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Freemasonry calls itself the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Freemasonry and Masonry are interchangeable words for the same organization, which has its roots in the medieval trade guilds of stonemasons. In fact, the most widely used symbols of Freemasonry are the tools of the stonemason -- a square and compass. The organization was formally created in London in 1717, and quickly spread to the American colonies and across Europe. Today, there are probably four to six million men in the fraternity worldwide. According to MasonicInfo.com, the mission of Masonry is: "to teach a man the duty he owes to God, his neighbor, and himself."
Charity work and community involvement are important parts of Masonic life. Freemasonry is not affiliated with any religious group, but members are required to profess belief in a supreme being. Masonic groups are called lodges, and the United Grand Lodge of England is the oldest body of Freemasonry. Membership is restricted to adult males, and lodges do not usually recruit members. Potential members must seek out a Mason or a Masonic lodge and apply to the organization (hence their slogan: "2B1ASK1"). Freemasonry has been decried as a secret society and even a political conspiracy or religious cult. But Masons believe that what little secrecy they have is simply so members of the fraternity can identify each other by things like handshakes
and passwords. They state that the rituals of Masonic meetings are used to reinforce the central values of the organization, such as morality and belief in a supreme being. Many Masonic activities (especially charitable works) are open to the general public. Freemasonry.net has a frequently asked questions page that addresses many anti-Masonic suspicions. This FAQ points out that Freemasons aim to keep the organization separate from both politics and specific religions. Masonic lodges do not support political campaigns, and they discourage political discussion inside the lodge. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsees, and even Wiccans have become Freemasons -- and all are
encouraged to maintain their religious affiliations. Masonic ritual refers to the supreme being as the "Great Architect of the Universe," to avoid disharmony between different religions. Despite the critics, there are many notable Freemasons. Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, astronaut Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, writer Leo Tolstoy, comedian Richard Pryor, and at least 14 U.S. presidents (including George Washington) are just a few famous Masons.
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