Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies. Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its precepts by a series of ritual dramas, which follow ancient forms and use stonemasons' customs and tools as allegorical guides.

Freemasonry or Masonry consists of fraternal organizationss that trace their origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons that from the end of the 14th century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. Freemasonry has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories throughout the years.

One of the oldest social and charitable organizationss in the world, the roots of modern Freemasonry lie with the medieval stonemasons that built our castles and cathedrals, yet it is as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago. Modern Freemasonry broadly consists of two main recognition groups:

• Regular Freemasonry insists that a volume of scripture be open in a working lodge, that every member profess belief in a Supreme Being, that no women be admitted, and that the discussion of religion and politics be banned.
• Continental Freemasonry is now the general term for the jurisdictions that have removed some, or all, of these restrictions.

The basic, local organizationsal unit of Freemasonry is the Lodge. These private Lodges are usually supervised at the regional level (usually coterminous with either a state, province, or national border) by a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, worldwide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry; each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate.

The degrees of Freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Apprentice, Journeyman or fellow (now called Fellowcraft), and Master Mason. The candidate of these three degrees is progressively taught the meanings of the symbols of Freemasonry and entrusted with grips, signs and words to signify to other members that he has been so initiated. The degrees are part allegorical morality play and part lecture. Three degrees are offered by Craft (or Blue Lodge) Freemasonry, and members of any of these degrees are known as Freemasons or Masons. There are additional degrees, which vary with locality and jurisdiction, and are usually administered by their own bodies (separate from those who administer the Craft degrees).

Freemasons use four important guiding principles to help define their path through life: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity.

• Integrity: Building good people - Freemasons are focused on building themselves as people of integrity and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.
• Friendship: Building together - Freemasonry provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.
• Respect: Building unity - Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society.
• Charity: Building compassion - Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry and the organizations provides the structure for members to make positive contributions to their communities and various causes.

Freemasons have always followed the "Three Great Principles": Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

• Brotherly Love: Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.
• Relief: Freemasons are taught to practice charity, and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.
• Truth: Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.
  Freemasons believe that these principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in life.

Membership is open to people from all backgrounds and the organizations’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.

Freemasonry provides a structure for members to come together under these common goals, enabling people to make new friendships, develop themselves and make valuable contributions to charitable causes.