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.
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 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. 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. While their role in world history and politics was and is controversial and debated, it does seem like Freemasonic lodges and temples spread liberal political ideals during this time. Many of the central figures in various American colonial revolutions in both the British and Spanish spheres of influence were Freemasons in good standing.
Modern Masonic Lodges operate as clubs, where the president is called Worshipful Master, the Vice President is called Senior Deacon, but the secretary for some reason is just called secretary. Freemasons have two secrets:
- Revealing another Mason's membership without their permission is a serious no-no (as well as a breach of privacy).
- The rituals and ceremonies performed during the lodge meeting are a way to teach a system of ethics and morals through allegory and parable. Masonic rituals, signs and passwords are an Open Secret, 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 to show that they can be trusted not to blab their mouth.
