What is a free mason?? /need advice?

[ej]

I completely agree; that has to be it!

The purpose of the 'secrecy' is two-fold.

1 - To provide members with a feeling of brotherhood and exclusivity.

2 - Members would be less likely to subscribe to a club which embraces Satanic worship if it were introduced immediately. Hence the deity is referred to by different names until the time of the Holy Royal Arch Degree... when the member pledges their soul to the Prince of Darkness.

 

[Plan 9]

The purpose of the 'secrecy' is two-fold.

1 - To provide members with a feeling of brotherhood and exclusivity.

2 - Members would be less likely to subscribe to a club which embraces Satanic worship if it were introduced immediately. Hence the deity is referred to by different names until the time of the Holy Royal Arch Degree... when the member pledges their soul to the Prince of Darkness.

The purpose of the secrecy is simple; Masons have been persecuted in the past, are persecuted today in some countries and may be persecuted in the future.

 

[kdet]

The purpose of the 'secrecy' is two-fold.

1 - To provide members with a feeling of brotherhood and exclusivity.

2 - Members would be less likely to subscribe to a club which embraces Satanic worship if it were introduced immediately. Hence the deity is referred to by different names until the time of the Holy Royal Arch Degree... when the member pledges their soul to the Prince of Darkness.

There is no Satanic worship...are you saying that our founding fathers..our Presidents worshipped Satan???

 

[kdet]

The purpose of the secrecy is simple; Masons have been persecuted in the past, are persecuted today in some countries and may be persecuted in the future.

Well said!

 

[ej]

The purpose of the secrecy is simple; Masons have been persecuted in the past, are persecuted today in some countries and may be persecuted in the future.

This would apply if the identity of Masons was protected.

But their identity is widely broadcast. Their worship rituals are secret. Why might this be?

Look at the Baha'i - they are condemned to death for their beliefs in Iran. They are proud to represent their beliefs, which they believe to be righteous. Why do Masons not proudly broadcast their beliefs in this way?

 

[Plan 9]

http://www.christianforums.com/images/smilies/frown.gif There is no Satanic worship...are you saying that our founding fathers..our Presidents worshipped Satan???

Not only that, but she's saying that another member is a satanist.

I am a Past Master of my Lodge. And a past Master in Royal Arch Chapter.

 

[Plan 9]

This would apply if the identity of Masons was protected.

But their identity is widely broadcast. Their worship rituals are secret. Why might this be?

Look at the Baha'i - they are condemned to death for their beliefs in Iran. They are proud to represent their beliefs, which they believe to be righteous. Why do Masons not proudly broadcast their beliefs in this way?

The identity of Masons is a secret in countries where they are still persecuted and Masons and we women who belong to OES protect them by not "broadcasting" our rituals.

Why was it fine for Christians to meet secretly in the U.S.S.R? Should they have "proudly broadcast their beliefs" and effectively orphaned their children?

I don't think so. I'm glad they're alive and I'm certain their children are.

 

[ej]

I have not made any accusations.

I have regurgitated sources which repeat the same pattern of Freemasonry again and again and again.

I recommend you read some testimonies of Freemasons who have left the Lodges. These too confirm the same stories we hear and read.

Peace be with you

 

[kdet]

I have not made any accusations.

I have regurgitated sources which repeat the same pattern of Freemasonry again and again and again.

I recommend you read some testimonies of Freemasons who have left the Lodges. These too confirm the same stories we hear and read.

Peace be with you

Ex- Masons..who have an axe to grind

 

[Thaddeus]

Why was it fine for Christians to meet secretly in the U.S.S.R?

Christianity is out in the open, you can go to church with me if you'd like. What is the need for the secrecy? Do you fear for your life now?

 

[Plan 9]

Christianity is out in the open, you can go to church with me if you'd like. What is the need for the secrecy? Do you fear for your life now?

The identity of Masons is a secret in countries where they are still persecuted and Masons and we women who belong to OES protect them by not "broadcasting" our rituals.

 

[Thaddeus]

I'm asking why are your practices secret?

Can I go to a meeting with you and simply observe, if not, then why can't I?

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?

 

[ej]

I'm asking why are your practices secret?

Can I go to a meeting with you and simply observe, if not, then why can't I?

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?

I'd like to come too.
I'm here to learn, I'm willing to be corrected.

If there is no sinister reason for secrecy, I think you should use your position to banish such widespread untruths. They must make you mad!

 

[Thaddeus]

May I attend ANY meeting I choose?

 

[Plan 9]

I have not made any accusations.

I have regurgitated sources which repeat the same pattern of Freemasonry again and again and again.

I recommend you read some testimonies of Freemasons who have left the Lodges. These too confirm the same stories we hear and read.

Peace be with you

This was you original post; I assumed it was your personal opinion and you cited no sources.

The purpose of the 'secrecy' is two-fold.

1 - To provide members with a feeling of brotherhood and exclusivity.

2 - Members would be less likely to subscribe to a club which embraces Satanic worship if it were introduced immediately. Hence the deity is referred to by different names until the time of the Holy Royal Arch Degree... when the member pledges their soul to the Prince of Darkness.

I recommend you read some testimonies of Freemasons who have left the Lodges. These too confirm the same stories we hear and read.

I already have the direct testimony of Masons and OES members who are good Christians and known to me personally, plus the testimony of a large number of my family members.
Of course, I've read some of the material you suggest, but I've never met these people, much less been able been able to observe their Christian walk for my entire life. For good or for ill, who do you know better than your own family?

 

[kdet]

This was you original post; I assumed it was your personal opinion and you cited no sources.



I already have the direct testimony of Masons and OES members who are good Christians and known to me personally, plus the testimony of a large number of my family members.
Of course, I've read some of the material you suggest, but I've never met these people, much less been able been able to observe their Christian walk for my entire life. For good or for ill, who do you know better than your own family?

Exactly! I also can't see the many Presidents of our country and our founding fathers being involved in anything Satanic.

 

[ej]

So are you saying that there is absolutely no element of Satanism in Masonry?

If yes, then why do such an enormous number of sources (including those compiled by the Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical churches) state that this is the case?

 

[kdet]

So are you saying that there is absolutely no element of Satanism in Masonry?

If yes, then why do such an enormous number of sources (including those compiled by the Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical churches) state that this is the case?

Fear of what is unknown and they feel it is somehow a threat to religion...of course religious bodies feel that anything outside of church is evil...right?
Think a minute...can you imagine Satan wanting to have his followers donate millions of dollars to handicapped children...to take care of widows and orphans? God says that a house divided against itself cannot stand...Satan cannot do good works.

 

[Plan 9]

I'm asking why are your practices secret?

The identity of Masons is a secret in countries where they are still persecuted and Masons and we women who belong to OES protect them by not "broadcasting" our rituals.

Can I go to a meeting with you and simply observe, if not, then why can't I?

OES has several meetings a year to which I could invite you, yes. You may also observe both Masonic and OES funeral rituals anytime you care to attend such funerals.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?

Yes, I have and one important reason why I did was that I attended the funeral of my uncle and heard his funeral ritual. I was sixteen at the time and had despaired of understanding anything of the Bible, but the copious scriptures quoted by the Past Master made sense to me and were of great comfort to a grief-stricken teenager. When I left, I understood for the first time that much of my my uncle's goodness and love came from his being a Christian and I felt that there must be a heaven for the first time, if only for him to dwell in.
If that sounds silly to all of you, so be it, but I was a confused and miserable girl who couldn't understand the Gospel and who just had lost her beloved uncle to a teenaged drunken driver.


Btw, I think it's odd that only the athiests and agnostic members here seem to know I'm a Christian without having to ask. Some Christians here don't even believe me when I tell them, either.
That's why I don't post in the Christian Only threads much.

 

[ej]

Fear of what is unknown and they feel it is somehow a threat to religion...

But if Masonry accepts Jesus as Lord, there is no 'unknown' - the Bible is common ground

of course religious bodies feel that anything outside of church is evil...right?

No. Only alliance with Satan is evil.

Think a minute...can you imagine Satan wanting to have his followers donate millions of dollars to handicapped children...to take care of widows and orphans?

I am fully aware of the Charity donation by such organisations. My great grandfather left his millions to them. But every Christian knows that we cannot be saved by works - faith in Jesus as Lord is essential.

God says that a house divided against itself cannot stand...Satan cannot do good works.

I believe Satan can carry out a pretty big variety of works!