Think Differently. Solve the Impossible.

Freemasonry might be one of the most talked-about organizations in the world that very few people  understand. Depending on who you ask, it’s a harmless fraternity, a group of guys in funny aprons doing charity work… or a shadowy organization pulling the strings of world events from smoke-filled rooms.

In a recent episode of The Daniel Stih Podcast, I sat down with Austin Shifrin, a 33rd-degree Scottish Rite Mason and long-time member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, to cut through the myths and get as close as we can to the truth.

What follows is a distilled version of that conversation — an attempt to understand what Freemasonry is, where the secrecy comes from, and why it attracts conspiracy theories.
 

How People Join Freemasonry

From the outside, Freemasonry can look like an invitation-only secret society. Austin’s story is surprisingly ordinary, and very human. His first exposure came through his grandfather, who had been a Mason in New York City. It wasn’t something his grandfather talked much about, not because it was forbidden, rather  he simply was no longer active. As Austin grew older and became curious, he finally asked:

“I understand this organization has some secrets. I don’t know how much you can tell me. It’s something I’d like to learn more about.”

His grandfather’s answer showed how perceptions change over a generation:

“Freemasonry is fundamentally a fraternity. You’re about to go away to college. Go see what that’s like, and if you enjoy it, we’ll talk more.”

So Austin did what many young people do: he went to college fraternities. He found them fun, although not something he wanted “for the rest of his life.” Those conversations with his grandfather didn’t continue. Years later, living in Pittsburgh, as he was walking through a neighborhood full of rock venues and flyers, an unusual flyer caught his eye in a friend’s deli window. It advertised an event:

• Watch the Pro Bowl. Eat hoagies. Shoot pool
• Hosted by a Masonic organization

His friend Eric, the deli owner, was a Mason. He invited Austin to come and meet some of the members. Austin showed up expecting either “fat cats with cigars in a back room pulling the strings of the whole world,” or  Simpsons-style parody of a secret society. What he found instead was a room full of “nice ordinary dudes” — attorneys, professors, utility workers, appliance repairmen — a mix of backgrounds that would never normally intersect.

That social event was his first step into Freemasonry. No dark ritual. No mysterious invitation. Just hoagies, football, and conversation.
 

Where the Secrecy Comes From (and What It’s For)

Freemasonry’s roots go back to medieval stone masons — people who literally built cathedrals, castles, and walls. It began as a guild, a kind of early trade union. The original “secrets” weren’t mystical. They were practical and economic. A mason trained in one town might travel to another looking for work.There needed to be a way to prove he really was a skilled craftsman and not an impostor. So they developed modes of recognition, ways of identifying each other through shared knowledge that you couldn’t just fake.

Today, that lives on as:

• secret handshakes (there are several)
• certain phrases
• and ritual elements that masons learn “mouth to ear” — one Mason teaching another directly, rather than writing everything down.

For centuries, nothing was written; everything was memorized and passed on person-to-person. Austin described spending months on the phone with his friend Eric, memorizing an oath a couple of sentences at a time, never writing it down.

Is everything secret? No. Most of what Freemasons do is discussed openly. The essential “secrets” are the recognition methods and internal ritual details - the same way a company keeps internal credentials and procedures private.

There’s another reason for the secrecy: reputation and conduct. From the early days, the guild wasn’t just teaching men how to cut stone; it was teaching them how to behave. If you’re going to use our name, if you’re going to call yourself one of us, we expect you to be “upright, well-behaved, civic, kind to others.” In other words: the “code of conduct” is there so one member doesn’t go out and shame the whole group.

Symbols: What They Mean (and What They Don’t)

The symbols of Freemasonry — the square and compasses, the letter G, the architecture imagery — show up on rings, buildings, and car emblems. That’s part of what fuels speculation. Austin is very clear on this point:

“A symbol doesn’t prove anything. I can put a cross or a Star of David around my neck. That doesn’t prove I’m a good man.”

What are the symbols for? They’re mnemonics,  memory aids. The symbols aren’t proof of power. They’re prompts to live up to an ideal.

• The square reminds a Mason to “square his actions” — to live with integrity and fairness.
• The compasses are about drawing boundaries, controlling passions, and maintaining balance.
• The letter G is often understood as a reminder of God or Geometry, pointing to a higher order in the universe.

Each symbol is associated with lessons Masons learn in lodge about how to treat others, how to view themselves, and how to relate to a higher power (however they understand it).
 

Scottish Rite & the 33rd Degree

A lot of public fascination focuses on “higher degrees” especially the 33rd degree. Here’s how Austin breaks it down:

• When you join a regular Blue Lodge, you go through three degrees. That’s the core of Freemasonry.
• After that, you can optionally join the Scottish Rite, which offers 29 additional degrees (for a total of 32).
• Many Masons stop at 3. Some continue to 32.

What is the 33rd? It’s an honorary degree within the Scottish Rite. You cannot apply for it. There is no form, no petition. The existing 33rd-degree Masons periodically meet, review who has demonstrated long-term dedication and service, and then invite certain 32nd-degree members to receive it. Austin shared a key line from a mentor of his, Sam Williamson:

“This degree is not about what you have already done. It’s about what we expect from you from now on.”

The 33rd isn’t a prize or trophy. It’s a responsibility: to be a good custodian of the Rite, to help pass on the teachings, to protect the integrity of the organization, and to make sure the lessons remain accessible to future generations. It’s less “you’re at the top of the pyramid now” and more “we’re trusting you with the future of this.”
 

Knights Templar, Ancient Temples, and Mythic Origins

One of the oldest and most persistent claims is that modern Freemasons are direct descendants of the Knights Templar. Austin’s answer is nuanced. Historically, there’s no solid, reliable evidence that Freemasonry is a direct continuation of the Templars. Mythically, the Templar story has been woven into the rituals and symbolism of one branch of Freemasonry.

Some Masonic bodies draw heavily on Templar imagery and legend. That doesn’t mean today’s Masons are the Knights Templar. He compares it to biblical stories. Archaeologists have confirmed certain places and events, but not every detail can be proven. The question becomes, Do the stories still have value and meaning, even if we can’t confirm every piece as literal history? For Freemasons, what matters is less “are we literally descended from the Templars?” and more “what lessons do these stories teach about duty, sacrifice, and morality?”

Likewise, Freemasonry has long drawn from the story of King Solomon’s Temple in the Old Testament. Masons symbolically place themselves as the builders of that temple, not necessarily because there’s hard evidence they were, rather the story provides a powerful moral framework.
 

Politics, Power & the “New World Order”

Another big cluster of myths:

• Are Freemasons running the world?
• Are they secretly controlling governments, banks, and policy?
• Is this part of a “New World Order”?

Austin doesn’t dodge this. He acknowledges there’s a kernel of truth that gets distorted. Like any organization, Freemasons like to point to their most successful members. They proudly list how many U.S. presidents, judges, or public figures were Masons. That’s like a university bragging about notable alumni more than a sign of centralized control.

Inside the lodge in the United States, the stance on politics is clear: There is a strong expectation that politics not be discussed in lodge. It’s seen as a source of division, not unity. Members may be “diametrically opposed” on the political spectrum, but they’re told to focus on shared ethics, civics, and morals instead.

In some other countries, Freemasonry has sometimes taken on a more political role,  pushing for certain reforms or changes. Globally, there is no single, unified body that runs all of Freemasonry.

Structurally, individual lodges (local groups) are governed by a Grand Lodge at the state or national level. Each U.S. state has its own Grand Lodge (e.g., Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand Lodge of Texas). Some optional branches like Scottish Rite have national leadership, but still no global command center. As Austin puts it, the lack of a worldwide controlling body itself undermines the idea of a single secret world government run by Masons.
 

The Illuminati Question

We couldn’t avoid this one: Are Freemasons connected to the Illuminati? Historically, there really was a group called the Bavarian Illuminati. At one point, they did try to infiltrate Masonic lodges as a way to gain influence. They were stopped. the organization was suppressed, and the original Illuminati no longer exists.

Why does the myth survive? People like to have a boogeyman — a single, sinister group they can blame for everything that’s wrong with the world. It’s often easier to imagine powerful secret societies ruining your life than to confront the more uncomfortable idea that life is complicated, systems are flawed and  not centrally controlled, and we might have more responsibility and agency than we’d like to admit.

Or as we discussed in the episode, some would rather feel like a victim of faceless power than consider what they themselves could do to create positive change.
 

What Freemasonry Is Trying to Teach

Behind all the symbols, rituals, and history, what is Freemasonry really about? Austin boils the “big secret” down to something surprisingly simple:

• In lodge, you’re told to look around the room at the men beside you.
• You’re asked to recognize yourself in them, and them in you.
• You’re asked to treat them as brothers.

Early on, another step is added: Eventually, you’re supposed to extend that courtesy to everyone you meet, not just fellow Masons.

If you strip away all the layers, the organization is trying to teach civics, reinforce virtue, and encourage ethical behavior. It’s to cultivate a mindset where we treat others with dignity, even when we disagree. In a time where politics and social media reward division and outrage, that might be the most radical idea in the whole system.
 

How People Learn Masonic Teachings

There are three main ways information is passed on:

1. Mouth to ear. The oldest and most traditional method. One Mason recites; the other memorizes. Builds relationships and social connection. Interestingly, the old “mouth to ear” approach had a side benefit: it forces people to spend time together.
2. Written ritual (carefully controlled). In recent decades, some ritual texts have been written down. Copies are numbered and closely tracked. Intended to help busy modern members while still protecting core secrets
3. Public books and talks. Masons, like Austin, write books or give lectures on Masonic history, symbolism, and philosophy. Everything they publish is safe for public consumption. They intentionally avoid disclosing the “modes of recognition” or anything that violates their obligations

Learning isn’t just an individual study task, it is a social experience. You meet, practice, then sit and talk about life. Some Masons worry that moving everything to print and convenience might weaken that community aspect.
 

If You’re Curious About Freemasonry

If you’re curious and want to separate reality from nonsense, Austin recommends a simple first step: Look up the Grand Lodge website for your state or country. Those sites explain what Freemasonry is (and isn’t), outline the basic requirements to join, and have a way to contact someone locally.

From there, you might be connected to a lodge near where you live, attend a public event or social gathering, and simply meet some of the members to see if it feels like a good fit. Nothing is automatic. You’re not instantly “in.” It’s more like a mutual evaluation: Are you a good fit for them? Are they a good fit for you?
 

Final Thoughts

Freemasonry is easy to mythologize. It’s old, partially secret, and it uses symbols. Some famous people aer members. That’s the perfect recipe for conspiracy theories. When you strip away the fear and fantasy, you find something much more ordinary and, in some ways, more interesting: A group of people from different backgrounds and beliefs,  trying to uphold a code of conduct, improve themselves, practice civics and virtue, and build a small pocket of brotherhood in a world that often rewards division.

Once you understand how it actually works, the “mystery” looks a lot less like world domination and more like a human attempt to live by a certain set of ideals,  imperfect and intentional.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on my podcast interview with Austin Shifrin, published in March 5, 2025. The ideas discussed here originate from that conversation. The structure, emphasis, and commentary are my own. Any errors or interpretations should be attributed to me, not to Austin Shifrin. 

Watch or listen:

Freemasonry: Truth, Myths, Secrets, with Guest Austin Shifrin, a 33rd-degree Scottish Rite Mason