Dave in Waco
Premium Member
If 2 lawyers could agree, we wouldn't need judges. LOL
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Freemasons commercialized and profiting?
- Thread starter VinnyC
- Start date
If 2 lawyers could agree, we wouldn't need judges. LOL
Frater Cliff Porter
Premium Member
I have listened to Lost Secret's Queens Hall of Science and was moved that, although this is not my present form of self expression, Masonry moved these men to write about the philosophies of the Craft and share them with the world in a way that they could.
Swear words are not agreeable in all cultures, but the truth is a well aimed swear word can get peoples attention. So, I don't like the music, but admire that young Masons are doing what they can to express how important Masonic philosophy is in their lives.
We don't get upset when people sell Masonically themed books, sell regalia, etc...
I will be honest, I think we go overboard to appear that we are not supporting our Brothers.
I will hire, retain, work with, etc...a brother before others...because I trust them and we share a common bond. The Aggies don't apologize for knocking rings and neither should we.
Swear words are not agreeable in all cultures, but the truth is a well aimed swear word can get peoples attention. So, I don't like the music, but admire that young Masons are doing what they can to express how important Masonic philosophy is in their lives.
We don't get upset when people sell Masonically themed books, sell regalia, etc...
I will be honest, I think we go overboard to appear that we are not supporting our Brothers.
I will hire, retain, work with, etc...a brother before others...because I trust them and we share a common bond. The Aggies don't apologize for knocking rings and neither should we.
HKTidwell
Premium Member
A bit off topic
I had a interesting conversation in the past week with a Brother. He commented that in the 70's "ring jobs" were a common thing. I was a bit perplexed and he went on to explain that if you were a Mason you would receive preferential treatment over better qualified person. This turned him off at the time because of the way it was presented to him. He didn't join till years down the road and now he is a very active member and very much what Masonry is about.
Like FCP I agree, at the same time it will never be an exclusive reason for me. It will list as a high priority as long as he doesn't try to sell himself as a Mason first and business man second.. We should be doing everything we can to help a brother, this includes mentally, physically, and financially if it is within our power.
I had a interesting conversation in the past week with a Brother. He commented that in the 70's "ring jobs" were a common thing. I was a bit perplexed and he went on to explain that if you were a Mason you would receive preferential treatment over better qualified person. This turned him off at the time because of the way it was presented to him. He didn't join till years down the road and now he is a very active member and very much what Masonry is about.
Like FCP I agree, at the same time it will never be an exclusive reason for me. It will list as a high priority as long as he doesn't try to sell himself as a Mason first and business man second.. We should be doing everything we can to help a brother, this includes mentally, physically, and financially if it is within our power.
Benton
Premium Member
National Treasure popped into my mind as well, but it wasn't in your face the whole time, at least not in my opinion. It was mentioned, and gave us some good media, but I didn't feel like it was about us, just that Freemasonry played a role in a larger story.
swole
Registered User
I have to jump in on this thread being that I for one am a hip hop producer and two, curse like a sailor. lol. I believe everyone has a different upbringing and way of life and sometimes we tend to be closed minded about things like this. Now I have to admit that I wouldn't go bumpin' this with the windows down while I'm driving to a lodge, but hip hop among other types of music have been in my upbringing. I am a firm believer in "there is a time and place for everything" and all though I listen to hip hop, I would not expect the older gentlemen in my lodge to listen to this and thus I respect that. Same as the manner that I speak. I do not speak the same to the brothers in my lodge as i do to my non-mason friends. I say this because it is a different type of love. I can respect my brothers in my lodge which bring a certain feeling of kinship and brotherhood as well as my non-mason friends all the same with different approaches. I would not approach "Say say, playa? what's the price fo' that whip" while trying to purchase a vehicle at a car dealership. Neither would I approach individuals on the street "Pardon me gentlemen, but could I happen to trouble you for some sugar?". I understand that there are various environments in society and forms of communication that we use to communicate with our peers in the respective surroundings.
This song is currently my profile song in my facebook page and has been for about a week before I even made my EA Degree. It is a very powerful track in which Rick Ross and Jay Z express their feelings about Free Masonry. Now although I do believe that they are both to be masons, I do not know what lodge or jurisdiction they fall under. I do not think that in this music they have violated any Free Mason laws nor is the music for everyone but it does touch an audience that can benefit from Free Masonry. I know this myself because not only as a producer do I make Hip Hop music, but I as well am part of that audience and have already begun to benefit from the brotherhood. With this said I hope many of you brothers approach the music with open ears and arms as it is merely a form of self expression.
I have never met with Rick Ross but have worked with companies pitching tracks for him but nothing in the company of Free Masonry. Rick Ross has been in the company of Free Masons including a brother here (T-Berry) and is clearly a Free mason but I am a bit unsure about Jay-z. He did say at a point on his verse "I said a was amazing, not that I'm a Mason" which honestly he is correcting an audience that misunderstood what he said on one of his other songs. But, a correction of one word does not exclude being a part of the brotherhood.
I also think that this particular track was not really for profit in its intentions. Music is a HUGE form of expression and a lot of us make music as an outlet or when we have something to say.
This song is currently my profile song in my facebook page and has been for about a week before I even made my EA Degree. It is a very powerful track in which Rick Ross and Jay Z express their feelings about Free Masonry. Now although I do believe that they are both to be masons, I do not know what lodge or jurisdiction they fall under. I do not think that in this music they have violated any Free Mason laws nor is the music for everyone but it does touch an audience that can benefit from Free Masonry. I know this myself because not only as a producer do I make Hip Hop music, but I as well am part of that audience and have already begun to benefit from the brotherhood. With this said I hope many of you brothers approach the music with open ears and arms as it is merely a form of self expression.
I have never met with Rick Ross but have worked with companies pitching tracks for him but nothing in the company of Free Masonry. Rick Ross has been in the company of Free Masons including a brother here (T-Berry) and is clearly a Free mason but I am a bit unsure about Jay-z. He did say at a point on his verse "I said a was amazing, not that I'm a Mason" which honestly he is correcting an audience that misunderstood what he said on one of his other songs. But, a correction of one word does not exclude being a part of the brotherhood.
I also think that this particular track was not really for profit in its intentions. Music is a HUGE form of expression and a lot of us make music as an outlet or when we have something to say.
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What evidence do you have that Jay Z aka Shawn Corey Carter is a Freemason? It's not about culture, but respect for the Craft.
swole
Registered User
AAAAGGGHHH! How the flames burn!!! JK! lol.....I agree Bro. Bill. It is always best to represent ourselves as good men and live by what we are being taught in addition to what we know. I'm just beginning to learn and have instantly fallen in love with Masonry! The Aura of the brothers there is out of this world. I am proud to have decided to become a Mason I constantly have this in my head. This is why I stated about applauding these artists in spreading their word. Masonry to me was a wake up call literally yelling in my face "There are good men out there!" So by this I model myself accordingly, and set myself to mold myself into a better man and Mason.
swole
Registered User
@ Blake I too would like to see what evidence that Jay-Z is a Mason other than the rumors that have been spread. Like I said before I am unsure about him even being one. In fact the previous lyrics I was talking about before were merely correcting a previous song neither denying nor accepting the claims of being a Free Mason. Interesting thread
Hah no flames here Bro. Swole, just open discussions. There's no definitive authority of Freemasonry on this forum. We're here to learn, exchange ideas and in some cases, participate in friendly debates. Nobody is right, nobody is wrong. We may disagree, but that will not divide us.
Same here. I didn't mean to single out Jay Z, as there are many people who've been labeled Freemasons with no proof whatsoever. The Wright Brothers, Santa Anna and Bob Hope to name a few.
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swole
Registered User
LOL @ Borat!!!! I was teasing brother bill a bit on the flameing. I do agree with him 100%. The aim is to become better men and represent ourselves as such. I feel Masonry to me is a giant spot light on a road which I did not see before and I think this is why I have been so hyper lately! I would love to see if there is evidence on Jay-Z being a Free mason though. Im sure it would be an interesting read.
swole
Registered User
haha! There are so many conspiracy theorists out there it's crazy to see a lot of these people labeled as Free Masons. Although I wouldn't see anything wrong with them being Free Masons, I am sure that they can become one if they weren't. The majority of these claims are made from a bunch of misunderstood statements, words, etc.