Some say it's a cult, others a secret society. Few know exactly what goes on behind the closed doors of Masonic Lodges scattered all over the US. Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternities in the world. Freemasonry started in the Middle Ages with the craftsmen who built the beautiful cathedrals and castles of medieval Europe. They formed craft guilds to protect the secrets of their building trade and to pass on their knowledge to worthy inheritors. With the passage of time the trade of masonry declined but the principles and fraternity of the Freemasons continued to attract men from other professions, men of learning, integrity and goodwill. The society gradually spread all over the world and many of our Founding Fathers including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison and Paul Revere were Freemasons.Masonry teaches that every person has a responsibility to improve things in the world. It encourages good citizenship and engages in numerous charitable activities. Although membership is not difficult to obtain, meetings are common knowledge and the addresses of the societies are available in the telephone book, there remains an air of mystery around their ceremonies. They use secret signs and hand grips to gain admission to the lodges. Each lodge has its own set of signs and they may be changed from time to time. It is precisely these practices that make the Freemasons sound as if they are a secret society. By the way only males are admitted as Masons.
The number of Masons in the US has declined over the years. For instance the number of Masons in New York has gone down from a high of about 346,000 in 1929 to about 54,000 today.For the first time the lodges are actively reaching out for new members.In spite of the present openness about their activities, they are even giving guided tours of their lodges in a bid to attract new members, they still are not willing to describe what happens in the room when members gather for a lodge meeting.
Interest in the society is all set to be revived as Dan Brown the author of the bestselling "The Da Vinci Code' is set to explore the mysterious society in a new book 'The Solomon Key.' In this book he explores the hidden mysteries in the city of Washington. He claims that there is a Masonic design in Washington's city plan.He points out that when Washington is viewed from the air the perfect square and compass, which are the universal symbols of Freemasonry , are clearly visible. He also points out that the city's major landmarks, the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House and the Jefferson Memorial , if viewed in a certain manner, form the shape of a square and a compass.At the center of these stands the George Washington monument whose dimensions are 555 feet high by 55 feet wide.The number five has great significance for the Freemasons. It seems that Freemasonry had a very important role in the the history of the US and the early American Republic. The book is eagerly awaited and given that it explores 'codes and mysteries' it may turn out to be another bestseller.