Lincoln Poll in USA TODAY

[Jim Page]

(01-12-2013 07:22 AM)My Name Is Kate Wrote:  Is Freemasonry a religion, or similar to a religion?
Is it a secret society, and if it is, what is the necessity of it being secret?

Freemasonry is not a religion; there is a requirement that anyone desiring to become a Mason believe in a Supreme Being.

The society is not secret; some of its rituals and means of recognition and identification are secret. Freemasonry is an enormously complicated system and demands a tremendous amount of learning and memory work from those who earn the right to call themselves Freemasons.

It has been that way for hundreds of years. Remember, the Freemasons came from the stonemason craft guilds of Europe, where once a member became a master craftsman or mason, he earned more money and respect. In many cities in Europe, big cathedrals were being built and the men who built them had money and respect.

Once one earned a Master Mason's rank, after years of apprenticeship, he could go to any city and get more money. Since they didn't have cards or computers, these men were taught secret signs and handshakes that only another Master Mason would know.

Folks tried to pass themselves off as Master Masons (or whatever other guild or craft) and if they didn't know the secrets, they were exposed as phony. So the secrets were like a passport or a password for your computer; they weren't evidence of evil intent; they were to ensure accurate identification for those who earned certain rights and privileges.

Does that make sense?

--Jim