"what does a black stone mean to a mason"?
114205
It depends on what order he belongs to. There are thousands!(The Knights of Malta, Holy order of the rosy cross, Scottish rite masons, ect...) They all have differant interpretations of history, religion, and symbolism. In some, the black stone is a representation of "the black stone" of the Ka'aba of Mecca. Some believe this stone is a meteorite that comes from Orion. Fragments of this stone are sent to wherever on earth a spiritual mission is needed. Others see black stones as negative, the Ka'aba of Mecca is believed by others that it was once white- and is stained black by our sins. \nBlack stone as you can see hold positive and negative meanings. Death, life, rebirth, negativity, dark magical use, protective magical use. There is no way to know what his stone means unless you know what Rite he is a member of.
598292
Rebeka Lodge etc. are NOT CHRISTIAN at all! They are part of the Masonic Faith.  YES! Masons are a definite religion!
595357
the Masons are not a  religious organization or a religious cult. No matter what the uneducated 'bible thumpers' will say. the ceremonies and rituals are religious in nature but the Masons accept all religions with the exception of an atheist. you must believe in a supreme being. This is why the Christians don't like the Masons.\noriginally the Masons were like a gentleman's club with the most powerful and influential men in the town, or city belonging. \nif you want more information talk to a Mason.
815205
a stone is a stone is a stone.
260723
Do you mean "set in stone"?  When you say something is "set in stone" then you've gotten so far that the decision cannot be changed.  For instance:  "Joe's promotion isn't set in stone."  It means that Joe doesn't have the new position locked yet - someone else could still come in and take it.
985079
The Skull and Bones cult that Bush belongs too is not connected with the Masonic order. I understand that in one of the Skull & Bones rituals that the members drink wine from the stolen skull of the American Indian Chief Geronimo. This is probably to stop GETTING ridiculed BY Masons. For a number of reasons. One of which is that the skull and crossbones was a flag that Mason's ( Knight's Templar's ) who fled Europe when King Phillip sent an army to kill them in the early 1300's, created. They were men without a country. SOME of them became pirates in order to feed themselves and survive. That is where the orgination of the pirate flag comes from. Mason's are not Satanic. In fact the dominate religion in any area of the globe is central to Masonic Rituals. Be it Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddist. Masonic values are Global. Not confined to one religion or belief. Tolerance and understanding of others rights to believe or not believe as they choose is a cornerstone of their teachings.\n This thing with Bush and the Skulls is another thing all together. From what I have heard and understand, it is a group of MEN who take care of each other by way of wealth and oaths they take, without regard to the betterment of ALL mankind. They seem to be intent to further their own wealth by whatever means they can.
12418
"While it may be reckless speculation to claim a certain symbolic meaning as the original intent of an artist working in the Dark Ages, we should not dismiss that an artist working in our own times intends a symbolic message in the same type of design and that that meaning is valid in context.  The problems that occur are a result of there being very little consensus among artists about Celtic symbolism and the perception that the symbolism suggested has been gleaned from an ancient source.  The naive believer hopes that the symbolism offered by a modern artist or craftsman is an authentic legacy from the past.  The skeptic thinks this is very unlikely and considers it fanciful fakery."\n\nMore info at the link below.
1190
The custom of placing stones on a grave or gravestone may hearken back to the biblical custom of erecting a pile of stones over a grave as a marker. It may also reflect the importance of visitation to the grave, with the stone indicating that someone has been to visit.\n\nRabbi David Wolpe suggests that in ancient times, a shepard counted his sheep at the beginning of the day by carrying the corresponding number of stones, and these were used to ascertain that the same number returned at night. Rabbi Wolpe then suggests that thestones may symbolize how precious each soul is to God, who, as it were, 'counts" each person in the world.\n\n-->
929781
What kind of stone?\n.
650372
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
964357
I don't see how, it's a Latin root which simply means ' black '. What's offensive about that? Confusing, maybe, for me. I'm an artist. I work with color. Having a conversation with someone who's ' black ' but really what I see is Burnt or Raw Umber! Really throws me for a loop. Then, can you see explaining; " No, you're not really black. I see a lot of Iron Oxide Red, with a tad of Ivory Black or, in your case - Burnt Sienna, definitely, maybe a tad Caput Mortuum. " So, for expedience sake I say, yes. You're black ", and relegate it to Academia!
1148218
The explanation given by the "co-mason" NeoArt is accurate and informative.  I, as an Ancient Free and Accepted Mason (the "real" Masons if you will), can only add this.  "Co-masons" are generally not recognized by real Masonic Lodges and will most likely not be permitted to attend meetings.  Many Masons in this country still are not even aware that this group exists.  \n\nNeoArt mentioned that Co-masons require that their "brothers" must declare belief in a higher power, but are not pressed further on the issue and there are no religious requirements apart from not being an atheist.  This is the case with real Masons as well.  There is no futher requirement where religious belief in concerned.\n\nCo-Masons seem to mean well, and are most likely very good hearted individuals who are lookinig to improve themselves and their community, just as real Masons are and have.  They just seem to differ in a few areas that caused them to form their own fringe group.  Co-masons should still be respected as people who are trying to do good, but they will not be accepted by real Masons, as doing so would violate the oath that every Freemason takes.
335272
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).
368379
I agree there is no way to recognize a mason. But there are few ways to ask that you might not realize they were asking. What is "mamacica"\n   For example a well informed Mason would know i was a mason by my screenname  Tat, I m s a s p a s,
823866
Good start: asking questions. I wish more folks would, instead of just condemning others.\n\nI am a Master Mason (and a Mark Mason) of an esoteric branch of Freemasonry called Co-Masonry. We admit women and men of all races, all religions, as long as they are tolerant of faiths other than their own, at least 21 years of age, and good folk. \n\nOur ultimate goal is to take ourselves and improve ourselves -- only person you can change is yourself. Why? To make ourselves "more fitting vessels for The Light, smoother stones to be used to build the Temple of Solomon." Metaphors for beings who are shining beacons of goodness who can work well together.\n\nFunny thing, we learn without dogma, without folks preaching to us. The lessons are subtle. Many come in the door, but few stay. Each degree teaches more but it takes awhile to learn each degree. \n\nYou get where you trust your Brothers (yep, we call women in our Craft "Brother," too) to do what they say they are going to do. You also give them help and give help to other charities that need it. Why? Because you realize we are all here by the help of others. We need to be able to trust each other. \n\nCo-Masonry is more than just a fraternal organization, we are part of the mystery schools of old. We nourish the spirit of mankind but do not tell you how to worship God. We do not tell you what comes after this life, just what works best in this one. Thus, we are not a religion, just a system of morality. Make sense? Sometimes it does to me, sometimes not.\n\nIf you want to talk more about it, feel free to write to me. There are things I cannot discuss but I will tell you what I can. You can also click on the link below. No salesmen will call. *grin*\n\nA Master Mason\nAmerican Co-Masonry\nHiram Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)\nAmon Ra Lodge (Los Angeles, CA)\nSapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)\nAdamant Mark Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)
1164920
This question has been answered on a few other threads but I will give you some basics (and NOT what you can get from Wikipedia).\n\nFreemasons are a composed of a diverse set of organizations. In the United States, for example, each state or region has its own rites and rituals for what we call "the masculine rite".  There is also Co-Masonry, of which I am a member, that admits women and men to all the rites and privileges.  So what one Freemason may answer here is only one viewpoint.\n\nThere are secrets but they are mostly passwords and signs to prove yourself as a member of the Society. Those grips and tokens are remnants of ancient times when few could read and write and it was necessary to be able to travel beyond where one was known. Was it because masons were stone masons or was it because we were actually Knights Templars in hiding? No one knows for sure. Whatever the case, those secret words are hardly secret if one looks hard enough.\n\nIs it a secret who is a Mason? Hardly! Check the back of their car. Look at their hands, are they wearing a Masonic ring? Masons are usually proud of belonging to such an upright and charitable organization. Although with that said, in some countries being a Mason has been a death sentence: Hitler killed Masons, in Portugal the Catholic dictators did too.\n\nMasonic belief is in the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would do unto you. Our belief and practice is in the equality of mankind and the need for justice dispensed equally. In my Order and in most Orders of Freemasons it is a requirement that the person believe in God (a Supreme Being whatever your religion chooses to call that). We leave religion and politics outside the Lodge door, however, save that upon which we all can agree. We practice tolerance of all religions. We, in Co-Masonry, admit all genders and races.\n\nOur purpose? To put it most clearly is to make good people better. We are a kind of morality. We take our lessons from the symbols of ancient stone masons. We do our best to put those lessons in practice in our lives. It is difficult to hew stone. It is far more difficult to change our own behaviors. No one changes them for a Mason but himself with the help of God. \n\nI know it is easy to distrust and throw mud at that which we do not know, but look to our past at the famous founders of the US and Great Britian, liberators of South America and Mexico. Look to  your own families; I bet that some of your grandfathers and uncles were Masons. \n\nOur doors are open to women and men over 21, free (not slaves to drugs or jails), and of good report. You do not have to be rich. You do have to want to make yourself  "The Temple of Solomon."  We do not recruit. You have to knock for yourself. \n\nI am a Master Mason. I believe it has made and continues to make me a better person.
566142
Wow, I really wondered about it too, so a couple of years ago, I did some research on it, and I came up with three answers that were repeated over and over. I guess to know for sure which one is right, or if any of them are right, you would have to know the person who is placing the stone, and ask them. Below are the three things I found out:\n\n1. In Judaism, placing stones was traditionally a way to help keep the spirit of the dead in the grave. This appears to have been an Eastern European superstition that spread to the Jewish people who lived in that area of the world. It was thought that the spirits of even very good people stuck around to see their bodies buried, and might stay near the grave for a day or two. The stone was a symbolic lid, meant to keep the spirit in, and evil out, so that the spirit was not taken over by an evil force. The great majority of Jewish people in the US are of Eastern European origin, having emigrated here either before or after WWII,  so that tradition is very strong in American Jewish culture. \n\n2. The stone sometimes symbolizes a cairn. Cairns are little, man-made piles of rocks used to mark the site where someone is buried. Cairns were traditional in Scotland and parts of Northern England. Placing one rock represents a cairn, or someone might build a small cairn as a memorial to the dead, such as on the side of the road where a person had been killed in an accident. Cairns were also used to mark a place that had significance, such as a path or a historical site. If I remember correctly, some other cultures marked burial sites with piles of stones, but I am afraid I only remember the Scottish and English for sure, as that is where the word "cairn" comes from.\n\n3. In most cultures, it is considered respectful to bring something to the grave of a deceased person to bear witness to the fact that you were there and that you acknowledge their death and still remember them. For example, in the US, the most common thing that people bring to graves is flowers, even if the person buried there has been gone for a long time. However, any object will do. Sometimes, that object happens to be a stone. The object itself is not considered as important as the act of actually placing it.\n\nIt took me a long time to find out the little bit I told you about above. I see it all the time, but it was hard to find any concrete reasons why people carry on this tradition. I hope my information answers at least part of your question.