What are the Masons?

The Masons, or Freemasons, are members of a somewhat
secret fraternal organization.  The purpose of this group is to promote brotherhood
among its members and to do charity work in its community.  This is why there are, for
example, many childrens hospitals that are run by the
Masons.

The Masons have been a very controversial group
during much of history.  The fact that their meetings are secret have worried people at
times.  This worry has been great enough that there was even an Anti-Masonic Party in
the United States at one time in the 1820s and 1830s.

Many
of America's "Founding Fathers" were Masons and Masonic symbols can be found on American
dollar bills.