A long thread of a compilation of what #Freemasonry is/is not. What we do/don't. Where it is frowned upon in the world and historical analysis of "why"...
What is Freemasonry?
- It's the largest (±6 million) and oldest fraternal organization in the world
- A group of men who believe in the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man
- The principles are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth
- It's the largest (±6 million) and oldest fraternal organization in the world
- A group of men who believe in the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man
- The principles are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth
-A fraternity of men, bound together by oaths, based on the medieval stonemason craft guilds.
-We teach lessons of philosophical, social, and moral virtues based on the symbolism of the ancient building/architecture tools and language.
-We teach lessons of philosophical, social, and moral virtues based on the symbolism of the ancient building/architecture tools and language.
-We practice brotherly love, mutual assistance, equality, secrecy, and trust between each other.
-We recognize each other through handshakes, signs, and passwords.
-We recognize each other through handshakes, signs, and passwords.
We meet in lodges that are governed by a Master and assisted by Wardens, where petitioners who are found to be morally and mentally qualified are admitted using secret ritual ceremonies based on the legends of the ancient guilds.
*What do we do?*
-We meet several times a year, to discuss issues pertaining to our Lodge or presented to the Lodge
-We confer degrees to new candidates to help good men be better
-We eat! (not babies, sorry to disappoint some of you)
-We meet several times a year, to discuss issues pertaining to our Lodge or presented to the Lodge
-We confer degrees to new candidates to help good men be better
-We eat! (not babies, sorry to disappoint some of you)
*What issues do we discuss?*
To the disappointment of many people, the issues, called business, are only related to charity, education, logistics of the Lodge.
No world domination and no sacrifices. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
To the disappointment of many people, the issues, called business, are only related to charity, education, logistics of the Lodge.
No world domination and no sacrifices. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
*Degrees? You do magic?*
-Our degrees are a progression, just like in the Scouts
-A "story" divided into three parts, each story representing moral and philosophical values
- It takes each member from being an Entered Apprentice to a Fellow Craft and finally a Master Mason.
-Our degrees are a progression, just like in the Scouts
-A "story" divided into three parts, each story representing moral and philosophical values
- It takes each member from being an Entered Apprentice to a Fellow Craft and finally a Master Mason.
*You eat! What do you eat?*
We just love our food. We share a meal after our meeting, formally we call it a festive board, sometimes it's just "let's have a bite!"
It increases fellowship, exchange of ideas, discussions and usually provides a few laughs.
We just love our food. We share a meal after our meeting, formally we call it a festive board, sometimes it's just "let's have a bite!"
It increases fellowship, exchange of ideas, discussions and usually provides a few laughs.
*What do we believe in?*
Brotherly love: Love for each other and for all mankind
Relief: Charity for others and mutual aid for fellow Masons
Truth: The search for answers to the universal questions that only a man's individual faith and his relationship with God can provide
Brotherly love: Love for each other and for all mankind
Relief: Charity for others and mutual aid for fellow Masons
Truth: The search for answers to the universal questions that only a man's individual faith and his relationship with God can provide
God? What about Catholics? They cannot be Freemasons!
In Regular Freemasonry, a person cannot be admitted unless he professes a belief in God. Regular Freemasonry is open to all men of all races and beliefs, we refer to God as the Supreme Being to avoid the different naming
In Regular Freemasonry, a person cannot be admitted unless he professes a belief in God. Regular Freemasonry is open to all men of all races and beliefs, we refer to God as the Supreme Being to avoid the different naming
*Do you pray to a "deity"?*
No. However, every Freemason is encouraged to practice his own religion spiritual path.
No. However, every Freemason is encouraged to practice his own religion spiritual path.
Back to the Catholics. Freemasonry doesn't have a problem with the Catholic Church, it's the other way around. Why? A bit of history:
-Freemasonry had developed in England in the seventeenth century, but after 1715 had split into Jacobite and Hanoverian lodges.
-Freemasonry had developed in England in the seventeenth century, but after 1715 had split into Jacobite and Hanoverian lodges.
The Lodge in Rome was Jacobite (pro James III) and mainly Catholic but admitted Protestants.
In Florence, it was Protestant Hanoverian but also admitted Catholics.
Pope Clement XII was from Florence. Protestants and Catholics don't mix.
In Florence, it was Protestant Hanoverian but also admitted Catholics.
Pope Clement XII was from Florence. Protestants and Catholics don't mix.
In 1737, James III of England learned that Hanoverian Freemasons had recruited so many French Catholics that they had taken control of the Grande Loge de France from the Jacobites. He asked Clement XII to issue a papal bull condemning Hanoverian Freemasonry in the Catholic Europe
In eminenti apostolatus specula was issued by Pope Clement XII on the 28th of April 1738, banning Catholics from becoming Freemasons.
It doesn't stop here…
It doesn't stop here…
The world was in turmoil in the 1700s & 1800s
Religions, kings, countries were under attack all over the world by people who questioned everything.
A new way of thinking was emerging: Kings have no divine right to rule. It's not inherited; it's earned.
Religions, kings, countries were under attack all over the world by people who questioned everything.
A new way of thinking was emerging: Kings have no divine right to rule. It's not inherited; it's earned.
Meanwhile, the unification of Italy was taking place between 1815–1871
In 1848, a revolt led by Italian Freemason Giuseppe Garibaldi led eventually to the loss of every Papal State, except for Rome.
Rome was lost in 1870, and one small area left for the pope, the Vatican today
In 1848, a revolt led by Italian Freemason Giuseppe Garibaldi led eventually to the loss of every Papal State, except for Rome.
Rome was lost in 1870, and one small area left for the pope, the Vatican today
Still, it doesn't stop here…
Freemason Benito Juarez liberated Mexico, Freemason Simon Bolivar liberated South America.
The papacy lost dominance in Europe, gold and silver mines in the Americas
More later...
Freemason Benito Juarez liberated Mexico, Freemason Simon Bolivar liberated South America.
The papacy lost dominance in Europe, gold and silver mines in the Americas
More later...
Ancient Craft Freemasonry was always neutral when it came to religious beliefs.
The behavior of the Catholic church and Pope Pius IX in particular angered some French Freemasons
It was triggered when it was proclaimed that popes are infallible.
The behavior of the Catholic church and Pope Pius IX in particular angered some French Freemasons
It was triggered when it was proclaimed that popes are infallible.
Distance grew between French Freemasons and “mainstream” Freemasonry
In 1877, the French being French, they shocked the Masonic world by removing the faith in God as a requirement to join the Fraternity
And since then, they are considered irregular and unrecognized
In 1877, the French being French, they shocked the Masonic world by removing the faith in God as a requirement to join the Fraternity
And since then, they are considered irregular and unrecognized
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
