Freemasons group that Terry Branstad belongs to, banned in China

Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad (Source: File/REUTERS photo)

If Iowa Governor Terry Branstad becomes the next US ambassador to China, he may want to leave any Masonic symbols at home. That’s because the Freemasons group that Branstad belongs to, has been banned in mainland China for decades. Branstad accepted President-elect Donald Trump’s offer of the ambassador post Wednesday.

Tim Anderson with the Grand Lodge of Iowa says the group’s belief in freedom of speech and expression probably isn’t popular in China. Masonic groups often run into trouble in Communist countries because of their secret meetings.

Brent Morris, who wrote “The Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry,” says Communist governments generally don’t want citizens meeting in secret. Branstad isn’t new to China. He has led several trade missions there, and he has known China’s president since 1985 when he visited Iowa.