The most common myths about Freemasons

The Freemasons have a long and interesting history that can be traced back to the 14th-Century. They started as a fraternal guild which regulated the qualifications of British stonemasons. The organisation quickly grew to become international institution that has impacted the culture and history of many Western nations.

 Over the years, many books and magazine articles have been written about the Freemasons and their impact on society. That’s because the Freemasons played a significant role in the development of Western society. However, some of the information that has been spread about the Freemasons is incorrect. This article will correct some common myths about Freemasons.

The most common myths about Freemasons

Here are the most common myths about Freemasons:

1. Freemasonry is a religion

Many people mistakingly believe that Freemasonry is a religion. It is an easy mistake to make, because the Freemasons do have rituals like most churches. However, these rituals aren’t religious in nature — there are no religious officials and participants keep their religious views private.

2. The Freemasons are a political group

The Freemasons had two important rules for their meetings — do not discuss religion or politics. They have no interest in political events and people of all political persuasions could become Freemasons.

3. Freemasons were behind the American revolution

Many of America’s earliest presidents and prominent politicians were Freemasons. They included Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere, James Monroe, and George Washington. However, most of the participants in the American revolution were not, including Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, and James Madison. From the 56 signatories of the Declaration of Independence, only nine were Freemasons.

4. Freemasons have lot of power

The myth that Freemasons continue to wield a lot of power comes from the fact that their presence is all around us. Many roads, bridges, and buildings were built by Freemasons. However, they have never had any signifiant political power or influence. That being said, being a Freemason often helped members secure business deals and find employment.

5. There are Masonic symbols on some forms of currency 

One of the most common Freemason myths is that certain types of currency contain Masonic symbols. For example, many people believe that the pyramid and eye on U.S. currency is a Masonic symbol. The reality is, these symbols have been used by many cultures over the years. The eye of god symbol found on U.S. bills is often used to symbolise god looking over the affairs of man and is not a symbol designed by Freemasons.

6. The Masonic password gives you access to secrets

Freemasons did have a secret password or secret handshake. However, its purpose wasn’t to gain access to secrets or special privileges. Freemasons used Masonic passwords so they could identify a tradesman as being qualified for a job.

Having a Masonic password was very useful in the 15th and 16th-Centuries, when literacy rates were much lower. Instead of having a document stating that a stonemason was qualified, they would use their secret Masonic password to identify themselves as being qualified tradesmen.

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