What is the Difference Between Illuminati and Freemasons?

The Illuminati and Freemasons are two separate secret societies with distinct origins, purposes, and structures. Here are the main differences between them:

• Origins: The Freemasons are a fraternal organization with over 300 years of history, rooted in the medieval stonemason tradition. In contrast, the Illuminati, specifically the Bavarian Illuminati, were founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt to promote the spread of the Enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge through reason, human happiness, and fraternity outside the reach of church and state.
• Structure: Freemasons are organized into lodges and have a well-defined grading system. The Illuminati, on the other hand, were less organized and more secretive. The Bavarian Illuminati was closely based on the grading system of the Freemasons, and each member had a unique, classical name and used a cipher for communication.
• Membership: Freemasons are one of the world's oldest social and charitable organizations, open to men of various religious and political beliefs. In 1999, the United Grand Lodge of England acknowledged the sincerity of women's Freemasonry, but women's lodges are separate from men's lodges. The Illuminati, however, recruited members from Freemason lodges and were sometimes called "Deisten".
• Purpose: Freemasons encourage their members to lead moral lives and have no political or religious affiliations. The Illuminati, specifically the Bavarian Illuminati, were founded to promote the ideas of the Enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge through reason, human happiness, and fraternity.

In summary, the Freemasons and the Illuminati are two distinct secret societies with different origins, structures, and purposes. While the Freemasons are a fraternal organization with a long history and a focus on charity and moral living, the Illuminati, specifically the Bavarian Illuminati, were founded to promote the ideas of the Enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge through reason, human happiness, and fraternity outside the reach of church and state.

Comparative Table: Illuminati vs Freemasons

Here is a table comparing the differences between the Illuminati and Freemasons:

The Illuminati was founded by Adam Weishaupt in 1776 with the goal of promoting Enlightenment values and human happiness outside the control of religious and political authorities. On the other hand, Freemasons are a fraternal organization with a long history, focused on moral lives, mutual assistance, and charitable work. The Illuminati was more secretive and less organized than the Freemasons. While the Illuminati recruited primarily from Freemason lodges, the Freemasons have a larger, more diverse membership.