Freemasons

Freemasons

• What is the definition of Freemasons?• A member of the Free and Accepted Masons, an

international fraternal and charitable organization with secret rites and signs

• Freemasonry is an organization of men based on the "fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man," using builders' tools as symbols to teach basic moral truths generally accepted by persons of good will.

• Their motto is "morality in which all men agree, that is, to be good men and true."

• Known under a variety of names (the Craft, the Brotherhood, the Order, the Fraternal Order, the Lodge, etc

• Have been aligned with both Christians and Occult

• The history of the Lodge is not easily discernable

History• Taught in the lodge:• the fraternity began during the construction of King Solomon's

Temple. This undertaking was so vast that in order to see it completed in a correct and timely fashion, an organization was formed among the stonemasons and architects

• They were divided into various grades and classes with responsibilities as described in the rituals of the lodge

• Many Characters described in the Bible are seen in the context of degrees in the freemason world

• Freemasons can be really considered a created organization starting 1717 with the building of the first Lodge in London

• There was a schism soon after• Each Lodge was claiming greater authenticity• In 1813, these two Lodges merged back together and formed the

United Grand Lodge in England• Freemasonry grew dramatically during the 1800's and beginning of

the 1900's • They run many charitable causes