what is the difference between Freemasonary and witchcraft?

Question

This video from youtube said it all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E5SvXVP0Jk
it is long but so much information please watch then answer
thank-you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwdP2Cf_knA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzrbY4Tojkk

Answer 1

For the people who seem to believe the founding fathers were born again christians, all they have to do is a little research - the were Deists not christians. Wicca/Witchcraft & Freemasonry? What I know of Freemasonry they do use a lot of PAGAN symbolism, but who influenced who is debatable. If you check out the symbolism and rituals in many Pagan and Christian/Catholic ceremonies, you'll see an amazing amount of similarities. And just because Gardner made the term Wicca popular doesn't mean it didn't exist prior to him. Some of the answers here leave a lot to be desired.

Answer 2

Freemasonry is a fraternal brotherhood with a spiritual element and witchcraft is a term with so many varied meanings that it (together with the word witch) has become virtually useless.
If you mean- by witchcraft, Wicca then certainly, Gardner, the founder of Wicca, was heavily influenced by masonic rituals through people like Crowley and Ward. Not so much in belief (Ward was a Christian!) but rather the structure and ritual design as well as some of the symbolism. He was also obviously influenced by West County folk magic etc... and some dodgey books on Italian Pagan tradition survival...
But then- it is VERY difficult to find an aspect of the modern Western world that is not influenced by Freemasonry! This is because the conservative parties of most Western developed countries are dominated by Masons...
Put simply- Is Freemasonry influenced by Witchcraft (Wicca)? then the answer is no (freemasonry is much older)... Is Wicca influenced by Freemasonry ? then the answer is a great big YES!
ps. The word wicca is derived from Old English (Hwicca) and is thought to be a possible origin of the word Witch. Wicca as a religion that we know today was invented/cobbled together from other systems by Gardner. He used a LOT of Freemasonries (sometimes filtered through the Golden Dawn and OTO) ideas and rituals to build a structure around the collection of folk magic and other ideas (from Robert Graves, Margaret Murray etc.) and make a cohesive religion out of it. He did a pretty good job although others tidied it up for him later...
This is well recorded FACT - not speculation...

Answer 3

Freemasons have meeting places, altars, gods (they must believe in a higher power i.e. gods) they have symbols and gestures, handshakes and special words. They have ways of revealing themselves to other masons without others knowing. They are secretive and do not allow women to be members. There are a lot of comparisons between witchcraft, black magic and the occult with freemasonry.

If they have nothing to hide why the secrets?

Answer 4

Witches haven't built great stone structures for the better part of two millennium. I do agree that the whole Freemason thing is troubling and I have had bizarre paranoid delusions of an alliance between the FM's & the old blood sons of Zion that may be perpetuating the blind commintment to a US military presence in the Middle East.

There, I said it....

Answer 5

Freemasonry is an oath bound fraternal order of men which derives from the medieval fraternity of Freemasonry. We adhere to many of the Ancient Charges, laws, customs and legends of operative Freemasonry. We are loyal to the civilian government under which we exist. We inculcate moral and social virtues by symbolic application of the operative stonemasons' working tools and by allegories, lectures and charges. Freemasonry obligates its members to obey the principals of brotherly love, equality, mutual aid, secrecy and confidence. We have secret modes of recognition that permit members to recognize each other as brothers. We require a through examination into the mental, moral and physical qualifications of a petitioner and we admit men into the fraternity by secret ceremonies based in part on legends of the Craft.

Once a person has decided to apply for membership he fills out a petition signed by 2 members of the Lodge he desires to join. He gives the petition to 1 of the men along with the necessary initiation fee. The petition is read at the Lodges' next stated meeting when the Worshipful Master will appoint an investigation committee who will interview the petitioner in person. the Investigating Committee will report back to Lodge at the following stated meeting when all members present will vote to accept or reject the petitioner. After acceptance the candidate is given the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. There are certain requirements a candidate must meet before he can proceed to the next degree.

One must obtain the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason before he is allowed to wear any Masonic jewelry.

One must have a Belief in a Supreme Being.

The tenets of the Masonic Fraternity are " Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. "

The Masonic Fraternity is NOT a Secret Society but rather a Society With Secrets like every other Fraternal Organization such as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus, Eagles, Moose, Elks, etc.

Suggest if you are a male over legal age and are interested in pursuing the Masonic Fraternity you contact a man whom you know to be a Mason for further information and an application. If no local Masonic Lodge is available please contact te Grand Lodge of Masons for the State in which you reside. The Grand Lodge Officers will help assist you in any way possible. If you are under legal age you might inquire about the DeMolay Order.

If you are a Lady the Masonic Fraternity offers the Order of Eastern Star if over legal age and the Order of Rainbow Girls or Job's Daughters for those Ladies under legal age. Please contact the local Masonic Lodge for further information and the requirements for these Ladies Organizations.

Suggest you contact the Masonic Fraternal Family directly for further information rather than on any web sites as there is plenty of wrong information given on certain web sites.

Answer 6

I'm not watching a video. My dad and brother are both in Freemasonry, it is not witchcraft. Many of the Founding Fathers were Freemasons (including George Washington) as have been several presidents of the United States. Is this suggesting that all these people are involved in witchcraft?

Whatever happened to the Founding Fathers being "Born-again Christians"?

Answer 7

Freemasons are ordinary men who believe in a supreme being or God. They have meetings, talk with each other, and drink coffee. It is a fraternal organization which tries to do good things.

I don't know much about witchcraft. But I don't think it fits the above description.

Answer 8

If you have to ask that question you are likely not intelligent enough to understand the answer.

They are not related in any way. Freemasonry is a fraternaly/social organization, witchcraft is a religious organization. Separate history, life, practice, belief, etc...

Answer 9

freemasonry: A natural or instinctive fellowship between people of similar interests.
Witch-Craft: The art or practices of a witch; sorcery; magic.

Answer 10

Seriously, that's like asking what's the difference between a Baptist and a Russian.