The monarch of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has shared insights into his involvement with Freemasonry.
Serving as the Grand Patron of the Grand Lodge of Ghana, Otumfuo revealed that he became a member of the Freemasons twenty-five years ago.
“Twenty-five years ago, I was initiated into Freemasonry. There is no doubt that in joining a society or club, one cannot help but wonder what benefit or restrictions await,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said.
“In the case of Freemasonry, you are left to worryingly wonder more without knowing exactly what you are going to face and with no one ready to tell you what you want to know.”
“Whatever doubts or reservations might have crossed my mind, all I can say after the 25-year period is that I have no regrets about being a Freemason, experiencing what it unfolds and what it means to be called a Freemason,” he stated.
Otumfour said this during the weekend when Freemasons from all over Ghana and beyond assembled in Kumasi to celebrate his 25th anniversary on the Golden Stool and his 25th anniversary as a Freemason. This gathering also commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Ghana.
Freemasonry, also known as Masonry, is a fraternal organization with roots tracing back to the guilds of stonemasons in the 14th century.
These guilds regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their relationships with authorities and clients. Many Freemasons believe that the craft’s origins go even further back, connecting the Knights Templar to the ancient mysteries and the beginnings of operative and speculative Freemasonry.
In modern times, Freemasonry is divided into two main groups: Regular Freemasonry, which requires members to believe in a Supreme Being, prohibits women, and avoids discussions on religion and politics during meetings; and Continental Freemasonry, which has fewer restrictions.
Throughout its existence, freemasonry has faced criticism and opposition, particularly from religious and political entities.
The Catholic Church, certain Protestant denominations, and some Islamic countries have either opposed or banned membership in Freemasonry. Criticisms often stem from anti-Semitic beliefs or conspiracy theories, leading to historical persecution of Freemasons by authoritarian regimes.
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