When the Pope becomes the chaplain of Masonry

Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2008

On April 18, 2008, Benedict XVI went to the United Nations headquarters to officially commemorate the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the Declaration of Human Rights. As anyone knows, this declaration closely follows the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of the French Revolution, inspired by the principles of the Enlightenment, which professes a system called Deism, a belief in a vague "god."

In his speech Benedict could not have been more admirative of this Masonic document. Indeed, he affirmed, "It is evident that the rights recognized and expounded in the Declaration apply to everyone by virtue of the common origin of the person, who remains the high-point of God's creative design for the world and for history." Therefore, the Pope conferred a kind of divine mission to this Declaration.

His eulogies of the revolutionary ideals were not limited to the Declaration. The institution of the UN itself, an organ to accomplish the goals of the Universal Republic dreamed of by Freemasonry, were also the object of his warm praise. He emphatically stated: "The United Nations embodies the aspiration for a greater degree of international ordering, inspired and governed by the principle of subsidiarity, and therefore capable of responding to the demands of the human family by means of binding international rules and structures capable of harmonizing the day-to-day unfolding of the lives of peoples."

Further on, he declared: "My presence in this Assembly is a sign of esteem for the United Nations, and it is intended to express the hope that the Organization will increasingly serve as a sign of unity between States and an instrument of service to the entire human family."

He also gave an account of the inter-confessional efforts of the Conciliar Church to build a Panreligion as a collaboration that should be placed under the hegemony of the UN. He said: "The United Nations can count on the results of the dialogue between religions, and can draw fruit from the willingness of believers to place their experiences at the service of the common good. Their task is to propose a vision of faith not in terms of intolerance, discrimination and conflict, but in terms of complete respect for truth, coexistence, rights and reconciliation."

He ended his speech by declaring the Holy See itself a type of subordinate of the UN when he affirmed: "The Holy See has always had a place at the assemblies of the Nations, thereby manifesting its specific character as a subject in the international domain ... The United Nations remains a privileged setting in which the Church is committed to contributing her experience in humanity ... and placing it at the disposal of all members of the international community."

It is not difficult to see that Benedict XVI took upon himself the role of a chaplain of the UN, who supports its actions wholeheartedly. A chaplain of the UN is in effect the same as to say, a chaplain of Masonry.

Below first row, he blesses a flag of the UN that was damaged by a car bomb in Iraq. Second row, during his speech. Third row, an overview of the assembly hall with Benedict at the podium. Last row, at right, he poses with the president and the secretary of the UN in turn.

http://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/Pope_speech.pdf

Estructura la Masoneria

QQ:.HH:. y estimados lectores

Este diagrama llamado "Estructura de la Masonería" en realidad representa la estructura de los Grados en los Ritos de York Americano y Escoces. Es importante señalar que el Rito de York originalmente solo comprende 7 grados, los cuales siguen siendo practicados ademas de la version "Americana".

Aprovecho este Post para recordar que la Masonería tiene 3 Grados "Universales" dado que todos los ritos los presentan en sus estructuras. Estos 3 grados son llamados "Simbólicos" y son encontrados o practicados en lo que llamamos Logias "Azules" o "Simbólicas". Estos Grados son reconocidos por todas las Obediencias. El Mason que alcance el Sublime Grado de Maestro Mason puede continuar su perfeccionamiento por diferentes "caminos" que son los Ritos.

Lo importante de este diagrama es que muestra claramente que sea cual sea el camino tomado en la Masonería todo converge a un solo punto: el G:.A:.D:.U:. .

Es realmente lamentable que algunos credos consideren a la Orden Masonica como incompatible u opuesta a ellos. En repetidas ocaciones me han peguntado si un Mason podia profesar alguna religion, a lo cual siempre he respondido positivamente. Probablemente sea el hecho que la Masoneria es adogmatica lo que puede ser considerado como "negativo" por muchas religiones ... pero eso es tema para otro Post de este Blog. ¿Y tu H o estimado lector, que opinion tienes?

(click on image)

Método Masónico

La Masonería no se define a si misma como un “ismo”. Masonería no es Masonisno, no es un dogma ideológico. Masonería es una actividad de esclarecimiento permanente, esclarecimiento que se lleva a cabo mediante un método complejo, que se desarrolla en un método de: Relación personal “Dinámica de grupos” en el interior de las Logias Organizativo Introspección Especulación simbólica Educación de actividades vitales y sociales Interiorización de valores Unitivo de posiciones ideológicas diversas Crecimiento personal Puesta en común

La Masoneria hoy en dia - National Geographic

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Pitagoras y la Masoneria

La filosofía pitagórica influye en los diferentes grados del trabajo masónico, pero obviamente en este trazado sólo me referiré al Primer Grado Simbólico de la construcción arquitectónica de nuestro Templo Inmaterial. Desde el mismo momento de nuestra Iniciación simbólica se nos enseña que la Logia es la representación del Universo, objetivamente en los Talleres Masónicos, por la reproducción del Templo del Rey Salomón, que era sostenido por Doce columnas, es decir a la hora del meridiano, en la cual el cuerpo no proyecta sombras, pues recibe la luz verticalmente a las Doce en punto. Nuestro Planeta es uno de los principales integrantes del sistema solar. Este conjunto de planetas tiene como punto central el Astro Rey, describe una marcha circular en los espacios interestelares por las constelaciones zodicales o más vulgarmente llamadas "Casas" que son 12. Es así que en algunos Templos Masónicos vemos dibujados los Signos Zodiacales en cada una de sus Doce columnas, con el objeto de representar gráficamente la marcha aparente del sol por los espacios cósmicos. En estas circunstancias, nos es dable conocer dos importantes medidas espaciales dentro de la esfera que circunscribe el sistema solar, la del Doce de los signos zodiacales y la del CINCO correspondiente al Hombre , cuya total interdependencia es evidente. Sin embargo como toda existencia requiere conjuntamente con la medida espacial sus complementarias de temporalidad, debemos obtenerlas del mismo binomio en referencia, y por una simple resta de 12 menos cinco, obtendremos el número 7, que nos indica la condición septenaria del Hombre, y si, por último, sumamos estos tres guarismos nos resulta el 24, o sea el día solar, que, iniciáticamente, es el signo de temporalidad que relaciona al macrocosmo con el microcosmo. En consecuencia, hemos obtenido los ritmos de 5 y 7 correspondientes al Hombre y el 12 y el 24 que lo relacionan con los movimientos del sistema solar. Si el número 12 lo reducimos a dígitos es decir, sumamos el 1 y el 2, el resultado será 3, o sea el correspondiente para el Aprendiz, siguiendo números más altos para el Comañero y el Maestro. Entre los Pitagóricos había, tres categorías: la de los acusmáticos, los recién iniciados (oyentes); en seguida los Matemáticos y finalmente los que tenían el tercer grado en que eran recién considerados como miembros de la comunidad y acceso a la comida litúrgica. La primera enseñanza que recibimos en la Francmasonería Universal se refiere a la perfecta ejecución de la Marcha ritual y el ceremonial del saludo de las tres grandes Luces de la Logia, condición sin la cual no es posible incorporarse a los Trabajos de un Templo Masónico. Al terminar la Marcha el Iniciado queda frente a frente con el sitial del Venerable Maestro, que muestra una Escuadra de brazos iguales. No obstante, la joya que porta en sus paramentos es una Escuadra de una relación de 3 a 4, como es la posición de los pies en la Marcha del Aprendiz y los catetos del Triángulo del Teorema de Pitágoras. En ese momento, el Iniciado saluda al Venerable Maestro completando, con dicho acto, la cuerda de la hipotenusa que enlaza las dos puntas de los pies. Por su parte el Venerable Maestro contesta el saludo desde su sitial, describiendo una segunda hipotenusa desde su propia escuadra. Construye de esta forma una Antinomia con el triángulo realizado por los movimientos del Iniciado, dando como resultado el que dos hipotenusas toman posición paralela, en Oriente y Occidente, formando los lados del cubo. Al saludar a los Vigilantes, el Iniciado completa las aristas del lado del Norte, que une las dos hipotenusas. Por su parte, el Segundo Vigilante, al contestar el saludo describe dos lineas de unión del lado Sur de las hipotenusas, cerrando de este modo, los cuadrados inferior y superior, pues al señalar su joya completa las aristas verticales y deja formado el CUBO PERFECTO. De esta manera, en forma casi imperceptible, se construyen los cuadrados y el cubo con los simples movimientos rituales que se ejecutan en el espacio, dando cumplimiento, así la sentencia Hermética que dice:- "así como es Abajo es Arriba y así como es Arriba es Abajo"- Cateto significa en griego lo siguiente: Línea Vertical, Perpendicular, Plomada, tirar de Arriba abajo" que en buen romance, ha sido la labor que han ejecutado los Vigilantes al saludar al Hermano que ingresa a la Logia. ¿Qué significa para nosotros el triángulo? En la Francmasonería el término triángulo es, por antonomasia, el área de los tres puntos de la Perfección Masónica estatuidos en nuestras doctrinas y que está simbolizado en todas nuestras reuniones por las Tres Luces del Taller. Volviendo al teorema de Pitágoras, el cuadrado construido sobre la hipotenusa puede considerarse como el punto céntrico del Templo del Universo que, al mismo tiempo, es el de la Logia y del Iniciado Francmasón, por lo cual debemos estimar que cada uno de sus lados representa las purificaciones de la Iniciación, a saber: en el Occidente la Tierra, al Norte, el Fuego, al Oriente el Agua y al Sur, el Aire. Creo que apenas he hecho una especie de bosquejo, pero espero que por lo menos nos llame al estudio de una tradición que nosotros, como Masones, no podemos dejar de lado. La Masonería tiene un fundamento Pitagórico. Cuando el Venerable Maestro le dice al Recipiendario "Aprended por la regularidad del compás a dirigir nuestros pasos" le está transmitiendo una enseñanza Pitagórica. Es indudable que estos conocimientos, no solucionarán ningún problema de caracter del "diario vivir"; pero no podemos negar que nos potenciará como verdaderos iniciados Francmasones, capaces de comprender íntegramente los misterios que encierra la vida humana, y como consecuencia lógica, florecerán en nosotros las más excelsas virtudes y las más exquisitas bondades.

La Hermandad Masonica

QQ HH y Estimado lectores:

aquí pongo a su disposición un video acerca de nuestra hermandad. Es bastante didáctico mostrándonos una vez mas el papel que jugo y ha jugado la Masonería a lo largo de nuestro historia moderna occidental.

No duden en dejar comentarios y/o en pedir contenidos que deseen ver en esta pagina.

TAF

La Masoneria Moderna y Las Constituciones de Anderson

La Francmasonería moderna (especulativa) nace en 1717 en Londres por lo reunión de cuatro grandes logias que crearon la primera Gran Logia: La Gran Logia Unidad de Inglaterra. En la actualidad tres de esa cuatro Logias fundadora existen : Antiquity No. 2, The Lodge of the Rummer and Grapes (ahora llamada Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge No. 4) y The Lodge at the Apple Tree Tavern (ahora llamada Lodge of Fortitude and Old Cumberland No. 12). Simultáneamente, le fue confiado al Pastor Anderson la tarea de actualizar las viejas bases góticas de la Orden. Este trabajo fue sometido a una comisión de catorce hermanos sabios en diciembre 1721, la cual dio su aprobación en marzo de 1722. El libro de las Constituciones fue impreso por primera vez en enero de 1723.

El texto mas conocido de las Constituciones es también aquel contiene el mas alto valor ideológico, curiosamente tanto para los miembros de la Orden como para sus opositores, sin olvidar aquellos miembros de la Mas:. irregular, y dice : un Mas:. tiene la obligación, por su misma persona, de obedecer las leyes morales, y si comprende bien el Arte, no sera jamas un estúpido ateo ni un libertino irregular. Esta claro que la lectura de esta frase muestra que la Mas:. funda su bases sobre la creencia de un Dios y en la tolerancia de la diversidad de creencias y religiones.

En regla general, la Mas:. Reg:., inspirada por las Constituciones de Anderson, se basa en 12 puntos :

1- La Mas:. es una Frat:. iniciatica la cual tiene como fundamento fe en el G:.A:.D:.U:.
2- La Mas:. tiene como fundamento de la Frat:. a los antiguos deberes.
3- La Mas:. recibe miembros que sean hombre libres y respetables comprometidos con los ideales de paz, amor u Frat:.
4- La Mas impulsa el perfeccionamiento de sus miembros y de la humanidad
5- La Mas:.impone a sus miembros la practica de rituales y simbolismos par el acceso a un conocimiento para una vida espiitual e iniciatica
6- La Mas:. impone a sus miembros el respeto de las opiniones y creencias
7- Los Juramentos se realizan sobre el V:.L:.S:.
8- Los MMas:. se congregan en LLog:.
9- Los MMas:. solo deben admitir hombres respetable, discretos y leales
10- Las MMas:. promueven en Log:. el amor por la patria, obediencia de las leyes, siendo el trabajo el primer deber de todo ser humano
11- Los MMas deben contribuir al brillo de la Orden.
12- Los MMas:. se deben los unos a los otros : proteccion fraterna en toda circunstancia

Pentacles, Wiccans and Masonry

A question that pops up from time to time on Masonic forums and in lodge has to do with the requirement of a petitioner to believe in a "supreme being" and whether Wicca qualifies as such a belief. Undoubtedly, part of the trepidation by some Masons to accept Wicca as a religion has to do with seeing inverted pentacles drawn on floors by hooded devil-worshippers in too many old Night Gallery reruns. Curiously, these same brethren generally have no problem with the inverted pentacle of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Perhaps some calm may be brought to the discussion by the news today that the Veteran's Administration has agreed to allow the Wiccan pentacle on the gravestones of fallen soldiers. The pentacle joins the list of 38 accepted religious symbols approved for headstones.

The pentacle, pentalpha or five pointed star, in truth, had no connotations of "good" or "evil" until the defrocked French abbé Eliphas Levi gave it such distinctions in the late 1800s. The pentagram first appeared more than 5,000 years ago, in Mesopotamian writings and drawings. The Babylonians used it as an astrological diagram to represent the five known planets, —Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, with Venus, the Queen of Heaven, at the top point of the star, as the Queen of Heaven. The Pythagorean Greeks used an inverted pentacle's five points to represent the Classical elements of fire, water, air, earth and idea – (or more properly, Hieron, a word meaning “divine thing.”). Modern day Wiccans and Neopagans similarly use the symbol in this a similar manner, to represent the four earthbound elements air, earth, fire, water and the “spirit.” Depending on the variety of Wicca, the symbol may appear with the point up or down.

Five has been a sacred number is a variety of religions, and the pentacle has long been a handy shorthand for those many meanings. Humans have five fingers or toes on each limb. We have five senses. Early Christians used the pentacle to describe a very wide range of concepts. Over time they have been used by Christians to describe, from the five senses and to the five wounds of Christ on the cross. Catholics have used it to describe symbolize the five “virtues of Mary” (Annunciation, Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension and the Assumption). In the 14th 14th-century Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, it appears on Sir Gawain’s shield to delineate the five virtues of knighthood: fellowship, purity, frankness, courtesy and compassion. And Islam has its five pillars of faith.

The pentacle has occasionally appeared in the symbolism of Freemasonry in a couple of references. It’s most prominent appearance today isly as the symbol of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Order of the Eastern Star is, part of the Masonic family of related groups known as the appendant bodies. It was created in the 1850s by Freemason Rob Morris and his wife as a group that allowed both men and women to mix in a lodge-like setting. Men who are Masons may join, as well as women who are married or otherwise related to a Masons. Morris was, an inveterate lover of Masonic ritual, and so he created a ritual ceremony that was initiatory like as in Freemasonry, but was dissimilar enough that so he couldn’t be accused by Grand Lodges of making women into Masons.
He based his ritual on biblical sources. The degree ceremonies of the Order of the Eastern Star tell stories about five heroines of the Bible: Adah, Jephthah’s daughter from the Book of Judges; Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi; Esther, the brave Hebrew wife of Xerxes; Martha, Lazarus’ sister, from the Gospel of John; and Electa, the “elect lady” mentioned in II John.

The pentacle as it is used in the Order of the Eastern Star represents the Star of Bethlehem, and the points of the star refer to the biblical heroines. Chapter rooms are traditionally laid out with a large floor cloth or carpet representing the pentagram and its star points. At the center of the symbol stands an altar with an open Bible open upon it.

Apart from its use in the Order of the Eastern Star, the pentacle – right-side- up or inverted – does not officially appear in Masonic ritual or symbolism – at least not in the U.S. Some “tracing boards” appeared in the early 1800s that contained five-pointed stars with a “G” in the center as a symbol of both God and of the knowledge of geometry. Other researchers have suggested that it may have represented a portion of the Master Mason degree ritual, the “Five Points of Fellowship.” But it was not a common symbol and has not survived in widespread use.

www.religioustolerance.org

Cine y Mas:.

QQ HH Todos

2008 ha llegado!! Iniciemos con toda tranquilidad con un Post el cual presenta una serie de referencia cinematográficas con contenido Masónico. Esta lista de películas es gentilmente compartida por la Gran Logia de la Columbia Britanica y Yucon. En esta lista encontramos peliculas bien conocidas como : The Man Who Would Be King (1975), Murder by Decree (1979), National Treasure (2004), From Hell (2001) etc... La Mas:. tambien es divertida.

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Across the Pacific (1942)
Humphrey Bogart is an American Army officer expelled on false charges of treason. In a shipboard scene, ju-jitsu exercises performed by Chinese sailors are compared to the initiatory nature of Freemasonry. Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet. Directed by John Huston. USA, English. *

The Affair of the Diamond Necklace (2001)
Christopher Walken plays Cagliostro, self-styled "the Grand Master of the Illuminati", while Jonathan Pryce, as Bishop Rohen, hides his personal correspondence behind a panel in a desk decorated with masonic symbols. Hilary Swank, Jonathan Pryce, Adrien Brody, Brian Cox, Joely Richardson, Christopher Walken. Directed by Charles Shyer, written by John Sweet. Drama R 117 min., USA, English. Technicolor. *

L'Âge d'or (1930)
To avoid arrest, Gaston Modot, as "the Man", produces a special delegate certificate, given to him by the International Goodwill Society. Although not immediately recognizable by the non-mason, it clearly displays a masonic design with an all-seeing eye in a radiant glory, two pillars with globes as well as three candlesticks on a checkerboard flooring. [00:28:10] Directed by Luis Buñuel, written by Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí. Gaston Modot, Lya Lys, Caridad de Laberdesque, Max Ernst, Josep Llorens Artigas, Lionel Salem, Germaine Noizet, Bonaventura Ibáñez. 60 min. France, French. Black and White, Mono. *

American Gangster (2007)
Ted Levine, as Det. Lou Toback, wears a masonic lapel pin [0:13:18]. Directed by Ridley Scott, written by Steven Zaillian and Mark Jacobson. Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Ted Levine, Roger Guenveur Smith, John Hawkes, RZA, Yul Vazquez, Malcolm Goodwin, Ruby Dee, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Carla Gugino, Skyler Fortgang. 157 min. USA, English, Colour, Dolby.

Anatomie (2000)
A student member of the Anti-Hippocratic Society—"a cross between the Freemasons and a college fraternity with old rituals, a lodge, the whole thing"—starts a killing spree that ends with the death of the Grand Master and the exposure of the society. Franka Potente, Benno Fürmann, Anna Loos, Sebastian Blomberg, Holger Speckhahn, Traugott Buhre. Directed and written by Stefan Ruzowitzky. AKA: Anatomy. 103 min. Germany, German / Latin. Colour, Dolby. (Horror) *

El Ángel exterminador "The Exterminating Angel" (1962)
Perhaps Luis Buñuel's most surreal and allegorical film, there is one scene where, in a crowded room, two characters give each other what appears to be the sign of the Fellowcraft degreee [00:18:00]. Later one asks the other for the name of his lodge. The other replies that it is Dawn Lodge No. 21. At a later point, one of the men lets out a cry that another man then explains is the masonic call for help. [01:18:00] While these two are specific masonic references, the story itself can be interpreted as a rebirth or resurrection story incorporating sacrifice and ritual. Directed by Luis Buñuel, written by Luis Buñuel. Silvia Pinal, Enrique Rambal, Claudio Brook, José Baviera, Augusto Benedico, Antonio Bravo, Jacqueline Andere , César del Campo, Rosa Elena Durgel, Lucy Gallardo, Enrique Garcia Álvarez , Ofelia Guilmáin, Nadia Haro Oliva, Tito Junco, Xavier Loya. 95 min. Mexico, Spanish, Black and White, Mono.

The Ant Bully (2006)
Lucas's grandmother, who fears alien abduction, leaps out of her customized rocking chair to reveal an obviously masonic square and compasses. Why is it there? Perhaps only to attract the attention of websites such as this. [00:18:00] Directed by John A. Davis, written by John A. Davis, John Nickle (book). Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti, Zach Tyler, Regina King, Bruce Campbell, Lily Tomlin, Cheri Oteri, Larry Miller, Allison Mack, Austin Majors, Ricardo Montalban, Myles Jeffrey, Jake T. Austin. 88 min. USA, English. Colour, Dolby. (Animation) *

Arachnophobia (1990)
The opening scene of the small town where the main story takes place frames a welcome sign incorporating logos for Rotary International, Freemasonry and the Lions Club. [00:17:44] Note the similarity to the welcome sign in Overboard. Directed by Frank Marshall, written by Don Jakoby, Al Williams. Jeff Daniels, Harley Jane Kozak, John Goodman, Julian Sands, Stuart Pankin, Brian McNamara, Mark L. Taylor, Henry Jones, Peter Jason, James Handy, Roy Brocksmith, Kathy Kinney, Mary Carver, Garette Ratliff Henson, Marlene Katz. 103 min, USA, English Colour, Dolby. *

Are You a Mason? (1915)
Based on the play Die Logenbrüder in which two non-masons attempt to convince others that they are freemasons. Also produced on Broadway by Leo Ditrichstein. John Barrymore, Helen Freeman, Charles Dixon, Harold Lockwood. Directed by Thomas N. Heffron, written by Leo Ditrichstein (play) Eve Unsell. USA, English. Black and White, Silent. (Comedy) .

Are You a Mason? (1934)
Sonnie Hale, Robertson Hare, Davy Burnaby, Gwyneth Lloyd, Bertha Belmore, Joyce Kirby. Directed by Henry Edwards, written by Leo Ditrichstein (play) Emanuel Lederer (play). 70 min. UK, English. Black and White, Mono. (Comedy).

Bad Boys II (2003)
Narcotics officers Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Bennett (Martin Lawrence) use a tile installer’s truck, with a square and compasses sticker on the back door [00:18:00]. Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Jordi Mollà, Gabrielle Union, Peter Stormare. Directed by Michael Bay, written by George Gallo, Marianne Wibberley. 150 min. USA, English, Colour (Comedy). *

Big Fish (2003)
Ed Bloom, played by Ewan McGregor, is given the key to the city and a parade when he leaves his small hometown. The parade consists entirely of Ed, his travelling companion, Karl, and six Shriners in mini-cars [00:30:00]. Directed by Tim Burton, written by Daniel Wallace (novel) John August (screenplay) Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange. (Drama / Fantasy / Comedy). 124 min., USA, English. Colour, Dolby. *

Bird (1988)
A biography of jazz musician Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. In a cemetery scene the camera pans across a row of monuments, one of which displays a square and compasses. Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora. Produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Joel Oliansky. 160 min., USA, English. Colour. *

Bobby Bumps Starts a lodge (1916)
Young Bobby Bumps plays a trick on his friend who wants to be initiated into his lodge. When his friend outsmarts him and saves his life, they both agree to be initiated into the lodge together. Reference is made to a lodge apron, riding the goat and the third degree. Bray Productions, Inc. Paramount Pictures. Directed by Earl Hurd (d. 1940). Produced by J. R. Bray. piano score composed and performed by Philip Carli. 5:15 min/24 fps. Released September 28, 1916. 1 reel of 1 (ca. 615 ft.) : silent animation, b&w ; 35 mm. *

The Celebration. "Dogme 1, Festen" (1998)
[00:23:49 - 00:24:09] Helge Klingenfeldt to his youngest son Michael: "I've been asked to inquire whether you are interested in the lodge. I don't see you as one of the brethren, I must say. But Christian has told Preben you're doing well. And as Christian is not interested, you may expect to be invited — to join the Freemasons. Strike while the iron is hot. There is a long...." The camera pulls back to one of Helge’s associates: "He could make something of himself." Helge finishes by saying: "We have to help you get on." Helge (Henning Moritzen) is revealed to have molested two of his children, driving one to suicide. Michael (Thomas Bo Larsen), a violent quick-tempered married man with three children, is revealed to have had an affair with one of his parents' maids, Michelle. Henning Moritzen, Paprika Steen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Ulrich Thomsen. Produced by Birgette Hald, written by Thomas Vinterberg. Danish, 106 min. Colour, Mono. 1998 (Drama) *

Conspiracy Theory (1997)
Mel Gibson, as programmed assassin turned cabbie, Jerry Fletcher, says "I mean George Bush knew what he was saying when he said New World Order, you remember those fatal words, New World Order? Well he was a 33rd degree mason you know and an ex director of the CIA." [00:01:40]. Julia Roberts, as justice department lawyer, Alice Sutton, says: "I suppose they have a secret handshake." [00:38:29]. Other references, if intended as such, are less obvious. Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Patrick Stewart. Directed by Richard Donner, written by Brian Helgeland. Warner Bros. 129 min., USA, English, Colour (Drama). *

Coup de torchon (1981)
In 1938 French West Africa, Lucien Cordier, as Philippe Noiret, describes his father: "He’s one of those people who believes there’s only one answer to every problem and one of those who blames everything on Jews and Freemasons." [00:59:54] Directed by Bertrand Tavernier, written by Jean Aurenche Bertrand Tavernier. Philippe Noiret, Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Stéphane Audran, Eddy Mitchell, Guy Marchand, Irène Skobline. Also Known As Clean Up. 128 min. France, French, Colour. *

Cremaster Cycle (1995-2002)
A set of five art films with numerous masonic references. Directed by Matthew Barney, written by Matthew Barney. Cremaster 1 (1995): Marti Domination, Gemma Bourdon Smith, Kathleen Crepeau. 40 min. USA, English. Colour, Mono. , Cremaster 2 (1999), Cremaster 3 (2002), Cremaster 4 (1994), Cremaster 5 (1997): Ursula Andress, Matthew Barney, Joanne Rha. 55 min. USA, Hungarian, Colour.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Tom Hanks, as Robert Langdon, stands in front of a display of "religious" symbols, including a masonic square and compasses in the bottom left corner. This image is a promotional still. Langdon makes a passing reference to Freemasonry near the end of the film. Directed by Ron Howard, written by Akiva Goldsman (screenplay) Dan Brown (novel). Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Etienne Chicot, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Marie-Françoise Audollent, Rita Davies, Francesco Carnelutti, Seth Gabel, Shane Zaza. 149 min. Country: USA, English / French / Latin. Colour

Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Delores' bank manager—who is wearing a square and compasses lapel pin— tells her that her husband has emptied their joint savings account. Kathy Bates as Dolores Claiborne, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judy Parfitt, Christopher Plummer. Directed by Taylor Hackford, written by Stephen King (book), screenplay by Tony Gilroy. 132 min., USA, English. Dolby Digital, Technocolour. *

Elmer Gantry (1960)
Edward Andrews as real estate agent, George F. Babbitt, says, "Do you realize that practically every American president was a mason and a Protestant?" He later exclaims, "I'm in business! I'm a thirty-second degree mason!" Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones. Directed and written by Richard Brooks. Novel by Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951). Fox, MGM, 146 min. USA, English, Colour. *

The End of Days (1999)
Arnold Schwartzenegger plays a former police officer who carries an amulet. At one point he says "Now this amulet is from a masonic order in the former sub-heredom of the Vatican Knights, the Knights of the Holy See. They await the return of the dark angel to earth." Also, during the opening titles Elephis Lévi’s baphomet can be briefly seen. Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Pollak, Rod Steiger. Directed by Peter Hyams, written by Andrew W. Marlowe. *

Erin Brockovich (2000)
The cornerstone of the Barstow Courthouse displays a square and compasses. Although there is a report that in a later scene a friend of Erin tells her that her husband is out at a lodge meeting, your editor has been unable to find this scene in the DVD release. Julia Roberts, David Brisbin, Dawn Didawick, Albert Finney. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Susannah Grant. 130 min. USA, English, Colour. *

Flushed Away (2006)
The Toad, villain of the film, wears a ring, seen at [00:16:00] and [00:20:00]. It may represent a masonic square and compasses but unfortunately it is not shown in sharp enough focus to be sure. Directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell, weitten by Sam Fell (story) and Peter Lord. Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Bill Nighy, Andy Serkis, Shane Richie, Kathy Burke, David Suchet, Miriam Margolyes, Rachel Rawlinson, Susan Duerden, Miles Richardson, John Motson, Douglas Weston. 84 min. UK / USA, English. Color, Dolby. *

From Hell (2001)
Implicates the Craft as being responsible for the Whitechapel murders in London. The many masonic images and references places this movie in the catagory of intentional anti-masonry. Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm. Directed by Albert Hughes, based on a graphic novel written by Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell. USA, English, 121 min., Colour. *

Gattopardo, Il "The Leopard" (1963)
Father Pirrone exclaims: "You nobles will come to an arrangement with the liberals...and even the masons? At the expense of the Church? [00:17:00]. Directed by Luchino Visconti. Written by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa (novel), Suso Cecchi d'Amico (screenplay). Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon. 205 min. Italy / France. Italian. Technicolor, Mono. (Drama) *

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
In a depiction of a true story, convicted murderer, Byron "Delay" De La Beckwith (1920/11/09-2001/01/21)—played by James Wood—is shown driving a car with a Shriners symbol attached to his rear view mirror and, in several scenes, wearing a Shriners lapel pin. His victim, NAACP field secretary Medger W. Evers (1925/07/02-1963/06/12), is shown in his coffin with his Order of Elks fez placed on his chest. In real life, Byron De La Beckwith received his Master Mason degree in Greenwood Lodge No. 35, Mississippi, on 30 September, 1954. He was expelled from the lodge on 2 January, 1978. Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods. Directed by Rob Reiner, written by Leo Colick, Columbia Pictures & Castle Rock Entertainment. USA *

The Godfather Part III (1990)
This fictional film echoes several events of the 1981 Italian P2 scandal. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola. Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy Garcia, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, Sofia Coppola. 162 min / USA:169 min (video version). USA, English / Italian. Technicolor, 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) / Dolby SR (35 mm prints). *

Gypsy (1962)
Based on Gypsy Rose Lee’s autobiography, the first half hour of this movie emphasizes the reliance Rose Hovick placed on her claimed fraternal associations. Centre place is given to the Elks and Buffalo, but the Shriners are mentioned in the song, "Some People". Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, written by Arthur Laurents (play) Gypsy Rose Lee (book). Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Paul Wallace, Betty Bruce, Parley Baer, Harry Shannon, Morgan Brittany, Ann Jillian, Diane Pace, Faith Dane, Roxanne Arlen, Jean Willes, George Petrie, Ben Lessy. 143 min. USA, English. Technicolor, Stereo. *

Help! (1965)
Ringo Starr asks an Indian restaurant doorman, "You know what this ring means?" He replies, "Freemason?" Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Leo McKern. Directed by Richard Lester, written by Charles Wood, Marc Behm. *

Hollywood Homicide (2003)
Keith David as Leon, Detective Joe Gavilan’s supervising officer, wears a masonic ring [00:55:50], clearly seen on the hand he’s holding the phone with. Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Isaiah Washington, Lolita Davidovich, Keith David, Master P, Dwight Yoakam, Martin Landau, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gladys Knight. Directed by Ron Shelton, written by Robert Souza, Ron Shelton. 116 min. USA, English. Colour, Dolby Digital (Action) *

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
When Betty Grable returns from what she had expected to be an Elks Lodge convention [00:50:04], she tells Lauren Bacall that she had got married. Lauren exclaims "Not to that Shriner!" [01:40:05]
Betty Grable (1916/12/18 - 1973/07/02), Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall (1924/09/16 - ), David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Cameron Mitchell, Alexander D'Arcy, Fred Clark (1914/03/19 - 1968/12/05), William Powell. Directed by Jean Negulesco, written by Zoe Akins , Dale Eunson. 95 min. USA, English. Technicolor, 4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System). (Comedy) *

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
Near the movie’s end Robert Morse sings: "Now, you may join the Elks, my friend, and I may join the Shriners. And other men may carry cards as members of the Diners. Still others wear a golden key or small Greek letter pin but I have learned there’s one great club that all of us are in. There is a brotherhood, of man. A benevolent brotherhood of man. A noble tie that binds all our hearts and minds into a brotherhood of man." [01:51:52] Directed by David Swift, written by Shepherd Mead (novel). Abe Burrows (play). Robert Morse, Michele Lee, Rudy Vallee, Anthony ’scooter' Teague, Maureen Arthur. 121 min. USA, English. Colour, Mono. *

In Cold Blood (1967)
During a police interrogation, accused murderer Dick Hickock says: "Everybody’s got a tattoo. Only you people call them clubs. Elks, Masons, Boy Scouts. Salute. High sign. Low sign. Secret this and secret that." [01:29:00] A different line appears in the original book. Robert Blake, Scott Wilson. Directed and written by Richard Brooks, Truman Capote (book). 134 minutes. USA, English, B&W. *

Into the Wild (2007)
A masonic lodge hall has been reported in an early scene. Directed by Sean Penn, written by Jon Krakauer, Sean Penn. Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Brian Dierker, Catherine Keener. 140 min., USA, English / Danish, Colour, Dolby. [unconfirmed]

Jack the Ripper (1988)
Sherlock Holmes is shown giving a sign of an Entered Apprentice to the Chief of the Metropolitan Police; other references throughout the movie. Michael Caine as Inspector Frederick Abberline. [unconfirmed]

Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)
Hanging on a cupboard door in a roadhouse whore's trailer is a large Shriner crest. [00:46:00]. Directed by Billy Wilder, written by Anna Bonacci, I.A.L. Diamond. Dean Martin, Kim Novak, Ray Walston, Felicia Farr, Cliff Osmond, Barbara Pepper, Skip Ward, Doro Merande, Bobo Lewis, Tom Nolan, Alice Pearce, John Fiedler, Arlen Stuart, Howard McNear, Cliff Norton, Mack Gray, Mel Blanc, John Fiedler. 125 min. USA, English, Black and White, Mono. *

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
The square and compasses appear four times: twice in close-ups of an oversize masonic ring worn by the Phantom, a villain who tries to ignite a world war at the turn of the last century in order to create a market for his futuristic weapons and once on the office doors of the founder of the League, "M", who is later revealed to be the same person. No other reference is made to Freemasonry. A shot of the square and compasses—four big shiny ones that flash and sparkle in the light as the door on which they're mounted closes—also appears in the trailer. Sean Connery. Based on a graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore, who also gave us From Hell. *

Like Water for Chocolate [Como agua para chocolate] (1992)
A masonic funeral is briefly seen through a window. Later, the young doctor sho���ws the main character a drawing incorporating the square and compasses and an all-seeing eye [00:37:35] . Marco Leonardi, Tita Regina Torné, Iván Martínez. Directed by Alfonso Arau, written by Laura Esquivel. Novel by Laura Esquivel. 123 min. Mexico : Spanish *

Lone Star (1996)
Corrupt sheriff Charley Wade, played by Kris Kristofferson, is identified as a freemason by his ring as the movie begins. The ring is clearly seen in a later scene as he accepts a bribe [00:08::38]. Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang, Chris Cooper. Directed and written by John Sayles. USA, English, 135 min. (Drama/Mystery). *

Lost Horizon (1937)
British diplomat Robert Conway and three others crash land in the Himalayas, and are rescued by the people of the mysterious, Eden-like valley of Shangri-la. Edward Everett Horton is interrupted, as he exclaims, "I've just finished translating one of the most interesting old tablets you can imagine. It told me all about the origin of the masonic symbols and science and...." Ronald Colman as Conway, Edward Everett Horton (1886/03/18 - 1970/09/29) as Alexander P. Lovett. Directed by Frank Capra, written by James Hilton & Robert Riskin. 132 min., USA, English, b&w. *

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Edwin Hodgeman as Dr. Dealgood, the announcer introducing the fight between Max and Blaster wears a square and compasses image on his shirt front. Frank Thring, as the Collector, wears a lapel jewel that may be from a concordant masonic body. Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence. Directed by George Millar. Australia/USA, English, 107 min. Colour, Dolby (Action/SF). *

Magnolia (1999)
Just before gameshow host Jimmy Gator, played by Philip Baker Hall, goes on stage, Burt Ramsey, played by Ricky Jay—who is wearing a masonic ring—asks him, "You with me, Jimmy?" Jimmy says, "The book says we may be through with the past but the past ain't through with us." to which Burt replies, "We met upon the level and we're parting on the square." [00:51:23]

While studying in the public library, gameshow contestant Stanley Specter, played by Jeremy Blackman, has a stack of books, one of which is Mackey’s History of Freemasonry.

Almost masonic is the stage backdrop which includes a number of symbols one of which is a compasses over a laurel.

Of no masonic significance, it is a curious piece of forshadowing when a stagehand briefly flashes a cue card with "Exodus 8:12" written on it. The movie ends with a rain of frogs.

Jason Robards, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, Melora Waters, John C. Reilly, Jeremy Blackman, William H. Macy. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, written by Paul Thomas Anderson. 188 min. USA, English. Colour (DeLuxe), Dolby Digital. R. (Drama) *

The Majestic (2001)
Unrelated to the story, the square and compasses symbol can be seen once on a mausoleum in the cemetery scene and once on a building on Main Street in the later half of the movie. Jim Carrey, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey DeMunn, Hal Holbrook, Laurie Holden, Martin Landau. Directed by Frank Darabont, written by Michael Sloane. 152 min. USA, English. Technicolor, Dolby Digital. (Drama / Romance). *

The Man (2005)
The murderous, gun-dealing villain of the story, Joey Trent, is shown in two scenes wearing a masonic ring. In the first scene [00:13:32] the ring is unnaturally twisted on his finger so that it directly faces the camera. In the second scene [01:12:40] the ring is visible in close-up shots of Joey pointing a pistol during a stand-off with Samuel L. Jackson's character, Derrick Vann. The positioning is too blatant to be unintentional but whether the intent was anti-masonic or marketing is impossible to determine. The motives of any film-maker who includes masonic references in a movie produced since the launch of the web are suspect. Directed by Les Mayfield, written by Jim Piddock, Margaret Oberman. Samuel L. Jackson, Eugene Levy, Luke Goss, Miguel Ferrer, Susie Essman, Anthony Mackie, Gigi Rice, Rachael Crawford, Philip Akin, Christopher Murray, Joel S. Keller, John Hemphill, Kathryn Greenwood, Carrie Cain-Sparks, George Ghali. 83 min. USA, English. Color, Dolby. *

The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Based on a Rudyard Kipling story. Mercenary soldiers convince Kafiristan tribespeople that they are gods after discovering masonic symbols on religious artifacts. Sean Connery, Michael Caine. Directed by John Huston. 129 min. UK/USA, English, Colour. (Drama/Action). *

Miami Vice (2006)
Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx are parked in front of a Scottish Rite hall. [01:53:00]

Directed by Michael Mann, written by Michael Mann, Anthony Yerkovich. Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Li Gong, Luis Tosar, Naomie Harris, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Justin Theroux, Ciarán Hinds, Barry Shabaka Henley, Domenick Lombardozzi, Isaach De Bankolé, John Ortiz, Eddie Marsan, Ana Cristina De Oliveira, John Hawkes. 134 min. Germany / USA, English / Spanish / Cree. Colour, Dolby. *

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
The appearance of a square and compasses is reported but details are unavailable. Also see entry for John Berendt's novel.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, written by John Berendt (book) John Lee Hancock (screenplay). John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, Jack Thompson, Irma P. Hall, Jude Law, Alison Eastwood, Paul Hipp, Lady Chablis, Dorothy Loudon, Anne Haney, Kim Hunter, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Herd, Leon Rippy, Bob Gunton. 155 min. USA, English / French. Technicolor, Dolby. [Unconfirmed]

Mississippi Burning (1988)
Willem Dafoe as Agent Alan Ward talks to Gene Hackman as Agent Rupert Anderson:

There’s something wrong with him. He’s too confident.
What? Did you see the wedding photograph?
No. Why?
His three pals are ushers. They had this way of hooking their thumbs in their belts with the three fingers pointing down, like that.
So what is that? Some sort of masonic thing?
No. K K K. [00:46:21]

Directed by Alan Parker, written by Chris Gerolmo. Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand. 128 min. USA, English. Colour (DeLuxe), Dolby (Drama) *

Murder at the Gallop (1963)
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell as Inspector Craddock and Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple stand in front of a fireplace which displays a square and compasses. [00:24:00]

Directed by George Pollock. Agatha Christie (novel), James P. Cavanagh (screenplay). Margaret Rutherford, Stringer Davis, Robert Morley, Flora Robson, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Gordon Harris, Robert Urquhart, Katya Douglas, James Villiers, Noel Howlett, Finlay Currie, Duncan Lamont, Kevin Stoney. 81 min. UK, English. Black and White, Mono

Murder by Decree (1979)
Sherlock Holmes investigates London’s most infamous case, Jack the Ripper. As he investigates, he finds that the Ripper has friends in high places, implicating freemasons. Christopher Plummer, James Mason. Directed by Bob Clark. *

Nashville (1975)
While Ronee Blakley sings at an outdoors concert the camera pans across the audience, several of whom are Shriners. David Arkin, Barbara Baxley, Ned Beatty, Karen Black, Ronee Blakley, Timothy Brown, Keith Carradine, Geraldine Chaplin, Robert DoQui, Shelley Duvall, Allen Garfield, Henry Gibson, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, et al. Directed by Robert Altman, written by Joan Tewkesbury. 1975. 159 min. USA, English, Metrocolour, Stereo (Drama). *

National Treasure (2004)
Benjamin Franklin Gates, played by Nicholas Cage, descends from a family of treasure-seekers who've all hunted for the same thing: a war chest hidden by the American founding fathers. This movie is yet another fictional attempt to link the freemasons, the Knights Templar and the founding of the USA through the use of various symbols, also seen in the film's trailer. Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Plummer, Jon Voight. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Ted Elliott, E. Max Frye. USA, English. Colour, Stereo. (Adventure). Movie trailer found at bvim-qt.vitalstream.com. *

National Treasure Two: Book of Secrets (2007)
Artifact hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates, again played by Nicholas Cage, returns in this adventure sequel. Masonic references are limited mainly to citations of a secret correspondence between Queen Victoria and Confederate General Albert Pike and a suggestion that French freemason Frederic Bartholdi incorporated a clue to the treasure in his design of the Statue of Liberty because "Masons built clues into everything." Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Ed Harris, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Harvey Keitel, Helen Mirren. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Gregory Poirier, Cormac Wibberley, Marianne Wibberley, Ted Elliott, Terry Russio. USA, English. Colour, Stereo. (Adventure).

Nostradamus (1994)
Masonic symbols have been reportedly seen on documents handed to Nostradamus. [unconfirmed]
Directed by Roger Christian, written by Piers Ashworth (story) and Roger Christian. Tchéky Karyo, F. Murray Abraham, Rutger Hauer, Amanda Plummer, Julia Ormond, Assumpta Serna, Anthony Higgins, Diana Quick, Michael Gough, Maia Morgenstern, Magdalena Ritter, Bruce Myers, Leon Lissek, Michael Byrne, Stefan Patoli. 119 min. France / UK / Germany / Romania. English. Color.

Once a Mason (1919)
Sidney Drew, Mrs. Sidney Drew. Directed by Mrs. Sidney Drew, Sidney Drew, written by Mrs. Sidney Drew, Sidney Drew. USA, English. Black and White, Silent. (Comedy). [Mrs. Sidney Drew (18/04/1890- 3/11/1925), née: Lucille McVey: AKA: Lucille M. Drew, Lucille McVey, Jane Morrow), appeared in 54 films, wrote 29, directed 25 and produced one. Sidney Drew (28/08/1863- 09/04/1919) appeared in 160 films, directed 143, and wrote 53.]

Overboard (1987)
In the beginning of the movie, as Dean (Kurt) is driving into town, the camera pans past the "Welcome to "Elk Cove" sign. Attached is a very obvious large blue masonic emblem. Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann, Katherine Helmond, Michael G. Hagerty, Roddy McDowall. Directed by Garry Marshall, written by Leslie Dixon . 106 min / 112 min (TCM print). USA, English. Metrocolour, Dolby. *

Paper Moon (1973)
Ryan O'Neal plays a travelling con-artist, Moses Pray, who sells "deluxe, gold-embossed personalized" Bibles to recently bereaved widows. His first sale after meeting Tatum O'Neal, as Addie Loggins, is to a widow whose late husband's services were held at "Masonic Lodge No. 721" [00:18:00]. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, writing credits Joe David Brown (novel) Alvin Sargent (screenplay). Ryan O'Neal, Tatum O'Neal, Madeline Kahn, John Hillerman, P.J. Johnson, Lee Fulton, James N. Harrell, Lila Waters, Noble Willingham, Bob Young, Jack Saunders, Jody Wilbur, Liz Ross, Yvonne Harrison, Dorothy Price. 102 min. USA, English. Black and White, Mono. Based on Addie Pray, Joe David Brown. Boston, G. K. Hall, 1971. 529 p. 25 cm. ISBN: 0816160090. *

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
A masonic lodge hall sign with square and compasses can be seen early in the movie. Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. *

Revelation (2001)
The Knights Templar are searching for an ancient relic, the Loculus, so that they can resurrect Christ. Lord Martel tells the story of a masonic order called the Knights Templars (sic); a Knights Templar ceremony, several all-seeing eye symbols and pentagrams are depicted. A TV newscast mentions an illegal masonic order called the P2 CIA; the camera then pans to the word "Masonic" on a newspaper headline. The overall theme of the movie is anti-masonic. Terence Stamp, James D'Arcy, Natasha Wightman, Liam Cunningham, Heathcote Williams, Derek Jacobi. Directed by Stuart Urban, written by Frank Falco (idea) Stuart Urban. 111 min. UK, English, Colour (DeLuxe), Dolby Digital. Romulus Films, Overseas Filmgroup (Drama/Fantasy). *

Road Rage (1999)
A car chase scene includes vehicles driving past a bus painted with Shriners' symbols. Yasmine Bleeth, Ellen Carson, Eddie Madden, Jim Carson.Directed by Deran Sarafian, written by Brian L. Ross, David Taylor. 92 min. USA. English, Colour, 1999 (Thriller) [Unconfirmed]

Rosewood (1997)
Based on an actual incident in 1923, this movie has played fast and loose with the historical facts but none-the-less presents a scathing and realistic indictment of the times. While there is evidence of a masonic angle, the movie gives it far too much prominence. Masonic symbols are prominently displayed in several scenes. Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle. Directed by John Singleton, written by Gregory Poirier. 140 min. USA, English. Technicolor, Dolby Digital. R. (Action/Drama). *

The Searchers (1956)
In a scene where Wayne rides into a Camanche camp after a battle, one of the dead Camanches is lying sprawled face up, wearing a blue cloth apron, similar in size to a masonic apron, with white ribbons sewn in the shape of a square and compasses. John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood. Directed by John Ford, Script by Frank Nugen. USA. English, 120 min., Colour (Western). *

Secrets (1982)
A group of girls at a boarding school re-enact a masonic ritual based on one girl’s deceased father’s ritual book. Helen Lindesey, Anne Campbell-Jones, Daisy Cockburn, Directed by Gavin Millar. British. *

The Shop on Main Street (1965)
In 1943 Czechoslovakia a police officer warns a nightclub crowd that they will have no mercy on "Jew-Bolshevists, Freemasons, plutocrats and other riff-raff." [01:43:20] (Obchod na Korze) Idá Kaminská, Josef Kroner. Directed by Ján Kadár & Elmar Klos, screenplay by L. Grosman, Ján Kadár & Elmar Klos. 1965. 125 min. Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovakian, Filmové Studio Barrandov. B&W, mono. *

Short Circuit (1986)
Early in the film, shortly after a military demonstration, a computor programmer is shown working on a keyboard. A close-up of his hands typing on the keyboard shows a masonic ring on his left hand. Directed by John Badham, written by Brent Maddock, S.S. Wilson. Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G.W. Bailey, Brian McNamara, Tim Blaney, Marvin J. McIntyre, John Garber, Penny Santon, Vernon Weddle, Barbara Tarbuck, Tom Lawrence, Fred Slyter, Billy Ray Sharkey. 98 min. USA, English, Color, Dolby. [unconfirmed]

Slacker (1991)
A montage of interconnected conversations and monologues, one is a rant on UFO conspiracies, one is on Kennedy assassination conspiracies and one later conversation is about the freemasons:

"The reason these guys are being forgotten though, is that they're not freemasons. The masons are the one’s that control history. Look at it, every... every president but one: mason. Every man that’s walked on the moon... thirty-third degree mason. I mean, look at the Warren commission, a Shriner convention without go-carts."

"Exactly. The slate of American history needs to be wiped clean. We need to start all over again. Let’s put Larry Fieman in the history books. Let’s put Squeaky Fromme on the one dollar bill."

"Least we ought to get that masonic pyramid bullshit off the back." [01:14:40]

Directed and written by Richard Linklater. Espresso Czar/Masonic Malcontent played by Dan Kratochvil. 97 min. USA, English. Colour, Ultra Stereo *

Spartan (2004)
Curtis (Derek Luke) : "My name’s Curtis."
Scott (Val Kilmer): "Do I need to know that? If I want camaraderie, I'll join the masons."
Tia Texada, Derek Luke, Val Kilmer. Directed by David Mamet, written by David Mamet. 106 min. USA / Germany, English / Russian / Swedish. Colour, Dolby Digital. (Thriller)

Take Me Out To The Ball Game (1948)
The lyrics in the closing number, a reprise of Strictly USA, end with: "Like the annual Elks convention / Like masonic halls or firemen’s balls / Like honeymooning at Niagara Falls / They're really here to stay / Cause it’s strictly USA." Directed by Busby Berkeley, produced by Arthur Freed, written by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew’s Incorporated. 93 min. USA. English, Technicolor. (Musical / Comedy) *

They All Laughed (1981)
Patti Hansen, as Sam (Deborah Wilson), drives a taxi with a square and compasses pendant hanging from her rear view mirror. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, written by Peter Bogdanovich Blaine Novak. Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, Patti Hansen, John Ritter, Dorothy Stratten, Blaine Novak, Linda MacEwen, George Morfogen, Colleen Camp, Sean H. Ferrer, Glenn Scarpelli, Vassili Lambrinos, Antonia Bogdanovich, Sashy Bogdanovich, Sheila Stodden. 115 min. USA, English. Colour, Mono. [Unconfirmed]

Things to Come (1936)
In the year 1936 a global war begins. This war drags out over many decades ... Raymond Massey as John Cabal/Oswald Cabal makes a reference to "The brotherhood of efficiency. The freemasonry of science." [00:36:00] A later reference to "our children’s children" and the framing of many shots by pillars or arches is not necessarily significant. Edward Chapman as Pippa Passworthy/Raymond Passworthy, Ralph Richardson as The Boss, Margaretta Scott as Roxana/Rowena. Directed by William Cameron Menzies, Writing credits: H.G. Wells (also novel The Shape of Things to Come) AKA: The Shape of Things to Come. UK, English, 100 min., b&w, Mono. (Sci-Fi). *

Tombstone (1993)
A retelling of the gunfight at the OK Corral and its aftermath. Jon Tenney, as John Behan, Cochise County Sheriff wears a square and compasses watchfob. Buck Taylor, as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson, wearing a square and compasses pendant responds to Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday saying he has no friends by saying, "Hell, I've got lots of friends." Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer. Directed by George P. Cosmatos, written by Kevin Jarre. USA, English. 130 min. Dolby, Technicolor (Western). *

True Grit (1969)
Kim Darby’s character, Matty, on viewing her recently deceased father in a coffin in a funeral parlour, tells the farm hand, "When you get home, you put him in a better coffin and you bury him in a mason’s apron." [00:13:12] This line is based on the 1968 novel by Charles Portis. John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall. Directed by Henry Hathaway. USA, English. Colour (Western). *

U-Turn (1997)
A married real estate salesman, Jake McKenna played by Nick Nolte, in Superior Arizona later married his daughter by his Apache mistress then hires a gambler on the run to kill her. He wears a masonic ring, seen in a close-up [00:41:05]. Directed by Oliver Stone, written by John Ridley. Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Lopez, Powers Boothe, Claire Danes, Joaquin Phoenix, Jon Voight, Billy Bob Thornton. 125 min, France / USA, English. Technicolor, Dolby Digital. (Drama). *

War and Peace (1968)
Andre : "Have you made your mind at last? The Imperial Guard or diplomacy?"

Pierre Bezukhov : "I don't know yet. I don't like to be either. He must be a freemason, anyway. [00:09:40, Part 1]

Countess : "You're flirting with him too."

Natasha Rostova : "No, he [Pierre] is a freemason." [00:05:41, Part 2]

Voyna i mir (1968) (War and Peace). Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, written by Sergei Bondarchuk, Vasili Solovyov . Irina Gubanova, Antonina Shuranova, Sergei Bondarchuk, Liudmila Savelieva, Sergei Bondarchuk, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Anastasiya Vertinskaya, Irina Skobtseva, Vassily Lanovoy, Oleg Efremov. 4 parts, 403 min. Soviet Union, Russian. Sovcolor, Dolby (DVD). *

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Roger hides out in a theatre house, and sees a news reel highlighting a Shriners parade. Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner (uncredited). Directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Gary K. Wolf (novel) Jeffrey Price. 103 min. USA, English. Colour (DeLuxe), Sound Mix: 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) / Dolby (35 mm prints). (Cartoon) *

What Planet Are You From? (2000)
Garry Shandling plays Harold Anderson who is an extraterrestrial working as a loans officer in a bank. His manager, Don Fisk played by Richard Jenkins, wears a masonic lapel pin. He is also wearing a wedding band and claims to be having an affair with one of his employees. Directed by Mike Nichols, Written by Garry Shandling, Michael Leeson. Garry Shandling, Annette Bening, John Goodman, Greg Kinnear, Ben Kingsley. 104 min. USA, English. Colour (DeLuxe), Dolby Digital / SDDS. R (Comedy). *

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
A masonic ring is worn by Ken Carver [01:07:06];, a small-town Insurance salesman trying too hard to be an attentive father. Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis. Directed by Lasse Hallström, written by Peter Hedges. 118 min. USA, English. Colour, Dolby. (Drama) *

Z (1969)
When a pacifist and humanitarian speaker, "the Deputy", is attacked on his way to a peace rally, an unidentified man joins the rally organizers to help get him to safety and then justifies his presence by saying: "I'm a mason."] [00:24:50]. Directed by Costa-Gavras, written by Vassilis Vassilikos (novel) Jorge Semprún. Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin, Charles Denner, François Périer, Pierre Dux, Georges Géret, Bernard Fresson, Marcel Bozzuffi, Julien Guiomar, Magali Noël, Renato Salvatori, Habib Reda, Clotilde Joano. 127 min, Algeria / France, French. Eastmancolor, Mono. Visa de Contrôle Cinámatographique No. 34.695.