Infinitely much has been written about Freemasonry - voluminous research and literary works (Pisemsky’s great novel Masons).
The association of free masons (this is exactly what the literal translation of the word “freemason” sounds like), not being a religion, can argue with any of its branches in terms of the number of fans and popularity.
This is a complex, extremely interesting, and most importantly - a secret structure. She received official status several times, but not for long. No one knows for sure the true cause and time of its occurrence, no one can determine its true goals and the number of members in the ranks, if it does not have a direct relationship with the fraternity. Therefore, organizations often attribute traits inherent in other secret societies.
However, over the long centuries of existence, specific symbols of Freemasonry have been developed and identified, becoming familiar with which, we can state the following: Masons accepted, as a rule, highly educated, independent and established people, despite the fact that at the first step of the hierarchical ladder they were awarded the title "Student".
Special merits or large donations were needed to reach the second stage — the apprentice, and the third — the master. Along with the symbol, the sign of the Masons also existed, as a rule, secret.
The symbols hint at the history of the emergence, priorities and goals of the organization. So, the “shell and pearl” personifies self-improvement and self-development of a person (a pearl should form from a grain of sand with incredibly painstaking work).
Any educated person is familiar with the symbols and knows that initially there were three of them: a square, a hammer and a hatchet. Later, the "brothers" borrowed from ancient religions such symbols as the "all-seeing eye", two columns (Jaoken and Boaz), 6 and 5 finite stars, a circle and others, almost all of which carried the symbolism of Satan, which partially explains the secret existence of lies.
The mysterious is always tempting, excites the imagination, makes you think of something. Therefore, membership in Masonic organizations was attributed to a number of Russian tsars, Napoleon, Stalin and Hitler.
But if any of the symbols of Freemasonry - the sword (law), the acacia branch (immortality), compasses and others (about 14 in total) - is marked, documented, captured on dozens of paintings by geniuses, then the sign of Masons is always veiled.
There are several special gestures, and a significant role is assigned to those dedicated to them. Such secret signs of masons as a handshake at a meeting (the thumbnail of the right hand is pressed against the 1st joint of the same hand of the other member of the box) allowed the brothers to recognize each other and emphasize their belonging to a secret society.
The alternate utterance of the syllables of the words Jaoken and Boaz is also a sign of the Masons, in the meaning of which only the elect were dedicated.
A special role is given to the gesture "hidden hand", symbolizing the supposedly postulate "his deeds speak of a man." The greats of this world, depicted in canvases with their right hands, hidden behind a cuff of clothes, cannot be counted. Maybe they were Masons, or maybe it was just a habit. Another sign of Freemasons is holding the same right (a special place is given to it in Freemasonry) with the hand near the neck of a line parallel to the floor. He talked about a person belonging to the "disciple" stage.
It is difficult to overestimate the signs of Masons and their significance, since, according to some reports, this society numbers about 5 million people in its ranks today, and its lodges are located in all developed countries of the world. In the wake of equality, Masonic lodges have been formed and exist - Ursa Major, Cameo, and others.
Members of the secret society developed a whole system of secret signs with which they could conduct dialogues. However, such a shocking sign of the Masons (perhaps only attributed to them), such as “show your horns” (three fingers, of course, of the right hand are clenched into a fist, and the index finger and little finger are thrown forward), consciously applied or not, has surpassed all the others. Judging by it, then half of humanity belongs to the Masons. This sign of the Masons - the sign of Satan - compromises a movement whose ideas (building a new one, striving for perfection, universal education) are not so bad at all.