Masons & Freemasons
Secret Societies
Masons and Founding Fathers
Masons and Founding Fathers Founding Fathers that were Masons:
Signers of the Declaration of Independence:
Benjamin Franklin Signers of the U.S. Constitution:
Gunning Bradford, Jr. I would like to explain a little about the organization and leadership of Masonry, as the comments on the list have disentegrated into here say and paranoid propaganda.
In the United States, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons are governed on two basic levels. The Grand Lodge is the highest "power" position within the organization. Each grand Lodge acts seperately from one another and without regard to other jurisdictions. That is to say, it doesn't matter what the
Grand Lodge of Texas does if you are a Mason living under the Grand Lodge of New York. The only action that one Grand Lodge can take against another is to resend recognition of that Grand Lodge, which classifies all Masons under that jurisdiction as clandestine Masons (and you cannot have any Masonic contact with them). Yes, it has happened. In the 1980's I think it was the Grand Lodge of Mississippi that ceased to recognize Minnesota? (I
can't remember the state for sure) but he concept has been presented. The only way Masons as a whole in the US could either control the craft as a whole, and have any hope to contribute to a NWO would be for all 51 Grand Lodges to unanimously agree to take a course of action. This would first have to be done by the Grand Masters as a group and then get it voted in by all of their Grand Lodge members. It has never happened before, and I do not foresee it ever happening. It would be like getting all of the
Governors of all the states to get together and agree on something, then go back and convince each of their State Senates and Houses to pass the resolution.
Apart from the Grand Lodge, the only other "authority" is the local Lodge, and specifically, the Worshipful Master. The WM is elected by their lodge to serve a one year term as leader. Each lodge has their own WM and like each Grand Lodge, each lodge works seperately and solely. The only restrictions placed on the individual lodges are those of the Constitution
and By-Laws under which they are organized and authorized to meet. WM's have the freedom to make decisions and take actions on their own, without regard to other lodges, as long as they obey the Constitution and By-Laws of that jurisdiction.
It is very plain to see the formation of the United States government, in the form of a Federal body and then a local, or State body, was influenced by the Masonic tradition of democracy (along with Biblical precepts).
Each Grand Lodge is like a country of its own, and each lodge is like a state. Unfortunately, with the US Government, the states have allowed their power to be reduced and the Federal power consolidated. By the design of its organization, this cannot happen with Freemasonry. Well, it could, but I would have to have the support of all the individuals, the individual lodges, and then all of the Grand Lodges; and it is very evident that just like with all of the states and all of the countries of the world, this will not happen.
As for the "circles within circles," yes they do exist, but they have no real power. These types of clubs within organizations are just designed for people to find others interested in the same "hobbies" hat they are. What must be understood about these "clubs" is the fact that they are permitted formation and operate only on permission from the Grand Lodge. If a group started to get too radical, the Grand Lodge (through proper procedure) can dissolve the group and forbid its reformation. So yes, while I believe there are power hungry Freemasons, as there are power hungry Elks, Sertoma, Rotary, and even religious members, they are in the vast minority and have
no course to see their "dreams' fulfilled.
I have a BS in Comparative Religion, and I have studied occult, mystery and mystical organization in great detail. I am writing a book on Jewish Mysticism, from where much of Masonry gets its symbology. If you take a look at some of the "great" Rosicrution (sp?) movements, like the Order of the Golden Dawn, started my MacGreggor Mathers in the late 19th century,
you will find a strong Masonic influence. This is due to the fact that many of the founders of these organizations, Mathers included, were Freemasons. Mathers relied heavily on Masonic ritual to construct the Golden Dawn ritual work. This makes sense due to the fact that as a Mason these rituals were known thoroughly by Mathers. There were really no other organization
with a strong basis in ritual in Europe and America during this period of time.
Mathers wanted to start the Golden Dawn as a Masonic group and was rejected by the Grand Lodge, so he went out on his own and formed the Golden Dawn, which has survived to this day in some areas.