What's with Freemasons? that they are one of the most powerful organization in the world?

freemasonry is a social fraternity that studies morality through ritual, symbol and allegory, its main tenets are faith hope and charity.

they are not the most powerful organization in the world.

many of the "founding fathers" of the USA were freemasons and the freedoms we have are based on masonic principles.

to some other responses:

* morality does not lead to hell... do some research and learn the truth, don't just believe the anti-mason lies you read on line...

* freemasonry is not secretive, everything has been public for over 300 years, you can read all the texts online or find them at bookstores everywhere...

* the freemason/templar connection is speculative, no one had been able to conclusively demonstrate it

* the Holy Grail is the cup Jesus used for the Holy Sacrament at the Last Supper

* most freemasons I know are Christian, however they accept members from a variety of religious traditions... do you take everything from the Bible literally??? everything? read it again, and think carefully...

* all of the anti-mason claims have been PROVEN false many times over... check out masonicinfo.com for more details

My goodness, Luci! Who are you hanging around with? Your boyfriend's book, and I can imagine the one it is, is a total pack of lies. You can read the same tripe on a number of conspiracy theory blogs. I can see that a few fellow Christians who have answered are of the same mind. As has been said, there isn't even a central organization of Freemasonry, so it's unlikely they are controlling the world.

Freemasons haves their inspirational roots in the craftsmen's guilds of the middle ages, where a person had to be an expert in his craft to be approved by his particular guild and become a master craftsmen. The most important guild in the Middle Ages was the Stonemason's guild because of the use of stone in all important buildings. One of the ways a guild would know if a man was or was not an approved master mason was his knowledge of the craft and of the guild "secrets" -- like passwords. Another practice of the guilds was performing "miracle plays". The various guilds had traditional dramas they would perform for the public, stories from the Bible that related to their craft.

In the 1700's, a group of Englishmen decided to form a men's club based on the idea of the craftmen's guild. They modeled the club after the stonemasons' guild, using symbology and terminology of the stonemason. As their "miracle play", they re-enact the story of a stone mason working on the building of the Temple of Solomon, which emphasizes the man's honesty, quality of work, and integrity as a craftsman. I know that some people read a lot of mystery into this, and are convinced it's a cult or an insidious plot. If you want to read a straightforward explanation, I would suggest (and I mean no insult by this!) The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry or Freemasons for Dummies.

I was a member of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls (club for daughters of Masons) all through my teens, and it was a wonderful organization. If you ask me off-site, I'll tell you the secrets! I guarantee you'd be very disappointed!

Oh, and being pretty much of an expert on the Jack the Ripper murders, take it from me that there is no connection. that theory is sooo far-fetched.

First of all, Freemasons aren't "the most powerful organization in the world." Freemasons don't have a central authority to govern them, except in their individual state or country. There is no Worldwide Freemason Headquarters. Second of all, Men who were freemasons built this country. Freemasonry played a role but not a profoundly significant one in this country's founding. They are not "Defenders of the Holy Grail." They are men who believe in a brotherhood of men underneath an "Architect of the Universe" which can be any god under any faith. Freemasons do believe in a God, but not necessarily an entirely Christian one. Each individual has their own religious views, and God, Freemasons just use morality to further enhance one's religious experience. It's not evil or trying to take over the world, regardless of what anyone here says.

The founding fathers were much more in the way of Freemason thinking (higher levels of knowledge available) than evangelical Christianity. As for them being the most powerful organization in the world----not really sure. The Holy Grail is a whole other mystery all its own....what is IT exactly?

Any organization that is that secretive has to be hiding something. Years ago I had some Christian guy give me a book about Freemasons and how they control the world and are really against anything Godly and they seek to harm any thing that is innocent and good. It also was about the NWO and how Masons are the ones that founded America. I really can't remember the name of the book but it was good. At the time I read it it seemed so fantastical that I could not believe it. I laughed it off and he said "Believe it. It's true. Believe it before it is too late." He kept on trying to talk to me about it but I just would not listen. My life has took a turn for the worst since I have gotten to know Masons and their "friends." Wish I would have listened to him. They interjected themselves in my life in harmful and hateful ways. They do everything behind the scenes. If you are good with good intentions why would you need to do anything behind the scenes sort of way? See what I am saying? Stay away from Masons.

To the ones who say it's not true......hmmm......I wonder what rotten person comes out and said "Hi, I am an evil rotten person who is plotting death, destruction, and doom meant to control civilization. Carry on with your normal lives. Just wanted to let you know what I am up to." If the devil dressed in obvious ways and introduced himself to me and let me know what he was up to I would avoid him too. Truth and honesty don't seem to go in the same sentence with the devil and it sure doesn't with Freemasons either. Sorry sweety I guess your father wasn't aware of what he was involved with as obviously you didn't know either.

Freemason - I just saw a show where a leading member said that Freemasons have secrets and it will remain that way. Maybe you should check when you say they don't have secrets. He said it on TV.

You can only really know what the freemasons do if you are one, and then you wouldn't want to go telling everybody.

They believe in the power of the individual, they have been estimated to be from before the time of christ.

More then that i really dont know

No, it isn't true.

The Freemasons are the world's oldest and largest fraternity, but Grand Lodges are all independent. In other words, there is no overseeing body - each state (or country) is completely independent, and pursues its own agendas.

freemasonry reached its peak around the time of the american revolution. it may have once been a very influential organization, but it isn't now. i've never seen any evidence that they had actual power. a lot of the lodges have been sold off.

If the masons were such a powerful secret society, it would be much harder to join.

It's said that they are the remaining Templars, who were powerful money lenders in the old day.