I remember when I was in high school. I was blindly applying for every scholarship I came across when I, somewhat inevitably, ran into a Freemasonry scholarship. As I read through the requirements, I initially thought it was just a club. There were essay requirements and membership requirements, so I decided not to apply. However, as I went through my undergraduate, and continued to see Freemasonry symbols everywhere, I realized that it was more than just a club, that it was, in fact, a very old order that had major influences on society.

Freemasonry describes the secret teachings of a series of fraternal organizations. Boasting a membership in the millions, freemasonry can also be found in various other countries. The organization consists of two branches, regular Freemasonry and continental Freemasonry. Regular Freemasonry has specific requirements that include the need to believe in a deity or creator, that women are not involved in the organization’s activities, and that conversations revolving around politics and religion be banned. Continental Freemasonry, on the other hand, has fewer restrictions. Freemasonry has different degrees, which may include Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Mason. The basis of operations for Freemasonry is known as the Lodge and is operated based on a regional basis.

Freemasonry is religious by nature. As mentioned before, in order to be a Freemason, an individual has to be an adult man, and believe in both the immortal soul and an overarching deity. Despite its associations with Christianity, it is not required for the individual to be Christian. In actuality, Freemasonry has a history against organized religion, specifically the Catholic Church. Even so, today, relaxation regarding regulations has been observed, with a glowing example being the admission of women into the organization.

Much of Freemasonry is shrouded with mystery, despite its attempts to be more forthcoming. It certainly doesn’t help that the organization is at the forefront of many conspiracies. Some of these conspiracies may include being the cause of the American Revolution, being involved or controlled by the Illuminati, and that they faked the moon landing. One popular conspiracy theory in the United States involves the fact that the Freemasons may be responsible for the income tax system in the United States. Another popular conspiracy theory is that Freemasonry is that its members are devil worshippers, demon worshippers, and other forms of deities.

There are many books devoted to studying Freemasonry. These may include Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike, The Freemasons by Jasper Ridley, and The Secret Teachings of the Ages by Manly P. Hall. Freemasonry has often been mentioned in different occult circles and has been a source of contention between Christianity and Islam. There is evidence that they were persecuted during the Holocaust, To this day, Freemasonry is viewed with the same secrecy as before. It’s unknown just how much their influence reaches, but it’s clear that they have quite a bit of impact on history. They’ve motivated outsiders to come up with fascinating ideas about the Freemasons, and it’s certain that they will serve as wonderful muses to other writers.