Freemasonry

[fat wee robin]

Ma Ha Bone,

Unless I am mistaken, it is commended by the Catholic Church.

From Freemasonry for dummies or something like that,

"
The beliefs of Freemasonry can be boiled down to those three simple concepts. Masons are taught to believe in:

• Brotherly love: Love for each other and for all mankind

• Relief: Charity for others and mutual aid for fellow Masons

• Truth: The search for answers to the universal questions of morality and the salvation of the soul that only a man’s individual faith and his relationship with God can provide

BROTHERLY LOVE
Simply put, Masons believe in the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is part of every great world religion, so it qualifies as the single, unifying theme of all faiths. Its most basic concept is the cornerstone of Freemasonry, no matter how it is phrased:

• Buddhism: “In five ways should a clansman minister to his friends and families; by generosity, courtesy, and benevolence, by treating them as he treats himself, and by being as good as his word.”

• Christianity: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

• Confucianism: ÒWhat you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”

• Hinduism: “Men gifted with intelligence . . . should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.”

• Islam: “No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”

• Judaism: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

• Taoism: ÒRegard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and regard your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.”

RELIEF
Masons do not teach, and have never taught, that good works on Earth are a means of salvation in the afterlife. Masonic charity is practiced to improve the lives of men here and now.


Many people who are familiar with Freemasonry but are not members are aware of some of the fraternity’s philanthropic and charitable contributions to society. A common statement is made that, "Figuring Out What Freemasons Believe In - dummies

"In order to become a Mason, one must assent to a belief in a Supreme Being. How, specifically, that belief is interpreted or how it is addressed in one's daily life is left up to the individual. Freemasonry NEVER tries to describe or explain that to the candidate/member. Some Masons are Christian, some are Jewish, some don't subscribe to a particular religious belief set. Some are politically far to the right while others are far to the left - and there are a whole bunch in between. Some support the right to keep and bear arms while others find this concept particularly offensive to their sensibilities. Some are actively engaged in the political affairs of their locale and country while others couldn't care less.

The lessons of Freemasonry teach temperance, fortitude, prudence, justice, brotherly love, relief, and truth. Again, how an individual chooses to define these in the context of his own life or of the world around him is left to his own judgment.

After that, Masons are just as at liberty as anyone else in the world to decide what's good/bad, best/worst, most colorful, least appetizing, or whatever. Most people seem to think that becoming a Mason is, apparently, akin to joining a religious order whereby one must believe in a rigid pre-set group of beliefs. Nothing could be further from the truth."
What Masons Believe

With these quotes in mind, our best bet as Christians is simply make friends and discuss with them from time to time, who Jesus is. Walter Martin once told me when dealing with cults and religions, "Lift up Jesus, you can't go to far off the path."

Yes, some of our founding fathers were Masons,
Famous Masons M-Z
The Most Powerful Freemasons Ever

freemasonry vs catholic church - Google Search

You are totally wrong . MASONRY is completely BANNED by the RCC .You cannot be a Catholic and a mason . It is considered anti - Christ ,and it is

 

[Albion]

It is well documented that Freemasons are not the nice little hospital builders that they would like to be known as. AND that they are not at all "LIKE" the Lions or Rotary clubs. They are a deep and secret organization and, IMO, if we knew all their actions, we would be appalled.

This comes as a surprise to me. If this were actually "well-documented," as you claim, I'd be reading some of that documentation right now.

After gossip, hearsay, and misinformation is passed around long enough, the guillible begin to think that it's been proven because they've heard it from someone who said he heard it before, etc.

 

[Albion]

.

 

[Albion]

You are totally wrong . MASONRY is completely BANNED by the RCC .You cannot be a Catholic and a mason . It is " anti - Christ ,and it is

I don't see how it can be said that Masonry is "commended" by the Catholic Church, but OTOH there are a number of Masons who are practicing Roman Catholics in good standing. That news is usually public knowledge thanks to the newspapers, since all fraternities other civic organizations--Lions, Junior League, Masons, and so on--publicize their events and elections of officers, etc. The local Catholic parish knows it all but doesn't care.

 

[Antig]

Not so. The "secrets" that people like you get all sweaty over thinking about are confined to a couple of passwords and the like. The idea that there is a widespread prohibition on discussing Masonic doings is fiction.

The fraternity has created many videos--seen on the History Channel, for example--showing initiations, etc. In addition, every lodge has its name/identity on the front door of one of the more prominent building in whatever town you want to speak of. Secret? Nonsense. Tours are given of the buildings and meeting rooms, to anyone from the public who's interested. People arriving for a fundraising spaghetti dinner, for example, can walk into the meeting room unescorted and see what's there for themselves. The facilities are often rented to outside groups for wedding receptions. And there are a mountain of questions answered online from various Masonic organizations (none of which you ever looked at, I'm willing to guess). Masonry, in fact, is one of the most transparent organizations you'll find in any city.

Is so!

Are you a Freemasons and trying to sway people from the truth?

 

[Antig]

The truth is that, while Masonry was once made up of the prominent men in society, today's membership is overwhelmingly middle class and very few political officeholders or industrialists, etc. belong.

Very wrong indeed. You would be very surprised who belongs to the secret Freemasons!

 

[Albion]

Very wrong indeed. You would be very surprised who belongs to the secret Freemasons!

Tell us.

Of course there are some members who are prominent in society, including some Hollywood personalities and entertainers, but you'd expect that to be the case out of an association that counts millions of members. The average member, however, is middle class, as I noted earlier.

Incidentally, the Masonic lodges are very proud--and very public--about the members who are famous or prominent and they publish lists of such people that you can find online and in publications. That's not something an actual super "secret" society would be doing, is it?

 

[Archivist]

I'm certainly not saying that "anyone who disagrees with you is "blind"

You said that I was "blind to the reality of this organization." So apparently, according to you, I am "blind." Your words, not mine.

Why do people seem to jump past the truth of a situation and keep going to assumptions and hyperbole.

But "assumptions and hyperbole" are what I keep hearing from those who are against the Masons in this thread. Remember, I don't have a pony in this race; I am not a Mason. I have simply asked over and over for evidence from an unbiased reputable source to support the attacks that are being made on the Masons.

People disagree with me all the time. It is the adult way. We agree to disagree.

OK

What I am saying is this:

It is well documented that Freemasons are not the nice little hospital builders that they would like to be known as. AND that they are not at all "LIKE" the Lions or Rotary clubs. They are a deep and secret organization and, IMO, if we knew all their actions, we would be appalled.

Then provide evidence from an unbiased reputable source to support your position. That is all I am asking for.

 

[Archivist]

Yes and he was probably poisoned by them .He used his operas and music to reveal their secrets .

Proof please.

 

[Archivist]

No ,but we need the Light of the Holy Spirit to discern .Not all have this, even if they call themselves christians .

Then you shouldn't have problems provided evidence from reputable unbiased sources. That is all I am asking for.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Why does Matthew 18:15-18 say that accusations be established by two or more witnesses who are reliable?

There has been a lot of hearsay and yellow journalism about this group.

John Todd (conspiracy theorist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Wayne Todd

Born May 19, 1949
Died November 10, 2007(aged 58)
South Carolina, US
Other names

• John Todd Collins
• Lance Collins
• Kris Sarayn Kollyns
• Christopher Kollyns

Occupation Public speaker
Years active 1968-1983
Criminal charge Rape
Criminal penalty 30 years imprisonment
Criminal status Convicted
John Wayne Todd (May 19, 1949[1][2] – November 10, 2007),[3]also known as "John Todd Collins", "Lance Collins",[4] "Kris Sarayn Kollyns", and "Christopher Kollyns",[5] was an American speaker and conspiracy theorist. He claimed to be a former occultist who was born into a 'witchcraft family' before converting to Christianity. He was a primary source for many Chick Publications works against Dungeons & Dragons, Catholicism, Neopaganism, and Christian rock.

In his public appearances, Todd made a variety of claims about witches, Satanists, and the Illuminati, who he alleged were conspiring against Christians. These purported conspiracies often included government officials and leaders of Christian organizations. Investigative reports in magazines and books said there were many inconsistencies in his statements about anti-Christian conspiracies and his own past.

In 1988 Todd was convicted in South Carolina on charges of rape and sentenced to 30 years in a prison. In 2004 he was released from prison and placed in a psychiatric facility, where he died in 2007.

John Todd (conspiracy theorist) - Wikipedia

 

[Archivist]

Why does Matthew 18:15-18 say that accusations be established by two or more witnesses who are reliable?

There has been a lot of hearsay and yellow journalism about this group.

John Todd (conspiracy theorist) - Wikipedia

Agreed. I have asked for evidence from a reputable unbiased source, but have yet to see anything posted. Yet I’ve been told that it is “well documented” that the Masons are an evil organization. Where is the proof?

 

[StillGods]

Is so!

Are you a Freemasons and trying to sway people from the truth?

I'd say Albion is a freemason.

 

[Antig]

I'd say Albion is a freemason.

I would agree 100%.

Never seen anyone defend them so much. Only ever seen a Freemason defend the Freemasons!

 

[Albion]

I would agree 100%.

Never seen anyone defend them so much. Only ever seen a Freemason defend the Freemasons!

It you pay attention here, you'll see me defend a wide range of people and groups who have been wrongly accused of something or other.

 

[Antig]

It you pay attention here, you'll see me defend a wide range of people and groups who have been wrongly accused of something or other.

Ok. Doesn't look that way myself. It looks like you are defending freemasonry and in my book that is only ever done by members!

 

[Albion]

Ok. Doesn't look that way myself. It looks like you are defending freemasonry and in my book that is only ever done by members!

"In your book," perhaps, but the claim is obviously untrue. You have 'Archivist' right here, for example; and you will call anyone who simply asks you to back up your assertions with evidence a "defender of freemasonry" I realize.

And a number of television channels have run programs about Masonry which debunked a long list of myths about Masonry. Then too, some Christian churches have taken a stand against Masonry and other fraternities but some other churches have investigated and decided that the commonly-heard charges are untrue.

 

[Archivist]

Ok. Doesn't look that way myself. It looks like you are defending freemasonry and in my book that is only ever done by members!

In 1770 John Adams defended British soldiers who had been charged with killing civilians in the Boston massacre. Adams defended them not because he was pro-British (he was not) but because he believed that the men deserved a fair trial. The soldiers were acquitted.

All sorts of things have been said about the Masons in this thread, including accusations of murder. All Albion and I have done throughout the thread is to ask for evidence from unbiased credible sources. If the Masons have indeed done the things they have been accused of doing that evidence should be easy to supply. Yet none has been forthcoming.

As I have said, I am not a Mason and I don't have a pony in this race, but I'm seeing negative comments about a group that seems to do a great deal of good. Asking for proof to back these claims, as both Albion and I have done, isn't an indication that either of us are closet Masons, it is simply a matter of fairness.

 

[Albion]

Got anything about Freemasonry to offer? Like evidence to back up the accusations that have been posted? Apparently not.

 

[StillGods]

Got anything about Freemasonry to offer? Like evidence to back up the accusations that have been posted? Apparently not.

Sidestep