Three of London's most gloriously odd museums
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Evening Standard
17-07-2025
- Evening Standard
Three of London's most gloriously odd museums
Ah, the Freemasons, that shadowy sect — definitely, definitely not a cult — that thrive behind closed walls in the corridors of power, changing the course history to suit its whims. Or, at least, that's what used to happen, until the 1990s came along and all the air was let out of its influence. Regardless, this fascinating museum, first opened in 1838, tells the Masonic story, aided by, appropriately enough, cloaks and daggers.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The tiny, hidden symbol on every dollar bill... but no one knows what it is
There is a strange little symbol hiding on every dollar bill, and no one can agree on what it is. Some say it's a spider. Others insist it's an owl. And for conspiracy theorists, it's a symbol tied to secret societies like the Freemasons or the Illuminati. The tiny shape, smaller than a grain of rice, sits just above the large '1' in the top right corner on the front of the bill. At first glance, it looks like a speck of ink. But under a magnifying glass, it appears to have a round head and small limbs. It's been there for nearly a century, but the U.S. Treasury has never explained what it is, or why it was included. There's no official record, no designer has claimed it, and no known purpose has ever been published. Currency experts say it's likely just part of the guilloche - the swirling, decorative pattern printed across the bill to prevent counterfeiting. But the shape near the '1' is slightly different from the others. It appears partially enclosed, making it stand out from the rest. But without a definitive answer, theories have flourished online. 'I hear it's Moloch, the owl god worshipped at Bohemian Grove,' one Reddit user joked. 'It must be true.' Another said, 'I was told it was a spider when I was young, long before I had internet access.' One person even wrote, 'That's an owl. It's a Freemason symbol.' Ralph Benko, chairman of The Capitalist League and an expert on currency history, said: 'The unknown engraver who designed the dollar bill took the secret, if there is one, to his grave. I fancy it as a tiny owl.' Financial websites like Sunmark Credit Union have also listed it among the dollar's many 'hidden details,' describing it as either an owl or a spider. Meanwhile, YouTubers and amateur sleuths have dissected the mark in videos, comparing it to similar flourishes on the bill, but nothing else quite matches the odd little blob near the '1'. Legally, the $1 bill's design hasn't changed since the 1920s, and by law, it can't be updated, meaning the mark has quietly passed from wallet to wallet, generation after generation, for nearly 100 years. Some tie the mystery to other well-known symbols on the bill, like the pyramid and all-seeing eye, both long associated with Masonic symbolism and secret codes. But there's no historical evidence linking the tiny figure to any society, just whispers and wild guesses. The psychological phenomenon at play is called pareidolia, when the brain sees familiar patterns, especially faces, in random images. It's the same reason people spot Jesus in toast or see faces on Mars. It is not a glitch. It is actually your brain working. Humans evolved to be hyper-aware of faces, because spotting them quickly helped with survival, whether it was recognizing a threat, an ally, or a potential mate. What is confirmed: the mark is not a printing error. It is not random damage. It is in the same exact spot on every single $1 bill, part of the original design approved by the Bureau Of Engraving And Printing nearly a century ago.
Edinburgh Live
15-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
The mysterious Edinburgh secret society with a 'temple to the supernatural'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Not to be confused with the far right Greek political party, this Golden Dawn was a late 19th century occult order with a similar structure to the Freemasons and boasted influential figures like W.B Yeats, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle among its members. Initially established in London, the Amen-Ra Temple was founded in Edinburgh in 1893, possibly because of the city's history as a hotbed of spiritualism. It was founded by John William Brodie-Innes, a lawyer who had risen up the ranks while practicing in London. He had already written extensively on occultism, although he remained an active member of the High Church, when he joined the Order with the Isis-Urania Temple as a Neophyte, the lowest level, in 1890. It would only take him three years to establish a temple of his own, where he took one of the highest positions in the Order of the Golden Dawn - Imperator. READ MORE - Edinburgh woman sues charity and earns £8k compensation payout over 'holiday row' READ MORE - When Edinburgh's worst-rated hotel was city's poshest and celebrities flocked Hermeticism is a school of philosophical thought based on the supposed writings of the apocryphal Ancient Greek figure Hermes Trimestigus, with the idea that certain teachings are only passed down to the chosen few. In this case it was Anna Sprengel, a German countess whose identity was 'revealed' to one of the founders of the Order, Freemason William Westcott, through alleged ancient manuscripts. The two corresponded by letter to establish the rituals of the Order, although the Order would later claim that she and the other 'Secret Chiefs' of the Order communicated with the lower levels psychically. There is, in fact, no evidence to suggest that Sprengel even existed. The exact details of the Golden Dawn's philosophies are hard to unpick - partly because the order was so clouded in secrecy that little concrete detail was ever available to outsiders, and partly because what is known is couched in impenetrable, official Edinburgh temple was named after the Egyptian sun god - Egyptian and Ancient Greek mythology appear to have formed the basis of the Orders beliefs and worship along with astrology, tarot and alchemy. It was something of a fad during the late Victorian period, where scientific advancements were counterbalanced by an increasing interest in the supernatural. Seances had become popular entertainment for people at all levels of society, Dracula would be published in 1897 and one of the Golden Dawn's most influential members, Pamela Colman Smith, would go on to design the archetypal Rider-Waite tarot deck. Society was essentially going through its goth phase. While similar organisations like the Freemasons were men-only, the Golden Dawn was progressive in the sense that it was open to women. There were 48 people initiated into the Amen-Ra Temple between 1893 and 1897 - 28 men and 20 women, including mother and daughter Emily and Edith Drummond. They were from a wealthy background, and moved into the 'inner Second Order' - a more elite club within a club. They both wrote and published extensively on occultism at a time when women lacked similar access in traditional or academic media. It must have been appealing for intelligent women to have their thoughts and research taken seriously, even if said research does raise a few eyebrows. The Golden Dawn was linked to a number of scandals, partly thanks to the heavy involvement of Aleister Crowley, who is often considered the founder of modern Satanism. Westcott, despite helping found the Order, resigned abruptly in 1897 after his double life came to public attention. In a move worthy of a Victorian prequel to The Thick of It, he left confidential occult documents in the back of a hansom cab. Given the choice between stepping away from the Order or giving up his high profile and lucrative career as a coroner, he chose the latter. Brodie-Innes, on the other hand, stayed loyal to the Order and eventually became its president. He published several novels about witchcraft and magic, including The Devil's Mistress , about the real life alleged Scottish witch Isobel Gowdie. It's unclear exactly where the Edinburgh temple was based - unlike the Freemasons, we do not have a public record of the society's history - but a diluted version of the Order still exists today. Perhaps they still practice in Edinburgh...
