Conspiracy theorists and secret societies. Occultism and ritual blood-letting.
The world’s perception of the Freemasons has been skewed by the influence of modern media. Many people, likely due to their portrayal in movies and shows, think of the Freemasons as a cult-like group that holds clandestine meetings to serve their ludicrous agendas. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Reality of Freemasonry
Freemasonry, at its core, is a brotherhood with the aim to ‘make good men better.’ The oldest active fraternity in the world, Freemasonry has a lot of roots in history and medieval traditions. Their historic traditions are what make the media perceive this particular group as a cult-ish organization. The members gather in lodges to host ceremonies and meetings, engage in rituals and traditions, and have open houses for prospective members. One of the most prominent topics discussed in their meetings is their primary order of business – philanthropy work. The Caddo Grove Lodge #352 is responsible for many charitable works done across Joshua. Some services that people may be surprised to know were done by the Freemasons include giving Christmas presents to underprivileged elementary students, sponsoring the CGE drug-free, bully-free bike show, the Caddo Grove Scholarship for seniors, and sponsoring elementary fall festivals. While a lot of their hard work goes underappreciated, because of their insistence on not doing work for credit, they truly have shaped so much of Joshua one kind act at a time.
This organization doesn’t just help the town, but also looks out for each other. There are numerous heartwarming stories the brotherhood could share regarding how they’ve all truly been there for one another, like passing the hat around (for monetary donations) in meetings to help sick family members or simply being a strong support group for each other.
Historic Background
What many people are unaware of regarding the Freemasons is that they are all over the world, and have members from all different backgrounds and religions including Muslims, Jews, and more. There is a rich local history of the Caddo Grove lodge in Joshua that most people don’t know anything about. The very beginning of the organization dates back to 1872, when the first Caddo Grove Lodge #352 was constructed. This lodge was located behind Caddo Cemetery, but unfortunately burned down in 1906. A new lodge opened its doors later that year, which is the current location on Main Street. Another neighboring lodge, located in Godley, closed down, which caused its members to merge with the Joshua organization. Another piece of history the Caddo Grove lodge still retains is the fact that it’s one of the only three moonlight lodges left in Texas. Moonlight lodges schedule their meetings and events around the lunar cycle, which is rooted in the days of no electricity when people had to travel by moonlight when traveling late.
Most lodges, like the local lodge, are multiple stories because in the earlier days of Freemasonry, people would have a schoolhouse or church in the bottom floor and lodge meetings in the top floor.
Admittance into Freemasonry is a process that begins with the individual man seeking out another Freemason as they do not solicit members. Once admitted, a man can move up in ranks to become a junior warden, a senior warden, and eventually the worshipful master, who runs the lodge. Members are elected for these positions by taking a vote during their congress-like meetings.
Concluding Message
To the people who view the Freemason society as a creepy, covert group, it would be wise to truly research about them and take note of the many diverse and prominent members, including figures like George Washington, Shaquille O’Neal, and Buzz Aldrin. Researching about their charitable works reveals how their core values are rooted in servitude, community, and improving each other. Freemasonry speaks to the empaths of this generation who appreciate serving the underprivileged, having a supportive community, and becoming better people with the help of that community.
