Original subtitles

For centuries, investigators have attempted to uncover the secrets of the Freemasons.

The threads, codes, and revelations all appear to connect at a single location.

America's Capital.

The quest for the truth behind the most powerful secret society in the world begins here in

Washington.

A city built by Freemasons, for Freemasons.

The mission of Masonic secrets and codes embedded in every iconic structure.

One of the major traditions in Masonry is the expression hidden in plain sight.

If you really know what to look for in Washington, the Masonic tradition is there to see.

From the Washington Monument to the Capital Building to the secret foundation stones of

the city itself.

Washington DC is said to contain Masonic codes, known only to be initiated.

What's fascinating there is the information is being conveyed in many ways other than

words other than text.

It's through an array of symbolic illustrations, paintings that have specific meaning.

Before one can interpret and understand the codes, one needs to understand the origins

of the organization that put them there.

The Freemasons are an organization with an enigmatic past, a shadowy membership, a mysterious

goals.

It is not a social club, it is not a civic club, definitely it's not a religious organization,

and it's not a charity.

The mystery surrounding the Freemasons originates from the levels of secrecy associated with

it throughout history.

Few other organizations require blindfolded initiations, blood oaths, or codes and symbols

for identification.

This reenactment shows details of the initiation of a master Mason.

In the first stage of initiation, the newcomer is blindfolded.

His clothes stripped away, he then swears never to reveal the Masonic secrets.

In the final stage, the master reenacts a death and resurrection ritual with the initiate

himself as the stand-in human sacrifice.

The initiation is an esoteric process that conveys through the language of symbolism

powerful concepts and presents the individual with tools that he would use in order to improve

himself.

With the initiation now complete, it's claimed the Freemason is now a changed man.

It's really an internal transformation of who you are by developing greater awareness

of the physical, intellectual and spiritual world in which you live.

And if the initiate reveals any of its mysteries, the penalty is severe.

The Masonic vow promises the oathbreaker will suffer a slashed throat, disembowelment and

being burned alive.

The Freemasons' commitment to secrecy is what differentiates them from simply being a local

rotary club or church group.

There are three levels in basic Freemasonry.

Enter the apprentice, fellow craft and master Mason.

At each successive level, a Freemason is given increased access to the organization's hidden

codes.

There are further levels, also known as degrees and further Masonic organizations to join.

The Scottish Rite.

The York Rite.

The Shriners.

Each with their own oaths and codes.

Scottish Rite Freemasonry has 33 degrees and the number 33 repeatedly appears as a code

for the highest of secrets.

But only Masons know what the code means.

For Freemasons, secrecy serves a vital purpose.

Secrecy is a symbol like everything else in Freemasonry is.

It's a symbol of our honor.

If you can't be trusted to keep a handshake or a password a secret, then you're really

not a very trustworthy person.

We insist on secrets to teach the person silence.

Silence is key in Freemasonry.

When one is speaking, one does not learn.

One needs to be silent, to absorb.

Second reason for silence, it teaches the Mason to keep a trust.

If I cannot keep my brother's trust to myself, I lose it.

This shroud of secrecy is why some religious organizations accuse Freemasonry of promoting

deception, political treason, atheism, even Satanism.

Freemasons have a reputation among evangelical Christians and others as being somehow satanic

or practicing the dark arts.

You wonder that the Freemasons themselves put out this cover story as a way to perhaps

enhance the mystique of the organization.

Freemasonry remains an esoteric society.

Esoteric sounds like it means the same thing as a cult and it doesn't.

Esoteric simply means knowledge held by a group of people.

It is not for outsiders.

Freemasons state their mysteries can only be experienced, not revealed.

What can be revealed is the symbolic equipment and sacred objects inside a Freemasons lodge.

Objects rooted in one of the most ancient trades in history.

Take a look around the lodroom.

Look at what you're seeing.

You are seeing the symbols of stone cutters, masons, builders.

You're seeing the square and compass.

You are seeing a mall hammered.

You're seeing trowels.

These are all symbols of builders.

These ritual tools hint at the secret society's origins.