Secrets Codes That Only The Freemasons Use

1. Entering the Freemasonry World

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For centuries people have attempted to uncover the secrets of the Freemasonry world - an extremely secretive society that not many people really know much about. That is unless you're on the inside of the world's most powerful secret society in the world.

2. Where did it all begin?

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It all begins in Washington - a city that was built for Freemasons, but Freemasons with alleged secret codes embedded in every iconic structure. If you really know where to look for it in Washington, then Masonic traditions are right there to see. It's so interesting and definetly worth a looks!

3. The famous saying 'hidden in plain sight'

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From the Washington monument to the Capitol building, to the secret foundation stones of the city itself, Washington DC is said to contain Freemasonry codes that are only given to the initiated. Codes and secrets are hidden in paintings, statues and monuments all over the city.

4. Who are the Freemasons?

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The Freemasons are an organisation with mysterious goals and an enigmatic past. It's no social club or civil club and it certainly isn't a charity. The levels of secrecy associated with them has caused people to become curious and develop almost an obsession with finding out what they're really about.

5. Step 1 - Blind folded initiations

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When a person is given the chance to join the Freemasons, they're blindfolded and taken into a room along with other Freemasons and the head of that organisation strips them of their clothes and makes them swear never to reveal the secrets of the organisation.

6. Step 2 - Blood oaths

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Once you've started your initiation into the Freemasons, you will have to go through a few steps and a blood oath is one of them. Once you've been through the blindfolded initiation, the head Mason will draw your blood so you will forever be connected to the Freemason world.

7. Step 3 - Re-enacting a sacrifice

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Once the new comer has taken part in their first initiation, they must then take part if a re-enactment of a ritual sacrifice with them playing the victim. The ritual is an esoteric process which conveys powerful concepts and shows the individual the correct tools on how they can better themselves.

8. Slashed throat, disembowelment or being burned alive

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Once the individual has entered the secret society and taken part in their oaths, they promise never to reveal any secrets about this society or else they will be sentenced to death by a slashed throat, disembowelment or being burned alive. SOunds completely terrifying... don't you think?

9. The Entered Apprentice

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When you're an entered apprentice in the Freemasons, your about the experience the first ceremonies of the fraternity and this serves as an introduction to Masonry. It's a solemn and meaningful event, particularly for the 'entered apprentice' - it's their most important time.

10. The Fellowcraft

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A Fellowcraft degree represents the transition from youth to adulthood. Lessons, skills and moral character are further refined to prepare for the tasks and challenges ahead. Each degree is taught through unique working tools that one the Masons know about.

11. The Master Mason

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The Master Mason is the man who has to abide by laws, constitutions and edicts of his Grand Lodge. He must always conduct himself with honor and integrity and uphold the core Masonic tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. He is the 'head of the household'.

12. The Number 33

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The Freemasons have different degrees and masonic organisations to join, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite and the Shriners. Each of which have their own codes, rules and oaths. The Scottish Rite has 33 degrees and this number repeatedly appears as a code for the highest of secrets.

13. The handshake

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The handshake is one of the first things taught when joining the Freemasons and it is said to only be used between the Freemasons themselves. If a Freemason is caught anywhere else doing the secret handshake then they will suffer severe consequences. It's a way for them to keep secrets from the outside world.

14. There are NO secret symbols on the US dollar bill

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Although many people believe that the Freemasons secret symbol is an incomplete pyramid eye - that is not the case. "I'm sure there are a lot of Freemasons who want to believe [they're Masonic symbols] and who will tell it to you, because it makes the Lodges seem important," Brent Morris said. "I mean, if you have a symbol on the dollar bill, that's a big deal!"

15. The secret Masonic password originated as a job tool

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The secret handshake is actually the way in which Freemasons enter their 'lodges'. Back in the day, Masons had their own 'words', so the way the Masons in Edinburgh would communicate with the Masons in Lancashire would be through a secret handshake. Pretty cool huh!

16. There is no hidden Masonic code on the Rolling Rock beer bottles

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The number 33 has always been associated with the Freemasons, so when the Rolling rock brand of beer was introduced in 1939, the Freemasons were linked to the brand for years because of the cryptic '33' that was found on the bottom of these bottles. Do you think there's a link?

17. Masonic lodges

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Freemasonary is organized into lodges as we've previously stated. Each 'lodge' has their own unique number and name and serves as a meeting place for the Freemasons. The lodges are where they perform their rituals, ceremonies and discussions and it's done in complete secrecy.

18. Symbolism

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Freemasonry is rich in symbolism using symbols like squares, compasses, plumbs and the all seeing eye - you know the one that appears on other things like the Illuminati sign - the pillars of Solomon's Temple (Boaz and Jachin) and the apron. This symbol represents unity and inspiration for people all over the world.

19. Secrecy and rituals

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The organisation is shrouded in mystery and has historically been associated with a level a secrecy that's cause many of us to question. Rituals and ceremonies are all an integral part of Freemasonry and are meant to instill moral values and promote self-improvement.

20. Philanthropy and charity

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Freemasons spend a lot of their time doing philanthropic and charitable work - the organizations often engage in community service, provide scholarships, support medical research and contribute to many humanitarian causes in their local areas. They focus a lot of their energy on bettering their community and those around them.

21. Membership and requirements

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When it comes to joining this organization, men must meet certain requirements and criteria including their beliefs, good moral character and willingness to abide by the rules. Freemasons must swear not to tell any of the secrets about the Freemasons either.

22. Jewellery

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Masons wear a ring on their pinky finger which is classed as the most acceptable way to wear rings. The symbol of the compass should be worn facing towards you if you're a newer member because it shows that you're taking a pledge to the tradition. The compass on the ring represents integrity and wisdom.

23. They're the oldest Fraternal organization in the world

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The Freemasons belong to the oldest fraternal organization in the world and date back to the Middle Ages in Europe. Today “Freemasons are a social and philanthropic organization meant to make its members lead more virtuous and socially oriented lives,” says Margaret Jacob, professor of history at University of California.

24. The symbols

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The all seeing eye or the eye of providence was not designed by the Freemasons but it has been used by the group to represent the omniscience of God. The square and compass symbol depicts a builder's square joined by a compass and the 'G' represents God.

25. There's more than one handshake

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“There is a handshake for each degree: Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master, i.e., the first three degrees and also in the higher degrees,” says Révauger. “Each rite has its own handshakes, so there is quite a variety. They are used during Masonic ceremonies.”

26. The Catholic church forbids members from being Freemasons

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The church declared in 1983, “Their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion."

27. They inspired America's first political third party

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The first third party in the United States, the Anit-Masonic Party was formed in 1928 in response to the fears that the group was becoming too powerful and secretive. Some of their leaders claimed that some of the most infamous murders around that time had been committed by Masons.

28. Only Men allowed

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Women and Athiests were excluded from joining the organisation. Now, “masons come from all walks of life, provided they can afford to pay the annual subscription,” However, woman and athiests are still excluded from some of the lodges. It can vary from city to city.

29. There are famous Freemasons everywhere

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Famous Freemasons from the past include: George Washington, who was Master Mason and Benjamin Franklin who was a founding member of the first Masonic Lodge in America. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gerald Ford were also Masons and so was Winston Churchill.

30. More famous Freemasons

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Wolfgang Amadeuz Mozart, Davy Crockett, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Henry Ford, Paul Robeson and astronaut Buzz Aldrin were also all Freemasons. There are paintings from the past depicting famous ex-presidents meeting at certain Masonic Lodges around Washington.

31. Their symbols aren't everywhere

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While there are of course Masonic symbols that are still used and still recognized, the myth that these symbols are 'everywhere' to be seen, hidden in plain sight, is pretty much false. A lot of the symbols associated with them are real, but they're also full of meaning and not exclusive to the Freemasons, including the all-seeing eye and the pentagram. Some people consider that Freemasons to have just adopted symbols already in existence that they liked (such as the Pentagram, which has a history of links to the occult before the Freemasons used it).

32. The truth about the dollar bill

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The all-seeing eye is a big symbol associated with Freemasonry, but it wasn't as a result of a Freemason's work. The eye was originally designed by a man who wasn't part of the Freemasons. It was supposed to symbolize 'divine guidance' over the US ship of state, and the 'providence' they believed favored the American purpose. And, in fact, the man who was actually a Freemason at the time - Benjamin Franklin - was asked for a design for the seal, and came forward with a design which didn't have an eye. His design wasn't the one they went for!

33. The Masons didn't descend from the Knights Templar

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There is also another idea that the Freemasons are linked in history to the group known as the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar were known for being a religious military organization, which was supposed to protect pilgrims as they traveled to the Holy Land. The Knights Templar was eventually ended by Pope Clement V back in the early 1300s. When Freemasonry began to appear, it was claimed they knew the 'secrets' of the Templars, as well as taking on their symbols. But it's been claimed they actually have no historic link at all to the Templars.

34. Are they hiding Templar treasure?

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With the claims that the Freemasons descended somehow from the Knights Templar was also a claim that they had access to - and were hiding - Templar treasures. Another theory claimed that some from the original Templar ordered survived and hid in refuge in Scotland, where they hid treasure underneath Rosslyn Chapel (if you're a fan of the movie The Da Vinci Code, you'll remember this plotline!). It was claimed the treasure passed down the line eventually to the Freemasons - but this is another myth. It's said that there was Templar treasure but it never went to the Freemasons.

35. There are no Masonic symbols in Washington, D.C.

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The street plan of Washington, D.C. is also thought to have been linked to the Freemasons order, as some people believe that powerful members of the Freemasons purposefully put Masonic symbols into the street design, when it was first designed back in 1791. It was believed that 'Masonic mapping' was a thing where you could connect the dots between certain locations and landmarks as a way of communication between the order. But there's no 'big message' hidden in the streets  - you can find certain Masonic symbols, but you can find those in a lot of US cities in general.

36. Do Freemasons rule the world from behind the scenes?

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Due to how many powerful figures have been notable Freemasons, and how much power they seem to have, many people believe an order like the Freemasons are pulling the strings behind the scenes, or have more influence than you might think in the world's goings on. While there have been a huge list of important members, including rulers and men in charge, the idea of the Freemasons has been run more on an idea of solitary rather than a hierarchy where there is someone in charge. While members share ideals, there isn't an obvious power system where someone would be able to take charge.

37. They're more independent than you think

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Another reason that it's very unlikely there's 'someone in charge' or a way for them to influence power in the world is because actually, members of the Freemasons can be extremely independent and private - and some members don't even like to acknowledge other members. In terms of their Masonic lodges in particular, there's no 'one voice' that's in charge, and some people of one lodge don't really want to associate with the members from another lodge. It's more a focus on their local lodges and goings on than wanting to interact on a grand scale with every Freemason across the board!

38. They're not a religion

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Members of the Freemasons have tried to make it clear over the years that they aren't a religion, or don't try to be. They don't have a particular idea to follow behind and don't offer 'divine rewards' or anything in terms of repenting and looking for salvation. That being said, they do have a requirement that members of the Freemasons must believe in some sort of god - but it's accepting of any god, including Muslims and Jews, as well as Christians. Religion is also more of a 'banned topic' at their lodge meetings.

39. Others believe they're an anti-religious cult

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Because of the fact that the Freemasons have made it clear they're not a religion - and even go so far as considering any religious topic or discussion as 'taboo' - others have labelled them an anti-religious cult. The idea of them being a cult is also based on their 'rituals' and the temples and altars they use for their traditions, as well as the oaths they swear. The idea that they've never wanted to accept one true religion, either - by never saying which religion is 'better' than others - has seen them met with criticism.

40. Did they have a hand in the American Revolution?

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Another key moment in history was the American Revolution. Some key players in this were George Washington and Ben Franklin, who both happened to be Freemasons. Not only that, a huge number of people who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were also Freemasons. This led people to believe that Freemasons had a huge hand on one side of the Revolution, but it actually wasn't the case. There were a tone of Freemason members on both sides of the Revolution, as well as the fact that the Freemason's beliefs were to share a 'brotherhood' and not follow one particular political view.

41. Membership doesn't depend on anything 'shady'

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It's actually less dark and exciting than you might think to be accepted into the Freemason order, apparently, as a lot of members are recruited if they simple enquire or approach members of their own free will rather than some dark and mysterious initiation ritual. Members of fraternities probably have worse initiation strategies than the Freemasons! It was usually the case that one in ten people would be a member of the organization when it was at its peak, but now the numbers have dropped dramatically.

42. Other secret societies from around the world: The Hemetic Order of the Golden Dawn

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This order was a highly influential one, founded back in 1887 actually by a few members of the Freemasons! The teachings of this particular order were based on documents called the Cipher Manuscripts, which were said to be based on a bunch of magic rituals. Members had to rise through the ranks, with the overall goal of connecting with their own divine power, or a 'Holy Guardian Angel'. The surprising thing about this one is that it always happily accepted female members, and there were some well-known women who were members, including writers and actresses. It's believed this order eventually led to what we know as modern Wicca.

43. The Righteous and Harmonious Fists

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Originating in China, this organization was one that didn't set much store by remaining 'secret', as its members were open about their beliefs, and even changed history when they prompted the 'Boxer Rebellion' back in 1899. Mostly made up of peasants and farmers, this group resented the foreign presence, believing it was due to this that they had become poor. They then targeting the people in power, and religious people, and started a revolution. Their actions eventually lead to the overthrowing of the Qing dynasty.

44. The Thule Society

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Founded in 1918 by a discharged German soldier and an aristocrat, the Thule Society was the result of these two men's interest in the occult. While the focus began as occult, the society was more focused on anti-Semitism and right-wing nationalistic behavior. The Society didn't last very long, as the German soldier was eventually executed, and the aristocrat was believed to have actually turned him in, so was never trusted again. It eventually went out of existence around 1925 because of lack of support for the remaining founder.

45. The Seven Society

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Known fully as the University of Virginia's Seven Society, this one is shrouded in mystery in terms of when - or how - it was actually originally formed. It's believed to date back to around 1905 at least, with its main symbol being the number 7 seen with the symbols for alpha, omega and infinity around it. It first appeared in one of the university's yearbooks. A person's membership in this order is only revealed after the person has died, and it's also believed women were allowed into it at some point, with the first female member dating back to 1958. The society is known for making expensive donations and gifts.

46. The Leopard Society

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It's believed this cult was responsible for a series of gruesome murders in Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Suspected members of this society believed to have been responsible for a series of killings in eastern Congo were then executed. There isn't a lot known about the society behind their murders, but their name comes from the fact they wear leopard skins and use metal claws as weapons. Some believed they murdered their victims to eat them, believing it would give them supernatural strength, but it was later suggested that they actually killed to maintain local power and with government incentives.

47. The Molly Maguires

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This group hails from Ireland, which has a long history of secret organizations. It's believed the group began in the 1840s, due to people reacting to landlords treating their tenants in an unfair way. Years later, the group had extended to other countries, and there was one known American group in Pennsylvania, made up of Irish Catholic miners. The miners ended up killing 24 of their employers as a rebellion against unfair working conditions and negative employment practices. Their downfall came when an undercover detective became part of their group, resulting in a huge number of them being prosecuted.

48. The Black Hand

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The Black Hand, also known as Unification or Death, was founded in 1911 by Serbian military officers. Its purpose was to try to unify South Slavs into a Greater Serb - and they would definitely use violent means to do so, with a logo that said as much: a skull, a knife, a bomb and a vial of poison. Members were required to swear complete fealty to the organization and its purpose. The group had been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks, but its biggest action had actually been having a hand in starting the First World War. The Black Hand were actually behind the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand - whether they meant to kill him or not.

49. The African American Histories

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Also known as the Order of the Men of Oppression, was founded by a man named William Lambert. As a Black man, he'd already been working for a number of causes to help Black people, and also helped around 1500 escape via the underground railroad from their slavers. Members of this organization would use a series of passwords and hand movements, and it's even believed there were two white members - the only two to be white. It's also believed there was an 'elaborate ritual' to initiate new members into the order.

50. The Rosicrucians

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Also known as the Order of the Rosy Cross, this has to be one of the most secretive of organizations in history. It was founded by a German physician back in the 15th century, who was said to have found ancient knowledge during a pilgrimage he'd taken to Jerusalem. He decided to form the order when he came back to Europe. The manifestos used for this organization were strange, including depictions of hallucinations and a 'magical castle', while many historians agree that the organization might not have actually existed at all.