Who are the Freemasons and What do They Stand For?

May 24

Author: David Beecher

The Freemasons are an international, members-only organisation shrouded by mystery. Due to the exclusive nature of the organisation, many outsiders find themselves fascinated with the rights, rituals, and rich history of the Freemasons. We here at William Turner are specialist providers of masonic ties and scarves, providing clubwear for Freemasons all over the country.

The History of the Freemasons

As a society, the Freemasons are over 300 years old. It is believed that Freemasonry found its roots in medieval trade guilds with stonemasons, who would frequently travel for work, cultivating professional and social associations that would benefit them and their trade. This lent itself to secret handshakes, code words, and symbols to help build a sense of trust amongst members and many of these mysterious rituals can still be found in Freemasonry to this day.

By 1717, Freemasonry had evolved into a wider fraternal organisation that was open to all professions, not just stonemasons. English Freemasons currently operate under a governing body known as the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) which has more than 200,000 members, though it is estimated that there are more than six million Freemasons worldwide.

What do the Freemasons Stand For? 

They key principals of Freemasonry are brotherhood, truth, and charity, with the United Grand Lodge of England raising more than £33,000,000 a year for various causes. These days, people join the Freemasons as a way of “making new friends and acquaintances” or helping deserving causes by “making a contribution to family and for society” explains the United Grand Lodge of England website.

The UGLE defines Freemasonry as teaching “self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies” and it’s true that the society’s mysterious ceremonies have captured the public’s attention for some time now.

Whilst there is very little information on these rituals the Grand Lodge of Scotland explains that a series of ritual dramas are used to teach members about the principles of Freemasonry. These rituals may feature symbols depicting masonry tools such as the square, compass and apron, as well as the famous all-seeing eye symbol.

Famous Freemasons

It might surprise you to find out that many famous people throughout history were Freemasons. This includes historical figures such as King Edward VIII, Arthur Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde and – most notably – Winston Churchill. American history has also had its fair share of famous Freemasons. In fact, 14 of the 45 US presidents have been Freemasons!

The Freemasons celebrated their 300th anniversary in 2017 and have since made the conscious decision to make the movement more open and proactive about its work, with Freemasons having taken to Facebook and Twitter to promote the work that they do.

We here at William Turner believe that no organisation is complete without its very own clubwear, allowing members to proudly display their affiliation. If you’re looking for club ties, scarves, or expertly finishes accessories such as badges and pins for your organisation then get in touch today for a free quote.