Freemasons

Considered the oldest, continuous fraternal organization in the world, Freemasons formed during Medieval Europe—a guild, of sorts, for skilled builders—yet after the decline of cathedral building, Freemasons morphed into a social and philanthropic organization, with a charter to encourage its membership to embrace virtuous and socially oriented lives.

Rooted in Enlightenment

With deep roots in the Enlightenment, Freemasons came to be known for their core values of religious tolerance combined with a thirst for knowledge and social interaction, yet over the intervening centuries, Freemasons have come under scrutiny by conspiracy theorists due to their secret handshakes and passwords, leading the Catholic Church to condemn Freemasonry in 1738 and later in the 19th century as the “Synagogue of Satan,” over concerns focused mainly on their church-like Masonic temples and secret rituals.

Anti-Masonic Party

Fear of Freemasonry also spawned the United States’ first third political party in 1828 known as the Anti-Masonic Party, over fears of the group’s secretive nature and the power of many of its members, further spawning a bevy of conspiracy theories, including a purported murder at the hands of Freemasons, in an effort to keep the victim from revealing the organizations darkest secrets.

Sexist & Racist

Excluding women, atheists and Blacks for much of its existence, in more recent times, many Masonic temples still encourage women to join an affiliated organization known as the The Order of the Eastern Star, while Freemason groups in many Southern states still refuse to recognize an African American organization known as Prince Hall Freemasons.

Famous Members

Despite all its suspicion, conspiracy theories and religious fear mongering expressed by its many detractors, Freemasonry has witnessed a long list of famous members, including Grand Mason and American President George Washington, Ben Franklin, Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gerald Ford, Winston Churchill, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Davy Crockett, Henry Ford and many other illustrious notables. Today, Freemasonry’s roughly six million worldwide members donate some $2.6 million dollars a day to a wide assortment of charities, making Freemasons, an oftentimes misunderstood group of likeminded humanitarians.