Since the mid-nineteenth century, many scholars have also equated Masonry with Mormonism, because of both groups' reliance on secret rituals and closed temples. This is one reason the Masons have begun to open up their temples to the public. Authors Rich and Merchant continue, "In summary, in the United States, Masonic policies have evolved and gradually moved away from the secrecy and pseudo-historical claims that once characterized the society. Secrecy was not abandoned, but it became less important" (Rich & Merchant, 2003). Thus, Masons have changed with the time, and modernized their organizations until they fit in our modern western society, and that is probably one reason that so many Masonic lodges still exist today.
Today, the rituals and secrecy of the Masonic lodge has been replaced by a group that is dedicated to service in the community and the world. They are especially active in disaster relief efforts around the world, including earthquake and hurricane relief, and they have had a history of this support since the 1920s. They also provide international calling cards to members of the military stationed overseas, provide hospital visitations to patients in Veteran's Hospitals and extended care facilities, and provide service in their local communities (Editors, 2007). The Masons are still a closed society, in that they require members...
There are now Masonic lodges in every state in the union, including Alaska and Hawaii, and the organizations donate millions of dollars to many different relief and humanitarian organizations. The Freemasons of the Middle Ages have evolved into a vital service organization in America, and it seems that they will continue to grow and prosper as more people come to understand the real purpose of the group and its endeavors.
In addition, both governments and churches began to grow suspicious of the group, probably because of the "organization's secrecy and liberal religious beliefs" (Watson, 2009). As a result, Portugal and France banned Freemasonry; in fact, it was a capital offense to be a Freemason in Portugal (Watson, 2009). Moreover, "Pope Clement XII forbade Catholics from becoming Freemasons on penalty of excommunication" (Watson, 2009). Feeling pressure in Europe, many Freemasons
Rather than continue the process that began in the first two books, in which the Rosicrucian Order first announced themselves, gave their history, and then responded to certain criticisms while making their position within Christian theology clearer, the Chymical Wedding can almost be seen as the first instance of literature written within the Rosicrucian tradition, rather than as part of its manifesto-like founding documents, because it does not seek to
Slave Narrative and Black Autobiography - Richard Wright's "Black Boy" and James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography The slave narrative maintains a unique station in modern literature. Unlike any other body of literature, it provides us with a first-hand account of institutional racially-motivated human bondage in an ostensibly democratic society. As a reflection on the author, these narratives were the first expression of humanity by a group of people in a society where
A favorite target for conspiracists today as well as in the past, a group of European intellectuals created the Order of the Illuminati in May 1776, in Bavaria, Germany, under the leadership of Adam Weishaupt (Atkins, 2002). In this regard, Stewart (2002) reports that, "The 'great' conspiracy organized in the last half of the eighteenth century through the efforts of a number of secret societies that were striving for
Evolution of Non-Profits An organization can essentially be defined as non-profit if it is not under the obligation to distribute any financial surplus to the individuals that are responsible for controlling the use of the assets for the organization. The most typical categories for non-profit organizations are arts, advocacy, civic, education, cultural, health, and human or social service, and these organizations range in size and scope. Non-profits are described by the
The crossed bones were reference to the original Templar logo of a red cross with blunted ends -- and also to human mortality. But it also was a life-giving symbol, as Christ was crucified at Golgotha, the "Place of the Skull." Thus, the Templars did not fear death upon the earth, as they were one with Christ, where he died (Jerusalem) and the cross where he died. This fearless