Look, alot of this symbology was chosen in the early 1700s and at that time, the Ottoman Empire was the largest in the world and ruled the heart of the oldest civilized areas of the world. It was common for people in the West to think of themselves as living in sort of young nations, while the Turks ruled the oldest nations in their empire.
So using muslim symbols etc was not necesarily some embracement of Islam, but just a way to communicate in a largely illiterate world that your organization is somehow linked or studies ancient wisdom and lore.
Thats all it isnt some grand conspiracy, if we are talking about Anglo Freemasonry.
I cant/wont defend the Oriental Lodge, as I dont really know much about them but do know that they are the cause of the Vaticans ban on Catholic membership.
I really dont know much about Anglo Freemasonry either, to be honest, but I do know that Washington, Monroe, Ben Franklin, FDR, LBJ, Truman, Sam Houston and many other men I respect were members of that organization and all of them loved liberty and sought to enoble the common man.
Dont by into this grand conspiracy stuff, or soon you'll be talking about Masonic secret bases on the far side of the moon and ancestral spaceships from Antares! LOL!
WOW! Really, Masonic have a secret bases on the far side of the moon! Never heard of that one, thanks for the laugh.
So using Muslim symbols etc was not necessarily some embracement of Islam, but just a way to communicate in a largely illiterate world that your organization is somehow linked or studies ancient wisdom and lore.
I had a discussion yesterday about the largely illiterate world population up to the 1936-40 time frame.
Our conclusion was globally 100 million (ballpark) illiterate people were killed off by the intellects in the 20th century trying to changing the world for the good of the people.
Anyway, I understand your communicate design point.
Thanks...
Wrong most of this symbology wasn't even thought about until the Shrine came into existance. Which was much later then the 1700"s. Go to www.masonicinfo.com and you will find out anything you wish within reason.