Do masons build?

[Godisgood12]

Do masons intend to explain their intent?

I mean, who claims to be a mason in secret? Isn't God the light of the world? So who claims to have a purpose and hides it under a table?

 

[awitch]

Do masons intend to explain their intent?

I mean, who claims to be a mason in secret? Isn't God the light of the world? So who claims to have a purpose and hides it under a table?

Well, if they're anything like the Elks (another fraternal organization), it's a bunch of old, white men sitting in the basement of their lodge drinking alcohol and watching sports.

 

[Zoness]

I've never had any interest in the Masons but as someone in both a music fraternity and an esoteric order I'd say that its mostly because people of similar interests like to gather. For example, we're pretty welcoming but we wouldn't expect any initiate to go through the process who wasn't truly interested in it. It sort of is an evolution of knowledge and wisdom with a the various levels, much like Masonry.

Plus some organizations just like to be quiet. If you are assuming the Mason's seek to "convert" people I think you're missing the point. The order I am a part of is a hundred times less informal than the Masons and is made up of pagans, most pagans aren't really interested in converting people. We mostly like to be left alone.

 

[MehGuy]

Masons? I thought they were an urban legend.

Someone on CF Singles claims to be one..

 

[Zoness]

I don't understand why people are so terrified of Masons. They're basically a fraternity for older, well-off people.

 

[smaneck]

I don't understand why people are so terrified of Masons. They're basically a fraternity for older, well-off people.

That's what they are now, but in the 18th and 19th centuries when autocracies often reigned, Freemasonry gave younger men the opportunity to discuss politics behind closed doors. That's probably what gave fodder to all the conspiracy theories associated with them. The truth is Freemasons generally supported Enlightenment and democratic ideals. They met in secret because in those days that is the only way such ideals could be spread.

 

[BaconWizard]

That's what they are now, but in the 18th and 19th centuries when autocracies often reigned, Freemasonry gave younger men the opportunity to discuss politics behind closed doors. That's probably what gave fodder to all the conspiracy theories associated with them. The truth is Freemasons generally supported Enlightenment and democratic ideals. They met in secret because in those days that is the only way such ideals could be spread.

Some of the rituals are quite strange, and the secrecy is incredible. It makes one wonder what they are protecting or afraid-of to go to those lengths.

 

[smaneck]

Some of the rituals are quite strange, and the secrecy is incredible. It makes one wonder what they are protecting or afraid-of to go to those lengths.

Naah, the rituals and secrecy are half of the fun!

 

[awitch]

Naah, the rituals and secrecy are half of the fun!

It's hardly secret anymore. They have a detailed wiki page and the History Channel had a few documentaries detailing the rituals and their meanings.

 

[Zoness]

That's what they are now, but in the 18th and 19th centuries when autocracies often reigned, Freemasonry gave younger men the opportunity to discuss politics behind closed doors. That's probably what gave fodder to all the conspiracy theories associated with them. The truth is Freemasons generally supported Enlightenment and democratic ideals. They met in secret because in those days that is the only way such ideals could be spread.

Makes sense to me.

Naah, the rituals and secrecy are half of the fun!

I agree! I guess I like the whole concept of discovering secret or restricted information hence both my obsession with esoteric concepts and computer security.

It's hardly secret anymore. They have a detailed wiki page and the History Channel had a few documentaries detailing the rituals and their meanings.

This is also true, its basically an open secret. Many fraternities have that sort of leaking occurring too. Small, obscure groups may not because of security by obscurity.

 

[Godisgood12]

So we all agree that mason's are kinda lame? I have never heard of them proclaiming to be a religion, so I think Im clear of any violations with forum rules.

Is the society so secret in order to hide something so big? Or is it so secret that it wants to overcompensate for what it lacks? Perhaps it has no secret and simply wants to be left alone to feel special about itself.

 

[Zoness]

So we all agree that mason's are kinda lame? I have never heard of them proclaiming to be a religion, so I think Im clear of any violations with forum rules.

Is the society so secret in order to hide something so big? Or is it so secret that it wants to overcompensate for what it lacks? Perhaps it has no secret and simply wants to be left alone to feel special about itself.

Some more paranoid groups seem to think they are some sort of Deist-inspired Satanists (which doesn't even make sense) but no, I don't think most people would regard them as religious.

The second question I think is a good psychological one about the nature of fraternities. Maybe its a combination of all three or none? Interesting question.

 

[awitch]

So we all agree that mason's are kinda lame? I have never heard of them proclaiming to be a religion, so I think Im clear of any violations with forum rules.

Is the society so secret in order to hide something so big? Or is it so secret that it wants to overcompensate for what it lacks? Perhaps it has no secret and simply wants to be left alone to feel special about itself.

I was an officer in the Elks and they have similar silly rituals. I think it's about feeling special, but there are perks to being a member.

 

[smaneck]

I was an officer in the Elks and they have similar silly rituals. I think it's about feeling special, but there are perks to being a member.

Let's keep in mind also what the Shriners do for children. Most insurance companies will not pay for orthotics, something my son needed as a toddler and I had no money to purchase. The Shriners picked up the bill.

 

[awitch]

Let's keep in mind also what the Shriners do for children. Most insurance companies will not pay for orthotics, something my son needed as a toddler and I had no money to purchase. The Shriners picked up the bill.

Definitely give them credit for that. Disabled children are the primary beneficiary for charitable donations from the Elks.

 

[Ecclectic79]

That's what they are now, but in the 18th and 19th centuries when autocracies often reigned, Freemasonry gave younger men the opportunity to discuss politics behind closed doors. That's probably what gave fodder to all the conspiracy theories associated with them. The truth is Freemasons generally supported Enlightenment and democratic ideals. They met in secret because in those days that is the only way such ideals could be spread.

This and it got to be a place as well where religious philosophy and historicity were taken for a road-test in ways that couldn't be done when state religions were autocratic. Seems like anyone who really wanted to explore reality under those conditions and have other people to explore it with had to go underground. These days I get the impression that the silence on a lot of things Masonic or mystic in general is somewhat less about what it once was from that standpoint and more about being able to practice their ontic beliefs in peace as well as the additional belief that there is such a thing as psychic/spiritual development and that certain bits of info can be dangerous to people who don't have the structure yet to handle them (stuff that would just sound to most people like loopy high-order metaphysics to most people anyway).

 

[circuitrider]

I'm a Freemason. If you'd like to ask questions, either here or in private notes, I'd be happy to answer them.

 

[awitch]

I'm a Freemason. If you'd like to ask questions, either here or in private notes, I'd be happy to answer them.

Do the Masons have a "uniform" for official public appearances?
In the Elks, we would have to wear a tuxedo.

 

[ViaCrucis]

So the Masons weren't founded by surviving Templars who held the secret of the holy grail?

Well I'll be darned.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[circuitrider]

Do the Masons have a "uniform" for official public appearances?
In the Elks, we would have to wear a tuxedo.

No. Usually our regalia is only for our own meetings. It is only rarely that Masonic aprons are worn in public for certain kinds of processions. The apron is our only "uniform" so to speak.