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KSigMason
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Except you misquoted Pike and seem to have a general lack of knowledge of what he was writing about.
Pike was talking about how those who deserve to be misled. Freemasonry is a progressive science taught by degrees, but we don't deceive or lie to our members. I've been through more degrees and orders than I can count and my experience tells me all of this supposition and conjecture is without merit, and the history of anti-Masonry keeps me weary of those crying wolf constantly.
And you know this how?
The 33rd is only the highest degree in the Scottish Rite. I don't get why people focus so much upon a simple numbering system.
How could that be since he died 25-years before the first Grand Lodge was formed?
Freemasonry is not a religion. We don't meet the basic requirements to be considered a religion.
112233
I have to go hang out with my family but I'll be back.
Namaste
112233
Also according to Pike on the Royal Arch of Solomon chapter on page 213 he says that "Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teaching are instruction in religion." I have to go hang out with my family but I'll be back.
Namaste
Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion. For here are inculcated disinterestedness, affection, toleration, devotedness, patriotism, truth, a generous sympathy with those who suffer and mourn, pity for the fallen, mercy for the erring, relief for those in want, Faith, Hope, and .Charity. Here we meet as brethren, to learn to know and love each other. Here we greet each other gladly, are lenient to each other's faults, regardful of each other's feelings, ready to relieve
p. 214
each other's wants. This is the true religion revealed to the ancient patriarchs; which Masonry has taught for many centuries, and which it will continue to teach as long as time endures. If unworthy passions, or selfish, bitter, or revengeful feelings, contempt, dislike, hatred, enter here, they are intruders and not welcome, strangers uninvited, and not guests.
Certainly there are many evils and bad passions, and much hate and contempt and unkindness everywhere in the world. We cannot refuse to see the evil that is in life. But all is not evil. We still see God in the world. There is good amidst the evil. The hand of mercy leads wealth to the hovels of poverty and sorrow. Truth and simplicity live amid many wiles and sophistries. There are good hearts underneath gay robes, and under tattered garments also.
Love clasps the hand of love, amid all the envyings and distractions of showy competition; fidelity, pity, and sympathy hold the long night-watch by the bedside of the suffering neighbor, amidst the surrounding poverty and squalid misery. Devoted men go from city to city to nurse those smitten down by the terrible pestilence that renews at intervals its mysterious marches. Women well-born and delicately nurtured nursed the wounded soldiers in hospitals, before it became fashionable to do so; and even poor lost women, whom God alone loves and pities, tend the plague-stricken with a patient and generous heroism. Masonry and its kindred Orders teach men to love each other, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the sick, and bury the friendless dead. Everywhere God finds and blesses the kindly office, the pitying thought, and the loving heart.
But yeah Masonry and Freemasonry have their separations and why I just used 33 as an example that you will probably never hit those degrees because you don't have the right blood or connections.
It is the highest in the Scottish Rite but it falls under the Masonic Umbrella.
He is considered one of the founders of the First Grand Lodge...
...because he was one of the first accounts found of a speculative Freemason Lodge in England before the founding of the First Grand Lodge...
...it was found NOT the first speculative Lodge of it's time, there were many others apparently in England at the time, speculative not operative.
Please tell me why you think it isn't a religion? I beg to differ. But I'd like to read your thoughts.
As far as that part in Blue Lodge being misled, in Morals and Dogma on the Knight Kadosh chapter on page 819.
I know you guys come with your religion intact, its an international fraternity.
Also according to Pike on the Royal Arch of Solomon chapter on page 213 he says that "Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teaching are instruction in religion."
KSigMason
Those who are intentionally ignorance deserve to be misled...maybe that's horrible of me to say, but from my interaction with people so many care little about the truth and more about their agenda. I've even had anti-Masons tell me that they did not need facts or like facts because it doesn't support their story and propaganda.
We don't venerate or raise (probably meant "praise") Lucifer. Nowhere does Pike state that we Masons worship Lucifer.
There are a lot of degrees, but they don't add to 360, even if you take them as a collective. The degrees have numerous symbols and influences in them, still doesn't support your idea of "360 Freemasonry". You are speaking out of conjecture.
And you really don't know where I sit in Freemasonry or what degrees I've attained nor do you know how Freemasonry operates it seems.
It is the highest in the Scottish Rite but it falls under the Masonic Umbrella.
So? I've never denied that. I've just pointed out the false opinion that it is some centralized authority over Freemasonry or some kind of "stepping stone" into higher "unknown" degrees and/or bodies.
He is considered one of the founders of the First Grand Lodge...
According to whom?
Which makes him a famous historical figure, not a founder of the first Grand Lodge.
...it was found NOT the first speculative Lodge of it's time, there were many others apparently in England at the time, speculative not operative.
I know this. I'm very familiar with Masonic history.
Well as a member I know we are not a religion. We don't seek converts, we don't solicit, we have no sectarian faith, we have no dogma or theology, we allow men of all faiths to join, we offer no plan of salvation, and we have no sacrament. By all requirements of a religion we don't qualify.
I'm familiar with this (mis)quote and as I've said before, what Pike was meaning with this was that those who deserve to be misled will be misled by their own ignorance. This is the problem with people like you, you think one quote taken way out of context can define the practices of an entire fraternity (that is much larger than just the Scottish RIte). This degree also warns against the ignorant, fascist, and tyrannical who twist truths to suit their agenda (ironic).
Pike was not without fault. Some things he wrote in this book are incorrect and thus today we see the need for an abridged version from the likes of Arturo de Hoyos (a very knowledgeable Mason).
Actually Lucifer is only referred to as a disgraced fallen King in the Book of Isaiah.
Well aren't you a doll. I meant in the sense that their are higher degrees not attained unless you had family that was a part of it.
Well for one Frank C. Higgins...
Sacrament like the Holy Book symbolic in every Lodge or the symbols used in every Lodge for ritualistic purposes?
I typed it from the book you can at least re-read it to see he is specifically talking about them being intentionally misled which is a lack of wisdom, IMO.
I was talking about how he is perceived at large.
Masonry is not a religion. He who makes of it a religious belief, falsifies and denaturalizes it.
muzzleflash
MysterX
..provided EVERYONE was invited to the party and nobody was deliberately harmed, do what you like!
But don't...really don't preach or claim views on equality when there is a huge, enormous elephant in the room making it plainly obvious that is not a sincere sentiment.
But here you are "better than them" passing judgement ?
You have no evidence of any of those claims any more than I have evidence that you are holding slaves in your basement.
'Enormous Elephants' usually have evidence that supports their existence don't they?
Please share the evidence about your claims.
This is the perfect place to debunk my thread and prove everything is in fact the opposite of what I claimed.
But you will need some evidence and more than personal attacks to make a real case.
EFFBD
networkdude, KSigmason and AugustusMasonicus: I have a simple question (and although you may question my intentions, it is asked in good faith):
Do you believe a Bible-centred Christian can become and remain a practising Mason without any "conflict of interest" (for want of a better term)?
MamaJ
I like the God= All part the most in the OP.
Is it fact? I have no idea if it is or not however I would believe it more so than anything.