Freemasons what do they believe

CBS News "Sunday Morning" looks at the rumors, fears and conspiracy theories sparked by the Freemasons' fraternal order , its secrets and rituals. Politics is another. But there are no priests, there are no ministers, there are no rabbis, there's no system of clergy of any sort. Everybody's their own thinker. Jacob said the initial response to Freemasonry in continental Europe, particularly in Catholic Europe, was suspicion from seeing "all these men [from] different neighborhoods, different professions meeting in the cafe, breaking bread together, doing rituals, what could this be?

Political conspiracy or religion. In the Catholic Church condemned Freemasonry, and has since issued about 20 decrees -- directly or indirectly -- against the fraternity. Freemasonry is not a religion per se, but agnostics or atheists cannot belong, said Brent Morris, a Masonic historian, editor of the Scottish Rite Journal , and a 33rd degree Freemason. The Catholics would get in power and beat up on the Protestants; the Protestants would get in power and beat up on the Catholics; and everyone was beating up on the Jews.

So could an atheist join? In theory, all discussion of religion and politics is prohibited within lodges. No, individual masons can declare themselves if they wish , and the names of senior officers of the brotherhood in England and Wales can be found in a masonic year book.

The grand master is the Duke of Kent. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is a member of a navy lodge. However, a great many masons do not disclose their membership outside the brotherhood. This article is more than 3 years old. When did Freemasonry begin? Other reasons put forward during the research for The Future of Freemasonry report include a sense of belonging and structure - which are not always easy to find in today's fragmented society - and a desire to help other people by getting involved in the local community.

Most importantly of all though, Freemasonry is all about enjoyment - if members didn't enjoy Freemasonry they would not remain part of the organisation in the way that they do. Susan Moon in Tyne and Wear asks: If the top cop was a Freemason, would he "stretch" the rules if another Freemason broke the law? Nigel Brown: Absolutely not - networking within Freemasonry and trying to use it for personal gain is completely forbidden. Rachel in London asks: Is Freemasonry compatible with humanism?

Nigel Brown: The prime qualification for admission into Freemasonry is a belief in a supreme being. Having some form of religious belief is the one thing that all Freemasons have in common, whatever their backgrounds might be. As humanists do not believe in any form of higher power they cannot fulfil that prime qualification. Michael Lashford-Spinks in Gloucestershire asks: I am a retired carver, is Freemasonry linked to craft trades?

Nigel Brown: Organised Freemasonry, as we understand it today, began with the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in - hence our tercentenary celebrations in While not directly linked, we have taken a lot of our symbolism from stonemasonry.

As with stonemasonry, Freemasonry is about moving from level to level as you gain further knowledge and experience, starting with being an apprentice. Would you want to be a Freemason?