Muse – Masons and the USA
Many US presidents have been Freemasons(Source Two) as well as many Vice Presidents. This in and of itself can justifiably make people nervous. Considering it logically, when one is part of a fraternal organization which endeavors to create close bonds between its members, it isn’t off base to wonder if these loyalties will become conflicts of interest.
Do Masonic presidents show favoritism they shouldn’t toward other masons?
Brother, foot to foot teaches you that you should, whenever asked, go on a brother’s errand, if within the length of your cable-tow, even if you should have to go barefoot and bareheaded. Knee to knee, that you should always remember a Master Mason in your devotions to Almighty God. Breast to breast, that you should keep the Master Mason’s secrets, when given to you in charge as such, as secure and inviolable in your breast as they were in his own before communicated to you. Hand to back, that you should support a Master Mason behind his back as before his face. Mouth to ear, that you should support his good name as well behind his back as before his face. – ‘The Five Points of Fellowship’ : Master Master Initiation Ritual
Things like this make people wonder. So I looked around to see if I could find any plausible evidence of favoritism. Note, I said plausible as I have, in my looking, come across many conspiracy theory sites that give me a ‘fringe’ vibe and by that I tend to pass them off. Mentions of the Illuminate, Satan and other such things also tend to turn on my bogus sensors.
After about an hour of Yahoo keyword flipping an massaging, I didn’t find anything that pointed at an obvious bias that can be traced to freemasonry. But I would assume that if there were it would either be too subtle or secreted since such associations would be either low key or hidden away if Freemasonry is the ‘evil’ order of elitism that some think it may be.
Personally, I see the dangers inherent in freemasons in positions of power. And yes, I do wonder, but for now I don’t have the data to make a conclusion. But awareness of the potential problem makes for a better chance of spotting when a true problem becomes obvious. To truly research the subject, I’m sure I’d need to make a career of it.
As to the eye and pyramid symbol that is part of the symbol of the USA and on our money, I did look into that as well.
On Independence Day, a committee was made up to decide on a symbol for the US. This committee was made up of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, with Pierre Du Simitière as artist and consultant. Of the four, only Franklin is a known Freemason. There is some contention on Jefferson, but no records exist that show him as being a Freemason.
Neither of the two suggested the eye as part of the symbol. Pierre Du Simitière did and the eye is a common symbol overall. Tying it to Freemason influence over America is not impossible, but is a bit of a stretch given what I read.
Now for some random resources. Not all are ‘plausible’. Just a sampling of the type of stuff you’ll find on the net. Pro and con, sane and insane. And some that only have a side link to discussion of Freemasonry.
Resources
Freemasonry and the American Revolution
George Washington: First Inaugural Address – The Bible upon which Washington rested his hand upon receiving his oath of office was from St. John’s Masonic Lodge and the oath was administered by the Chancellor of New York, Robert R. Livingston who like Washington, was a Freemason.
John Quincy Adams and Freemasonry
Chief Joseph Brant — Mohawk, Loyalist, and Freemason
The NOW, Freemasonry and the Symbols on the Dollar Bill
The Incredible Satanic Vision
The Myths of Our Founding Fathers and Their Intentions
Little-Known U.S. Document Signed by President Adams Proclaims America’s Government Is Secular
Masonic Foundations of the United States
US Masonic History 101
Benjamin Franklin
Bill Clinton: The Decoy Antichrist