Symbolism

The masons are an organization well known for their secrecy. However, some researchers and ex-masons have given insight into their beliefs. This includes a strong belief in the afterlife, including claims from an old mason that they believed you had to pass away to get to the next degree of masonry and gain it in Sirius (the star often shown in Masonry and Ancient Egypt, where they also strongly believed in the afterlife, hence mummification).