posted on Nov, 11 2010 @ 03:57 PM
First; thank you LoneArcher for your post. Your words were well spoken. It is good to see a fellow brother step up and point out the truths of Masonry
amung all the errors. I would like to add a few things. Most people see Masonry as a sinister society, usually a bunch of satan worshipers. I find it
interesting that most of the "facts" that everyone talks about are things that they read somewhere or heard from somone else. These so called
ex-masons who come forth with "secrets" of devil worship and such I also find interesting in that they fail to prove themselves to be masons and
usually state things that are not true and prove to fellow Masons that these people are not brothers. If you wish to trully know what Masonry is
about, join. Stop watching the History Channel specials that are geard towards sensationalism and raitings, stop reading posts by people who know
nothing of our work. Go knock on the door and find that "To he who knocks, the door will be opened". As far as Masonry only being open to Males of a
certain age (that age seeming to differ from one country to the next) is due to ancient traddition. Masonry is tied to the ancient schools of mistery
and these, due to the times and thoughts of the day, were open to males of legal age. Masonry holds tight to its traditions so as not to spoil any of
its teachings. A man in the US must be 21 to join for it is the main age deemed as the age of consent. The man has had enuph time to come to know
himself and his world to make rational decisions on his own. Masonry is only open to men, as stated; but, there are bodies within Masonry that is open
to women and children alike, to bring together the entire family. A college fraternity may only accept men that are members of that college, would you
also expect them to allow women and members of other colleges? No, this is silly as it is accepted by all that this is tradition. There are
fraternities for the ladies and there are fraternities for other colleges.These do not intermix or allow others from other schools and such to join,
this is the genral accepted tradition of things. Would you single out a fraternity from Yale and demand that they allow students from Harverd to join?
Or would you state that there is evil intent with a fraternity from Brown since they only allow women to join? Why then point your finger at Masonry
and claim the same? Masonry is built on a very true nature of the working of the universe.There is a GOD who created the Universe and everything in
it, whoever or whatever you may call GOD. We call GOD the Great Architect so as not to offend anyone within Masonry who is of their own religion, for
Masonry is open to all of all religions and no one religion is dominant. The Holy Bible is open in the lodge to show reverance to GOD; but, not to a
particular faith. Anyone who wishes may have their own Sacred Text on display during their initiations. The Bible is simply tradition and any other
book may be found on display at any Lodge that chooses to display a differant text. As far as special favors being allowed in the regular work society
and within government, this is true of any social order. If you had a brother who was needing a job and you owned your own business, would you not
give him the job before ever searching for a more qualified employee? This is normal human behavior; but, it is not tollerated within Masonry.
Religion and politics are not subjects to be spoken within lodge. This leads to strife and discord. Any Mason who is found in violation of such
fundamental tenants are repramanded and may even be removed from the Lodge. It is frowned upon for favoritism and such to take place among Brothers.
We hold out a helping hand to all. (Even evil ones hold out offerings) I believe I read here, this is true, and so do the righteous. "It is by their
works that you will know them". It is impossible to know the works of someone you do not know. If you wish to know them by thier works, then seek
them out, get to know them and what they do. I have read many books on history and social activities and have never found anything that would state
that Pike was a devil worshiper, I don't know where this comes from. Alister Crowly was not, as far as I know, a true Mason and his membership as a
fellow was withdrawn due to his lack of moral character and self debauchery. I find it interesting that of the hundreds and thousands of good men, men
who changed the world, men who strove to make society a better place, to destroy bigotry and hate, to unite all as one family, it is the few "bad
apples",even ones who were never members, are the ones who are pointed out as the true face of Masonry. Would you look to your family tree and of all
your ancestors that made a great contribution to society you focus on the couple of black sheep that did a couple of bad things in their life and call
your family bad becouse of them? No, you can't judge a family, a group, a society based on the inevitable problems that lerk within. Have you ever
seen the dispicable things that go on within the Christian church, the Jewish church, the Muslim church, the Catholic church, etc, and yet we forgive
them due to their underlying lessons. And so you pick out one institution and blame it for the world problems when it has made great strives to ease
mans suffering. There is a simple truth within Masonry that seems to be the bain of many people and goes unexplained. Masonry is a Mystery School
dedicated to enlightening the man who seeks light. It is based on the truth that there is a GOD who oversees everything. When GOD is ready to bestow
light on a man, that man may find a longing within his heart to understand the mysteries of the world and himself. GOD may lead this man to Masonry so
that he may be taught these devine truths. It is not for Masonry to seek out who it wishes to join and learn the lessons, for this would be a slippery
slope that would devistate the underlying foundation of the order and lead to its destruction. We must not seek out who we think is ready to hear;
but, must wait for GOD to lead them to us that we may teach. One must seek to find, not one must stare at the ground and hope the truth finds them.
Why do we not simply give our teachings to all and let all people learn the lessons of Masonry? We have, the teachings of Masonry are all about you.
They are there when you wake up, they are there when you walk down the street, they are there when you hear the sermons in church, they are there when
you surf the internet. It is the mind that is ready to percieve and understand the meaning of these teachings that see them. It is those who are not
ready who say "where are they"? Keep searching, stop pointing your fingers for not being ready. Every man, woman and child will be ready in their
own time. This time is determined by them and GOD, no one else. Masonry can no more teach you what you are not ready to learn than a cat can learn to
drive a car, unless it's ready. Do not use the "Holier than thou" referance for do you not hold the same manners in your everyday life? Every thing
you do, say and teach to others is based on their ability to percieve what your going to say or do. Would you yell at a man for not telling you the
time when that man does not speak the same language? Go and learn the language and then ask GOD to lead you to who you should ask the time from. GOD
is in controle and Masons understand this and live by it for it is the truth of life. To condem them for this is folly. "Know thyself sayith the
Lord". Stop pointing fingers and take the time to trully evaluate your own motives. Stop taking other peoples rants about things you have never
experianced yourself, as truths. Seek the truth out for yourself and then make an educated decission on what you wish to believe. If everyone did
this, the world would be a much better place.