Freemasonry

Some people belong to a group called Freemasons.

This group is very old. It started with people who built with stone.

Masons meet in a place called a Lodge.

They have three levels or grades. They learn special signs and words.

Members also do kind work. They give money to help others. They help with schools and health.

Some groups have only men. Other groups have women too.

It is a big group of friends. They work together to help the world.

Freemasonry is a group of friends.

It is very old. It started with guilds of stonemasons long ago. These were groups of people who built with stone.

Masons meet in a place called a Lodge.

Each Lodge is its own private club. They have a leader called a Master. They also have a secretary and a treasurer. Lodges meet to do business and talk. They also hold special ceremonies.

New members move through three levels. They start as an Entered Apprentice. Next, they become a Fellow Craft. Finally, they become a Master Mason.

During these steps, they learn special signs and words. They also learn about symbols.

Masons do kind work to help others. They raise money for schools and health. Some groups have only men. Other groups welcome both men and women. There are millions of members in the world. Many different groups lead the Masons in different places.

Freemasonry is a large group of people who belong to fraternal organizations. These groups are very old and have many different traditions. They are considered the oldest secular fraternal organization in existence. Documents and traditions for these groups date back to the 14th century.

Most Masons belong to a local group called a Lodge. These Lodges are private and act like small clubs. They are often supervised by a larger group called a Grand Lodge or a Grand Orient. There is no single worldwide Grand Lodge to rule everyone. Instead, each Grand Lodge is independent and makes its own rules.

Members move through three main levels called degrees. These levels come from the old craft guilds of medieval stonemasons. The first level is called an Entered Apprentice. The second level is known as a Journeyman or Fellow of the craft. The third and final level is called a Master Mason.

During these steps, members learn the meanings of special symbols. They are also taught secret signs, words, and grips. These grips are like special handshakes used to recognize other members. These ceremonies are part lecture and part moral plays. Once a person becomes a Master Mason, they can join other groups for even more degrees.

Lodges meet in special buildings called Masonic temples.

During these meetings, members perform many different activities. They might conduct formal business like electing new officers or paying bills. Some Lodges treat their meetings as sacred spaces where business is not allowed. Instead, they focus on ritual work and educational lectures. Members might share research or talk about philosophy and history. At the end of a meeting, they might have a formal dinner called an Agape.

This dinner can include songs and toasts.

There are many different styles of Freemasonry in the world today. The Anglo-American style requires members to believe in a supreme being. These groups usually only admit men and do not discuss politics. The Continental style is more liberal and has fewer restrictions. There is also Women's Freemasonry, which includes groups for women only or groups for both men and women.

Membership numbers are quite large across the globe. In the early 21st century, estimates said there were between two million and six million members. The United Grand Lodge of England is a very large group with about 175,000 members. In the United States, there are 51 different Grand Lodges.

Being a Mason often involves doing kind things for the community. Many Lodges organize charitable events to help people in need. They raise money for important areas like health, education, and helping the elderly. This work happens at local, regional, and Grand Lodge levels. However, not everyone has viewed the group in a positive way. Some religious groups and certain countries have expressed opposition to Freemasonry. Some people have even faced persecution for being members. Despite this, the tradition of the stonemasons continues through these many different groups.

Freemasonry is a collection of fraternal organizations that share historical roots. These groups trace their origins back to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Today, it is considered the oldest existing secular fraternal organization. Documents and traditions for these groups date back to the 14th century.

While members share a common history, the organization is not a single global entity. Instead, it is composed of many independent groups that follow different traditions.

The basic unit of Freemasonry is the local Lodge. These are private organizations that function as the foundation of the fraternity. Lodges are usually supervised at a regional level by a Grand Lodge or a Grand Orient. There is no international Grand Lodge that governs all Masons worldwide. Each Grand Lodge is independent and sovereign. Because of this independence, different Grand Lodges do not always recognize each other as legitimate.

There are three main traditions of Freemasonry in the modern world. The first is the Anglo-American style. This tradition requires a "volume of sacred law," such as the Bible or Quran, to be open during meetings. Members must also profess a belief in a supreme being. This style typically only admits men and forbids discussions on politics or religion. The second is Continental or Liberal style Freemasonry. This tradition has evolved to allow more freedom regarding religious belief and political discussion. The third is Women's Freemasonry, or Co-Freemasonry. This includes groups that admit only women, such as the Order of Women Freemasons, or groups that accept both men and women, like Le Droit Humain.

Members progress through three specific levels known as degrees. These degrees are based on the historical grades of medieval craft guilds. The first degree is the Entered Apprentice. The second degree is the Journeyman, also called a Fellow of the craft. The third degree is the Master Mason.

These degrees are part lecture and part allegorical morality play. During these ceremonies, candidates are taught the meanings of Masonic symbols. They are also entrusted with specific grips, signs, and words to identify themselves to other members. Once a person reaches the rank of Master Mason, they may join "Concordant bodies" to earn additional degrees.

Lodge meetings take place in buildings called Masonic temples.

The activities during these meetings vary depending on the local tradition. Some Lodges use their meetings to conduct formal business. This includes electing officers, approving minutes, and reviewing annual accounts. Other traditions view an opened Lodge as a sacred space. In these cases, business is handled in separate meetings or by special committees. All meetings include ritual work and educational activities. Members may receive lectures on Masonic history or present research papers. Some meetings conclude with a formal dinner called an Agape or festive board.

Each Lodge is managed by a group of elected or appointed officers. Every Lodge has a Master and two Wardens. They also employ a treasurer and a secretary. A Tyler, or outer guard, often stands outside the door to secure the privacy of the meeting.

Beyond ritual, Freemasonry involves significant charitable work. Members contribute to the relief of needs in fields like education, health, and old age. These contributions happen through annual dues, subscriptions, and various fundraising events at the local and regional levels.

Freemasonry has a large and diverse global presence. In the early 21st century, membership was estimated to be between two million and six million people. The United Grand Lodge of England is the largest single jurisdiction, with about 175,000 members. In the United States, there are 51 Grand Lodges with a total membership of approximately 875,000. However, the organization has also faced significant opposition. The Catholic Church and some Protestant denominations have expressed opposition. Some countries have banned membership, and Masons have faced persecution by authoritarian states. This opposition is sometimes rooted in political concerns, religious views, or conspiracy theories.