Out and About - Masonic Temple Edition
When you think of a fraternity, what comes to mind?
Perhaps this guy?
John Belushi in Animal House
Or maybe these…
Disposable red party cups
But actually many of them look like these guys...
South Wales Masons
To get this: My link
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Behold, the Freemasonry Society! A fraternity for adults (Males only, sorry ladies).
Whaaat is this?
While on a long lunch break I took a quick tour of one of the local Freemason temples we have here in Washington, DC. located at 1733 16th St NW.
Impressive building, right?
Image credit: CH
It was founded by this guy...
Image credit: CH
Albert Pike, who spoke several languages and was in the US cavalry during the Indian Wars of the mid-19th century. If you look really closely in the photo you can see a white mask of his face which was made upon his death and still contains a few hairs from his beard stuck inside it. (Creepy???)
The architecture is amazing and has several rooms of note inside.
Image credit: CH
The entrance and steps up to the main chamber
Image credit: CH
The main hall-those books are holy books from all of the main religions including a Quran
Image credit: CH
A sword for official ceremonies
Image credit: CH
And a neat library for when you need to study for the many exams you must pass to be a Freemason
Image credit: CH
Who cares though?
So what? Why should you care about the Freemasons?
Well for starters many famous world leaders are part of this fraternity including about a third of US presidents as well. The group was originally started by masons in Europe who formed it to provide a convenient face for their rock carving society. Every member must adhere to certain rules and pass entrance exams while also believing in a higher power or deity. (But not necessarily a god.) Politics and religion are strictly taboo however.
Here’s a picture of yours truly standing outside the temple. If you’re ever in Washington, DC I highly recommend a visit.
Thanks for reading!
CH
*For more information please visit the Scottish Rite’s website.
https://scottishrite.org/headquarters/visitors/
That's really interesting. i didn't realize there was a museum for the freemasons.
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STOPNice post. Will you become a Freemason? #ssg
No plans to in the near future. I'd much rather contribute to Steemit instead! :p
There's no good reason to keep the truth a secret. I reject the primary principles of such groups. What are these groups for other than to pet the egos of old men?
There is a battle to be fought, and secret societies are not needed to win it. Secret operations are fine, but men's clubs to make people feel good about themselves? No, I protest.
"When someone suggests keeping the truth a secret, they usually want to maintain a lie instead."
@finnian I don't think there were many secrets in this particular location. The library is open to the public for research so anyone can go in and research the group. My impression is that it's a pretty mundane fraternity with less than ambitious goals. I liked the rules against outside politics and religiousity however. The only requirement to join is to have a belief in a "higher power". The internet has really democratized the formation of these sorts of groups in a way that must have been unimaginable to the Freemasons of old. Thank you for reading!
Liberty is too precious to me to get involved in a group that refuses to state their position on it. That's part of their rule against politics of course.