Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization whose members, depending on the Rite, are now both male and female and share metaphysical principles and a belief in a Supreme Creator.
- Although many Freemasons prefer to identify themselves as a society with secrets.
- Freemasonry has traditionally been defined as a hidden society.
Freemasonry is a degree-granting system based on the symbolism of reconstructing Solomon's Temple, with supposed origins in medieval stonemason guilds.
Some think these customs date back to the Adytum Builders, the masons who constructed Solomon's Temple.
- Following the fall of the Knights Templar in 1312, legend has it that surviving Templars fled to Scotland, where they later emerged as Freemasons.
- These Templar secrets were given to a "Unknown Master," who created seven degrees tied to knightly titles.
- Local, regional, and national distinctions emerged gradually as Masonry expanded.
- Alchemical and hermetic mysteries were used to create certain new ceremonies.
- High Ceremonial Magic, Umbanda, and Vodou are all spiritual and magical traditions that have been influenced by Freemasonry.
As the European Witchcraft mania faded, hatred toward Freemasons grew instead. In 1738, a papal decree made freemasonry illegal under penalty of death.
- The rise of this secret group among the affluent and powerful alarmed the Vatican.
- It was said to promote occultism, Protestantism, and atheism.
- Freemasons were suspected of seeking global dominance, much like witches.
- Count Cagliostro and his wife Seraphina, Casanova, Mozart, Herman Rucker, and Harry Houdini are all notable Freemasons.
HALL OF FAME - Count Cagliostro and Black Herman Rucker.
You may also want to read more about Paganism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.
