The Freemasons are a secret movement that arose in the 18th century. Masons have their own symbols and rituals. The literal translation of this name is “free mason.” Freemasonry exists in the form of lodges - groups of up to 50 people, united territorially. The very topic of “free masons” is still of interest to philosophers, historians, cultural experts, and ordinary people. Some are interested in the symbolism of the Freemasons, others are interested in the degree of their influence, others are trying to understand which of the great people were members of the lodges and how religious this association is. Masonic lodges have traditionally included the most influential people, and the aura of mystery around the association gave rich soil to myths, some of which will be discussed in detail below.
The whole world is controlled by a secret Masonic organization. This myth is already several centuries old; soon after the appearance of the Freemasons, rumors began to circulate that they were the true rulers of states. However, here is what Mr. Beletsky wrote to the Minister of Internal Affairs in March 1916: “In Russia, Freemasonry is mainly carried out by figures of extreme right-wing organizations. I read their works and did not know what to be more amazed at, whether their absolute unfamiliarity with the subject, or the ease with which they present to the Russian public fabrications drawn from the most absurd works of French blackmail writers... Now the Freemasons are not at all concerned about war, but about protecting the rights of free trade in alcoholic beverages and protecting the interests of taverns from the arbitrariness of the military authorities...” For them, this is a matter of life or death...” at that time, Russian masons had nothing to do with power; in fact, they were pseudo-philosophers and chatterboxes, concerned about their material gain. Everyone will be interested to know the name of the main Mason, who, logically, rules the whole world. In 2004, the Frenchman Alain Duman became Emperor of the Order, previously it was Claude Tripe, and before that Gerard Claude Wilden. Perhaps you know Robert Ambellen or Theodore Royce? The last known leader of Freemasonry was Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1881. And these are the secret rulers of the planet? It is interesting that within Freemasonry itself there are several branches that simply do not obey the Emperor, and are also constantly fighting among themselves for influence and finances! At the same time, within the branch itself there can be a complex management system; for example, in the USA there are two Supreme Councils. Regular Freemasonry, which is an association of other lodges, is indeed headed by representatives of the English nobility, but in fact the affairs are carried out by an inconspicuous “acting official”, who, moreover, changes every 2 years, which in no way correlates with the governance of the world. Yes, and there is no single structure in Freemasonry, like a pyramid. There are too many ordinary lodge members to form any kind of government - there are more than 4 million of them in the USA alone. Modern Freemasonry It is more of a social club where people communicate, discuss problems, and make appointments. Modern society quite a complex structure to manage with medieval systems.
Freemasonry is the same religion. Often in the mind Freemasonry appears as a specific type of religion; even a certain Masonic church is mentioned. Although for some it is not a church, but a sect; by the way, Pope Clement XII also believed the same. Religion requires belief in God, and Freemasonry requires candidates to believe in the Great Architect of the Universe, without specifying this concept. The “free masons” themselves interpret their organization as a secret union that is above parties, religions, nationalities, etc. Freemasonry, unlike religion, does not imply leading any particular way of life outside the lodge. Reading their prayers is not an attempt to interact with God, there is no concept of cult and sacrifice. Religion is based on mystical experience, but Freemasonry says nothing about this and does not promise improvements in life for observing rituals. Masons believe that a person must certainly develop spiritually, but everyone chooses the place and methods of searching for hidden answers for himself. Most Masons do not accept atheism. It is interesting that it is impossible to combine two religions, but it is quite possible to be a Mason and a Christian. Most American Masons are Christians. The number of Masons, by the way, includes leaders of Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and other churches. The Masonic bishops themselves say that their activities in the lodges do not in the least interfere with the church. An important difference from the church is that there is no spiritual hierarchy in Freemasonry. There is a ladder of steps, but the holder of the 33rd step is no higher than an ordinary member. There is a reporting line associated with system positions, but it is constantly changing. So a holder of a lower degree, being the head of a lodge, may well supervise a master of a higher degree. Thus, Freemasonry includes certain parts of religion and sects, without actually being them - spiritual life, partial belief in the afterlife, mystical values. This is due to the fact that mason lodges do not separate themselves from generally accepted religions.
Masons worship the devil. This myth is constantly fed by anti-Masonic sources. IN lately Satanist sects are increasingly visible, usually consisting of teenagers who are not so much looking for secret knowledge as showing themselves in a state of alcohol or drug intoxication. So is there anything in common between them and respectable people? According to semi-legendary history, Freemasonry traces its history back to the Knights Templar, who were originally military monks who protected pilgrims. Over time, the order grew, becoming an order of large landowners, bankers, diplomats and scientists. Over time, by the way, the order began to carry out its secret diplomatic activities, even having connections with the assassins, colleagues from the East. Under their patronage in construction, the guild of free masons was born. However, in 1307, the order was defeated by King Philip IV, who did not want to share his power. At the courts of the Inquisition, under torture, evidence appeared of the secret worship of the knights to the idol Baphomet. But it is still unclear what this word itself means; no object of worship of the Templars has been found. Freemasonry in a form close to the modern one appeared at the beginning of the 18th century, but there was no mention of its connection with the devil, and this is not surprising, because the lodge included representatives of the English nobility. But stories about Masons worshiping Satan arose in the 19th century in France, and this was due to the decline of interest in the Catholic Church due to the development of science. That’s why a real enemy was needed, and everyone has long been tired of talk about a Jewish conspiracy. The Masons themselves, as already mentioned, believed in the Great Architect, without specifying him in any way. To believe that major political and public figures It was difficult to see him exclusively as Satan. It is interesting that initially the word Lucifer was actually present in Masonic rites, but it only meant the deity who gives light. This concept appeared in defiance of the church, rumors about it quickly multiplied by the church, which is why a new concept was introduced instead - Prometheus. The essence has not changed, but there is no longer any connection with Satan. Today, in general, in rituals they use the wording “giver of light” in order to avoid interpretations. By the way, it is worth noting that the origins of Masonic rituals largely lie in the Old and New Testaments and other holy books, so that accusing Masons of Satanism can equally well accuse all believers of this sin.
Masons help each other, like mafia clans. Opponents argue that when joining a lodge, a person takes an oath to obey only his brothers in the order, who may well use the person at their discretion. After all, for a Mason there is no fatherland, his homeland is the whole world. By the way, is it surprising that people generally help each other? You can’t blame people just for the opportunity and desire to help? It is interesting how these assistance mechanisms are implemented. If in the Middle Ages they developed secret signs and whole rituals of their exchange, then in our time a Mason travels abroad, being provided with a special passport or certificate. But there is a similar system in other international organizations. If Freemasonry is perceived as a corrupting element for the life of a country, then it is strange that the states where Freemasons are most influential are quite rich. If we assume that some kind of struggle is being waged, including against Russia, then why have there been no successes from the activities of this “powerful” organization for so many centuries? It must be said that in the West, from the beginning of the 19th century, lodges arose that aimed precisely at helping their members. Within the organization, exclusively everyday matters were discussed; the brotherhood itself had distinctive signs and solemn rituals. Subsequently, largely thanks to their activities, modern trade unions emerged. For example, the Order of the Knights of the Maccabees included up to 200,000 members, its members wore magnificent uniforms reminiscent of the outfits of the Masons and Templars. Over time, the order turned into an ordinary insurance company. One can recall the Knights of Pytheas, the Order of Labor and many others. So how were the Masons different from them? Only by the presence of a semi-mystical component? Already since the 18th century, mutual aid structures have been formed in the West; it is not surprising that such a phenomenon has appeared in Masonic lodges. Perhaps the success of Western civilization is due to the fact that a person in trouble was given a second chance.
It is the Freemasons who spark revolutions. First of all, the role of the Freemasons in sparking the French Revolution is mentioned. The emergence of this myth is associated with the place of imprisonment of Louis XVI - the Temple Temple, where the leadership of the ancient Order of the Templars was once located. From there the king was taken to execution, just as Jacques de Molay, the last grandmaster of the order, was taken to execution five centuries earlier. It was as if the circle had closed. There are rumors that during the execution, someone sprinkled his hands with the king’s blood and exclaimed: “Jacques de Molay, you are avenged!” It’s just not clear, if the revolutions were carried out by the Freemasons, being descendants of the Templars, then why did they themselves suffer because of the events? If before the revolution there were 67 lodges in Paris, then during it there were only 3. The fact is that in French Freemasonry most of them were aristocrats who did not need social upheaval. Of course, some of them followed new ideas, but many paid with their lives. It is interesting that Freemasonry traditionally shuns politics; conversations on this topic are prohibited in lodges. A prominent Russian Freemason, Baron Reichel wrote: “All Freemasonry that has political aspects is false; and if you notice even a shadow political types, connections and expansion of the words of equality and liberty, then consider it false." Consider the events of the Russian revolutions of 1917. It is alleged that almost the entire composition of the Provisional Government consisted of Freemasons. However, in fact, only Kerensky, Nekrasov and Konovalov in the first composition were members of the masons' lodge. Nekrasov himself later wrote about the role of Freemasonry in the February events: “... I’ll say right away that hopes for it turned out to be extremely premature; such powerful mass forces came into play, especially mobilized by the Bolsheviks, that a handful of intellectuals could not play a big role and themselves crumbled under the influence of the collision classes." The October Revolution was organized by the Bolsheviks, who themselves, being representatives of the intelligentsia, expressed the interests of the poorest strata. So, the absolute majority of Bolshevik leaders had no connections with the Freemasons. Mention is made of Trotsky’s interest in Freemasonry, but the revolutionary’s works on this topic are irretrievably lost. The Masons participated in both the American revolutions and the Decembrist uprising, but it is impossible to confirm that it is they who incite the revolutions.
Freemasonry appeared in Russia with Peter I. First of all, Freemasonry is a secret order, so it is impossible to find out the whole truth about it, especially since it is hidden in the depths of centuries. If we talk about operational Freemasonry, which included directly builders and architects, then it appeared in our country back in 1040 along with Anthony the Roman, who, according to legend, curiously, sailed on a stone. When it means the penetration of Freemasonry into Russia, they mean operational Freemasonry, which is not directly related to construction. Allegedly, after visiting London in 1698, Peter I was accepted into the lodge by the Englishman Christopher Wren. The president of the lodge was Jacob Bruce, and Peter himself was the Second Officer. According to another version, Lefort was the president.
However, according to official sources, the history of Freemasonry in Russia dates back to 1731, when Captain John Phillips was confirmed as the Provincial Grand Master of Russia. And already in 1740, the Englishman Keith became Master, but he was completely Russified by that time. The first Russian lodge, called “Silence,” was formed in St. Petersburg in 1750; the development of Freemasonry was spurred by Catherine the Great’s interest in it, however, it was short-lived. However, there are ambiguities here too. The fact is that the establishment of the Grand Lodge in 1731 implied the presence by that time of at least three provincial ones, otherwise what was united? In addition, it is logical to assume, knowing the structure of the lodge, that the number of masters at that time should have been at least 100. So, is the countdown from Peter? Scientists tried to find some documents about how Peter joined the order, but found nothing. Of course, perhaps the papers were simply destroyed by the Nazis, who were known as ardent fighters against the Freemasons, and the archives themselves are quite closed and confusing. However, Peter often traveled incognito and could well have joined the lodge under a fictitious name, for example, Alekseev. The following reasoning speaks in favor of the version of Peter the Mason. The Tsar sought technical advances in an attempt to attract scientists and engineers to Russia. And, being a Freemason, and not just a rich savage, he could use connections among the brothers to achieve his goal. As you can see, Peter achieved what he wanted. The position of Second Officer is also important - it was just suitable for a royal person who did not want to burden herself with managing a lodge. In this same place, Peter could well play a significant role, without descending into routine troubles organizational work. So the version about the Second Officer gives strange credibility to the myth. The history of the creation of the monument to Peter is also interesting in this regard." Bronze Horseman"The fact is that the sculptor Falcone insisted that the horse stand on a stone, citing the fact that Peter means “stone.” The huge stone was transported from afar, and on the way of sculptures he unexpectedly decided to finish the stone. It is curious that the stone is and one of the symbols of Freemasonry, it would be symbolic to place the first Russian Freemason on a stone. But the finishing of the stone indicates that the soul of the person who has joined the lodge has already been processed, but a rough stone would indicate that the person is just preparing to join the ranks. Masons, his soul is still unbridled. Many would like to see more obvious symbols of Freemasonry on the monument. For example, George Washington stands with a trowel and in an apron near the Masonic altar. But it would be naive to dress the king on a horse in an apron. his right hand speaks unambiguously about the sign with which the box is opened. And the original monument to Peter was very similar to the Washington monument.
Mozart was a member of the Masonic lodge; he was killed by his own brothers. The composer's last completed work was a cantata dedicated to the consecration of the new Masonic temple. Mozart himself was a member of the Crowned Hope lodge, and an active one. At a time when the composer lacked money, it was his brothers who helped him, giving him the opportunity to work as an accompanist of boxes. There are also many versions of the composer’s death, including the Freemasons. According to one version, Mozart, after composing the opera “The Magic Flute,” which tells the story of the struggle between Christianity and Freemasonry, thought about real values and decided to organize his own lodge, “The Cave.” The Masons did not like the idea of creating a rival organization and, with the help of Mozart's friend, Stadler, they poisoned the composer. It can be argued against this version that Stadler was quite close to Mozart, who even composed a concerto for clarinet and orchestra for him, postponing the Requiem, which was important to him. According to another version, the composer was sacrificed by the Freemasons, since in " Magic flute"he revealed the secrets of their rituals. The Requiem was commissioned from Mozart precisely by the Freemasons, as if the news was that he had been chosen as a victim. However, common sense suggests that Mozart wrote only the music, and the libretto, that is, the text itself, was written by another Freemason - Schikaneder, who, in turn, borrowed the plot from the German Wieland. It is interesting that neither one nor the other suffered from the Freemasons, although they were involved in revealing the secrets of the society, and the reasons for the death of the composer on November 8, 1791, Mozart conducted at the opening of the temple. and after 2 days he becomes ill, as a result of which he dies on December 5. There are more than a dozen assumptions about the causes of death, poisoning at the hands of Salieri is only the most famous of them. The circumstances of Mozart’s death indicate that he was poisoned with mercury, but by whom? An interesting version is that the composer could have been killed with the tacit consent of the authorities for his connection with Freemasonry, which, with its free ideas, and even against the backdrop of the French Revolution, undermined the foundations of the state. In general, we can definitely say that the Freemasons played a significant role in the life of Wolfgang Amadeus, and he actively communicated with them, but historians still cannot establish the exact reasons for Mozart’s death, the motives for his poisoning (and was it even poisoning?).
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion expose the Freemasons. Freemasonry itself appeared relatively recently; for the first time, a person not associated with construction was admitted to the lodge in 1600, but talk about a Masonic conspiracy appeared only 200 years later. It turns out that for two whole centuries no one had any idea about the conspiracy? It is believed that the French Revolution was the result of a conspiracy by the Freemasons to take revenge on the French kings for the dispersal of the Templars. It turns out that the place took 475 years to prepare? The first Jews appeared in Masonic lodges only in the middle of the 18th century, and during the 19th century, the theory of the Judeo-Masonic conspiracy began to take shape in the public consciousness. At the end of the same century, this story, fully formed, due to rumors corresponding literary books on this topic, came to Russia. The theory says that even under Solomon, Jewish sages formed a secret conspiracy against all humanity, but the protocols were naturally stolen, falling into the hands of the world community. However, the very origin of the texts is very strange. Firstly, they are written in French, and secondly, Solomon allegedly plans to destroy Christianity, seize industry and mine cities. The author did not bother to compare the texts with the vocabulary and worldview of the Jews of that time. But in style, the Protocols are very reminiscent of Gedsche’s novel “Biarritz”. The terminology of Freemasonry used in the documents immediately alerted the authorities, who decided that there was a close connection between Jews and Freemasons. The Masons indeed relied on the Old Testament, but in modern form was a completely Christian institution, so talk about Jewish Freemasons can only be explained by the paranoia of those who look for conspiracies everywhere. It is interesting that when in 1903 the writer Nilus presented the Protocols to Nicholas II as evidence of a conspiracy, the tsar declared that it was a fake, destroyed the document, and drove out the scoundrel. However, over time, the government had to return to the documents, exploring the possibility of using them against Jewish revolutionaries. The conclusion of the commission led by Stolypin was unequivocal - fake! Subsequently, despite the decision of the Berne court on the forgery of the document, the Protocols were used by the Nazis in their propaganda.
There is a Masonic order, Skull and Bones, which includes American presidents. At the end of the 20th century it broke out loud scandal, when it became known that George Bush Sr., and other US presidents before him, was part of the Skull and Bones secret society. Immediately I was attracted by the frivolous name, more suitable for a children's circle rather than a community influential people. It turned out that Skull and Bones was just one of the many fraternities at Yale University. The university itself appeared in 1801, and the fraternity arose in 1832 in the likeness of German student associations. The name of the order, as well as its emblem, appeared much later; by the way, “Skull and Bones” is a completely official organization that even has a bank account. In total, there were no more than 800 people in the order for more than a century and a half. The first Jew appeared there only in 1968. Quite little is known about the rituals of the order, due to the closed nature of the organization. Among the club's alumni there are indeed three presidents, bankers, cultural figures, and lawyers. But this can be explained simply - the children of the elite traditionally study at Yale, it is not surprising what they subsequently do good career. Skull and Bones can hardly be considered to rule the United States, since the student society is mainly engaged in entertaining the members themselves, sometimes dabbling in digging up bones. Of course, brothers in society help each other, but this custom is also typical in other student societies. Typically, university management is usually neutral towards such associations, although many are unfriendly - after all, instead of studying, students are engaged in extraneous matters. Having studied the rituals of the fraternities, it can be assumed that the “Skull and Bones” setting was largely borrowed from the German Masonic order “Black Brothers”. But in no case should one consider “Skull and Bones” a Masonic organization. The American fraternity only copied the German one, which, in turn, copied the Masonic orders. If we talk about the secret societies that rule the country, then why not remember the “Bohemian Grove”, which includes the richest people in the United States, and membership costs $12,000 a year. Although conversations about business in the club are prohibited, and rituals, including those based on Masonic ones, are increasingly parody and comic. By the way, in former USSR Student associations existed quite successfully, many of which successfully realized themselves in KVN.
The policies of Israel and the United States are determined by the Freemasons. It is believed that the United States was created by Freemasons on Masonic principles. Allegedly, everywhere in the symbolism there is the number 13, which is a symbol of Satan. However, the concept of the “13th tribe of Israel,” which the Masons are considered to be, simply does not exist. And the number 13 itself is considered favorable in Kabbalah. They say that the width of US bills is 66.6 millimeters, but in fact it is 0.4 mm narrower. But let's figure out how much Freemasonry influences US politics. One of the fathers of the American state is Benjamin Franklin, who was indeed a Freemason. George Washington was also a member of the same organization. All 15 great generals of the War of Independence were also Freemasons; it is no wonder that the first presidents were members of lodges. The most Masonic president was Harry Truman, who passed all the degrees of several charters and was the leader of the Red Cross of Constantine, one of the intra-Masonic orders. Bush Sr. was also a Mason, but his son did not join the lodge, saying that he did not understand the need for such an act. Clinton also did not become a full-fledged Freemason. Consider the structure of Freemasonry in the USA. Each state has its own Grand Lodge, but they are not subordinate to each other. Sometimes boards are convened to resolve general disagreements. So it is impossible for any state lodge to influence the general American government, much less the world politics. Typically, the instruments of Freemasonry's influence on world politics are the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission and the Bildelberg Club. The Council on Foreign Relations was founded in 1921 and is now funded by large corporations. It has about 4,200 members, who are closed doors developing a concept foreign policy states. There is nothing Masonic in it, moreover, it became known that Madeleine Albright is a member of the Council, and a woman cannot be present in Masonic structures at all! The Trilateral Commission brings together representatives of the United States, Europe and Asia (represented by Japan and South Korea). The organization includes major bankers and industrialists, its purpose is to discuss world problems. But what kind of masons can there be in Japan? The Bilderberg Club arose in 1954, uniting the European and American political and economic elite. Although the meetings are held in secrecy, it is impossible to completely hide the concentration of so many big shots in one place, so the world community always follows the club with interest. In fact, this organization is not an executive council; every decision later still goes through the G8 meetings, through the IMF or the World Bank. To claim that the Bilderberg Club is built like a lodge is ridiculous, since its structure absolutely does not coincide with the Masonic one. Regarding Israel, we can say that Freemasonry in this country arose only at the end of the 19th century; today it is recognized only in the English Lodge. Today in Israel there are no more than three thousand Masons, and only half of them are active, and besides, none of the prominent politicians have been noted in the lodges. Local “masons” do not participate in politics and do not have any influence on either the external or internal course of the state. It is interesting that in Latin American countries, as in the United States, many politicians are members of Masonic lodges, but even there secret organizations do not play any role in political life countries.
Masons - Freemasons
The Masonic fraternity has existed for several centuries. Some secrets of free masons have become common property, but something is still hidden from prying eyes...
Workshop of Masons
It is strange to imagine that the Masonic lodge, to which so many rich and influential aristocrats belonged, owes its origin to people physical labor. IN medieval Europe artisans united in guilds and brotherhoods - in the workshops of bakers, millers, butchers, and masons. Every year the workshops played an increasingly greater role in the life of the countries and had more and more weight. Some workshops became truly huge entities, possessing authority, their own cash, and real estate. And the most respected representatives of a particular workshop also had real political power— participated in parliamentary elections and sat on city councils.
The masons' workshop was not one of the most influential, but it had a number of privileges characteristic of people of this profession - in particular, free movement around the country. Not only real masons, but also people of other professions could join the workshops. And many preferred the masonry shop because of the freedom of movement. For example, this allowed notaries to increase their clientele throughout the country.
Freemasonry arose precisely in the lodge of masons - as a special education that was not engaged in professional activity, and by helping workshop participants in trouble, preserved traditions and passed them on. Members of the brotherhood called themselves free masons - both because of their freedom of movement and because many people of free professions - artists, sculptors, poets - joined the society...
Secret sign
In any secret society, it is customary to immediately create a conventional language, a system of passwords and symbols inaccessible to the uninitiated. The Masons were no exception. Only during the initiation ceremony as a member of the fraternity did the newcomer learn all the secret signs and tasks of the society. This is how the Masonic initiation ceremony is described in the novel War and Peace. “The first most important goal and overall foundation of our order, on which it is established, and which no human power can overthrow, is the preservation and transmission to posterity of a certain important sacrament... From the very ancient centuries and even from the first person who came down to us, on whom the fate of the human race, perhaps, depends on the sacraments”...
Principles that Masons should preach and practice: “Beware of making any distinction that may interfere with equality. Fly to the aid of your brother, no matter who he is, guide the erring one, lift up the falling one, and never harbor anger or enmity towards your brother. Be kind and friendly. Stir up the fire of virtue in all hearts. Share your happiness with your neighbor, and may envy never disturb this pure pleasure. Forgive your enemy, do not take revenge on him, except by doing him good.”
In addition, a Mason had to maintain seven virtues in himself: modesty and observance of the secrets of the order, obedience to the highest ranks of the order, good morals, love of humanity, courage, generosity and love of death.
The material symbols of the free masons were: compasses, swords, white leather aprons - symbols of strength and purity, shovels, reminiscent of the need to work and cleanse one’s heart from vices, as well as a carpet with the image of the sun, moon, hammer and plumb line on it...
And the spirit of Freemasonry was defined by the Russian writer Mikhail Osorgin: “Freemasonry is not at all a system of moral principles, and not a method of knowledge, and not a science of life, and even, in fact, not a teaching. There is ideal masonry state of mind a person actively striving for the truth and knowing that the truth is unattainable... The Brotherhood of Freemasons is an organization of people who sincerely believe in the coming of a more perfect humanity. Path to Improvement human race lies through self-improvement through fraternal communication with the chosen ones and bound by the promise of the same work on oneself. This means - know yourself, work on yourself, help others work on themselves, use their help, multiply the ranks of supporters of this high goal. Otherwise, it’s a union of moral mutual assistance.”
Famous names
Although the society of Freemasons became more and more mysterious over the centuries, many considered it their duty to join the brotherhood of free masons. Because the Freemasons were gaining more and more influence, and many rich and noble people became members of the fraternity. For example, in England, sixteen princes were members of the lodge, four of whom later became kings. But mostly representatives of the intelligentsia, philosophers, and poets belonged to the Freemasons. They all firmly believed that it was possible to build a just society on the basis of the achievements of science and reason.
The number of people who wanted to make the world just was so great that in 1717, four Masonic lodges united, and a Grand Lodge emerged, designed to coordinate and direct the work of all Freemasonry.
Over the years, Freemasonry became even more organized. In 1723, the Book of Statutes, written by the Scottish priest James Anderson, was published in England.
At the end of the 30s of the 18th century, lodges existed throughout Europe - in Belgium, Russia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland. In 1735, there were 5 lodges operating in Paris, by 1742 their number had increased to twenty-two, and forty-five years later, on the eve French Revolution, the number of Masons reached 100 thousand.
The names of famous masons command respect. The brotherhood of free masons included: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Liszt, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Niccolo Paganini, Jacob Sibelius, writers Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Rabindranath Tagore, Walter Scott, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, poets Alexander Pope, Robert Burns, Rudyard Kipling.
Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, John Jacob Astor and Henry Ford were Freemasons. Members of the brotherhood included Charles Lindenberg, who made the first solo flight across the Atlantic, polar explorers Robert Peary, Matthew Henson, and Admiral Richard Byrd. American astronaut Edwin Aldrin, who set foot on the moon on July 21, 1969, carried a banner with Masonic emblems in his pocket.
Russian masons are also widely known: Pushkin, Suvorov, Kutuzov Sumarokov, Novikov, Zhukovsky, Griboyedov, Voloshin, Gumilyov, Aldanov...
In our time, Freemasonry is also flourishing, but because of the veil of secrecy, we cannot know which of the greats of the world belongs to this brotherhood...
Symbol of free masons.
Every Mason honors God while in Freemasonry, he is addressed as the “Great Builder (Architect) of the Universe,” and he is allowed to practice any traditional religion. Freemasonry is not a religion or a replacement for religion, Freemasonry does not have its own theology, and discussions on religious matters are excluded from Masonic meetings. Each Mason continues to profess the religious views with which he came into the lodge, and his greater attention to his religion is welcomed. The recognition of faith in God as the basis of Freemasonry and its principles goes back to the founders of modern speculative Freemasonry at the beginning of the 18th century and this is adhered to by the dominant majority of world Freemasonry (the so-called regular or Conservative Freemasonry), there is an emphasis on obligatory monotheism.
Freemasonry is positioned as a moral and ethical system, expressed in allegories and illustrated by symbols, most of the symbolism is borrowed from other cultures, legends with biblical characters are played out in rituals. The attention of Masons is drawn to the need for moral self-improvement, as well as spiritual growth within the framework of the religion that each of them professes. The philosophy of Freemasonry includes external elements from both Christianity and other religions.
The Radiant Delta reminds the Mason of the all-permeation of the Creator, the Supreme Being. This is the main Masonic symbol of the first degree, the degree of apprentice. Stylistically, the eye is often replaced by a circle inscribed in a triangle. In liberal Freemasonry, the Radiant Delta is considered a sign of enlightenment or the principle of consciousness.
One of the symbols of Freemasonry is also the acacia, which is considered one of the main symbols used in Freemasonry, and is associated with the so-called Legend of the Death of Master Hiram - the thematic basis of the Master Mason degree. Further: a plumb line - a symbol of the desire for perfection, a level - a symbol of equality, a square - a symbol of balance and reconciliation of the constant desire for perfection with what is actually achievable, a symbol of the earthly, a compass - a symbol of moderation and prudence, as well as the desire for the highest and spiritual, a trowel - a symbol of strengthening fraternal ties, etc. In Freemasonry, the biblical legend about the construction of Solomon's Temple is widely used.
Loyalty to the authorities of those countries and territories where Freemasonry exists is one of the Masonic principles. Working for the benefit of society is considered one of the Masonic virtues. For the majority of Freemasons in the world, this is realized by their participation in charitable activities.
Regular Freemasonry
Regularity (see also Freemasonry, Regularity) is the mechanism by which relationships in Freemasonry (fraternal relations) are established. It is implemented practically through a system of recognition of Grand Lodges (GL) by each other on a reciprocal basis.
The concept of regularity in Freemasonry is relatively young; it arose at the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of the spread of Freemasonry in the world. The Basic Principles (see also) were first published by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLA) in 1929, and later confirmed by it in 1938 in the document Aims and Relationships of the Craft. Other Grand Lodges of the world have, with minor variations, adopted similar principles and standards of regularity. At present, adherence to regularity and its recognition allow, with the autonomy of national Grand Lodges and mutual respect for their sovereignty, global regular Freemasonry to be in an integrated state and create conditions for the preservation of Masonic traditions, indicating commitment to basic Masonic values.
Among the regularity standards:
With organizations that are not recognized as regular, but nevertheless consider themselves Masonic, relations in regular Freemasonry are excluded, and regular Masons are not allowed to attend their meetings. Grand Lodges usually publish in special publications lists of Masonic jurisdictions (Grand Lodges, Grand Orients) that are in recognition relations with them (see, for example, UGLE Recognized Grand Lodges).
Issues of recognition and relations are often dealt with by special commissions (systematizing information and developing expert opinions regarding the compliance of a particular Grand Lodge with regularity standards), in the USA, where there are Grand Lodges in each state, and recently the Grand Lodges of Prince Hall (created African Americans), there is a general recognition commission that meets annually.
In many countries (including Russia) the principle applies that within a country or territory there can be only one regular Grand Lodge, however, historically and currently there are countries in the world where more than one VL operates in one territory, if there is between these VL agreements on the so-called. "division of territory" or mutual recognition.
Regular Freemasonry is the strongest and most numerous in the world. In modern Russia it is represented by the Grand Lodge of Russia (GLR). This is the only organization in Russia related to regular Freemasonry.
Requirements for candidates
The main requirements for candidates arise from general principles movements. The candidate affirms his belief in God, the Supreme Being. The Book of Constitutions, compiled by the London preacher James Anderson, instructed the Freemason to be “neither a foolish atheist nor an irreligious freethinker” and to support civil authorities. The candidate must be of mature age (in most Grand Lodges of the world at least 21 years old), have decided to become a Freemason of his own free will, be of good reputation, and be of “freedom and good morals.”
The traditional rule for joining the Order sounds like “to be a Mason, ask a Mason about it”, “2 be 1 ask 1”, the initiative to become a member of the lodge must come from the candidate. The candidate can apply to the Lodge at his place of residence. To join a lodge, you need recommendations from its full members; one way or another, entry is preceded by a certain period of acquaintance with the Masons who recommend the candidate. Some jurisdictions require a candidate to apply for entry 3 times, however this is becoming less common. Some jurisdictions have made entry information public so that potential candidates know where to find more information.
The decision to join the lodge is made by closed vote. Members voting to join use white stones (marbles are most often used in the ritual); those who are against are black. The number of dissenting votes required to reject a candidate's application is set by the local Grand Lodge, and in some jurisdictions is 1 vote.
Lodge membership and religious beliefs
A candidate's religious beliefs are a matter of his conscience. Upon entry, the candidate makes a commitment to the Holy Book of the faith that he professes, and which embodies the Revelation from above his faith, this can be the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, etc. Usually the candidate belongs to one of the traditional faiths, respectively, Christianity, Islam, Judaism , etc. (in lodges that are recognized as regular), however, in the irregular lodges of continental European Freemasonry, the requirements for the candidate’s faith are weakened, the candidate is allowed to accept the philosophy of deism or God - the “Great Architect of the Universe” as an abstract idea-symbol, or are generally canceled , and atheists and agnostics can enter the lodge.
Rite of Passage
Rite of Passage
At the beginning of the ceremony, the candidate for Freemasonry is led into the Room of Reflection, painted black, the furnishings of which correspond to the name; it may contain objects that remind the candidate of the frailty of existence. In it, the candidate will write on paper a moral and philosophical will, his wishes and vows regarding himself and other people, his country, family and humanity as a whole. Then he will be asked to reaffirm his faith in God.
Before entering the temple where initiation takes place, the candidate is blindfolded. As a sign of humility, the candidate is “neither dressed nor undressed” (partially undressed, and the left breast is exposed as a sign of openness of heart), all valuables (“metals”) are taken from him, his right trouser leg is rolled up and his left shoe is removed. A rope is placed around his neck, symbolizing the bonds of human imperfection. The candidate is taken to the temple premises (the meeting room of the lodge), where he goes through ritual tests, listens to instructions of a moral and philosophical nature, and participates in small scenes and dialogues, the purpose of which is to clearly present the moral instructions of the ritual. At the end of the ceremony, he makes a solemn pledge to the Holy Book of the religion he professes (usually the Bible, with a compass and square also placed on it). Next, the candidate is removed from the bandage, saying that he has now “passed the test and is worthy of the Light”, a Masonic apron is put on him, and then the presiding officer at the ceremony (the Worshipful Master) announces to those present that they have now found a new brother and calls on them to help him in difficulties, being confident that he, too, will help them in difficult times. Often the initiation ceremony is held with musical accompaniment, which further enhances the candidate’s impressions.
The initiation rite was described by L. N. Tolstoy, who himself was initiated into the first degree, in “War and Peace” (episode with the dedication of Pierre Bezukhov), but there are also more modern scientific sources about Masonic rituals.
Freemasonry in Russia
Freemasonry appeared in Russia in the middle of the 18th century. In Masonic legends, Peter I and his associates Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon are often named as the founders of Freemasonry in Russia. This version, however, has no documentary evidence. The first reliable news of the beginning of Freemasonry in Russia dates back to 1731, when the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of London, Lord Lovell, appointed Captain John Philips as Provincial Grand Master for Russia. The wide spread of Freemasonry in Russia began with the founding of several lodges by Russian service general James Keith in the 1740s. The documents of the Grand Lodge of England indicate that in 1740 he was appointed Provincial Grand Master for Russia. Initially, the majority of members of Russian lodges were foreigners - officers in the Russian service and merchants, but soon the number of Russian Freemasons by birth began to grow. In the 1750s, a lodge operated in St. Petersburg under the leadership of Count R. I. Vorontsov.
An alternative to the Elagin Masonic system was the so-called Swedish or Zinnendorf system, founded by the former chamberlain of the Braungsweig court, P.-B., who came to Russia in 1771. Reichel. In 1772-1776, Reichel founded several more lodges: “Apollo” (St. Petersburg), “Harpocrates” (St. Petersburg), “Apollo” (Riga), “Isis” (Revel), “Gorus” (St. Petersburg) , “Latona” (St. Petersburg), “Nemesis” (St. Petersburg) and “Osiris” (St. Petersburg - Moscow). In 1776, after negotiations, the Elagin and Reichel lodges merged into a single system.
New stage in the development of Russian Freemasonry is associated with the name of N. I. Novikov, who joined the Freemasons in 1775 in one of the Elagin lodges. Together with Johann Schwarz, Novikov launched widespread propaganda in Moscow, where the center of activity of Russian Freemasonry had shifted. On August 1, 1822, Masonic lodges were officially closed by the highest rescript of Alexander I.
A new stage in the spread of Freemasonry in Russia dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when the lodges of the so-called “Grand Orient of France” became widespread in Russia - then transformed into the “Grand Orient of the Peoples of Russia”. Freemasonry at the beginning of the 20th century was overtly political in nature.
After October Revolution 1917, Masonic organizations were banned, Freemasons were persecuted by the Cheka - GPU - NKVD.
A small number of Russian lodges worked in exile, primarily in France. Over time, the number of Russian Freemasons decreased due to the aging of emigrants. During the German occupation of France during World War II, the remaining Russian lodges were closed along with all French lodges.
Historians of Freemasonry
- Sergey Karpachev
Freemasonry in cinema
- The mystery of Villa Gretta ()
- The Bankers of God ()
"All-Seeing Eye" on banknotes
The “All-Seeing Eye” is depicted on the banknotes of several countries. So on the back of the 1 US dollar bill since 1935 there has been the Great Seal of the United States, which depicts a truncated pyramid with an eye. The initiators of the change in the banknote were G. Wallace and F. Roosevelt, its designer was Edward M. Weeks, supervisor of the Engraving Department of the Bureau of Currency and Securities at the US Department of the Treasury (the artist Nicholas Roerich, to whom some authors mistakenly attribute the idea of the banknote design, is not has nothing to do with this). The “All-Seeing Eye” is also depicted on the Nicaraguan banknote (1 Cordoba) and on Ukrainian banknote denomination of 500 hryvnia (the author of the drawing is Grigory Skovoroda).
Miscellaneous links
Notes
- After amalgamating in 1813 with another Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons, formed in 1751, see History of the OGLA, 18th/19th century.
- which in turn refer to more ancient origin For this and other basic Masonic principles, see, for example, Anderson's Constitution of 1823.
- T. A. Sherkova. “Eye of Horus”: symbolism of the eye in predynastic Egypt. "Bulletin of Ancient History", No. 4, 1996
- Amulets and symbols of the Egyptians
- Pendant "Eye of Horus"
- Landmarks are ancient commandments, a set of traditional principles of Freemasonry, the Masonic lodge, “milestones” that separate Freemasonry from what is not Freemasonry. The most famous set of landmarks is the Mackay Landmarks. Landmarks are reflected in the constitutions of modern lodges and the principles of regularity.
- http://www.gumer.info/bibliotek_Buks/History/masony/4.php
- S. P. Karpachev, Secrets of the Masonic Orders, M., Yauza Press, 2007.
- V. S. Brachev. Masons in Russia
- "Charter of Freemasons"
- About the Grand Lodge of Russia, VLR website.
- S. P. Karpachev, Guide to Masonic secrets (freemason library), M., “Center liberal arts education", 2003.
The origin of Freemasonry dates back to XIII century. It arose in Germany from a society of stonecutters who pursued not only purely craft goals, but also goals of moral improvement. These societies gradually lost their church-craft character, and in the 16th century they were transformed into a purely spiritual institution. In England, in the first half of the 18th century, Freemasonry took its final form and cosmopolitan character. Since the Masons originated from the society of stonecutters, their symbols were borrowed from the art of construction. In the 18th century, Freemasons had a negative attitude towards French encyclopedic philosophy, gave preference to the suggestions of feeling over the fabrications of reason, and contrasted mystical faith with unbelief.
The goal of society was the moral improvement of humanity and individuals in the principles of truth, equality and brotherly love. Each fraternity or society was a closed society, into which all adult and equal citizens were accepted as members if their name was impeccable. The reception of members was accompanied by special rituals, which are reproduced in our drawings. According to moral excellence, members were divided into students, journeymen and masters. At the head of the lodge was a master of the chair, who conducted the affairs of the lodge with the help of an elected or appointed administration. The lodges of a particular locality, and sometimes of an entire country, constituted a grand lodge, i.e. a free union of Masonic societies that manages relations with other lodges and resolves misunderstandings between them. The Grand Lodge is headed by a Grand Master and a board of elected administrators. Representatives of individual lodges on the council were either their chair masters or elected commissioners.
All members of the lodge were required to keep the meetings secret and were bound by a vow of mutual assistance upon request. Masons recognized each other by special signs and, above all, by a handshake. Freemasonry was developed especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. early XIX century. There were Masonic lodges in Russia as well. Now they exist only in Western Europe, and, by the way, there are 3 grand lodges in France.
One of these grand boxes was located on the Rue Cadet in Paris. This house will be broken down due to its disrepair, since it was built two centuries ago. Their museum was located in this house, people with the biggest names and even monarchs stayed there - Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. Joseph Bonaparte, the king of Spain for an hour was the senior master in the era of the first empire. This title subsequently fell out of use and was replaced by the title of Chairman of the Supreme Council.
Secret Meeting of Masons
The museum has preserved many interesting things to this day: banners of masons, Bonaparte's box, historical swords, including the sword of Philippe Egalité with lines and Masonic emblems on the hilt. Pictures depicting meetings of free masons and their rituals are painted on silk wallpaper. Cagliostro's watch is also kept here in a fancy wooden case, the wizard Cagliostro who predicted her to Marie Antoinette. fatal fate, showing her the bloody water in the carafe human head. In the large halls of the dilapidated house, pale vigils took place, that is, those to which even the uninitiated were allowed. Marriage ceremonies were sometimes performed there - the crossing of swords over the heads of the newlyweds and the refraction of glass as a sign of the indissoluble bonds.
All this has now faded into history. Masons strive to reduce all rituals almost to their complete abolition. Conventional signs have long lost their mystery, but in historical sense they are always interesting, especially at present, rich memoir literature, which exposed that the only thing that was interesting about mystery was its mystery
Already in modern times, Freemasons created texts in which they proved the ancient origin of their order. If you ask who the Freemasons are and what they do, you will notice that they are seriously different from their predecessors. The first texts, created in the late Middle Ages in England, talked about the ancient craft of stone masonry and the discovery of its secret by English craftsmen. After the formation of the London Lodge, the history of the order began in biblical times. The appearance of Freemasons (experts in the secret of masonry) in England was attributed to the era of King Athelstan (10th century).
In England in the 13th - 14th centuries, documents recorded the appearance of the name “Masons” as a designation for masons. Documents also refer to them as "Freemasons", which may mean that the masons were not enslaved or serfs.
A Master Mason had to receive a good education in his teens: learn Latin, serve as a page to a knight to learn manners. Afterwards he studied the profession of a mason and geometry. As a youth, a Freemason received journeyman status and was required to produce a “masterpiece” (construction or design work) to obtain the status of a skilled worker.
To become a master, a mason had to complete some large and significant project. Master Masons are mentioned in documents as leaders of work with a high social status. Those receiving this status went through an initiation rite, the details of which were kept secret.
Already in the Middle Ages, Masonic lodges were mentioned as organizations of masons. In the XVI - XVII centuries their members were people who had nothing to do with the craft of masons. Among them were philosophers, alchemists, and nobles (“high-ranking disciples”).
Gradually, those admitted to the fraternities became guardians of the traditions of the lodges of free masons. Practicing masons, on the contrary, forgot them, concentrating on their direct activities. The traditions and teachings of medieval masons began to be reinterpreted and laid the foundations for the esoteric society of Freemasons.
The Beginning of Speculative Freemasonry
In 1717, four London lodges, whose names were derived from the taverns where their members met, merged to form the Grand Lodge of London. Its members began to collect materials on the history of Freemasonry. In 1723, the “Book of Charters” was published, which included a list of the duties of the Freemasons and information on the history of the brotherhood.
Most English lodges continued to maintain independence from the London one and even criticize it. In 1753, the opposition created their own “Grand Lodge”. They showed respect for the old rules, and their charter was a pamphlet against the "Book of Charters" of the Londoners. In 1813, both organizations created the United Grand Lodge and two years later - a new charter.
Under the influence of the British, their own Masonic lodges appeared in Ireland and Scotland. After 1649, Freemasonry entered France with English emigrants.
In the 18th century, lodges of the “Scottish” type and new ones, subordinate to the Great London, operated in France. The number of Masonic societies in the kingdom grew throughout the 18th century - by 1771 their number exceeded 300. Only a few of them were recognized by the Grand Lodge of London. In 1738, the French aristocrat Louis de Pardallan was elected Grand Master of the French Kingdom. In 1773, French Freemasons founded a national lodge - the Grand Orient of France.
Masons were not persecuted and enjoyed public interest. Members of the lodges included representatives of the most distinguished families, including the Counts of Provence and Artois, who would later become Kings Louis XVIII and Charles X. It was said that King Louis XV himself was a member of the lodge.
In the 1720s, Masonic lodges appeared in Spain, in the 1730s - in Italy, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Portugal and India. In 1733, the American Provincial Grand Lodge began operating in Boston. In the Netherlands, their activities were soon banned.
In 1756 mainland Freemasonry was organized into the so-called orthodox system. The order's territory was divided into nine provinces and covered the whole of Europe. Members of the order were divided into six degrees. In addition to them, in the 1760s - 1770s there were higher degrees dedicated Masons and great vowed ones. They managed the affairs of the order, remaining unknown to ordinary members.
Lodges appeared in Russia after the era of Peter I. In 1731, the first great master was appointed in the country. In 1792 and 1822, the activities of Freemasons in Russia were prohibited by imperial decrees. The revival of Freemasonry in the country began at the beginning of the 20th century.
Who are the Masons and what do they do today?
Freemasonry is, first of all, an ethical system. Membership in a Masonic lodge presupposes that a person is a believer in one of the world's religions. Some Masonic legends are based on the Old Testament.
Members of the Masonic organization must engage in moral self-improvement. A Mason must improve as a member of a religious denomination. Worship of God, whom they call the Great Architect of the Universe, has been at the core of the ideology since the 18th century. Discussions on religious issues are prohibited among Masons.
Another principle of Freemasonry is a loyal attitude towards state power. Masons should not oppose the authorities of the country where their lodge is located.
The main task of this society is charity. Members of Masonic lodges collect money that goes to help orphanages, medical and educational institutions. Members of the fraternity found charitable organizations.
There is a medical research laboratory in the United States, which was founded by the Grand Lodges of the United States. It appeared in 1918, when the United States entered the First World War. After the war, the organization began to open its centers throughout the country and abroad.