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10 interesting facts about Masonry and Masons
1. Mason was Winston Churchill. Just as Henry Ford. And Mozart. And Voltaire. Duke Ellington. That's not counting George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Jackson and thirteen other US presidents. The listed names - only a handful of influential people from the number of 'Freemasons' secret society that emerged in the 14th century, whose goals have inspired researchers conspiratorial theories for hundreds of years.
2. Home Masonic obsession in the popular culture, probably put the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Ark of the "Old Testament" Freemasonry has a direct relationship, but more on that later. Dan Brown bombarded secrets "Freemasons" broad readership, releasing the bestseller "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons." And in the "National Treasure" indefatigable Nicolas Cage even slightly overdone with Masonic intrigues.
3. Masonry is directly related to architecture. The first "Freemasons" were illiterate builders of medieval cathedrals - masons. These people belonged to the working class, but in the social hierarchy stood above the peasants. Their knowledge of astronomy and geometry allowed them to erect holy temples of the rough stone. Through their work, they have been privileged to travel freely throughout Europe and were "Freemasons».
4. The special status of 'Freemasons' demanded the invention a method to distinguish between the real workers of the enterprising illegal. The audit, newly arrived on the scene divided into three professional ranks: apprentice, journeyman or master. Each grade was their handshake, later evolved into a secret greeting. Masonic tradition of equality born on the construction site, where all called each other "brother". For centuries, their meetings were held in boxes, at a level - building in the center of the lodge, the building symbolizes the measuring tool.
5. Freemasonry is not a religion, although it has a certain similarity of the signs of religion. The legend of 'Freemasons' speaks of Hiram Abiff, King Solomon Jewish favorites for the realization of God's plan to build the first temple. The temple was supposed to be a receptacle for the Holy Ark, which rests inside to fragments of stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. Three junior employees are constantly trying to find out from Hiram secret words, which they thought to hide the magical power is the key to the knowledge of the universe. Hiram patiently reminded them that the words will be disclosed after the completion of a reward for excellence, however, overcome with impatience, they decided to kill him. One by one, Hiram struck three blows, but the secret word, he did not reveal. Dying Hiram said: "Who will help the widow's son?" For many years, this phrase has become the call for help 'Freemasons ».
6. At the base of the philosophy of 'Freemasons' on the story of Hiram. A member of society is a conscious and free the builder of a virtuous life. He is constantly exposed to aggressive action on the part of the three (in the number of murderers) main factors: ignorance, bigotry and despotism. Each bed is designed in the likeness of the first temple, exist only on the pages of the Bible. Initiation ritual inspired by the murder of Hiram Abiff - allegoric story about the hardness of the word Mason. Rookie "kill", and then three times trying to resurrect. The first two attempts fail, and after the third man reborn 'Freemasons ».
7. Geometry always seemed "Freemasons" right path to understanding the divine. Therefore Era of Enlightenment attracted Masonic guild existed since the Middle Ages, leading scientists and philosophers of the time. These educated people becoming new leaders gave guilds force capable of changing the world - political influence. However, their influence, like all the earlier drafts of the Enlightenment, was to remain secret because of the hegemony of the church.
8. to admit the educated, the rich and power oblichёnnyh people masons turned into a kind of club. Beyond the reach of the authorities of church and state structures "Freemasons' secret could form their attitude to world problems, and then make the appropriate changes in the spheres of its activity with the tacit support of other members of the fraternity.
9. The concentration of power in one organization has led to the emergence of the most sinister conspiracy theory. Masons were dangerous for the government and the Church, as professed agency. Antimasonstvo appeared in the 17th century, when severe Presbyterian ministers dubbed the "Freemasons" Antichrist. Later, they were accused of pokusitelstve for world domination in the ruin of the Vatican, in the worship of Satan, in the kidnapping of politicians and even the murder of Princess Diana. In the Soviet Union they were persecuted as enemies of communism. The Nazis jailed for promoting Jewish conspiracy.
10. The past decade was marked by a revival of ads membership in "the Freemasons." The highest activity was observed that movement in the UK. Suspicion of the British Parliament to the Masons in the light of American and French revolutions is not surprising. The organization is on the verge of extinction when in 1799, the year a law was passed prohibiting engage in any society that require taking the oath. "Freemasons" procured for himself an exception, citing their commitment to the government and the law and subject to annual announcement of the list of members.
The annual list of requested until 1967, and in 1997 the British government wanted to adopt laws requiring judges and police officers to declare their membership. "Freemasons" consider similar measures inappropriate, but no one knows how far the boundaries extend their influence today.
via factroom.ru
