About Freemasonry

Part Two: Myths and Misperceptions

2.1 What are the demographics?

In the United States, there is no doubt that the population of Masons is aging. There was a huge increase in membership in almost all fraternal orders after World War II, including Masonry. This peaked at sometime in the late 50s. During the social turbulence and generational strains of the 60s and 70s, new membership fell off, with the result that by the 1980s, total membership was in decline.

Some lodges are experiencing a "greening," with a significant number of younger applicants being admitted and taking active roles in the work. Younger Masons' expectations tend to include a desire for instruction in Masonic education and esoteric philosophy. Unfortunately, this is one area in which lodges are often unprepared.

2.2 Aren't Masons racist/elitist?

There are Masons of all ethnic backgrounds, and have been for hundreds of years. Masonry explicitly states the equality of all men, regardless of race, creed, or color, and there is no place in Masonry for prejudice based upon any of these criteria. It may be true that not all Masons have historically lived up to this ideal, and that is unfortunate, saddening, and unmasonic. However, prejudice is not representative of Masonry as a whole, or representative of anything except a tiny (and shrinking) minority of Masons.

"Elitism" is harder to define. If you mean that Masons are highly selective in their membership, then yes, Masons are elitists. But just criteria are used: men of good character, of good report, who believe a Supreme Being. Does the majority of the population fit those criteria? If you think not, then you could say that Masons are elitists.

The idea that Masonry is only open to the patrician class, the landed gentry, and the wealthy is incorrect. There are Masons of all economic backgrounds. Indeed, there are Lodges which are mostly or wholly made up of blue-collar workers due to local demographics.

2.3 Isn't this just a place where businessmen make deals?

No. In fact, most Masons believe that to trade with a Brother Mason only because he is a Mason is unmasonic. Even more importantly, anyone who attempts to join a Lodge solely for business reasons will not be given a petition. Masons, however, are friends, and it is not surprising that many Masons do trade with Brothers. For one thing, they are dealing with people that are of good character and can be trusted, which is no small statement in the modern marketplace.

Even so, Masonry is not a place to "network." Some men do view one of the benefits of membership as an additional source of customers or partners, but few would say that is the only reason they became Masons. The work involved in the learning the degrees alone would make this a poor investment—better to join the Rotary Club or other business group.

2.4 Is this some kind of cult? I see titles like "Worshipful Master" and "Senior Deacon."

No. The colorful titles are only meant to convey ancient symbolism. No Mason worships the Master of the Lodge, nor does a Senior (or Junior) Deacon engage in religious actions, as a Deacon of a church might.

2.5 Masonry is a secret society, right?

Wrong. Secret societies can be defined as organizations which are unknown to the public and whose existence is denied. The Bavarian Illuminati and the Mafia would be examples of secret societies. Masonry, on the other hand, is well-known and proudly displays its existence. Masonic Temples are clearly marked as such, and many Lodges are listed in the yellow pages. Members often wear rings or tie-clips that identify themselves as Masons, and Masons often participate in community charity work. Finally, some Masonic functions are open to the public, and the Internet is replete with official and unofficial information about Masonic matters.

Masonry is not a secret society, but rather a society with a few secrets. These are mainly modes of recognition—the signals, grips, signs, and phrases by which Masons recognize each other. The actual degree rituals are considered secret as well, not because there is anything that would harm Masonry by its revelation, but rather because they it is more meaningful if the candidate does not know what is going to go on beforehand. (We've all had movies ruined when someone told us the ending!)

2.6 Is Masonry a religion?

Masonry is not a religion "by the definitions most people use. Religion, as the term is commonly used, implies several things: a plan for salvation or path by which one reaches the after-life; a theology which attempts to describe the nature of God; and the description of ways or practices by which a man or woman may seek to communicate with God. Masonry does none of those things. We offer no plan of salvation. With the exception of saying that He is a loving Father who desires only good for His children, we make no effort to describe the nature of God. And while we open and close our meetings with prayer, and we teach that no man should ever begin any important undertaking without first seeking the guidance of God, we never tell a man how he should pray or for what he should pray. Instead, we tell him that he must find the answers to these great questions in his own faith, in his church or synagogue or other house of worship. We urge men not to neglect their spiritual development and to be faithful in the practice of their religion. As the Grand Lodge of England wrote in 'Freemasonry and Religion', 'Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practice, it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other duties his duty to God by whatever name He is known.' Masonry itself makes only a simple religious demand on a man--he must believe that he has an immortal soul and he must believe in God. No atheist can be a Mason." (Dr. Jim Tresner, 33°)

2.7 Do Masons really control the world, in cahoots with the Bavarian Illuminati and members of the Trilateral Commission?

No.

2.8 Are Masons are anti-Catholic?

Wrong. There is nothing anti-Catholic in Masonry, in its traditions, its rituals, or its beliefs.

2.9 Are Masonic rituals demeaning to the candidate?

Not in the slightest. The candidate is treated with exemplary respect, and that is no secret! The rituals of initiation into each degree are designed to reinforce virtues that the Craft finds desirable, such as Justice, Brotherly Love, Truth, and the like. The ceremonies are actually quite beautiful and filled with ancient language and much symbolism. At no point is the candidate asked to do anything that would embarrass or demean him, nor anything that would violate his obligations to his faith, country, or the law.

2.10 I heard about a "Masonic Bible." Do Masons have their own Bible?

The Bibles sometimes called 'Masonic Bibles' are just Bibles to which a concordance, giving the Biblical citations on which the Masonic Ritual is based, has been added. Sometimes reference material on Masonic history is included. Anyone is welcome to read one. Masonic Bibles are usually the King James version.

2.11 Masonic buildings are called Temples. Why?

All Masonic Lodges symbolically represent the ancient Temple of Solomon.

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