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How serious do you take your obligations?

Do you think it's okay as MMs to post the secrets of Masonry online?

  • Yes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No

    Votes: 22 100.0%

  • Total voters
    22
  • Poll closed .

CLewey44

Registered User
As EAs, we learn a lot of things, but one of the more important things we swear an obligation to is not to reveal any of the secrets Masonry from this degree or any degree we may hereafter receive. One of those things is the obligation to (summarize) not write the secrets of Masonry in any way that would allow non-Masons to learn the secrets of Masonry.

I realize all of the secrets are already out there, but I'm a little confused as to why an actual, presumably active, Master Mason would post all over the internet these secrets and then seemingly think it's ok to do so. If everyone had the idea that putting it on the internet is not 'writing' it or communicating it in some form or fashion, then we'd really have nothing as a fraternity to hold on to that is unique to us.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
I, too, would be interested to know what you consider to be divulging of secrets, but we have the conundrum that you cannot tell us that without yourself revealing what you consider to be secrets. Catch 22!

In my jurisdictions, they aren't many, and I've not seen them revealed on here, if that's what you're talking about.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
I, too, would be interested to know what you consider to be divulging of secrets, but we have the conundrum that you cannot tell us that without yourself revealing what you consider to be secrets. Catch 22!

In my jurisdictions, they aren't many, and I've not seen them revealed on here, if that's what you're talking about.
Almost everywhere, Specific Words, Signs and Grips are considered "Secret" by Freemasons, but they are only things members promised not to reveal under specific conditions. They are not secrets; Never were; Never will be.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
The hard part is defining what the secrets are. There is far more to that question than what happens around the altar during our degrees. Those have been published so for us in this era we promised to not help outsiders look it up. Seems underwhelming but it is part of what I do.

What about the other secrets, though? Some are the type we can shout them from the rooftops and they remain secret. We treat each other as kin, no method. There are a lot of these where it might be possible to get them without attending lodge regularly but it's equally possible to attend lodge regularly and still not get them.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
Yea I do too take them seriously and bothers me people post websites on here that have every single thing most of us keep 'secret'. I'm pretty sure all modes of recognition are secrets, tks, sgs, dgr, and psw, SWOAMM, lns pw etc. It's a little careless and don't know why anyone would think it's ok.
 

Matt S

Registered User
bothers me people post websites on here that have every single thing most of us keep 'secret'. I'm pretty sure all modes of recognition are secrets, tks, sgs, dgr, and psw, SWOAMM, lns pw etc. It's a little careless and don't know why anyone would think it's ok.[/QUOTE]

I feel like I know what and who your talking about and I feel to some degree the same as you.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
Very good thread brother. Not to get off topic, but there has been something on my mind. Any other brothers tired of seeing masons act like its a college fraternity ?

Sent from my LG-LS997 using My Freemasonry mobile app

I'm not sure how I'd feel about that. Never came across it yet. It may be a bit off putting. I've heard the Elks had turned a lot of people off with the partying and excessive drinking etc. I've never been to an Elks event so if I'm wrong about them, I apologize. Fun is good and times change but no need for breaking our goal of temperance.
 

JJones

Moderator
I take my obligations very seriously.

I swore an oath before God and my brethren, that's a pretty significant in my mind.

Almost everywhere, Specific Words, Signs and Grips are considered "Secret" by Freemasons, but they are only things members promised not to reveal under specific conditions. They are not secrets; Never were; Never will be.

Those are definitely secret, I'll agree. That being said, I feel as though the catechisms are meant to be kept secret as well. I don't know of any place that states it's secret, unless it's in the law book for my jurisdiction, but the memory work feels as though it's part of what makes Freemasonry what it is.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
I take my obligations very seriously.

I swore an oath before God and my brethren, that's a pretty significant in my mind.



Those are definitely secret, I'll agree. That being said, I feel as though the catechisms are meant to be kept secret as well. I don't know of any place that states it's secret, unless it's in the law book for my jurisdiction, but the memory work feels as though it's part of what makes Freemasonry what it is.

Yes, I think it's a part of it for sure.
 
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