What with all the Dan Brown hysteria starting up all over again, the time seems apt to get a broader understanding of one of Mr. Brown’s most subversive interests. I refer of course to the Freemasons, an age-old society whose motives and practices have been the subject of dispute and the inspiration for violence, suspicion and condemnation since their inception. While Mysteries of the Freemasons is certainly a thought-provoking documentary, one shouldn’t expect to receive many definitive answers from a History Channel special, particularly one which delves into subject matter so long shrouded in uncertainty as the Masons.
Presented in two parts and narrated by Michael C. Hall, the film first focuses on the history and birth of the Freemasons, and their various public standings over the centuries, but soon turns its sights to more unsettling matters. Namely, the identities of several of our founding fathers, military leaders, and commanders in chief who have subscribed to Freemasonry. What is so subtly disturbing about such things isn’t so much that George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were members, but that to this day no one on the outside is aware of the true intentions and practices of the society. While it has always been in the public eye, and even publicly endorsed by those high-up in the American government, the true subversion one feels when learning even broad details of Mason uprising and practice comes from a complete inability to comprehend the purpose behind it all. Devil worship, acts of murder and societal corruption, it seems that an upsetting number of the bricklayers of our societal ideals may have been in league to pervert those very concepts we hold dear.
Adding to the labyrinthine confusion surrounding Freemasonry is how it seems the society was, at least at one point, a benevolent organization devoted to nothing more sinister than social development. At some point between the mid 1500s and present day, it seems these initial motives were contorted into more complex and shadowy designs for the future. The fact that such innocuous symbols as the compass and square – an inspiring image designed to invoke feelings of logical structure and scientific thought – have been retained throughout the society’s five centuries of existence makes one wonder how innocuous they truly are anymore. Could such a benevolent, universally appealing image be perverted over the years to such a degree that it might lose its original meaning to time? And if so, what does that say about the society’s still very-much active progress? How many of our current leaders attend secret meetings under our capitol and beyond? What do they want to see and how do they want to go about achieving it? Certainly I’m painting you all a picture in very broad strokes, but such is the best way to plant the seeds of suspicion which the History Channel has in me.
The thing that gets under my skin the most is that we’ll most likely never find a definitive answer to any of this. Several Mason historians and members are interviewed in the documentary, but I honestly don’t trust any of them further than I can throw them. Some of them laugh off theories that seem Particularly Unbelievable, which makes me think they’re doing a poor job of hiding the truth. Others hotly dispute each other, offering completely opposing explanations for architectural coincidences and subliminal reminders of Freemasonry all around Washington D.C. and its structure. Make no mistake, after checking out this documentary you may see Mason symbolism on your way to the grocery store. You’ve been warned.
DVD Bonus Features
The only feature on the disc is an additional documentary, entitled Secret Societies. It adds a half hour of material to the rather short length of the disc. Together, both features are barely over ninety minutes, but they’re enough to make you look a little closer at the world around you, so I suppose there’s an argument to be made for their long-term value, yes?
"Mysteries of the Freemasons" is on sale September 15, 2009 and is rated NR. Documentary. Directed by Pip Gilmour. Written by Noah Nicholas, Molly Bedell. Starring Michael C Hall.
