Why do Freemasons have a secret handshake?
asks Teresa, SA Freemasonry dates back to the middle ages when masons were building cathedrals and palaces throughout Europe and Great Britain. They were operative masons; they had secret handshakes and words that gave them acknowledgement to another palace that they were able and qualified to do a certain work in the building. As they improved their skills they got a further handshake and a word and this enabled them to move from cathedral to cathedral. They were illiterate and unable to write, so they couldnt sign their names and they carried these words and handshakes. This changed over the years as the building stopped from operative masons, to as we are known today, to be free and accepted or symbolic masons. The handshakes and words continue to this day. Have there been any famous Freemasons? asks Bob, NSW Freemasons can come from the highest or lowest positions in society. Within a Freemasons lodge, all men are considered equal, meeting on the level and parting on the square. Am
