Hundreds ofconspiracy theories aboutFreemasonry have been described since the late 18th century.[1] Usually, these theories fall into three distinct categories: political (usually involving allegations of control of government, particularly in theUnited States and theUnited Kingdom), religious (usually involving allegations ofanti-Christian orSatanic beliefs or practices), and cultural (usually involvingpopular entertainment). Many conspiracy theories have connected the Freemasons (and theKnights Templar) with worship ofthe devil;[2][3] these ideas are based on different interpretations of the doctrines of those organizations.[4]
Of the claims that Freemasonry exerts control over politics, perhaps the best-known example is theNew World Order theory, but there are others. These mainly involve aspects and agencies of theUnited States government, but actual events outside the US (such as thePropaganda Due scandal inItaly) are often used to lend credence to claims.
Another set of theories has to do with Freemasonry and religion, particularly that Freemasonry deals with "the occult".[5] These theories have their beginnings in theTaxil hoax.[6][7] In addition to these, there are various theories that focus on the embedding of symbols in otherwise ordinary items, such as street patterns, national seals, corporate logos, etc.
There are Masonic conspiracy theories dealing with every aspect of society. The majority of these theories are based on one or more of the following assumptions:
That Freemasonry is its own religion, requires belief in a uniqueMasonic god, and that belief in thisMasonic god is contrary to the teachings of various mainstream religions (although usually noted in terms of being specifically contrary toChristian belief)[8]
That the 33rd degree of theScottish Rite is more than an honorary degree, coupled with the belief that most Freemasons are unaware of hidden or secretive ruling bodies within their organization that govern them, conduct occult ritual, or control various positions of governmental power[9]
That there is a centralized worldwide body that controls all MasonicGrand Lodges, and thus, all of Freemasonry worldwide acts in a unified manner
List of conspiracy theories associated with Freemasonry
That the British judiciary is heavily infiltrated with Masons, who give fellow Masons "the benefit of the doubt" in court, subverting the legal system[10][11]
Some conspiracy theories involving the Freemasons and the Illuminati also include theKnights Templar andJews as part of the supposed plan for universal control of society. This type of conspiracy theory was described as early as 1792 by multiple authors, beginning in France and Scotland.[1]
That Freemasonry is a Jewish front for world domination or is at least controlled by Jews for this goal. An example of this is the anti-Semiticliterary forgeryThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion.Adolf Hitler believed that Freemasonry was a tool of Jewish influence,[12] and outlawed Freemasonry and persecuted Freemasons partially for this reason.[13] The covenant of thePalestinianIslamist movementHamas claims that Freemasonry is a "secret society" founded as part of a Zionist plot to control the world.[14]Hilaire Belloc thought Jews had "inaugurated" freemasonry "as a bridge between themselves and their hosts"[15]
That Freemasonry is tied to or behindCommunism. The Spanish dictatorFrancisco Franco had often associated his opposition with both Freemasonry and Communism, and saw the latter as a conspiracy of the former; as he put it, "The whole secret of the campaigns unleashed against Spain can be explained in two words: masonry and communism".[16] In 1950, Irish Roman Catholic priestDenis Fahey republished a work byGeorge F. Dillon under the titleGrand Orient Freemasonry Unmasked as the Secret Power Behind Communism. Modern conspiracy theorists such as Henry Makow have also claimed that Freemasonry intends the triumph of Communism[17]
That Freemasons are behindincome taxes in the US. One convicted tax protester has charged that law enforcement officials who surrounded his property in a standoff over his refusal to surrender after his conviction were part of a "Zionist,Illuminati, Free Mason [sic] movement".[18] TheNew Hampshire Union Leader also reported that "the Browns believe theIRS and the federal income tax are part of a deliberate plot perpetrated by Freemasons to control the American people and eventually the world"[19]
There are a number of claims, predominantly made by conservative Protestants,[20] that Freemasons at higher degrees deceive those at lower degrees, and gradually reveal a separate, occult religion:
The Syrian-EgyptianWahhabi scholarRashid Rida popularised anti-Semitic and masonic conspiracies across the Arab world and which would later be embraced by various Islamist movements in the 20th century. In Rida's worldview,Freemasonry was invented by Jews. Rida's views would be adopted in the1988 Charter of Hamas[23]
That some prominent murders involved Freemasons, including the cases of the Italian bankerRoberto Calvi,[27] and the U.S. presidentJohn F. Kennedy.[3] A conspiracy theory about thedeath of the Turkish presidentMustafa Kemal Atatürk is that he was poisoned to death by the Freemasons due to the closure ofMasonic lodges[28] inTurkey in 1935. In 2015,Yeni Şafak claimed that his former prime ministerİsmet İnönü was in charge of planning the murder.[29]
^Robinson, John.A Pilgrim's Path: Freemasonry and the Religious Right. M. Evans, 1993.ISBN0-87131-732-X
^abHodapp, Christopher L. and VonKannon, Alice,Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies, Wiley, 2008,ISBN978-0-470-18408-0
^Addison, Charles G.; David Hatcher Childress (1997).The History of the Knights Templars: The Temple Church and the Temple. Adventures Unlimited Press. pp. 19–20.ISBN0-932813-40-2.
^Here used to denote a particular range of the occult involving Satanic or anti-Christian beliefs.
^S. Brent Morris,The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry (2006), pp. 171-172;ISBN1-59257-490-4
^Christopher Hodapp,Freemasons for Dummies (2005), pp. 160-161; 298-299;ISBN0-7645-9796-5
^Kristen Senz, "Ed Brown says Feds have no jurisdiction in New Hampshire,"New Hampshire Union Leader, 8 June 2007[1]Archived 2007-09-29 at theWayback Machine
^Kristen Senz, "Browns say they will either walk free, or die,"New Hampshire Union Leader, 19 June 2007 at[2]Archived 2007-10-12 at theWayback Machine.
^McHugo, John (2013).A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE ARABS. The New Press, 38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013: The New Press. pp. 162–163.ISBN978-1-59558-950-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^"TURKISH BAN ON FREEMASONS. All Lodges To Be Abolished".Malaya Tribune, 14 October 1935, p. 5.The Government has decided to abolish all Masonic lodges in Turkey on the ground that Masonic principles are incompatible with nationalistic policy.
