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Shrine Outlaws Confederate Battle Flag

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Apparently not that gross of an "overreaction" if International is responding to e-mails about this Order with a standardized PR post on a web page. Obviously my "reaction"is not the only one of a similar nature to a poorly worded statement.... You think?


Submitted my Demit, yesterday.

Thanks.
 
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Rifleman1776

Registered User
Submitted my Demit, yesterday.

Thanks.
Sorry to hear that. But we all make choices. In Arkansas, the Shrine is considered clandestine. I almost left Freemasonry to stay with Shrine. Fortunately, I was accepted into a Lodge in Missouri (I live near the state line) and now am both. But, I am also an historical reenactor of the Revolutionary Rifleman and display a Bennington flag at my home. If Masonry or Shrine banned that I would certainly leave. All the best to you.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Sorry to hear that. But we all make choices. In Arkansas, the Shrine is considered clandestine. I almost left Freemasonry to stay with Shrine. Fortunately, I was accepted into a Lodge in Missouri (I live near the state line) and now am both. But, I am also an historical reenactor of the Revolutionary Rifleman and display a Bennington flag at my home. If Masonry or Shrine banned that I would certainly leave. All the best to you.

I revised my my post.
 

Pscyclepath

Premium Member
Civil War history is what brought me to Masonry in the first place, so the topic is a little near and dear to my heart. Truthfully, this sort of reinforces the negative impression of the Shrine which I've been getting all along, I came into the Craft just after the Arkansas/Shrine blow-up back in 2011, so I admit what I've seen and heard of them has been negative in the first place.

One thing Masonry seeks to teach us is tolerance, that every brother is to search within his own heart, and based on experience and the light, determine for himself what is good and true. But the Shrine keeps saying they're not actually a Masonic organization, so I guess they're still following that line...
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
Civil War history is what brought me to Masonry in the first place, so the topic is a little near and dear to my heart. Truthfully, this sort of reinforces the negative impression of the Shrine which I've been getting all along, I came into the Craft just after the Arkansas/Shrine blow-up back in 2011, so I admit what I've seen and heard of them has been negative in the first place.

One thing Masonry seeks to teach us is tolerance, that every brother is to search within his own heart, and based on experience and the light, determine for himself what is good and true. But the Shrine keeps saying they're not actually a Masonic organization, so I guess they're still following that line...

You are right, Shrine is not a Masonic organization. But, it was formed on Masonic principals and, still, in most states, Shrine requires Masonic membership to join. But those are Shrine requirement. Masonry has no control over Shrine, they are separate organizations.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
You are right, Shrine is not a Masonic organization. But, it was formed on Masonic principals and, still, in most states, Shrine requires Masonic membership to join. But those are Shrine requirement. Masonry has no control over Shrine, they are separate organizations.
I avoid the argument of whether shrine is a Masonic organization. It is, except in one state, an organization with a Masonic prerequisite. Therefore, a Grand Lodge does have control over the members of the organization. That is the common law of masonry in this country.
 
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LAMason

Premium Member
The order says "Attention has been drawn to the political debate over the Confederate Battle", so it appears that the intent of the order is to take a stand in the political debate. The Shrine claims that they stand for Freemasonry principles, so taking a stand as an organization in a "political debate" certainly violates those principles.

If the Shrine had made a statement prohibiting the display of any emblem or symbol at a Shrine event or facility that could be considered making a political statement that would have been different. There are many symbols that denote a political affiliation or belief. What if someone is displaying a political party symbol, a hammer and sickle, a picture of Malcom X or Nation of Islam Flag.

Again, full disclosure, I am not now, have never been, or ever will be a member of the Shrine.

Note: I edited the original post by adding the text in italics to clarify that I was not referring to what a Freemason, Shrine member or not, does in the way of having or making a personal political view or statement.
 
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Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
It is important to note (though too late IMO) the Imperial Potentate rescinded the Order. It is no longer in effect.

I finally got confirmation of my Demit about 3 weeks ago, it was submitted in August 2015.
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
i have found it to be very sad to watch the extremes that people go to over an inanimate object. it being a piece of cloth, or a symbol etched into something. If everyone could take two lessons from masonry, i would suggest ( learn to subdue your passions ,and see that we are one family under one mighty parent)..... but it doesn't work that way..........
 

Jason A. Mitchell

Premium Member
I avoid the argument of whether shrine is a Masonic organization. It is, except in one state, an organization with a Masonic prerequisite. Therefore, a Grand Lodge does have control over the members of the organization. That is the common law of masonry in this country.

This cannot be stated enough and applies to all organizations counted within the Masonic Family.
 

ChristopherNance

Registered User
i have found it to be very sad to watch the extremes that people go to over an inanimate object. it being a piece of cloth, or a symbol etched into something. If everyone could take two lessons from masonry, i would suggest ( learn to subdue your passions ,and see that we are one family under one mighty parent)..... but it doesn't work that way..........
I concur. Who wants to be a part of an organization whom outlaws inanimate objects in lieu of politics.

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