Freemasonry

Freemasonry, literally meaning "Free Mason" (Free-Mason), fully known as "Free and Accepted Masons," has no definitive origin story. According to its official document, the Constitutions of the Free-Masons (THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE FREE-MASONS), and the explanation in the first part of the History section of the Freemason's Symbol (The Free Mason's Symbol), which is said to have been written in 1701 and first published in 1723, Freemasonry originated in 4000 BC - this year is referred to as A.L. (Anno Lucis, "Year of Light"), and they claim to be descendants of Cain, possessing knowledge of the mysteries of heaven, earth, nature, and the universe.

Stripping away the fog of legend, the earliest formal records of Freemasonry appear in England in 1717. Before 1716, four small taverns in London served as gathering places for nobles and high-ranking clergy, hosting meetings similar to exclusive clubs, primarily focused on social activities, entertainment, and dining. These individuals were the true founders of modern Freemasonry. On June 24, 1717, "St. John's Day" (St. John is the patron saint of the classical Freemasons), members (Masons) from four lodges (Lodge) jointly established the first Grand Lodge. Members voted to elect Anthony Sayer as the first Grand Master (Grand Master). This day marks the beginning of the modern Freemasonry movement. This period also coincided with the fading influence of the legendary Rosicrucian movement. Modern Freemasonry shed the "practical masonry" nature of stonework guilds and became "speculative masonry," i.e., political groups dedicated to social reform.

Freemasonry is not a religion. In its early stages, it was a type of secret society that allowed able-bodied adult men of various religious beliefs to join, but volunteers had to be theists (they could be Jews, Christians, Hindus, etc.). The modern Freemason's interpretation of God comes from Plato's description of the Creator in The Republic. They believe God is a rational craftsman (personified reason), and the universe is a handmade creation of God - the "Great Architect of the Universe." The order of the universe (the shape of the work) comes from the reason endowed by God; this external universe is called the Macrocosm. Every human being is a shadow of the universe, a copy of God, the "Microcosm." However, due to the inherent defects of the material, this copy is always imperfect. However, if a person can use reason as the standard and morality as a tool to constantly correct their spiritual defects, then ultimately, through their own efforts, they can perfect themselves, which is equivalent to completing the construction of the "inner temple," becoming a perfect "Master Mason" and entering the realm of God. The process of Freemasons ("Masons") building the "Temple of Solomon" symbolizes the human pursuit of reason and self-perfection, which was an advanced ideological concept in the social context of that time. By adhering to the ideal of Deism, Freemasonry initiated the Enlightenment and rapidly spread to Western Europe, Central Europe, and North America in less than 50 years, establishing a massive system that could rival the Catholic Church. Voltaire, Montesquieu, Goethe, Haydn, Beethoven, Marquis de Sade, Mozart, Frederick the Great, Washington, Franklin, Mark Twain, Conan Doyle, Garibaldi, Newton, Einstein... countless names of Freemasons shine like stars in the night sky of Western modern history.

The Deism of Freemasonry clearly inherited the religious thoughts of the Gnostic sect (Gnosticism, a general term for various Hellenistic sects that fought against Christianity during its public period, flourishing in the 1st century AD and collapsing under Christian pressure in the 4th century, with remaining forces becoming secret religions). After being hidden for nearly 1,300 years, the Catholic Church once again faced a powerful challenge, which terrified the Vatican. In 1738, Pope Clement XII ordered the prohibition of Catholics joining Freemasonry; violators would be excommunicated by the Church (Freemasonry allows Catholics to join, but does not actively encourage it). In the second half of the 18th century, the Vatican was dedicated to suppressing Freemasonry, and relations between the two sides remain poor to this day. Besides Gnostic thought, Freemasonry also contains many elements of Kabbalah (Jewish esoteric philosophy) that rose around the 13th century and Latin alchemy.