Concealed Secrets Within Freemasonry
Concealed Secrets Within Freemasonry
Freemasonry is the largest fraternal organization in the world with over 3 million members in the United States alone. One out of every twelve men in America is a part of this organization. Yet most people are totally clueless as to what goes on inside of the Masonic lodges and what the Masonic brotherhood is all about. Freemasonry is not only a secret society, it is a religious institution with many concealed and deceptive practices disguised from the general public.
According to Webster’s dictionary, the word religion is defined as “any specific system of belief, worship, or conduct often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy.” “Masons are on a quest for light. But it seems they have done everything they can to detour around Jesus who said ‘I am the light of the world’ (Schnoebelen 61). Freemasonry’s history dates back to the early seventeenth century and many men with prestigious rankings and the elite were Masons. Our first president, George Washington was a Mason and in Virginia the George Washington Masonic Memorial commemorates his life as a Mason. Of the fifty-six signers of the constitution, forty-one of them were Masons. It is also documented in history that many of the Supreme Court justices, senators and other people in political leadership were or are part of the masonry as well.
The requirements for being admitted in the masonry are rather broad. First, you must be a male who is either eighteen or twenty-one depending on what that particular jurisdiction allows. However, more recently women have been establishing their own lodges. Secondly, you must confess in the belief of a supreme being. A supreme being can be interpreted in many ways therefore it is not restrictive to any certain religious preference and some lodges are no longer concerned with that requirement. Third, you must seek out masonry through your own free will but be referred by one or two other masons. The final requirement is that you be of sound mind, body, and have good morals. To people who are uneducated about the society which are most, Masons appear to be a brotherhood of moral and ethical men who do charity work. They even deceive the public by promoting themselves as an organization that makes good men better. To reveal the truth of the freemasonry brotherhood, the practices within the lodges, secret rituals, and symbolism must be analyzed to show the true purpose of this established society.
When a man decides to enter the lodge he must earn his first degree as an “Entered Apprentice.” As part of his initiation he is asked the question “In whom do you put your trust?” The candidate must give the answer “In God.” If he does not state this he will be asked to leave the lodge. From there the candidate must roll his left pant leg above the knee, taking his left shoe and sock off, unbutton his shirt, exposing