Freemasonry - your thoughts?

[LazyFatass]

oh ya. So how does the religious aspect work? Admitting a belief in a "higher power". Could this be accepting there is any life form greater/more complex than humans, or does it have to be some humanity loving, moral compass manufacturer?

The idea is that there is a "Great architect of the universe". Typically, this means "God", but colloquially, most lodges will accept it as "believes in a higher power", whatever that may be. The overwhelming majority of my lodge is Christian, but they have also welcomed a couple of Hindus.

 

[LazyFatass]

Do the freemasons allow people of all religions/sexualities to join? Or are there constraints?

Freemasonry requires a belief in a "higher power". Some conservative lodges may say that that entails belief in a monotheistic god, but in my lodge's case, so long as you believe in a higher power, you're welcome there. Though if you didn't, I don't quite know why you'd want to join them, since belief in the higher power is the central tenet of the group and is the reason for the group's existence.

To the best of my knowledge, they have no stance regarding sexuality, which would imply that all sexualities are welcome. Again, some conservative lodges may not welcome them. If I knew of any lodges that discriminated based on sexuality, I would actively not involve myself with them.

 

[Space]

Just a fraternal society

A.K.A. Sausage fest.

 

[monsterxmonster]

All the freemasons I've met IRL have been weirdy twats.

 

[BrokenCouch]

sounds like a club that a bunch of bunker building end of the world types would get into. i.e., morons.

 

[YPMG]

Do you have to be wealthy to be a freemason?

Only freemasons I have met have been very wealthy.

I'm going to get to these one at a time so you were first in line - you don't have to be wealthy to be a freemason, it's just happen-stance that a lot of freemasons are wealthy. I believe the reason that they are is because of the moral values that are instilled through freemasonry, the way of living which makes you strive to be the best man that you can be.

Of course with a brotherhood comes a few perks, we're there to help each other out - so if there is a brother in need we always try and lend a hand.

A bit of history for you though, the reason freemasons wear gloves is so that back in the day no body could distinguish anothers profession and cast judgment. The gloves covered the hands of tradesmen so when all freemasons came to Lodge meetings they met on the level - as equals. Bankers, politicians, lawyers sat side by side and shared love and camaraderie with people who may have minimal paying jobs.

 

[YPMG]

I met a Freemason when I was deployed in Iraq. That didn't surprise me all that much, but when he started telling me how many members in my unit were Freemasons I was really surprised. Then he told me that he had never been around so many Freemasons himself outside of a meeting (he was refering to the amount of Freemasons he had ran across in Iraq).

I've been in the military for over 20 years, and I never realized so many Freemasons were in the military. Is this normal or was I just in a unit that had alot.

Also I heard about a large Freemason gala/dinner/event that happened in Iraq that was attended by a lot of US officers and Iraqi. Is this just conspiracy he said she said shit, or does anyone think it has any credence?

It's common for freemasons to be everywhere in society but I'd say a lot of members are in the forces (police, military, fire etc) because it ties with the notion of being a better person and charity. The ultimate act of benevolence is being able to give back to your community and your fellow man - I can't comment on your unit but I wouldn't say this is uncommon. Lodge also brings people together so it's a great way for soldiers to keep each other happy and feeling content.

It wouldn't surprise me if the gala was true - as I mentioned before, freemasonry is inclusive and regardless of race, religion or political views a brother is a brother. Matter of fact, talking about either of those three things is prohibited in Lodge because they often lead to conflict. Here in my city we often have large festive boards or events where freemasons from all over the city congregate to share the experience, the food and the alcohol At my last Lodge meeting we were actually lucky enough to be visited by a high ranking freemason of the scottish rite from South Africa - was an excellent experience!

 

[YPMG]

i've never really understood what freemasonry is all about, i've heard of it obviously and of some of the weird handshake, consipracy rumours but i've never heard what they actually do.

maybe you would be kind enough to tell us a little bit about it. do you have meetings so many times a week? what do you discuss/plan/whatever? is it just a club to meet people and sit around, having a few beers and shooting the shit or do you do things like, i dunno, raise money for charity or something?

like i say i know nothing about it so if you could tell us a bit about it it would be great.

We do meet but meeting schedules differ from Lodge to Lodge. My Lodge meets once a month, however, my friends Lodge meets once a quarter - it's all up to the people who attend and what works for them.

The formal part of Lodge is to discuss many things and perform ritual which is basically just the teachings of freemasonry. To be honest, Lodge isn't anything too exciting unless you're doing an initiation, raising or an education session. It is pretty cool to hear the ritual though, very humbling! Afterwards though we all have a festive board or a south, we supply food and drink and basically sit, have a few toasts and just talk to each other about how we're going and life in general. Some Lodge's do full sit down meals, others have full on piss-up's once a month but mine just cracks the small goods and a few beers, soft drink and wine.

In a nutshell, freemasonry is all about making good men better. Teaching you to be the best person you can be through allegory and symbolism - basically educating you on the principles that every man should live by in life. The best thing about it is that if you meet another freemason and identify yourself, you're instantly on another level.

To give you an example; there's a very high profile personality who is a freemason which I found out as he said he was via twitter. I shot him a tweet with a masonic phrase and was instantly met a follow, a private message and given his personal email address. We've chatted a few times through email and he's been great to talk to about masonry and life in general. To put it into perspective, this guys has 10's of thousands of fans but went out of his way for me because I was a brother. Cool stuff and it's a worldwide network!

 

[YPMG]

What was your motivation for joining?

From what I've heard, membership often runs in families, so I guess that's one valid reason. Another could be the for charitable work I hear they do. However, joining something simply because of "fraternity" and because it's a sekrit club reeks of personal weakness if you ask me.

My motivation was that I wanted to be a better person and give back to the community. When I was younger I was a bit of a hell raiser but I always knew I was better than that. I met a freemason, was invited to a festive board and I liked the camaraderie and the ideology - haven't looked back since.

It's good being a part of something where people genuinely care about you and are there for you like you are there for them. Some people join because they're under this illusion that we rule the world and that we have these secret plans which will help them get ahead in life... you can tell them from a mile away and they usually don't come back when they realise that being initiated is a long process and we have absolutely zero to do with taking over the world. We're focused on charity and becoming better people - would be pretty sweet if there was some world domination plan but there isn't lol

 

[Lost]

I'm going to get to these one at a time so you were first in line - you don't have to be wealthy to be a freemason, it's just happen-stance that a lot of freemasons are wealthy. I believe the reason that they are is because of the moral values that are instilled through freemasonry, the way of living which makes you strive to be the best man that you can be.

Of course with a brotherhood comes a few perks, we're there to help each other out - so if there is a brother in need we always try and lend a hand.

A bit of history for you though, the reason freemasons wear gloves is so that back in the day no body could distinguish anothers profession and cast judgment. The gloves covered the hands of tradesmen so when all freemasons came to Lodge meetings they met on the level - as equals. Bankers, politicians, lawyers sat side by side and shared love and camaraderie with people who may have minimal paying jobs.

Thank you for the straight forward answer sir, I appreciate it. Freemasons don't seem so bad.

 

[YPMG]

Thank you for the straight forward answer sir, I appreciate it. Freemasons don't seem so bad.

Haha, no problems man. Glad you don't think we're devil worshiping, world domineering goat riders

 

[fingercuffs]

sounds like a club that a bunch of bunker building end of the world types would get into. i.e., morons.

What in the very fuck?! Ahaha, I don't know a single Mason who believes that shit. Some of them are family, I think I'd've been informed by now.

 

[SevenSamurai]

Great fucking band.

Sparrin' with the Varmit was a great record.

 

[JinKazama]

meh, run of the mill pagan/baphomet/luciferian worship

dress it up different, still the same bs, kills your soul with those soul binding oaths that they pronounce on themselves to get initiated

blah blah blah,

want truth and life more abundant no strings attached??

then get Jesus .

 

[fingercuffs]

meh, run of the mill pagan/baphomet/luciferian worship

dress it up different, still the same bs, kills your soul with those soul binding oaths that they pronounce on themselves to get initiated

blah blah blah,

want truth and life more abundant no strings attached??

then get Jesus .

Fuck me, you again :icon_chee

 

[YPMG]

What in the very fuck?! Ahaha, I don't know a single Mason who believes that shit. Some of them are family, I think I'd've been informed by now.

Haha, I still remember a fellow mason telling me after a few beers 'Sadly I haven't been involved in any plots to takeover the world, but I'll let you know when I do!' It's always a running joke in Lodge, and a good one at that.

 

[fingercuffs]

Haha, I still remember a fellow mason telling me after a few beers 'Sadly I haven't been involved in any plots to takeover the world, but I'll let you know when I do!' It's always a running joke in Lodge, and a good one at that.

I don't know what level he is now but one of my brother in laws' Grand Master Ladies Nights is coming over to spend 5 days with us over new year. The other we're spending a day with post Christmas.

I understand the mystery, but it's such an open book now there's no need for people thinking it's all cloak and dagger. That's stupid.

 

[fingercuffs]

I buggered that right up.

The Ladies' Nights were brilliant great fun. Not even remotely odd.

 

[Grob]

What do the masons think of the mormons using their signs, tokens and handshakes in their temple ceremony?

 

[YPMG]

What do the masons think of the mormons using their signs, tokens and handshakes in their temple ceremony?

I've personally never heard of this before but it could just be happenstance. I don't think that it would have much effect on freemasonry at all - if we are ever suspect of someone or unsure of their legitmacy there are numerous tests (answers to questions and parts of ritual) that we run them through. I'd say the mormons would have different symbolism behind their tokens and handshakes.

On another note, a lot of masonic terms are used throughout everyday life - getting blackballed, being given the third degree, keeping it on the level; that's all masonic. A lot of law is written in masonic terms too due to many lawyers and judges being proud freemasons.