--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not strange that men of note and…" description: "\"It is not strange that men of note and learning, attracted by the wealth of symbolism on Masonry, as well as by its spirit of fraternity perhaps, also ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/joseph-fort-newton-24348_accepted_it-is-not-strange-that-men-of-note-and-l_1730777.jpg" --- # It is not strange that men of note and learning, attracted… ![“It is not strange that men of note and learning, attracted by the wealth of symbolism on Masonry, as well as by its spirit of fraternity perhaps, also by its secrecy began at an early date to ask to be accepted as members of the order; hence Accepted Masons. How far back the custom of admitting…” quote by Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/joseph-fort-newton-24348_accepted_it-is-not-strange-that-men-of-note-and-l_1730777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/joseph-fort-newton-24348_accepted_it-is-not-strange-that-men-of-note-and-l_1730777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/joseph-fort-newton-24348_accepted_it-is-not-strange-that-men-of-note-and-l_1730777.jpg) > “It is not strange that men of note and learning, attracted by the wealth of symbolism on Masonry, as well as by its spirit of fraternity perhaps, also by its secrecy began at an early date to ask to be accepted as members of the order; hence Accepted Masons. How far back the custom of admitting such men to the Lodge goes is not clear, but hints of it are discernable in the oldest documents of the order.” [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freemasonry historically welcomed prominent intellectuals, valuing symbolism, fraternity, and secrecy, though the exact origins of this practice are unclear. **In simple terms:** Freemasonry attracted scholars for its symbols and brotherhood. Key Takeaway Recognize the appeal of shared symbols and community. Themes history fraternity symbolism secrecy intellectuals Mood reflective inquisitive Type historical analytical When to use this quote - Academic societies - professional guilds - secret societies - modern networking groups Key Concepts Social cohesion ritual significance elite networks Questions to Reflect On - How do symbols shape group identity? - What are the costs of exclusivity? A Different Perspective The practice may exclude those outside elite circles, limiting broader inclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Fraternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraternity/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Masonry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonry/) [Masons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masons/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Symbolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolism/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [One thing and only one thing a Masonic Lodge can give its members which they can get nowhere else in the world. That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/one-thing-and-only-one-thing-a-masonic-lodge-can-give-its-members/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The genius of Freemasonry is not our Masonic buildings and temples or the trappings of our organizations. It is not our great charities or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-h-claudy/the-genius-of-freemasonry-is-not-our-masonic-buildings-and-temples-or/) Carl H. Claudy > [The real secrets of Masonry are never told, not even from mouth to ear. For the real secret of Masonry is spoken to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-real-secrets-of-masonry-are-never-told-not-even-from-mouth-to-ear/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The secret of Masonry, like the secret of life, can be known only by those who seek it, serve it, live it. It cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-secret-of-masonry-like-the-secret-of-life-can-be-known-only-by/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Each lodge is an oasis if equality and good will in a desert of strife, working to wield mankind into a great league of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/each-lodge-is-an-oasis-if-equality-and-good-will-in-a-desert-of/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [Instead of criticizing Masonry, let us than God for one alter where no man is asked to surrender his liberty of thought and become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/instead-of-criticizing-masonry-let-us-than-god-for-one-alter-where-no/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [More than an institution, more than a tradition, more than a society, Masonry is one of the forms of Divine life upon earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/more-than-an-institution-more-than-a-tradition-more-than-a-society/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [Masonry was not made to divide men, but to unite them, leaving each man free to think his own thoughts and fashion his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/masonry-was-not-made-to-divide-men-but-to-unite-them-leaving-each-man/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [Masonry superadds to our other obligations the strongest ties of connection between it and the cultivation of virtue, and furnishes the most powerful incentives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/masonry-superadds-to-our-other-obligations-the-strongest-ties-of/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [As some of us prefer to put it, Masonry is not a religion but Religionnot a church but a worship, in which men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/as-some-of-us-prefer-to-put-it-masonry-is-not-a-religion-but/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [Masonry is too great an institution to have been made in a day, much less by a few men, but was a slow evolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/masonry-is-too-great-an-institution-to-have-been-made-in-a-day-much/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [One time he was asked if he believed in an afterlife. 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Their bonding power often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/nostalgia-is-also-a-trait-of-the-organizations-that-i-call-lodges/) [Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/) > [Out of the ruined lodge and forgotten mansion, bowers that are trodden under foot, and pleasure-houses that are dust, the poet calls up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-quincey/out-of-the-ruined-lodge-and-forgotten-mansion-bowers-that-are-trodden/) [Thomas de Quincey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-quincey/) > [God is our portion, Christ our companion, the Spirit our Comforter, Earth our lodge, and Heaven is our home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-is-our-portion-christ-our-companion-the-spirit-our-comforter/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## More by Joseph Fort Newton > [To be happy is easy enough if we give ourselves, forgive others, and live with thanksgiving, No self centered person, no ungrateful soul can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/to-be-happy-is-easy-enough-if-we-give-ourselves-forgive-others-and/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [Each lodge is an oasis if equality and good will in a desert of strife, working to wield mankind into a great league of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/each-lodge-is-an-oasis-if-equality-and-good-will-in-a-desert-of/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [As some of us prefer to put it, Masonry is not a religion but Religionnot a church but a worship, in which men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/as-some-of-us-prefer-to-put-it-masonry-is-not-a-religion-but/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [London is like a dream come true. 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