Free Masons started as a group of men who shared their particular masonry skills only with other masons. Eventually, the fancy-pants men wanted in on their "club", so the masons let them in. The fancy pants took it over, and turned it into something like a moose lodge, or a fraternity. It's been that way ever since, and it's just a coincidence that a lot of important people happened to be part of it. Sort of like it's a coincidence that they eat expensive things. It's just part of being rich and powerful.

Basically, yes, they started out as a group of masons that only shared their trade secrets with each other, and eventually, they turned it into a fraternity for all religions, with a twist. They invite all religions and then they press their own on their new members slowly. They worship this "Great Architect" and pray to him and its really weird. I've been on the inside, I know. They have everything in the lodgeroom set to the sun or something like that, I didn't quite understand, but it all faced North. They seem harmless, but in a sad reality, they're just another religion, and they somewhat unknowingly worship baal. ouch. so yeah, that's why.

Freemasonry is a fraternity that originated in lodges of real stonemasons who invited noblemen to join them to lend prestige to their organizations. The nonpracticing masons began to gather apart from the others in their own groups using the masonic imagery and history to teach moral and philosophical lessons. It is still practiced. As far as its cult status, I believe that is due to Freemasonry's use of quasi-religious symbols and such. However, it's not a religion nor a cult. While belief in a Supreme Being is a requirement for membership, meetings are never called for the purpose of worship.

I have done a lot of reading up on this subject .. and i traced them back to the nights templer .. a few templers broke away and started .. a new group called the free masons (stone cutters) .. the nights templer use to help protect traveling merchants against robbers .. gave them a place to stay .. and some food .. after a while the templers was seen as robbers to .. and they where hunted down with the bad guys .. so the only time they could come together for meetings was in the early morning hours .. and thats why masons and the templers still have there meeting in the early morning hours today .. but from all i can make out , is that the templers and the masons are very good people with a very strong history and traditions ..

For alot of it's members it's simply a way to network. The join, go through rites of passage, learn secrets, etc, and rise in the ranks and pay dues. They use symbols like any orgaization or group to identify one another. I don't think they are a cult, they certainly don't mean any one harm, but for me joining organizations that make you jump through hoops and keep secrets, is a little silly. But hey, I'm alittle anti-social so what do i know.

The roots of Freemasonry extend at least as far back as the Middle Ages. The guildsmen and craftsmen of that time were called Masons. For protection and credibility, these persons formed primitive trade unions (lodges). New members, including politicians, clergymen, and scientists, gradually began to formulate various rituals and doctrines to accompany some of the symbols already in use by the working masons (usually tools of the trade). It was at this point that occultism also began to be brought into the lodges. The popularity of Freemasonry has made it a model for hundreds of other fraternal societies. As far back as 1927, for instance, nearly all of the 800 fraternal orders of that time had adopted Masonic-like symbols, signs, passwords, rituals, oaths, obligations and degrees. The temple ordinances of the Mormon temple ceremony are also suspiciously close to the ceremony used in Freemasonry. Signs, grips, oaths and tokens used in Mormonism are so close it's almost certain that Joseph Smith borrowed these Masonic practices from Freemasonry. Not that surprising considering Smith was a Mason himself (Documentary History of the Church 4:550-551). The Masons, like so many false religions, hold as a core belief one of Satan's biggest lies. That being that all faiths and all scriptures lead to the same God. The following quote is taken from the Masonic Belief Statement: "...By the very honor which Masonry pays to the Bible, it teaches us to revere every book of faith by which men find help for today and hope for the morrow, joining hands with the man of Islam as he takes oath on the Koran, and with the Hindu as he makes covenant with God upon the book that he loves best". The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob makes it very clear that the Bible is the only Word of God and warns us to stay away from those who would teach otherwise. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 9-11) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

They believe in stealing, hurting people, cheating, lying, adultery and being evil in general. *Kidding... I have NO idea.

Bricklayers and they believe in cement yo...

(Answer deleted due to AB moving it to another NON-DUPLICATE question.)

I found this summary: "Masons are men who voluntarily asked to join a lodge. They were accepted because they were good men who believe in God and hold high ethical and moral ideals. They go to meetings which they call the lodge, in order to learn and to teach what 'friendship, morality, and truth really involve, and to practice on a small scale the reality of brotherhood. They also have meetings open to their wives, children, and friends where they promote an understanding of the serious nature of the Fraternity by entertainment and sociability. Practical programs for charity and relief are planned and executed. The special kinship they feel for each other as a brotherhood is their deepest satisfaction. http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/www/Masonry/Essays/msa-wya.html