Freemasonry, the system of secrets, ceremonies, and principles peculiar to the order or society of freemasons. This order, as it now exists, is a secret association organized for the purpose of social intercourse and mutual assistance. A very ancient origin is often claimed for it, some of its writers maintaining that it derived its origin from the "Dionysiac fraternity," an association which was formed in Asia Minor by the architects and builders engaged in the construction of temples and theatres at the time when the Greeks migrated from Attica thither. The association is supposed to have been in existence in Tyre when Solomon undertook the building of the temple, and the story runs that the fraternity sent a band of workmen from Tyre to assist Solomon in that work. Freemasonry, according to this account, is said-to have been originally organized by the leader of the band, who was a widow's son; and in this way is explained the great prominence which is given to Solomon's temple in the ritual and symbols of the order. But as there is no trace of these legends in authentic history, well informed masons content themselves with supposing that the order originated in the associations which were formed during the middle ages by masons and builders, as well as by workmen belonging to other crafts.

In those times, when a church or other great edifice was in process of construction, workmen were collected from all quarters and encamped in huts around it. They established a regular government with a master at their head, and appointed every tenth man a warden to oversee the others. They ranged from country to country, and established themselves wherever they found churches to build. It thus became important for them to be able to make themselves known to each other in strange countries, and hence they devised a system of secret signs and symbols. Whether these associations were also in possession of secret knowledge which was essential in architecture, and was transmitted from one generation to another, is a disputed point. It is certain that the finest monuments of Gothic architecture both in France and England were reared by architects who were not members of the order. The building of churches, however, was the great work of the times, and the masonic associations were held in high esteem because of the importance of their services in this work. They enjoyed the especial favor and protection of the pope, and bulls were issued by which peculiar privileges were granted to them. They were exempted from burdens imposed upon other workmen, and hence were styled "free" masons.

Men of eminence, both ecclesiastics and laymen, who were not actually employed in building, either as architects or as masons, became members of the order. Henry VI., king of England, joined it, and Henry VII. was grand master.-Freemasonry, as organized at the present day, has no connection whatever with the art of practical building. It is called by masonic writers speculative masonry, to distinguish it from practical building, which is called operative masonry. According to these writers, as the number of persons not practical builders who were admitted to the order increased, operative masonry was gradually transformed into speculative. They refer to the initiation in 1646 of the English antiquary Elias Ashmole, of which a description is found in his diary, as evidence that at that time the operative character of freemasonry was fast giving way to the speculative. On the other hand, writers who do not belong to the order maintain that modern freemasonry never had any connection whatever with the freemasonry of the middle ages, but was originally founded by Ashmole and some of his friends, as a piece of mystification, its symbols and signs having been borrowed partly from the knights templars and partly from the Rosicrucians. However this may be, it is certain that an order of freemasons was in existence in London after the great fire of 1666, and that Sir Christopher Wren was appointed grand master of it.

The interest in it afterward declined, perhaps because it was neglected by Wren as he became old and infirm; so much so that at the beginning of the 18th century St. Paul's lodge was the only one, or almost the only one, in existence in England. In 1702 this lodge adopted a regulation by which it was provided that the privileges of masonry should be extended to men of various professions, provided they were regularly approved and initiated into the order. The four lodges in existence in 1717 assembled at the Apple Tree tavern, in Covent Garden, and constituted themselves the grand lodge of England. The union was formed on the basis of the regulation of 1702. Since that time freemasonry has been, as it is called, a purely speculative system of symbolism. In 1723 the grand lodge adopted a constitution framed by Anderson, which became the organic law of the order. As thus organized, it was transplanted from England into France in 1725, into Ireland in 1729, and within the next ten years into Holland, Russia, Spain, Italy, Scotland, and Germany. An attempt was made in 1730 to introduce the organization into America by the appointment of a provincial grand master of New Jersey, but we have no record of the incumbent having established any lodge under the authority of his deputation.

In 1733, however, a lodge was opened at Boston, which was speedily followed by the organization of other lodges in the different colonies. After the assumption of independence by the United States, the lodges of America, all of which derived their warrants of authority originally from the grand lodge of England or that of Scotland, availed themselves of the privileges possessed by such bodies in all independent countries, and organized grand lodges in their respective states. In no country in the world has freemasonry flourished with more vigor than in the United States; and notwithstanding a severe but ineffectual opposition to it, which commenced in 1829 by the organization of an anti-masonic party (see Anti-Masonry), it has increased in numerical extent with such steady progress that at the present day it numbers, in all parts of the republic, several thousand lodges, and more than half a million members. In the whole world there were in January, 1873, upward of 10,000 lodges, and probably a million freemasons, including in that term not merely active members of lodges, but all who have attained the degree of master mason.

In spite of many attempts to suppress it by both church and state in various countries of Europe, it is firmly planted in every part of that continent, and many lodges have been established in Africa and Asia. In May, 1873, a lodge was established by Americans in the city of Jerusalem; and in the preceding year the grand lodge of Italy was opened in Rome itself. Its organization in Europe has been frequently used for political purposes, and especially as a cloak to conspirators against the governments. Such employment of it, however, is a violation of its constitution, which prohibits political, partisan, or sectarian discussions in the lodges.-The primary organization of the masonic fraternity is into lodges, which must each be composed of at least seven master masons in good standing. The first and lowest degree of masonry is that of entered apprentice, the second of fellow craft, the third of master mason. The officers of a lodge in the United States are: worshipful master, senior warden, junior warden, treasurer, secretary, senior deacon, junior deacon, tiler, and chaplain. There are also two stewards. The master, the wardens, and the tiler are essential to any lodge organization. The tiler keeps the door and guards against intrusion. The officers are elected annually by ballot.

In each state of the Union there is a grand lodge composed of the representatives of the subordinate lodges, over which it exercises a certain jurisdiction. Its officers are styled grand and deputy grand masters, grand wardens, grand treasurer, grand secretary, grand chaplain, grand deacons, grand marshal, grand pursuivant, grand sword-bearer, grand stewards, and grand tiler. There is also a still higher degree of masonry, the members of which are termed royal arch masons, and form royal arch lodges; and beyond this there is still a long series of degrees bearing various titles.-The literature of freemasonry is extensive, especially in the German and French languages, the latest bibliographia masonica containing titles of quite 4,000 books upon the history, rituals, and belles-lettres of the order. Among the American works best known are Mackey's Lexicon" (Philadelphia, 1850); Morris'sLights and Shadows" (1852),Poems" (1804), and "Dictionary" (1867); and Ma-coy's Cyclopedia" (1868). Webb'sFreemason's Monitor" (1796), in numerous editions, is still the favorite text book of the craft.

"Freemasonry in the Holy Land" (1872) describes the masonic mission which led to the organization of the lodge in Jerusalem.