Facts about Freemasonry
In article 28 of its Covenant, Hamas states that Freemasonry, Rotary, and other similar groups "work in the interest of Zionism and according to its instructions…."
Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events in the early United States that led to a tradition of separate, predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America.
A number of Papal pronouncements have been issued against Freemasonry.
In 1799 English Freemasonry almost came to a halt due to Parliamentary proclamation.
Anti-Masonry (alternatively called Anti-Freemasonry) is defined as "avowed opposition to Freemasonry.
A candidate for Freemasonry must petition a lodge in his community, obtaining an introduction by asking an existing member, who then becomes the candidate's proposer.
By 1982 the scandal became public knowledge and Gelli was formally expelled from Freemasonry.
Freemasonry in Scandinavia, known as the Swedish Rite, on the other hand, accepts only Christians.
The most common phrasing being that Freemasonry has, in the twenty-first century, become less a secret society and more of a "society with secrets.
The obligations are historically known among various sources critical of Freemasonry for their so-called "bloody penalties," an allusion to the apparent physical penalties associated with each degree.
In 1980, the Iraqi legal and penal code was changed by Saddam Hussein's ruling Ba'ath Party, making it a felony to "promote or acclaim Zionist principles, including Freemasonry, or who associate with Zionist organisations.
Observance of Great Lent is characterized by abstention from many foods, intensified private and public prayer, personal improvement and almsgiving.
Quite apart from these, there are organizations that are often thought of as related to Freemasonry, but which are in fact not related at all and are not accorded recognition as Masonic.
Anti-Masonry consists of radically differing criticisms from sometimes incompatible groups who are hostile to Freemasonry in some form.
Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, with around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland alone, and nearly two million in the United States.
Regular Freemasonry requires that its candidates believe in a Supreme Being, but the interpretation of the term is subject to the conscience of the candidate.
The rest of the world, accounting for the bulk of Freemasonry, tends to follow more closely to the UGLE style, although minor variations exist.
Conspiracy theorists have long associated Freemasonry with the New World Order and the Illuminati, and state that Freemasonry as an organization is either bent on world domination or already secretly in control of world politics.
Freemasonry in the United States faced political pressure following the disappearance of William Morgan in 1826.
Any mason may speculate on the symbols and purpose of Freemasonry, and indeed all masons are required to some extent to speculate on masonic meaning as a condition of advancing through the degrees.
Each of the two major branches of Freemasonry considers the Lodges within its branch to be "regular" and those in the other branch to be "irregular."
Each Grand Lodge is self-governing and no single authority exists over the whole of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry worldwide disburses substantial charitable amounts to non-Masonic charities, locally, nationally and internationally.
Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that arose from obscure origins in the late sixteenth to early seventeenth century.
Nevertheless, much of the political opposition to Freemasonry is based upon the idea that Masonry will foment (or sometimes prevent) rebellion.
Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is neither a religion nor a substitute for one.
The badge is now worn in the coat lapel by Freemasons around the world to remember all those that have suffered in the name of Freemasonry, especially those during the Nazi era.
Many Islamic anti-Masonic arguments are closely tied with Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism, though other criticisms are made such as linking Freemasonry to Dajjal.
The systematic admission of women into International Co-Freemasonry began in France in 1882.
The denomination with the longest history of objection to Freemasonry is the Catholic Church.
A Lodge (often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge in Masonic constitutions) is the basic organizational unit of Freemasonry.
A Tracing board is a painted or printed board that can be displayed during a ritual (Degree) of Freemasonry.
Co-Freemasonry admits both men and women, but it is held to be irregular because it admits women.
The origins and early development of Freemasonry are a matter of some debate and conjecture.
Historically, Freemasonry has attracted criticism—and suppression—from both the politically extreme right (e.g.