What is the difference between the illuminati and the free masons?

Answer 1

Freemasons are members of the Order of Freemasonry, a fraternal, benevolent and speculative organization which is spread around the world. Freemasons do not actually lay bricks or dress stone, although some of their customs and symbolism are derived from those who did. Freemasons are often called Masons and the words can be used interchangeably.

People who actually do lay bricks and dress stone are also called masons, but they are not called Freemasons.

Answer 2

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that uses the metaphors of operative stonemasons' tools and implements, against the allegorical backdrop of the building of King Salomon's temple to convey what has been described by both Masons and critics as "a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols." Unfortunately, Masons do not secretly hold the reins of civil power, nor hold in their coffers the vast Templar treasures, otherwise my mortgage would be in a much happier state of affairs.

The Illuminati were an Enlightenment-era secret society founded in Bavaria by Adam Weishaupt (d. 1830), who was the first lay professor of canon law at the University of Ingolstadt. The movement was made up of freethinkers, as an offshoot of the Enlightenment. They'd be a far more worrisome group if it weren't for the fact that they are all currently very dead.

Answer 3

The Freemasons are a fraternal organization with some secret rites and ceremonies that meet regularly in Masonic Temples in most large metropolitan areas.

The Illuminati was a secret fraternal organization who was disbanded over two hundred years ago.

So, to sum up, the biggest difference is one of existence and reality.