As a freemason i know what freemasonry entails people like to think its a secret society well its not its a society that is here for the good of mankind which supports lots of diffrent charitys and organiations throughout the world we are in every civilised country in the world and the world is a better place for us being in it
217835
There are several secret societies, and we all know that.\n\nThe reason for people having an opinion that is not necessarily positive, is because they are afraid of them  and because they dont take into account the fact that y ou can be Master of your own existance.  This is way too much complex for people to understand and believe, so as a Mason yourself, you must know evolution is differnt in every being.\n\nSo Ignorance, would be the right answer for this.
32067
The world will never be a peaceful place as long as there are material interest as a base of society,it's simple-people are greedy and that meeans that no matter their lack of need they will threat other people for their resources.It isn't fair yet it happens since the begining of the forms of human organisation.
254483
You wished to talk with an esoteric Freemason? You got it. I will give you only my take on the questions you asked. Freemasons are that, FREE. We speak for ourselves.\n\nFirst, there are branches of Freemasonry that are more esoteric than others. \n\nSome are truly simple fraternal service organizations. Shriners do enormous good for children - orthopedics and burn hospitals that do not take a penny from families unable to pay. Go ahead and dis that and then tell me what YOU are doing to help the world. *sorry, I do get tired of the anti-Masonic stuff occasionally*\n\nI am a member of the American Co-Masons. We are Freemasons who admit women and men of all races and religions, who are of legal age, good repute, and believe in a Supreme Being. Most of all that person must ASK to join. We do not recruit. \n\nWe are a system of morality. We use the symbols of ancient operative stone masons as reminders of how to conduct our daily lives. Symbols have only the meaning we choose to invest in them. Sounds like a cop out. Strangely enough though, when a new member of the Lodge asks what a particular symbol means, he is often asked right back, "Well, what does it mean to you?" We layer meanings, you see. We find new meanings for the symbols as they apply. \n\nLet me give you a made up example (yes, I do wish to keep within due bounds of my own oaths here not to reveal things I am sworn not to reveal - more on that in a second, promise): Suppose we had a society based upon Shepherding. I mean that would be as rich in symbols, right? The head of our Lodge might be called "The Faithful Shepherdess" and we would talk about using the Shepherd's Crook of our conscience to keep the sheep of our thoughts from straying away from our sworn tasks. Later on, some Brother might say he found that he used the Shepherd's Crook to remind his Brother not to go into that barroom with that dancer and instead to head home to his wife.  Silly madeup example but there you go.\n\nOK, you may read many interpretations about the Square and the Compasses. Notice, it is not compass (that is a magnetic thing that shows direction) but compasses (that is a drawing tool). Interpretations abound online. Each Freemason is encouraged to bring their own meanings to them. I will give you only a little to chew on.\n\nThe Square is unchanging. It measures a block to make sure it is uniform. What a wonderful thing that was in building! If you "square your work or area up" what does that mean? It means to make it as perfect as you can. Square is truly a 4 sided object (two sides are missing in most representations). \n\nThe Compasses is used in circles and in trigonometry. It has three parts. It opens and closes. Nice complement to something so rigid as a Square, right? \n\nThere are those who find their combination to be something sexual. Some say it looks like a guy and a gal together, some say it looks like a mandorla. There are those who laugh when the school cafeteria serves hotdogs on buns, too. *sigh*\n\n\nIn regards to the G, not all Lodges have a G. The French have a D. Ahem, does that give you a clue? Mon Dieu! Did I give you too much? Perhaps. In my Order we have a five pointed star, the pent-alpha with a Yod (Hebrew letter) in the center of that. Wonder what that means?\n\nOne can argue that there is a select cabal of very rich men who run this world. And of course you do not know their names because they are secret. You cannot disprove this because no proof is ever given. You can say it is the Roman Catholic Church, the Freemasons, the Jews, the Mafia, the Illuminati, or all of them. The Freemasons I know are upright and law-abiding folks. We work pretty hard at trying to improve the world and ourselves. Personally, I would be unwilling to take the reins of anything beyond myself right now. Too daunting. \n\nRegarding secrets. Mostly what we want for the candidate of each degree is that he or she not have expectations of the
459713
its not immoral.. society wants us to think it is because the majority of people cant accept what they dont understand. They fear people who are not like them and therefore need to villify us because we do not fit the cookie cutter standards.
291213
I agree with you. Think of how many millions would live full lives without religious problems placed on them. Think of how many people will suddenly have a high quality of life since they are no longer sending their hard earned money to mega-church bank-accounts. The issue is so clear to me. Right my brother right on. The world could live in such perfect harmony. Right and wrong could be the new laws to follow, withouth the intervention of mythical persons watching over you waiting to punish you for not accepting them as the truth.
260491
I am a mason. Females cant join for the same reason girls don't join the boy scouts. The order of the eastern star is the ladies version of the masons. No we are not pagan druids or scientist. We are group of people the meet have fun do ALOT of charity work and learn how to be a more honest person\n\nFYI some modern famous masons are Scott Pippen (the basketball player), also Pierce Broson (the guy who played James bond) There are many more but mostly if you find a famous person that is a mason they will almost always be someone that is thought to be a good person with very little controversy
143057
It is a branch of the Masons.  Many Masons belong to the Scottish Rite, but not all, and you must be a Mason to join.  I doubt if there's anything terrible going on in there--my husband is a Mason, and he's told me just enough for me to know that it's a good group, and it follows Christian teachings.  (They claim to be the builders of the temple of Solomon, hence the name).
313843
Why put masonic symbols on the $1 note when most folks are not?\n\nLatin (amongst others) is considered the language of the educated and, as such, is often used to give an educated slant to the mundane.\n\nRather than just a simple translation check the link below:\n\nEnjoy
441782
Hello there,\n\nYes, I 100% believe in secret societies. \n\nNow when I say "secret societies" , yes it may not be a secret as you know the word sercret, but are you or me a part of any of these societies? No.\n\nWho is allowed, yes, allowed to enter these secret societies then you may ask me, well, let me show you who can be a part of these secret societies who run our country and Europe:\n\nJust so you know, here is a like below on who in our government were or are members of the Illuminiati and some of the Illumiati symbols around America with some extra websites about the Illuminati for you.\n\nHope this helps you....................................................  :-)
668982
Our symbols are everywhere, and we make no attempt to hide them.  The Illuminati, however, have nothing to do with us.  They don't even exist anymore.  Their organization barely lasted a decade, and they disbanded.  They are nothing like the Freemasons, a fraternity that publicly admits membership, and who does charitable work to help others.
434206
I used to be in a fraternity as well (and it was also not the typical). I don't tell anyone about it now. It's not as important in the real world as most greeks would have you believe.
63418
The Catholic Church has difficulties with Freemasonry because it is indeed a kind of religion unto itself. The practice of Freemasonry includes temples, altars, a moral code, worship services, vestments, feast days, a hierarchy of leadership, initiation and burial rites, and promises of eternal reward and punishment. While in America most Masons are Christian and will display a Bible on their "altar," in the same lodges or elsewhere, Jews, Moslems, Hindus or other non-Christian religions can be admitted and may use their own sacred scriptures. (In France, in 1877, the "Grand Orient" Lodge eliminated the need to believe in God or the immortality of the soul, thereby admitting atheists into their fold; this atheistic type of Freemasonry spread particularly in Latin countries.)\n\nMoreover, the rituals involve the corruption of Christianity. The cross is merely a symbol of nature and eternal life, devoid of Christ's sacrifice for sin. INRI (For Christians, "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum," i.e. Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews) means for Masons "Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" ("the fire of nature rejuvenates all) referring to the sacred fire's (truth and love) regeneration of mankind, just as the sun regenerates nature in the Spring.\n\nThe rituals are also inimical to Catholicism. During the initiation rite, the candidate expresses a desire to seek "light," and he is assured he will receive the light of spiritual instruction that he could not receive in another Church, and that he will gain eternal rest in the "celestial lodge" if he lives and dies according to Masonic principles. Note also that since Masonry involves non-Christians, the use of the name of Jesus is forbidden within the lodge.\n\nA strong Anti-Catholicism also permeates Freemasonry. The two traditional enemies of Freemasonry are the royalty and the papacy. Masons even believe that Christ, dying on Calvary, was the "greatest among the apostles of humanity, braving Roman despotism and the fanaticism and bigotry of the priesthood." When one reaches the 30th degree in the masonic hierarchy, called the Kadosh, the person crushes with his foot the papal tiara and the royal crown, and swears to free mankind "from the bondage of despotism and the thraldom of spiritual tyranny."\n\nA second difficulty with Freemasonry for Catholics involves taking of oaths. An oath is a religious act which asks God to witness the truth of the statement or the fulfillment of a promise. Only the Church and the state, for serious reasons, can require an oath. A candidate makes an oath to Freemasonry and its secrets under pain of death or self-mutilation by kneeling blindfolded in front of the altar, placing both hands on the volume of sacred law (perhaps the Bible), the square and the compass, and repeating after the "worshipful master." Keep in mind that the candidate does not yet even know all the "secrets" to which he is taking an oath. \n\nThe history of Freemasonry has proven its anti-Catholic nature. In the United States, one of the leaders of Freemasonry, General Albert Pike (d. 1891) referred to the papacy as "a deadly, treacherous enemy," and wrote, "The papacy has been for a thousand years the torturer and curse of humanity, the most shameless imposture, in its pretense to spiritual power of all ages." In France, in 1877, and in Portugal in 1910, Freemasons took control of the government for a time and enacted laws to restrict the activities of the Church, particularly in education. In Latin America, the Freemasons have expressed anti-Church and anti-clerical sentiment.\n\nSince the decree "In Eminenti" of Pope Clement XII in 1738, Catholics have been forbidden to jojn the Masons, and until 1983, under pain of excommunication. (The Orthodox and several Protestant churches also ban membership in the Masons.) Confusion occurred in 1974, when
625469
The Freemasons have a lot of power politically, as do members of organizations affiliated with them under the same umbrella.  They might all be lumped together as groups that are part of the Illuminati.  Examples are George W. Bush, John Kerry, DickChesney and others.\n\nThe following web sites and pages might give you some oof the answers you are seeking:\n\nhttp://www.savethemales.ca/000594.html\n\nhttp://www.savethemales.ca/141002.html\n\nhttp://savethemales.ca/archives/\n\nhttp://www.freemasonrywatch.org\nFollow the links.\n\nhttp://thebiggestsecretpict.online.fr/nwo.htm\n\nhttp://www.conspiracyarchive.com\n\nThe goal of the Freemasons, like that of other Illuminati seems to be that of one world government, under their control e.g. by giant corporations, who squeeze out small businesses.  They seem to proceed thrugh theft, while giving, usually on the system of liquid assets, in a tokenistic manner.
118264
Many are scams or scammers are the members.  Hard to find a good person with all that scamming going on.
543598
WOW,  it looks like nobody on here has any clue what they are talking about.  As a Mason, I should be able to answer this question for you.\n\nTo become a Mason, you must merely be a good man who believes in a higher power.  Then you should ask a member of your local lodge to meet and discuss joining.  They will be happy to talk to you and get you started.\n\nWhen I joined, I had no idea what to expect.  I have since met many wonderful people and have learned a great deal about myself and others.  You really learn how to work well and serve your community through charity.  It is a great fraternal organization. \n\nThere will always be those who accuse Masons of being Satanic, or of being evil at the higher levels, but let me assure you that the higher degrees of Freemasonry are only a continuation of the first three, which recounts a legend that takes place during the building of King Solomon's temple.  As a 32nd degree Mason myself, I have never seen or heard anything to lead me to believe that anyone in our midst is a Satanist.  In fact, there are members of my lodge who are Christian ministers, Muslims, and Jews.\n\nContrary to what some may say about the higher degrees, those of us who are 32nd degree Masons are often the ones with more opportunity to do good work in the community.\n\nIf you take away nothing else from my writings here, know this....you will always learn more about Freemasonry from Masons than you will from people who are guessing about the fraternity or regurgitating opinions about what they have read.  Find out for yourself.  We are a noble institution that strives to make good men better.
629897
DUDE!!! The freemasons are the world's largest SATANIC organization.  Nothing about their "club" is christian or godly in any way, shape, or form.  The masons were founded in ancient Egypt during the time of the Hebrew enslavement... their purpose for being created was to haunt the children of the Father (Hebrews/Jews/believers in Messiah) throughout history and do all that they can to corrupt and destroy them.  Freemasons working for out US government's top-secret branches are responsible for the World Trade Center bombing as well as the Twin Tower airplane attack.  The freemasons are a satanic group... they are not Christian in any way.  The reason their guild is so secretive is because they do not want people to know about the animal, child, and human sacrifices they perform, they don't want people to know about their ritual sex orgies, they don't want the world to know that they are worshipping the devil and not the Father/Creator.  There are 26, 33, or 36 levels in the freemasons guild, can't remember precisely... anyhow, the first 3 levels are the "club" levels, where a bunch of wealthy fools sit around a men's/gentlemen's club talking about business, life, whatever comes to mind.  Mason recruiters browse the gatherings of the 3 entry levels into the guild and when they come across a man they believe to be corruptable or of evil-heart they will propose an offer that will begin moving that individual up through the higher ranks of the masons.  By the time an individual has reached the 16th rank of being a mason, that man will be required to perform his first animal sacrifice to Satan.  By the time an individual has progressed through the ranks and reached the HIGHEST 3 levels of masonry, they are at this time required to begin performing human sacrifices, participating in many satanic rituals, etc.  92% of all masons never make it past the first 3 levels, only 4% make it to level 16, only 2% make it past level 16, and only another 2% ever make it into the top 3 rankings of the masons... I know a man who was on the Freemasons' Council of the Thirteen... This is a 13 member council that runs most all of the western world... This man that I knew was a 26 year mason and had reached and surpassed the TOP 3 levels of ranking in his last 4 years as a mason.  This man in his last year of masonry was offered a seat as a council member.  He accepted the position and 5 months into being a council member, Satan or a high ranked demon appeared to the 13 men at a meeting they were having to discuss many things about the world economy and some wars that were going on... the dark spirit began attacking one of the council members after he made a "bad" suggestion about a situation that needed taking care of.  My friend began packing up his belongings in his house after that meeting that night so he could leave and escape the evil he had gotten himself into... he went back to 2 more council meetings, after which he planned on disappearing from any contacts he ever had.  At his second meeting, the one he planned to make his last, he was confronted by 3 council members who began accusing him of being a traitor and planning to expose the council.  I don't know how he talked his way out of it, and to this day he doesn't know how he did either, but after convincing the council he was dedicated to Satan and to the destruction of the world and to the masons guild, he left for the day and snuck his things out his house and has been a hunted man ever since.  He has several writings about the atrosities that the freemasons are commiting amongst the higher ranks, he has 1 book about the council of the 13 and how they run the western world and a small portion of 3rd world countries.  This man's wife and son were murdered the day after he snuck his belongings out his back door and snuck off to go into hiding.  He went back to his house the next day, cause his wife and son were asl
136632
I think that there are two types of religious people, there are the "this is my religion and it tells you how to live your life" this is never a good way to look at religion and causes wars and personal persecution on a large scale, so for those people belonging to a religion is a bad thing for everyone. Then there's the "this is my religion and it tell me how to live my life", these people have a positive effect on society because they are living what they believe is a good way of life, such people are normally the Charity workers and the people that give without wanting to receive, for these people belonging to a religion can only be a positive thing. its a good thing to have a personal faith but it does not have to be attached to any religion. In my case I believe in myself and my own existence (its the only thing I can be 100% sure of)