Any Masonic Traveling men? Into MD

[SkiWhiz]

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.

My brother is big in the Mason's, I have nothing against it but have no desire to join. I think all in all it is a good organization, they do alot for the Shriners hospital. Just because they have some secret things doesn't mean its bad, my Dad was in a lodge for many years and he had "secret" so to speak meetings & there wasn't a bad bone in his body. I have watched a show about the Mason's on the History channel a few times, not sure how true the show is but its very interesting.

 

[jmorton04]

This might answer some peoples questions

This is a book by a man that did some research trying to tie the Knights Templar to the modern day Masons.
It is interesting reading, but I have no idea if his theories are correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Robinson
Born in Blood

He does discuss a lot of the "secrets" of the masons.
HH,
John Morton

 

[needler420]

I restate what I said. Not calling freemasons bad people. But without knowing their secrets they aren't good either. Their in limbo with me in till I know enough about them to judge them fairly. Not enough is known about them by anyone. But its very weird ill say that lol.

 

[~Alan~]

I restate what I said. Not calling freemasons bad people. But without knowing their secrets they aren't good either. Their in limbo with me in till I know enough about them to judge them fairly. Not enough is known about them by anyone. But its very weird ill say that lol.

Most of the "secrets" are the signs of recognition, passwords etc.
There's nothing sinister.

 

[SkiWhiz]

I restate what I said. Not calling freemasons bad people. But without knowing their secrets they aren't good either. Their in limbo with me in till I know enough about them to judge them fairly. Not enough is known about them by anyone. But its very weird ill say that lol.

You could always join .

 

[Rudy]

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.

We are all entitled to our opinions, but you might want to peruse a list of famous freemasons and you might be surprised at some of the people you feel are shady characters.

People like George Washington, Clark Gable, John Glenn, Audie Murphy, George S. Patton, John J. Pershing, Paul Revere, Eddie Rickenbacker, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Mark Twain, ... I could go on, but hopefully this gives you an idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Freemasons

 

[keex]

Perspective Quotes

The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress. ~Joseph Joubert, Pensées, 1842

Be careful how you interpret the world: It is like that. ~Erich Heller

People who look through keyholes are apt to get the idea that most things are keyhole shaped. ~Author Unknown

My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

I'm right-handed, whereas the fellow in my mirror is left-handed. I start shaving from the left; he starts from the right. Differences only in perception, but religious wars have been fought over such. ~Robert Brault,

Eventually you realize that not all opposing viewpoints come from people who oppose you. ~Robert Brault

 

[BottleCapKing]

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.

I doubt people will associate them with the likes of the KKK or Black Panthers. There is no comparison between those two and the Masons. None at all. Some of the greatest men in American history were Masons. You can't say that about the KKK or the Black Panthers.

And what do you mean by "Good people don't hide secrets"? EVERYONE has their secrets. Secrets are not inherently bad. Could it be that you are just uncomfortable knowing that there are people out there that know stuff you never will?

 

[Hndrx]

Trinity #14, GL of TX, A.F. & A.M.

 

[sllingshot47]

#22, Marshall, Texas.
True story: Before I met my wife-who has a slight mental disability-but a big heart, as you'll hear-this happened at her church. She had a black girl friend and invited her to church-which back in the '80's was still new to some people. Her friend had braces and used crutches at difficult places to walk. She was in the service sitting with my wife and her parents and on the back row was a Shriner-unbeknownst to many in the church. As he got to talking he found out there was a possibility she could have an operation and walk normally=but she didn't have insurance or the money. Next thing you know-a few phone calls and HE'S driving her to the Shriner's hospital and she had the operation at no cost to her.

 

[msholden]

Thomas Stratton (aka General Tom Thumb ) was a member of my lodge. He was raised in 1862 - our centennial year. I'm told one of the guys he took his degrees with was exceptionally tall.

 

[sllingshot47]

My brother is big in the Mason's, I have nothing against it but have no desire to join. I think all in all it is a good organization, they do alot for the Shriners hospital. Just because they have some secret things doesn't mean its bad, my Dad was in a lodge for many years and he had "secret" so to speak meetings & there wasn't a bad bone in his body. I have watched a show about the Mason's on the History channel a few times, not sure how true the show is but its very interesting.

The "secret" things are basically beautiful symbolism that apply to our lives taken from the "BOOK" of all books. We're all Masons, in a sense, when we help our fellow man.

 

[~Alan~]

We are all entitled to our opinions, but you might want to peruse a list of famous freemasons and you might be surprised at some of the people you feel are shady characters.

People like George Washington, Clark Gable, John Glenn, Audie Murphy, George S. Patton, John J. Pershing, Paul Revere, Eddie Rickenbacker, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Mark Twain, ... I could go on, but hopefully this gives you an idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Freemasons

Not to mention... Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, Samuel Colt, Richard Gatling, William Cody, Will Rogers, Tom Mix, Louis B Mayer, and some chap by the name of John Wayne.

 

[Hndrx]

I was an anti-mason as a young man because of false information given to me by people with no direct knowledge of Masonry. As I grew older, I realized that the things told to me didn't match the character of the majority of the men that I knew to be Masons. (Any organization can have bad apples.) Some of the most outstanding, truly good, and Christian men that I knew were also Masons. The allegations of anti-Masons didn't jive with the fact that I knew those men would not tolerate an organization that conflicted with their beliefs. This conflict caused me to enter into a very intense "investigation" of Freemasonry. To make a long story short, I went from being an anti-Mason to petitioning for membership. I'm currently an officer in my local Lodge. My only regret is that I waited until I was middle aged to join. I wish I had joined as a young man.

Regarding common complaints about Freemasonry:

Secrecy - The secrets of Masonry are unimportant outside of Masonry. Mainly modes of recognition, ceremonies, etc. This accusation is particularly illogical. All companies and organizations have secrets. For example, the company that I work for regards the door code for access to the building to be a "secret". The topics discussed in any closed board meeting of any organization or company are "secret" just like in Freemasonry. The most important thing to remember about Masonic "secrets" is that they are mostly about the fact that you pledge to keep them secret. It is about your personal honor. The secrets are available on google amongst a sea of misinformation.

Religious Objections - This one is odd as well. There is basically only one religious requirement to join Masonry. You must believe in a Supreme Being. Masonry doesn't try to define that Supreme Being. It teaches no doctrine, path of salvation, etc. It only teaches that you should be a good student of the teachings of your own religion.

Freemasonry is a VERY complex thing and impossible to understand fully from the outside. In many ways, it is a different thing to every single Mason.

 

[~Alan~]

Well said.

It's also very true what you say.

" My only regret is that I waited until I was middle aged to join. I wish I had joined as a young man."

I think everyone says this.

 

[keex]

Well said.

It's also very true what you say.

" My only regret is that I waited until I was middle aged to join. I wish I had joined as a young man."

I think everyone says this.

I regret waiting so long myself, its one of the best decisions i ever made.
Re- Quote :" John Wayne was a Mason" I thought he was a great man way before i knew he was a mason.
We are just a group of men trying to become better men.

 

[daveeroo]

I just wanted to respond to a couple of the people who had concerns over the secrets and religious aspects of Masonry.

Relative to the secrets - Part of the reason for the secrets are that it takes some time to work through the degrees and become a master mason. If there was no mystery involved over the course of time it takes a man to go through the degrees, it would just be going through the motions. We might as well just get the gentelman's dues, give him a pamphlet and call it a day. The process of becoming a mason helps to develop the friendships and the feeling that you share a bond with the gentlemen of a lodge, and gives a man some heavy food for thought on becoming a better man. I've known men who took the three degrees who practically already knew everything because they researched it so heavily in advance, and others (like me) who intentionally did not research the ritual at all, so the experience would unfold as intended.

By the way, there is no hazing, humiliating, hurting, embarassing, that goes on within the degrees or any function the lodge. That is not what the group is about. if you want that, I would imagine it can be found easily enough within a college fraternity or a baseball beer league. I wouldn't have anything to do with a group that did that, nor would any of my fraternal brothers.

Relative to religion. Well, it is true that the Bible is used within a lodge, and some teachings are used there, but the group (as you've probably figured by now) is not a Christian group. It purports no religion, and does not replace the religious beliefs of a man. Rather, it encourages him to continue strongly in his chosen beliefs. I consider it to be more or less ecumenical in that way. Masonry does, however, strongly believe that there is a spiritual aspect to a man, and that the spiritual aspect of a man is intertwined with his character, and that a man should recognize those things and work to improve himself.

And then after our big secret meeting in which we decide to pay the heating bill, we all go downstairs and have some cake or pie, swap some stories, share some laughs, then go home and look forward to seeing each other again in a couple of weeks.

 

[daveeroo]

Forgot:

Past, Present, and Future Master
Blazing Star #694, East Aurora, NY

 

[dirt-diggler]

Masonic Sword Hilt?

Hi everyone,

Hoping to find out what these symbols are. Some suggested they MAY BE masonic. Thoughts?

Side:

Side:

top:

Botom:

 

[poptopking]

My Grandfather was a 33rd and went through Scottish and York rite. Years ago I considered joining, I even had the petition. I couldn't do it. I have so many checks in my gut about it. I don't understand why the image of Baphomet is used in your symbols and why George Washington sits in the same pose as Baphomet in the memorial. I do know my Grandfather was a good man and would give his last breath to help another. The link between Lucifer and the Masons seems strong to me looking from the outside. The ceremony of initiation with the similarity of being dead and then raised and reborn as anew, seems similar to jesus death and resurrection. I am not saying Masons are Satan worshipers, I am saying to consider yourself a brother of someone who considers his "Supreme Being" Lucifer is just wrong.

I respect the Masons and Shriners for what they do for children. I just don't think vowing my life to the unknown is for me. A Mason respects my opinion and I respect the Masons for that.