Free and Accepted Masons, the fraternal organization dedicated to make good men better for some, or nefarious secret society hell bent on world domination and Satan worship for others. The original Brotherhood of Funny Hats.
Towns and cities during The Middle Ages granted monopolies in certain trades to guilds. In order to work as a carpenter, you had to belong to the carpenters' guild, and if you wished to start your own shop, you had to be a Master of your craft, guaranteeing both quality of work for customers and a nice payday for the guild members. Entry to the guild was gained (or more commonly bought) through an apprenticeship, serving a Guild member while learning through working.
Eventually the status and privileges of guilds diminished, but as far as we can tell, in England and Scotland the local Stonemasons' guilds accepted local dignitaries who used the organizations as social clubs. In 1717, four such organizations (or Lodges as they were called) joined together as the United Grand Lodge of England, marking the official start of modern Freemasonry. While their role in world history and politics was and is controversial and debated, it does seem like Freemasonic lodges and temples spread liberal political ideals during this time. Many of the central figures in various American colonial revolutions in both the British and Spanish spheres of influence were Freemasons in good standing.
One place where Freemasonry has a truly controversial legacy is Liberia; see that country's page for more details.
Freemasonry is not monolithic. Over time groups have splintered off for various reasons and esoteric groups have adopted the symbols and organizational structure, but not the ethical principles of Free & Accepted Masons originating from United Grand Lodge of England tradition. As a result things called "masonic" may or may not have anything in common with actual Freemasonry.
Modern Masonic Lodges operate as clubs, where the president is called Worshipful Master, the vice president is called Senior Deacon, and the secretary is just called the secretary. Freemasons have two secrets:
- Revealing another Mason's membership without their permission is a serious no-no (as well as a breach of privacy).
- The rituals and ceremonies performed during the lodge meeting are a way to teach a system of ethics and morals through allegory and parable. Masonic rituals, signs and passwords are an Open Secret, having been published in multiple exposes. Nevertheless, members refuse to "reveal" them to non-members because hearing or reading about the ritual is not the same as experiencing it, and also to show that they can be trusted not to blab their mouth.
Works featuring Freemasonry
- From Hell: Freemasons conspire to cover up Jack the Rippers identity
- National Treasure: The Knights Templar smuggled a treasure to America and rebranded themselves as the Freemasons.
- The Man Who Would be King: Adventure film where Masonic symbols are a major plot device.
- The Hallmarked Man: Private detectives Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott investigate the murder of a man who was killed stealing Masonic silver, in a vault next to a Masonic lodge. The body was mutilated with Masonic signs. The lore of Freemasonry is a major theme.
- The Lost Symbol: A madman kidnaps Robert Langdon's friend and forces him to reveal the secrets of Freemasonry.
- In the fifth episode
of Spitting Image, Prince Philip blindfolds Prince Charles and takes him to a Freemasons meeting in the Buckingham Palace laundry room.
- The Magic Flute: Mozart included themes from Masonic initiation ritual used at the time in the libretto.
