Freemasons are the worlds oldest and largest fraternal organization, with millions of members in United States and around the world. Though the first Masonic Lodge was founded in 1717, historical documents give evidence to early Freemasons in Scotland as early as 1390. As an organization, Freemasons were once accused of Satanism, anarchism, witchcraft and murder, and were killed during the Holocaust.http://freemasonry.org/

Freemasons have been portrayed as conspirators in the past and currently in novels like The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons and The Lost Symbol by author Dan Brown and the movie National Treasure starring Nicholas Cage. Now Freemasons would like to update that image by opening the doors to their sacred Masonic Lodges to visitors.

H. Robert Huke, the communications director at the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts said “We’re trying to help more people hear our story accurately,” in a recent interview with the New York Timeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/arts/design/21antiques.html

Some researchers believe the Freemasons were formed by members of the Knights Templar, who allegedly fled Paris for Scotland in 1314 when their order was suppressed. This theory was expounded in the book and film The Da Vinci Code.

1. Be a recommended man, freeborn and of good repute.

2. Have belief in a Supreme Being

3. Have the ability to support yourself and your family.

4. Be of the lawful age, 18 to 25 usually.

5. Come to be a Freemason of your own free will.http://www.masonicinfo.com/member.htm

• Wikipedia: History of Freemasonry

• 1717: First Grand Lodge established In London

• 1723: Constitutions of the Freemasons published

• 1725: Creation of The Master Mason, or Third Degree Mason

• 1725: Grand Lodge of All England founded

• 1733: Prince Hall Freemasonry founded

• 1733: First American lodge established in Boston, MA

• 1734: The Constitutions of the Freemasons published in America

• 1738: The New Book of Constitutions of the Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, Containing Their History, Charges, Regulations, &c. Collected and Digested By Order of the Grand Lodge from their old Records, faithful Traditions and Lodge-Books, For the Use of the Lodges published

• 1749: First lodge formed in Canada

• 1751: Ancient Grand Lodge of England formed

• 1754: The Masonic Constitution rewritten

• 1785: The Kirkwall Scrol published

• 1787: Of the 39 men who signed the U.S. Constitution, 13 were Freemasons

• 1813: Premier Grand Lodge of England and The Ancient Grand Lodge of England united to form The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE)

• 1813: The Masonic Constitution re-written

• 1823: The Emulation of Lodge Improvement was established

• 1826: William Morgan disappeared after threatening to expose Masonic secrets

• 1828: John Quincy Adams published Letters on the Masonic Institution

• 1861: The Matthew Cooke Manuscript published

• 1877: The Great schism in Freemasonry occurred, between English (UGLE) and French (GOdF) Masons

• 1885-1897: The Taxil Hoax

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• Freemasonry.com: Masonic Humor

• Grand Lodge: Masonic Cartoons

• YouTube: Sealab 2021: Freemason Spoof

• YouTube: The Simpsons: Homer Joins the Stonecutters

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