A Freemason is a man who belongs to the Freemasons, a very old worldwide club. Learner books often call it a secret society, because members have private meetings, special signs, and ceremonies they do not explain to outsiders.

A Freemason共濟會的會員 is a man是指一個男人 who belongs to the Freemasons他加入了共濟會， a very old worldwide club一個歷史很久、遍布全世界的社團。 Learner books學習用的書 often call it a secret society常把它叫做「秘密社團」， because因為 members有成員 have private meetings會有私下的聚會、special signs特別的手勢暗號、 and ceremonies they do not explain to outsiders還有不對外人解釋的儀式。

Though actually, it is not a cartoon hidden government: many towns have a Freemasons’ hall you can see from the street, members raise money for charity, and plenty of men will tell you they belong. What stays private is the ritual inside the lodge (that is their word for a local group).

Though actually,不過其實， it is not a cartoon hidden government它不是卡通裡那種暗中操控的政府： many towns很多城鎮 have a Freemasons’ hall you can see from the street都有一棟從街上就看得到的共濟會會館， members raise money for charity會員會替慈善機構募款， and plenty of men will tell you they belong也有不少男人會大方告訴你他們是會員。 What stays private真正保密的部分 is is the ritual inside the lodge是會所裡的儀式內容 (that is their word for a local group)（lodge是他們對地方分會的稱呼）。

The club grew out of the world of stone-builders. Members are supposed to help one another live decently and, yes, they may also help one another get on in work — that is the part the school-book line stresses. They also talk a lot about character, brotherhood, and old building symbols (the square, the compasses).

The club這個社團 grew out of起源自 the world of stone-builders石匠、蓋房子的工匠這個圈子。 Members會員 are supposed to help one another live decently應該互相幫忙、把日子過得正直， and, yes,而且沒錯， they may also help one another get on in work他們也可能互相幫忙在工作上出人頭地 — that is the part the school-book line stresses這正是課本上那句話特別強調的部分。 They也常常談到 also talk a lot about character, brotherhood, and old building symbols品格、弟兄情誼、還有古老的建築象徵 (the square, the compasses)（曲尺、圓規）。

Traditional Freemasonry is for men. Women’s and mixed orders exist, but if someone says “a Freemason” they almost always mean a man in the old male order.

Traditional Freemasonry傳統的共濟會 is for men是給男性的。 Women’s and mixed orders女性和男女混合的分會 exist確實存在， but不過 if someone says “a Freemason”如果有人說「a Freemason」 they almost always mean他們幾乎都是指 a man in the old male order傳統男性分會裡的一個男人。

It is a grown-up, often professional word, not a children’s word. People praise the charity and also worry about any private network that can look like unfair help.

It is這是 a grown-up, often professional word一個成年人用的、常帶點專業感的詞， not a children’s word不是小孩會用的詞。 People大家 praise the charity一方面稱讚它的慈善工作， and also worry about也擔心 any private network任何私下的人脈網 that can look like unfair help可能看起來像是不公平的暗助。

Spell it with a capital F.

Spell it with a capital F它的拼寫要用大寫的F開頭。