Who are the Freemasons?

1. Who are the Freemasons? The Freemasons and other secret societies in American History

2. The KNIGHTS Templar…not a secret society • The Knights Templar History started with the Crusades (1099), a war between Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem • The Knights Templar were formed to give pilgrims safe passage to Jerusalem (protection) • The Knights had no place to live in Jersalem. So King Baldwin II of Jerusalem let them live in the sacred enclosure of the Temple on Mt. Moriah which was believed to be the location of the Temple of Solomon. Legend says they discovered the treasure of Solomon in the temple • The Knights became very wealthy after the crusades (they were often given land and were in control of much commerce) • The Knights were loyal to the Pope alone, protected Kings and helped them gain power. • King Phillip of France owed the Knights money and asked for another loan, the Knights refused. King Philip orders the arrest of all Knight Templars in France for heresy and homosexual acts • On Friday 13, 1307 more than 60 leaders of the Knights Templars were arrested, tortured and many executed. The Templars became extinct in 1312 • French Masonic history states that some Knights escaped to Scotland and started the Freemasons

3. Origins • No one knows with certainty how, why or when the Masonic Fraternity was formed…this is one reason there are so many “theories” • “Theories” without much or any evidence: A. Freemasons are the descendants the ancient Greeks, Romans or Egyptians B. It came from bands of traveling stonemasons acting on authority from the pope C. Evolved from the Knights Templar who escaped to Scotland after being persecuted • The best evidence we have points to the masons beginning during the medieval age (500’s-1400’s) as an organization of stone builders who built castles and cathedrals. • The earliest existing text of he Mason’s was written in 1390…but it points to the Mason’s being started at an earlier time. • In 1717, four lodges in London formed the first Grand Lodge of England. Records from this point are more complete.

4. Freemasons In American History • Freemasonry was very popular in colonial America • During the 1700’s the Mason’s emphasized free thought, freedom of religion and was responsible for spreading the ideas of the enlightenment. • George Washington was a Mason, Benjamin Franklin served as the head of the fraternity in Pennsylvania, as did Paul Revere and Joseph Warren in Massachusetts. Other well-known Masons involved with the founding of America included John Hancock, John Sullivan, Marquis de Lafayette, Baron Fredrick von Stuben, Nathanael Greene, and John Paul Jones. Another Mason, Chief Justice John Marshall, shaped the Supreme Court into its present form. • Freemasonry has developed into a worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement, and social betterment via individual involvement and philanthropy such as founding orphanages, children’s hospitals homes for widows and homes for the elderly. • There are approximately 4 Million Freemason’s world wide • Other famous Freemasons include: Aaron Burr, Lewis and Clark, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Ford, John Wayne and many more!

5. Illuminati • Founded by a German professor, Adam Weishaupt on May 1, 1776 • Their stated purpose was to “attain the highest possible degree of morality and virtue and to lay the foundation for the reformation of the world by the association of good men to oppose the progress of evil.” • Their real purpose was to overthrow all religious and political organizations and make the world one family and one government …calling themselves heirs to the Knights Templar • Members were reputed to b in favor of freethinking and radical politics • At first the order was popular and spread quickly across Europe boasting 2,000 members • As its reputation spread that it was was involved in occult practices and was planning a massive overthrow of the European Monarchies (they take credit for the French Revolution), the Bavarian (Germany) government abolished it (1788) and it supposedly went underground • Benjamin Franklin, a master mason, was suspected of being an illuminati member

6. Illuminati Cont. • Today the term Illuminati is used loosely to describe the small group of powerful individuals who are working towards the creation of a world government, with the issue of a single world currency and a single world religion • Due to the fact that it is a very secret society these facts are difficult to confirm

7. Skull and Bones AKA: THE Order or Chapter 322 • Founded in 1833 (During Jackson’s Administration) at Yale University by General William Huntington Russell and Alphonso Taft • It is a senior year society. Each year 15 new members are selected • They secretly meet in a place called, “The Tomb” on campus. • Began accepting women in 1991 • “Crooking” The Skull and Bones have a reputation for stealing keepsakes from other Yale Societies. They have been accused of possessing the stolen skulls of Martin Van Buren, Geronimo and Pancho Villa…they are actually being sued by Geronimo's family to return his bones • “Theories”: A. Some suggest that it is an American Branch of the Illuminati B. That S &B controls the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Famous Members: William Taft, Prescott Bush, Henry Luce, George HW Bush, George W Bush, John Kerry