Ask a Mason

originally posted by: kumiho
a reply to: TerryDon79

Like i said, Freemasonry is not freemasonry anymore, it died out with the civil war, they should rebrand themselves The Albertian Pikeans

So you've only read about freemasonry I take it? Only saying that by the looks of your "information" in your posts. And I'm also going to say you're not a mason by your lack of information too.

You do know this is ask a mason, right?

a reply to: TerryDon79

Oh sry, im not a mason, but im trying to say, there is no secrecy to masonry, but i hate to see a group of grown men acting like children with secrets, which really isnt a secret anymore. In those days you would be burned for this, now its just mythologies and fantasies about ancient past teaching that nothing really is more than geometry

originally posted by: kumiho
a reply to: TerryDon79

Oh sry, im not a mason

Pretty much sums it all up.

As for the rest.

Who says it's a secret society? No one I've ever met. Not even Masons themselves. It's a society WITH secrets.

Those secrets are....

Well, you'd have to join to find out.

originally posted by: kumiho
a reply to: network dude

Did i become a freemason now?

Have you applied to a lodge? were you accepted? did you get initiated an entered apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, then raised to the sublime degree of master mason in a legally constituted master masons lodge?

It's small minds like what you portray that just don't get it. Those words are just words. We use some of them in our meetings, and our degrees. But unless you are in the lodge, and actively doing the things it takes to become a mason, then no, you aren't one.

It's not overly hard, it's not secret, and it's something that any man, with a clean background, and good attitude with a belief in a higher power can achieve. You have to want it, you have to come to masonry ans ask, and you have to put in the time to learn what you need to learn.

What we are today, is what masonry is. Sure it may have been something vastly different 300 years ago. I don't know, I wasn't there. All I do know is what we are today. What I am today. And what I want to be tomorrow.

If you feel better thinking you are above all of us, then great. I wish you the best. But unless you are a mason, and have an understanding of what we do, and why, your words are useless. Your opinion even more so.

a reply to: network dude

drinking beer and talking about how your week was, just admit that you are Pikeans.. They only thing connecting you to masonry is the name.. If im above, all men are equal, what defines you as a person are your actions not your words..
For you finding a community of equals, the way you think, feel and act is what is important to you, a brotherhood of like minded people who wants the world to be a better place.. A philosophical answer to simple things that defines a universal geometric.. A human body as a temple, or as the east calls it Buddhism.. Believing in a transcending state from a primate to God, but yet you feast when every chance is given.. Act of obligation and not of free will because you find a place you could call a second home.. Live in a white mans illusion made by a gypsy fairytale,..

originally posted by: kumiho
a reply to: network dude

drinking beer and talking about how your week was, just admit that you are Pikeans.. They only thing connecting you to masonry is the name.. If im above, all men are equal, what defines you as a person are your actions not your words..
For you finding a community of equals, the way you think, feel and act is what is important to you, a brotherhood of like minded people who wants the world to be a better place.. A philosophical answer to simple things that defines a universal geometric.. A human body as a temple, or as the east calls it Buddhism.. Believing in a transcending state from a primate to God, but yet you feast when every chance is given.. Act of obligation and not of free will because you find a place you could call a second home.. Live in a white mans illusion made by a gypsy fairytale,..

Sorry, but I failed to see a question related to "Ask a Mason" anywhere in that post. Did I miss it somewhere between your rambling?

a reply to: kumiho
Primarily on York Rite, its history, symbolism and so forth. I've also delved into rosicrucianism, hermeticism, and other comparative religious articles.

a reply to: kumiho
It's a part of the process of initiation into Freemasonry.

a reply to: kumiho
That's not the opening ritual of my jurisdiction.

I don't see the point in posting all of these "snippets" of yours.

a reply to: kumiho
Simply reading about the ritual doesn't make one a Mason or an expert on Freemasonry.

a reply to: kumiho
Except Albert Pike is really only relevant to the degrees and rituals of the Scottish Rite, and even then only in the Southern Jurisdiction of the US. There's more to Freemasonry than just the Scottish Rite and Albert Pike.

It's clear you have no understanding of the history of Freemasonry. You have tunnel vision, that much is clear.

a reply to: kumiho
The existence of Freemasonry is not predicated on your opinion of secrecy within Freemasonry. You're presuming your opinion is reality.

How are we acting like children? Because we have initiatic rituals? Because we meet privately?

You clearly don't understand the history anti-Masonry and the oppression of Freemasons.

a reply to: kumiho
Yeah, that's not what I do in Freemasonry. We're not PIkeans, in fact the man who had the most influence on our rituals I would say was Thomas Smtih-Webb. There's much more than just name connecting Freemasonry today to prior to the American Civil War. This is also pretty ignorant as you're assuming that Freemasonry worldwide was changed by an event in the US.

originally posted by: KSigMason
originally posted by: vethumanbeing

someone: Non Masons seem to know much more about Masons than Masons

Ksigmason: That's quite the false statement.
I am fairly certain that is not my statement but if attributed to is fair (conclusion).

This thread was titled "Ask a Mason" *NOT* "Ask a Mason ONLY if one is a Mason".

This thread exists so non-Masons can ask Masons questions. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.

I suppose I don't qualify; however under what category am I disqualified as many of my forefathers were attached as 33rd degree members of this tradition.

a reply to: vethumanbeing
Having relatives who were 33° doesn't make you qualified.

originally posted by: kumiho
a reply to: TerryDon79

Oh sry, im not a mason, but im trying to say, there is no secrecy to masonry, but i hate to see a group of grown men acting like children with secrets, which really isnt a secret anymore. In those days you would be burned for this, now its just mythologies and fantasies about ancient past teaching that nothing really is more than geometry.

YES. The big "G"; God and Geometry; within the compass and square. A mason is someone that builds with brick and mortar (builders using mathematics). Master major builders even in Roman Times.

originally posted by: vethumanbeing
I suppose I don't qualify; however under what category am I disqualified as many of my forefathers were attached as 33rd degree members of this tradition.

My one cousin just passed the bar and the other the MCAT. I must be a doctor-lawyer using your logic.

originally posted by: KSigMason
a reply to: vethumanbeing
Having relatives who were 33? doesn't make you qualified.

I am a 'Jobs Daughter'; since when is it reasonable to DISS ones own non profit community philanthropist affiliate? Attack the Shriner's (next agenda).

originally posted by: vethumanbeing

originally posted by: KSigMason
a reply to: vethumanbeing
Having relatives who were 33° doesn't make you qualified.

I am a Jobs Daughter; do you know what that is?

It means you can't be a Mason as you're the wrong sex.

Funnily enough it also means that you'll never know the full workings of freemasonry too. Even if you think you do, you never will.

a reply to: TerryDon79
Neither will they; as have no clue to the original Egyptian/Essene origins of this order resulting in the Templars and Freemasonry.

originally posted by: vethumanbeing
a reply to: TerryDon79
Neither will they; as have no clue to the original Egyptian origins of this order.

And I suppose as a supreme being of non-masons you have the answer that no mason could have about being a mason?

Do you not see the irony?

originally posted by: TerryDon79
originally posted by: vethumanbeing
a reply to: TerryDon79

vhb: Neither will they; as have no clue to the original Egyptian origins of this order.

TerryDon79: And I suppose as a supreme being of non-masons you have the answer that no mason could have about being a mason? Do you not see the irony?

I am of the Masonic tradition (have you not been paying attention to the thread); I am denied is all: the irony is reversed by/of the Masons reporting reasons for my dismissal *as unjust and unworthy to contribute* to a thread that simply states arbitrarily TO ALL the QUESTION: "Ask a Mason".

originally posted by: vethumanbeing
originally posted by: TerryDon79
originally posted by: vethumanbeing
a reply to: TerryDon79

vhb: Neither will they; as have no clue to the original Egyptian origins of this order.

TerryDon79: And I suppose as a supreme being of non-masons you have the answer that no mason could have about being a mason? Do you not see the irony?

I am of the Masonic tradition (have you not been paying attention to the thread); I am denied is all: the irony is reversed by/of the Masons reporting reasons for my dismissal *as unjust and unworthy to contribute* to a thread that simply states arbitrarily TO ALL the QUESTION: "Ask a Mason".

No one has denied you asking anything.

What you have done though is try to TELL masons what they apparently don't know (according to you).

That's not a question. Questions are, well, questions. "What is your name?" Is a question. "Your name is Brian." Is not a question.

originally posted by: TerryDon79

originally posted by: vethumanbeing
a reply to: TerryDon79
Neither will they; as have no clue to the original Egyptian origins of this order.

And I suppose as a supreme being of non-masons you have the answer that no mason could have about being a mason?
Do you not see the irony?

I like that *God* reference and I do see the irony.

originally posted by: TerryDon79

That's not a question. Questions are, well, questions. "What is your name?" Is a question. "Your name is Brian." Is not a question.

He who would cross the bridge of thread sanity must answer me these questions three ere the other side ye see.

What...is your favorite color?
What...is your quest?
Why...did the widow's son cross the road?

originally posted by: Bedlam

What...is your favorite color?

Blue.

What...is your quest?

To seek the Holy Grail.

Why...did the widow's son cross the road?

To get to the free food.