Who Are the Masons

MASONIC INFORMATION CENTER

A COMMUNICATION OF THE MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF N.A.

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 JUN. 1999

WHO ARE THE MASONS?

The Masonic Information Center now has available a new full-color,

eight-panel brochure titled "Who Are the Masons?" Meant as a "generic"

brochure for use by Blue Lodges and all other Masonic Bodies, the new

publication provides an attractive, introduction to Freemasonry. It

is a perfect handout to give to prospective-members,- and it- offers a

clear description Masonry for the general public. Space is provided on

the end panel so that a Lodge, Grand Lodge, or other Masonic Body can

insert its own name as a point of contact.

Reaction to this new brochure has been extremely positive. More than

120,000 have been shipped to Masons, literally, all over the world. If

you would like a sample copy, MIC will send you one.

Prices for the new brochure (sold in lots of 50) are:

50 @ 271~ ea. = $13.50 500 @ 234~ ea. = $115.00

100 @ 25 0 ea.= $25.00 1000 @ 20(~ ea. = $200.00

(Plus shipping)

Orders may be sent to: Masonic Information Center, 8120 Fenton Street,

Silver Spring, MD 20910-4785

MAXIM MAGAZINE

MIC has received several angry complaints about an article that

appeared in the April 1999 issue of Maxim Magazine. The article was in

the column Circus Maximus and was titled, " Fake Masonry." MIC would

like our readers to be aware of the letter sent to Maxim which

follows:

The Masonic Information Center has been made aware of the apparently

"tongue in cheek" article titled "Fake Masonry" that appeared in your

April 1999 issue. The image of Freemasonry, portrayed in this article

is not only inaccurate and misleading but also, quite frankly,

untrue.

We are sending some information about the Fraternity with the request

that, should you do future articles about Freemasonry, you do so with

more accuracy than what was shown in "Circus Maximus. "

Unfortunately, in today's world, there are people who believe this

kind of nonsense, and since Freemasonry has oftentimes (quite

unfairly) been linked with the New World Order and with alleged plots

to rule the world, what was in your article is simply "grist for the

mill" of the conspiracy theorists.

Every organization is subject to scrutiny and judgment about its

purposes. However, the least that can be expected is a more accurate

portrayal than what was shown in "Circus Maximus."

We realize magazines are most reluctant to retract stories they have

printed, but quite frankly, your readers deserve no less, since the

statements made in this article are, as we noted earlier, misleading,

inaccurate, and untrue.

FACTSHEETS

In the March 1999 issue of FOCUS, the MIC called attention to

several Fact Sheets that have been prepared concerning various aspects

of Freemasonry. In this issue we are highlighting the Fact Sheet

Freemasonry and Secrecy.

The Fact Sheets cover such topics as The Organization of Freemasonry

Freemasonry and Brotherhood The History of Freemasonry Freemasonry

and Secrecy and Freemasonry and Religion. Copies may be obtained by

writing to the Masonic Information Center, 8120 Fenton Street, Silver

Spring, MD 20910 or faxing your request to 301-608-3457.

FREEMASONRY AND SECRECY

People sometimes refer to Freemasonry as being a "Secret Society." In

one sense the statement is true. Any social group or private business

is "secret" in the sense that its business meetings may be open only

to its members. In Freemasonry, the process of joining is also a

private matter, and its members are pledged not to discuss with

non-members certain parts of the ceremonies associated with the

organization.

Freemasonry does have certain handshakes and passwords, customs

incorporated into later fraternities, which are kept private. They are

means of recognizing each othernecessary in an organization which

spans the entire world and which encompasses many languages.

The tradition of using handshakes and passwords was very common in the

Middle Ages, when the ability to identify oneself as belonging to a

building or trade guild often made the difference in getting a job or

in obtaining help for yourself and family. Today, Freemasons make the

same pledge to every member that he will be offered assistance if he,

or his family, ever requests it.

Freemasonry can't be called a "secret society" in a literal sense. A

truly secret society forbids its members to disclose that they belong

to the organization or that it even exists. Much of the Masonic ritual

is in books called "Monitors" that are widely available, even in

public libraries. Most Freemasons wear rings and lapel pins which

clearly identify them as members of the fraternity. Masonic lodges are

listed in public phone books, Masonic buildings are clearly marked,

and in many areas of the country Masonic lodges place signs on the

roads leading into town, along with civic organizations, showing the

time and place of meetings.

In terms of what it does, what it teaches, who belongs, where it

meets, there are no secrets in Freemasonry! It is a private fraternal

association of men who contribute much toward the public good while

enjoying the benefits of the brotherhood of a fraternity.
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