Masonic “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” Quiz
Used in a Program at Federal Lodge #1 in Washington DC, April 24, 2000, by Worshipful Master Alfred C. Boswell, Jr.
f you want to see this list of questions with the correct answers in bold you can go to http://bessel.org/millionaire-answers.htm
How many Landmarks of Freemasonry are there, and where do they come from?
a. 25, written by Albert G. Mackey and printed in the D.C. Code book
b. 6, explained by Roscoe Pound, a prominent Mason and Dean of Harvard Law School
c. 3, adopted by the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America
d. No one knows — most Grand Lodges, including D.C., have not adopted any Landmarks
When was the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia founded, and who was its first Grand Master?
a. It was founded in 1776, and its first Grand Master was Brother George Washington
b. It was founded in 1776, and its first Grand Master was Valentine Reintzel
c. It was founded in 1811, and its first Grand Master was Valentine Reintzel
d. It was founded in 1811, and its first Grand Master was Benjamin B. French
Approximately how many Masons were there in the United States in 1960, and how many are there today?
a. In 1960 there were about 4 million Masons in the U.S., and today there are fewer than 2 million.
b. In 1960 there were about 2 million Masons in the U.S., and today there are about 2 million.
c. In 1960 there were about 10 million Masons in the U.S., and today there are about 5 million.
d. No one know. No statistics were kept.
Where in the Bible can you find the story of Hiram Abif as we tell it in the Master Mason’s degree?
a. The Book of Genesis
b. The Book of Hiram
c. The Book of Naphtali
d. It’s not in the Bible at all.
When and where does solid evidence indicate that Freemasonry begin?
a. It began in King Solomon’s time, about 1,000 B.C., in Jerusalem.
b. It began with Adam, at the start of the world.
c. It began in England, toward the end of the 1600s and early 1700s.
d. It began in the United States, in 1800.
Who were the “Ancients” and the “Moderns”?
a. A rock group from the 1970s
b. Old men and young men in the early 1900s who argued about what our Grand Lodge should be called.
c. British Masons in the late 1700s who disagreed about membership, ritual, and other aspects of Freemasonry.
d. Groups in India who developed mystical ideas about Freemasonry and Hinduism.
How many of the 41 men who have been U.S. Presidents were Freemasons?
a. A majority of them, 25.
b. All 41 of them.
c. 14 of them, if you don’t include the one who was an EA but didn’t become a Master Mason.
d. Only 5 of them, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman.
What was the “Enlightenment” and how did it relate to Freemasonry?
a. The Enlightenment was a philosophical and political movement of the 1700s, that promoted the use of rational thinking and science to improve society. Its ideas became included in Freemasonry.
b. The Enlightenment was a group of people in the 1800s who attacked Freemasonry because they felt it was a counterfeit religion that was attempting to destroy Christianity and Judaism.
c. The Enlightenment was the name of a book written by a famous Mason in the early 1900s who urged the elimination of war and bigotry throughout the world, and the spread of Masonic concepts of brotherhood.
d. The Enlightenment was a 1950s rock group made up of Masons who tried to encourage young men and women to join Demolay and Jobs Daughters and the Rainbow groups.
Where did most of our Masonic ritual come from?
a. It was written in the Bible.
b. It was written by 2 men — an Englishman of the late 1700s named William Preston, and an American of the early 1800s named Thomas Smith Webb.
c. It was written by Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin in the 1700s.
d. It was written in books written in King Solomon’s time and rediscovered in the 1600s in caves in the Holy Land.
Why is the language used in Masonic ritual different from the language we use in normal conversation?
a. To make it more mysterious.
b. Because it is the language that was commonly used 200 years ago
c. Because Masonry is supposed to be a system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols.
d. To make it more difficult for non-Masons to break our secrets.
Who was Prince Hall?
a. The King of an island in the Caribbean, who forced all his people to become Masons.
b. A black man who became a Mason in Boston in 1775 and who founded a system of Masonic lodges for black men.
c. He wasn’t a person. Prince Hall is just a name that is given to Black Masonry in the United States.
d. Prince Hall is the name of the building where the first Black Masonic Lodge in the United States met in the 1700s.
What are Masons required to keep secret?
a. Everything about Freemasonry
b. Everything that happens in our Lodge meetings.
c. The names of all Masons.
d. Our due guards, signs, handshakes, and the exact words of our ritual.
What subjects are not permitted to be discussed in Lodge meetings?
a. Religion
b. Religion and politics
c. Religion, politics, and sex
d. Religion, politics, sex, and food
Who were Allen E. Roberts and John J. Robinson?
a. The founders of Federal Lodge #1 in the late 1700s
b. Authors of books about Freemasonry. They died in the 1990s.
c. The only 2 men who were elected Grand Masters of the United States in the 1800s
d. 2 Masons who always sat next to each other in Lodge because their names were close in alphabetical order.
Why is it said that symbolism is very important in Freemasonry?
a. It’s easier to hide secrets when you use symbols.
b. The Constitutions of Masonry require us to use symbolism.
c. Symbolism makes us think more about the meaning of each symbol.
d. It’s fun to see if anyone can guess what each symbol stands for.
In the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, who was allowed to enter the Sanctum Sanctorum or Holy of Holies?
a. Only the High Priest, only once a year
b. King Solomon, when he was married
c. No person was allowed to enter it. Only God dwelled there.
d. Only Hiram Abif could enter it, to pray at high twelve each day.
How much money do American Masons contribute to charity?
a. Several thousand dollars a day
b. About $2 million dollars each day
c. More than $100 million dollars each day
d. No one knows, because it can’t be calculated
What is the Scottish Rite called the Scottish Rite?
a. It was started in Scotland
b. Its degrees are based on Scottish folk tales
c. The man who founded it was named John Scottish
d. The people who started it thought the name sounded exotic.
What is the “lost word” in Masonry, which is referred to in the 3rd or Master Masons degree?
a. Divine Truth, which is lost but which we are all seeking in our own way
b. The constant search for what God intends each person to do with his life to make it a worthwhile life
c. The fact that each of us needs to triumph over any prejudices, passions, or conflicts we may have been taught or picked up
d. It is up to each one of us to decide for himself what this means.
Who decides which Grand Lodges are regular and recognized?
a. Each Grand Lodge decides for itself.
b. The Conference of Grand Masters of the United States decides.
c. The World Conference of Grand Masters decides.
d. The United Grand Lodge of England decides.
You cannot object to the presence of a member of your Lodge in your Lodge meeting. Who else can you NOT object to visiting in your lodge?
a. The Grand Master
b. The Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master
c. The Grand Master and all other Grand Lodge Officers
d. You cannot object to any visitor unless you give the Worshipful Master a good reason for your objection.
In our Grand Lodge, and others, who is entitled to a Masonic funeral or burial service?
a. Any Mason in any Grand Lodge
b. Any Mason, including Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Masons, in any Grand Lodge
c. Only Master Masons in some Grand Lodges, but Entered Apprentices and Fellowcraft Masons in some Grand Lodges
d. Only Masons who were active in attending their Lodge meetings before their death
What happened to the Antimasonic Political Party in the 1830s?
a. It was laughed at and quickly disappeared.
b. It nominated a candidate for President who was an active Mason.
c. It elected Governors in 3 states, and several dozen Congressmen and State Legislators, and was a major force in politics for many years.
d. It was the successor of the Whig Party, and supported the Confederacy in the Civil War.
Which of the following men was strongly opposed to Freemasonry?
a. Adolph Hitler in Germany
b. Francisco Franco in Spain
c. Pat Robertson in the United States
d. All of the above
Where is the largest Masonic library in the world?
a. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial
b. London
c. New York
d. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Why are Masons are proud of George Washington?
a. He was a Masonic Grand Master the same time he was President of the United States
b. He attended Masonic lodge meetings frequently
c. He supported Freemasonry in his letters, and he sometimes attended Masonic events, but not lodge meetings
d. He encouraged all his generals and cabinet officers to become Masons
How many Grand Lodges are there in the United States?
a. 51, one for each State plus the District of Columbia
b. All the above, plus one Prince Hall Grand Lodge in each State and the District of Columbia
c. All the above, plus Grand Lodges for women only, and for men and women together
d. All the above, plus other Grand Lodges that ours does not recognize
What is the Hiram Key?
a. Hiram Abif’s key to the Temple of Solomon
b. A book about Freemasonry, written in the 1990s
c. A Masonic song written by Mozart
d. The first Grand Lodge that was established in the United States
What is Anderson’s Constitutions?
a. The first book about Freemasonry as we know it
b. The first document written about Freemasonry in the 1300s
c. The first Masonic ritual cipher
d. A collection of all the U.S. Grand Lodge constitutions that is on file at the House of the Temple
Who was Leo Taxil?
a. A Grand Master of the District of Columbia in the 1950s
b. A man in the 1890s who created hoaxes about the evils of Freemasonry
c. The founder of the Royal Arch of Freemasonry
d. The man to discovered the Masonic apron worn by King Solomon
Who was John Coustos?
a. A famous Mason who was tortured by the Inquisition in Portugal
b. The famous leader of Portugal in the 1700s who tortured Masons
c. The famous founder of the Grand Lodge of Portugal
d. The author of a famous book about Freemasonry in Portugal
The Knights Templar of the 1200s, who some think were the forerunners of Freemasons, were —
a. Soldiers and Princes and Kings
b. Soldiers and bankers
c. Soldiers and leaders of the strongest families in Europe
d. Soldiers and Popes
Does Freemasonry allow men of all religions to become Masons?
a. Yes, everywhere, because that is a fundamental principle of Freemasonry
b. No, in some countries, Grand Lodges that we recognize prohibit anyone who is not Christian from becoming a Mason
c. No, in Israel only Jews can become Masons
d. No, in Arab countries only Moslems can become Masons
Who was the first Grand Master in England, in 1717?
a. Anthony Sayer
b. King George
c. James Anderson, the author of the Constitutions
d. The Duke of Tyre
Can there be more than one regular Grand Lodge in any State or Country?
a. No. There can only be one
b. Yes. For example, our Grand Lodge recognized 2 Grand Lodges in France for many years.
c. Yes, but only if we receive permission to do that from the Conference of Grand Masters.
d. No. There can only be one Grand Lodge in each place, but we can change it every year if we want.
Who was Benjamin B. French, for whom one of our Lodges is named?
a. A Grand Master of our Grand Lodge in the 1800s
b. A Grand Commander of the Grand Encampment of Knight Templars
c. A friend of Abraham Lincoln and one of his government officials
d. All of the above
What are the Philalethes Society and the Phylaxis Society?
a. Religious groups that believe Masons are devil worshipers
b. One is a Masonic group for doctors who are Masons, and the other for lawyers who are Masons
c. Masonic research groups for Masons, one mainly for whites, and the other mainly for black Masons
d. Masonic research groups for male Masons and for female Masons
What is Quatuor Coronati?
a. A famous English research lodge
b. The title that is given to the Grand Master of England
c. Cigars smoked by English Masons after their Lodge meetings
d. The secret part of English Masonic ritual
What does “low twelve” mean?
a. The 12 Fellowcraft Masons who engaged in an evil plot
b. The hour of midnight
c. The first 12 degrees in the Scottish Rite
d. Appointed officers in a Grand Lodge
Who is called the “poet laureate” of Masonry?
a. Rob Morris
b. Robert Frost
c. Dr. James Anderson
d. Valentine Reintzel
How many Scottish Rite Supreme Councils are there in the United States (not counting Prince Hall Supreme Councils, and not counting Supreme Councils that our Grand Lodge does not recognize)?
a. 1, with headquarters in the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C.
b. 2, with headquarters near Boston and in Washington, D.C.
c. 51, one in each State plus the District of Columbia
d. Hundreds, one in each city in the United States
Can Masons everywhere belong to more than one Lodge?
a. Yes
b. No. Only in the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia can Masons belong to more than one lodge.
c. No. Some Grand Lodges permit Masons to belong to as many lodges as they wish, some to only 2, and some to only 1.
d. No. Only in the United States are Masons permitted to belong to as many lodges as they wish.
What is the symbol of Royal Arch Masonry?
a. The square and compasses with an “R” in the middle
b. The triple tau
c. The double headed eagle
d. The Grand High Priest
Why does the Tiler hold a sword?
a. To symbolize that he will fight to prevent non-Masons from illegally entering a Masonic lodge
b. To symbolize that he will fight to prevent Masons from leaving the Lodge before it closes
c. To give him something to do while he is waiting outside the lodge room
d. To prove that Freemasonry is derived from the Knights Templar of old
A Mason should cast a negative ballot against a petitioner if you believe —
a. he would not be similar to those who are already in your lodge
b. his lifestyle is not one you approve of
c. his vouchers are not men in whom you have confidence
d. his character is morally bad
Why is a Master of a Lodge called “worshipful”?
a. In ancient times he led the lodge in worship
b. “Worshipful” means “honorable” and is a title of respect
c. He is considered the most religious member of the lodge
d. Masons like to use fancy titles
Who are the “Four Crowned Martyrs”?
a. Patron saints of operative Masons in the middle ages
b. Four Kings of England who were murdered because they supported Freemasonry
c. The first Masons in the District of Columbia
d. Four great basketball players who were Masons
What is a “cowen”?
a. A coward
b. An eavesdropper
c. A Mason who pretends to be an officer
d. A Mason who doesn’t have the Mason’s word
What must be included on altars in Lodges in our jurisdiction?
a. Only the Bible is required
b. The Bible and square and compasses
c. The Bible, square and compasses, and the Charter must be on the altar
d. The Bible, square and compasses, Charter, and lesser lights must be on the altar
Where did the first Grand Lodge in England meet in 1717?
a. In Freemasons’ Hall
b. In a hotel ballroom
c. In an open field, to allow room for everyone
d. In a tavern, called “Goose and Gridiron”
What is the role of the Royal Family of England with Freemasonry in England?
a. Every son of a British King or Queen is automatically made a Mason
b. The Royal Family has always been attacked by Masons in England
c. The Grand Master of England is always a member of the Royal Family
d. The Royal Family has their own Lodge in England
Who or what is Ahiman Rezon?
a. It’s the name given in some jurisdictions to their Masonic Code or Constitution
b. He was the first Grand Master of Italy
c. It’s the name given to Hiram Abif in some countries in Europe
d. It’s the most secret word in Freemasonry
If Benjamin Franklin was a Past Grand Master, why didn’t he receive a Masonic funeral?
a. He said he didn’t want one
b. Masons didn’t know when he died
c. He belonged to the “Moderns” — but the “Ancients” had taken over the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and considered the “Ancients,” including Benjamin Franklin, to be clandestine
d. His son had become an Anti-Mason and would not permit the Masons to conduct a service for his father
How was Freemasonry involved in the inauguration of President George Washington in 1789?
a. Washington was a Mason. That’s all.
b. Washington was a Mason, and the man who administered the oath, Robert Livingston, was a Mason.
c. Washington and Livingston were Masons, and Washington used the Bible belonging to the nearest Masonic Lodge to take his oath.
d. Washington and Livingston were Masons, Washington used a Masonic Bible, and Washington said, “So Mote It Be” after he took his oath as President.
Who was James Hoban?
a. The founder of Federal Lodge #1, and also the architect of the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
b. The founder of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, and U.S. Attorney General.
c. The founder of Freemasonry in America, and the first Governor of Massachusetts.
d. The composer of a Masonic opera about the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
What are Masonic “Short Talk Bulletins”?
a. Urgent messages about Masons who are poor and distressed
b. Monthly pamphlets with information about Masonic topics
c. The official publication of the Grand Masters of the United States
d. Booklets that help Masons learn the ritual
What does “MSA” stand for?
a. Masons Stand Allied
b. Masonic Standards Association
c. Masonic Service Association
d. Masonry Supports America
When Harry S. Truman won the Presidential election in 1948, which of the candidates were Masons?
a. Only the Democrat, Harry S. Truman
b. The Democrat, Harry S. Truman, and the Republican, Thomas E. Dewey
c. The Democrat, Harry S. Truman, the Republican, Thomas E. Dewey, and the Progressive Party Candidate, Henry A. Wallace
d. The Democrat, Harry S. Truman, the Republican, Thomas E. Dewey, the Progressive, Henry A. Wallace, and the States Right Party candidate, Strom Thurmond.
How many U.S. Grand Lodges now recognize Prince Hall Grand Lodges, and which was the first?
a. 31 of the 51, and Connecticut was the first
b. 49 of the 51, and New York was the first
c. 10 of the 51, and California was the first
d. 51 of the 51, and Alabama was the first
At what Civil War battlefield is there a large Masonic statue dedicated to brotherhood?
a. Bull Run
b. Vicksburg
c. Gettysburg
d. Chancellorsville
Why is Albert Pike important in Freemasonry?
a. He wrote the ritual of the Master Mason degree
b. He was a forceful leader of the Scottish Rite
c. He was the first Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in the United States
d. He had the largest waistline of any Grand Master in history
What is the most well-known charity of the Shrine?
a. Helping children avoid drug use
b. Muscular dystrophy
c. Hospitals for children
d. Cerebral Palsy
What is the symbolic meaning of the “all seeing eye” used in Freemasonry, and pictured on the dollar bill?
a. Big brother is always watching us
b. God is omnipresent
c. We should always be vigilant to preserve our freedom
d. Optometrists are the most important doctors
In balloting on a candidate for Masonry in different States of the United States, how many negative votes does it take to “blackball”?
a. In every State, 1 black cube keeps someone out
b. In most States, 3 black cubes are needed to reject
c. In many States, a majority of black cubes are needed to reject
d. None of the above
What is the minimum age to become a Mason in each State of the United States?
a. 21 in almost all States
b. 18 in almost all States
c. 21 in about half the states, and 18 or 19 in the other half
d. It’s evenly divided between 18, 19, 20, and 21
What is a dimit?
a. The symbol of Freemasonry
b. The same thing as a debit, a debit
c. The youngest Mason in a lodge
d. A resignation from a lodge
What are the tenets of Freemasonry?
a. Brotherly love, relief, and truth
b. Brotherly love, truth, and justice
c. Truth, justice, and the American way
d. Faith, hope, and charity
What is significant for Masons about the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.?
a. Masons started the idea, and paid for most of it
b. There are Masonic statues and pictures in it
c. President Theodore Roosevelt laid its cornerstone in 1907 using the same Masonic trowel George Washington used for the U.S. Capitol in 1793
d. None of the above
Which Presidents on Mount Rushmore were Freemasons?
a. George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt
b. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
c. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
d. All of them
Which Prussian King set up a Grand Lodge in Berlin?
a. Alfred the Great
b. Catherine the Great
c. Frederick the Great
d. Harold the Bald
What day is the feast of Saint John the Evangelist?
a. June 24
b. June 27
c. December 27
d. December 24
Mehr Lodge in the District of Columbia uses what language?
a. French
b. Farsi
c. German
d. Scottish
What Grand Lodge sponsored the Grand Lodge of Slovenia?
a. Austria
b. England
c. Greece
d. Slovakia
Federal Lodge No. 1 of the District of Columbia was formed out of what Lodge?
a. Potomac Lodge No. 5 of the District of Columbia
b. Federal Lodge No. 15 of Virginia
c. Federal Lodge No. 15 of Maryland
d. Federal Lodge No. 1 of Maryland
In which country did Freemasonry play a role in its 1820 revolution and 1910 republic only to be banned in 1935?
a. Spain
b. Mexico
c. Brazil
d. Portugal
In what Lodge did George Washington receive his Masonic degrees?
a. Federal Lodge No. 1 in the District of Columbia
b. Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 in Virginia
c. Alexandria Lodge No. 22 in Virginia
d. Washington Lodge #1 in Maryland
What is Federal Lodge No. 1’s sister Lodge in Ireland?
a. Londonderry Lodge
b. Leicester Lodge (pronounced “Lester”)
c. Federal Lodge in Ireland
d. Dublin Lodge
What percentage of U.S. Supreme Court Justices have been Freemasons?
a. 10%
b. 33%
c. 67%
d. 90%
Which country’s Embassy is across the street from the Eastern Star’s Belmont Mansion and has a Masonic symbol in its flag?
a. Panama
b. The Philippines
c. France
d. Nicaragua
Which U.S. President was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee?
a. Andrew Jackson
b. Andrew Johnson
c. William Henry Harrison
d. Ulysses S. Grant
Which U.S. President was made a Mason “on sight” in 1909?
a. Theodore Roosevelt
b. William Howard Taft
c. Woodrow Wilson
d. Warren G. Harding
In meetings of the Daughters of the Nile, which national anthems are usually sung?
a. U.S., Canada, and Mexico
b. U.S., Canada, and England
c. U.S., Canada, England, and Egypt
d. U.S. and Canada
Who was the Grand Master of the District of Columbia from 1847 to 1853?
a. William R. Singleton
b. Benjamin B. French
c. James Buchanan
d. Marvin E. Fowler
Which U.S. states have had the largest number of Freemasons in recent years?
a. Pennsylvania and Ohio
b. New York and California
c. Texas and Illinois
d. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania