Royal Order of Jesters testify about Illegal Drugs, Child Prostitution

At least i was not the only one reporting and connecting some of these cases.

Still, i dont see a clear picture where "all jesters" would be involved.
There could be a start of a pattern, but they could be unconnected incidents to, as far as i can see.

I am no expert, if that wasnt clear allready

Originally posted by onthelevel

First, the blogger, Sandy Frost, is virulently anti-Masonic, anti-Shrine and anti-Jester. I have followed her "reporting" for about a year. While many of the facts she reports may be true, her slant on them is not always "on the level." Further she relies a lot on anonymous single sources. Good journalistic techniques and practices call for at least two documented sources for every anonymous source. If you watch "The Wire" on HBO, part of their story line centers around this very principle.

Sandy Frost is a "citizen-reporter." Shriner whistleblower Vernon Hill uncovered evidence of financial misdealings within his organization, and brought it to the attention of the group's officers. Told to "be quiet!" he chose to take his evidence to someone who would investigate further and publicize the issues. He contacted Sandy Frost, who at that time, as I understand, was not particularly familiar with Freemasonry or its appendant bodies.

I agree -- she does pepper her articles with more emotion than most professional journalists, but I disagree with her being labeled as being "virulently anti-Masonic." It's just that she's become disillusioned and disgusted by what she has uncovered in her research of public Shriner financial documents and other materials.

Ms. Frost won a "real" journalism award last year for her investigation of the Shriners, earning Honorable Mention, beating out "real" reporters from a Seattle paper and from MSNBC.com.


Widow's Son



[edit on 17-3-2008 by intrepid]

Is there some rule here I'm unaware of? Why is the moderator removing the links I'm providing to the stories I'm discussing?

Widow's Son

reply to post by SonOfTheWidow


Look up in your tool bar. There is a box that's red that says "u2u", that a private message.

The Newsvine Team is happy to recognize Sandy Frost's recent achievements as a citizen journalist by awarding her the Random Act of Vineness. Sandy's unwavering investigation of the Shriners recently earned her an honorable mention by the Society of Professional Journalists at their annual Excellence in Journalism awards banquet, held in Bellevue, WA.

Being honored alongside major media publications such as The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sandy Frost sets an example for other Newsviners and citizen journalists around the world - that any person, with determination and a passion for investigation, can make a difference in the world of journalism.

blog.newsvine.com...

I think she must be a respectable journalist if she won those awards.
So her tactics mentioned cant be that far from other journalists in the field.
I have seen some video bits of "respected" fox news readers on several topics that seem to go much further than Sandy Frost.

reply to post by SonOfTheWidow



About the Police Captain, Judge and Aide being arrested for the Mann act....

Aside from the law and regulations that were ignored... as a woman, I find it really "icky" that nine men who know each other, would all have sex with the same woman right after one of the other guys had finished.

I would need a gallon of bleach to feel clean again...

Also, after reading your blog... I must say I have new respect for you as a person and a Mason, and for Masonry in general. If more Masons had your internal compass and standards... I would not be as concerned as I am about Masonry.

reply to post by jaamaan


Not at all, that is just your wanting to think she is reliable due to winning an award. When you look into the award, the honorable mention is much like getting voted "most likely to succeed" in high school. Its nice to be mentioned, but it isn't prestigious. Also, did it ever occur to you that certain groups of journalists have an agenda? Clearly, reporting good things about masonry isn't news. Reporting bad things about masons is good for ratings.

I have read the burning taper for...it seems like a year. I think it represents excellent blogging. I do not always agree with it, and I think sometimes Window's Son is intentionally provocative, but it overall is one of the best blogs by a mason I've read.

It should however be noted that Window's son is quite left-wing on things like religion. I do not think those topics have a place in a masonic blog. I, however, consider the burning taper to be more of a blog by a mason than a masonic blog.


[edit on 17-3-2008 by pacificwind]

Originally posted by pacificwind

Not at all, that is just your wanting to think she is reliable due to winning an award. When you look into the award, the honorable mention is much like getting voted "most likely to succeed" in high school. Its nice to be mentioned, but it isn't prestigious. Also, did it ever occur to you that certain groups of journalists have an agenda? Clearly, reporting good things about masonry isn't news. Reporting bad things about masons is good for ratings.

Well for one, only i know what goes on in my head.

And the award for her work means more to me than what you are writing here.

Did it occur to you that i mentioned "fox news reporters" , they seem to have an agenda to, like a lot of people.

Originally posted by pacificwind
reply to post by jaamaan

 

Not at all, that is just your wanting to think she is reliable due to winning an award. When you look into the award, the honorable mention is much like getting voted "most likely to succeed" in high school. Its nice to be mentioned, but it isn't prestigious. Also, did it ever occur to you that certain groups of journalists have an agenda? Clearly, reporting good things about masonry isn't news. Reporting bad things about masons is good for ratings.

I have read the burning taper for...it seems like a year. I think it represents excellent blogging. I do not always agree with it, and I think sometimes Window's Son is intentionally provocative, but it overall is one of the best blogs by a mason I've read.

It should however be noted that Window's son is quite left-wing on things like religion. I do not think those topics have a place in a masonic blog. I, however, consider the burning taper to be more of a blog by a mason than a masonic blog.


[edit on 17-3-2008 by pacificwind]

I respected Sandy's writings before she won the award, not vice versa. I've been republishing and/or linking to her Shriner articles for a couple of years.

Of course journalists have agendas, just as both you and I do. Everyone has an agenda; everyone colors their reality through their own filters. Emotions and opinions are what enhances our humanity.

Thanks for your kind words about The Taper; you are too kind. And yes -- hell, yes -- it is often intentionally provocative. No one wants to read about Masonic barbecues or the latest blog by some new brother going through the degrees. You can only get so much "gee whiz!" out of that kind of material.

Sometimes I'm low-key, but often I follow the advice of Masonic Brother Winston Churchill, who said, "If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time -- a tremendous whack."

I'm hardly left-wing on religion. I'm not even on the chart. Religion, according to Prof. Joseph Campbell, "...is a defense against religious experience." I find all organized religion to be either a mockery of or a pale reflection of what a spiritual life should be, and was intended by Our Maker to be.

And yes, it is a blog by a Mason, not a Masonic blog. It even says so atop each page.


--W.S.

[edit on 17-3-2008 by SonOfTheWidow]

[edit on 17-3-2008 by SonOfTheWidow]

SonOfTheWidow it is refreshing to see some one, who says he is a mason himself, putting up a blog like this.
I can respect the fact that you dare to put up controversial information like this on your blog.

I came across it allready when i tried to cross reference Sandy's story.
Thanks for showing it again.

reply to post by SonOfTheWidow


As a non-Shriner I don't have a particular dog in the game about the Shriner "issue," although they are forever linked to masonry because you must be a master mason to join (although they were considering a change to that, if I remember correctly).

I find that in general, reporters will relish the opportunity to report bad things about masonry because this gets ratings. Unfortunately, too many in our society still believe in National Treasure or some sort of religious propaganda on masonry. This means that many people will quite literally eat it up.

The financial problems of some shrine temples should and to my understanding are being dealt with. However, this particular article is simply trying to make a shriner connection because the author has an obvious anti-shrine agenda, in my opinion.

I find all organized religion to be either a mockery of or a pale reflection of what a spiritual life should be, and was intended by Our Maker to be.

Yes, my brother, and that would put you so far left on the religion spectrum that I guess you do fall off I do not agree with you, but you are entitled to your opinion. However as I said, your blog is excellent and I highly recommend it to all the brethren I know. It is praise well deserved for such good writing and interesting topics.

But you will be happy to know that some members here have found out that all masons apparently have the same organized religion - we worship satan and control the world. Let's raise another glass to world domination. I strongly suggest you read some of the old huge threads on here, I have found the comedy value to be well worth it.

[edit on 17-3-2008 by pacificwind]

Originally posted by pacificwind
The financial problems of some shrine temples should and to my understanding are being dealt with. However, this particular article is simply trying to make a shriner connection because the author has an obvious anti-shrine agenda, in my opinion.

I am not sure about my agenda, but you seem quite sure of it.
It looks rather clear to me what is on yours.

Killing the messenger is an old one to, thats why i like to compliment the manson with the blog

Edit.

Nope. I just can't do it.

[edit on 18-3-2008 by senrak]

Here is some more news on the jesters front.

Retired Lockport captain pleads guilty in Jesters prostitution case.

A retired Lockport police captain pleaded guilty today in connection with a federal probe into prostitution activities involving a nationwide fraternal group known as the Royal Order of Jesters.

www.buffalonews.com...

Not very good PR for the jesters i guess, and it could more than just one bad apple, i mean, the man was a captain.

And here some more interesting stories.

This subscription list includes not only those under FBI investigation but also ten out of the 19 Jesters called to testify in a federal lawsuit about their first hand knowledge of illegal drugs and minor prostitution that allegedly took place during a Royal Order of Jesters fishing trip to Brazil.

sandyfrost.newsvine.com... titution

reply to post by yankeerose

well i am a master mason , also a 32nd degree scottish rite , york rite mason and a shriner and i am NON of the above mentioned things that you seem to assert that we ALL are......

Here is an other update on the jesters case about: Illegal Drugs and Child Prostitution.

Two fishing guides, who previously worked for the plaintiff, were deposed by the Brazilian federal police to describe what they witnessed as part of this same investigation into the international crime of “child sex tourism.” These guides, both brothers, recently spent three days in Miami with attorneys from both sides, interpreters, a videographer and both parties as they testified about what they witnessed as well as identified those in pictures of “Masons” allegedly having sex with teen prostitutes, some underage.


Having said that, this is not the only prostitution scandal involving the Royal Order of Jesters. The Buffalo News is continuing to report how three Jesters were caught by the FBI in an illegal-alien prostitution sting, including a retired New York supreme court judge, his law clerk and a retired police captain who pleaded guilty to one felony count of taking prostitutes across state lines to Jesters’ parties.
sandyfrost.newsvine.com...

reply to post by jaamaan


If there were ever a more appropriate time to use the phrase "beating a dead horse," I don't know when it would be.

Originally posted by scientist
reply to post by yankeerose

 

aw, why the mason bashing?

that book you quoted is not an official mason text, it's just the opinion of the author. Since you want to quote a random freemason, and make it seem like his statement applies to all freemasons, do you mind if I pick any non-freemason, and apply his/her random statement to YOU?

have to agree here - the fact is, people who have similar interests whether criminal or harmless will always find each other no matter what "group" they belong to...and groups that hold themselves up to a higher moral principle in public will always take an ass kicking when one or some of their members get caught in criminal behavior....

This subject seems to be downplayed so much that to me this could look like masons are prepared to defend one and other at any cause.

Is this the base of why so many people see a conspiracy here?

We are talking about human trafficing and prostitution of minors.

Wouldnt masons like to get to the bottom of this to ?