What do you think of Freemasonry? In history, in the modern world? The following is an interesting accumulation of facts that should capture your attention. This research is rather loose, sparked simply by my own curiosity. If you look at this list of freemasons, as well as other more complete lists easily found online, you will undoubtedly come to the same conclusion as I: this is an extremely interesting, unmatched list of people from all different aspects of history making up the brotherhood of a single fraternity.

Freemasonry is described as a global secret society, or fraternity, supporting freedom of religion and acting largely as philanthropists seeking inspiration and great enlightenment. They are rumored to, and also not to, possess an array of "secrets" of great importance that they, as a brotherhood, protect. For the record:

Freemasonry has 33 degrees of membership. The 33rd degree is the highest degree -- the Grand Masters of the Freemasons. 33 is held to the Freemasons as a sacred number:

Isaac Newton, an unconfirmed but highly suspected member and Grand Master of Freemasonry, set 33 degrees as the freezing point on the Newton Scale of temperature. This is believed by many to be an unexplainable random choice for such an important point on a scale of temperature; others point to his freemasonry as the answer.
The capstone on the Washington Monument, an obelisk in the center of the New World and created in memory of the father of the United States, George Washington, a prominent and well known freemason, by freemasons, weighs exactly 3300 pounds.
The Grand Masonic Temple in Washington DC has exactly 33 columns making up its perimeter. Each one is exactly 33 feet tall.
Jesus Christ is widely believed to have been 33 years old when he died. He is said to have performed 33 miracles.
The human spinal chord has 33 vertebrae.
There are many more appearances.

Washington DC, the capitol of the New World, is believed to have been built with multiple layers of freemason symbolism. In the Capitol Building, for example, the capitol rotunda is capped with the Apotheosis of Washington in the oculus of the dome. The Apotheosis of Washington is a detailed painting of George Washington being transformed into a God. Apotheosis, in latin, literally means "to deify:" theos = god; apo = of or from. This reflects a wide belief in freemasonry, the belief of transformation through enlightenment -- the belief that men and God are one, that men are Gods. This belief is represented in freemasonry by the pyramid, a symbol of man's climb to enlightenment. This symbol is of course printed on the back of the one dollar bill, where the all-seeing eye is inside the capstone of the unfinished pyramid -- a symbol of man's incompletion in its pursuit of enlightenment.

A 30 ton George Washington statue, featuring Washington as a great God was removed from the US Capitol in 1908. It was based on Zeus Olympions, which was one of the seven great wonders of the ancient world, destroyed in late antiquity.

If you draw a hexagram (an ancient symbol most commonly known today as the Jewish Star) precisely through the center of the Great Seal of the US, featured on the back of the 1 dollar bill, 5 points of the star point precisely to 5 letters: M-A-S-O-N. The 6th point, at the top, perfectly captures the pyramid's capstone featuring the all-seeing eye.

14 US Presidents were known freemasons:

George Washington
James Monroe
Andrew Jackson
James Polk
James Buchanan
Andrew Johnson
James Garfield
William McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
Howard Taft
Warren Harding
Franklin Roosevelt
Harry Truman
Gerald Ford

9 signers of the US Declaration of Independence were known freemasons, including Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock. 6 others are not concretely known, but highly suspected freemasons. 13 of the 39 signers of the US Constitution were known freemasons.

Other prominent figures known to be freemasons:

Albert Einstein
Winston Churchill
Mark Twain
WA Mozart
Francis Scott Key
Paul Revere
James Hoban (architect U.S Capitol)
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Jean Henry Dunant (Red Cross)
J. Edgar Hoover
Albert Abraham Michelson (measured speed of light)
Edward Jenner (vaccine)
Lewis & Clarke
Charles A. Lindbergh


So, what are all of these men, who together have pretty much made the world what it is today, all doing under the same umbrella of Freemasonry? They knowingly carry out controversial traditions and rituals throughout their evolution within the brotherhood. Are they just a mysterious group of philanthropists best brought together under this Freemasonry label, or is there more to the group than that? Are they really as mysterious as legend has it?

What does OT think? Obviously this isn't going to capture the minds of certain OT types, but some of the deeper thinkers that post intricately in the "is God real?" threads might have interesting things to say on the topic. Keep in mind, freemasonry included men of all religions.

all those guys are dead so avoid being a freemason?

My BFF is a free mason - has the ring and all... he is in government and a blue key member from UF. He refuses to tell me anything although he has a book that he keeps locked away that should have some info about the group.

I find this topic very interesting and theorize that the FM are the new world order type.

Ive always been interested in Freemasonry. I went into a masonic lodge the other day to look around and to become a member you have to perform some pretty intense stuff. It kinda reminded me of the Religion I was born and raised in(Mormon). Some of the things that you have to do to become a member is come into it in free will. You have to believe in a supreme being but whoever that being or deity is is completely up to the member who is joining. You have to have good morals and character. Its definitely interesting because some of the greatest minds in history have been Freemasons.

Little known fact about ChocoThunder: He is a 32nd degree mason.

33rd degree is bigger than 32nd so that doesn't make sense.

larry bird wore 33, greatest PF of all time imo

My grandfather and my uncle were both heavily involved in the masons but its just something they did not openly discuss.

My understanding is that they do a lot of great work for charities and they support each other wherever possible in life and in business.

I have done a fair amount of musical work with affiliates of the masons and shriners and there is no doubt that if you are in "the club", it opens up a lot of doors for you.

Chances are you could be working with a mason, and unless you were one yourself, they would never let you know of their affiliation.

I'm also reading a Dan Brown novel currently.

 

Originally Posted by sol160

sounds like someone read dan browns new book

that whole book is just to make up for how he beat up christians in the da vinci code.

The last symbol is the bible, yeah the ending sucks.

wonderful organization.

LOL at this non sense. If you want to be a Freemason just ask one about joining. But if you prefer to freak yourself out over nothing do a little google research on the Georgia Guidestones. Then you can really work yourself into a lather.

tl;dr

but are those the guys with one trouser leg rolled up... my mates dad was in the masons. dunno if thats the same thing. he used to say it was all bollocks tho, just like a big networking dealie. sort of like and old facebook i guess :P

 

Originally Posted by deadeyehank

tl;dr

but are those the guys with one trouser leg rolled up... my mates dad was in the masons. dunno if thats the same thing. he used to say it was all bollocks tho, just like a big networking dealie. sort of like and old facebook i guess :P

trouser, mate, bollocks....................survey say HO MO

anyone who takes it seriously goes scottish rite and goes to 32 minimum