The most powerful celebrity Freemasons of all time

Freemasonry, while rooted in its early origins as a clandestine society, has evolved to a point where many of its members are high-profile figures today. These fraternal organizations operate on the foundations of humanitarianism, symbolism, philosophy, and charity. Do you know legendary actor Clark Gable was a Freemason? You might be surprised at the other celebrity members of this organization!

Central to Freemasonry is the concept of brotherhood, altruism, and truth. Masons strive for ethical growth and self-enhancement through active participation in symbolic rituals and ceremonies.

Image: Igustavinho via Wikimedia

Membership of a Masonic lodge has garnered different reactions, depending on the country. For instance, in Spain, Freemasons were once subjected to severe oppression. The 18th-century Spanish regime imposed a ban on masons across its empire. Then, during Franco's dictatorship, masons and communists were seen as the main threats to the state.

Many members of Mussolini's collaborators were masons, but by the mid-1920s he outlawed Freemasonry. In Britain, where the first Grand Lodge was built, the movement has been viewed more favourably.

Image: Freemasons' Hall (London) 1809 via Wikimedia Commons

Before he got into politics, Silvio Berlusconi was a prominent member of the Italian secret society known as P2, or Propaganda Due. Specifically, his membership card bore the number 1,816. The Grand Master of the organization, Lucio Gelli, has acknowledged Berlusconi's involvement on multiple occasions, as reported by Italian media outlets such as La Stampa.

Edwin Buzz Aldrin was the second man and first mason to ever step on the surface of the moon. He was an active member of Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 in Texas.

The civil rights activist who ran for president in the United States Democratic Party primaries in 1984 and 1988, was made a mason by the Grand Master Senter of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois on May 25th, 1987. The lodge was founded in the 18th century and primarily made up of African American members.

The famous Denver Bronco Hall of Fame Quarterback joined his local lodge in 2002. He started to become interested in Freemasonry when his Super bowl winning career ended.

A fact not everyone knows about Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of Apple, is that he is a Freemason. He joined Freemasonry in 1980 at Charity Lodge No. 362 in Campbell, California.

According to American media, the actor who played Cosmo Kramer in 'Seinfeld' is a 33-degree Scottish Rite Freemason, a title granted solely out of recognition for outstanding services.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II was initiated in 1952 at Naval Lodge No. 2612, of the United Grand Lodge of England, the same one in which his father-in-law, King George VI, was initiated. Prince Philip used to attend the meetings of his lodge without prior notice. When he died, many of the main lodges around the world sent their condolences for the passing of their "brother."

The 'Gone With The Wind' star was in more than 60 motion pictures. In the midst of his success, he joined Freemasonry and was eventually raised to a Master Mason in the Beverly Hills Lodge, No. 528, in 1933.

In his youth, the legendary Western actor John Wayne was a member of the DeMolay Order, a youth group from the Mason family. He began in Freemasonry officially in 1970 at the Marion McDanial Lodge 56 in Tucson, Arizona. In 1970, he also became a member of the Shriners, an American Masonic society.

The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was initiated as a Freemason at the age of 26. He frequently attended Studhome Lodge meetings, but never held a prominent position and left the masons to pursue politics. He also descended from a line of Masons, according to Scottish Rite.

The British King George VI was initiated into Freemasonry in 1919 in the Naval Lodge No. 2612, of the United Grand Lodge of England. After WWII, he wrote: "Freemasonry has been one of the strongest influences on my life,” and collaborated to create a postage stamp full of Masonic symbolism.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only U.S. President to win four consecutive elections in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944, was initiated in the New York Holland Lodge No. 8 in 1911. In Chile, there is even a lodge that bears his name: the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lodge No. 99 in Limache.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was one of many writers who had a relationship with Freemasonry. He became a Grand Master in St. Louis and his works contain Masonic references. He was a member of the Polar Star Lodge No. 79 in St. Louis.

The creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, was initiated in January 1887 at Phoenix Lodge No. 257 in Portsmouth. He was also an honorary member of the St. Mary's Chapel Lodge No. 1 in Edinburgh of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

The famous writer was very active in Freemasonry thanks, in part, to his relationship with Prince Leopold, the sixth son of Queen Victoria of England, who introduced him to the society. Wilde was first in Apollo Lodge and then in Churchill Lodge.

The first President of the United States of America became a Master Mason at Alexandria Lodge No. 22. He was initiated at age 20, in 1752, at Charity Lodge No. 362 in Campbell, California. At his swearing-in ceremony, he took the oath of office on a Bible from St. John's Lodge in New York.

The Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart became a Master Mason. He had a lot of connection to Freemasonry as a result of his membership in the Zur Wohltätigkeit Lodge in Vienna. Some of his works were even composed for Masonic gatherings.

Simon Bolivar, the hero who helped secure independence for Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela from the Spanish Empire, was also a mason. He joined the Spanish Lodge Lautaro in Cadiz during his second trip to Europe.