History UsefulNotes / Freemasons

Eventually the status and privileges of guilds diminished, but as far as we can tell, in {{UsefulNotes/England}} and {{UsefulNotes/Scotland}} the local Stonemasons' guilds accepted local dignitaries who used the organizations as social clubs. In 1717, four such organizations (or Lodges as they were called) joined together as the United Grand Lodge of England, marking the official start of modern Freemasonry.

Eventually the status and privileges of guilds diminished, but as far as we can tell, in England and Scotland the local Stonemasons guilds accepted local dignitaries who used the organizations as social clubs, and finally in 1717 four such organizations (or Lodges as they were called) joined together as the United Grand Lodge of England, marking the official start of modern Freemasonry.

Towns and cities during TheMiddleAges granted monopolies in certain trades to guilds. In order to work as a carpenter, you had to belong to the carpenters guild, and if you wished to start your own shop, you had to be a Master of your craft, guaranteeing both quality of work for customers and a nice payday for the guild members. Entry to the guild was gained (or more commonly bought) through an apprenticeship, serving a Guild member while learning through working.

Towns and cities during the Middle Ages granted monopolies in certain trades to guilds. In order to work as a carpenter, you had to belong to the carpenters guild, and if you wished to start your own shop, you had to be a Master of your craft, guaranteeing both quality of work for customers and a nice payday for the guild members. Entry to the guild was gained (or more commonly bought) through an apprenticeship, serving a Guild member while learning through working.

Eventually status and privileges of guilds diminished but as far as we can tell, in England and Scotland local Stonemasons guilds accepted local dignitaries who used the organizations as social clubs and finally in 1717 four such organizations or Lodges as they were called, joined together as United Grand Lodge of England marking the official start of modern Freemasonry.

Modern Masonic Lodges operate as clubs where the president is called Worshipful Master, Vice President is called Senior Deacon but secretary for some reason is just secretary. Freemasons have two secrets:

Revealing another Masons membership without their permission is a serious no-no (as well as a breach of privacy)
Revealing the rituals and ceremonies performed during the lodge meeting.

Rituals are a way to teach a system of ethics and morals through allegory and parable. Masonic rituals, signs and passwords are an OpenSecret, having been published in multiple exposes. Nevertheless members refuse to "reveal" them to non-members because hearing or reading about the ritual is not the same as experiencing it and also [[{{IGaveMyWord}} to show that they can be trusted not to blab their mouth]].

Towns and cities during the middle ages granted monopolies in certain trades to guilds. In order to work carpenter you had to belong to carpenters guild and if you wished to start your own shop you had to be Master of your craft guaranteeing both quality of work for customers and nice payday for the guild members. Entry to the guild was gained (or more commonly bought) through an apprenticeship, serving Guild member while learning through working.

Free and Accepted Masons, the [[BenevolentConspiracy fraternal organization dedicated to make good men better for some]], or [[NebulousCriminalConspiracy nefarious secret society hell bent on world domination]] and [[HollywoodSatanism Satan worship]] for others. The original BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats.

Towns and cities during the middle ages granted monopolies in certain trades to guilds. In order to work carpenter you had to belong to carpenters guild and if you wished to start your own shop you had to be Master of your craft guaranteeing both quality of work for customers and nice payday for the guild members. Entry to the guild was gained (or more commmonly bought) through an apprenticeship, serving Guild member while learning through working.

Freemasonry teaches a system of ethics through allegory and parable in rituals. Masonic rituals, signs and passwords are an OpenSecret, having been published in multiple exposes. Nevertheless members refuse to "reveal" them to non-members because hearing or reading about the ritual is not the same as experiencing it and also [[{{IGaveMyWord}} to show that they can be trusted not to blab their mouth]].

Free and Accepted Masons, the fraternal organization dedicated to make good men better for some, or nefarious secret society hell bent on world domination and Satan worship for others. The original BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats.

Eventually status and priviledges of guilds diminished but as far as we can tell, in England and Scotland local Stonemasons guilds accepted local dignitaries who used the organizations as social clubs and finally in 1717 four such organizations or Lodges as they were called, joined together as United Grand Lodge of England marking the official start of modern Freemasonry.

->''Freemasonry is basically the shell of a dead cone snail being inhabited by a hermit crab, [[{{Dissimile}} if the cone snail played European and colonial politics like a chessboard and the hermit crab liked drinking beer and complaining about his wife]]''.

Freemasonry teaches a system of ethics through allegory and parable in rituals.

Masonic rituals, signs and passwords are an OpenSecret, having been published in multiple exposes. Nevertheless members refuse to "reveal" them to non-members because hearing or reading about the ritual is not the same as experiencing it and also [[{{IGaveMyWord}} to show that they can be trusted not to blab their mouth]].

Masonic rituals, signs and passwords are an OpenSecret, having been published in multiple exposes. Nevertheless members refuse to "reveal" them to non-members because hearing or reading about the ritual is not the same as experiencing it and also [[{{IGaveMyWord}} to show that they can be trusted not to blab their mouth]]

Eventually status and priviledges of guilds diminished but as far as we can tell, in England and Scotland local Stonemasons guilds accepted local dignitaries who used the organizations as social clubs and finally in 1717 four such organizations or Lodges as they were called, joined together as United Grand Lodge of England marking the official start of modern Freemasonry.

Free and Accepted Masons, the fraternal organization dedicated to make good men better for some, or nefarious secret society hell bent on world domination and Satan worship for others. The original [Brotherhood of Funny Hats]