Freemasons, Rosicrucians and Opus Dei are waiting for you! How to join a secret society. Secret societies that no one knows about How to create your own secret club
In the world for centuries of history, there have been many of the most diverse mysterious organizations: from ridiculous to warlike. Each such community is, in its own way, a story of human stupidity and delusion.
Mikhail Vinogradov on the world behind the scenes
In 2012, world news agencies reported a transcript of a mysterious document originally designated Codex Copiale. There is no provenance, as well as information about the current owner of the manuscript. According to some reports, the 105-page manuscript, intertwined in green with a gold eyelet, was discovered in the archives of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR back in the 1970s.
A group of scientists from different countries managed to open the code and read the mysterious book. It turned out that written in German The 18th century codex contains the initiation ritual of a German secret (Masonic-like) society called Oculisten("Opening the eyes").
The members of the secret society were ophthalmological surgeons from the Lower Saxon city of Wolfenbüttel, who imagined themselves to be healers and guardians of all medical knowledge about the structure of the eye and vision. They are known to have been treating cataracts. But no one except the initiates had any idea what was going on behind the scenes of this secret society, where a newcomer entering the ranks of the society was taught to "see" by plucking his hair from his eyebrows. After it was possible to decipher the other pages of the manuscript, it turned out that Oculisten had another mission - to keep an eye on the Freemasons.
The documents of this secret society included the top secret rituals of freemasons, right down to the highest degrees of Freemasonry. Now they are pretty well known, but at that time such information could only be obtained through espionage. Perhaps the Oculisten were either spies or a splinter group from Freemasonry, created in order to preserve their basic rituals if the Roman Catholic Church decides to deal with them in the same way as it did with.
It is not clear why the secret society of Irish-born miners in the coal mines of Pennsylvania in English Liverpool and Canada was called Molly Maguyers(Molly Maguires). According to Lehigh University staff, that was the name of an Irish Catholic woman who refused to leave her home when she was expelled from there by the British Protestants. The first mention of this organization is found in the pages of the newspaper The Liverpool Mercury on May 10, 1853.
At an anthracite mine in Pennsylvania, Molly Maguyers replaced missing unions, opposing paltry wages and shorter working hours from the stock market crash of 1873 to 1878, when the society was disbanded following arrests and executions. Working conditions in the mines, in the absence of safety measures, were appalling. Deaths and serious injuries occurred hundreds of times a year.
The Irish miners of this underground organization used the tried and tested tactics of intimidation and violence against the American coal trusts, which they followed in their struggle against the Irish landowners during the so-called "Land Wars" (or Cogadh na Talún in Irish) from 1870 to x through the 1890s. However, contemporary historians disagree about Molly Maguyers' commitment to bloody acts.
Members of the Molly Maguyers organization were accused of murder, arson, kidnapping and other criminal offenses. The members of the society were brought to trial on the basis of the testimony of a private detective from the Pinkerton agency, Irishman James McParlan, also known as James McKenna.
But "Molly Maguyers themselves" left little evidence of their existence, let alone their goals and motivation. " Even before the beginning of the investigation, based on his personal observations, MacParlan believed that Molly Maguyers, under the pressure of its activity, adopted a new name "The Ancient Order of Hibernians". After the start of the investigation, he calculated that there were about 450 members of this organization in one of the districts.
It is difficult to accurately answer the question of why so many perverts are found among the British establishment. Perhaps the closed nature of the establishments for boys played a role here. Although there were enough such institutions among French and Spanish Catholics, as well as among the Orthodox brethren in Greek monasteries.
On May 25, 1895, an English celebrity was escorted to a London prison following his conviction of sodomy. During the Victorian era, articles that were sent to prison for homosexuality were especially popular.
Unfortunately, the most talented Wilde met with the illegitimate son of an English officer and a Spanish baroness, who later became the writer and poet George Cecil Ives. In 1892, Ives tried to draw the attention of a celebrity to the problems of homosexuals, but he, to his great disappointment, did not express the slightest interest in the fate of the persecuted gays.
In 1897, Ives created the secret Order of Chaeronea - The orderHehronei... For the sake of ending the oppression of the gay community, this imaginary fan of antiquity named his brainchild in honor of the Battle of Chaeronea, which took place in August 338 BC, when the Sacred Detachment of Thebes, which allegedly consisted of lover friends. The mistake was in the misinterpretation of the Greek word for "close or intimate friend", although it is possible that some warriors used their comrades in arms as sexual partners.
Examining the corpses of the dead, Philip wept and said: "May those who suspect them that they were the culprits or accomplices of anything shameful perish by an evil death."
Centuries later, an insignificant group of Oxford clickers who translated ancient Greek texts did not find anything more valuable in them than popularizing - alas, sometimes literally - same-sex relationships. Based on their own perversions, the degenerates of the century before last raised the defense of homosexuality and other sexual perversions to their foul standards.
The same crap reigned in the brains of these leaders as in their morals. You had to be seven spans in your forehead to entrust the business of public (!) Protection of the "honor and dignity" of queers to the corrupted members of the underground society!
In 1912, first the English-speaking, and then the world community learned partial details of the activity of the secret society of leopard people operating in West Africa... The existence of such a cult is so secret in the countries of the Black Continent, where hundreds of people die from the claws and teeth of predators every year, it is difficult to determine whether the onlooker-tourist or native was torn apart by an animal, or whether he fell at the hands of killers who imitated a leopard attack.
In the 1950s, a significant proportion of the Yoruba people professed Islam or Christianity, but they still have strong ancient beliefs. Among the most authoritative secret societies in Africa are Egungun, Oro and Ogboni. In addition to the secret societies of leopards and crocodiles, there is also a secret baboon society.
Little is known about the motives of the members of these societies. For example, whether they are engaged or not. Often, white colonialists invented stories of supposedly savage and barbaric tribes in order to justify their illegal and blasphemous deeds in the countries conquered by the West.
What can you do so that life does not seem boring and empty, like on a desert island, which is rarely visited by relatives? Just don't sit at home! There are many different clubs for seniors in every city. And if you have a lot of creative ideas, you can open your own club too!
Go to university
In the Novoilinsky district of Novokuznetsk at the library named after D. Likhachev has a unique club for the elderly. People come here to study! This is a university for the older generation "New Start!" Everything here is like in a real educational institution: lessons, teachers, changes, graduations, holidays. “Our university has been operating for the second year already,” he says. head Natalia Suvorova- more and more people come to us. To be honest, such popularity surprises us, because everything we do now in the club, we did in the library before. Obviously, the chosen form of association turned out to be very successful - there is both knowledge and communication! "
The idea of creating such a club came from the "students" themselves. Someone has already seen similar ones in other cities of Russia, and all of them were very popular, because it is never too late to study! And if also with like-minded people, then it is interesting and useful. “The council of veterans of the region asked me to open a university for the elderly,” continues Natalya Sergeevna. - The idea seemed to me very interesting, especially since we already had some kind of base at the library. We drew up a passport and the position of the club, in which we outlined its main goals, objectives, direction of work, the category of "students". We keep a journal of visits and the university is assigned a curator from the library staff, and from among the members of the club we choose a leader. "
"University" is good because it gives both knowledge and communication. Photo: From personal archive /
The university opened its doors, as befits all educational institutions, on September 1. "Students" attend lessons in literature, local history, computer science, art history, in English, Orthodox culture, physical education and even Esperanto! Lecturers from the Pension Fund, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, health centers come to them, and they not only talk, but can, for example, even check blood for sugar or even do some kind of express tests. "Students" go to the fire department, various museums, exhibitions, meet interesting people of the city.
But not all lessons are serious. There are many creative activities, which over time began to be conducted not only by volunteers, but also by the "students" themselves. They share their experience with great pleasure: someone shows embroidery, someone is engaged in floristry, decoupage, knitting. Teachers at the university are different: they are library staff, volunteers (current and retired teachers of educational institutions of the city, employees of the Ministry of Emergencies, government agencies), and now the students themselves, who are preparing for lessons with great pleasure and responsibility. Classes are held once a week, on Fridays. As a rule, there are two or three lessons per day, one of them is necessarily creative.
The lecturers at the "University" are different: library workers, current teachers, employees of various services. Photo: From personal archive /
“Our“ students ”are getting younger before our eyes! - continues the head of the university. - Indeed, they turn into mischievous, cheerful students. And how smart they come! We also have the first bell, we celebrate the Day of Knowledge, the Day of the Student and, as expected, graduation with the presentation of certificates. Our grandparents are getting what they missed when they retired - new information and communication. They get to know each other, find new friends, then go to the dacha together, visit a friend to a friend, and even go to rest together, for example, to a sanatorium. " And this year, the "students" of the "New Start" began to take part in the new project "Grandmother for an Hour". These are free creative activities for children, with which the duty "grandmother" from among the students of the university is engaged. They give various creative workshops, read books together, help with homework, learn to play musical instruments, chess and checkers. This is how the simple idea of combining knowledge and communication has grown into a large and interesting concept, the implementation of which brings so many benefits to both its organizers and students.
Share yourself!
In 2005, Iraida Borisovna decided to do social activities, created a club for veterans of her native Zavodskoy district of Novokuznetsk and named it "My Family". The social service met halfway and allocated a room - in the recreation center "Komsomolets". “In order to open a club, you just need a great desire and always creative potential,” says Iraida Zinovyeva. - I didn’t even have to come up with classes: everything that I could do myself, I decided to pass on to my grandparents. She knew how to sew - she opened a sewing circle, knew how to draw - for drawing, knew how to sing - organized an ensemble, knew how to write poetry - a poetry circle, studied landscape - began to teach landscape design, sculpted from clay - now I teach others clay plastic. And in the end we got seven circles. " The average age of the "club youth" is solid - 80 years. “Despite their age, they are young at heart, because they are busy with creativity,” continues the head of the club. - We compose songs, poems, music, and sing ourselves. We constantly participate in various competitions, art meetings and festivals. Our grandmothers bypass the young at competitions and win prizes! They are full of creative ideas and life optimism, because they feel that they benefit people and give them joy, set an example of how to live actively and not lose heart! "
When people are busy with creativity, they are young. Photo: AiF / Pavel Kazakov
"Infected" from their leader with irrepressible energy, "club youth" also actively engaged in social activities. Now they go out with charity exhibitions and concerts in specialized agencies for children and the elderly. They believe that this is the only way, feeling needed, realizing your creative potential, you can live in joy and harmony with yourself.
Cinema is not for fun
The "Dialogue" intellectual cinema club turns 38 this year! Perhaps this is one of the oldest clubs in Novokuznetsk. The participants here are different, of course, and there are many retirees. It arose from the desire of the townspeople to discuss a problem movie. “In the pre-perestroika years, we were simply excited by such films as Andrei Rublev, Solaris, Ivan's Childhood, Five Evenings, Ascent, The Flight of Mr. McKinley, Father Sergius,” says club member Andrey Ivanov.- Nobody talked about it on television, as now, did not discuss them. You won't hear the truth! And we really wanted to understand the film and discuss it with like-minded people. And before that sometimes the discussions were stormy, that the fists were used! Can you imagine? "
The club was founded by Boris Gilyov, an infectious disease doctor. And in 1979, "Dialogue" began to organize meetings in the library. N.V. Gogol. “There was a time when they were allowed to enter the club only on the basis of exam results,” continues Andrey. - You had to know the basic cinematographic terms. I remember we even wrote cheat sheets for beginners so that they would not be overwhelmed in the exam. " The club was very popular: it was a member of the Society of Cinema Friends at the Union of Cinematographers, went to various film festivals, and collaborated with the Museum of Cinema in Moscow. At one time, film critics from Moscow, famous cameramen came to visit the club. A unique collection of films from the best directors has been formed here!
“Of course, now people have more opportunities to watch and discuss interesting films: there is the Internet, various forums,” says Andrei Ivanov. - But we come here precisely for live communication. We, the elderly, miss him. We learn to listen to each other, express our point of view, meet new people. Many of us then just become friends, visit each other. Here we get interesting knowledge and communication, exactly what we lack so much in life. "
Secret organizations - they are devoted to the plots of countless films and books, they are able to awaken endless curiosity in ordinary mortals who are not privy to all the horrors that are happening behind closed doors. Conspiracy theorists believe that these societies do not bring anything good, while their leaders continue to remain silent about their deeds, thereby spurring the emergence of more more rumors. Today, the main task for an ordinary person is to separate the grains from the chaff, in other words, it is important to distinguish between what is the product of the theoreticians' imagination from the grains of truth.
Since much of our knowledge of such organizations is based on films, TV shows and books, the fact of their reliability is under big question... At our disposal, often, there is not even basic information that could confirm or deny the very fact of the existence of many secret societies. The rumors about the members of these communities and their activities are sometimes so surprising and disturbing that it is difficult to imagine that this could be true.
In this article, we have tried to select the most reliable information, clearing it of gossip and rumors, and present it to your judgment. Meet: ten of the most mysterious organizations and communities on our planet.
10. Opus Dei
If you happen to read or watch The Da Vinci Code, then you probably already know what we are talking about. Opus Dei is a secret society dedicated to protecting the secrets of the Catholic Church and the alleged lineage of Jesus Christ. In fact, the Opus Dei organization was created in 1928 with the blessing of the Pope. Members of this community believe that everyone should lead a holy life, including celibacy. This community has been criticized for being overly strict in its principles, although none of the atrocities attributed to them have been officially confirmed. Moreover, the Catholic Church itself prohibits the creation of any secret communities, as well as participation in them.
9. Bilderberg Club
The Bilderberg Club is a rather interesting organization, whose existence is not denied by anyone, moreover, they even publicly announce the topics of their meetings. Unfortunately, regular visitors are strictly prohibited. The first meeting of this club took place in 1954 at the Bilderberg Hotel in the Netherlands. The list of invitees is usually quite exclusive and includes the most influential people on the planet - from top officials of the IMF to presidents and leaders of the EU. All guests are guaranteed the highest level of security and anonymity. Everything that was said at the meetings, as well as who said it, remains a secret.
As far as reality is concerned, it is much less exciting. The group meets to discuss world problems and issues in an informal setting. Participants can freely exchange information obtained here, leaving only its source unknown.
8. Rosicrucians
The Rosicrucian Society is widely believed to have been founded in the 1600s by a group of German Protestants who dreamed of changing the political map of Europe. Since this society was organized by a group of Protestants, it was considered dangerous - the vast majority of the population of Europe was Catholic. At that time, the secrecy of society was the only way to protect against persecution by the Catholic Church. Rosicrucians exist in our time - several groups of this secret society are scattered in different parts of the world and each of them claims the right to be considered the ancestor of this movement. Members of this community usually include religious leaders and philosophers.
7. Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Also known as the Golden Dawn, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was founded in the late 19th century. Its members were engaged in the study of the occult, the paranormal, and metaphysics. The organization was considered a magical order, its circles included such famous personalities like Bram Stoker, author of the famous book Dracula. Today there are several groups of followers of this order, but it is reliably known that none of them has a direct connection with the original order. Members of the order are still required to undergo a special initiation ritual that will move them from the so-called "outer circles" to the "inner". According to Llewellyn's Encyclopedia, many more people today have access to the Order of the Golden Dawn. Many of them call themselves "Golden Dawn practicing magicians."
6. Knights of the Golden Circle
At one time, this organization was a real secret society, many believe that it exists to this day. The Knights of the Golden Circle were supporters of the slave system. The organization itself was founded in the mid-19th century and was highly active before and during the American Civil War. Initially, the society wanted to annex the so-called "golden circle" of lands located in Mexico, in order to subsequently divide it into 25 slave states. The mere assumption that you could be a member of this society, at that time, could have thrown you in jail. Some historians believe that after the end of the Civil War, the community went underground. For some time, there were rumors that the circle was going to fund a second civil war but they turned out to be empty. Some sources state that the group ceased to exist in 1916.
5. Ordo Templi Orientis
Ordo Templi Orientis or O.T.O. Is an international brotherhood based on religious unity. The group was created following the example of the Order of the Freemasons, and its most famous member was the British writer and occultist Aleister Crowley, who at the same time was the leader of the community. Probably, when it comes to secret societies, you immediately imagine the typical anti-heroes from the films, armed with daggers and wearing cloaks. This image came to us precisely from Ordo Templi Orientis. The rite of passage, as well as fraternal ties, were very much appreciated here. The entire existence of the group was reduced to the practice of occultism, which, according to some sources, continues to this day. Here, too, over time, smaller groups have appeared, which constantly compete with each other and try to prove their belonging to the original family of the founders of the order.
4. Order of the Dragon
The Order of the Dragon included a community of knights and military noble bloods who devoted their entire lives to defending Christianity. They destroyed everyone who went against Christ. The order was founded in 1408 by Sigismund, King of Hungary, who later became Emperor of Europe. One of the most famous members of this order was Vlad II Dracula, father of Vlad Tepes, who inspired Bram Stoker to create his novel Dracula.
3. Freemasonry
Masons are most often blamed for participating in and creating world conspiracies. The very idea of Freemasonry came about when four small groups of masons came together to create the Grand Masonic Lodge. Freemasons brought the concept of secrecy and the use of passwords to a new level (initially, passwords were used by stonecutters so that when moving to a new city, they could quickly find a job). They say that Freemasons stick together and help each other, no matter where in the world they are. This fact means that all dignitaries have excellent connections around the world.
2. Skull and Bones
The Order of the Skull and Bones is not as bad as you might think. It is actually a student community at Yale University, originally known as the Brotherhood of Deaths. There is only one fact that cannot be denied - the brotherhood is famous for some of the most educated and successful graduates in the world. Both Presidents Bush were members of this fraternity, and all the other alumni reached heights in their fields, having their own: whether it was career growth, fame, luck, or success in politics. The Fellowship meets every Thursday and Sunday in a building codenamed “The Tomb,” and is believed to seek to form a group of future leaders of the global community and CIA agents. The community itself was founded in 1832, admitting only the elite to their company.
1. Illuminati
The Illuminati are the main mystery and mystery of our time, full of conflicting facts. While all data indicate that this moment there is no such order left in the world, it may not be true. The Bavarian Illuminati Order was founded on May 1, 1776 by Adam Weishaupt. The purpose of the creation of this society was the desire to counteract abuse state power, the desire to keep the influence of religion away from politics and the desire to empower women. The current version of the Illuminati, as described by conspiracy theorists, is a powerful control mechanism over the world's banking systems and government. High-ranking celebrities are usually associated with society, but, again, at the moment there is no obvious evidence that the Illuminati society is still active. Here it remains to choose from only two options: either they hide too well, or they really no longer exist.
Since the Order is a closed secret society, there are special requirements for a candidate to join. This must be a person who has reached the age of majority, has no criminal record and is seeking to change himself and the world... Since the activity of the Order is aimed at studying a large amount of non-standard information in all branches, the candidate, upon joining, must be able to prove his ability to learn, flexibility of mind, his desire to accept and adhere to the rules of the Order, as well as to reveal in detail and convincingly the reasons for his desire to join the ranks of the Order. ...
The process of admission to the ranks of the Illuminati takes place in stages. The first step to join is filling out the contact form below. It is necessary to fill in all the fields provided as detailed and understandable as possible, not to use deliberately false information, expressive expressions and advice, not to ask questions. The administration of the Order selects suitable candidates and sends them further orders. As a rule, these are small tasks for collecting / processing information or talking with members of the Order using available information technologies. Based on the results of the vote, it becomes clear whether the candidate has a chance of joining or not.
If the candidate fully meets all the requirements and is worthy to join the secrets of the Order, he becomes a full-fledged Illuminati of the first Degree of Initiation - a Disciple (ST I).
Application for admission to the ranks of the Order
Before writing your application, please read the section "Questions and Answers" and make sure that you meet the requirements for candidates for entry. In case of a positive decision on your candidacy, be ready to confidentially provide more detailed information.
Photo: Wikimedia.org/ Initiation into the Freemasons
On August 13, 1822, Alexander I banned the activities of secret societies in the Russian Empire. Now, two hundred years later, there are plenty of secret societies in Russia: you can even join the Masonic lodge, even the Rosicrucian Order. But are there many secrets left in the activities of these once secret organizations?
Involuntary masons
The prohibitive rescript of Emperor Alexander is explained by the activities of the Decembrist movement, which by that time had already acquired enormous proportions. But organizations that were seemingly not connected with politics were also hit: the Masonic lodges. Why was the Freemasons deprived of their former will?
The question of the connection between the Freemasons and the Decembrists is a topic that is popular among modern historians and writers, but has not been fully disclosed. It is difficult to doubt that the Decembrists were Freemasons: early XIX century they were, perhaps, the entire active part of the male nobility. But no one has yet succeeded in proving that the uprising on Senate Square is part of the world Masonic conspiracy. Although many still believe in the Masonic conspiracy itself. No matter how much the websites of Masonic organizations assure that the goals of the movement are spiritual growth, public enlightenment and charity, to the mass consciousness these aspirations seem too shallow and uninteresting. Whether it is a group of initiates, which keeps the secrets of the Templars, hatches plans for world domination and seeks to take control of the governments of different countries! There are so many myths about Freemasons that reality looks somehow faded. However, secret societies are good because it is completely impossible to debunk the legends about them: you can always say "You just don't know everything!"
What do we know about Freemasons, not from adventure novels, but from genuine testimonies? Freemasons were called masons for a reason: although the compasses and squares in Freemasonry are interpreted as symbols of the ability to judge, these objects also have a historical meaning - they remind of the origins of the organization. After all, Masonic associations did not arise at all on the ruins of the Knights Templar. They grew out of guilds that were involved in building during the Middle Ages. gothic cathedrals... The cathedrals were huge, the life of the builders seemed shallow and insignificant against their background, and whole generations of stonecutters, designers, artists lived next to grandiose construction sites, getting used to the idea of subordinating their own interests to great goals.
At what point the guild associations turned into secret brotherhoods is difficult to say: the process proceeded gradually: people worked, helped each other, created their own signs, rituals and ceremonies. In the 17th century, when craft associations lost their significance, the Masonic organization was enriched with utopian ideas: after all, you can build not only temples, but also a just, humane and enlightened society!
What does it cost them to build a Temple
Conspiracy theorists attributed many secret goals to the Freemasons, but the information available to the "uninitiated" sounds pretty peaceful. Members of the Masonic brotherhood had to believe in God, although it was allowed to interpret it in different ways, depending on religion (some Masonic movements, having agreed to believe in the Absolute, began to accept atheists into their ranks). Discussions about politics and religion were forbidden so that the Brothers would not quarrel on the way to a common goal. It was required to be loyal to the authorities of the country on the territory of which the box was located, to do something socially useful and to do charity work. In general, nothing interesting.
However, such tasks did not sound very intriguing, so the new members of the brotherhood needed to be somehow enticed. When Pierre Bezukhov, the hero of the novel "War and Peace", is accepted into Masons, he is promised more tempting prospects: "The rhetorician cleared his throat, folded his gloved hands on his chest and began to speak.
“Now I must reveal to you the main goal of our order,” he said, “and if this goal coincides with yours, then you will profitably join our brotherhood. The first main goal and foundation of our order, on which it is established and which no human power can overthrow, is the preservation and delivery of some important sacrament to posterity ... from the most ancient centuries and even from the first person who came down to us, from whom the sacraments maybe the fate of the human race depends. But how is this a sacrament of such a quality that no one can know it and use it, if a long-term and diligent purification of oneself is not prepared, then not everyone can hope to find it soon. Therefore, we have a second goal, which is to prepare our members, as much as possible, to correct their hearts, to purify and enlighten their minds with the means that are revealed to us by tradition from the men who have labored in the search for this sacrament, and thus to administer them capable of the perception thereof. "An important sacrament served at least some kind of stimulus for self-improvement!
After the prohibition of 1822, Masonic lodges, of course, did not disappear altogether, but they lost their popularity. Times changed, gradually other teachings came into vogue, and active youth no longer wanted to peacefully improve society all their lives: the idea of destroying everything that was wrong seemed much more promising, and then building the world anew. The short renaissance of the Masonic movement in Russia after 1905 ended with the existence of Russian Empire: v Soviet Russia free masons were, of course, banned again.
A new round in the development of the Masonic movement took place already in the 1990s, when everything that was not there before became popular in the country: from neo-paganism to esotericism. The Masons did not return their former influence, however, they are now also not the same as before.
According to the Masonic calendar
Masons time is running in its own way: the countdown is from the creation of the world, adding 4000 years to the current year, and the year begins on March 1. That is, now in the courtyard is 6014 year of the Light of Truth.
The phrase "Masonic year" also has a more practical meaning: the period from September to June, when the lodge leads active work... In July-August, the Masonic holidays begin, in September a new Masonic year begins. It is usually referred to as the year 2013-2014 e.v. - Era Vulgaris - Ordinary Era.
According to the website Alexander, who introduced himself as the Venerable Master of the New World Lodge, modern Freemasons are not a secret society, but rather a society with its own secrets. All "secret" rituals, history, lists of famous participants in the movement have long been described. " The main secret that no one can ever reveal is personal experience, which every Freemason experiences during the work of the Lodge, rituals of initiation and exaltation in degree, communication with his Sisters and Brothers, - Alexander explained. “Otherwise, Freemasonry is open to the world and has an active dialogue with it, avoiding only communication on political and religious topics.”
It seems to the venerable master of the lodge that modern society also refers to the Freemasons quite democratically. Although there is a lot of conspiracy journalism on the Web, more and more people are beginning to view Freemasonry positively. And Alexander is not afraid of a new ban from the authorities: "I think that with the current level of openness of information about Freemasonry, most modern statesmen also have the idea that in reality we are more a club for intellectual conversations and work on ourselves than revolutionary conspirators. At least one would like to hope so. "
More lies, good and different!
The New World Lodge, numbered 1989, belongs to the Masonic International Order of the Right of Man (Le Droit Humain). And this is just one of several Masonic lodges in our country. More precisely, it was founded by immigrants from the United Grand Lodge of Russia, and that, in turn, arose after the separation of a part of the Freemasons from the Grand Lodge of Russia created in 1995. In addition to simply the Great and United Great, there are also lodges "Moscow" and "Astrea", subordinate directly to the oldest association in Europe "Great East of France".
Women in the Masonic movement used to have a hard time: their right to build a just society was infringed, like all other rights, refusing to accept Masons. As Alexander explained, “the ban on the entry of women into the so-called regular Freemasonry is one of the ancient landmarks, that is basic principles freemasonry. In fact, it reminds us of a time when a woman was not considered free because she did not have enough civil rights. "
However, emancipation in general affected secret societies in particular: today, many Masonic obediences have opened the doors of their temples for women. Recognized Freemasonry is now divided into regular and liberal. Regular - male Freemasonry, originating in Scotland and then, England. Liberal Freemasonry includes, first of all, French lodges, male, mixed and female, for example, the Grand Lodge of France. All liberal lodges exist in Russia in one form or another. The "New World" Lodge is one of those that welcomes people of both sexes into its ranks.
Lodges and clubs
There are several organizations in the world that are similar to Masonic lodges, but still have nothing to do with them. For example, a network of Rotary Clubs created by business representatives for charitable activities and the implementation of humanitarian projects. Rotarians also have their own ethical principles, initiation ceremonies and even a special calendar. There is also the Lions Club: an organization uniting volunteers and benefactors. But, according to Alexander, these organizations were originally created for business contacts and solving business issues that do not require symbolic rituals. In Masonic lodges, they speak more often of higher matters.
How to become an initiate
How do modern Freemasons recruit their members? First of all, they don't recruit anyone. On the websites of all existing lodges, it is stipulated that they are not engaged in missionary activity: they say, if you want to join the Masons, ask the Masons yourself, and do not wait until they call you. So anyone who wants to become a free bricklayer needs to find the website of a lodge on the Internet and send a request.
All Masonic organizations describe suitable candidates in the same way: "a man of free and good morals, over 18 years old, striving for self-improvement." Another person must be solvent, since the Freemasons pay monthly membership fees. The size of the contribution usually depends on the income of the candidate, although the Grand Lodge of Russia, for example, pragmatically stipulates the average prices for its "services": "4000 rubles / year, 10000 rubles / dedication."
Paying your dues isn't everything. A New World candidate, for example, undergoes at least four interviews on different topics, after which the newcomer is invited to the interviewing ceremony under a bandage. Alexander described it as follows: "With a bandage over his eyes, the candidate is led into the temple and answers the questions of the Brothers and Sisters, after which a secret ballot is held for the candidacy, according to the results of which the candidate is invited to the dedication (or is denied it)."
Photo: Wikimedia.org/ Initiation into the Freemasons
But joining the box is half the battle, but what to do then? How exactly "makes people better"? "The main achievement is, perhaps, the atmosphere of brotherhood prevailing in the Lodge, the readiness to come to each other's aid, as well as the opportunity to engage in one's own intellectual and spiritual development, aligning with worthy Brothers and Sisters," explains the Venerable Master Alexander. - "For example, in the past year, our Lodge worked on two main themes: we considered utopianism and its relevance in modern world and also explored the symbolism and lessons of Masonic initiation rituals. "
The members of the lodge are engaged in self-development and enlightenment of those around them, creating "architectural works" - small reports or abstracts on topics like "Symbolism of number 3" or "Symbolism of architectural styles". Works are read aloud at lodge meetings. Especially gifted people can write music, poetry, paintings or make ritual paraphernalia as architectural works. Free masons also translate foreign materials about their movement and publish magazines (most often only in electronic form).
Charitable programs are the embodiment of high words about the improvement of the world. “This is mainly a private charity, - Alexander explained. - We provided assistance to veterans and old people in hospices, large families, helped in organizing charity events and festivals. Some members of the lodge regularly participate in charity sports marathons. We also help Sisters and Brothers who find themselves in a difficult life situation, even if they do not belong to our Lodge and our Order. "
Other secret
Those who are eager to join the secret knowledge nowadays have a great choice. If the Masonic movement for some reason did not suit you, you can go to the Illuminati. This mysterious Order exists not only in the pages of Dan Brown's books. The first Illuminati Society appeared in 1776 in Bavarian Ingolstadt, founded by philosopher, theologian and lawyer Adam Weishaupt, who was inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment. The goal of his activity, he proclaimed, naturally, the happiness and improvement of mankind.
Pyramid with the All-Seeing Eye - a symbol of the Freemasons and the Illuminati, caught on a dollar bill
Modern Russian Illuminati are easy to find on the Internet. They describe their principles in blissful and vague formulations: "a community of free people looking for the meaning of existence", "maintaining the Light and faith in the victory of Good." Unlike Masons, representatives of this doctrine dislike religion: they say, it sets false goals, distracts from building a New Order of universal prosperity and prosperity. The "enlightened" (from the Latin illuminatus) also have specific goals: to destroy the World monetary system, to create a unified library of the Illuminati, and even to revive a certain "Secret Knowledge". However, it is not known exactly how they plan to implement these guidelines.
Like any self-respecting secret society, the Illuminati write that they do not seek to attract new members, but they still invite those who wish to fill out a questionnaire on the site. The requirements for candidates are simple: they must be people over 18, with no criminal record and with a desire to change the world for the better. Applicants are asked to describe what the words "Moral", "Freedom", "Culture" mean to them, they ask tricky questions from the series "Does the end justify the means?" bear the financial burden. " The magnitude of the burden was not reported.
The Rosicrucians of all kinds are more outspoken on financial matters. In theory, all of these orders, schools and societies descended from the Rosicrucian Order that arose in the Middle Ages. Its founder is considered Christian Rosenkreutz, the hero of the novel "The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreuz" published in 1616. Whether Rosenkreutz existed in reality and what his real name was is unknown, but the beautiful pseudonym Rosenkreutz provided society with an emblem: a rose blooming on a cross. The Rosicrucians were fond of alchemy, esotericism and astrology, did not disdain magical practices.
Cross and roses - a symbol of the Rosicrucians
At the beginning of the 20th century, many organizations arose that imitated the medieval Rosicrucians, and it was not so easy to understand them. For example, in Russia there is now a certain Rosicrucian Order - a branch of an organization whose headquarters are located in the Canary Islands. It is very simple to join this secret Order: register on the website and choose the appropriate tariff: individual (40 euros at once, 13 each month) or family (45 euros for two at once, 15 - monthly). It's cheaper to join in bulk! After sending the fee and the application for membership by postal order, all you have to do is wait for the membership card, the Emperor's greeting card and instructions to be sent to you. In the future, communication takes place by mail: new members of the order are sent material for study, almost like in a correspondence course at a university.
In the Spiritual School of the Golden Rosicrucian, the rates are lower: from 300-500 rubles per month. This organization, which arose in Holland in 1924, is present in Russia not only "virtually": it has centers in several cities, including Moscow. In addition, it is almost the only Rosicrucian organization whose website contains not only an email address, but also a telephone number. The woman who answered it prosaically introduced herself as Lydia Vasilievna and said that the Russian office of the school had opened in 1993. The Spiritual School does not contact other Rosicrucian communities, because their principles are different: the school is based on the principles of the New Testament, transferred to our time, and does not deal with occult and mystical teachings. The introduction can start with free open events, those who wish can become members of the school, and then students. In addition to membership fees, two-day conferences are paid, but, according to Lydia Vasilievna, the money raised goes primarily to renting premises, since the school does not have its own building.
However, the Spiritual School of the Golden Rosicrucian has very little in common with secret orders - it is rather something like collective trainings with a religious bias, and those who enter it should not expect mystical revelations. As the hero of Umberto Eco's novel "Foucault's Pendulum" aptly remarked: "If a man came out to meet you and said: good evening, I am a Rosicrucian, it meant that he is not a Rosicrucian. A self-respecting Rosicrucian never speaks like that. On the contrary, he opens up as best he can." ... And in order to find a truly secret society that stores ancient knowledge, you need to work hard!
Although, maybe it's better not to search? And then suddenly you will find it. Or they will find you ...
Anna Makarova