Freemasons

Essentially, it implies rectitude of conduct and governing of self, with God as his Center. The symbol being made up of a carpenter's square and compasses (not compass) remind a Mason to "square his actions" and "circumscribe his desires" to keep them in check. In the U.S. the letter "G" is in the center, referring to G-d who is at the center of all.

No. While members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the 'Mormon' Church) may also belong to Masonic lodges (this was much more common in the 19th century than it is today), they are not otherwise related in any way. Masons are a fraternal charitable organization for men, and "Mormonism" is a Restorationist Christian religion.

While this question is difficult to answer on a world-wide basis, the Masonic Service Association indicates that there were 1,404,059 living Freemasons in the United States in the year 2009.

The United Grand Lodge of England had approx 222,000 members in 2009.

Modern Freemasonry is dated from the formation of the Grand Lodge of England at the Goose and Gridiron pub in London in 1717. The lodges which formed this Grand Lodge had already been around for a number of years. English Lodges are known to have existed from the mid-seventeenth century and Scottish ones from the late sixteenth. Some of the principles of Masonry are believed to derive from the practices of the actual stonemasons, for which there is documentary evidence going back to the late fourteenth century. Some historians believe that the practices of the Knights Templar were incorporated into Masonic organization and teaching, which would date these aspects to the thirteenth century or earlier. As with anything which evolved gradually over centuries, it is impossible to fix a date at which it started.

To be a Mason, ask a Mason. Masons are not allowed to ask you to join, you must ask them.

Drop by the lodge you are interested in joining, they will be happy (thrilled more likely) to talk to you about it.

No. Not Benny Hinn nor anyone else. One cannot be what does not exist.
No. Benny Hinn is a religous evangelist. If the Illuminati existed right now, the two would be at odds with each other. Since the Illuminati does not exist, Mr. Hinn cannot be bothered nor associated with them.

Unless someone specifically states that he is a member of the Freemasons it is almost impossible to know for sure that they are.

Yes. Every territory (in the free world) has one or more Grand Lodges which regulate and control Freemasonry.Each Grand Lodge is totally independent of every other Grand Lodge.In the USA there are around 100 or so Grand Lodges. Some of these are known as "Prince Hall" Grand Lodges [PH GLs]: they were established for Afro-American freemasons in the era of US history when Afro-Americans were not accepted (or at least not often accepted) into the "caucasian" Grand Lodge system. In recent years, many PH GLs and non-PH GLs have recognised each other.Unlike the USA, there has never been a race issue within the British Grand Lodges. The result is that Prince Hall GLs are unknown outside the USA or places where the USA has extended a masonic influence.In addition, there are many "irregular" brands of freemasonry and pseudo-masonry in the USA. CANADA has a mixture of mostly British derived Freemasonry with some Lodges working to the USA type rituals (both PH & non-PH). Most totalitarian states have outlawed Freemasonry, these have included over time: * nazi / fascist/ falangist and communist dictatorships, * extreme theocratic dictatorships, and * various absolute monarchies and personal "Presidential" dictatorships During the Spanish civil war, the Falangists of General Franco murdered many Freemasons, forcing some to dig their own graves first. In the 2nd world war, the Nazis murdered many European freemasons and imprisoned others in concentration camps along with the Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and political dissidents.

Yes

However, the highest degree in Freemasonry is considered to be the Third, or Master Mason degree. However, there are some additional "higher" degrees that are conferred by "appendant" or "concordant" Masonic organizations. Understand that these degrees are not more important than the third degree, although some of them use numbers that are higher. These degrees can be thought of like continuing education following a University PhD degree, they aren't really any "higher" but are additional.

One Masonic group that gives these additional degrees is the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (or simply, the Scottish Rite), which may be the most visible concordant body of Freemasonry. It is called a "concordant body" because some of its degrees are based on, and continue the story told in the first three primary Masonic degrees. The highest degree in the Scottish Rite is the 33rd, although that is an "honorary degree" and awarded only by invitation to those "elected" to it by their local Scottish Rite fellows. The vast majority of Scottish Rite Masons receive additional degrees up to the 32nd. Although some 33rd degree members are part of a "Supreme Council," they have administrative authority over only the members in their Scottish Rite jurisdiction (such as the Northern or Southern Jurisdictions of the United States) and have no authority over any other Masons or Masonic bodies. In short, 33rd degree Masons are the leaders of the Scottish Rite in their region, but they do not rule Freemasonry as is sometimes claimed by a few non-masons.

Other concordant or appendant Masonic bodies also award degrees, but most do not number them. The York Rite, for instance, culminates in the Order of the Temple, or Knight Templar. No currently recognized (that is, sanctioned by United Grand Lodge of England and other "regular" Masons) degrees are numbered higher than those of the Scottish Rite.

No, they aren't.
No, they aren't.

The basic three degrees of Freemasonry (the "Symbolic," "Craft" or Blue Lodge degrees) are the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees, in that order.

Although the "highest" degree in Freemasonry is considered to be the 3rd degree, or that of a Master Mason, additional degrees and orders are conferred by various "appendant" Masonic bodies which are supplemental to the first three. Because there are several branches of Freemasonry, there are quite a few additional degrees, none of them, however, is more important that that of a Master Mason.

See the related link below for a listing of various degrees and orders.

Unless the person specifically states that he is a member of the Freemasons, it is hard to know for sure.

Some clergy are freemasons, but most are not.

The United Grand Lodge of England has over 8,000 Lodges, but not all of these are in England. Some are in Wales, and in various parts of Africa and Asia which do not have a local Grand Lodge.

Aleister Crowley was initiated into an irregular clandestine Masonic Lodge (Anglo-Saxon #343) in 1904. He is not recognized as a regular Mason by the United Grand Lodge of England.

ancient,free and accepted masons

One of an ancient and secret association or fraternity, said to have been at first composed of masons or builders in stone, but now consisting of persons who are united for social enjoyment and mutual assistance.

No He is not.

In most societies, women's head coverings are a sign of modesty and symbolic submission (usually being under a man). But as well, in most societies, men's head coverings are a symbol of power and authority; taking it off for men is a ymbol of submission to someone else's authority. Consider the Pre-Vatican II Catholic Church. The Pope, Bishops, and Archbishops used large ornate headdresses. Nuns, on the other hand, were "covered" literally from head to feet.

In Masonry / Freemasons, the master's hat shows authority. As well, it is argued that wearing the hat denotes freedom and equality within the group.

Yes. Freemasons, just like the rest of humanity, will all go to either heaven or hell.

Nobody. Freemasonry evolved in part from the Stonemasons' guilds in medieval Britain, and from various speculative societies. The complete history of its origin is very obscure, but there is no point in history which can be pointed to as a founding point.

Modern Masonry dates from 1717 when four Lodges in London formed the Grand Lodge of England at the Goose and Gridiron pub. But those Lodges were already in existence at that time.

In English speaking jurisdictions the Square and Compasses are often depicted with the letter "G" in the center. The letter is interpreted to represent different words jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Among the most widely accepted interpretations are that: [G] stands for God, and is to remind Masons that God is at the center of Freemasonry. In this context it can also stand for Great Architect of the Universe (a reference to God). In a different context, the letter stands for Geometry, described as being the "noblest of sciences", and "the basis upon which the superstructure of Freemasonry is erected."[3]

President Obama is not a Freemason. There is no credible indication that the President is a member of any Masonic organization. There is nothing prohibiting him in terms of Masonic rules from announcing this fact if he were. There is also, however, nothing forcing him to do so if he were, either.

In some cases, membership can only be proven by searching through the fraternity's records. Such records are most often kept at the individual Lodge level, and may be lost due to fire, flood, deterioration, or simple carelessness. Grand Lodge governance may have shifted or reorganized, resulting in further loss of records on the member or the name, number, location or even existence of the Lodge in question. In areas of the world where Masonry has been suppressed by governments, records of entire Grand Lodges have been destroyed. Because of this, masonic membership can sometimes be difficult to verify.

Were he to be a Freemason, he would be sworn, on that basis alone, to uphold the law of the land. So stringent is this requirement, that it is a source of much hatred directed towards masons for their perceived amorality by refusing to oppose corrupt governments.

Thus concerns that he would be compromised as President due to loyalty to Freemasonry are the result of ignorance or misinformation, since, if he were a Freemason, he would be doubly bound to execute the office of the presidency in accordance with law.

Many U.S. Presidents have been Freemasons and have discharged their duty without incident.