Calling all Masons...

Apologies if this thread is in the wrong place...

So here we stand as a species at the biggest crossroads we have faced for thousands of years: the secret societies have expanded their influence so that we are manipulated spiritually, economically and militarily thoughout the world, on the whole without the populace even realising, believing instead the mantra that man is warlike and beligerent and has no natural empathy with those outside his immediate circle. Personally I fundamentally disagree with this, but I digress...

Now, as 'The Elite' play their last cards before they show their hand and impose the world that they have long worked toward, I would like to try and get some idea of the feelings of those involved in secret societies around the world. I have spotted a fair few ATS members admitting to be masonic, and as anyone with half a brain-cell can guess, not every mason is a soulless child-sacraficing demon waiting to enslave humanity, I would hope that most are in fact good people who would be horrified if they knew the extent that their order has been subverted over the centuries. Maybe I'm wrong of course, but I believe that all life is inherently compassionate, coming from a universal consciousness as highlighted by quantum-physics. The world is not full of fear, and I have lived among enough cultures to tell you that from an exopolitical perspective: If I travel with a smile and compassionate eyes the entire world is my best friend, seriously. There is nothing a stranger won't do for you if he thinks you will appreciate the gesture, and you don't even need to speak the same language to show it. Man is good. Damn good. And so, so funny.

So I want to hear from all the good people. Anyone involved in the masons and other societies that still have good hearts. What are your thoughts on the next ten years? Have you noticed a shift in the general attitude of lower-tiered-members? Are the ranks really are falling away as I've heard, or has power has been so centralised now that this won't make a difference? Any regrets/gripes?Any warnings? Any disinformation that needs clearing up?

Obviously being secret societies I'm not expecting loads of revelatory (is that a word?) essays from whistleblowers, this thread is more aimed at generating a discussion with members of these orders who joined wishing to contribute to humanity...feel free to take the floor and tell us your views on the times ahead, and thanks in advance. Anyone else is of course welcome to contribute, this ain't no closed-door meeting..!

I am not masonic by the way, nor do I belong to any organisation...way too much of a loose-cannon, or so I'm told...I'm down with that

Peace x

[edit spelling errors an ting on 10-11-2008 by TRAVELS]

[edit on 10-11-2008 by TRAVELS]

HI, Verana

Free Masonry is good for loose cannon too : )))

It is somehow a prerequisite. Your post is long and your questionning rigth.

Before internet and the openess of our societies, many topics wouldn't be discus anywhere.

In fact many topics on this site (ATS), if discussed publicly 40 years ago, would have sent they proponents in a asylum for mentally ills. But in masonics lodges you would have seek, a safe heaven to discuss them.

Yes, membership is declining. Yes membership is aging.

Maybe opportunities given to people to express more freely ''strange'' questionning is a consequence of declining membership. We must point the fact that masonic order was also a way to meet people and create network.

Hundred(s) years ago masonry was in a golden era. Laws on labor, or absence of them, (un)fair hiring process, plus hard economical times made free-masonry a way to provide a better future and security for members.

I have seen many kind of masons, they are some involved in occult activities indeed, other simply real estate agents without any commtments or beliefs.

Rituals and regalia are a way to start thinking about life, man, and spirituality.

But There is no such thing like those describe in some weird books.

Rituals, yes. Ceremonies, yes, nothing to give rash, but to those who are religious zealots control freaks.

For the years to come, I don't think the Brethren know any much than the average ATS members. Some of them even rely on ATS : )))

I don't foresee a nice future for the upcoming years. It is gonna a be worse from worse. I personnaly work to manage myself for it.

These folks were right, back in january for the stock exchange collapse of september.

www.leap2020.eu...!-Global-systemic-crisis-Alert-Summer-2009-The-US-government-defaults-on-its-debt_a2250.html?PHPSESSID=5a 09ac80b4357435c04360c2e7fa1134


Ciao

best of luck

Thanks Nimrod (never thought I'd hear myself saying that!)

So membership isdeclining? I guess things like Facebook and MySpace are alternative ways to network so would reduce the necesssity for advancement via a secret society, but still the lodges must be highly influential? I'm surprised to hear that most masons rely on ATS too! Don't know whether to find hope in that or be scared by it..! I'll go for hope as always I guess...thanks for your insight anyway

I am a Freemason. I'm a great husband, leader, patriot and scholar.

I have no ill-will against my country and want to believe humans are genuinely good, though corrupted by society.

Anything else...?

[edit on 10-11-2008 by MOFreemason]

If you want views on FreeMasonry, visit the Secret Societies forum.
I'm curios as to where you've come up with your ideas about FreeMasonry.
Mark Twain, one of my favorite old time authors was a good bit of a loose cannon.
Several famous members could be described as loose cannons, and from what I hear, the range of Masons at most lodges sample the entire range of folks in the community.
As for Lower Levels, there's only one Low Level Mason I know of.
Masonry doesn't have levels, and doesn't place importance on rank except for some side degrees that require you to be a Master mason before joining, and lodge officers.
Written into Masonry's core principals is the requirement to be true to their country, morals, and religion. Not exactly where you'd go for creating a plot to over throw the world.

Thanks MoMason that's just the kind of answer I was hoping for! With all the frenzied finger-pointing going on right now it's nice to hear that...

RuneSpider, so are you saying the fabled 33 degrees of freemasonry are a myth? As to my 'ideas about Freemasonry', I do not know any masons, or anyone who has admitted to it at least, so therefore I have no ideas about it...hence this thread, as I try to educate myself as opposed to reading a load of other people's opinions.

"Written into Masonry's core principals is the requirement to be true to their country, morals, and religion. Not exactly where you'd go for creating a plot to over throw the world."

Hmmm, true to who's? The lodge's or the individual's? And of course a plot to overthrow the world would hardly include the entire order now would it? A wiser way would be to use the complicit higher echelons to manipulate the masses 'lower in the pyramid'....And let's face it, such a plot could not be achieved without some degree of deception, so 'core principles' won't really hold much water with me, I'm afraid...I'm not trying to offend, sincerely, I'm just trying to get my facts straight...there's a lot of masonmania out there..! Cheers for your input

reply to post by TRAVELS


No problem. I didn't mean to discredit the purpose of the initial thread, but I'm stating nothing but fact about myself.

Perhaps other Lodges are plotting to take over the world, but that is yet to be mentioned from my experiences.

Hehe good that's more good news...cheers...well if you do hear anything be sure to let us know ok?!

reply to post by TRAVELS


Depends on what you mean by fables.
The Scottish Rite is indeed very real, but it is not quite what the conspirators dream of. The 33rd degree is honorary, and given to someone who's done something to particularly earn it. Off hand, I'm not sure o the numbers but there are a fair few of them.

The principals are intended for the person, and his actions. By proxy, it then applies to the lodge as well.

So if the lodge's principles are made from the 'bottom up' as it were, then it would be difficult to exert a society-wide mentality I guess..? The general image of the masons to an outsider (in my experience) is that freemasonry is almost like a religious order, with each member being indoctrinated with a specific worldview that he accepts and thrives, or rejects and withers...good to know that individuality is accepted though

reply to post by TRAVELS


Individuality is key, as we accept all men--regardless of status and stature.

We do not discuss politics or religion during Lodge. As a matter of fact, most men may even find Lodge boring. I say that, since the Freemasons have earned quite a history through the media and Hollywood.

reply to post by TRAVELS


Again, keep in mind the people who've been involved. Folks from all walks of life, several very famous for being out of the box thinkers or rebels.
George Washington and ole' Ben Franklin are obvious examples, though again Mark Twain was certainly not a boring old man.

Originally posted by TRAVELS
So membership isdeclining? I guess things like Facebook and MySpace are alternative ways to network so would reduce the necesssity for advancement via a secret society, but still the lodges must be highly influential?

Why would you think that? Masons don't have any influence on anything (other than, perhaps, the charities they run...)

Originally posted by TRAVELS
And of course a plot to overthrow the world would hardly include the entire order now would it? A wiser way would be to use the complicit higher echelons to manipulate the masses 'lower in the pyramid'....

Perhaps you'd want to contribute to this thread? How could such manipulation possibly work?

JoshNorton, I would think that because at the basic level the masons are a group of men who get together in secret, all around the world. To think that such an organisation would not be- or have been- manipulated by those higher in the order at some pont in its long history is a naive idea to me, and must at least be considered by the 'general public'. To deny the possiblility would be ignorance of the highest order. As for the charities they run, how much tax do they save again? Not the most altruistic method of helping the world really...I will check out the other thread though cheers

reply to post by TRAVELS


Masonry does not save on taxes, the fraternity itself is tax exempt being a independent group, however each masons pays taxes as they normally would.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
Here's a thread that deals with that exact issue, actually.
As for secret...the lodge here in Milton puts the dates and times they meet on a sign outside, and up on their internet page.
They have a calendar of events for all public meetings.
The only thing held as secret by the Masons are the modes of recognition. Seeing as how those haven't actually been secret for a bit over a century now, it's a secret they keep that's symbolic, much like their rituals and, well, symbols.
As for being use for malicious purposes....
Masonry is decentralized. No one group can speak for it, and no one person can head it. There are no rankings, save for the elected positions that last for a year each.
Any Master Mason is the eual of any other Master Mason, any other degrees they have are reflective of the extra learning they've gotten in Masonry, but in no way places them higher than another.

Charity is tax-exempt.

After reading the thread started by JoshNorton (link above) there is no way I can be convinced that masonry is decentralised and could never be used for malicious purposes...just read about the MoChip, one step away from the RFID chip, and being gleefully pedalled by the lodge there..! Maybe its decentralisation is its achilles heel, divide and conquer. That thread really opened my eyes, thanks JoshNorton..!

Originally posted by TRAVELS
Charity is tax-exempt.

Freemasonry is not a charity. Masonic organizations do run some charities, but Masonry itself is not a charity. You can't imagine the millions some of the lodges have to pay EACH YEAR in property taxes. (That's the problem with having a large building, built near the middle of town back when land was cheap...)

[edit on 11/12/2008 by JoshNorton]

My God you really have to explain the minutae with you guys huh?! Must be all that fluoride...OK I'll humour you:

Charity is tax-exempt. I am not talking about freemasonry. I'm talking about charity. Are you with me so far? Therefore the line that the masons do so much good through their charities is a non-starter...charity is a tax-dodge. Look at the Rockefeller foundation, the Rothschild foundation etc...it is a method to skim billions off the taxman while giving the illusion of altruism. I am aware that freemasons themselves are not tax-exempt as I have read the previous posts...shame you don't seem able to keep up but I've spelled it out simply as possible. Good luck...