| reemasons will often boast of past historic | | | | the body so the King established a new Masonic |
| members such as George Washington and Paul | | | | secret. It is believed that this secret was |
| Revere just to name a few, that they were | | | | “Mahabone” meaning the Grand |
| proud Freemasons. This boasting is as if because | | | | Lodge door opened. Now this is the password |
| prominent men of society were members then | | | | that those members of the third degree Masonry |
| the entire organization should be above question. | | | | must use to gain entrance to the Lodge. |
| Some Freemasons will tell you in simplified terms | | | | There have been factors to show that the |
| that they are a group of closely-knit men that | | | | Freemason have some type of connection with |
| get together for fellowship both spiritually and | | | | another group called the Knights Templar. Their |
| intellectually. Now the real anti Freemasons view | | | | history purports they armed themselves in 1118 |
| them in a much more devious light determined | | | | Ad to protect Christians than were leaving Jaffa |
| that they are out to take over the world. | | | | enroute to Jerusalem. As legend as it this Knights |
| It would seem that their beginnings are somewhat | | | | Templar discovered the most precious treasure |
| of a mystery in itself. Even the members | | | | ever know to humanity amongst the ruins of King |
| themselves are often unclear as to the beginning, | | | | Solomon’s temple. The Knights were now |
| some will tell you different stories. Here are some | | | | one very rich entity. King Philip IV of France in |
| of the explanations as to their roots that you | | | | 1307 have all the Knights Templar arrested so he |
| may hear… | | | | could take their treasure. Or so rumor has it. |
| - they descended from the Druids of ancient | | | | No one knows for sure what happened to the |
| times. | | | | Knights after this but some said they went into |
| - they are affiliated with the Isis-Osiris cult that | | | | hiding and continued their meetings in secret. |
| prevailed in ancient Egypt | | | | Eventually they came out of hiding with a new |
| - they were the Essenes, which was a group of | | | | name reportedly to be the Freemasons. There is |
| Jewish Monks who bonded together around the | | | | some speculation that this group had a hand in |
| 2nd century. | | | | instigating the French Revolution as a means of |
| - then there are those that believe they go back | | | | revenge for what the French King did to them. |
| as far as King Solomon’s temple built in | | | | This is a most intriguing story but there are other |
| Jerusalem 967BC. This is based on the | | | | Masons who will paint a much more subtle picture |
| Bible’s account of the temple being built | | | | concerning the rough masons of the |
| by the stonemasons whose bond has carried on | | | | 1700’s. |
| through the years to the now Freemasons. | | | | As the story goes, there were two types of |
| This latter belief has a legend. It is said that an | | | | mason the rough masons who did average work |
| individual by the name of Hiram Abiff who had | | | | on ordinary stone, then the free masons who did |
| worked on King Solomon’s temple knew | | | | intricate works of art on the softer stone. The |
| of the secret of the temple but refused to tell | | | | Freemasons wanted to keep themselves |
| others. When he refused to disclose this secret, | | | | segregated as an elite group from the rough |
| three other co-workers murdered him. It is said | | | | masons so they devised a code amongst |
| that King Solomon ordered his men to find | | | | themselves using code words, handshakes and |
| Hiram’s body so the secret of the temple | | | | other secret forms of addressing one another. |
| would be brought back. They were unable to find | | | | |