# Freemasonry

freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of several fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still continued organizations in history. Modern freemasonry broadly consists of three main traditions: Anglo-American style freemasonry (also called "Regular freemasonry" by its adherents), which insists that a "volume of sacred law", such as the Bible, the Quran, or other religious scripture be open in a working lodge, that every member professes belief in a supreme being, that only men be admitted, and that discussion of religion or politics does not take place within the lodge; Continental style freemasonry (also called “Liberal freemasonry” by its adherents) which has continued to evolve beyond these restrictions, particularly regarding religious belief and political discussion; and Women's and Mixed-Gender freemasonry (Co-freemasonry), which includes organizations that either admit women exclusively (such as the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Masons in the UK) or accept both men and women (such as Le Droit Humain).