NATIONAL TREASURE - FUN FANTASY

The Masonic Service Association Of North America
THIS WAS AN IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
POC: Richard E. Fletcher, 301-588-4010

National Treasure, starring Nicholas Cage, a new movie release in theaters on November 19, 2004, quickly rose to be the highest grossing film of the weekend ($35.3 million in ticket sales) and has generated an extremely wide public awareness of Freemasonry.  Importantly, it portrays Masonry in a positive light.  It accents the significance of our Founding Fathers to our national identity.

Many early patriots are identified as Masons in the film, like George  Washington and Benjamin Franklin, are well known Masons who had significant roles in the birth of our nation.  Only one reference is not correct. Early in the movie Charles Carroll, identified as the last survivor of the fifty-six patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence, is portrayed as a Freemason.  Charles Carroll of Maryland was not a member of the fraternity.  (Historically it may be the reason he was identified as a Mason was that he with several Masons were present at the laying of the cornerstone of the B & O Railroad.)

The movie is mostly fictional since there is no National Treasure as defined by the film, nor were Freemasons as a group ever involved in collecting and safeguarding valuable antiquities on behalf of all humanity.

Nevertheless, Masonic principles and values are referenced many times in the film, and the audience will receive a very favorable impression of the Masonic  Fraternity.  The movie is rated PG because of it's "Mild Violence.” Nonetheless, it should really be a family movie, one that all Masons should enjoy.  It may even be enjoyable for a lodge to have a “movie night,” and sponsor members and their families who wish to attend.

Discussions about the film should result in many beneficial insights regarding Freemasonry among both Masons and the general public.
 

Other National Treasure Links:

Masonicinfo.com

History in the Movies  

Beliefnet.com