why did you join freemasonry ?

Like I said, there must be a different ethos here.

Or Masonic charity is not particularly advertised there either.

You don't say if the $2.1million is a percentage of what you have raised, or is the total amount.

Masonic lodges are entirely member-supported. No fundraising money goes to lodge expenses.

Thanks for this thread. It's nice to see the topic being discussed. Whatever your beliefs are on the masons. Personally, I've always been interested in the perceived "secret cult" image portrayed in so many online videos. I've never asked a mason anything before, to be honest I don't know if anybody that I know is a mason. The answers here seem just like I would answer if someone was asking about how I try to live my life, I've never actually thought about seeking out the masons and becoming a member. I give an amount I can afford to charity, I'm nice to people, I'm helpful I try to focus on bettering myself. I know I'm fairly new on here, so feel free to refrain if its not cool of me to ask but... Are there any other exclusions, besides those with a conviction?

reply to post by Hypernova86

I'm helpful I try to focus on battering myself.

HA! Please don't batter yourself, you seem nice enough, there is no need for violence.

Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by Hypernova86

 

I'm helpful I try to focus on battering myself.

HA! Please don't batter yourself, you seem nice enough, there is no need for violence.

You beat me to it. Well done! I'm typing this on a phone

Originally posted by Hypernova86
Are there any other exclusions, besides those with a conviction?

the requirements are:
be a good man
not be a felon
believe in a higher power

that's the big picture. Joining is easy, following the path is the challenge, but it sounds like you are doing that already. It's not for everybody, but it's great for those who look for it. Let any of us know if you have any other questions.

reply to post by ZXCVB


but will you ever learn to read the T&C?

posts should be more than a few mangled words that don't amount to much.

don't be in such a hurry to get those 20 posts.

reply to post by network dude


Cheers mate. I've never thought about joining, I would say I believe in a higher power, but to me now religion has distorted any true perspective of god in society now. I'd like to think, as unpopular as it is that any one true god wouldn't cast aside people that had been instructed from birth that another religion was right. I would always have connected the masons with being protestants. But that's having come from a background of religious biggotry in Scotland, and the Orange lodge is often talked about in a similar manner to the masons. Thanks for the reply though, its good to know its not so secretive as its painted.

Originally posted by OnTheLevel213

Like I said, there must be a different ethos here.

Or Masonic charity is not particularly advertised there either.

You don't say if the $2.1million is a percentage of what you have raised, or is the total amount.

Masonic lodges are entirely member-supported. No fundraising money goes to lodge expenses.

(1) I made no mention of "advertising" in the first instance, and it has no relevance to what you did quote from me.
(2) You again entirely misunderstood what I mean by percentages. In either case it was a question in reply to another poster, who hasn't replied.

reply to post by smurfy


I think he meant that much of what Masons do as charitable work is anonymous, or that it goes to our Grand Lodge and is distributed accordingly. The money that stays in the community is given without any fanfare, so nobody knows that it is happening.

As for the percentage, it is always 100%. One cannot have a fundraiser for some event, and then keep a percentage of the money. There are too many legal and tax implications if the money runs through the Lodge first.

The operating funds from the Lodge are entirely separate from any fundraising activities. The only exception, is sometimes the Lodge has a surplus at the end of a period, so they donate some of their operating funds as additional donations that were not raised as donation money.

Here are some of the main charities that the lodges donate to through our Grand Lodges....

Masonic Medical Research Laboratory-----this entity has made some major medical breakthroughs in the area of heart biochemistry.

Shriners Hospitals

Some of the recent stuff my Lodge has contributed to in the local community includes, *buying Christmas Presents and a new bike for a family after their home was robbed just before Christmas ** Buying clothing and bedding for a family after a house fire *** Donating to a trust for a little boy and mother after her fiance and father were murdered (one of our Masons also organized several fundraiser events for that family on his own), there are plenty of other things we raise money for, but those come to the top of my mind from the last 4 or 5 months.

reply to post by hmdphantom

1. I was curious about them after seeing a Masonic graveyard in NOLA. I spent the next year reading up on them and decided that they seemed like a worthy organization to join. I'm also a big history nerd and was fascinated by the history of the Order, something I am still researching.
2. I had no goal other than helping my community through charity.
3. I never did.
4. If I ever wanted to I could easily demit at any time.
5. Me, personally? I've done almost every job one can do in the Blue Lodge. I've done most of the Capitular degree work. I do a few parts in the Cryptic degrees and Chivalric orders. I'm also a part of the York Rite College and I do the lecture and lead role in the 2nd section of the ceremony.
6. A different perspective.
7. For me, I've been asked to sit at the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter level, but due to military obligations I have not been able to take up those offers.
8. Which Illuminati do you speak of? The Bavarian Illuminati? No connection IMO.
9. My internet is too slow to look at your link

reply to post by Hypernova86


your views are similar to most masons I know of these boards. What masonry tries to do is unite all religions to remove the "exclusions" that organized religion can bring. It does this by accepting anyone who believes in God and not asking what church you go to.

My personal thoughts are that organized religion seems to hurt more than it helps in some instances. I doubt that God only admits Baptists, or only Catholics, or only Jews. The God I believe in loves everyone equally. That being the very simple message that the Bible teaches.

reply to post by getreadyalready

From getreadyalready,
"As for the percentage, it is always 100%. One cannot have a fundraiser for some event, and then keep a percentage of the money. There are too many legal and tax implications if the money runs through the Lodge first."

All well and good in your frame of reference, the Lions raise money in exactly the same way, and 100% also goes to all nominated charity/s. So perhaps to rephrase my original question, (which was in reply to another poster who mentioned £2.5 million donated to senior services) how much in percentage terms does that £2.5 million represent of all the charitable monies received by his branch over the 15 years, or is it the total sum for those 15 years received by his branch, and if so, how much of that money went to nominated charities outside of masonry itself. You see, the problem I have when he just mentions "senior services" it is rather vague, and could include perpetual or dedicated funds solely for mason members families, like say, widows and children, and disability etc. As for "advertising" that was the posters rather smug reference, and has no relevance whatsoever.

thank you all my friends.

I was so busy in the last three days because I had power electronics exam. I try to be as modest as I know and I can.

the intention of the members for joining freemasonry :

1 . to get more involved with charity
2 . I liked the moral code and the focus on charity, and I find ritual to be a powerful form of learning
3 . My lodge has donated more than $2.1 million to senior services in our county in the last fifteen year.

good for you but there are other ways for doing as you say. so I think that it is not your true reason for joining freemasonry.

4 . I joined because some men that I like and respect were Masons
5 . Out of interest in the history, traditions, and symbolism of the fraternity.

do you think that may be they are hiding some thing very important for them. so if it is true then why should it be hidden ?

it is some times claim that they are protecting something like " the holly grail ". suppose that is true then how can Jews or Muslims join freemasonry too ? regs.

Originally posted by hmdphantom




good for you but there are other ways for doing as you say. so I think that it is not your true reason for joining freemasonry.

This is true , there are other ways , BUT the same could be said for any other group someone is a part of . For example , you could ask someone "Why did you join the Red Cross/Lions Club/Elks/Moose/Salvation Army , is there not other ways to help people ? " and you may get the same answers as stated here . There are many groups to join with the same or similar purposes and goals , this is just one path , a path we chose to follow . Why does there have to be an ulterior reason ?

Originally posted by Lucifer777 SNIP

If you have nothing of value to add why bother. Im new to this forum and have seen these same pictures repeated time and time again by you that have absolutely no basis, reason, or reality to them.

If anything it makes people research this and find out what masons stand for and how they started.

I thank all the masons for contributing and giving me some more knowledge. Ive done some research and its nice to have some first hand information as well.

I must say after reading the "Mason" replies I'm very intrigued. I also love to help people so I can appreciate it. Beside if there is so-called funny business going on within the Mason's I do not think everyone would be subjected to it. Maybe this is the "pay your dues'? I have no idea but I don't believe all Mason's are bad and have evil intentions. Just like you can't honestly say every single politician is evil... just most powerful ones are Anyways maybe the name Mason has gotten a bad rap because of it's ties to the Knight Templar and Illuminati but this is what's going to happen when things are hidden. Hell just look at what it's done to the government. They are the biggest fibbers of anyone. 90% that comes out of their mouths is disregarded anyways. If the Mason's are here for good and don't force their beliefs into society, then I'm all for supporting their cause, just not their beliefs. IMO I just think they can have their honest beliefs misguided at times by the way they handle situations and are influenced by reining members.

I'm sorry there is no way thousands of people can have the same views on things. I mean there has to be parts that they do not agree with. Can anyone chip in on this? If so what parts don't you agree on?

Originally posted by SmArTbEaTz
I must say after reading the "Mason" replies I'm very intrigued. I also love to help people so I can appreciate it. Beside if there is so-called funny business going on within the Mason's I do not think everyone would be subjected to it. Maybe this is the "pay your dues'? I have no idea but I don't believe all Mason's are bad and have evil intentions. Just like you can't honestly say every single politician is evil... just most powerful ones are

Anyways maybe the name Mason has gotten a bad rap because of it's ties to the Knight Templar and Illuminati but this is what's going to happen when things are hidden. Hell just look at what it's done to the government. They are the biggest fibbers of anyone. 90% that comes out of their mouths is disregarded anyways. If the Mason's are here for good and don't force their beliefs into society, then I'm all for supporting their cause, just not their beliefs. IMO I just think they can have their honest beliefs misguided at times by the way they handle situations and are influenced by reining members.

I'm sorry there is no way thousands of people can have the same views on things. I mean there has to be parts that they do not agree with. Can anyone chip in on this? If so what parts don't you agree on?

The issue that really bothers me when it pops up is when the overall consensus is "anything private is sinister". Especially people with money and grouping together in private is sinister.

The same can be said about CTers who group together and share info but its so secret that sources cant be named, or to just trust their inner knowledge.

Originally posted by hmdphantom
good for you but there are other ways for doing as you say. so I think that it is not your true reason for joining freemasonry.

I think I'll be the judge of my own motives, thanks.

do you think that may be they are hiding some thing very important for them.

I always hear about these extra-special secrets hidden from Masons like me, but I never hear exactly where they are or how to find them. At least, not a theory where/how that doesn't include serious factual errors.

it is some times claim that they are protecting something like " the holly grail ". suppose that is true then how can Jews or Muslims join freemasonry too ?

That's a good question. Fortunately, those claims are a bunch of nonsense.