Freemasons?

[cOnScRiPtRED]

They are one of the most secretive and strange organizations Ive ever heard of? Does anyone belong to or even know people who are affiliated with the masons? Its strange that so many important people in history have been freemasons such as John Paul Jones the creator of the US Navy.

[Empanado]

It has been said before: They don't become important because they're Freemasons, they become Freemasons because they're important.
I mean, hundreds of years ago Freemasonry was an extremely important force in the expansion of Illustration, secularism, democracy and other fancy things, but nowadays it would be best described as a highly exclusive and secretive golf club.

[SadisticMonkey]

At 1/27/08 05:35 AM, simple-but-sandy wrote:

Fun fact: My dad was once invited to become a freemason.

As was mine. I read some of the literature concerning membership, and it's as if they are a secretive club for the just sake of it.

[butsbutsbutsbutsbuts]

The Freemasons are nothing, why would someone controlling the world allow you to hear about them if their success depends on their secrecy? If there really was a secret organisation controlling the world you wouldn't even know the names of the organisations they are connected to. The freemasons is just a gentleman's club for men having a mid-life crisis and a couple of people who live off donations.

[emmytee]

well, when a bunch of rich and powerful people form a club or whatever and if they look out for each other in their respective careers they are bound to have a little bit of power. Not much mind, but I would imagine its a little bit more than just playing secret agent on their part.

[Brick-top]

Aren't freemasons the ones who believe in every Religion?

I don't know my knowledge on them is very limited.

[ForkRobotik]

No the freemasons believe in the betterment of man, and in the christian god(you have to believe in god to join). We have a temple in my city. Also you can't diss other freemasons. It's an elite club where you work together to ensure wealth and success for everyone. Kind of like the hell's angels (biker club).

[LordJaric]

At 1/27/08 09:29 AM, Brick-top wrote: Aren't freemasons the ones who believe in every Religion?

I don't know my knowledge on them is very limited.

I watched something on tv about the Freemasons, they were aloud to see a ceremony, where power in a mason lodge was changed from one mason to another, one of the things they showed were the religious books of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. I'm not sure about other religions or even athiest.

[TheMason]

1) Excsluvity: The Masons are not all that exclusive. I joined when I was a junior enlisted member of the US Air Force. I have known men from all walks of life and races who are brother Masons.

2) Invitations: I'm sorry but your fathers were NOT invited to become Freemasons. We do not solicit, invite or otherwise select potential members. However, if someone asks us about the fraternity we ask if they are interested and offer them a petition to join if they are interested. We do not recruit and we have bumper sticker that reads: 2B1ASK1.

3) Religion: We believe in the God of Abraham; and in order to join (unless you're joining a French Lodge) you have to believe in this God. Which means you have to be either Jewish, Christian or Muslim. So it is both right and wrong to say on must believe in the Christian God. You also have to be the age of majority, freeborn and of good repute.

4) Lodges: A building where Masons meet are called Lodges not Temples. However, there are two rites of Masonry that are part of the Masonic tradition; Scottish Rite and York Rite. Scottish Rite Masons is the path to becoming a Shriner and York Rite is the path to becoming a Knight Templar. Both Rites meet in Temples. So when you say "Mason" or "Masonic" it is proper to use the term "Lodge" and incorrect to use the term "Temple" and vice versa if you are talking about the two Rites mentioned above.

5) Important people: In the 19th Century and earlier it was very expensive to be a Mason. It was prohibitive to the lower classes and so its membership was made up of the rich and elite. Now it is within the reach of all but the poorest of the poor. Annual Dues range from $30-100/year depending on the State and Lodge you live in. And no...we do not own any golf courses and are nothing like a country club. :)

[Jizzlebang]

Yeah, I come from a long line of Free Masons, though I'm obviously not one myself.

[The-evil-bucket]

Most prominent leaders, such as George Washington, were Christians. But I don't see any conspierecy theory about them.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

mason even though Im just a high school student I have studied the freemasons in history (im gonna major in world history and Archelogy) and I wish to become a freemason even though I dont have a job beacuse my studies come first. I wish to become a freemason.

[Christopherr]

At 1/27/08 01:30 PM, TheMason wrote:

I never learned exactly what Masons do. I've been interested in them for a while (a few buddies of mine were Masons), but I don't live near a Lodge.

I know you're a brotherhood, but of what? Is it simply masonry that connects all of you?

[Tony-DarkGrave]

so Mason do I go to my local Lodge?

[TheMason]

At 1/27/08 05:11 PM, Dante-Son-Of-Sparda wrote: mason even though Im just a high school student I have studied the freemasons in history (im gonna major in world history and Archelogy) and I wish to become a freemason even though I dont have a job beacuse my studies come first. I wish to become a freemason.

You can't join until you're at least 18 (this could vary by state) and you need to have the money to pay the Dues. Other than that, the best way to join is find a Lodge member in your town and talk to them about it. Do you have any relatives who are or were Masons? These are another invaluable source of information in locating your local Lodge. Another way would be to google "(insert your state's name) Grand Lodge" and try to find a contact in a Lodge near you.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

At 1/27/08 05:15 PM, TheMason wrote:

At 1/27/08 05:11 PM, Dante-Son-Of-Sparda wrote:

You can't join until you're at least 18 (this could vary by state)

yeah im 18 ill be 19 by april

:you need to have the money to pay the Dues. Other than that, the best way to join is find a Lodge member in your town and talk to them about it.

how much are we talking because im gonna see if I can get a job soon im gonna be making like $12-13.50 a hour.

:Do you have any relatives who are or were Masons? These are another invaluable source of information in locating your local Lodge. Another way would be to google "(insert your state's name) Grand Lodge" and try to find a contact in a Lodge near you.

I already did I live in Moorhead minnesota right acros from fargo on the state border and the nearest lodge is in mankato 90 miles away so i will probbly just join the one in fargo I already saw thier website and have the adress I did this a few weeks ago. but im glad I talked to a real one and save myself from dissapointment.

[LordJaric]

At 1/27/08 05:32 PM, Dante-Son-Of-Sparda wrote: I already did I live in Moorhead minnesota right acros from fargo on the state border and the nearest lodge is in mankato 90 miles away

Lol, I live only 3 miles away from that lodge.

[LordJaric]

At 1/27/08 05:06 PM, The-evil-bucket wrote: Most prominent leaders, such as George Washington, were Christians. But I don't see any conspierecy theory about them.

There are conspiracy threoys saying that they want to control the world.

[Oblivia]

My grandfather on my Dad's side was a Freemason, but he left the Masons because he believed that they were becoming too much of a political faction than what they were supposed to be.

[TheMason]

At 1/27/08 05:12 PM, Christopherr wrote: I know you're a brotherhood, but of what? Is it simply masonry that connects all of you?

We're just a society that emphasizes the ideals of making good men better and fraternity. Masonry is just an allegory, symbolism that conveys certain ideals. It is hard to explain without violating my promise to keep these secret!

As for secrecy, there is nothing that would be considered a sin, immoral, illegal or would justify excommunication from a church. The way secrecy was explained to me was that if we did not keep what goes on in a lodge secret after we've given our word; how could we be trusted to ever keep our word? Also, we look at it as if we were open about what goes on in the Lodges then they would not be special.

[TheMason]

At 1/27/08 05:13 PM, Dante-Son-Of-Sparda wrote: so Mason do I go to my local Lodge?

Yes, or you can google your state's Grand Lodge and they should have your local Lodge's contact information (probably their secretary) and you just call/write him. Or you can watch your local paper for news about a Masonic BBQ or fundraiser.

As for dues; I simply cannot tell you what you'll have to pay. That varies from state to state and lodge to lodge.

[Kazuhiro]

I've heard some interesting things about the Masons, such as that they worship Lucifer (which would be illogical, because the name Lucifer is from the Abrahmic religion, so they would not worship an angel, fallen or otherwise) and that they were originally something like a Masons' Guild which was made mostly in the interests of protecting the secrets of the trade.

Dammit, I never get the same answer twice.