Vow Of Silence

Quick Question....
I was wondering if any member of the freemasons can tell me if freemasons are required to take a vow of silence?

originally posted by: ElOmen
Quick Question....
I was wondering if any member of the freemasons can tell me if freemasons are required to take a vow of silence?

No, that is not a requirement.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus
Well that's that. Thank you for the quick reply.

originally posted by: ElOmen
Well that's that. Thank you for the quick reply.

No worries.

Any insight on what prompted you to ask?

a reply to: ElOmen

you are required to keep certain things secret, such as various words, grips, and rituals.

the purpose of the secrecy is to see if you are a person of your word, to make you feel special (i know something you dont know), and to stir up interest in the order.

ive never heard about a vow of silence like what monks do before. wouldnt make sense for the masons, as all the secret teachings are passed word of mouth. if you cant speak, how can you pass on the knowledge?

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

ran into this image while surfin the net.

a reply to: ElOmen

More to do with what stormson said about integrity and keeping the word of a Brother.

Your personal integrity is really the only thing you have that is truly your own.

originally posted by: ElOmen
Quick Question....
I was wondering if any member of the freemasons can tell me if freemasons are required to take a vow of silence?

What do you mean by "Vow of silence"?

I think you're getting confused with a 'vow of secrecy'.

a reply to: ElOmen

ah, i see.

a vow of secrecy is not a vow of silence. the former means keeping a secret, the latter is to never speak again.

heres the weird thing about masonic secrecy. as you can see, you can find just about everything about the masons on the net. all the things we swear to keep secret is no longer a secret. some people join for the wrong reasons, to "expose the truth", and break their oath. leaders in the order wrote books to guide young masons and they fell into the wrong hands.

a mason keeps the secrets not because they are secret, but because he said he would and to show his brothers that he is trustworthy. after all, how can a brother trust you with a serious issue if you cant keep a simple handshake secret?

Indeed my brothers. The vow is not for silence is for discretion.
Freemasonry is not a secret society as many believe. If it were, We've done a bad job to keep it hidden.

a reply to: Abednego

as a brother told me, "how can we be trying to take over the world when we have so much trouble getting a spaghetti dinner planned!"

what i really want to know is if they make you do the hand gesture to the lips.(shhhh)

a reply to: ElOmen

i cant answer that.

Maybe you should include the women if you are having trouble planning a spaghetti dinner . a reply to: stormson

Why not?a reply to: stormson

originally posted by: ElOmen
what i really want to know is if they make you do the hand gesture to the lips.(shhhh)

Not in my jurisdiction.

now im curious why stormson cant answer my question?a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

a reply to: ElOmen

No clue. You would have to ask him. We use one of the oldest rituals in the country for Blue Lodge and this is not in there, but what you pictured is York Rite which I am not in.

a reply to: ElOmen

because i dont know if i can in good conscience.

so rather than confirm or deny, ill just remain silent. by saying nothing i know im safe.

comes down to the secrets thing.

ta reply to: AugustusMasonicus
Again, thank you for clarifying that out.