It is estimated that over 6 million Masons live around the world today. Although they have been around for almost 300 years, their work is largely shrouded in mystery. And besides - it is known that some of the most powerful and most important people in history belonged to this society! Anyone can apply for admission to Freemasonry. The members of the organization believe in "truth, tolerance, respect and freedom". Once members were exclusively white, today people of all nationalities and races can join. Women, in theory, cannot yet become members, but in practice many modern lodges still accept them. Although the hierarchy is still secret, most experts believe that the organization has 33 degrees. When they enter the organization, the new members become apprentices, and then they can progress all the way to the Grand Master.
"Business Insider" published a list of some of the most important people in history who were Freemasons:
Benjamin Franklin - St. John's Lodge, Philadelphia!
Benjamin Franklin became a member of the Lodge of St. John in Philadelphia in 1730 and was active in it for more than 50 years. In 1734 he held the position of Grand Master of Pennsylvania. He printed the first Masonic publication, The Constitution of Freemasonry, in the American colonies. It is one of the rarest books in the world (there are only 20 copies that have been confirmed to be authentic). Membership in the Order did not affect his role as inventor and one of the "founding fathers" of the United States.
George Washington - Lodge Fredericksburg, Virginia!
After his initiation in 1752 in the Lodge of Fredericksburg in Virginia, the first president of the United States of America nurtured strong ties with Freemasons. It is known that, during the laying of the foundation stone of the American Capitol in 1793, he performed Masonic rituals at that place. He was a member of the lodge until his death and at the request of his widow he was buried in accordance with Masonic rites. Many Masons, as well as members of the Order of the Knights Templar, visited his tomb as a place of pilgrimage.
Voltaire - Lodge of the Nine Sisters, France!
Francois-Marie Arue is far better known as Voltaire. After joining the Lodge of the Nine Sisters in 1778, he wrote many important books, including "Candida" and "Philosophical Dictionary". The ideas presented in these books significantly influenced the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. The Lodge of the Nine Sisters was partly founded by Benjamin Franklin, who later persuaded Voltaire to approach it. The two have been close friends all their lives.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Lodge "Charity", Austria!
The Austrian composer and son of a Freemason, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created a series of Masonic musical pieces during his career. He joined the Masonic Lodge "Charity" in Austria in 1784. Many famous musicians were Freemasons. Franz Josef Haydn and Mozart were in the same lodge, while Johann Christian Bach joined the Freemasons in London.
Mark Twain - Lodge "Polar Star" No. 79, St. Louis!
Much better known as Mark Twain, Samuel Clemens became a member of the Polar Star Lodge no. 79 in St. Louis in 1861. Only a few months later, he reached the rank of Master. In the novel "The Conspiracy of Tom Sawyer", as well as in many of his other works, Twain promoted Freemasons by describing important personalities of the local community as members of society.
Winston Churchill - Lodge "United Stadholm" 1591, England!
Although there were many Freemasons in the history of his family, and he also had many friends who were Freemasons, Churchill's activity in society was more honorable. There are only two recorded cases of him attending Masonic meetings and leaving the lodge in 1912.
Harry Truman, Belton Lodge, Missouri!
After initiation in 1909, Truman advanced rapidly in the Masonic hierarchy and from 1940 to 1941 was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. In 1945, the same year he took over as president, the organization awarded him the rank of Freemason of the 33rd degree of the Scottish Order. Truman described what Freemasons meant to him in a letter to his wife in 1939. Freemasonry is a system of moral principles that make life easier with others, whether they understand it or not - he wrote.
Simon Bolivar - Lodge "Lautaro", Spain!
South American liberator and political leader Simon Bolivar led the great struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. He was admitted to the order in 1803 in the Masonic lodge "Lautaro", in Cadiz. In April 1824, he was awarded the highest rank in the hierarchy of Freemasons. , where he met other fighters for the independence of South American countries.
Alexander Fleming - Lodge of St. Mary, England!
After the initiation ceremony, the director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was an active mason. In 1920 he became a member of the Washington Federal Lodge No. 1, at the age of 25 he acquired the rank of master mason, and in 1955 he was a mason of the highest order. In 1965, he also received the Grand Cross of Honor, the highest recognition of the Scottish Order.
