История, которую забыли многие американц

Михаил Полянский пишет:Действительно интересная публикация. Только не слишком ли преувеличена роль масонов во всём отрицательном в штатах... то, что Англия и США связаны неразрывной цепью - это давно понятно. Ведь основная элита колонистов была из Англии. Но вот почему именно масоны взяли отрицательную власть - не совсем понятно (не разъяснено в статье). Колонисты привлекали работников со всех континентов. Эти работники стали гражданами США. Эдак можно придумать что Колумбия или Афганистан (и другие производители наркотиков) тоже масонские страны.

Generally, to be accepted for initiation as a regular Freemason (in a lodge following Anglo-American style), a candidate must:

Be a man who comes of his own free will by his own initiative or by invitation in some jurisdictions.[2]
Believe in some kind of Supreme Being.[2]
Be of good morals, reputation and financially supporting himself and family.[2]
Be 21 years old (but as young as 18 or as old as 25 depending on the jurisdiction).[2]
Live in the jurisdiction (under some Grand Lodges in the United States.)[3]
Be able to pass interviews and pass the Investigation Committee's inquiries about his past with people who have known him, which can take up to 2 years.[2]
Be of sound mind and body.[4] Although this is not a universal requirement.[2]
Be a "Free Man". This may have arisen from the refusal of operative masons to pass their secrets to slaves, who could be ordered to divulge them to others.[5] It may also have arisen from a requirement of early speculative lodges that a new Freemason should at least have a license to trade and employ others, making him a Free Man of the city or borough of the lodge.[6]
Pass the vote of the Lodge to allow his membership.[2]