![[Square & Compasses]](Pix/Sq_Com/sm-sq_com4xp.gif)
|
|
Masonry in Popular Fiction — and in Reality
|
From the Masonic Information Center of the Masonic Service Association (September
2006)
Freemasonry makes an appealing topic for fiction writers
Freemasonry is a highly respected, centuries-old fraternity dating
from — at least — the time of the stoneworker's guilds of
medieval Europe, making it an attractive topic for legitimate research
and for wild speculation.
Recently, the Masonic fraternity has been woven into the plotline of
a number of fictional movies and books that put Freemasonry back into
the realm of popular culture. The privacy associated with the
fraternity has been exploited as secretive, and popular culture has been
given inventions of fantasy such as the following myths
about Masonic identity: Freemasonry as a Guardian of the Holy Grail;
keepers of an enormous fortune; a sinister force, who together with the
Jews, are involved in a plot to take over the world; a threat to
religious freedom; or a group of men who somehow must have something to
hide.
Although entertaining concepts, these false interpretations fail to
present the authentic purposes of the Masonic order, purposes that are
found in its system of values based upon the following
cornerstones:
- the dignity of man and the liberty of the individual;
- the right of all persons to worship as they choose;
- the formation of democratic governments and the importance of
public education.
Freemasonry encourages personal study and social betterment
Freemasonry as we know it today, is very much a product o the Age of
Enlightenment, which has, over the centuries, developed into a
fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement, and social
betterment. Worldwide, there are 35 million members of the fraternity
of Freemasonry, who continue to help men and women face the challenges
and opportunities of the 21st century by building bridges of
brotherhood, performing good works in our communities and upholding the
ideals for a better tomorrow.
Up to A Page About
Freemasonry main page.
A Page About Freemasonry is http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/
|