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Originally posted by King Seesar
, and i'm sure some of the groves members are masons.
[edit on 25-6-2009 by King Seesar]
Investigates the history and symbology so prominent in the creation of the United States, and traces the intricate connections of the Founders with Freemasonry, other secret organizations and between each other.
Originally posted by King Seesar
reply to post by Viking04
If the golfers are in the woods trying to tap into powers they shouldn't do then yea there no better then the masons doing the same thing, it's right in your face people with hoods on doing a mock sacrifice, and the later photos that the grove released showed a poor black kid strapped to a gerny scared to death, so you're telling me that's ok????
Also here's a documentarie on freemasons you might wanna watch, freedocumentaries.net...
I'm not saying it's all true but were there's smoke there's Bohemian Grove fire and a owl.
This includes attempting to get Freemasonry de-listed as a secret society. They prefer to call themselves "a society with secrets."
For hundreds of years the Freemasons and other groups like the Rosicrucians, the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta have come under government scrutiny and public persecution.
A reason why their symbols are so prominently-placed is to remind members that the "all-seeing eye" is ever-present.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
This includes attempting to get Freemasonry de-listed as a secret society. They prefer to call themselves "a society with secrets."
Well, with the advent of bookstores, the Internet, Amazon.com and the like, the rituals - including signs and tokens - of modern day Freemasonry are easily accessible to anyone that cares to investigate.
To erroneously call Freemasonry a "society with secrets" is, therefore, patently ridiculous.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Freemasonry has never been a "society" in the traditional sense, which would imply that they are engaged in defense, supplying their own food, commerce, government affairs, etc.
Instead, Freemasonry is more appropriately called a fraternity - No different from the countless fraternities that pervade college campuses, or fraternal organizations such as the Elks, Moose, Knights of Columbus, etc. By fraternity, I refer simply to a men's "fraternal" organization organized around men with common values and principles.
It is not a "society" in the traditional sense of the word, unless you wish to create a new definition of "society".
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
For hundreds of years the Freemasons and other groups like the Rosicrucians, the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta have come under government scrutiny and public persecution.
Not really. The only organization that really has persecuted the Knights Templar/Freemasons has been the Catholic Church.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Throughout history, many government leaders have actually been quite supportive of Freemasonry - Two perfect examples are the British monarchy and the Founding Fathers in the United States - both of which were very supportive of Freemasonry.
Occasionally, you do have anti-masonic factions - as we did even here in the U.S. with the Anti-Masonic Party at one time - but these have been relatively short-lived and few and far between.
Today, the Masons are not persecuted by either the American nor the British governments, and this has been the case now for many, many decades.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Even the modern day Catholic Church does not persecute the Freemasons, only adhering to a standard that Catholics are not permitted to join the fraternity.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
A reason why their symbols are so prominently-placed is to remind members that the "all-seeing eye" is ever-present.
Like many organizations of all types - both fraternal, commercial, and religious - symbolism is fairly common. The symbols utilized in Freemasonry are not a "reminder that the All Seeing Eye is ever present" in the sense that you state - as if it were a negative symbol with hostile connotations.
Instead, the All Seeing Eye is a simple reminder of God and Divine Providence. If it serves as a "reminder" in any sense to Freemasons, it reminds the average Freemason that God is all-knowing, all powerful, and that we should, therefore, regulate our conduct accordingly and live according to His laws.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Just as we Americans have an American Flag - a symbol of our freedom from British rule and a reminder of our democratic principles - and just as religions have their symbols (Christianity with the cross, for instance), Masonic symbols are typically found on Masonic regalia utilized in ritual work, Masonic Lodges, and occasionally in the form of jewelry (rings, etc.).
Any symbolism beyond that - such as the incredulous suggestions that common advertising symbols for Fortune 500 companies are Masonic in nature - is pure speculation.
The All Seeing Eye is also quite commonly found in Egyptian hieroglyphics, Buddhism, as well as in various artifacts in the Vatican. It was also commonly utilized in Medieval iconography.
Those books aren't good for anything than to lull ignorant outsiders into a false sense of security.
A society in the sense of a widely-encompassing group of people.
There was an Anti-Masonic political party in the US and other countries. I think there are still Anti-Masonic parties even today. John Quincy Adams banned Masonry in the US during his administration.
Freemasonry is persecuted by other countries, particular among anti-Zionists and strict authoritarian governments.
With events surrounding the Russian Revolution, the two World Wars, Vietnam, 9/11, the USA PATRIOT Act, the sudden financial meltdown, socialism sweeping through Latin America and authors like Jim Marrs, people are asking questions and discovering that Freemasons make claims that are not supported by their actual track record.
Masons that are discovered among Catholic clergy are supposed to be exonerated or excommunicated, but often are not because of a conspiracy.
I'm not sure what the difference is
There are cases of Fortune 500 companies admitting that their symbols are inspired by the occult.
Originally posted by vcwxvwligen
George Washington and Harry S. Truman became Masons and then explained why they didn't like it after retiring from office.
The supposedly greatest US presidents such as FDR, Ronald Reagan and Thomas Jefferson were Masons.
One of the most vilified periods in American history -- the "McCarthy Era" -- was not meant for communists, but for members of secret societies, such as Freemasons, who systematically supported communism in the Far East.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Those books aren't good for anything than to lull ignorant outsiders into a false sense of security.
Masonic Ritual books - such as Duncan's Masonic Ritual - are simply factual representation of the standard Masonic Ritual as utilized in the Blue Lodge. Giving the content of the ritual via public means is simply conveying information, and has nothing to do with "lulling ignorant outsiders into a false sense of security".
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
These books are simply conveying the content of the ritual - no more, no less.
This is hardly an attempt by Masons to persuade or cajole. If it were, it would be an awfully poor attempt to do so. I can think of several other books that are more indicative of promoting Masonry, and books explaining and extricating the ritual are not in the same category.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
A society in the sense of a widely-encompassing group of people.
So....Basically Masonry is a "society" based on your own personal, unique definition of "society", and not how the rest of the world would define a society.
Okay, just so long as we know that we are using your own personal, made up definitions for defining what a "society" is. I am glad we cleared that up. We'll stick with your own personal interpretations of words from here on out - To heck with the Oxford Dictionary and such.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
There was an Anti-Masonic political party in the US and other countries. I think there are still Anti-Masonic parties even today. John Quincy Adams banned Masonry in the US during his administration.
You are correct - But if you read my original post, I acknowledge that there was, at one time in U.S. history, an Anti-Masonic Party. It no longer exists as a political party, was short-lived, and existed well over a couple hundred years ago. Any party today claiming to be such today would be quite obscure and poorly organized. Kind of like calling yourself a member of the Whig Party today.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Freemasonry is persecuted by other countries, particular among anti-Zionists and strict authoritarian governments.
Funny how the only politicos opposed to Freemasonry are dictators and "authoritarian governments". Isn't that ironic?
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
With events surrounding the Russian Revolution, the two World Wars, Vietnam, 9/11, the USA PATRIOT Act, the sudden financial meltdown, socialism sweeping through Latin America and authors like Jim Marrs, people are asking questions and discovering that Freemasons make claims that are not supported by their actual track record.
First, Jim Marrs is a conspiracy theorist, so I wouldn't give him much credence.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Secondly, you need to separate Freemasonry from politics. The two are not the same. That's like claiming that Kennedy was working for the Pope because he was Roman Catholic. The two are not interconnected. You can't even discuss politics or religion in the Lodge room, let alone plan a war.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
You could say, however, that there are individuals - politicians, military leaders, etc. - involved in planning wars and revolutions who happened to also be Masons. They also happened to be Catholic, Protestant, or any host of other religions or sects. Big deal.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
There are also Masons that have done a great deal of good for the country. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were both Freemasons, for instance.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
So, why would you only choose to associate certain leaders and politicos that had a negative impact on history that happened to be Freemasons? Because it suits your agenda. Hitler wasn't a Mason, neither were the main dictators during the last century. You might want to point that out, too.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
Masons that are discovered among Catholic clergy are supposed to be exonerated or excommunicated, but often are not because of a conspiracy.
Any Catholic - clergy or not - faces excommunication (NOT "exoneration" as you claim) if they are found to be a Freemason. If they renounce their membership, they can return to the Church after confession.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
I'm not sure what the difference is
The difference is that the All-Seeing Eye as a symbol is not a nefarious, insidious symbol. It is a symbol representing God.
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
There are cases of Fortune 500 companies admitting that their symbols are inspired by the occult.
Well, at least there isn't a secret cabal of advertising executives at Fortune 500 companies posing as Masons as they devise these occult symbols for their companies' logos. Thank goodness for that.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
Originally posted by vcwxvwligen
George Washington and Harry S. Truman became Masons and then explained why they didn't like it after retiring from office.
This is untrue on both counts. Washington was a loyal Mason for his entire life, and was buried with Masonic honors. One of his last letters was written to the Grand Lodge of Massachussetts.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
Truman was the most Masonically active of all US Presidents who were Masons. Before becoming President, he had already served as Grand Master of Masons in Missouri, which made him the highest ranking Masonic official in that state. Truman was also a 33° of the Scottish Rite, a Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honor in the York Rite, a Shriner, and a Tall Cedar of Lebanon. He described his election to the office of Grand Master as the highest honor ever received in his life.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
The supposedly greatest US presidents such as FDR, Ronald Reagan and Thomas Jefferson were Masons.
FDR was a Mason. Reagan and Jefferson were not.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
One of the most vilified periods in American history -- the "McCarthy Era" -- was not meant for communists, but for members of secret societies, such as Freemasons, who systematically supported communism in the Far East.
Nonsense. Freemasons were persecuted by Communists in the far east, and Freemasonry had nothing to do with either the Red Scare or the McCarthy witchhunts. To state otherwise is simply an attempt to rewrite history.
Originally posted by vcwxvwligen
Books such as Duncan's Ritual, William Morgan's book and the Freemasonry Watch website reflect outdated wording among other things. They do not reflect any actual Masonic ritual, except maybe by wanna-be copy-cats.
Originally posted by AugustusMasonicus
Originally posted by vcwxvwligen
Books such as Duncan's Ritual, William Morgan's book and the Freemasonry Watch website reflect outdated wording among other things. They do not reflect any actual Masonic ritual, except maybe by wanna-be copy-cats.
When was the last time you were in a lodge to inspect the ritual work?