Freemasonry

First appearing in London in 1717, Freemasonry is a men’s fraternal association that uses a system of rituals and initiations to teach an ethical code based on the dignity of all humankind. From the first known American lodge, founded in 1731, Freemasonry grew to influence the style and organization of many other fraternal associations. While its official teachings reflected the values of the European Enlightenment—egalitarianism, reason and religious tolerance—in practice, some early American lodges excluded African Americans and others. Today there are 1.1 million Freemasons in the United States, down from its historic peak of 4.3 million in 1959, with a worldwide membership of 6 million people.