There is an air of mystery and misunderstanding surrounding Freemasons. Here are 14 statements about Freemasonry. 7 are correct and 7 are not correct.
Misunderstandings surrounding Freemasons:
Freemasonry is only for men
No. Freemasonry is for men and women.
Women have only been admitted for a short time
No. The first lodge with both men and women was founded in France in 1893. The first group of mixed Freemasonry emerged in the Netherlands in 1904.
In the Netherlands there is only an association for male Freemasons
No, the Netherlands has:
- The Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands, only for men
- Dutch Grand Lodge of Mixed Freemasonry (NGGV) for men and women
- Le Droit Humain, for men and women
- The Weavers, only for women.
The origins of Freemasonry lie with the Knights Templar and in Egypt
There is no evidence for either assumption. There is evidence that the first lodges (groups) emerged in Scotland between 1600 and 1700. The first Grand Lodge (umbrella association) was founded in 1717 in London.
The Catholic Church condemns the Freemasons
That was true, but it isn’t anymore. The Catholic Church banned the Freemasons in 1738. Since 1938, this church has no longer raised any objections to membership and now tolerates Freemasons.
You can only become a member if you are asked
No, most people register themselves by requesting information via a website.
Members become Freemasons because it is good for their career
No, people become a member because the expression: Improve the world, start with yourself is very appealing.
And this is true:
Freemasonry is a worldwide organization
Yes, most democratic countries have Masonic organizations, with the exception of countries with totalitarian systems. The various lodges in the Netherlands are simply registered as an association with the Chamber of Commerce.
Many famous people are/were members
Yes, for example: Mozart, Bach,Churchill, Voltaire. In the Netherlands: Prime Minister Willem Drees Sr., Albert Heijn, ir. Manusama, Frits Philips, Pieter Jelles Troelstra, Henk Vonhoff and many others.
Freemasons say as little as possible about the ceremonies they hold
Yes that’s right. In particular, little is said about rituals when one becomes a student, journeyman and master. These are initiation rites. This means that a role play is performed from which the person involved can learn something. Freemasons believe: The less one knows in advance, the more impression the ceremony makes and the more one can learn from it. Freemasonry is therefore not a secret society, but a society with secrets.
Freemasons say nothing about the conversations they have with each other
Yes, that’s right, because they want members to be able to express themselves in complete freedom. The big questions of life, of science, of society must be able to be discussed in all honesty.
Throughout history, Freemasons have been persecuted by many regimes
Yes, this is also true. Totalitarian systems don’t like freethinkers. During the Second World War, the various Freemason organizations in Europe had to be dissolved. The chairman of the Order of Freemasons in the Grand East of the Netherlands was murdered by the Nazis.
All American presidents were Freemasons
It’s not entirely certain, but it’s likely. It is known that in 1793, President George Washington, wearing a Masonic retainer and flanked by all kinds of Freemasons, laid the foundation stone of the Capitol in Washington DC
There are things that the Freemasons are not very proud of
Yes, there are. Every association that has existed for a long time has members and/or developments that people are not proud of. For example, in Italy around 1970 there was a lodge that was very vocal against communism. It is even suspected that terrorist attacks have been committed by members of this lodge. On the other hand, the wild stories about Freemasonry, such as: one would like to control the world order, are absolute fabrications.