Latest news with #Freemasons
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Three of London's most gloriously odd museums
London teems with incredible, life-affirming museums and cultural institutions. It also is home to some decidedly irregular ones, which are equally worthy of attention. The Hunterian Best avoided by the squeamish, the Hunterian — named for the 18th century surgeon John Hunter — is a catalogue of anatomical specimens. It is decidedly eerie: shelves are lined with things like dissected toads and squashed skulls, and skeletons are everywhere. There are severed, cartoonish feet, coiled intestines. It is macabre, but tells the fascinating story of how doctors and scientists came to understand so much about both mankind and the natural world. The Royal College of Surgeons, WC2A, London sewing machine museum It is Balham, somewhat confusingly, that is home to Wimbledon Sewing Machines, a sewing machine shop and repair centre. Head up one flight of stairs from it and there is this museum, a red-carpeted room home to more than 600 machines from the early 1800s to the present day. The place is dressed like a theatre set, with furniture and props period appropriate to the machines, so the sense is one of travelling through time. 292-312 Balham High Road, SW17, Museum of Freemasonry 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. 60 Great Queen Street, WC2B,
Evening Standard
6 days ago
- General
- 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
- General
- 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.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Business
- 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 US 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 that 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. This trick is called pareidolia, a psychological phenomenon where your brain tries to make sense of chaos by forcing familiar patterns onto it, especially faces. 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. The design of the $1 note has not changed since the 1920s, and legally, it can not be redesigned under current law. That means this strange mark has been sitting on every bill for nearly a century, passed down through wallets and pockets, whispered about in classrooms, and dissected in Reddit threads and YouTube videos. Some tie the shape to older, more established dollar bill conspiracies. The pyramid and all-seeing eye on the back of the bill are well-documented symbols with Masonic origins, and their placement has long fueled speculation about secret codes or hidden meanings. But there is no historical evidence linking the tiny front-side figure to any known society. Still, online, the theories keep growing. 'Looks like a baby kraken to me,' joked one Reddit user. Another claimed, 'That's the spider who spun the webs. Dad showed me as a child.' One even said, 'It's Jesus Christ watching you throw it at somebody's daughter.' Other guesses include Mothman, Cthulhu, or a miniature chupacabra. The list of theories is endless, but no one actually knows what it is. 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. It is part of the original design, which was finalized by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing nearly a century ago and no designer ever publicly claimed the element or explained its purpose.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nagpur Freemasons hold historic Lodge Meeting at Umling La, world's highest motorable road
1 2 3 Nagpur: In a remarkable blend of tradition and adventure, a 10-member team from KR Cama Lodge No.1366 SC, Nagpur, held a fully ritualistic Freemason Lodge meeting at Umling La (19,024 ft) — the world's highest motorable road — on June 24, marking Universal Brotherhood Day. Led by Gp Capt Digvijay Mohbe and Mehernosh Mavalwala, the team overcame extreme altitude and harsh conditions to conduct the solemn proceedings with full Masonic decorum. This pioneering feat symbolises the enduring spirit and commitment of Freemasons to uphold their ideals even in the most challenging environments. Adding a humanitarian touch, the team visited Mahabodhi Maitri Geriatric Home in Leh, where they spent time with senior citizens and extended charitable aid — embodying Masonic principles of brotherhood and service. "This was more than a meeting — it was a spiritual reaffirmation of our values," said Praveen Sahni. The effort stands as a proud milestone in Indian Freemasonry, bringing immense pride to the Nagpur Masonic community and setting a new benchmark of dedication and fraternity.
