Masons Helping Masons Succeed: A History of Deception and Corruption

reply to post by rtyfx


College fraternities have initiation ceremonies, too. Most people don't have a negative disposition towards them....

IMO, what it comes down to, is people are scared of what they don't understand... And hardly any one who is not a Mason understands why we do what we do. So society has had a boogy man and a scapegoat in our Order for centuries. It happens in waves, anti Masonic sentiment..... I don't understand why, but through out history the populations of the globe seem to either support Freemasonry or shun and demonize it.

If you are really curious about what happens in a Masonic lodge you may want to find one close by and talk to some of the Brethren. Most are eager to answer questions for people walking in.

reply to post by W3RLIED2


I'm not curious. I don't care what you do.

I'm only stating my personal opinion that if Masons were less secretive they might be received better.

reply to post by W3RLIED2


You mention college fraternities. I have to tell you I have no time for those apes.

There's been too much damage done by these so-called brotherhoods.

Do the Masons a favor - don't mention them in the same breath as fraternities.

reply to post by rtyfx


Lulz. They aren't all bad, but, point taken.

Actually, in 2010 I was host for a a day at the F&AM booth on frat day. We had a few people interested, but I think the KofC booth right next to us scared them away.

reply to post by W3RLIED2


The truth is I don't know much about these organizations like the Masons and the K of C. As long as they're not kidnapping people and killing pets I don't care what they do.

We all have our allegiances. I say live and let live.

reply to post by rtyfx


I have to admit that it's refreshing to see people still have that attitude. That's one of my preaches, I guess you could say, but acceptance and allowing others to do as they will is something liberty loving folks should practice .
As long as a person isn't causing another harm, why not just accept them and let em be?

Knights of Collumbus is similar to Freemasonry in the sense that they are a charity driven organization and do good things for their respective communities. Also, they have an initiatory system made up of what I don't know. I do know that you have to be a Catholic. Funny that the F&AM booth was set up next to the Catholic booth. Those guys were pretty cool though, we had some good chats.

Freemasonry is way cooler though. We have fancy handshakes and get to wear funny clothes.

Originally posted by rtyfx
As I stated in another, now deleted, thread, if the Masons were a little less mysterious in their dealings, people probably wouldn't harbor such negative attitudes about them.

Humans don't like to be on the outside looking in. I think it's instinctive to distrust what is hidden from the masses with arcane rituals, etc.

The thing is that the "hidden" thing hasn't been a supportable excuse for near a quarter-millennium. Just going off the top of my head here but IIRC, the first book accurately (or relatively accurately) detailing Masonic ritual came out in the 1730s. The 1730s fer cryin' out loud! And it isn't like there hasn't been anything in the interim to keep the whistle whetted for those so inclined as far as finding out about ritual without going through the bother of joining.

I hate to say it but just hauling off and slagging Masonry without the bother of a bit of actual research is just plain laziness at its most insolent. It's more a case of 'I need someone/some group to pillory and Masons / Knights of Columbus / blacks / immigrants / others of whatever stripe' and for those such as that for whom hate is a reflex, I have neither time nor truck.

Fitz

reply to post by Fitzgibbon

Bah! I'm a fan of the Droid.

reply to post by rtyfx

So we should give into appeasement?

Ah, don't attack me. I've given you an objective opinion.

I don't advocate for or against anyone. Read my earlier posts.

I'm leaving now. I don't care for the hostility.

Originally posted by rtyfx
Ah, don't attack me. I've given you an objective opinion.

I don't advocate for or against anyone. Read my earlier posts.

I'm leaving now. I don't care for the hostility.

Sorry you take being challenged on an opinion to be innately hostile. That's unfortunate as I don't think anyone's been hostile to you.

And opinions are never objective. By their very nature, they're subjective. Not that that's bad by any stretch. I have an opinion about Masonry. I don't pretend that it's absolutely or for that matter any opinion I hold is objective; it can't be. T'ain't the nature of the beast

Fitz

I have quite a few friends in Freemasonry in New Jersey that I met through a mutual hobby and they know my opinions on this matter and in one exchange we were having concerning masonic corruption, he did admit to upon receiving his disability benefits very early in age, his masonic affilations were key because the presiding judge was a brother and some "communication" was exchanged beforehand to steer the verdict in his favor. This isn't anything groundbreaking in itself but if you see this happening on a larger scale in world politics, it becomes alarming. I know at least publicly- I forget the exact wording on the application, but you can't join Freemasonry for "mercenary gains" but this is an example of those tenets ignored. That said, I don't see the need for secret societies in this day and age.