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No one knows with certainty how or when the Masonic Fraternity
was formed. A widely accepted theory among Masonic scholars is
that it arose from the stonemasons’ guilds during the Middle
Ages. The language and symbols used in the fraternity’s rituals
come from this era. The oldest document that makes reference to
Masons is the Regius Poem, printed about 1390, which was a copy
of an earlier work. In 1717, four lodges in London formed the
first Grand Lodge of England, and records from that point on are
more complete.
Within thirty years, the fraternity had spread throughout
Europe and the American Colonies. Freemasonry became very
popular in colonial America. George Washington was a Mason,
Benjamin Franklin served as the head of the fraternity in
Pennsylvania, as did Paul Revere and Joseph Warren in
Massachusetts. Other well-known Masons involved with the
founding of America included John Hancock, John Sullivan,
Lafayette, Baron Fredrick von Stuben, Nathanael Greene, and John
Paul Jones. Another Mason, Chief Justice John Marshall, shaped
the Supreme Court into its present form.
Over the centuries, Freemasonry has developed into a
worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study,
self-improvement, and social betterment via individual
involvement and philanthropy. During the late 1700s it was one
of the organizations most responsible for spreading the ideals
of the Enlightenment: 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. Masons supported the first public schools in
both Europe and America.
During the 1800s and early 1900s, Freemasonry grew
dramatically. At that time, the government had provided no
social "safety net". The Masonic tradition of founding
orphanages, homes for widows, and homes for the aged provided
the only security many people knew.
Today in North America, the Masonic Fraternity continues this
tradition by giving almost $1.5 million each day to causes that
range from operating children’s hospitals, providing treatment
for childhood language disorders, treating eye diseases, funding
medical research, contributing to local community service, and
providing care to Masons and their families at Masonic Homes.
The four million Masons worldwide continue to help men and
women face the problems of the 21st century by building bridges
of brotherhood and instilling in the hearts of men ideals for a
better tomorrow.
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