Masonic conspiracy

It is noteworthy.  In pro-Syrian regime media, in Lebanon and elsewhere, there is a strong belief that the conspiracy against the Arab world is Zionist and Freemason.  There is a revival in the Freemason conspiracy theories.  Of course, this is now new.  The church in Lebanon raised alarms about Freemasonry early in the 20th century: the classic example is Louis Cheikho (a Jesuit priest writer)'s book, As-Sirr Al-Masun fir Sh`at Al-Farmasun (it rhymes in Arabic I swear).  Of course, Lebanese crooks are taking advantage of the new interest and trying to recruit Freemason for a fee.  "Ibn Rushd" wrote me:  "Because of this unhealthy obsession, some Lebanese crooks have turned fremasonry into a prosperous business.   One guys in Metn opened an irregular lodge called "Mahfal Sharq Kanaan", they recruit ignorant youngsters by telling them that they rule the world, that Riyad Al Solh, Bachir Gemayel and Camille Chamoun were freemasons, and then they ask for 6.000 dollars for the "initiation ceremony".