The World\'s Most Dangerous Secret Societies: The Illuminati, Freemasons, Bilderberg Group, Knights Templar, The Jesuits, Skull And Bones And Others pdfdrive com

Chapter Four: FREEMASONRY
Next to the Illuminati (of whom they are closely associated with) no other 
society has spawned more rumors and allegations than the Freemasons.
Ostensibly a fraternal organization devoted to charitable deeds, civic obligation, 
brotherhood and the betterment of the individual, Freemasonry has wielded a
considerable amount of power over political, economic and social spheres over
the past three hundred years. How then did this strange amalgamation of
disparate men, rooted in obscure ritual, pageantry and secrecy, come to be
known and reviled as the architects behind numerous revolutions, wars and
social changes?
The institution of Freemasonry describes itself as 
“a beautiful system of
morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”
Such a description is 
both highly suggestive and while open to interpretation, seems to pose no 
immediate threat to the general population other than a collection of bizarre 
symbolism masked by a frequently transparent veil of secrecy (both the rituals 
and doctrines of Freemasonry have been openly published, and accessible to 
even non-affiliated parties.) In fact, in comparison to the vogue in which 
Freemasonry swept throughout Europe and America from its early foundings up
until the first half of the 20th Century, Freemasonry—which today only numbers
approximately 1.2 million members in the U.S. (a far cry from their heyday of
the 1960s where membership reached close to 5 million) with numbers predicted
to drop considerably in the next twenty years—seems an almost archaic and
outdated throwback to a period of elaborately costumed galas and mens’ only 
meetings. Hardly worth serious time or consideration.
Yet, as the last chapter has shown, there has been considerable parallels and a 
mutually beneficial historical relationship between Freemasonry and the 
Illuminati. Virtually all of the founding fathers of the United States were indeed 
Freemasons, as has been ably documented elsewhere; In fact virtually 
all
presidencies have either been manned by Masons or included key cabinet
members who were affiliated 
until
the presidency of Abraham Lincoln (whose 
assassination is still subject for much speculation.) And the influence of the 
Illuminati bears a striking resemblance to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of 
Rights. Coincidence? Or is the institution of Freemasonry a training ground of 

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sorts for Illuminati candidacy?
As I mentioned in the introduction, unlike the clandestine nature of the
Illuminati, Freemasonry may be the classic 
overt
secret society. Membership is 
open to all males, 18 years of age, joining of their own free will and professing a 
belief not only in a Supreme Being (and that definition is 
very 
loosely defined)
but a belief in the betterment of the individual and society. All that is needed is 
the sponsorship and recommendation of at least two members of a Masonic 
lodge.
With a highly visible advertising and PR campaign in recent years (some of
which knowingly nods at their “mysterious” and conspiratorial reputation) in a
last-ditch effort to find new candidates from younger generations—most of
whom probably find the structure and rite of the institution hopelessly dull and
corny—Freemasonry is hardly the elusive and elite society whispered about in
conjunction with the magnates and leaders of bygone days. If anything, it may
be compared to a shell of its former influence and glory.
Yet sometimes shells
can hide some very strange ghosts, indeed.
Like barnacles attached to the hull of a boat, Freemasonry and the Illuminati
may be inextricably linked. How this influence came to be, is another story
altogether…