"The Cola Wars" A Freemasonry rivalry.

 

Conspiracy theorists often tell us that Freemasons are secretly united. Supposedly, once a man joins the fraternity, he becomes part of a vast network all working toward the same hidden agenda.

History suggests otherwise.

John Stith Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola, was a Freemason.  Caleb Davis Bradham, the inventor of Pepsi-Cola, was also a Freemason.  Yet the companies they founded spent more than a century locked in one of the most famous business rivalries in modern history.

For over 100 years, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have battled for market share, advertising dominance, restaurant contracts, shelf space, sponsorships, and consumer loyalty.  Entire generations have picked sides.  Billions of dollars have been spent trying to outperform the competition.

The rivalry became so famous that it earned its own name: "The Cola Wars"

This presents a problem for the claim that Freemasons are all secretly united.  If that were true, somebody forgot to tell Coke and Pepsi.

And the Cola Wars are hardly unique. 

President William McKinley was a Freemason and supported American expansion overseas.  Mark Twain was also a Freemason and became one of the most vocal critics of American imperialism.  In the Philippines, both Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio were Freemasons, yet they found themselves on opposite sides of a struggle for leadership of the revolution.

History repeatedly shows Freemasons competing against Freemasons, debating Freemasons, and disagreeing with Freemasons.  The fraternity never required uniformity of opinion.  It brought together men from different backgrounds, beliefs, and ambitions and encouraged them to meet on common ground.

The Cola Wars may be the most refreshing reminder of that fact.

Resources:

Freemasons NZ Masonica.  21 July 2026