Chinese nicknames: American Student Club, Tongji Club, Rules Club and Mei Sen Club.

English name: Freemasonry

English nicknames: freemasonry,

fraternal order

Organizational nature: religious mysticism, political left wing and social fraternity.

Date of establishment:1765438+June 24, 2007 (St. John's Day, the date of establishment of the First General Association of British Masons)

Membership: about 6 million, including about 4 million in the United States, about 6,543,800+in Britain and about 70,000 in France.

Distribution: All over the world, Europe and America prevail, while Islamic countries and socialist countries are relatively low.

Main systems: Anglo-American, Latin, Nordic, female, African-American and mixed.

Basic introduction

"* * * Ji Hui" is the official name of this organization in Chinese, which is taken from its organizational nature, that is, "helping each other in the same boat".

The * * * club in Taiwan Province Province calls itself "American Life Club", which means "pursuing a better life". It can be said that it is harmonious in sound and meaning, and it is also taken from the English word "Mason" of masons. Members call each other "brothers", and their slogan is "all brothers within the four seas".

Brothers, other China clubs include Tongji Club, Rules Club and Mei Sen Club.

* * * The official spelling of Aid Society in English is "Freemasonry", which literally means "the alliance of freemasons". Other spellings include Masonic, Masonic, Masonic, etc. A famous saying of * * * aid society, which is widely circulated in Europe and America, is "ambassador".

Good people are better! "(Let good people be better! ), which is also the core purpose of their creation.

It should be noted that the word * * * Aid Society is a general term, which refers to all * * * aid societies in the world. These organizations adopt similar names and ritual traditions, and they have inherited relations in history. However, with the continuous division of aid agencies in history, these organizations have become independent from each other in justice, and now they have formed Anglo-American, Latin, Nordic, female, African-American and mixed.

This system has its own unique beliefs and moral principles, but it also advocates freedom first and non-dogmatic principles. They claim to be the guardians of ancient mysterious knowledge and are familiar with the mysteries of heaven, earth, nature and the universe. Their basic purpose is to advocate fraternity and charity, pursue personal virtues and improve society, and teach members to achieve extraordinary mental state through a series of unique symbols and ceremonies.

The modern * * * club appeared in the western European society in the18th century, and was born out of the masons' union in the medieval construction industry. On St. John's Day in 17 17 (on June 24th, St. John was regarded as their guardian by the classical * * * club), members of four London freemasons formed a big club.

Lodge), officially called free and accepted.

Masons. Only one of the four clubs is a pure construction union, and the other three clubs are composed of nobles who are keen on social change. This event represents the formal transformation of the ancient * * * economic association into a modern * * * economic association in the philosophical sense.

Starting from Britain during the Enlightenment, modern economic associations spread to various emerging capitalist countries in Europe and became the main force in the social change movement at that time. In the American War of Independence, the French aid society to China provided a lot of help to the Continental Army in Washington, and later it gradually developed and grew in North America, becoming the most prosperous area of the aid society to China today. With the development of history, since the19th century, the * * * economic complex has been divided into several systems, and this division has also had a long-term negative effect on its own development.

Today, various economic aid organizations have more than 6 million members all over the world, including more than 4 million in the United States, more than 6.5438+0 million in Britain and about 70,000 in France. Members come from all walks of life, including celebrities, politicians and elites from all walks of life.

Their thoughts and activities have a great influence on the formation of modern democratic political civilization and global integration, but some conspiracy theorists and radical religious elements think that they are an anti-human and anti-social evil organization, pursuing wealth and ruling the world. At the beginning of its establishment, it attracted opposition and blows from many conservative forces. As early as the18th century, Europe was suppressed by many Catholic monarchies, and the aid society was accused of being behind the French Revolution. During Nazi rule, when anti-Semitism was rampant, aid associations in this area were destroyed. Nowadays, non-governmental organizations such as * * * Economic Association have not gained legitimacy in Arab countries and major socialist countries, which pursue the integration of politics and religion in Islam.

Hong Men (Heaven and Earth Society), an overseas Chinese organization, has adopted the logo and English name of the * * * Society, but they are not subordinate to each other, and their ideological traditions and ceremonies are quite different.

Thoughts and ideas

* * * Aid Society belongs to a quasi-religious form, especially for the Anglo-American aid society, it tends to be a mystical spiritual society, while the European great eastern system tends to be similar to a political party.

* * * The idea of economic association is based on equality of members, social enlightenment and public charity, and it can coexist with various religions and philosophies. It regards God as a "great architect" and pursues the construction of a "church of the soul" and moral "self-improvement". * * * Economic Association requires its members to constantly improve their morality, thus becoming "theoretical masons". Members should get along as brothers, unite sincerely, help each other and put forward the slogan of "freedom, equality and friendship".

* * * Freemasonry was a secret society in its early days, allowing adult men of all religious beliefs without disabilities to join (many societies have abolished this provision at present), but volunteers must be theists (Jews, Christians, Hindus, etc.). ). Although the doctrine of * * * freemasons adhered to the principle of equality among members and had no religious, racial or social class tendency, most of them were white Protestant aristocrats at that time. After the Enlightenment, many clubs changed to deism, which prevailed in North America. After the Great Split, the French great eastern Freemasons accepted atheists and pursued "freedom, equality and fraternity".

* * * Freemasonry deism (that is, deism, some believe in pantheism or pantheism) obviously inherits the religious thought of Gnosticism (Gnosticism, the floorboard of various Hellenistic sects that struggled with Christianity in the open period, prospered in 1 century, and collapsed due to the pressure of Christianity in the 4th century, and the remnants became secret religions), that is, it thinks that this material world is dark and incomplete. Created by the fallen Demetrius, it is a place where the soul is imprisoned, and the spiritual world in which the soul lives is created by the true God. If we want to leave this world, we must perfect our soul and gain gnosis (that is, ascension, detachment, enlightenment and unity with God). In addition to Gnosticism, the aid society also contains many elements of Kabbalah's Jewish secret philosophy and Latin alchemy, which rose around the13rd century. People believe that rational science can improve human society.

In modern times, the explanation of God by the * * * Economic Association comes from Plato's exposition of the Creator in the Republic. They think that God is a rational craftsman (rational personification) and the universe is a handicraft created by God, the great architect of the universe. The order of the universe (the shape of the work) comes from the rationality given by God, and this external universe is called the macro world. And everyone is the shadow of the universe, that is, the replica of God's "micro-world". However, due to the inherent defects of materials, this replica is always imperfect. However, if people can take reason as the criterion and morality as the tool to constantly correct their mental defects, then eventually people can improve themselves through their own efforts, that is, they can complete the construction of the "inner temple", become a perfect "stonemason" and enter the realm of God. * * * The process of masons building the "Solomon Temple" symbolizes the process of people's pursuit of rationality and self-improvement, which is an advanced concept under the social background at that time. * * * Aid launched the Enlightenment by pursuing theistic ideals, and spread rapidly to Western Europe, Central Europe and North America in less than 50 years, establishing a huge system that can rival the Catholic Church.

* * * The Aid Society praised the seven ancient Greek arts, namely, grammar, logic, eloquence, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music, and thought that these seven arts were seven different steps leading to the temple of wisdom and the road to truth. Members of aid associations should know all these seven kinds of knowledge.

The ultimate goal of the aid association is to build a world unity that transcends nations, countries, religions and cultures. Harmony, kindness, justice and humanity are the leading principles of this unity, and "rationality" is the main basis for handling all affairs. * * * The Economic Association tries to realize kindness and social justice to others, advocates reducing the influence of the church on social life, and opposes absolute monarchy and racial discrimination. It believes that religion and the state are obstacles in the process of human self-improvement, so they should be eliminated.

Symbol symbol

* * * Ji Hui is used to using metaphors and symbols to convey ideas, so he uses a lot of symbols in his teaching system. It is a very important part for members to know and understand the meaning of these symbols.

* * * Many symbols of economic associations are related to architecture and masonry technology, and horizontal and square are obvious examples. After many non-Freemasons joined, the signs of development were mostly related to alchemy and the Templars.

When a mason becomes a member, it is not the responsibility of a mason to teach building skills. Instead, it uses the works of medieval masons as a metaphor for moral development. Therefore, the symbol of * * * aid society is a common tool used by masons in the Middle Ages, such as work apron (originally made of sheepskin), hammer, ladder, level, etc.

* * * Freemasonry ceremonies and symbols (Freemasonry

Symbolism is a very important part of the concept of * * * assisting the society.

* * * At first, the economic association only set three grades, which were represented by the symbol "degree". New members are called apprentices.

Apprentice), the second member was called "fellow", and none of them were full members, named "blue hall blue"

Rocky, the third level is a full member, which is the highest level. As a Master Mason, you have to go through a symbolic death and resurrection ceremony when you join the club.

Later, two main hierarchical systems, Yorkshire etiquette and Scottish etiquette, and other special systems were developed.

organization structure

* * * Ji Hui is structurally divided into Lodge (or Blue Lodge) and big clubs.

Accommodation). The general assembly is the highest organizational form of the * * * economic complex, generally taking the local highest political power as the unit. For example, in the United States, the general assembly inherited by different regions or systems may coexist in the same country. The club shall abide by the laws of the country or region where it is located. Therefore, the judicial relationship between clubs of different regimes is independent and equal, so there is no unified management organization for clubs all over the world, and the behavior of each club will be under the jurisdiction of the local government. There are many branches under the jurisdiction of the Federation, and the names are generally a combination of Arabic numerals and place names (many names are also freely chosen, such as the famous Nine Sisters Association), which are all managed by the Federation.

In the management of the club, it generally includes the following positions:

Respect for the Lord, respect for the Lord, WM for short; Senior supervisor (senior)

Warden); Junior housekeepers; Treasurer; Secretary (secretary); Deacon; secretary

(housekeeper); The specific name and position of the gatekeeper (Taylor) may be different in different clubs.

The above is the management structure of all public economic organizations at present. These organizations are often open and legal institutions registered in the form of associations within their jurisdiction. Because * * * economic associations originated from secret associations, it is not excluded that some * * * economic associations operate underground without being bound by the laws of the host country.

* * * Economic Association has established clubs in most parts of the world, but mainly in Europe and America. Because of religious regulations, it is forbidden in Islamic countries where politics and religion are integrated. There are no public clubs in the socialist regime (except Cuba), and activities in some monarchical countries are also restricted.

Several main systems

Generally speaking, all economic associations in the world are divided into several main style systems, mainly the following:

◆ Anglo-American Economic Association (Anglo-American)

Freemasonry)

Anglo-American system refers to the traditional aid system and ceremony, and it is also the most mainstream aid system. When we refer to the aid system in general, we mean the Anglo-American system, but it is not the only system that can be applied to all the aid organizations in the world. This system directly inherited from1the earliest British General Assembly at the beginning of the 8th century, and mainly implemented York Rites (13) and Scottish Rites (33). Comparative religious tendencies, especially Protestantism, have a good relationship with Catholicism. The conditions for membership are general "theists" and adult men. This school has accepted the upper class from the beginning and there is racial discrimination. It supports the British royal family. Because of this dissatisfaction, some members of the * * * Economic Association later split from classicism. Classicism claims to be the orthodox spirit of the * * * Economic Association and opposes the conservative "modernism" tolerant attitude towards the royal family. This classicism was strongly supported by the French Economic Association (great eastern was not independent at that time).

Neuf

s？ Urs), with their support, classicism played an important role in the North American War of Independence, and finally classicism developed and grew in North America. After the independence of the United States, classicism and conservative modernism in Britain reconciled, and the United England Association (UGLE) was established, which gradually merged in North America. At present, each state has established its own general assembly.

This system was popular in areas outside Britain and the United States, most of which were colonies never set up by the empire, and were occupied by the US military during World War II, including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria. Southern Africa; India; Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Hongkong, Taiwan Province Province, South Korea and Japan in East Asia; Australia and New Zealand are both based on the Anglo-American system, and they are the mainstream local aid organizations. In southern Europe, eastern Europe and Latin America, there are also sporadic clubs in the Anglo-American Department.

◆ great eastern system (Grand Orient

Freemasonry)

Also known as continental freemasonry, European freemasonry and free freemasonry.

Freemasons), Latin freemasons. By the French great eastern (Grand Orient de)

Great eastern, France, became independent from the early French economic association at the end of GODF 18, and gradually became the mainstream club in France after the French Revolution. After that, he participated in the Paris Commune Movement and was the first to accept colored people. After that, it became hostile to the Anglo-American Economic Association and joined the United Kingdom in 1877.

UGLE, England, officially broke off diplomatic relations.

Great eastern, different from the Anglo-American system of conservative religion, belongs to the secular type, is a political left wing, opposes the integration of politics and religion, and has a bad relationship with the Catholic Church. Its goals and propositions are similar to * * * productism, but the important difference with Britain and America is that it accepts atheists. Since the early enlightenment, there have been French freemasons with deistic tendencies such as Voltaire and Montesquieu. Although there is no direct evidence, from the fact that many * * * industrialists (such as party member Allende, former Chilean President * * *, and Marx's son-in-law Lafarge, etc.) are members of the Dadong * * * Economic Association, their relationship should be unusual, including Marxism-Leninism and Stalin (all three of them have done the shaking ceremony of the * * * Economic Association many times), as well as anarchist leader bakunin. At first, great eastern was mainly popular in France and former French colonial countries or regions, and later spread to the whole European continent. Latin-speaking countries are basically great eastern system, including Belgian, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. During the Soviet Union's administration, there were no public clubs, including Dadong's, and it is likely that only senior officials were allowed to join the clubs, or there were some undisclosed reasons. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, great eastern began public activities, which were popular in all Slavic countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Influenced by the European suzerain, the whole of Latin America is also dominated by the East.

◆ Nordic Economic Association (Nordic)

Freemasonry)

Nordic aid agencies were spread from German aid agencies in the early days, with obvious rose cross color. It is a mysterious Christian organization, which is different from the typical AID society in many aspects, and adopts Swiss rituals. The aid society of this system is closely related to the royal family and religious circles. King Carl Gustav of Sweden was an important leader in the early days. Most bishops and priests in the Swedish regular church are senior members of the Swedish branch. Nordic style clubs are located in Sweden and Norway in Scandinavia, Denmark, Germany and Finland in Europe, and Iceland in the North Atlantic. At present, there are 73 clubs in Nordic countries, with about 14000 members, including Finland 1 100, Iceland 2800 and Norway 16700.

African American Economic Association (Africa)

Freemasonry)?

It was formed during the apartheid in North America in the18th century, and the Prince's Hall was a big country.

Lodge) was founded on June 24th, 1847, Boston, Massachusetts. Its name comes from its founder, Plinz Hall, and its members are mainly colored people, mostly African-Americans. As mentioned earlier, the Anglo-American system had a racist tendency in the early days, so colored people in the United States, mainly African-Americans, set up their own Prince's Hall.

Hall), this system is no different from the white aid society in terms of system, except that there is no racial restriction. At present, the Prince's Hall is mainly distributed in North America, the Caribbean and West Africa, and there are also clubs in Britain and Ireland.

◆ Mixed * * * Economic Association (mixed

Freemasonry)

Mixed * * * economic association refers to the * * * economic association with both male and female members. The two most important independent associations are Oriental Star and Human Rights Association, and the other two are French mixed universities in France.

French hotel) and global mixed hotel.

1. Order of the Oriental Star

Or the Morning Star Brotherhood, formed in the economic association environment of the Anglo-American system, is a cooperative economic association popular in North America. Established on 1850. It was originally established to facilitate the contact between members of the * * * Economic Association and their families. Only women who are members of the male * * * Economic Association can join, and its affiliated organizations are limited to 1850.

Girl Rainbow Knights. Another branch of Nordic Oriental Star is Amaranth Knights.

)。 ?

2. Human rights

The economic and social environment formed in the great eastern system was founded by Maria Dries and George in 1893.

Martin was founded in Paris, France, and accepts both male and female members (women can apply for membership directly, which is different from the requirement that Morningstar must be a relative). Regardless of race and personal beliefs, Martin adopted Scottish etiquette and has branches in 60 countries around the world, with about 28,000 members, one of whom is the Theological Society.

Annie Besant's Association, during her leadership, human rights associations were widely spread around the world.

◆ Female * * Economic Association (female

Freemasonry)

Today's women's economic associations are mainly separated from human rights associations and have their own general associations in France, Belgium, Britain and the United States. In addition, there is an independent women's club in new york, USA, which has been operating in a low-key manner and is unknown to outsiders.

1. French women's congress (women of greater Logue)

France)

The early French women's club is a part of the human rights club, which was founded by Anne-Marie at 1945 after the end of World War II.

Gentily presided over the establishment of a women's general club, which currently has 25,000 members. In the early days, the French women's congress was transformed from the Rite of adoption in Scotland.

Adoption), but the club reorganized after World War II resumed the Scottish ceremony.

2. British Freemasons.

Founded in 1908, it is the largest women's economic association in Britain. The reason for their independence is that they are dissatisfied with the influence of the Theosophy Society of the Human Rights Society. The first head tutor is W. F.

After the term of Cobb, 19 12 ended, the general tutors who continued to serve were all women. 1920 they sought approval from UGLE, but were rejected, and then decided not to accept male members. 1935 male record (large

(Secretary) Peter Slingsby was completely feminine after his death.

Conspiracy theories and objections

For many years, the * * * Economic Association has been the object of criticism by many social forces. Some monotheistic religions accuse * * * aid society of being the base camp against this religion, and even participants can't ask clergy to pray for him before they die, so many cases or empirical studies focus on this connection. Even Hitler used fabricated documents to accuse the aid society of being mainly composed of Jews, intending to control the whole of Germany and Europe, and thus launched a notorious genocide. Of course, these misunderstandings and accusations are only a small part of history. Another most famous is the so-called "Illuminati" shadow government, which accuses the aid society of being related to the new world order of the Illuminati. Some people even claim that aid will be a mysterious organization. Because of the mysterious low-key behavior of the aid society, it may cause many rumors. However, in fact, members of the aid society are respected in society and spend a lot of time and money on charitable activities.

Nominally, economic associations require their members to be loyal to the political power of their own countries. However, in history, aid agencies were banned together with some monarchies during the fascist regimes of Russia, the Soviet Union, Germany, Japan and Italy, and are still banned in most Muslim countries and some African countries in modern times. On 1962, he voluntarily withdrew from Chinese mainland, moved to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and resumed his activities in Chinese mainland in recent years.