Any Masonic Traveling men? Into MD

[CTCurt]

Being a Freemason, is it a religion, cult, club , or status? I have so many questions about it. The symbols, hand shakes , secrets, rituals ,degrees, make it seem dark. It almost sounds to me ,by what you said in the previous posts, that if your a Mason , you are one of gods chosen ones. Do you gain this through the Masonic Temple or are you born this way. I am not trying to stir up anything, I am just trying to educate myself.My uncle belonged to the lodge and at his funeral, the brothers were talking in tongues. People fear what they don't know.

All good questions. I don't have a clue either.....Curt

 

[gunwolf]

Many a family member on both my side and my wifes side...I am not... but still do not discuss what is what,
I have heard my grandfather ask other people" are you a traveling man?"
I get it, but others may be confused.

 

[TRYKER]

Montgomery lodge
milford mass

 

[bucsfan612]

PM Orient Lodge #683
Penn Hills, PA

 

[Vinmac]

Gen. Llanera Lodge 168, Philippines

nice to see masons on this board..



br

 

[BottleCapKing]

They don't screen people out based on religion, though you do need to believe in a supreme being to join.

So, in effect, you screen people out based upon religion. If you don't have one, you don't get in...

I always wanted to become a Mason, but, as an Atheist (not one of the angry, vocal, offended easily atheist types who get gets angry driving past a church), I am automatically screened out.

I am only pointing this out, because to say you don't screen people out based upon religion is disingenuous at best.

 

[~Alan~]

You just have to believe in a Supreme Being, it's as simple as that.
Nobody will enquire any further.

 

[KingTotsalot]

So, in effect, you screen people out based upon religion. If you don't have one, you don't get in...

I always wanted to become a Mason, but, as an Atheist (not one of the angry, vocal, offended easily atheist types who get gets angry driving past a church), I am automatically screened out.

I am only pointing this out, because to say you don't screen people out based upon religion is disingenuous at best.

If you are truly an atheist, then no oath is binding upon you, therefore you could not be trusted to keep the oaths of Freemasonry. BTW, what do you as an atheist swear on when you take an oath? We who believe in a Supreme Being, feel we risk our soul when we swear an oath in God's name, but what does an atheist risk? It is not disinginuous for us to have standards and reasons for those standards. Morals and Standards are an important part of the Masonic Fraternity.

If you wanted to be a Mason and asked, the only important thing that would be asked you is if you believe in a Supreme Being, if you honest and say no, then you simply have disqualified yourself from being one. We certainly value honesty as an important tenet, but it does not override our belief in a Supreme Being as a basic qualification for becoming a Mason.

I have a good friend who is an agnostic, believes in a Supreme Being, but questions everything about His existence. He would qualify to take the degrees.

I have stated the situation as I understand it, since you asked interesting questions and I do not judge anyone, because that is the role of the Creator, not mine.

 

[Dark Chameleon]

Being english for some reason they are very hush hush on details or even the fact they are members of a lodge....easier to get info out of al quada then a freemason in england....water board them an everything.

Saying that i was invited to apply twice and thought it a little too 'secretive' for me, now in america its just like any other organisation....open and friendly, not secretive and almost unfriendly to the casual look see.

Here you can ask most things and get a mattor of fact answer....easier to get info from a freemason here then a mormon...lol

 

[~Alan~]

Being english for some reason they are very hush hush on details or even the fact they are members of a lodge....

One of the reasons being, that members get accused of all sorts of things.
Mainly involving trying to gain unfair advantages in the work place. There
were also cases where employers were forcing people to declare their
membership, something they are not now allowed to do.
Then there's the urban myth about getting away with minor crimes
because you are on the square.

Therefore it's sometimes easier to say nothing.

 

[Longhair]

Another reason for the "hush hush" is rooted in the historical persecution of FreeMasons.

Being raised a prodestent, I found it interesting how much the problem the Catholic church has with Masonry.
Masons don't care if you're Catholic. But since we have "secrets", and you're not supposed to keep "secrets" from the church......

 

[BottleCapKing]

If you are truly an atheist, then no oath is binding upon you

Freemasonry, from what I understand, has much to do with the strength of character of its members. Keeping an oath is based solely upon the character of the individual taking the oath. Those strong of character will keep oaths, those who do not keep their oaths are not strong in character.

Marriage is a wonder example of an oath to God. I know many religious people who have broken their vows of marriage. Did a belief in a supreme being bind them to their oaths? How is the religious person who forsook their vows any different from an atheist who does the same?

What does an atheist have to risk? The destruction of their character? The diminishing of how they are viewed upon by others? The burden of guilt for the betrayal of a given oath?

Morals and Standards are an important part of the Masonic Fraternity.

Are you insinuating that those who do not believe in a supreme being are devoid of morals and standards?


Don't get me wrong, I am not condemning Freemasonry for not including those who do not believe in a supreme being. Their club, their rules, as it were. Constitutionally, we are granted our right of freedom of association. However, I do stand by my original statement that it is disingenuous to say the organization does not screen people out based upon religion.

 

[needler420]

Seems like a cult to me of shady practices. So many new religions and groups out there nowadays its hard to tell who's trying to hide stuff under the rug or not. Iv questioned Freemasons since i first ever heard of it it sounded bad and shady. One thing Ill never trust a freemason because they are too secretive. I watched a documentary on them on the history channel once and thought it was some crazy Fraternity type cult with hazing. They are the type to favor they're own and discriminate against others. It also doesn't take a rocket scientist to judge a book by its cover. To me they're more of a cult then a religion.

I think as time goes more people will associate them with groups such as KKK or black panthers or bad groups in general. Good people don't hide secrets. They don't need too. It seems so wrong and bad I don't know how members even trust one another. With so many secrets no one knows anything. Just someone sitting some where with a evil grin thinking he knows more secrets then his next member. Unethical and childish.

 

[WVDirtfisher]

I have found a few Masonic things when detecting and have asked a few men that I know about the particular pieces. In doing so, I have been asked if I have ever considered joining. What would be the next step?

 

[keex]

Hope Lodge # 145
Lafayette,LA.

 

[Dark Chameleon]

I think i was asked to apply because i was a known agnostic but they were intelligent enough to understand agnostics believe in a supreme being sometimes even more then those who call themselves religious, they tend to understand more about religion as a general term and defend their beliefs more often then a set religions members.

I also had the ability to unhear (switch off even when standing next to someone when they'd need privacy, a talent a few employers utilised a ferw times..lol).

I suppose these things worked in my favor but yes the secrecy was a problem, this was when i lived in england which did seem to be hyper secret.

I have found in america its more open, less secret handshakes, less questioning looks or the diah need to keep their memberships secret.

I knew the former grandmaster of the rose of raby and another member and i was asked to join by the ex grand master and could i believe have been a shoe in (btw one thing i felt was that it was more for moral stance and character because i didnt have two pennies to rub together and was just a laborer, not a CEO or policeman).

 

[matmit]

Are you kidding me Needler 420??????
Freemasonry has been around for over 300 years!!!
The organization has given the world some of it's most intelligent leaders, look it up.

Lake Lodge #189
Milwaukee, WI

 

[Fisher]

#64 F&AM Boliver Ms.

 

[Longhair]

I have been asked if I have ever considered joining. What would be the next step?

You have to ask. Recruiting is prohibited. You will be given a petition for membership to fill out, and you will need the signatures of two member sponsors.

There's a lot more after that, but it will all be explained to you when the time comes.

 

[~Alan~]

There are very few secrets in Freemasonry. What secrets there are can be
found on the Internet if you look hard enough.

Although Freemasonry is not primarily a fund raising organisation, they do
raise a lot of money. In the UK, Freemasonry is said to be the biggest
individual fund raiser after the National Lottery.

The majority of people who join, say they wish they'd done it years ago.