Freemasons and Popular Culture
Freemasonry is a part of popular culture now. Although many non-Masons do not fully understand the tenets and practices of Masons, that does not prevent artists and entertainers from including Masonic symbols and references in popular culture, apparently in the belief that some Masonic symbols are nearly universally recognized and known.
Television

In Season 6 of The Simpsons, in an episode entitled “Homer the Great,” there are many obvious references to Freemasonry. In that episode, Homer Simpson becomes part of the Springfield chapter of a fraternity known as the Stonecutters. In addition to the fact that the name “Stonecutters” is an obvious reference to stonemasonry, the episode makes it clear what sort of society Homer has joined. One of the wall hangings in the headquarters of the Stonecutters features a Masonic square and compasses and an eye of providence in a triangle. The group’s charter includes images of an all-seeing eye in a triangle and the square and compass. The meeting hall has a large eye over the external entranceway. At one point, the Stonecutters sing a song as part of their meeting. The lyrics of the song clearly poke fun at conspiracy theorists:
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
Who leaves Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs the cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscars night?
We do! We do!
Comic Books

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a comic book series that has in fact been turned into a feature film as well. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen includes Dr. Henry Jekyll, Allan Quatermain, Ms. Wilhelmina Murray, Captain Nemo, and Hawley Griffin, who are recruited by Campion Bond and Moriarity into the offices of Her Majesty’s Military Intelligence Division 5. In the book series, Division 5 is actually the secret military of the Freemasons. Many of the characters wear accessories with the square and compass and some even wear aprons with the eye in a triangle.
In a 1999 Superman comic series, "Superman Adventures 34: Fighting Fate,” there is a passing reference to the Great Architect of the Universe, who is evoked to protect Superman. In a popular cartoon strip, Get Fuzzy, between April 14 and 19, 2003, the main feline character of the strip can be seen wearing a Masonic symbol on his collar.
Films

From Hell is both a graphic novel (written by Alan Moore) and a popular feature film (from 2001, starring Johnny Depp). The novel and even the film suggest that Freemasons were involved in some way in the Whitechapel murders famously committed by the man who has never been identified but has become notorious in history as “Jack the Ripper.” Both the movie and the book suggest that Jack the Ripper was in fact a man in high standing in society and a Freemason. Alan Moore’s book even suggests that the murders were Masonic ritual. As the freemason in Moore’s book goes insane, he develops his own perversions of Freemasonic beliefs and acts these out on his victims.
In the 1996 film, Ghosts of Mississippi, convicted murderer Byron "Delay" De La Beckwith (a role played by James Wood) is seen wearing a Shriners pin. His vehicle has a Shiners symbol on the rear view mirror. Activist Medger W. Evers is shown with his Order of Elks fez in his coffin. The events of the movie are based on real life events, and in reality Byron De La Beckwith was a Master Mason with Greenwood Lodge No. 35, Mississippi. He was eventually expelled from his lodge due to his criminal activities.
Category: Modern Freemasons