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Regarding Your Masonic Membership

Do you....

  • Conceal your membership/involvement

    Votes: 1 0.9%
  • Don't hide but don't advertise

    Votes: 64 57.1%
  • Tell anyone any chance you get

    Votes: 47 42.0%

  • Total voters
    112

Dave in Waco

Premium Member
Members did not hide their membership in the US in colonial times. There were public events in which masons presided. George Washington and the capital cornerstone. In Texas it was not secret. We have records of community events in 1835 through 1840 that were held by masons. My relatives officiated at dome of them. Early schools in Texas were on the first floor of Masonic lodges. This is not a new development. The practice of letting people know who we are has been going on for a couple of hundred years. Europe has a different history, I can see why they were secretive in the past. I do not understand the argument of you have to remain secret to improve yourself. Much of what improves use is found in improving others.

The formation of Freemasonry and Texas went hand-in-hand. The Republic of Texas had 4 Presidents before Texas became a state. All 4 Presidents and the Vice-Presidents were Masons. Most weren't just Masons, but the Masons who in addition to forming the Republic, also formed the Grand Lodge of Texas. The actual charter for the first lodge in Texas rode in the saddlebags of Anson Jones, future President of the Republic of Texas, during the Battle of San Jacinto where Texas won its Independence from Mexico. About a year and a half later, a Masonic Convention was called in Houston to form the Grand Lodge of Texas. The convention was presided over by then Texas President Sam Houston, in the Texas Senate Chambers. They elected as the first Grand Master of Texas, Anson Jones.

When you read through the who's who list of historic Texas figures, it reads something like this:
Stephen F. Austin - Father of Texas - Louisiana Lodge No. 109, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
Sam Houston - Hero of San Jacinto - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston, Tx. Cumberland Lodge No. 8, Nashville, Tn.
William Barret Travis - The Defender of the Alamo - Alabama Lodge No. 3
James Bowie - The Greatest Fighter in the Southwest - Loge L'Humble Chaumiere No. 19, Opelousas, La.
David Crockett - King of the Wilderness - (lodge unknown - his Masonic apron, entrusted to the Sheriff of Weakley Co., Tn., has survived with the family of E. M. Taylor of Paducah, Ky.)
James Bonham - Alamo Defender and last messenger to leave the Alamo and return - (So. Carolina lodge records destroyed by fire in 1838)
James Fannin - Commander at Goliad - Holland Lodge No. 36, Brazoria, Tx.
Anson Jones - Last President of the Republic of Texas - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston, Tx. Harmony Lodge No. 52, Phila. Pa.
Lorenzo de Zavala - First Vice-President of the Republic - Logia Independencia No. 454 (Gr. Ldg. of New York), Mexico City.
Jose Navarro - Texas Patriot and Legislator - American Virtue Lodge No. 10, Saltillo, Mexico.
Juan Seguin - Tejano Patriot - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston, Tx.
Lawrence S. "Sul" Ross - Texas Ranger, Confederate General, Governor - Waco Lodge No. 92, Waco.
John Joseph Kennedy- "Sheriff and Ender of the Regulator-Moderator War, Confederate Captain" - Marshall Lodge No. 22, Marshall, Tx.
R.E.B. Baylor - Founder of Baylor University - Baylor Lodge No. 125, Gay Hill, Tx.
Benjamin F. Terry - Founder and Commander of Terry's Texas Rangers - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston.
Thomas S. Lubbock - Commander of Terry's Texas Rangers - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston.
Audie Murphy - Most Decorated American Soldier of World War II - No. Hollywood Lodge No. 542
Claire Chennault - Founder of the Flying Tigers
Edwin E. "Buzz"Aldrin - 2nd Man on the Moon & Claimed the Moon for the Grand Lodge of Texas - Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417, El Lago, Tx
 
T

Thestoat

Guest
I am very proud to be a freemason, and I now wear my forget me not pin badge with extreme pride.

My great grandfather left me the full transcripts of the nuremburg war trials which were held in 1946, I read these, and after reading in quite graphic detail what they did the masons and the torture masons went through during the second world war, under the Nazis, I intend never to leave my house without my pin badge on.

There was also graphic detail of what happened to Jewish and also gypsies and others in there.

I intend on offering these transcripts to my lodge, and to discuss with my brothers there the best thing to do, as I feel they should be available to all to read, they are worth a bit of money, but I feel my great grandfather would want others to read it rather than see it go to a private collector.

As an aside I struggle at the moment when people in wider society mention anti Masonic things, as I only finished reading the transcripts last week, it's all rather raw in my mind still, I guess the advice to dust off your sandals and move on is the best way to deal with that sort of person, for now anyways.
 

jhodgdon

Registered User
Esoteric Theurgist said:
I wear a ring anytime I leave my home. I usually wear a ballcap with the S&C. My car has the custom license plate "Mason," taillight S&C decals, and a large Gold & Blue S&C Medallion in the center of the trunk. My desk at work has a S&C on it, and I often wear Masonic shirts.

You could say I...advertise.

Haha
 

Beathard

Premium Member
S&C boxers, but I'm not advertising with those... 8)

Got too old for the S&C thong!
 
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SWATFrog

Premium Member
I wear my ring at work. I never use to wear rings at work because they are a hazard. But it is something I take great pride in. Although sometimes it becomes annoying when dealing with the public in a law enforcement role.

When they notice my ring I get to hear about The New World Order, and how "The Masons have a secret plan to run the World."

I normally just reply, "It isn't much of a secret and we only want to run the important stuff."
 

wwinger

Registered User
When they notice my ring I get to hear about The New World Order, and how "The Masons have a secret plan to run the World."

It isn't much of a secret and we only want to run the important stuff.

I tell 'em we need fuel for the black helicopters & solicit donations.

:14:

I don't wear a ring but almost always wear something obviously Masonic. I also have the S&C on my tail-lights. I want people to notice. It gives me an excuse to talk about it and I love to talk (about it). :001_tt2:
 

Tony Siciliano

Premium Member
I have a small, full color S&C tattoo on my chest that stretches from my throat to just below my navel.

Just kidding.

I wear either an S&C ring or a 14° ring, or both. I wear lapel pins on my suits coats. I have medallions on my car and truck. I am willing to discuss the fraternity with anyone who have serious questions. And, as others have mentioned, I try to let my actions be the biggest advertisement.
 

Jacob Johnson

Registered User
I wear a S&Cs ring, but the one I usually wear is actually pretty subtle. you can't see the S&Cs from further than a couple of feet because they're engraved in titanium, not enameled. Sometimes, for special occasions, I'll break out my more traditional S&Cs ring, or my grandfather's, and I pretty much always wear a double eagle ring too (it was $10 compared to the $50ish for a 14th degree ring, but when i can, I'll get and wear the 14th ring until I die.)
 

choppersteve03

Premium Member
i am extremly proud to be a mason, and i flash and advertise a bit only because iam in love with the fraternity. and i will out rightly say hey thats a bogus statment, if i hear or see something that is so overtly false. but i will not go so far as to reveil our secrets, my brothers at the lodge are quite the opposite. no one has a car medallion,shirt or masonic hat, and most only wear there ring to lodge. i live in iowa things are different here, i relocated here from california, so by there standards iam a bit more diamond jim brady then most of my bretheren.
 

Cameron1229

Premium Member
proud to be a mason

I am not ashamed of who I am or to be a Mason! I have a Tattoo on my right arm that signifies my dates, and my grandfather's dates. I also proudly were my S&C ring. If someone has a problem with me being a Mason; then obviously they are not a Mason and do not know what we stand for. Yet, on the other hand if my display of who I am intrigues someone I am alway happy to answer what questions I can!
 

RedTemplar

Johnny Joe Combs
Premium Member
I live in a very small town. (less than 5,000) As a result, most people that know me are aware that I am a member of Hazard Lodge 676. So, be it good or bad, I am an advertisement for Freemasonry. I also believe that if I lived in a city with the population of a million plus that I would still be an advertisement. Don't ever think people you deal with don't know who you are. I am not preaching to anyone in particular-- just making a generalized statement. You are an advertisement for or against Freemasonry whether you hide or not.
 
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Larry Burks

Registered User
I wear lapel pins when I wear a jacket, I have a ring, a zipper pull tab, bumper decal and now the new Texas Mason license plate, but I don't advertise (*snicker*)
 

Brother Joe

Registered User
I'm a very proud mason. I'm waiting on my first ring to arrive any day now. I will wear it and other things with pride.
 
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