Any ATS members on the Square????

Originally posted by SANTARII

Originally posted by Red pill
The teachings of Freemasonry are not secret.

Originally posted by clevengercm
I cant answer "all" questions...actually most of our rituals you can find on the internet. I will answer questions to the best of my ability without violating any of my obligations..

These are 2 contradictory statements, if your teachings are not secret then why is clevengercm unable to answer all questions, and what are these obligations that you cannot violate?

Actually, they aren't contradictory. While clevengercm's sticking to his oath as a Mason (his word is his bond), Red Pill's pointing out the fact that there have been those who've participated in Freemasonry over the last 3 centuries for whom that oath is less than sacrosanct and have made the information available to non-Masons.

Originally posted by SANTARII
I am not old enough to join the freemasons yet, i would like to know what the freemasons do, what their innitiation ceremony is and whether i would have to keep secrets, also why should I join when I am old enough?

Well, when you turn 21, contact someone with a Lodge near to you and ask them. As to what Masons do, if you're looking for adventure and excitement, I'd suggest you look elsewhere. It really is about "making good men better" no matter what certain naysayers would have you believe to the contrary. Yes, you are expected to keep secrets and no, they in and of themselves are not Earth-shaking. It's more about character-building than anything else. As to why should you join? Well, that's a question only you can answer for yourself. It may come to pass that you decide Masonry's not for you. No sweat. It really isn't about sliding into becoming part of the NWO 'elite' as some know-nothings would have you believe. It's about improving yourself and improving your community. End of story

HTH
Fitz

21 is not the standard, in the Lodge I attend 18 is accepted, but if you want to be bl to go out and drink with the guys I guess 21 helps. A designated river is always good, so I would support any one who is 18 who is interested.

Also, I would like to point out the only reason it costs money for dues, is because it takes money to pay bills for the structure in which the lodge is held. Again is also costs money for the dinners, plus most of any money goes right back into the community for charity.

Last year my Lodge took a loss, and for no other reason than being generous in the charities we supported.

reply to post by ADVISOR


Aigh, 21 is not the standard.. in Ohio the minimum age is 19 .. i think they went from 21 to 19 2 years ago, not entirely sure. Anyways, I joined when I was 20.

Its 18 in Pennsylvania.

Originally posted by ADVISOR
but if you want to be bl to go out and drink with the guys I guess 21 helps. A designated river is always good, so I would support any one who is 18 who is interested.

And if you don't have a designated driver, a designated river's where you'll likely end up.
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Sorry, couldn't resist. And we now return you to your regularly-scheduled thread

reply to post by Fitzgibbon


Thanks, that's answered alot of questions.

Originally posted by ADVISOR
Also, I would like to point out the only reason it costs money for dues, is because it takes money to pay bills for the structure in which the lodge is held. Again is also costs money for the dinners, plus most of any money goes right back into the community for charity.

Unfortunately, as I understand it, the brethren of Toronto's former Masonic Temple on Yonge Street weren't setting enough aside over the years to deal with major structural issues as they arose and got side-swiped a while back and lost the building

pictured here

Now, it's used for MTV Canada production facilities.

What a shame to lose such a beautiful building,equally a shame to lose a building where so many men learned moral teaching that bettered them to MTV which does anything but impart morals or ethics.

Why didn't the Grand Lodge cough up the funds, they could of asked all the state lodges to do a fund raiser to preserve the building.

Originally posted by ADVISOR
Why didn't the Grand Lodge cough up the funds, they could of asked all the state lodges to do a fund raiser to preserve the building.

Couldn't say, Ad. T'was before my Masonic time. Of course, (delving into a bit of speculation on my part) the thing you also have to bear in mind is that Toronto's looked upon with suspicion by pretty much everywhere else in the Province let alone the country. Sort of like pre-9/11 NYC. I'd venture that bailing-out the Lodges involved wouldn't have scored the sitting Grand Officers much on the Masonic political front. Shame though. I'd have liked to tour through the Lodge Rooms before things went dark.

Some interesting reading here

And niggling point here: we gots Provinces, not States.

Ok, thank you for the correction. By the way, speaking of Canada, we had a Canadian for a worshipful master, was great, I was his tiler. A position I managed well. He left earler this year to go back home in Canada.

I havn't had the opportunity to raise through the degrees, but did leave off as a member of the Maltese Cross before arriving in Iraq. My friend back home is safe guarding my Cross, and coin/sheckle form pervious degree.

I miss the meetings and can't wait to visit when back home on leave. I have A FUNNY STORY, check this out. We can pay for a life time membership, which I did. A few month later, the money still had not gone through tothe Grand Lodge of Michigan, so they ended up refunding my money back. It sort of sucked because I had all the regular dues payed off.

How ever, in the long run, I don't mind, as I plan on staying with the lodge for a long time. And my friends are all officers currently, they have rose much more in their personal degees. They are very good people, and they are my brother in both sences of the word. But, I am the only one who has actually, traveled to the East, lol.

[edit on 4-11-2007 by ADVISOR]

reply to post by ADVISOR


Ba dump da tshhhhhh!

Your rimshot, sir.

Originally posted by zysin5
The idea I have had about Masons is this.

A bunch of guys who need a place to go to get away from the women folk for a few hours out of the day! Its why women are not allowed.
So you have groups of guys hidding out in basements drinking and talking to their fellow man. Its always been about frat lifestyle, and getting out of the house, and away from the kids, and most of all that naggin wife of yours..

Thats my understanding...

I hope I dont offend anyone here...If this was true I would have petitioned the Elks or the Moose and had a place to sit around and drink all day and all night since thats all I ever see from my locals. To me thats a better choice to escape the "nagging" then a couple of hours once a month.

Originally posted by skillzdatchillz
haha you're hilarious

Learn to reference or quote otherwise you read like you have turrets syndrome or something!

Originally posted by Pictnation
Freemasonry went underground in Europe and a new identification symbol was born. This symbol is still worn today by many Brethern who refuse to let the memory of thier fallen Brothers die away. Afterall those Masons who were murdered during those times, lost thier lives for they believed in one thing.......Being Free.

I did some searching and could not find this symbol you speak of could anyone help?

Why aren't women allowed to join?

Originally posted by Brock Gel
Why aren't women allowed to join?

Because Masonry is a fraternity. In like manner, sororities do not allow men to join.

Originally posted by HizToyz

Originally posted by Pictnation
Freemasonry went underground in Europe and a new identification symbol was born. This symbol is still worn today by many Brethern who refuse to let the memory of thier fallen Brothers die away. Afterall those Masons who were murdered during those times, lost thier lives for they believed in one thing.......Being Free.

I did some searching and could not find this symbol you speak of could anyone help?

I think he's talking about the forget-me-not. Some Masons in Europe during WWII wore a blue forget-me-not in lieu of a Square and Compass, because Hitler had outlawed Masonry.

bessel.org...

Originally posted by Masonic Light

Originally posted by Brock Gel
Why aren't women allowed to join?

Because Masonry is a fraternity. In like manner, sororities do not allow men to join.

Why is Masonry a fraternity?

Originally posted by Brock Gel
Why is Masonry a fraternity?

Because it has been that way for 290 years?

There are alot of reasons, none of them misogynistic.

Masonry is desinged for men. I don't know how much plainer I can be.