Freemasonry

Freemasonry is a non-sectarian, international fraternal order open to men who believe in a Supreme Being (broadly defined) and meet several other qualifications. Freemasons believe that wisdom comes from the east and sometimes identify one another by the following exchange:

-"Are you a travelling man?" -"I travel from west to east."

Fraternal bonds among Freemasons are supposed to transcend national allegiance, and Freemasons in opposing armies are expected to assist one another if this is necessary and practicable.

Freemasonry is opposed by the Catholic Church as as espousing theological and metaphysical ideas contradictory to the Nicene Creed, and membership in a Masonic organization incurs automatic excommunication from that religion.

Freemasonry in Southern Victory
King Charles XI of France and his Action Francaise party, fierce Catholic theocratic partisans, mistrusted Freemasons, especially those in public office, and suspected them of practicing subversion against the state. Under Charles' rule, Freemasons were relegated to the status of second-class citizens.

Freemasonry in Fort Pillow
Mack Leaming was a Freemason. While wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Fort Pillow, he used the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress to ask for assistance from any Masonic Confederate soldiers who might recognize it. One did, and gave Leaming water without which he likely would not have survived the night.