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Freemasonry, a worldwide fraternal organization, often calls itself "a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols." Its members are joined together by high ideals, of both an ethical and metaphysical nature (and, in the majority of branches, by a common belief in a Supreme Being). Freemasonry is an "esoteric art," in that certain aspects of its internal work are not generally revealed to the public. There are many reasons for this, one of which is that Freemasonry uses an initiatory system of degrees to explore ethical issues, and this system is less effective if the observer knows beforehand what will happen.

Freemasons are expected to exhibit religious and political tolerance both in "lodge" (the meeting place of a group of Freemasons) and in their daily lives. Freemasonry will thus accept members from all denominations of Christianity, and from any other religion such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and so forth. In those branches deriving from French Freemasonry, atheists and agnostics are also accepted, without qualification. English freemasonry and its derivatives (which make up the bulk of the Freemasonic world) require a belief in a Supreme Being. But even there, one finds a high degree of nondogmatism, and the phrase "Supreme Being" is given a very broad interpretation, sometimes even including naturalistic views of "God/Nature" in the tradition of Spinoza and Goethe, or nontheistic views of Ultimate Reality or Cosmic Oneness, such as found in some Eastern religions and in Western idealism (or for that matter, in modern cosmology). Some other (mostly North American) jurisdictions are not so tolerant of naturalistic and humanistic religions, and additional religious requirements with more theistic overtones have been added since the early 19th century, including in some jurisdictions belief in the immortality of the soul. The Freemasonry that predominates in Scandinavia accepts only Christians.

While there are many Masonic jurisdictions with great differences in their practices and views of Freemasonry, there are two basic branches. On the whole, the jurisdictions within each branch are "in amity" with each other, meaning they recognize each other as regular Masonic bodies. We could loosely call these two branches "English" and "French", although that is simplistic. The oldest jurisdiction in the English branch is the United Grand Lodge of England, founded in 1717. The oldest in the French is the Grand Orient de France, founded in 1728. At one time, these branches recognized each other, but most jurisdictions cut off formal relations with the Grand Orient de France sometime after it started accepting atheists in 1877, creating the schism between the two branches. In most Latin countries, the French (or "Continental") style of Freemasonry predominates. The rest of the world tends to follow the English lead, although in some countries the two branches have a kind of understanding and generally friendly relations, while in other countries relations are more strained.

While the various styles of Freemasonry around the world may differ in many ways, they all more or less tend towards nondogmatism, albeit often within certain defined limits. This openness has led to friction between Masonry and organizations which view ecumenism with a negative eye, or insist on intolerance towards other forms of belief and worship.

Although Masonry has been opposed by many groups such as conservative Protestants and radical Muslims, the most vigorous opposition to the fraternity has come from the Catholic Church. The first papal condemnation of Freemasonry came in 1738 from Pope Clement XII in his papal bull Eminenti Apostolatus Specula, repeated by several later popes, notably Pope Leo XIII in the encyclical Humanum Genus. The 1917 Code of Canon Law explicity declares that joining Freemasonry entailed automatic excommunication; the revised Code issued in 1983 does not explicitly name Masonic orders among the secret societies condemned in canon 1374. However, in a letter to the United States Bishops from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith the interpretation was made clear - the prohibition against Catholics joining Masonic orders remains. The general reason given for this opposition is that the Catholic Church views Freemasonry as a "naturalized religion". One reason the Free Methodist Church was founded in the 1860s was that its founders believed the Methodist Church was being influenced by Freemasons and members of secret societies. The Free Methodist Church continues to prohibit its members from also joining societies such as the Freemasons. Recently the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest association of Baptists in the United States, also stated that participation in Freemasonry is inconsistent with their beliefs.

The position of women within Freemasonry is complex. In Britain and France, and many other countries, women generally join co-masonic Lodges such as those under the jurisdiction Le Droit Humain which contain both men and women, or Lodges which comprise only women. In other countries (particularly North America), it is more common for women not to become Freemasons per se, but to join an associated body with its own, separate traditions, the Order of the Eastern Star. Continental Freemasonry (i.e. those jurisdictions in amity with the Grand Orient de France) generally gives full formal recognition to co-freemasonry and women's freemasonry. English Freemasonry (i.e. those jurisdictions in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England) does not formally recognize any Masonic body that accepts women, although in many countries they have an understanding and a kind of informal acceptance that such bodies are part of Freemasonry in a larger sense. The United Grand Lodge of England, for instance, has recognized (since 1998) some women's jurisdictions as regular in practice, except for their inclusion of women, and stated that, while not formally recognized, these bodies may be regarded as part of Freemasonry. Thus, the position of women in Freemasonry is rapdily changing in the English-speaking world. While, in many cases, North America is following England's lead on the issue of women, the remaining resistance to women in Freemasonry is mostly concentrated there.

Freemasonry is associated with several "appendant bodies" such as the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners), all of which claim to expand on the teachings of Freemasonry while improving their members and Society as a whole. Different jurisdictions of Freemasonry will differ in the way they define their relationship to such organizations.

As well, there are certain youth organizations which are associated with Masonry, but are not necessarily Masonic in their content, such as the Order of DeMolay (for boys aged 12-21) and the Job's Daughters (for girls of similar ages). These are mainly North American.

Freemasonry has been the object of a number of attacks throughout its history, including the famous Taxil hoax.

The Freemasons rely heavily upon the architectural symbolism of their erstwhile medieval namesakes who actually worked in stone. One of their principal symbols is the square and compasses, tools of the trade, so arranged as to form a quadrilateral. An expression often used in Masonic circles is "to be on the square", meaning to be a reliable sort of person, and this has entered common usage. The practice of Freemasonry is known by its adherents as "The Craft".

Many non-Masons mistakenly believe that individuals become Freemasons through invitation, patrimony, or other non-democratic means. This is incorrect; an individual must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the group. Freemasons are enjoined to avoid persuading or encouraging anyone to join a Lodge, except by good example.

The popular television program, The Simpsons once featured an episode revolving around the "Stonecutters," a group obviously meant as a satire of Freemasons and similar organisations. Unfortunately, this episode promoted the myth that, in order to join the group, one must "... be the son of a ... or save the life of a ... ." As mentioned above, this is untrue.

In order to be a Freemason, one must: (1) be a man (unless joining a co-Masonic or women's Masonic lodge), (2) believe in a Supreme Being, or in some branches a "Creative Principle" (unless one is joining an "adogmatic" jurisdiction that has no religious requirement), (3) be at least the minimum age (18-25 years depending on the jurisdiction), and (4) have been born free (i.e. not born a slave). The last point does not come up in modern Lodges, and there is no indication of whether it would be enforced, but remains there for historical reasons. Many Masons have re-interpreted it to mean something like "free of prejudice"--open to personal growth and learning new things.

It is believed by many non-Masons that Freemasons are involved in theurgy as well as worship, as well as being members of a vast social network that is constructed to aid and further member interests. Hence, many conspiracy theories involve the Freemasons.

Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute, makes extensive use of the symbolism of freemasonry.

History

Freemasonry has been said to be an institutional outgrowth of the medieval guilds of stonemasons (1), a direct descendant of the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon" (the Knights Templar)(2), an offshoot of the ancient Mystery schools(1), an administrative arm of the Priory of Zion(3), the Roman Collegia(1), the Comacine masters(1), intellectual descendants of Noah(1), and to have many other various origins. All of these theories are noted in several different texts, and the following are but examples pulled from a sea of books:

1. In "A History of Freemasonry" by H.L. Haywood and James E. Craig, pub. circa 1927
2. In "Born of Blood" By John Robinson, pub. 1989
3. In "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, pub. 1982

It is likely that Freemasonry is not an outgrowth of medieval guilds of stonemasons, for numerous reasons well documented in "Born in Blood" by John Robinson. Amongst the reasons for this conclusion are the fact that Stonemason's guilds do not appear to predate reasonable estimates for the time of Freemasonry's origin, that stonemasons lived near their worksite and thus had no need for secret signs to identify themselves, and that the "Ancient Charges" of Freemasonry are nonsensical when thought of as being rules for a Stonemason's guild.

Freemasonry is said to have existed even at the time of King Athelstan of England, in the very late 10th century C.E.. Athelstan is said to have been converted to Christianity in York, and to have issued the first Charter to the Masonic Lodges there. This story is not currently substantiated.

A more reliable (although still not unassailable) document asserting the antiquity of Freemasonry is the Halliwell Manuscript or Regius Poem, which is believed to date from ca. 1390, and which makes reference to several concepts and phrases similar to those found in Freemasonry. The manuscript itself refers to an earlier document, of which it is supposed to be an elaboration.

In 1717, four Lodges which met at the "Apple-Tree Tavern, the Crown Ale-House near Drury Lane, the Goose and Gridiron in St. Paul's Churchyard, and the Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Westminster" in London, England (as recounted in (2)) combined together and formed the first public Grand Lodge (this group was later known, colloquially, as the "Moderns"). Later another Grand Lodge formed, known colloquially as the "Ancients," causing a schism which was resolved with their amalgamation into the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) in 1813. The "Ancients" were based in York, and claimed that their version of the Freemasonic Ritual was truer to ancient tradition. Because both the "Ancients" and the "Moderns" had "daughter" Lodges throughout the world, and because many of those Lodges still exist, there is a great deal of variability in the Ritual used today. Most Lodges, however, conduct their Work in accordance with an agreed-upon "Rite," such as the "York Rite" (which is popular in America), or the "Canadian Rite" (which is, in some ways, a concordance between the Rites used by the "Ancients" and "Moderns").

In 1775, an African American named Prince Hall was initiated into an Irish Constitution Military Lodge, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom were free by birth. When the Military Lodge left the area, the Black gentlemen were given the authority to meet as a Lodge, form Processions on the days of the Saints John, and conduct Masonic funerals, but not to confer degrees or do other Masonic Work. These individuals applied for, and obtained, a Warrant for Charter from the Grand Lodge of England in 1784 and formed African Lodge #459. Despite being stricken from the rolls for non-payment of dues after 1813, the Lodge restyled itself as the African Grand Lodge #1 (not to be confused with the various Grand Lodges on the Continent of Africa) and separated from commonly recognised Masonry. At the present time, it is recognised by some Grand Lodges and not by others, and appears to be working its way toward full recognition. ()

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often believe that their Temple Endowment ceremony, received as revelation from God to Joseph Smith, which shares some elements with those of the Freemasons, are similar because the Freemasons' rituals are descended from the rituals given by God at the Temple of Solomon, and still contain many of the original truths.