America's early patriots were Freemasons. Thirteen signers of the Constitution and fourteen Presidents of the United States, including George Washington, were Masons. In Canada, the Father of the Confederation, Sir John A. MacDonald, was a Mason, as were other early Canadian and American leaders.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Freemasonry is how so many men, from so many different walks of life, can meet together in peace, always conducting their affairs in harmony and friendship and calling each other "Brother."

Answer 4

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization whose membership is held together by shared moral and metaphysical ideals and—in most of its branches—by a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.[1]

The fraternity of Freemasonry uses the allegorical metaphors of operative stonemasons' tools and implements, to convey what is most generally defined as: A peculiar (some say particular or beautiful) system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.[2] This is currently illustrated in the 1991 English Emulation Ritual.[3]

It is an esoteric society only in that certain aspects are private;[4] Freemasons have stated that Freemasonry has, in the 21st century, become less a secret society and more of a "society with secrets."[5][6][7] The non-Freemason and historian professor Dr. Dieter Anton Binder of the university of Graz[8] describes Freemasonry as a confidential society in contrast to a secret society in his book Die diskrete Gesellschaft.[9] Most modern Freemasons regard the traditional concern over secrecy as a demonstration of their ability to keep a promise[10] and a concern over the privacy of their own affairs.[11] "Lodge meetings, like meetings of many other social and professional associations, are private occasions open only to members."[12][13] The private aspects of modern Freemasonry deal with the modes of recognition amongst members and elements within the ritual.[3][7]

While there have been many disclosures and exposés dating as far back as the eighteenth century, Freemasons caution that they often lack the proper context for true understanding, may be outdated for various reasons,[14] or could be outright hoaxes on the part of the author.[12] In reality, Freemasons are proud of their true heritage and happy to share it, offering spokesmen, briefings for the media, and providing talks to interested groups upon request

Answer 5

The masons are a club that was started hundreds of years ago and keeps their activities very secret. They grew out of the stone mason guilds (unions) in the middle ages and turned into a gentleman's club, where people in the upper classes could go and socialize with one another.

They have had extremely powerful politicians and influential thinkiners as members, and they help other members out a great deal. Most people believe that they play a large role in goverment decision-making. Some people believe that they control the world. They probably do.

Answer 6

Ever heard of the Shriners those men who wear those hats with the tassles and the glitter on their hats you see them in parades with their little motor scooters. They are a secert organization made up of business men. To join one must be selected by a existing member to join the organization you must meet with a board and then if they think you can be a good member you can join. They apparently do good works they run burn unit wards in hospitals for children who have been burn in accidents. They have a junior male branch and a junior female branch. Children who want to join have to be related to a member of the shiners organization and they must meet with a board and then selected to join the organization that goes for the women too. There have been 14 presidents of the United States who have been Shiners. Joseph Smith Junior who was the founder of the Chruch of Latter Day Saints was also a Shiner or Mason. It's been said he incorporated some of the Shiner or Mason Rituals into his temple services in the Mormon or Latter Day Saints Temple around the world.

Answer 7

My family has a old photo of a man sitting in a chair facing with his back to a woman riding a goat... what does that mean..on the back it has writing about the Masons...I am very interested to know about this old photo.

Answer 8

Hello, I belong to a rather esoteric branch of Masonry whose charter goes back to the French Grand Loge Symbolique (since the 1800s) rather than the English United Grand Lodge: We are American Co-Masonry. We differ from most of the Orders in that we admit women as well as men. I will speak only for what I know of our Order.

We are not a religion. We are a system of morality aimed at helping good people become better. We use for object lessons the tools of the ancient stone masons as symbols. We do not recruit, you have to ask to join. The people we admit must be at least 21 years old, believe in a Supreme Being, be tolerant of people of all faiths, tolerant of all races (Masonry admits all races), law abiding, not a slave (that includes to drugs).

Our Order takes its time in working the degrees. It takes a few months to go from Entered Apprentice to Fellowcraft and even more to move from Fellowcraft to Master. However we think it is worth it. Alchemy is a slow fire.

The Illuminati were a group of men in the 1700s. You may google away to find their history. I am afraid those I know in Freemasonry do not have such titles. And I know the ones all the way to the top of my Order, The Most Supreme Grand Commander. Fine folks.

Our Order, and again I speak only for my Order, is more than just a fraternal and philanthropic society. We do our best to be heirs to the ancient mystery schools without being a cult. I belong to two Blue Lodges which I attend every month. That is a drive of over 700 mi. a month. I hardly have time to fraternize with that. It is in working the ritual and the study between that I feel I make progress, trying to do something Masonic every day of my life.

So, what are the Masons? Well, we are people: dog groomers, nuclear science teachers (in my case), computer techs, donut shop owners, used book sellers, massage therapists, feng shui consultants, CPAs, picture framers, biology majors, drummers, jewelers, stained glass makers... just people who want more for themselves and for the world. We want to be able to trust people with our backs, to do unto others and have them do the same to us. To help and be helped without fear of being taken advantage of, without feeling shame.

What we are doing now is softly speaking out to those who would listen. If I or any other Mason can be of help, ask. If you wish more information about Co-Masonry (WOMEN and men in Lodge) click below. Thanks for asking.

Master Mason
Hiram Lodge No. 11 (Santa Cruz, CA)
Amon Ra Lodge No. 9 ( Los Angeles, CA)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)

Answer 9

Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion document that served as a pretext and rationale for anti-Semitism in the early 20th century. The document purports to be a report of a series of 24 (in other versions, 27) meetings held at Basel... Freemasons were said to have made plans to disrupt Goyim(Non-Jewish) civilization and erect a world state under their... Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion ...

Answer 10

have nothing to do with the illuminati. Mainly a just abunch of old men have a good time, socialising now. One time, it was organisation of the rich and powerful. Still sorta is, great networking there for older folks.

Don't listen to these satanworshiper/great conspiracy theorist... they don't know what they talkin about :S