My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Forum access

Mindovermatter Ace

Registered User
today I discovered that this forum isn't private. Although I am aware that there are plenty of non-masons subscribed to this forum, I was not aware that the post are public and easily found using google search. I would recommend from any Masonic discussion being produced until the moderators close the discussions to least the forum itself. I am highly disappointed that this forum is so public and though I have no control over it I shall refrain from using it any longer. I suggest any true and worthy brother whether MS or PHA Do the same.
 

Browncoat

Registered User
Drats...our secret plans to take over the world are exposed!

But seriously, there is nothing discussed on the forums that are "secret". If anyone lets something slip that may even be considered a gray area, the mods are very good at catching it. Always assume that cowans and eavesdroppers are lurking, and remember your obligation.
 

JJones

Moderator
Yep, the mods are on the forums pretty frequently and if anything gets posted that's deemed too esoteric then it gets removed.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I would have thought that the ease with which you found this forum ( and joined it) would have given you a clue how public it is. But as it has been said, no "secrets" that get posted stay up for long. The staff keeps a pretty close eye on the topics.
 

Bro Darren

Premium Member
It's the internet and nothing that should be written down is never written down. There are lots of things not discussed as this is a public forum. I would suggest that you read the sites rules and definitions as it clearly states that ritual work and mason only discussions can not take place.


Sent From My Freemasonry Pro App
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
today I discovered that this forum isn't private. Although I am aware that there are plenty of non-masons subscribed to this forum, I was not aware that the post are public and easily found using google search. I would recommend from any Masonic discussion being produced until the moderators close the discussions to least the forum itself. I am highly disappointed that this forum is so public and though I have no control over it I shall refrain from using it any longer. I suggest any true and worthy brother whether MS or PHA Do the same.

This isn't a private forum for discussing proficiency or ritual work so Masons and non-Masons are welcome here. As much as I would love to discuss esoteric topics, I would have to verify that you are a Master Mason (in good standing), recognized by my Grand Lodge (TX), etc.

If you find a website out there that claims to provide a private forum for esoteric (as in proficiency and ritual work) discussion...run.
 
Last edited:

Mindovermatter Ace

Registered User
I am aware of everything you guys have said, however I really didn't like the fact that someone could google me asking other brothers for help in finding a home for a potential candidate. No it is not degree or monitor work yet it is still Masonic business and I really have a problem with others being able to view that information. Also the discussion about the history of the staff of the SD & JDs. No they aren't secrets but remember that there are many things aside from degree work that shouldn't be discussed nor given to outsiders. A great example is that post about the staff. No worthy mason would have a Masonic discussion with someone who wasn't a mason explaining this. PERIOD! There was a time that if you wanted to know about masonry you actually had to be one. Are we that comfortable with giving everything away merely because it isn't ritual work? Smh. No wonder numbers are declining. We've taken away the "mystery" of freemasonry that has long kept the inquisitive mind at lure. Who wants to be a mason when they can easily discover the "mysteries" online. We may as well initiate online and have them pay via PayPal. I am aware of non-masons being members of this site, however I honestly thought there was information that was separate and verified masons had special access. I really love what is discussed here however I cannot condone its openness and willingness to share and discuss Masonic business with cowans and eavesdroppers. Yes it is true that there are plenty of books and info available out there about masonry, but that still doesn't warrant us to give it away either. The history of the staff is a discussion that you would have with a brother to provide depth in his travels. I'm using this particular post as an example because I was the person who asked about it. Who could give me that information but a mason. This is not something that would be spoken openly to just anyone. It is a form of Masonic intercourse. When taking the obligation, the misinterpretation of "secrets" is ruining the traditions of the order. If I wouldn't have this discussion with a clandestine mason, why would I EVER talk about it to a NON-MASON! We forget that once, anything Masonic was secret. Just because unworthy masons have exposed information and anti-masons have infiltrated the order does not justify us being willing to provide this information to the public.
 

Mindovermatter Ace

Registered User
Also all discussion of what goes on inside of a lodge is NOT suppose to be discussed outside of it, especially when it's cloudy. To speak of dues or how you open a lodge is considered Masonic intercourse. Have respect for your lodge, your jurisdiction, it's rules laws and edicts, it's bylaws, rules and regulations and the Craft! HAVE REPECT FOR THE TRADITIONS OF THE CRAFT.
 
Last edited:

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Mindovermatter, I'm still confused how you thought there were private parts of this forum when you were never verified. Even forums that take weeks to join will guard against some discussions.
You are correct that discussions about a cloudy vote are prohibited, and we try to keep them from happening. A discussion regarding the Deacons staffs? You can find that in a book published a century ago. Should everyone have access to that book? Probably not.
All any of us can do is be circumspect about our own comments. As my grandmother told me many years ago, don't write anything in a letter that you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the paper.
 

rfuller

Premium Member
There are secrets you are sworn to protect, yes. But not everything that goes on behind closed doors is a secret.

This. Exact. Thing.

I don't think our numbers are dwindling because of a lack of secrecy. I think it's more because Masonry skipped a generation. Sure we had a huge influx in numbers, mid-20th century. But the baby boomers skipped out and now it's returning to pre-war Masons/Population numbers. My lodge certainly is losing a lot of members to death, but we're also taking on a few EA's every month. If you want Masonry to grow, you have to do more than just guard your secrets closer. There are countless discussions on this forum on how to do just that. There are countless resources available online with more theories than anyone could read in a lifetime. None of them espouse the idea that keeping every minute detail a secret, even our dues, is the way to go about that.

Now, about the secrecy. I grant that secrecy must be maintained. Where we are to draw that line is where I, and many brothers here, disagree with you. Things that I absolutely keep secret: our modes of recognition, what happens in our degree ceremonies, meanings of our symbology, the catechisms, etc... But if a man walks up to me and asks about Freemasonry, I don't respond with "It's a secret. If you want to know, you have to join." If you do that, he'll go online and google it and end up in the hodgepodge of conspiracy sites, clandestine lodge websites, misinformation sites. He'll probably click on Image Search and see the illustrations from Duncan's Ritual. Whether or not he spends the time sorting through it all and making up his mind, or spends the time to connect the dots and understand what the pictures means, depends on the man. But either way you've lost a chance to have a personal conversation with a potential brother, and give him honest answers about what Freemasonry is and what it means to you.

And one of the questions he will ask you is what your dues are. It's no secret, nor should it be. The form of the lodge may be a secret, but that doesn't mean you can't open your doors before a meeting and let a man and his family see the lodge room. If someone takes the time out of their life to come to our lodge and consider joining, we take the time to show him around, encourage him to bring his family if he has one. We show them the lodge room. We explain there is always a Holy Bible on our alter during our meetings. We show them where the officers sit. We show them our wall of pictures of our past masters. We answer any questions we can. And if they ask one that we can't answer, we tell them then, "That's one of the secrets. You'll have to join if you want to know that." And then laugh and do our best to give as much of an explanation as we can without violating the obligation.

I agree you need to take the craft seriously, and hold your lodge in high regard. But that doesn't mean alienating yourself, or leaving interested men to find the answers on the internet. There are Masonic discussions you can have publicly without violating your obligation. And this site is one of the best places to have that discussion.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I am aware of everything you guys have said, however I really didn't like the fact that someone could google me asking other brothers for help in finding a home for a potential candidate.

Any personally identifiable information is removed by the moderators. Private messages aren't searchable and should be used for that.

We've taken away the "mystery" of freemasonry that has long kept the inquisitive mind at lure. Who wants to be a mason when they can easily discover the "mysteries" online.

I'm sad that you value the experiential parts of our experiences so little. Are you familiar with the difference between book learning and experience learning? Both work but beyond some point neither works as a replacement for the other. No amount of the type of discussion among Masons to be found on-line effects the impact of the hand of fellowship at lodge.

Before I was a Mason I wanted to be among those who could discuss such issues. Now that I am a Mason I want to visit other lodges to be among more of them. Because being among them is not the same as reading from them.
 

jjjjjggggg

Premium Member
Rfuller,

Well said. It was because of the openness of this forum that inspired me and furthered my confidence to petition my local lodge. I stayed away from anything that I thought would take away from the mystery of the craft, but to read the inspiring stories and other discussions have been wonderful.


Sent From My Freemasonry Pro App
 

Bro Darren

Premium Member
The craft went through a generation where everything was secret and that included mentioning that you were a Mason.

The Grand Lodges around the world keep going into the public realm, showing who we are and what we do and going above and beyond to show that we are NOT a secret society. The Grand Lodge sets the mandate for what can be openly discussed and we as brethren follow that mandate.

The generation that kept everything secret are the reason for misconceptions and the Grand Lodge is rectifying that and we should support that.


Sent From My Freemasonry Pro App
 

Browncoat

Registered User
Common sense shouldn't need a mandate. There are a lot of Brothers who take the secrecy bit way above and beyond on their own accord. This should be addressed on the local level at their home Lodge through reeducation of their obligation and what they are actually supposed to protect.
 
Top