Pitfalls of Masonry?

Are there any negative sides to being a Freemason? This is one thing I haven't seen discussed. The conspiracy theorists would have a lot to say about this, but I would like to know from a Mason if, in his own experience, has there been any difficulties or problems in your life as a result of being a Mason?
Iv heard people mention that you have to put your 'brothers' before your wife and kids, you have to give them money, etc. Has a Mason ever told a friend about some of the secrets they swore not to divulge, then in finding out about it, the lodge has retalliated in some way?
So my question to Masons is.... "Is it all good being a mason? or does it have its pitfalls like most other things in life?"

Originally posted by AllseeingEYE
Are there any negative sides to being a Freemason?

Not that I've found.

*snip* has there been any difficulties or problems in your life as a result of being a Mason?

Nope. None whatsoever.

Iv heard people mention that you have to put your 'brothers' before your wife and kids,

Nope read my recent post in the "my application!" thread. The candidate is told expressively that this is not the case whatsoever.

you have to give them money, etc.

Can't get blood out of a turnip But, No this too is not the case.

Has a Mason ever told a friend about some of the secrets they swore not to divulge, then in finding out about it, the lodge has retalliated in some way?

Not sure I understand the question, but the Lodge does not have a "secret defense" squad. That if a secret is "leaked" that they go and defile your toilet or anything.... So if that is what you are getting at yet again the answer is No.

So my question to Masons is.... "Is it all good being a mason? or does it have its pitfalls like most other things in life?"

Like alot of things in life, you get out of Masonry what you put into it. Can I say everyone likes/enjoys/thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread....No. There are of members that demit for a number of different reasons.

Pitfalls can be a broad generalization. If a person joins Masonry thinking that they will become some kind of demigod they will be sadly mistaken. Altho, if a person accepts Freemasonry for what it is, a Fraternal organization that teaches life lessons and makes good men better, they won't be disappointed.

The only "pitfall" I can think of is it requires a large amount of time for the memorization work. Regarding money: they don't force you to pay money, but most lodges will have some form of dues, sometimes negotiable. (Free food more than makes up for the dues hehe.)

Originally posted by AllseeingEYE
Are there any negative sides to being a Freemason? This is one thing I haven't seen discussed. The conspiracy theorists would have a lot to say about this, but I would like to know from a Mason if, in his own experience, has there been any difficulties or problems in your life as a result of being a Mason?
Iv heard people mention that you have to put your 'brothers' before your wife and kids, you have to give them money, etc. Has a Mason ever told a friend about some of the secrets they swore not to divulge, then in finding out about it, the lodge has retalliated in some way?
So my question to Masons is.... "Is it all good being a mason? or does it have its pitfalls like most other things in life?"

Yeah, honestly I can't think of many negatives to being a mason. Nothing significant, anyways. Some people MIGHT consider the memorization of the ritual to be a snare, but I personally enjoy it. It teaches me a lot. Sometimes there are disagreements between brothers, sometimes lodge business can get political, but that exists in every organization. It's human nature. Maybe another of the drawbacks would be having to deal with anti-mason's slander sometimes?

It's absoulutely not true that you have to swear to protect you brothers over your family. In your obligation, you expressedly state that your duty to Freemasonry will NEVER conflict with the duty you owe to God, your country, your neighbor, your family, or yourself.

Dues at my lodge at $36 per YEAR. That doesnt seem like a lot of money to give to them. I donate to a lot of masonic charities, but I do this because I want to, not because I have to. The money myth is completely false. Also, if a brother cannnot pay his dues for some reason, they are usually waved or another brother will pay for him.

Freemasonry is designed to be a volunteer organization where people can go to learn to better themselves, and enjoy good times with their friends at the same time. How could that ever be bad?


[edit on 16-5-2005 by sebatwerk]

Originally posted by AllseeingEYE

Iv heard people mention that you have to put your 'brothers' before your wife and kids, you have to give them money, etc.

The very first lesson taught to the new Mason in the First Degree is the lesson of Charity, which is dramatically exemplified in our initiatioin ritual in a scene known as the Rite of Destitution. There it is elaborated that it is a Mason's duty to offer assistance to anyone who may need it, especially destitute worthy Brother Masons, as long as such assistance does not injure one's own family. One's standing as a Mason need not concern another Mason when it comes to charity; indeed, the vast majority of Masonic charitable funds go to non-Masons.

Has a Mason ever told a friend about some of the secrets they swore not to divulge, then in finding out about it, the lodge has retalliated in some way?

Yes, this has happened from time to time. When such a thing occurs, the offending Brother is formally charged with unmasonic conduct through the violation of his fraternal obligations. A trial is then held in his Lodge to determine his guilt or innocence. If found guilty, or if he pleads guilty, he is subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

So my question to Masons is.... "Is it all good being a mason? or does it have its pitfalls like most other things in life?"

I can only speak for myself, but for me, it's all been good.

Originally posted by Masonic Light

Originally posted by AllseeingEYE

Has a Mason ever told a friend about some of the secrets they swore not to divulge, then in finding out about it, the lodge has retalliated in some way?

Yes, this has happened from time to time. When such a thing occurs, the offending Brother is formally charged with unmasonic conduct through the violation of his fraternal obligations. A trial is then held in his Lodge to determine his guilt or innocence. If found guilty, or if he pleads guilty, he is subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

ML, thanks for clarifying that.

After reading some of the absurd claims I guess I sometimes read too much into the question. I was thinking ASE was asking if there was some type of a "gustapo" group for Masonry. Which in hindsight is obviously not the case. Sorry for any confusion I might have caused.

If I'm not mistaken (again

), it could be said that this proceedure holds true for practically any "un-masonic like conduct" correct?

No personal experience of negative consequences here... and I don't regard the occasional scoffs of the 'uninitiated' as negative.

But there is another reality for men who join any service organisation, or who take the "upward and outward" path to be pillars of the community, which is that if you engage in too many nights out with the boys doing anything (inter-chapter visits, committee meetings, fundraisers, whatever) then you miss the quality time of seeing your children grow up. I have discussed that with several elderly brethren who went through just this very experience and regret it.

Morals & Dogma is Looongg man. I think I'm going to celebrate when I finish reading it. Not sure I'll ever understand it all but I'm giving it my best shot. Someone said the other day that its a compilation of works from different writers down through the ages. I think I recognised a paragraph or two out of Eliphas Levis' Dogma Et Rituel. That and I can't believe they have orcrastrated a 5th grade dance in schools now. What's this world coming to?

TgSOE you should also check out Manly Palmer Halls: "Secret Teaching of All Ages"

You can find it here: www.sacred-texts.com...

Man there sure are a LOT of Amazing Nuggets & Gems in there!!!

Originally posted by Seraphim_Serpente
TgSOE you should also check out Manly Palmer Halls: "Secret Teaching of All Ages"

You can find it here: www.sacred-texts.com...

Man there sure are a LOT of Amazing Nuggets & Gems in there!!!

Hey its on the web now , thanks, thats another book thats hard to just sit down and read the whole thing strait through. I actually have that one at home. My favorite part thus far is the Black Magic section. I read the other day that Manly P. Hall was an Illuminati Theta Programmer, and at least a Grand Master within the Illuminati who sat on the Grand Druid Council.

Quote: "My favorite part thus far is the Black Magic section. I read the other day that Manly P. Hall was an Illuminati Theta Programmer and at least a Grand Master within the Illuminati who sat on the Grand Druid Council."

Please don't put Ideas into the Heads/Imaginations of all the Lunatics out there! Were did you read that? I never came across that! Are you making things up TgSOE?

Originally posted by Seraphim_Serpente
Quote: "My favorite part thus far is the Black Magic section. I read the other day that Manly P. Hall was an Illuminati Theta Programmer and at least a Grand Master within the Illuminati who sat on the Grand Druid Council."

Please don't put Ideas into the Heads/Imaginations of all the Lunatics out there! Were did you read that? I never came across that! Are you making things up TgSOE?

No I'm not making it up someone probably is if its like everything else. I can show you let me find it.............ah here it is.

www.apfn.org... Just scroll down a little ways and its beside a yelllow dot.


I don't believe there is any dangerous power in Black Magic, if there was wouldn't the Government outlaw it? I believe there is power in networking, deception and secrecy.


The other thing about the fith grade dance was a joke actually if I may have done so without offending anyone. Someone said the other day things trickle down from the Illuminati-Grandmaster -worshipful master- school board. The fith grade dance was real and possibly a good idea to help students prepare for the bigger night of the Prom. That way they can put a lot more into it and hopefully make it a more memorable experience and not stand there like bumps on a log.


I really believe the Masons are working hard to make the world a better place myself. If there are pitfalls I havent seen any.

Why the need for secrecy amongst the Masons? I know it doesn't really belong in this thread but it also doesn't really seem to be an entire topic and it may perhaps be relevant to the original post ;-)

Oh TgSoe I am Surprised at you! www.apfn.org... = Paranoid Right-Wing Conservative so-called Christian Fundamentalist Propaganda! There is Nothing Credible there! You have been on the Web too long - go Outside & take a Breather! Sure People have developed various Techniques of Influencing each other over the Ages! Advertising "Buy my Product" & stuff. There is a diff between watching the "Wizard of Oz" & Really Seriously trying to BrainWash someone for Sinister Purposes! Did you know that some of these Techniques actually INCREASE the Subjects Tolerance to said efforts - actually enabling them to pick out Propaganda more easily! Mutation is funny in that way! Parlor Tricks only work on the Weak Minded! I guess that is what Life is all about - Learning from your Mistakes & Growing!

Quote: "Why the need for secrecy amongst the Masons?"

As for that - the answer lays in two words "Profane Vulgarians"! Secrecy is needed to conceal the Sacred from Corruption by the Vulgar! It is Christ that said do not cast Pearls before Swine! Just look at just about every post of "Mr. Necros" here on ATS to see what I mean by this!

Originally posted by Nairod
Why the need for secrecy amongst the Masons? I know it doesn't really belong in this thread but it also doesn't really seem to be an entire topic and it may perhaps be relevant to the original post ;-)

Freemasons aren't as secretive as conspiracy theorists and religious zealots would like to have you think. The only things we keep secret are our modes of recognition (handshakes, signs and passwords), for obvious reasons. And in some jurisdictions, masonic ritual is kept secret as well. That's about it.

Originally posted by sebatwerk
Freemasons aren't as secretive as conspiracy theorists and religious zealots would like to have you think. The only things we keep secret are our modes of recognition (handshakes, signs and passwords), for obvious reasons. And in some jurisdictions, masonic ritual is kept secret as well. That's about it.

Ive seen some websites that show handshakes, signs and passwords etc. are they fake or has a Mason leaked the info?

Link

[edit on 18-5-2005 by AllseeingEYE]

I would also like to say that im sure on several occasions I have shaken hands with people, and they have gripped my hand with a thumb on my knuckle (like in the illustrations on that website). Does this mean they are masons trying to identify me, or is it purely coincidental?

Originally posted by AllseeingEYE
I would also like to say that im sure on several occasions I have shaken hands with people, and they have gripped my hand with a thumb on my knuckle (like in the illustrations on that website). Does this mean they are masons trying to identify me, or is it purely coincidental?

Could be either. I've met such people myself ...some who've openly given one of the various (there are DOZENS of "grips" in Masonry) Some could be coincidental. I, for one, NEVER intentionally give a Masonic "grip" except in conferring a degree... I consider Masonic "grips" (handshakes) archaic and unnecessary so I personally don't pay much attention to them.

Perhaps the only pitfall of Masonry is that due to dwindling numbers and the vast majority of them being old men who are but a hair's length away from death's door, they have gone soft on membership standards.

Simply put, they are taking in anyone now.

There was a time when they only took in people of higher breeding. Those who were in an elevated social caste. The people I see now in my hometown, wearing jackets that reveal their lodge name and wearing the compass as a lapel pin...they barely have enough chromosomes to be considered a normal human being.

Though I respect them, and know quite a few, I don't think they should be letting the mouth-breathers in.

Though this could be due to my town being full of hillbillies to begin with. Not much of a gene pool here among the natives, if you catch my drift. Thank god I'm not from around here.

Originally posted by AllseeingEYE
Ive seen some websites that show handshakes, signs and passwords etc. are they fake or has a Mason leaked the info?

Fortunately, they are not showing everything there is to the grips. There's more actions involved than what is shown. You won't get far by simply shaking a brother's hand like that.