In the USA, were our founding fathers Masons?
552879
1.  Most of the founding fathers were Masons.  At that time, no nation belived in the concept of freedom of religion, or tolerance.  In fact, at that time, the ONLY place such ideals were found were in Masonry.  From that perspective, America was actually founded on Masonic principles, so that families would have a land where they were free to worship as they saw fit, as opposed to the way the King or the Pope dictated.  \n2.  That definition of Diest is one I have never heard before.  The popular definition of "Diest" today is someone who believes that there is One True and Living God, and that everyone who worships is worshiping the same God regardless of what they believe.  Many people believe this is an unspoken philosophical belief in Masonry because we only require that a man believe in God, but put no qualifications on his religion.  We shun only the "stupid athiest, and the irreligious libertine", and allow each man to have whatever religion he believes.   \n3.  Of course the Masonic symbolism on our currency is a result of our nation's founders being Masons.  The unfinished pyramid and the all-seeing-eye are symbolic of our "One Nation Under God" principle.  Within the capstone is the Eye of God.  Without it the building is unfinished. The symbolism is obvious:  Only under the direction and watchful counsel of God can we hope to fulfill our duties, and complete our labors.  Anti-Masons love to make up any number of ridiculous theories as to Masonic symbolism.  But if you understand that a belief in , and a reliance upon God is at the center of the Masonic philosophy, the symbolism is very obvious, and not sinister in the least.
451656
I beg to differ with the first answerer. The masons are not associated with any cults they are simply a group of usually Christian religious men interested in community service.
985079
The Skull and Bones cult that Bush belongs too is not connected with the Masonic order. I understand that in one of the Skull & Bones rituals that the members drink wine from the stolen skull of the American Indian Chief Geronimo. This is probably to stop GETTING ridiculed BY Masons. For a number of reasons. One of which is that the skull and crossbones was a flag that Mason's ( Knight's Templar's ) who fled Europe when King Phillip sent an army to kill them in the early 1300's, created. They were men without a country. SOME of them became pirates in order to feed themselves and survive. That is where the orgination of the pirate flag comes from. Mason's are not Satanic. In fact the dominate religion in any area of the globe is central to Masonic Rituals. Be it Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddist. Masonic values are Global. Not confined to one religion or belief. Tolerance and understanding of others rights to believe or not believe as they choose is a cornerstone of their teachings.\n This thing with Bush and the Skulls is another thing all together. From what I have heard and understand, it is a group of MEN who take care of each other by way of wealth and oaths they take, without regard to the betterment of ALL mankind. They seem to be intent to further their own wealth by whatever means they can.
973192
Masons have a role in society.  I don't know what it is but they must be a worthwhile organization.
339556
It is a Freemason symbol representing the all-seeing eye of G-d. Many of the Founding Fathers for the United States were Freemasons, we we have lots of Masonic symbolism in our culture...although most Americans aren't really aware of where it all comes from.
506769
Without Freemasonry there would be no United States of America.  Without the ability of men to keep certain things secret, the Continental Army would have been soundly defeated and we would have remained under Brittish rule.\n\nSecrets and the men who keep them are often the differance between victory and defeat.
991976
A free mason is a member of a "secret" society known as the free masons. A Mason is somebody who works with stone.
197914
Yes.\n\nNative Americans were a part of this great nation long before the English took over. Native Americans proudly established communities that promoted togetherness and unity and respect for the land.
60703
Ronald Reagan was never a Freemason.  He did recieve a certificate of commendation from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, but they can't make anyone a Freemason.  \n\nThe last Freemason who was President was Brother Gerald Ford.
838499
Do a Google search to find out more about the Masons, because there's just too much tell you in such a small space.\nAs to whether or not they have anything to do with JFK's assassination and the black helicopters (whatever the heck they are!!!!!!!), I have no idea, but it's doubtful.
293807
Go Mason!!!!\n\nGeorge Mason was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.\nJames Madison used it, with George's permission, to write the US's Bill of Rights.\n\nHe can't stand up right now because, like all of us here on Campus, we're still too drunk from that game against UConn!!!
101705
Are you legally in the United States of America?
157408
My answer would be yes due to the Fact that the founding fathers understood the value of human rights thus the "Declaration of Independence" was born. The reformation in reality was the reforming of the peoples mind and the understanding of what "SELF EVIDENT" meant. One Nation Under God, "indivisable" meant you could nt be seperated from the devine.. "In him we live, breath, move and have our existance, with liberty and Justice  for all...these liberties where granted by the supreme creator of the universe, and our founding fathers along with Martin Luther knew this, they preached it, practiced it, and most of all, LIVED IT....MAY GOD BLESS
1002190
Our country was founded on Christianity. Our government was not afraid to talk about their belief of God. Money has been this way for YEARS. \n\nIn fact, according to the link at the bottom, In God We Trust is our National Motto: The President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress on 07/30/56, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. \n\nThe History of U.S. Paper Money  \nIn the early days of the nation, before and just after the revolution, Americans used English, Spanish, and French money. \n1690 Colonial Notes \nThe Massachusetts Bay Colony issued the first paper money in the colonies which would later form the United States. \n\n1775 Continental Currency \nAmerican colonists issued paper currency for the Continental Congress to finance the Revolutionary War. The notes were backed by the "anticipation" of tax revenues. Without solid backing and easily counterfeited, the notes quickly became devalued, giving rise to the phrase "not worth a Continental." \n\n1781 Nation's First Bank \nAlso to support the Revolutionary War, the continental Congress chartered the Bank of North America in Philadelphia as the nation's first "real" bank. \n\n1785 The Dollar \nThe Continental Congress determined that the official monetary system would be based on the dollar, but the first coin representing the start of this system would not be struck for several years. \n\n1791 First U.S. Bank \nAfter adoption of the Constitution in 1789, Congress chartered the First Bank of the United States untill 1811 and authorized it to issue paper bank notes to eliminate confusion and simplify trade. The bank served as the U.S. Treasury's fiscal agent, thus performing the first central bank functions. \n\n1792 Monetary System \nThe federal monetary system was established with the creation of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The first American coins were struck in 1793. \n\n1816 Second U.S. Bank \nThe second Bank of the United States was chartered for 20 years until 1836. \n\n1836 State Bank Notes \nWith minimum regulation, a proliferation of 1,600 local state-chartered, private banks now issued paper money. State bank notes, with over 30,000 varieties of color and design, were easily counterfeited. That, along with bank failures, caused confusion and circulation problems. \n\n1861 Civil War \nOn the brink of bankruptcy and pressed to finance the Civil War, Congress authorized the United States Treasury to issue paper money for the first time in the form of non-interest bearing Treasury Notes called Demand Notes. \n\n1862 Greenbacks \nDemand Notes were replaced by United States Notes. Commonly called "Greenbacks," they were last issued in 1971. The Secretary of the Treasury was empowered by Congress to have notes engraved and printed, which was done by private banknote companies. \n\n1863 The Design \nThe design of U.S. currency incorporated a Treasury seal, the fine line engraving necessary for the difficult-to-counterfeit itaglio printing, intricate geometric lathe work patterns, and distinctive linen paper with embedded red and blue fibers. \n\n1865 Gold Certificates \nGold Certificates were issued by the Department of the Treasury against gold coin and buillion deposits and were circulated until 1933. \n\n1865 Secret Service \nThe Department of the Treasury established the United States Secret Service to control counterfeits, at that time amounting to one-third of circulated currency. \n\n1866 National Bank Notes \nNational Bank Notes, backed by U.S. government securities, became predominant. By this time, 75 percent of bank deposits were held by nationally chartered banks. As State Bank Notes were replaced, the value of currency stabilized for a time. \n\n1877 Bureau of Engraving and Printing \nThe Department of the Treasury's bureau of Engraving and Printing started printing all U.S. currency, although other steps were done outside. \n\n1878 Silver Certificates \nT
1184179
probably the knights of labor, but really the masons were the FIRST organized labor union in the world....
1072452
John Adams and John Quincy Adams were Unitarians. So were about half of the founding fathers who came from Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. Most of the ones from the middle and southern states were trinitarian Protestants of some sort.\n\nYou can see more on\nhttp://www.famousuus.com/\nClick on "American Politics" there.
748557
I think we could learn from Washington and Franklin, and numerous other Masons from among the founding fathers.  One thing we would learn is that they never intended the US to be a "Christian" nation, but preferred that it be a nation where religious tolerance and freedom prevailed.  We would learn that they intended for us to have a bloodless revolution any time things got out of hand.  A lot of what we can learn from them is found in the document that defines our system of government:  The US Constitution.  Although certain political figures have found the Constitution to be an inconvenient nuisance, most Americans (myself included) think it's the cat's pyjamas.  I think in a couple of months, perhaps sooner, you will start to see a somewhat different America.  I believe the following quotation has been attributed to Washington:\n\n"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from poor judgment."