A relation of mine is a Mason.

My Grandfathers brother is a mason. I have known this for many years but have not known alot about Freemasonry. I have dipped in and out of this site for about a year now but have only looked at the Secret Societies section recently and it has opened my eyes to what the Masons are supposed to be. I still do not know alot about Freemasonry and was just wondering if anyone could tell me if i should think any differently of my relation or take caution with him. However, he does seem a nice bloke and i have spoke to him on many occasions and after reading some of these posts on masonry, i can not see him having any association with alot of the theories linked with masonry. Should i ask him about masonry? This is my first thread on this site and im sorry if i have done anything wrong or this isnt worth posting. Thank you for reading and any information or advice would be much appreciated.

My great uncle is a Mason. His lodge (or whatever you call it) held a Christmas party and all relatives were invited. It was a nice day.
I didn't see much evidence of grand conspiracies.

reply to post by Shmoo006


The fact that he's a Mason tells me (and other Masons) a lot. Certainly, ask him about Freemasonry. Ask him what the Freemasons are, why he's one, if it's something you should pursue.

I think you'll be quite surprised.

Freemasonry might NOT be the right thing for you, but then again it just might. You'll never know until you ask, because otherwise, he'll likely never mention it. (We tend to share with those who appear interested and we tend not to try and force it upon those who are not...this despite what some individuals might say)

Best Regards,

Well going on what my Grandads bro is like, i cant imagine him being involved in anything like that. We talk about football (or soccer if your US) quite alot and he just seems your typical bloke.

reply to post by senrak


Thanks for that. He is retired now but he used to be a police officer, did that have anyhting to do with him joining?

reply to post by Shmoo006


Yeah, they are regular folks. I associate with a couple at work, one's just a working stiff like the rest of us and he's damn reliable, more than most. The other is a Dep. Superintendent. You'd figure with 600 employees he'd be a bit of a dick but he's actually a damn good boss. Quite approachable.

My bet is he puts his trousers on one leg at a time like the rest of us

reply to post by RWPBR


Cheers Mate, Very helpful

reply to post by Shmoo006

i can not see him having any association with alot of the theories linked with masonry. Should i ask him about masonry?

There are no conspiracies, those are uneducated theories of pure hate and ignorance. You should never, ever, think differently in a negative aspect that your kin is a Mason. If anything, it should highlight his priorities in life, and you should take comfort that he was most likely a very good man who believed in the Masonic teachings.

The other thing is you should most definently ask him about Masonry. The older folk love to talk about Masonry and will no doubt talk your ear off for hours on the subject. You will probably learn more from him in a conversation then you could looking on the internet.

quite alot and he just seems your typical bloke.

Masonry is just a social organization, a fraternity.. we are all normal in the sense of the word, and as humans odd and not-so-typical as if "normal" was a set guideline I would hazard to say we would all be "weird".

He is retired now but he used to be a police officer, did that have anything to do with him joining?

It could have, if some other officers where Masons and they where talking and he was intrigued. You will never know of course unless YOU ask HIM.

reply to post by Rockpuck


Cheers Mate, most likely wont see him till next christmas but i will be sure to have a word.

Originally posted by Shmoo006
reply to post by Rockpuck

 

Cheers Mate, most likely wont see him till next christmas but i will be sure to have a word.

Why wait that long? Carpe Diem, seize the day, strike while the iron's hot, no time like the present, nod's as good as a wink to a blind man......uh.....wait a sec.

Seriously though, give him a ring (if it's not out of character) and ask away. Certainly, any of the Masons here can answer questions about Masonry but obviously you'd need to talk with him if you're wondering why he personally became a Mason.

reply to post by Shmoo006


I see that you live in the UK...you may want to surf around the Masonic Grand Lodge of England's website, which is chock full of really great information on Freemasonry over there across the pond. You can view the site here.

I suggest you avoid becomeing a mason simply because you are questioning it. Conspiricy or not, from wht i have learned from various sources and because I am Catholic and a person can not be a mason and a Catholic.

reply to post by soldier612


He didn't say he was a Catholic. He's in the UK so he's probably an Anglican (as am I, although I'm an American).

There is no animosity between Freemasonry and the Church of England, and the Most Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, was a very active and notable Mason.


[edit on 8-1-2008 by Masonic Light]

Originally posted by soldier612
I suggest you avoid becomeing a mason simply because you are questioning it. Conspiricy or not, from wht i have learned from various sources and because I am Catholic and a person can not be a mason and a Catholic.

There are plenty of Catholic Masons, but the Catholic Church frowns on it. See here:
www.vatican.va...

The Church has a similar fraternity, the Knights of Columbus. You can learn more about them here:
www.kofc.org...

Originally posted by JustMe74
There are plenty of Catholic Masons, but the Catholic Church frowns on it.

Which makes this an interesting nonsequitur.

Originally posted by Fitzgibbon

Originally posted by JustMe74
There are plenty of Catholic Masons, but the Catholic Church frowns on it.

Which makes this an interesting nonsequitur.

That's extremely amusing, but maybe they didn't know?

I don't get what the Church has against Masonry. It's like the US stance on Cuba. Get over it. It's history.

Originally posted by JustMe74


That's extremely amusing, but maybe they didn't know?

I dunno...there's a popular conspiracy theory that says the Catholic Church murdered Mozart because they were unhappy with his last opera, "The Magic Flute". In the the Magic Flute, the Catholic Church is portrayed as an evil witch called the Queen of the Night, while Freemasonry as championed as the defender of personal liberty and religious freedom.

Mozart made them look bad.

[edit on 8-1-2008 by Masonic Light]

Originally posted by JustMe74

Originally posted by Fitzgibbon

Originally posted by JustMe74
There are plenty of Catholic Masons, but the Catholic Church frowns on it.

Which makes this an interesting nonsequitur.

That's extremely amusing, but maybe they didn't know?

Could be. Not like you can Google it.

I was there in June, spotted that in the Vatican gift shop and thought to myself (channeling Will Smith from "Independence Day") I gotta get me one of these!