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Freemasons - I have a few questions.

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posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:15 PM
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Baahh! I can't hold off any longer, my curiosity is killing me. I have a few more questions for you, I hope you don't mind:

1. What is your favourite memory of time spent at your lodge?
2. Have you ever experienced alienation (in real life - not online) because of Freemasonry?
3. Is it true that Freemasons tend to help promote each other if working in the same company?
4. Have you ever been nervous, embarrassed or scared about anything you had to do during a ceremony?



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:23 PM
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Originally posted by SecretSky
1. What is your favourite memory of time spent at your lodge?


Peculiar moments in Ritual.



2. Have you ever experienced alienation (in real life - not online) because of Freemasonry?


Yes. I am alienated by what conspiracy-theories do to peoples heads. I mention Im a Freemason and people go pale or think I am evil incarnate. Knowing that I am as harmless as it gets, this is both alienating and fascinating. Inadvertently I am taught a lot about perception and how peoples beliefs distort their perception.




3. Is it true that Freemasons tend to help promote each other if working in the same company?


I think people who know each other are more likely to help each other out. That is not restricted to Freemasons, its seen in Families, Companies, Sports Clubs, whereever. I have never received any job or money benefit nor have I witnessed it elsewhere. But Im sure it happens somewhere or other.




4. Have you ever been nervous, embarrassed or scared about anything you had to do during a ceremony?


No. Nothing happens that is contrary to the laws and common values and ethics of mankind.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:24 PM
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Originally posted by SecretSky
Baahh! I can't hold off any longer, my curiosity is killing me. I have a few more questions for you, I hope you don't mind:

1. What is your favourite memory of time spent at your lodge?

Our old Chaplain passed away last year. He would slowly walk over to the center of the room, slowly kneel, and then say our prayers. For the first year I went to that Lodge, I was certain he had a microphone and a PA system, but he didn't. He was frail, and soft-spoken, but when he prayed, the baritone boomed off all the walls like something magical. It was only him. None of the other Chaplains have been able to recreate it.

I also remember after my first initiation, (without revealing too much), but I was so surprised to be suddenly aware of the number of men that had driven up on a weeknight, and taken part late into the evening, so that I could receive the initiation all by myself. It was very moving. Normally several people go through at once, but I had to do it by myself, and due to my schedule, we couldn't start early or do it on a Saturday, so late one weekday evening, they put me through. What an honest effort and sacrifice many of those men made to be there for a new brother. Some of them had driven 60 miles! Some of them were so old, they couldn't drive at night, so they had made plans to spend the night in town. It was an honor.


2. Have you ever experienced alienation (in real life - not online) because of Freemasonry?

NEVER. I can't even begin to imagine how that could ever happen, unless ATS had a social night. People in real life respect Masons, or they don't know anything about them at all, but nobody alienates them.


3. Is it true that Freemasons tend to help promote each other if working in the same company?

Is it true that I would promote a highly qualified person, whom I also knew to be trustworthy, honest, committed, and loyal? Yes. Would it matter whether or not they were a Mason? No. Do the two things often go hand in hand? Yes.


4. Have you ever been nervous, embarrassed or scared about anything you had to do during a ceremony?
That is part of the fun, and the main reason for the secrets!



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:25 PM
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Originally posted by raiders247
Heres my opinion from what I have found out:

Lower ranking free-masons usually get together for harmless fraternal activities and such, while the higher degree masons congregate in secrecy for World domination.



While I may be into the whole conspiracy of the NWO. I rule out the masonry of having any connections with them for one reason. I am in a fraternity, and a few of my frat brothers are freemasons. I have even been invited to the lodge a few times and I met honorable people through there.

While I am curious on what they do. I also notice the change of attitude of my frat brothers.

Here is an example:

One of my frat brothers, who I hang out with constantly. Used to think negatively about the world. He used to be irresponsible. The moment he initiated months later. He became more peaceful, he cared more about life and he began valuing his mother and family even more. He constantly gives charity. I remember when he took me to meet a few other masons at his lodge. He knows I was interested in initiating. One thing I noticed that their recruitment is not that different than your traditional fraternities. They get to know you, and make sure you don't have a criminal record and are a good person.

They do not accept atheists, you need to have a belief of a supreme being to join.

Why so many requirements? I can guess of a few reasons why.
In my fraternity (traditional) we try to get people who will not do harm or cause trouble that would give the Frat a bad name. If one frat gets out of hand during initiation hazing etc, the whole fraternity pays the price because of one bad apple.

These are things Fraternity's in general avoid. No one wants a lawsuit nor negativity drawn to them. It is only logical to create some sort of filter to try and weed out the bad apples. There are reasons why fraternities keep their rituals a secret. Some things are still frowned upon in today's human society, however they are nothing out of this world nor are they linked to world domination at all.

Point is, that you cannot judge the whole lot because of a few bad apples. Based on what I know and my knowledge, if the free-masons really ruled the world, the world would be a much better place. I know much more that I found through research online but out of respect of my frat brothers. I will not discuss them, because I know the importance of keeping traditions a secret. Some things are meant to enlighten you and make you into a better person through surprise.

And to be honest, I regret watching that documentary of the first degree initiation because just knowing has stripped me from a what could have been a magical and beautiful experience if I ever do initiate myself.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:53 PM
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reply to post by getreadyalready
 


Here's a response from Skyfloating regarding if Freemasonry has caused any feelings of alienation:


Yes. I am alienated by what conspiracy-theories do to peoples heads. I mention Im a Freemason and people go pale or think I am evil incarnate. Knowing that I am as harmless as it gets, this is both alienating and fascinating. Inadvertently I am taught a lot about perception and how peoples beliefs distort their perception.


getreadyalready - I'd be interested to hear your take on this, since you said you can never imagine it happening. I wonder if the area in which your living has anything to do with it.





4. Have you ever been nervous, embarrassed or scared about anything you had to do during a ceremony?

That is part of the fun, and the main reason for the secrets!


Hmmm - I'm reading your response as a veiled 'yes'. I'm not sure if you've been embarrassed, scared, nervous or all three - but there seems to be some kind of veiled confirmation. Is the discussion of emotions caused by ceremonies a secret topic for Freemasons?



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:54 PM
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Sorry for the double post. But I do have a few questions for the freemasons on board if you don't mind. Please note. It is not my intention to alienate.

Given what is happening to the world and people linking the NWO with the mason's. What are the mason's doing to try and ease the publics view and give them clarity without revealing the secrets?

If there is nothing being done, is there any plans for the future?

What is your personal view on the Federal Reserve and it's criminal actions?

The reason I ask this, is because more and more people are having negative thoughts on secret society's and if there ever is a revolution in the U.S the masons may end up being targeted by those who blindly points fingers without knowledge.

This worries me because I care about my frat brothers who are in the freemasonry.



edit on 31-3-2011 by RisenAngel77 because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:54 PM
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reply to post by getreadyalready
 


We could debate the true nature of freemasonry for eons.. I have no intention to do so however so let me just say this. What you have just said is that you know 33rd degree masons as well as some 'grand masters'. I take it the grand masters are privy to more information than the 33 degree'ers?... confirming the hierarchical structure. (Also in my opinion, in the grand scheme of it 33rd and grand masters are probably nowhere near the top.)

You may not have worked directly for a known mason, but again, the decision to hire may have come from someone a little higher than your personal 'boss'. As for your bosses being female, I would have thought you would have been aware that there are certain sects that allow women into freemasonry,

en.wikipedia.org...

You say:
"I do honestly believe that the leaders at the tip top of Freemasonry hold the same morals and qualities that I do.

On a site that denies ignorance, and this is my opinion i mean no offense, that sentence is ignorant. I'm sorry but you nor me will ever know the leaders at the 'tip top', nor the strings they pull to keep most of the world in chaos...

peacexo



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:59 PM
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Originally posted by Skyfloating



2. Have you ever experienced alienation (in real life - not online) because of Freemasonry?


Yes. I am alienated by what conspiracy-theories do to peoples heads. I mention Im a Freemason and people go pale or think I am evil incarnate. Knowing that I am as harmless as it gets, this is both alienating and fascinating. Inadvertently I am taught a lot about perception and how peoples beliefs distort their perception.


Thanks for the honest replies Skyfloating - I get the impression that I'm now treading closer to the border of secrets as I ask questions about the ceremonies.

Would you say that since becoming a Freemason, your contact with non-Freemasons has become worse as a result?

If so, I think this would nicely underline your point about peoples beliefs affecting their perception. It would be no more than discrimination.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 02:59 PM
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reply to post by OnTheLevel213
 


Wouldn't be very secret if a non-brother like myself could give you specifics now would it?



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:03 PM
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Originally posted by SecretSky
1. What is your favourite memory of time spent at your lodge?
I would say two moments stand out.
I went through my degrees shortly after my first child was born. One night, in my sleep, I was woken by some sort of seizure... uncontrollable blinking, severe vertigo, etc. It only happened once, but I immediately made an appointment with a neurologist to make sure everything was ok.

Well, my appointment was set for the day after I was going to be raised to Master Mason, the 3°. That ritual has a lot to do with mortality, as well as having as part of the obligation, the promise to take care of a Master Mason's widow or orphans. So here I was, scared stiff that there was something unknown possibly wrong with my brain, and all the sudden I had the reassurance that if anything happened to me, my brothers would make sure my wife and daughter would be cared for. You can't imagine how much that meant to me at that time, and again, since I was just going through, I really didn't know too many other members very well, but I knew they'd all made the same vow I just made. It was incredible.

(The the doctor the next day told me it may have been a mini-stroke, but thankfully, I haven't had any issues since then...)

The other memory, less dramatic, was when I was learning my memorization work for the Master's degree. I ended up working with a past-Grand Master of my state, a guy who had been, for a year, the highest ranking Mason in the state, with more than 100,000 Masons under his authority. And he told me that my work was good. Good enough for such a mentor is good enough for me. (And no, I wasn't perfect by a long shot, but he told me it would all come in time and through repetition... I'd know it by the time I needed to.)


2. Have you ever experienced alienation (in real life - not online) because of Freemasonry?
Nope. I've had to explain Masonry to a few people in person, but never been cast out because of my affiliation with it.


3. Is it true that Freemasons tend to help promote each other if working in the same company?
I'm sure some do, but I've never worked with another Mason so I can't say I've ever seen it happen personally. Like others have stated, knowing that someone is a Mason should pass along a sense of trust in that person, knowing what virtues they're supposed to hold true, and what promises they've made to uphold those values. But ultimately, if they're not actually qualified to do the job, only a fool would hire or promote them to it.

4. Have you ever been nervous, embarrassed or scared about anything you had to do during a ceremony?
There's always fear of the unknown, but you have to have faith that your brothers won't steer you wrong. I think being blindfolded, putting faith in your fellow man is an important lesson.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:07 PM
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#1
I think maybe Sky spends more time on ATS than I do, or perhaps has more conversations about conspiracy theories than I do, or even perhaps just doesn't enjoy confrontation as much as I do. I can honestly say that I have never had anyone make me feel alienated by my affiliation with Masonry, but then again, I might not notice if they had. Outside of ATS, I am a normal guy, I ride my motorcycle, work, bbq, hike, camp, etc. If I mentioned being a Mason, and somebody had an odd expression or reaction to it, I probably wouldn't notice.

A pastor from a local church that I attend from time to time likes to come by my house in the evenings. Come to think of it, him and the deacon with him seemed a little odd when I mentioned Masonry, but I was in the process of debating with him about whether any real Christians were still left in the world, so I figured that was the reason! My thoughts on Christianity are for another thread, but the preacher did impress me with his willingness to let me corner him and then stick to his convictions. He did OK, LOL! He still stops by from time to time, and I still go to his church sporadically from time to time. So, I guess I wasn't alienated.

#2
As for being embarrassed, scared, etc. Yes. It is always scary to go into any unknown situation, especially if you are intentionally built up to feel that way and placed in a compromising situation! Our first degree has plenty of opportunity to be surprised, scared, or embarrassed, but it is all a learning mechanism. Those opportunities are expounded upon in later degrees, so yes, each degree has opportunity for those things, but it really is part of the fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it each time, and I still do.

To be perfectly honest, I might have chickened out of the first degree, if I wasn't so confident in my own physical abilities, and also trustworthy of my father-in-law and some other men that were present. If I had been a stranger, in a strange lodge, and not confident in my own physicality, I probably would have opted out at the last second. I'm glad I didn't, but I have to admit, I was a little scared!



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:10 PM
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Originally posted by ILovePeace
On a site that denies ignorance, and this is my opinion i mean no offense, that sentence is ignorant. I'm sorry but you nor me will ever know the leaders at the 'tip top', nor the strings they pull to keep most of the world in chaos...
Your own ignorance on the subject shows. The Grand Master is the elected head of the Grand Lodge (in the US, usually one per state (not counting the Prince Hall lodges...)). So the Grand Master of Louisiana is the highest ranking Mason in the state of Louisiana. He's elected by representatives of the lodges under that Grand Lodge, and serves a one year term. There is NO body, Masonic or otherwise, that controls all the Grand Lodges. They're each independent of another. The Grand Master only answers to his own constituents. And after his year in office, he's out. That's the way it's worked for hundreds of years.

So this "you'll never know the leaders at the 'tip top'" stuff is a load of crap, because there is no such person. That's not how Masonry is structured.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:10 PM
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Originally posted by SecretSky
Baahh! I can't hold off any longer, my curiosity is killing me. I have a few more questions for you, I hope you don't mind


Are you kidding? Someone who actually wants to learn about Freemasonry, as opposed to find ways their theory might work into the truth, is a rare pleasure these days.


1. What is your favourite memory of time spent at your lodge?


I've been a Mason less than a year, so maybe this diminishes after a while, but the degrees are so saturated with great content that there's always some amazing insight to gain from watching or participating. I almost jumped out of my seat during the last EA I watched.


2. Have you ever experienced alienation (in real life - not online) because of Freemasonry?


People have gotten used to the idea of Freemasons as older guys, and the idea that one can be 24, let alone is, causes them to look at you funny. You're also prone to getting Lost Symbol-style questions or "What made you join?" style stuff, as if you could off-the-cuff describe things like that. Other than that, not really.


3. Is it true that Freemasons tend to help promote each other if working in the same company?


I certainly imagine it happens, as much as any other social bond. Friends help friends, and knowing someone personally or having some other insight into their character substantially reduces risk.

To put another way, it's a generally accepted truth that ex-military people favor other ex-military people in hiring. Is that a conspiracy, or would an ex-Marine know that a Navy man will show up on time, work hard and be a team player?


4. Have you ever been nervous, embarrassed or scared about anything you had to do during a ceremony?


The ritual is arcane, and some things strike the modern eye as a little strange. If you're asking whether I genuinely believed that anything out of character with Freemasonry's stated character was going to happen, the answer is an emphatic no.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:16 PM
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reply to post by ILovePeace
 


I'm sorry but you misunderstand a couple of things.

#1 The "tip-top" is the Grand Master of any state. I have known a couple of those, and I have known a couple from other states that were also ex-Governors of those states. There is nothing higher in a State than a Governor and a Grand Master, so that is that. They don't have any extra "knowledge" that any other Mason would not have, but they do have authority by virtue of their position.

#2 In positions where I have been the hiring manager, I have been the hiring manager. That is nota circular sentence, it is just the truth. My current position, and many of my previous positions have made me the final say so on many decisions including hiring. Personally, for me, in the impossible situation where everything was absolutely equal between two candidates, and one was a Mason I would look at it this way. If the Mason was a friend of mine, I would not hire them. Hiring a personal friend is always a landmine. If the Mason was a stranger to me, I might give them the nod over the other stranger, because I know what Mason's stand for.

In reality, I would never encourage a friend of mine to apply for one of my positions, but I would do everything possible to help get them into someone else's department, and that is not a Masonic thing, that is a friend thing.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:19 PM
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Originally posted by RisenAngel77
Given what is happening to the world and people linking the NWO with the mason's. What are the mason's doing to try and ease the publics view and give them clarity without revealing the secrets?
Some try to enlighten our detractors, others just ignore them. We've suffered such attacks for hundreds of years, and we're still doing ok.


If there is nothing being done, is there any plans for the future?
Since there's no centralized Masonic authority, no. A particular state might try to promote awareness through some sort of marketing campaign, but they'd only be speaking for their lodges, and not Masonry world-wide.


What is your personal view on the Federal Reserve and it's criminal actions?
A, I'm not sure what my personal view has to do with anything, and B, I'm not sure what the actions of the Federal Reserve, criminal or not, have to do with Masonry. So it's a moot point either way.


The reason I ask this, is because more and more people are having negative thoughts on secret society's and if there ever is a revolution in the U.S the masons may end up being targeted by those who blindly points fingers without knowledge.
Oh, I have no doubt they will. Hitler rounded up the Masons along side the jews. Saddam made it illegal to be a Mason in Iraq, punishable by death. Tyrants are always going to be afraid of us. It comes with the territory as long as we've taken an oath to support liberty and equality.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:19 PM
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Originally posted by RisenAngel77
Given what is happening to the world and people linking the NWO with the mason's. What are the mason's doing to try and ease the publics view and give them clarity without revealing the secrets?


Several Grand Lodges have devoted Web space to refuting the idea that Masonry is involved with world takeover. Of those, the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon would be the one I recommend.


What is your personal view on the Federal Reserve and it's criminal actions?


I'm more concerned with the idea that a private company has invented and legalized a system of controlling my present and future, with a motive of pure profit, the way FICO has. I understand they're related, but my beef is more with FICO.


The reason I ask this, is because more and more people are having negative thoughts on secret society's and if there ever is a revolution in the U.S the masons may end up being targeted by those who blindly points fingers without knowledge.


It's happened before. We've survived. We will again.

Virtus Junxit, Mors Non Separabit.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:27 PM
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Originally posted by JoshNorton

Originally posted by SecretSky
1. What is your favourite memory of time spent at your lodge?
I would say two moments stand out.
I went through my degrees shortly after my first child was born. One night, in my sleep, I was woken by some sort of seizure... uncontrollable blinking, severe vertigo, etc. It only happened once, but I immediately made an appointment with a neurologist to make sure everything was ok.

Well, my appointment was set for the day after I was going to be raised to Master Mason, the 3°. That ritual has a lot to do with mortality, as well as having as part of the obligation, the promise to take care of a Master Mason's widow or orphans. So here I was, scared stiff that there was something unknown possibly wrong with my brain, and all the sudden I had the reassurance that if anything happened to me, my brothers would make sure my wife and daughter would be cared for. You can't imagine how much that meant to me at that time, and again, since I was just going through, I really didn't know too many other members very well, but I knew they'd all made the same vow I just made. It was incredible.

(The the doctor the next day told me it may have been a mini-stroke, but thankfully, I haven't had any issues since then...)


That is really amazing - this is probably the most touching thing which I have read about the Freemasons. It's great to be in such good company on this thread. People most often ask about the secrets and hierarchy, but to see the personal side of things is much more interesting in my opinion. Thanks



Originally posted by getreadyalready
#1
I think maybe Sky spends more time on ATS than I do, or perhaps has more conversations about conspiracy theories than I do, or even perhaps just doesn't enjoy confrontation as much as I do. I can honestly say that I have never had anyone make me feel alienated by my affiliation with Masonry, but then again, I might not notice if they had. Outside of ATS, I am a normal guy, I ride my motorcycle, work, bbq, hike, camp, etc. If I mentioned being a Mason, and somebody had an odd expression or reaction to it, I probably wouldn't notice.

A pastor from a local church that I attend from time to time likes to come by my house in the evenings. Come to think of it, him and the deacon with him seemed a little odd when I mentioned Masonry, but I was in the process of debating with him about whether any real Christians were still left in the world, so I figured that was the reason! My thoughts on Christianity are for another thread, but the preacher did impress me with his willingness to let me corner him and then stick to his convictions. He did OK, LOL! He still stops by from time to time, and I still go to his church sporadically from time to time. So, I guess I wasn't alienated.

#2
As for being embarrassed, scared, etc. Yes. It is always scary to go into any unknown situation, especially if you are intentionally built up to feel that way and placed in a compromising situation! Our first degree has plenty of opportunity to be surprised, scared, or embarrassed, but it is all a learning mechanism. Those opportunities are expounded upon in later degrees, so yes, each degree has opportunity for those things, but it really is part of the fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it each time, and I still do.

To be perfectly honest, I might have chickened out of the first degree, if I wasn't so confident in my own physical abilities, and also trustworthy of my father-in-law and some other men that were present. If I had been a stranger, in a strange lodge, and not confident in my own physicality, I probably would have opted out at the last second. I'm glad I didn't, but I have to admit, I was a little scared!


lol at the pastor story - the double whammy of denying the existence of any real Christians and discussing Freemasonry might of been too much to bite off in one go for the deacon! hehe


As for #2, again - This is really interesting. I had quite a strong suspicion that shock and fear would be put to good use in initiation or other ceremonies. I am surprised though that physical ability came into it so much? Being scared - hmmm...I suppose it's quite humbling, isn't it? I'm very curious about the physical task required of you in your first degree now...the degrees are all secret though I suppose. I guess there is only one way to find out right?

(RE #2: The ATS member in me is now imagining naked Freemasons having stones broken over their heads, celebrated later with a drink of blood-red wine, followed by caramel apple pie and a good old hymn!
hehe. Just kidding!)



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:29 PM
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You take an oath upon death. Period. Why the secret? Why not make everyone 'better'? The 'craft', at the higher level is witch-craft. Former 32 degree member Jim Shaw wrote a book on what it IS.



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:33 PM
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reply to post by SecretSky
 


LOL! Please don't take it wrong, I didn't need any physical resistance whatsoever, and nobody ever would need such a thing in a Masonic degree. It always turns out to be more funny than anything else. I was only speaking of my internal thoughts, before entering that first degree, nothing more. (You are right on about the nakedness though. My fear started when they told me to be sure and wear clean socks and underwear that night!)

Not knowing what was lying ahead, the thoughts going through my mind did include an escape plan! That is probably just me, but I don't go into any building without first knowing where the exits are, the obstructions are, the potential weapons are, and who in the room could be a potential threat. That takes all of about 10 seconds upon walking up to the building or into the room!

edit on 31-3-2011 by getreadyalready because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 31 2011 @ 03:37 PM
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reply to post by jrstock
 


Shaw has been completely and utterly debunked www.themasonictrowel.com.... He never held the degrees he claimed to hold, never witnessed the rituals he claims to have witnessed, because he quit before he even got that far.
edit on 2011.3.31 by JoshNorton because: (no reason given)

edit on 2011.3.31 by JoshNorton because: (no reason given)




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