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{{Era|AC3}}
{{Era|Organizations}}{{WP-REAL|Freemasonry}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Quote|Freemasons: the secret society everyone knows about.|Shaun Hastings describing the Freemasons in 2012.|Assassin's Creed III|Database: Green Dragon Tavern}}
{{Stub}}
{{Faction Infobox
The '''Freemasons''' were a fraternal organization formed in the late 16th or early 17th century.
|name = Freemasonary
|image = Freemasons.png
|locations = [[Earth|Global]]
|formed = 16th–17th centuries
|hidea = yes}}
The '''Freemasons''' are a fraternal organization formed in the late 16th or early 17th century, which permits men of any religion to join. Some of the commanding officers on both sides of the [[American Revolutionary War]] were members, and several Presidents of the [[United States]] have been members of Lodges.<ref>{{WP|Freemasonry}}</ref>


During the {{Wiki|American Revolution}}, some of the most prominent leaders of the revolution and the [[Continental Army]] were Freemasons, including [[George Washington]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Israel Putnam]] and [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Lafayette]].
==Instructions==
{{Quote|No private Piques or Quarrels must be brought with in the Door of the Lodge, far less any Quarrels about Religion, or Nations, or State-Policy, we being only, as Masons, of the Catholick Religion above-mention’d ; we are also of all Nations, Tongues, Kindreds, and Languages, and are resolv’d against all Politicks.|Clause VI. Of Behavior.|Assassin's Creed III|Database: Of Behaviour, VIZ}}
Historically, to join a Lodge, one had to be a male [[Civilian|citizen]] of sound mind and body, and to have good character.<ref name="OfLodges">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Of Lodges]]</ref> One's religious denomination did not matter,<ref name="ConcerningGod">''Assassin's Creed III'' – [[Database: Concerning God and Religion]]</ref> and similarly political and religious discussions were not allowed between them.<ref name="OfBehaviour">''Assassin's Creed III'' – [[Database: Of Behaviour, VIZ]]</ref> Freemasons were informed not to become rebels of the state, though doing so would not be grounds for expulsion.<ref name="OfTheCivilMagistrate">''Assassin's Creed III'' – [[Database: Of the Civil Magistrate Supreme and Subordinate]]</ref>


==Trivia==
Advancing through the Lodge was based on merit, not the member's place in society. The degrees of Masonry were as follows: Fellow-Craft, Warden, Master of a local Lodge, Grand-Warden, and finally Grand Master of the Lodge. Craftsmen were to respect and obey their Masters in completing their work. As a Brotherhood, Masons were to show respect to one another,<ref name="MastersWardens">''Assassin's Creed III'' – [[Database: Masters, Wardens, Fellows and Apprentices]]</ref> to not show jealousy or complete another's designated task for themselves to gain favor with the Master, or to dispute the Master's decisions over wages, or to interrupt him, nor could they hold private deliberations without his permission.<ref name="OfTheManagement">''Assassin's Creed III'' – [[Database: Of the Management of the Craft in Working]]</ref>
*According to ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s lead writer [[Corey May]], the game will have a very accurate depiction of the Freemasons.
 
Outside a Lodge, Masons were to treat each other with the same respect and rank in private. If they met a Mason from another Lodge, they were to be discreet, should they be an imposter, and if they were genuine, then a Mason should be respectful but careful not to instruct them more than was appropriate. Among non-Masons, including family, friends or strangers, they were to be discreet about the Lodge but stay true to its principles.<ref name="OfBehaviour" />
 
==History==
The Freemasons were responsible for transporting an [[Apple of Eden 3|Apple of Eden]] across the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the [[United States|British colonies]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' [[Glyphs|Glyph]] #3: "Descendants"</ref> where [[George Washington]] recovered it after the [[siege of Yorktown]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed III – [[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'' – [[Lucid Memory Fragments]]</ref> To remain unnoticed by [[British Army|British soldiers]] in [[Boston]] and [[New York City|New York]], the Freemasons moved around in underground [[tunnel]]s.<ref name="BostonsMostWanted">''Assassin's Creed III'' – [[Boston's Most Wanted]]</ref> The Masons placed metal engravings of the Square and Compasses on their floor, which would point the way out when lit.<ref name="AC3">''Assassin's Creed III''</ref> After [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]] was framed for inciting the [[Boston Massacre]] in 1770, [[Samuel Adams]] introduced him to the tunnels via the entrance behind the [[Green Dragon Tavern]], which the Masons had purchased in 1766.<ref name="BostonsMostWanted" />
 
[[File:ACIII-LyingLow 1.png|thumb|left|250px|Connor and Samuel Adams in the tunnels]]
During the 18th century, [[Haytham Kenway]] and Connor explored the tunnels and came across some exits which required the {{Wiki|magic lantern}} to be unlocked. To determine the placement of projected images on the door, Haytham and Connor analyzed pages from the {{Wiki|Masonic manuscripts|Masonic manuscript}} ''The Charges Of a Free-Mason'',<ref name="AC3" /> which was from [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s 1734 reprinting of the first printed constitution by {{Wiki|James Anderson (Freemason)|James Anderson}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&context=libraryscience|title=The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734). An Online Electronic Edition.|author=Anderson, James A.M.; Franklin, Benjamin|editor=Royster, Paul|date=1734|publisher=''Faculty Publications, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries''|accessdate=10 May 2023}}</ref> and had capitalized clues inserted into the text.<ref name="AC3" />
 
==Behind the scenes==
In November 2012, ''Assassin's Creed III''{{'}}s Creative Director [[Alex Hutchinson]] confirmed on {{Wiki|Reddit}} that in the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]], the Freemasons are "just boring guys who have meetings" and not branches of the [[Assassins]] or [[Templars]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/134w2f/comment/c70tcq8/|title=IAmA Developer on Assassin's Creed III. Ask Me Almost Anything|author="Krainz" and "AlexHutchinson"|date=13 November 2012|publisher=''{{Wiki|Reddit}}''|accessdate=9 May 2023|quote=Krainz: In the history of the Assassin's Creed series, what the masons are? Assassins, templars?"<br>AlexHutchinson: "Just boring guys who have meetings unfortunately. History!}}</ref>
 
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{1stm}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''


==References==
==References==
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/03/23/the-evolution-of-the-templar-order.aspx GameInformer: ''Assassin's Creed III: Evolution of the Templar Order'']
{{Reflist}}
{{AC3}}
{{AC3}}
[[Category:Factions]]
{{ACU}}
{{ACS}}
[[Category:Freemasons| ]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Secret societies]]

Latest revision as of 15:44, 3 May 2026

"Freemasons: the secret society everyone knows about."
―Shaun Hastings describing the Freemasons in 2012.[src]-[m]

The Freemasons are a fraternal organization formed in the late 16th or early 17th century, which permits men of any religion to join. Some of the commanding officers on both sides of the American Revolutionary War were members, and several Presidents of the United States have been members of Lodges.[1]

Instructions[edit | edit source]

"No private Piques or Quarrels must be brought with in the Door of the Lodge, far less any Quarrels about Religion, or Nations, or State-Policy, we being only, as Masons, of the Catholick Religion above-mention’d ; we are also of all Nations, Tongues, Kindreds, and Languages, and are resolv’d against all Politicks."
―Clause VI. Of Behavior.[src]-[m]

Historically, to join a Lodge, one had to be a male citizen of sound mind and body, and to have good character.[2] One's religious denomination did not matter,[3] and similarly political and religious discussions were not allowed between them.[4] Freemasons were informed not to become rebels of the state, though doing so would not be grounds for expulsion.[5]

Advancing through the Lodge was based on merit, not the member's place in society. The degrees of Masonry were as follows: Fellow-Craft, Warden, Master of a local Lodge, Grand-Warden, and finally Grand Master of the Lodge. Craftsmen were to respect and obey their Masters in completing their work. As a Brotherhood, Masons were to show respect to one another,[6] to not show jealousy or complete another's designated task for themselves to gain favor with the Master, or to dispute the Master's decisions over wages, or to interrupt him, nor could they hold private deliberations without his permission.[7]

Outside a Lodge, Masons were to treat each other with the same respect and rank in private. If they met a Mason from another Lodge, they were to be discreet, should they be an imposter, and if they were genuine, then a Mason should be respectful but careful not to instruct them more than was appropriate. Among non-Masons, including family, friends or strangers, they were to be discreet about the Lodge but stay true to its principles.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

The Freemasons were responsible for transporting an Apple of Eden across the Atlantic Ocean to the British colonies,[8] where George Washington recovered it after the siege of Yorktown.[9] To remain unnoticed by British soldiers in Boston and New York, the Freemasons moved around in underground tunnels.[10] The Masons placed metal engravings of the Square and Compasses on their floor, which would point the way out when lit.[11] After Connor was framed for inciting the Boston Massacre in 1770, Samuel Adams introduced him to the tunnels via the entrance behind the Green Dragon Tavern, which the Masons had purchased in 1766.[10]

Connor and Samuel Adams in the tunnels

During the 18th century, Haytham Kenway and Connor explored the tunnels and came across some exits which required the magic lantern to be unlocked. To determine the placement of projected images on the door, Haytham and Connor analyzed pages from the Masonic manuscript The Charges Of a Free-Mason,[11] which was from Benjamin Franklin's 1734 reprinting of the first printed constitution by James Anderson[12] and had capitalized clues inserted into the text.[11]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

In November 2012, Assassin's Creed III's Creative Director Alex Hutchinson confirmed on Reddit that in the Assassin's Creed series, the Freemasons are "just boring guys who have meetings" and not branches of the Assassins or Templars.[13]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Freemasonry on Wikipedia
  2. Assassin's Creed IIIDatabase: Of Lodges
  3. Assassin's Creed IIIDatabase: Concerning God and Religion
  4. 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed IIIDatabase: Of Behaviour, VIZ
  5. Assassin's Creed IIIDatabase: Of the Civil Magistrate Supreme and Subordinate
  6. Assassin's Creed IIIDatabase: Masters, Wardens, Fellows and Apprentices
  7. Assassin's Creed IIIDatabase: Of the Management of the Craft in Working
  8. Assassin's Creed IIGlyph #3: "Descendants"
  9. Assassin's Creed III – The Tyranny of King WashingtonLucid Memory Fragments
  10. 10.0 10.1 Assassin's Creed IIIBoston's Most Wanted
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Assassin's Creed III
  12. Anderson, James A.M.; Franklin, Benjamin (1734). Royster, Paul:The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734). An Online Electronic Edition.. Faculty Publications, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved on 10 May 2023.
  13. "Krainz" and "AlexHutchinson" (13 November 2012). IAmA Developer on Assassin's Creed III. Ask Me Almost Anything. Reddit. Retrieved on 9 May 2023. "Krainz: In the history of the Assassin's Creed series, what the masons are? Assassins, templars?"
    AlexHutchinson: "Just boring guys who have meetings unfortunately. History!"