Freemasonry and the Birth of Our Nation
The exact origins of Freemasonry remain lost to the pages of history but some scholars believe that it was introduced into England as early as 674AD. What we do know is that it emerged from the guilds of stonemasons and cathedral builders of Europe in the Middle Ages.
These master craftsmen, due to their special knowledge and skills, were afforded the right to travel freely throughout Europe and the secret orders and lodges they created were a way of protecting their craft.
These fraternal orders, although not a Christian organization, do have many elements that most would recognize as a religion. First and foremost they believe in the existence of a Supreme Being (the Great Architect in the sky) and in the immortality of the soul.
They have adopted the rites and trappings of ancient religious orders and of chivalric brotherhoods and today it is estimated their membership is anywhere from 2 to 6 million members.
