05/31/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/194Bs5HE9y/?mibextid=wwXIfr
🦬 WERE HANNA & BARBERA FREEMASONS? 🤔
This is one of those questions that pops up from time to time in Masonic circles.
The short answer?
As far as we can find… no.
There are no credible Masonic records, lodge minutes, Grand Lodge references, biographies, or documented evidence showing that William Hanna or Joseph Barbera were Freemasons. (Wikipedia)
But here’s where it gets interesting…
Many people assume they must have been Masons because their cartoons were filled with things that felt very familiar to fraternal life:
🦬 The Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes
🎩 Secret handshakes
🏛 Lodge meetings
😂 Funny titles like “Grand Poobah”
🍻 Fellowship, friendship, and brotherhood
The Water Buffalo Lodge was actually a playful parody of the kinds of fraternal organizations that were everywhere in North America at the time—Masons, Shriners, Moose Lodges, Elks, and similar social clubs. (Stichting Argus)
And honestly?
They captured something real.
Not the ritual.
Not the obligations.
Not the secrets.
The spirit.
The laughter after meetings.
The friendships that last decades.
The ridiculous hats.
The running jokes.
The feeling of belonging somewhere.
William Hanna was also known for lifelong involvement in Scouting, mentorship, community service, and helping build entertainment that brought families together. (Wikipedia)
Those aren’t uniquely Masonic virtues…
But they are certainly virtues many Masons recognize and respect.
And here’s the funny twist of history:
The Flintstones created the fictional Water Buffalo Lodge…
Then years later Masons around the world started creating humorous and unofficial “Water Buffalo Degrees” and Water Buffalo clubs for fellowship and laughs.
So first, art imitated life.
Then life imitated art. 😂🦬
Maybe that’s why the Water Buffaloes still make so many Brothers smile.
Not because it was Masonry…
But because it reminded people of the best parts of brotherhood.
Yabba-Dabba-Doo, Brother. 🏛🦬🍻