User:John Carter/Freemasonry (disambiguation)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Freemasonry is a term used by a number of varied organizations to describe themselves. For a history of the use of the term, see History of Freemasonry.

Among the organizations which are described by this term are:

• Freemasonry, which is generally acknowledged as being the oldest extant organization to describe itself by this word
• Liberal or Adogmatic Freemasonry (or Continental Freemasonry), a variety of organizations which differ from the group above (as well as from each other), most notably in matters such as admission of women and atheists and in the discusson of politics in the lodge.
• a variety of other Masonic bodies, many of which have additional orders of membership beyond the traditional three
• various occult groups such as the Order of the Golden Dawn who claim to be freemasons
• and a variety of organizations which claim the name of Freemasonry, or seem to emulate Freemasonry in various ways, but whose status as Freemasons is often disputed
• the Tiandihui, commonly known as the Chinese Freemasons, an unconnected Chinese secret society and fraternal organisation