Why Are They Called Freemasons?
Their
charitable contributions are noteworthy. However, the secretive rites
and
traditions of the Freemasons have drawn fire from many religious
groups. Are
they a religious sect? For example, can a Christian be a Freemason?
Regardless
of the answer, there was a time when the question might have been could
a
Freemason not be a Christian?
The ancient fraternity of Freemasons dates from the Dark Ages when a
guild of
masons (builders who worked in stone or brick) was specially consigned
to build
churches. In 604 A.D., Freemasons built St. Paul's,
London,
and in 605, St.
Peter's, Westminster.
After the Great
Fire of London in 1666, Mason, Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt St. Paul's
Cathedral, which still stands today. As they were
so employed, several papal edicts exempted the guild from certain laws
and
other burdens placed on craftsmen and other commoners--thus they became
"free" masons.
Acknowledgments:
3, 4
©
Russ Brown, 1997