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Who is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry (or Masonry) is dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. It uses the tools and implements of ancient architectural craftsmen symbolically in a system of instruction designed to build character and moral values in its members. Its
Who are the Masons?
Masons, also known as Freemasons, comprise the oldest philanthropic, community-oriented fraternal
organization in the world. Masonry is not a religion, but its members must express a belief in a Supreme Being, and each Mason is encouraged to practice the religion of his choice. Freemasonry stresses building of character, knowledge, patriotism, brotherhood, family involvement and
community service among its members. Today, there are more than two million freemasons in North America. Masons represent virtually every occupation and profession, yet within the Brotherhood, all meet as equals. Masons come from diverse political ideologies, yet meet as friends.
singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts through the centuries. Freemasonry is a Brotherhood which encourages its members to practice the faith of their personal acceptance. Masonry teaches that each person, through self-improvement and helping others, has an obligation to make a difference for good in the world. Freemasonry is the oldest Fraternal organization in existence. Written records about Freemasonry date back to 1390, and the traditions of Masonry are even older. The Grand Lodge of Virginia is the oldest independent body in the United States. A roster of Masonic membership during the early years of our country reads like a study in American history. It is led by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Chief Justice John Marshall, Edmund Randolph, and a host of signers of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Since those early years of our country's history, Masonic membership has continued to include many famous Americans, including United States Presidents, Congressmen, State Governors and other well known men in leadership positions. The Masonic Fraternity includes men from all walks of life; professionals, tradesmen and laborers. Freemasonry is a charitable organization. Masonic organizations in North America collectively contribute well over two million dollars every day to charities throughout North America.
Where did Freemasonry Begin?
No one knows just how old Freemasonry is because the actual origins have been lost in time. Most scholars believe Masonry arose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the majestic castles and cathedrals of the middle ages. In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization when four Lodges in London joined in forming England's first Grand Lodge. By 1731, when Benjamin Franklin joined the Fraternity, there were already several Lodges in the Colonies, and in Canada the first Lodge was established in 1738. Today, Masonic Lodges are found in almost every community throughout North America, and in large cities there are usually several Lodges. A Mason can travel to almost any country in the world and find a Masonic Lodge where he will be welcomed as a "Brother."
There are two main theories of origin. According to one, the operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles had lodges in which they discussed trade affairs. They had simple initiation ceremonies and, as there were no guilds certificates,
dues cards or trade union membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words to demonstrate that they were trained masons when they moved from site to site. In the 1600’s, those operative lodges began to accept non-operatives as “gentlemen masons.” Gradually these non-operative lodges took over the lodges and turned them from operative to “Free and Accepted” or “Speculative” Lodges.
The other theory is that in the late 1500’s and the early 1600’s, there was a group which was interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance in and age of great intolerance when differences of opinion on matters of religion and politics were to lead to civil war. In forming Freemasonry, they were trying to make better men and build a better world. As the means of teaching in those days was by allegory and symbolism, they took the idea of building as the central allegory on which to form their system. The main source of allegory was the Bible, the contents of which were known to everyone even if they could not read, and the only building described in detail in the Bible was King Solomon’s Temple, which became the basic part of the allegory of the ritual. The old trade guilds provided them with their basic administration of A Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, and the operative mason’s tools provided them with a wealth of symbols with which to illustrate the moral teachings of Freemasonry.
What do Masons do?
The Masonic experience encourages members to become better men, better husbands, better fathers, and better citizens. The fraternal bonds formed in the lodge help build lifelong friendships among men with similar goals and values. Beyond its focus on individual
development and growth, Masonry is deeply involved in helping people. The Freemasons of North America contribute over tow million dollars a day to charitable causes. This philanthropy represents an unparalleled example of the humanitarian commitment of this great and honorable fraternity. Much of the assistance goes to people who are not Masons. Some of these charities are vast projects. The Shrine Masons (Shriners) operate the largest network of
hospitals for burned and orthopedically impaired children in the country, and there is never a fee for testament. The Scottish Rite Masons maintain a nationwide network of over 150 Childhood language Disorder Clinics, Centers, and Programs. Many other Masonic organizations sponsor a variety of philanthropies, including scholarship programs for students, and perform public service activities in their communities. Amon the other well Known Masonic related organizations are the Royal Arch Masons, Cryptic Rite Masons, Knights Templar, Order of the Eastern Star, the Order of Amaranth, DeMolay, Rainbow Girls, the Constellation of Junior Stars and the Order of Triangles. Masons also enjoy the fellowship of each other and their families in social and recreational activities.
Other Masonic Facts
Nine of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons; thirteen of forty signers of the Constitution were Masons.
Fourteen presidents of the United States were Masons: George Washington, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Warren G. Harding, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Gerald r. Ford. Eight Vice-Presidents and forty-two Justices of the Supreme Court have been Masons.
To date, five U.S. Presidents have taken their Oath of Office on New York’s historic St. John’s Lodge bible - including George Washington, who took his oath as the nation’s first President at New York City’s Federal Hall on April 30, 1789.
George Washington is the only Mason to serve as President of the United States and the Master of his Lodge simultaneously.
Masons are organized into Lodges, the leaders of which are called the Worshipful Masters. A Grand Lodge comprises local Lodges on a statewide level. Each Grand Lodge in each state remains sovereign and independent. There is no national Grand Lodge.
Nineteen Governors of New York State have been Masons.
Many famous celebrities have been New York Masons, including Harry Houdini, Irving Berlin, and Al Jolson, among countless other notables.
The New York Masons began the Child ID Program, or CHIP, in response to the staggering number of missing children nation wide. In 2006 over 50,000 children participated - and more than 275,000 have taken part since the program began in 1991. The NY Masonic Child Identification Program imprints a child’s digital image on a Mini CD-Rom and prints a personal identification card that captures fingerprints and records personal information. The parents, only, retain this important information for use in an emergency.
The New York Masons own and operate the Masonic Care Community, a state-of-the-artretirement community in Utica, New York. It began operation in 1894 to provide care for indigent Masons, their widows and orphans. Today, the New York Masons provide a continuum of health care encompassing a range of facilities from an award-winning independent living
campus to assisted living to skilled nursing and rehabilitation for Masons and non-Masons alike.
The world renowned Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) was founded by the Masons of New York State in 1958 and has pioneered in studies relating to the heart and diseases of the heart. The MMRL has been awarded many international awards for its research into cardiac arrhythmias and biological and molecular genetics of the heart. The MMRL is located on the Masonic Care Community campus in Utica.
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