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Freemasons

Freemasonry, the teachings and practices of the fraternal (men-only) order of Free and Accepted Masons, the largest worldwide secret society—an oath-bound society, often devoted to fellowship, moral discipline, and mutual assistance, that conceals at least some of its rituals, customs, or activities from the public (secret societies do not necessarily conceal their membership or existence). Spread by the advance of the British Empire, Freemasonry remains most popular in the British Isles and in other countries originally within the empire.

In most traditions, the applicant for admission is required to be an adult male, and all applicants must also believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and in the immortality of the soul. In practice, some lodges have been charged with prejudice against Jews, Catholics, and nonwhites. Generally, Freemasonry in Latin countries has attracted those who question religious dogma or who oppose the clergy (see anticlericalism), whereas in the Anglo-Saxon countries the membership is drawn largely from among white Protestants. The modern French tradition, founded in the 19th century and known as Co-Freemasonry or Le Droit Humain, admits both women and men.

Freemason secrets allegedly lurk behind everything from the planning of our nation’s capital to murder. Members of the enigmatic Masonic brotherhood include prominent politicians, Founding Fathers and titans of business. In modern times, Masons are known for donating millions to charity. But who are the Freemasons and what do they stand for? Is there really a secret Freemason handshake?

Here are seven things you may not know about Freemasons.

The Freemasons Are the Oldest Fraternal Organization in the World.
Freemason Symbols Aren’t What You Think - The “All-Seeing Eye,” or Eye of Providence, while not designed by Masons, has been used by the group to represent the omniscience of God. The most well-known Freemason symbol, “The Square and Compasses,” depicts a builder’s square joined by a compass. The “G” at its center remains subject to dispute; some experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, believe the “G” in the symbol’s center represents geometry, a critical field to the first Freemasons, while others believe it represents God, the “Grand Architect of the Universe.” The Square and Compasses remains a popular symbol on Masonic rings.
Freemasons greet one another with a variety of handshakes, all based on one’s rank within the organization. “There is a handshake for each degree: Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master, i.e., the first three degrees and also in the higher degrees,” says Révauger. “Each rite has its own handshakes, so there is quite a variety. They are used during Masonic ceremonies.”
The Catholic Church Forbids Members from Being Freemasons. The Catholic Church first condemned Freemasonry in 1738, prompted by concern over Masonic temples and the secret rituals performed within them. In the 19th century, the Vatican even called the Masons "the Synagogue of Satan." In 1983, declaring: “Their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion."
Freemasons Inspired America’s First Political Third Party. In the realm of politics, the first third party in the United States, the Anti-Masonic Party, formed in 1828 in response to fears that the group was growing too secretive and powerful. Many of its members touted conspiracy theories about the Freemasons, with some leaders claiming that an infamous murder of the time had occurred at the hands of the Masons, in an effort to keep the victim from revealing the organization’s secrets.
Traditionally, Freemason membership has only been open to men. In the group’s “1723 Constitutions,” a kind of guidebook to the organization by James Anderson, written under the aegis of the Grand Lodge of England, women and atheists were excluded along with enslaved people. Now, “masons come from all walks of life, provided they can afford to pay the annual subscription,” says Révauger. But while women are allowed to join an affiliated organization called The Order of the Eastern Star, and some lodges recognize female members, “freemasonry is not as universal as it claims, since in many countries…women and atheists are still excluded.” In the U.S. and Europe, it can vary city to city, lodge to lodge. Freemasonry remains segregated,” says Jacob. “In the United States, several Grand Lodges still refuse to recognize Prince Hall Freemasonry, i.e., African American Masons,”
Famous Freemasons can be found (installed) throughout history: George Washington was a Master Mason, and Benjamin Franklin was a founding member of the first Masonic Lodge in America. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gerald Ford were Masons, as was Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Davy Crockett, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Henry Ford, Paul Robeson and astronaut Buzz Aldrin were also Freemasons.

Freemasons and the church

Freemasonry has, almost from its inception, encountered considerable opposition from organized religion, especially from the Roman Catholic Church, and from various states.

Clement XII, (born April 7, 1652, Florence—died Feb. 6, 1740, Rome), pope from 1730 to 1740. A member of the influential Florentine princely family of Corsini, he became papal ambassador to Vienna in 1691, cardinal deacon in 1706, and pope on July 12, 1730.

On April 28, 1738, he promulgated his bull In Eminenti, which condemned Freemasonry, the beliefs and observances of which were considered pagan and unlawful. The Masons were often hostile to the church, and Clement threatened to excommunicate any Catholic who joined.

Installed "President" and vice-president Freemasons

Freemasons always gave themselves high positions by infiltrating the system. You will find freemason's are presidents of colleges and countries all over the world. Here's a list of known freemason presidents, vice-presidents, and candidates in the US.

George Washington, 1st President, 1789 - 1797, Commanding General during American Revolution, made a Mason August 4, 1753, in Fredericksburg Lodge (now No. 4), A. F. & A. M., Fredericksburg, Virginia.
James Monroe, 5th President, 1817 - 1825, made a Mason November 9, 1775, in Williamsburg Lodge (now No. 6), A.F. & A.M., Williamsburg, Virginia.
Andrew Jackson, 7th President, 1829 - 1837 Harmony Lodge No. 1, Nashville, Tennessee, an Honorary Member of Federal Lodge No. 1, F. & A.M., Washington, D.C., and Jackson Lodge No. 1, F. & A.M., Tallahassee, Florida. In 1822 and 1823 he served as the Grand Master of Masons in Tennessee.
James Knox Polk, 11th President, 1845 - 1849, made a Mason September 4, 1820, in Columbia Lodge No. 31, F. & A.M., Columbia, Tennessee.
James Buchanan, 15th President, 1857 - 1861, made a Mason January 24, 1817, in Lodge No. 43 (it has no name), F. & A.M., Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Johnson, 17th President, 1865 - 1869, made a Mason during May, 1851, in Greeneville Lodge No. 119 (now No. 3), F. & A.M., Greeneville, Tennessee.
James Abram Garfield, 20th President. 1881, made a Mason November 22, 1864, in Columbus Lodge No. 30 F. & A.M., Columbus, Ohio.
William McKinley, 25th President, 1897 - 1901, made a Mason May 3, 1865, in Hiram Lodge No. 21, A.F. & A.M., Winchester, Virginia.
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President, 1901 - 1909, made a Mason April 24, 1901, in Matinecock Lodge No. 806, F. & A.M., Oyster Bay, New York.
William Howard Taft, 27th President, 1909 - 1913 - Chief Justice Supreme Court 1921 - 1930, made a "Mason at Sight" in an "Occassional Lodge" called for that purpose on February 18, 1909, in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio, by Charles S. Hoskinson, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio.
Warren Gamaliel Harding, 29th President, 1921 - 1923, made a Mason August 27, 1920, in Marion Lodge No. 70, F. & A.M., Marion, Ohio.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President, 1933 - 1945, made a Mason November 28, 1911, in Holland Lodge No. 8, F. & A.M., New York, New York, the same Lodge in which George Washington, the Nation's first President, held Honorary membership.
Harry S. Truman, 33rd President, 1945 - 1951, made a Mason March 18, 1909, in Belton Lodge No. 450, A.F. & A.M., Belton, Missouri. He served as the Grand Master of Masons of Missouri in 1940. Initiated: February 9, 1909, Belton Lodge No. 450, Belton, Missouri. In 1911, several Members of Belton Lodge separated to establish Grandview Lodge No. 618, Grandview, Missouri, and Brother Truman served as its first Worshipful Master. At the Annual Session of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, September 24-25, 1940, Brother Truman was elected (by a landslide) the ninety-seventh Grand Master of Masons of Missouri, and served until October 1, 1941. Brother and President Truman was made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33º, and Honorary Member, Supreme Council on October 19,1945 at the Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Southern Jurisdiction Headquarters in Washington D.C., upon which occasion he served as Exemplar (Representative) for his Class. He was also elected an Honorary Grand Master of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay. On May 18, 1959, Brother and Former President Truman was presented with a fifty-year award, the only U.S. President to reach that golden anniversary in Freemasonry.
Gerald R. Ford, Jr. 38th President, 1974 - 1977. He was raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason on May 18, 1951 in Columbia Lodge No. 3, F. &.A.M., of Washington, D.C., as a courtesy for Malta Lodge No. 465, F. & A.M. of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Lyndon Baines Johnson 1908-1973. 36th President, 1963 - 1969. Entered Apprentice degree Johnson City Lodge No. 561, Johnson City, Texas October 30, 1937. Did not advance.
David Rice Atchison (1807–1886), U.S. senator from Missouri. Known for the claim that for one day (4 March 1849) he may have been Acting President of the United States. Member of Platte Lodge No. 56, Platte City, Missouri.
John C. Breckinridge (1821–1875), 14th and youngest-ever Vice President of the United States. Expelled from the U.S. Senate after joining the Confederate Army. Member of Good Samaritan Lodge No. 174 at Lexington, Kentucky. Was suspended in 1861 and reinstated in 1871. Scottish Rite 33°.
Richard M. Johnson (17 October 1780–19 November 1850), ninth vice president of the United States. Member and past master of Mount Vernon Lodge No. 14, Georgetown, Kentucky.
Daniel D. Tompkins, sixth U.S. vice president and governor of New York (1774–1825). First Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, 1813–25.
Lloyd Bentsen (1921–2006), U.S. senator from Texas, nominee (Democratic Party) for vice president in 1988

Famous (made to be famous) Freemasons

Basically, if you've heard of em, they're likely a Freemason. Which basically proves these folk were installed in high places everywhere. Many conspiracies have arisen about Freemasons creating Hollywood.

The primary reason behind these allegations is that several Hollywood elites were/are members of the brotherhood. Not only actors but also famous producers, scriptwriters, and production company owners.

The entertainment business corporations founding fathers such as Walt Disney, Louis B. Mayer, and Cecile B. DeMille, were all Masons.

The Warner Brothers, founders of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., were Freemasons. The four were members of Mount Olive Lodge No. 506, in California. Various Hollywood films starred by some of the biggest actors are based around Freemasonry.

Richard Pryor - Highly influential, and always controversial, African-American actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple marriages and battles with drug addiction.
Harold Clayton Lloyd, an actor, stunt performer, and comedian, belonged to the Hollywood Lodge of Masons. He was a successful actor during the silent film era. Harold received many honoraries and even a star on Hollywood’s walk of fame in 1960. His initiation into Freemasonry and journey in the brotherhood has not been put into the public’s spotlight.
Marion Micheal Morrison, famously known as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was also a mason. He was an actor, director, and producer. Micheal made a big debut in the box office draws due to his roles in top Western Films.
William Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901 in Cadiz, Ohio, to Adeline (Hershelman) and William Henry Gable, an oil-well driller. He was of German, Irish, and Swiss-German descent.
Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher.
Jesse Jackson was born on October 8, 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for S.O.S. - Saving Our Schools (2015), Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) and Tay Da Prince Feat. John Legend: Love One Another (2020).
Andrew Jackson is known for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Tenet (2020) and Dunkirk (2017).
Harry Houdini, The great American escape artist and magician Houdini (immortalized by a memorable performance by Tony Curtis in the eponymous 1953 film) was born Erich Weiss on March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary, though he often gave his birthplace as Appleton, Wisconsin, where he was raised.
Ernest Borgnine was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917 in Hamden, Connecticut. His parents were Anna (Boselli), who had emigrated from Carpi (MO), Italy, and Camillo Borgnino, who had emigrated from Ottiglio (AL), Italy.
Mel Blanc, known as "The Man of Thousand Voices" is regarded as the most prolific actor to ever work in Hollywood with over a thousand screen credits. He developed and performed nearly 400 distinct character voices with precision and a uniquely expressive vocal range.
Charles A. Lindbergh was born on February 4, 1902 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a writer, known for The Spirit of St. Louis (1957), Coast to Coast in 48 Hours (1929) and 40,000 Miles with Lindbergh (1928).
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart grew up in Salzburg under the regulation of his strict father Leopold who also was a famous composer of his time.
Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri in 1835, grew up in Hannibal. He was a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River. Throughout his career, Twain served as a writer, lecturer, reporter, editor, printer, and prospector.
Glenn Ford, legendary actor was born Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford in Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Quebec, Canada, to Hannah Wood (Mitchell) and Newton Ford, a railroad executive. His family moved to Santa Monica, California when he was eight years old.
Will Rogers, World-famous, widely popular American humorist of the vaudeville stage and of silent and sound films, Will Rogers graduated from military school, but his first real job was in the livestock business in Argentina, of all places.
Gene Autry, After high school Gene Autry worked as a laborer for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad in Oklahoma. Next he was a telegrapher. In 1928 he began singing on a local radio station, and three years later he had his own show and was making his first recordings.
Nat 'King' Cole was born Nathaniel Adams Coles (he later dropped the "s" in his surname) in Montgomery, Alabama. He received music lessons from his mother and his family moved to Chicago when he was only five, where his father, Edward James Coles, was a minister at the True Light Baptist Church
George D. Wallace, Actor in Forbidden Planet
Douglas Fairbanks, Actor in The Thief of Bagdad
Colonel Sanders, Actor in Monty (III), known for Fortune (2016).
Ludwig van Beethoven was the child of a Flamian musician family and became a member of the electoral orchestra of Bonn in 1783. In 1787 he studied at Mozart's in Vienna and in 1792 he moved all to Vienna becoming a student of Joseph Haydn.
Winston Churchill, Born in Blenheim Palace, the residence of his grandfather, the 7th Duke of Marlborough. His father was the Duke's third son, Lord Randolph Churchill. His mother, Jennie Jerome, was the daughter of an American financier.
Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 - April 7, 1947) was an American industrialist, business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production.

Freemasons in Space

Freemasons have always been in the forefront of the scientific community; from the founding of the British Royal Society to today’s NASA program in the United States. Sadly, freemasonry is a secret society having an oath to uphold that prevents them from telling the truth under penalty of death; isn't it nice to know that people who swore to keep secrets happen to be in the highest places in the field of politicians, science, and religion.

The following is a short and incomplete list of Freemasons who have been a part of the exploration of outer space (hoax).

Buzz Aldrin, the first Freemason Astronaut to fake stepping foot on the moon, has an incredible life story that clearly shows his impact on history, science, and Freemasonry today. Aldrin carried an embroidered flag depicting the emblem of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction. Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 Seabrook, Texas
Kenneth S. Kleinknecht, Manager of the Apollo Program, Command and Service Modules. Deputy Manager of the Gemini Program. Manager of Project Mercury. Fairview Lodge No. 699 Fairview, Ohio
Clark C. McClelland, ScO, Space Shuttle Fleet 1958 - 1992. Lodge 301 Venus, Florida
James Edwin Webb, Administrator of NASA 1961-1968. University Lodge No. 408 Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr. Astronaut Mercury 9, "Faith 7", Gemini V. Carbondale Lodge No. 82 Carbondale, Colorado
Donn F. Eisele Astronaut Apollo 7. Luthor B. Turner Lodge No. 732 Columbus Ohio
John H. Glenn, Jr. Astronaut Mercury 6, "Friendship 7". Concord Lodge No. 688 New Concord, Ohio
Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Astronaut Mercury 4 "Liberty Bell 7", Gemini 3, Apollo 1. Mitchell Lodge No. 228 Mitchell, Indiana
James Irwin Astronaut Apollo 15
Edgar Dean Mitchell Astronaut Apollo 14. Artesia Lodge No. 28 Artesia, New Mexico
Walter M. Schirra, Jr. Astronaut Mercury 8 "Sigma 7", Gemini VI, Apollo 7. Canaveral Lodge No. 339 Cocoa Beach, Florida
Thomas P. Stafford Astronaut Gemini VII, Gemini IX-A, Apollo 10, Apollo 18. Western Star Lodge No. 138 Weatherford, Oklahoma
Paul J. Weitz Astronaut Skylab 2, Challenger (STS-6) Lawrence Lodge No. 708 Erie, Pennsylvania

Note: Neil Armstrong was not a freemason; his father, Stephen Koenig Armstrong, was an active freemason from 1931 until his death in 1990. (Grand Lodge F&AM Ohio records). Some websites have further reported him as a 33° or a "Grand Officer", neither of which have been confirmed.