Freemason Reactions

[John Jennings]

Hmmmm....so apparently I expressed my interest on the mason page in Facebook and it showed up on everybody's news-feed A couple people at work have expressed their concern about my soul. I see I will have to be a little more discreet about my interests. You would have thought I had confessed my love to Satan. Why are people so scared?


How do you handle people when they approach you that way?

 

[JJones]

How are you instructed to handle them in your lectures?

I'm pretty active on my Facebook in some Masonic circles but I haven't gotten any flak for it. In person, however, I like to be more discreet.

 

[John Jennings]

I'm not a mason yet. I just expressed interest.

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[crono782]

Most of the masses have ZERO idea about anything to do with freemasonry. If you ask them *why* they are concerned it will almost always lead to heresay by a friend of a friend of a friend or a nut job conspiracy theory website.... Or "History" Channel. basically they're concerned for a reason they can't even articulate and have no source.

I wouldn't bother educating. You're not really in a position of authority on the subject. Basically keep it close like immediate family for now.


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[John Jennings]

Thanks!

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[crono782]

To better address your question, people fear why they do not understand plain an simple. And in a time of non transparency = bad in society's mind, that makes it worse in they eyes of the close minded.


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[John Jennings]

On person told me to YouTube it. I could but anyone can make a video. That doesn't make it true. But I chose not to debate.

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[crono782]

Ah YouTube, that bastion of truth...


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[John Jennings]

She went into the origins of the symbols of freemasonry and how you don't learn the truth until you are too far in...If it's so horrible, I just can't see how fathers would encourage their sons to join. It just doesn't make since. I'll still pursue it but I just thought I would post this as I'm sure this won't be the last time I'm approached.

 

[JJones]

Oh you're not a brother? Sorry, it's what I get for assuming.

Anyhow, I've always found it amusing how outsiders think they know more about the fraternity than the members themselves. We're certainly not ruling the world, if we were then I think things would be a bit more peaceful. We're certainly not devil worshipers since God and the Bible are woven so deeply into our rituals and lessons that they'd be incomplete without either.

People always fear what they don't understand. I suppose I can see how the light would be scary if someone spent their life in darkness.

Edit: The third degree is as 'far in' as you go. There's no higher degree than Master mason. There are other organizations that require you to be a MM to join them...and yes they confer additional degrees, but they're all supplementary, not additional, if that makes sense. I can assure you being a 360th degree Grand Muckety Muck of an appendant body won't get you any special seats or parking when Grand Lodge is in session.

 

[BroBill]

Oh you're not a brother? Sorry, it's what I get for assuming.

Anyhow, I've always found it amusing how outsiders think they know more about the fraternity than the members themselves. We're certainly not ruling the world, if we were then I think things would be a bit more peaceful. We're certainly not devil worshipers since God and the Bible are woven so deeply into our rituals and lessons that they'd be incomplete without either.

People always fear what they don't understand. I suppose I can see how the light would be scary if someone spent their life in darkness.

Edit: The third degree is as 'far in' as you go. There's no higher degree than Master mason. There are other organizations that require you to be a MM to join them...and yes they confer additional degrees, but they're all supplementary, not additional, if that makes sense. I can assure you being a 360th degree Grand Muckety Muck of an appendant body won't get you any special seats or parking when Grand Lodge is in session.

York and Scottish Rite confer additional degrees, not "higher". York Rite and Scottish Rite are composed of Masonic bodies and as such are authorized to meet in Masonic Lodges to conduct business. The Grand High Priest (Chapter), Grand Master (Council), and Grand Commander (Commandery) are in fact introduced at the Grand Communication as visiting Masonic Dignitaries in attendance and I believe they do have reserved parking.

Just clarifying...

BroBill

 

[JJones]

Oddily enough, Grand officers didn't come to mind when I used the word 'grand'. It's admittingly a bad word choice but I stand by my statement if you omit that one word. I was thinking more along the lines of degrees and goofy titles but oh well.

 

[BroBill]

Oddily enough, Grand officers didn't come to mind when I used the word 'grand'. It's admittingly a bad word choice but I stand by my statement if you omit that one word. I was thinking more along the lines of degrees and goofy titles but oh well.

I see what you mean with your edit, it's what we try to impress upon the curious- our York and Scottish Rite degrees are not higher than that of Master Mason, but they are additional; and in the case of the York Rite in Texas, they add additional light to the lessons of the first three degrees but are in no way "higher" in stature. It can be difficult to explain to folks that are not yet initiated and try to learn about Masonry from the internet... sigh... Cheers...

S&F
BroBill

 

[dfreybur]

She went into the origins of the symbols of freemasonry and how you don't learn the truth until you are too far in...If it's so horrible, I just can't see how fathers would encourage their sons to join. It just doesn't make since. I'll still pursue it but I just thought I would post this as I'm sure this won't be the last time I'm approached.

My first reaction to antis is to thank God for them as they set such an obvious bad example when compared to the obvious good example of the men I encounter at lodge. Offer to compare any anti against any list of famous Masons or even against the best respected brothers in town. I also pray for the mental healing of antis.

When I hear the lame excuse about hidden agendas in higher degrees I just laugh with mirth. Plenty of my Masonic brothers are deacons in their churches, revered Grandpa of their families and so on. Just think what would happen if that sort of nonsense were to be sprung on them, on any of them. Masonry would be gone in a week. Masonry is centuries old, so it doesn't happen. Very simple how that works to any sane mind. And if that implies that antis are insane I'm happy to go back to my first reaction.

When I took my obligations the eminent Brothers obligating me told me the do not conflict with (a list I won't post here). I'll compare the reputations of these brothers who over the years became life long friends and mentors against the rantings of some lunatics on the Internet and of people so gullible as to believe everything bad they read but nothing good they read.

 

[Brother JC]

People fear what they don't understand, and what they are told to fear by others. Anyone who bases their beliefs on what they found on YouTube (or anywhere on the interwebz) needs a reality-check, anyway.

There will always be haters for everything on this green earth. If we listen to them, we do nothing, we accomplish nothing. Follow your heart, friend, and plant your own garden.

 

[BroBook]

People fear what they don't understand, and what they are told to fear by others. Anyone who bases their beliefs on what they found on YouTube (or anywhere on the interwebz) needs a reality-check, anyway.

There will always be haters for everything on this green earth. If we listen to them, we do nothing, we accomplish nothing. Follow your heart, friend, and plant your own garden.

As some know I am in the process of being healed , I must say I agree with the brothers,
I have heard of this type of madness off and on since 1984 , I always reply something like we have nothing I mean nothing to hide and anybody who thinks that all of sudden somebody could tell a son of THE LIGHT that oh by the way we really worship $@%#+^€< or anything besides G.O.D. Would cause all hell to break loose. Only a fool or one of his relatives would really believe such mess , but people do believe lies or half truths all the time !!!


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[PLAH3]

I agree whole heartedly. I am newly raised and am happy with my decision. I agree that people fear what they don't understand. I also find it funny that when it is brought up by outsiders that we worship the devil or have an inner circle bent on world domination (none of which is true), that their argument is you either aren't high enough or you're kept out of the loop. It's like you can't win for losing, they will always have the mentality " if you don't tell us then we'll make something up". It's sad.

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[MarkR]

Even if you answer all their questions, they'll still believe you're lying and covering up. Once my wife told a woman that she had to get home because I had to go to Lodge. The woman said "Oh, I'm so sorry." My wife asked why, and she said "Don't they worship Satan?" All you can do is laugh, because they'd rather believe what they've read on some web site from someone they don't know than to believe you, a person they do know.

I also tell young Masons that this is a reason why they, more than others, have to be very careful of how they act in public. There are no anti-Rotary groups, no anti-Moose groups, but there are certainly anti-Masons who will jump on every misbehavior (*cough* Jesters *cough*) to "prove" how no-good we are.

 

[JJones]

You can't use logic to show mason haters the error of their ways either. If you tell them they're wrong they'll inform you that you aren't in 'the know' because you're not a 33rd degree mason. If you -were- a 33rd degree mason then they'd inform you that you're a liar. Either way, we're wrong and for some reason outsiders know more about Freemasonry than it's own members.

 

[PLAH3]

JJones you took the words right out of my mouth. They'll believe what they want. Too be honest I don't like that there is any information in the slightest available to outsiders because that just further feeds the ignorance. It doesn't help that there are some that claim to be brothers but are doing or worshiping things they shouldn't (if that makes sense).

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