Trust me... the less you know the better!

 

Unless you join!!

 

It is a protestant-based secret society (not particularly in the ominous way) with a long history that has included many presidents beginning with George Washington. It was started, I believe, as a political and social counterpoint to the Knights of Columbus.

For centuries, members of these groups have promoted the idea that the other is engaged in some insidious activities including shadow governments.

They don't worship in those temples, they drink, carouse, and perform innocent brotherhood rituals. Most of their members are really old and Freemasonry is dying.

Think fraternity and you'll be able to understand a good bit about what it is and how it works.

 

Want to tell us anything Jim?? It actually started I believe in England in the Middle Ages when stonemasons, to protect their craft and skills and basic job security, developed a series of secret signs they literally carved on stones to identify themselves to each other. This was in the golden era of church and cathedral building. They also developed secret handshakes, stances etc, and methods of forming certain letters in writing to also identify themselves to other masons.

 

I hope that is not the conceptualized thought of what today's mason is....it is not anything like a fraternity (in the normal fraternal sense). If you are comparing it to a historically black fraternity, then it's a bit closer, but still no go. I will NOT go into the what a masonite is, but there are big differences with "mainstream" masonry and the African Amercan "version" of masonry. It is a secret society of brothers (with ideals and goals only known to brothers) with a sister organization, the OES.

If we have any masons on this board that have read this thread, they will most likely not reply to it.

 

As I said, there is a lot of belief that this is an insidious, secret society. And only a Brit would stand up to take credit.

They also have a secret hand sign and a secret penny. What these old farts don't have, though, is a world domination agenda. But I would agree, they won't be stepping up to this plate to fill you in.

The related men's groups are the Freemasons, the Shriners, and the Tall Cedars and most of their rituals and symbols have a middle eastern theme. The Women's group is the Order of the Eastern Star and the teens groups are Demolay (boys) and Job's Daughters. There are Black and White branches and they are not really integrated at all.

BTW, in an act of fraternal brotherhood, my driving tester passed me after seeing the secret sign from my dad, even though I didn't deserve it. Any day now, I'm expecting to be asked to kill someone in return.

 

Good question. I found this summary (the history is very long):

Freemasonry, or Masonry, is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world, a universal society of friends who seek to become better men through their association with one another and their families. It is a 600-year-old fraternity with a 3,000-year tradition, the prototype of most modern fraternal societies and service organizations.

In a society whose moral values are being severely tested, Masonry brings men together for fellowship and the promotion of integrity and good citizenship.

Masonry requires a belief in Supreme Being and urges its members to be faithful to their own religious beliefs, but it is not a religion.

It encourages its members and their families to be good citizens and to choose their own best means of political expression, but it is not a political organization.

Its charitable activities and good works are for the benefit of all mankind.

 

I think the origial society were "masons" and then it became "freemasons" after they accepted non-masons into the society.

 

So ricosuave doesn't get an answer?
There's nothing wrong with freemasonry. It is a secret society where members progess through ranks within 'lodges' (local groups) They learn secret handshakes, stances and other methods of identifying themselves. A mason will shake hands with you in a certain manner which is imperceptible to you unless you are aware of the technique. If you are aware, you can reciprocate, in a manner which denotes your membership and your rank. They gather at the lodges at regular intervals for social purposes and do a great deal of good work including raising substantial sums of money for charity. Due to great criticism in recent years over the secrecy issue, more and more masons will openly tell you that they are a mason and tell you a little about it. It's probably difficult for them on a personal level because they are actually sworn not to divulge the secrets of freemasonry. No-one is supposed to ask you to join, you are supposed to enquire. (Chicken and egg situation there).

What I believe has caused problems is members who are in a particular job or calling. Imagine walking in front of a promotion or selection board, where you can signify by some stance or insignificant body movement that you are a freemason, to those members of the board who may or may not be freemasons. Freemasons are sworn to assist 'brother' masons whenever possible, it is a deeply rooted principle of the organisation.

It all lays the organisation open to criticism. Many people are of the view that if masons have nothing to hide they should declare their membership. I don't see any problem with that, and neither do many other people.

I do know many people who are masons who join for no more reason than the pleasure they gain from social
gatherings and the pleasure of charitable donations.

It is people within masonry who have abused it. I am not, nor have I ever been a freemason.

 

http://www.masonicinfo.com/