Freemasonry + the left

[cleef]

Hi im new to the site

I've been looking for a place to post this for a while as no one seems to be able to answer my question...


I've been doing quite alot of research lately into some of the major figures of anarchism and was quite suprised to find that many of them were freemasons including Proudhon + Bakunin.

The answer i am looking for really as i cannot seem to work it out, is why would so called anarchists who are against a hierarchical society join a right wing hierarchical orgainsation which attempts to keep the status quo?

Also masonry seems to have had a major influence on anarchism in other ways such as within the symbolism and ideals (Masonic code of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity is similar to the anarchist message liberty, equality, solidarity)


i have a few links but i must first get a few posts for the site to allow me to add them

[Pirate Utopian]

Because leftism is a right-wing invention to oppress us under the New World Order by 2012.

Also the moon is made of cheese.

[F9]

what?:confused:Are you serious?
you can post links now,the only think you have to do is place an x in the link(ex. wxw.something.com)and we will understand and correct it!

Fuserg9:star:

[cleef]

Not the only sources i have come across will post more if need be (book sources also)

hxttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Joseph_Proudhon#cite_note-2
"In 1847 he left this employment, and finally settled in Paris, where he was now becoming celebrated as a leader of innovation. In this year he also became a Freemason"

hxttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Freemasons#cite_note-24

"Mikhail Bakunin, Revolutionist, LodgeIl Progresso Sociale, Florence 1864"

hxttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist_symbolism

"The first recorded use of the A in a circle by anarchists was by the Federal Council of Spain of the International Workers Association. This was set up by the freemason, Giuseppe Fanelli in 1868.[12] It predates its adoption by anarchists as it was used as a symbol by freemasons amongst others"

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Free Masonry was quite radical 150-200 years ago. And anarchists are well known for being authoritarian -- or at least the two you mentioned were.

[An archist]

The answer i am looking for really as i cannot seem to work it out, is why would so called anarchists who are against a hierarchical society join a right wing hierarchical orgainsation which attempts to keep the status quo?


Why do you need to know and why does it matter?

[Forward Union]

Hi im new to the site

I've been looking for a place to post this for a while as no one seems to be able to answer my question...


I've been doing quite alot of research lately into some of the major figures of anarchism and was quite suprised to find that many of them were freemasons including Proudhon + Bakunin.

The answer i am looking for really as i cannot seem to work it out, is why would so called anarchists who are against a hierarchical society join a right wing hierarchical orgainsation which attempts to keep the status quo?

Also masonry seems to have had a major influence on anarchism in other ways such as within the symbolism and ideals (Masonic code of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity is similar to the anarchist message liberty, equality, solidarity)


i have a few links but i must first get a few posts for the site to allow me to add them

Freemasonry is not particularly right wing. Certainly the extreme right hate freemasonry and want to stamp it out. As I understand it's basically a rich mans club, you can have some lovely beers and if you get in a spot of bother with the law the friendly police chief might let you off because you bought him a drink at the last lodge meeting.

It's not really about anything. The Anarchists you mention were all aristocratic.

[Dystisis]

Freemasonry is not particularly right wing. Certainly the extreme right hate freemasonry and want to stamp it out. As I understand it's basically a rich mans club, you can have some lovely beers and if you get in a spot of bother with the law the friendly police chief might let you off because you bought him a drink at the last lodge meeting.

It's not really about anything. The Anarchists you mention were all aristocratic.
Indeed... Some aspects behind free masonry, I'd even say it is progressive. However, it certainly has some aspects unappealing to many, these days anyway (such as the belief in a supreme being).

Guilds were very prominent during f.ex. the renaissance. Most were for labor groups and things like that. Those with more wealthy and influential members of the aristocracy became the guilds we vaguely know of today (and which still exists).

I have to say, one peculiar thing... Groups like Freemasonry are in general talked about too little, and too little is known (among the general populace) about them. They were very influential not too long ago, when the societal structure was different.

[thejambo1]

they are little more than drinking clubs now, seem to do a fair bit for charity tho.

[Trystan]

The whole petite bourgeois community turns up to Freemason meetings. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but you probably won't be going without a decent living if you're a Mason. "Jobs for the boys" alright.

[thejambo1]

its a job for the boys type of club. and i would imagine you dont get many folk on the dole as members.:)

[cleef]

Why do you need to know and why does it matter?

sheer curiosity i guess?

knowledge is power and all that

Also it makes me question my views of anarchism if its principles have been corrupted my masonry...

[cleef]

done a little more reading into this.

For anyone who is interested it seems that Bakunin, Proudhon etc became masons as a guise for their anarchist activity.

There are statements from Bakunin that he took very little interest in masonic rituals and the like and instead used his position as a mason to allow him cover for holding anarchist meetings in masonic lodges

:thumbup1:

[cleef]

http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/history/revolution/index.html

This is a source from a masonic site about the first international. The results are however inconclusive