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MASONS
Famous Members: Winston Churchill, Bob Dole, Gerald Ford, Thurgood Marshall, Mark Twain, William Howard Taft, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Andrew Jackson
Founded: Disputed. Some claim Freemasonry began in the 11th century, others say it started in the 17th century.
Motto: "Ordo ab Chao" (Order out of Chaos)

Though some like to say the Knights of the Templar, late-11th century Christian Crusaders, begat the modern-day Freemasons, most historians feel that the origins of Freemasonry were with actual masons—stonemasons in 17th century Britain who began secretive craft guilds to conceal specialized trade knowledge. The first American Freemason's lodge was erected in Boston in 1733, and members of this lodge led the Boston Tea Party. Fifty-one signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons and 14 presidents have been out and proud Masons.

So what does being a Mason actually entail? According to John Lawrence Reynolds in his book Secret Societies: Inside the World's Most Notorious Organizations, Freemasons are ranked by degrees from one to 33. The first degree is bestowed upon membership, which is granted after the new member engages in a "secret ritual." With thousands of separate Mason lodges in the United States alone, that ritual varies greatly from lodge to lodge, but essentially involves getting blindfolded and entering a closed room. The room symbolizes the "Inner Sanctum of Freemasonry."

Once inside, you answer questions about Masonic principles and you promise not to reveal any lodge secrets. Then a compass is pressed to your chest, and you're asked, "What do you desire?" Your answer: "More light." After that, you can take off your blindfold and check out your fellow members of the inner sanctum.

Since the Freemasons have been around since the inception of the country, there are thousands of wacko conspiracy rumors tied to them. In the 19th century, it was said that the Masons worshiped Satan. More recently the Masons have been accused of plotting JFK's death and faking Neil Armstrong's 1969 moon landing. Lately, though, all the Masons could be accused of faking are their real teeth: Most powerful Masons are either dead or dying. Masonic membership has dwindled so exponentially—there are 54,000 Masons in New York State, down from a peak of 346,413 in 1929—that lodges around the country are actively recruiting new members and sharing lodge secrets with people who haven't even entered the Inner Sanctum. Sluts!