Freemasons

[rockytriton]

I'm just wondering if anyone on here is a freemason.

[Buffy]

My granddad was one, but they still don't let girls into the fraternity, and none of my cousins ever pursued it.... Its always sounded a bit weird to me, and History Channel had a really interesting show on it a while back that certainly sounded sinister. Virtually all of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were masons...that's why that wierdo pyramid with the eye on it is on the back of the dollar bill...

 

Secret-Sorority-of-Girls,

Buffy

[Turtle]

___I believe the Great Seal on the dollar came much later than the founders' days, :D but they were Masons (& Deists).

___If you want to join the Masons, you have to ask to join; as I understand it, no one is invited. :hihi:

[alxian]

illuminati and masons get way too much press

 

 

they should be allowed to do their dirty work in peace

 

the wolves amoung the sheeple

[Boerseun]

A mate of mine joined the Masons a while back - he had to be 'invited'.

 

As far as I can tell, it's just a secret club for old geezers who wish they could still be youngsters with their secret handshakes and crap.

 

They do give preferential treatment to fellow members in terms of business deals etc., but that kinda falls foul of the whole idea of the 'Equality of Man' idea?

[Buffy]

I believe the Great Seal on the dollar came much later than the founders' days, :D

True, but there's an interesting two sided debate on it, the Mason's say:

The Great Seal and Masonic symbolism grew out of the same cultural milieu. While the all-seeing eye had been popularized in Masonic designs of the late eighteenth century, it did not achieve any sort of official recognition until Webb's 1797 Monitor.

While the conspiracy theorists say:

The first attempts at including the All-Seeing Eye on the seal were not successful. The first die of the Great Seal was cut from brass in 1782. In 1825, 1841, 1877, 1885, and 1902, new dies were cut, but each time the reverse went uncut and unused . . . In 1934, Secretary of Agriculture, soon-to-be Vice-President (1940-44) and 32nd degree freemason Henry Wallace submitted a proposal to the president to mint a coin depicting the seal's obverse and reverse. President Franklin D Roosevelt, also a 32nd degree freemason, liked the idea but opted to instead place it on the dollar bill.

Pick your point of view... :D too.

If you want to join the Masons, you have to ask to join; as I understand it, no one is invited. :hihi:

I think that's the story, but you'd better have masons in your family tree to "move up the hierarchy." Its not E Clampus Vitus, that's for sure...

 

Cheers,

Buffy

[rockytriton]

Well, I'm thinking of joining. I've read a lot of (non-conspiracy theory) information about them and they seem to fit me very well. They believe that God exists, but they don't pretend to know who or what he actually is. They supposedly focus a lot on being kind to your fellow man, even if they aren't kind to you, kind of what Jesus taught except that none of the churches focus on that, they only focus on hitting people over the head with their bibles and trying to force people into believing what they believe. Anyway, I'm going to talk to a guy about it and see what I think of it, I was just wondering if anyone here had any experience with it. I really like the fact that they believe that everyone should think for themselves as far as religious beliefs goes, and nobody should look down on anyone elses beliefs or expect others to change their beliefs.

 

From everything I've read, it says that you can't be invited, you can only join by asking and you can't be pressured into joining. I'm pretty good at spotting wackos, so I don't think I have any chance of being brainwashed into anything crazy.

[Boerseun]

Out of interest:

 

What would you hope to gain by joining?

 

Boerseun

[Buffy]

Well, I'm thinking of joining. I've read a lot of (non-conspiracy theory) information about them and they seem to fit me very well.

All of the mason's I've ever met seem to be level-headed, nice people. As for the conspiracy stuff, it sure doesn't seem like they're very well connected any more: you gotta be Skull&Bones these days... Note its not a "religious" group, its a "fraternal order" and I'd agree with Boersun's summation above: its more about hanging out and making friends and going bowling and yes, making business connections, which is why its so big in "middle America."

 

I'd say you should have no qualms about joining...

 

Cheers,

Buffy

[Chacmool]

I would love to join - to satisfy my curiosity. And the fact that I can't join (because I'm a girl) makes me want to join even more. I think it's the temptation of the forbidden fruit.

[rockytriton]

Primarily for social interaction with people who share my views on religion and humanity. Also to learn from others with my views and what their experiences in life have been. I guess it would be social more than anything, but they supposedly focus on knowledge as well.

[rockytriton]

...And the fact that I can't join (because I'm a girl)...

 

Yes, that's is a plus for me joining too. :hihi:

[Buffy]

Yes, that's is a plus for me joining too. :hihi:

Just think what it would be like if they started letting girls in. Why it'd be like....Hypography! :D

 

Cheers,

Buffy

[rockytriton]

yea, Hypography has gone way down hill since they started letting girls join

[Boerseun]

Just think what it would be like if they started letting girls in. Why it'd be like....Hypography! :hihi:

 

Cheers,

Buffy

...without the secret handshake crap, of course.

[Buffy]

...without the secret handshake crap, of course.

What? They haven't taught you the secret handshake? And you call yourself a mod....

 

Cheers,

Buffy

[Chacmool]

...without the secret handshake crap, of course.

Ah, but that's where the buddy lists, PMs and rep points come in. :hihi: