Alright, you've convinced me.

so, with all of the Masony debate that's going on here, there, and everywhere i regards to conpiracies, i've decided to go ahead and check out the local lodges, see if i can gain admittance and see what's going on inside them. s'pose that would help much if it's only the high degrees that make anything happen (which raises the question of a few individuals in a fairly well spread out and loosely managed organization and the conntrol therin), however it seems the only people who offer any sort of actual understanding of the more spiritual part of masonry, it's symbolism and meaning to the members and staff, then someone should make a impartial view of it to give a more balanced opinion.
Which I can't say I can give fully, much of Masonry ideals run in tandem with how i was taught to behave as a Christian, and much of what I see from anti-Masons runs along the general ideas I've seen from general dissenters, people who use scapegoats, and, generally but with exception, rarely back up their claims with proof.

The only problem I can see here for myself is my schedule. I'll make the effort, but I have a full day every day, but I'll do what I can to make time.
If Masons' want to contact me to verify my location, do so through u2U and i'll give some info. AntiMasons are also welcome to contact me, I'll provide what info I can.
I'll do my best, if I am able, to make a balanced observation, and limit myself to what I see and hear, and what I get from the members at the lodges.
Regardless, freeMasonry is certainly the most visible of the secret societies talked about in this forum, and therefore should be the easiest to investigate if anyone of it's dissenters took the chance.

Kewl. Looking forward to hearing about your impressions.

if your sole reason for joining the masons is to gain insight of whether or not theyre evil, then youre joining for the wrong reason

reply to post by brando56894


I'm not attemtping to gain insight as to wether or not Masons are evil or not as a group. i'm pretty sure they're not. At the moment, I just wan tto see if i can sit in and watch or soemthing, or jus tmeet with some local Masons.
basically, I want to learn what the ruckus is about, there are several epople on this forum who get away with saying whatever they want about masonry in general, and there are Masons, pretty much only masons who make rebuttals.
So, i'm going to go in as a moderatley impartial observer to see what i can learn. It's fairly simple really. I want to learn, so i'm going to learn.
I've sent out a email to the person at the lodge to see if there was some way I could particapte or something. i can fit the times into my schedule, even though it cuts back on my MA class on Tues, I can make it up later.

Nothing wrong with that. Before I became a Mason, I went to a fish fry and met some of the people in the lodge... even got a tour of the lodge room and basically all of my questions answered. You won't be able to "sit in" on a degree though, unless it's for you, or you are already initiated.

reply to post by JustMe74


Nuts, how about a general meeting? In the lodge, but not delaing with anything not realating to degrees? Ijust want to do what I do best, sit back and observe.

Hi RuneSpider

Unfortunately even a general meeting requires masons to demonstrate that they are masons, so you won't be able to attend the meeting.

Depending on the lodge you visit, most lodges will give you a tour of the lodge, and may invite you to the dinner afterwards. The dinner will give you a good idea of what masonry is about. Some lodges have a specific 'ladies night' where guests and families join in, and others, like my own, allow our guests and wives to attend every dinner, if they wish.

The dinner has a few toasts, normally the candidate will say a few words about his experience of his ceremony that evening, if applicable, and there's a lot of informal time as well where you can ask the brethren straightforward questions and will get straightforward answers.

Often, lodge business carries over to dinner-time, so you'll get a good idea of the what happens in the meetings - you just won't be able to attend the actual meeting.

I think you will be surprised at the welcome you receive, and at how helpful and forthcoming the brethren are.

Please do visit a lodge and let us know how it goes...

reply to post by Saurus


Alrighty, that'd work mighty fine. Thanks for letting me know, hopefully the l contacted will let me stop by.

Originally posted by JustMe74
Nothing wrong with that. Before I became a Mason, I went to a fish fry and met some of the people in the lodge... even got a tour of the lodge room and basically all of my questions answered. You won't be able to "sit in" on a degree though, unless it's for you, or you are already initiated.

exactly what i was about to say, the closest you can get to see what is actually going on is to go to a De Molay meeting (its a young mens masonic organization for guys ages 12-21), its kind of the same thing. De Molay stuff was supposed to be secretive but parents and other people got freaked out and wanted to know what was going on behind closed doors so pretty much all of the ritual is open to the public, or atleast to the parents. most De Molay meetings are held at the local masonic lodges.

Didn't the Masons attempt to take over the US government, and possibly succeeded? I'm new to all this though.

I might have misunderstood the thread but that's all I can really say.

From what I understand the Masons are evil according to some old Rev. that ran for president a LONG time ago.

Originally posted by rexophis
Didn't the Masons attempt to take over the US government, and possibly succeeded?

No, the Masons formed the US government. Washington, Franklin, Hancock, Revere, LaFayette, and many other of the fathers were all Masons.

From what I understand the Masons are evil according to some old Rev. that ran for president a LONG time ago.

Hey, according to the old Rev.'s, pretty much everybody's evil!

reply to post by Masonic Light


Well the Masons didn't exactly form the govt, although many were part of the whole. The formation was Rosicrucian and is fully compatible and supportive in every way with Freemasonry although separate in every way. The funding for the war was obtained by Franklin through the Humanidad Rosicrucian lodge in France. Franklin was Both a Freemason and Rosicrucian as well as belonging to other less mainstream lodges. FreeMasons were the architects and builders no doubt.

Remember now back then there was no TV, Radio, and print was few and far between. Almost all knowledge was transmitted through Church, Lodge, Grange and other Town Hall type of get togethers and these were also the sole source of social events and entertainment. Unless you wanted to be a hermit these associations were normal, with most having membership in several bodies and lodges.

Slight update, what with work and general life getting in the way, havn't really done much.
Kinda having trouble talking with the fellow at the local Lodge, I think Imust have worded my last e-mail badly, or pressed to hard or something, because I havn't heard a reply from him.
I'm much more of a physical person,so I was hoping for a actual meeting instead of correspondance.
I may just end up going to thelodge around their meeting time, and trying to talk to someone, but I don't think that would be a good idea, May give the wrong impression.
I'm not very good at researching, but I'm pretty good about keeping my eyes open and listening. Like i said before, the main reason I'm doing this is because I think someone here should,though burning curiosity helps.

Originally posted by RuneSpider
I may just end up going to thelodge around their meeting time, and trying to talk to someone, but I don't think that would be a good idea, May give the wrong impression.

That actually gives the right impression. It shows your desire and commitment which are some of the traits that will make you a better Mason as well a better person.

Yeah, I may be joining too myself soon here. I'll also post my impressions!

reply to post by AugustusMasonicus


What would be the best time, in your opinion, before, or after the meeting?

I'm afraid of making of myself a nuisance, I can't join for another two years or so, and I don't want to start off on the wrong foot, wich I may have done already.

reply to post by RuneSpider


Probably before the meeting. Most Masonic meetings have dinners or snacks/social hour before the actual lodge meeting starts (at least in my area). The pre-meeting social is almost always open to guests and potential interested candidates. After meetings, there really isn't much to see or do plus most brothers take off to head home.

Originally posted by RuneSpider
What would be the best time, in your opinion, before, or after the meeting?

Definitely before. At my lodge in Texas we ALWAYS had dinner before stated meetings, all guests welcome. That way you'll be able to visit a bit, get a tour of the Lodge, etc. and probably get a bite to eat too.

I'm afraid of making of myself a nuisance, I can't join for another two years or so, and I don't want to start off on the wrong foot, wich I may have done already.

I wouldn't worry about making yourself a nuisance. A lot of times lodges are slow about getting back to people. If you know the night and the approximate time they meet, just show up and be let the first person who shakes your hand know why you're there and what you're interested in.

ll lodges differ, but I'm sure you'll be surprised by the welcome; especially in a smaller town. I made an announced visit to a lodge in a metropolitan area before I joined and I had somewhat of a bad experience. There were a whole ton of Brothers there but there was so much ogoing on and everyone was so wrapped up in what they were doing that I was not made to feel very welcome at all. I stuck it out and got a plate; it wasn't until I sat down at the table and started talking to the guy next to me (who assumed I was a Mason) that I started to feel more at ease. I was really quite nervous, actually. Anyway, the guy I talked to was a super guy, but for whatever reason, that initial feeling of not being welcomed ultimately led me to join a different, smaller, lodge.

Wow, didnt mean to ramble but it just goes to show that there's no "one" experience that is Masonry. You can't visit one lodge one time and get it, you know?

Lodges vary like people vary. Their members dictate their "personalities" some are more active than others; some are barely lodges. It just depends on the area and the members of the lodge.

I hope you will let us know how your visit goes, and metatronscube, you as well.