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Not offending others with Masonic emblems ??

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
I belong to a very traditional church. Although my Pastor has not said much about the freemasons I have seen him and other church members stare at my ring. The pianist is a freemason also. He told me that he does not wear his ring to church because he doesn't mix church and freemasonry. I'm guessing so he doesn't offend anyone, I don't know. Even after watching the Harry Truman documentary, I noticed the camera man wanted to re do a picture so Harry's ring didnt show I because some of the democrats were against the freemasons. How do you brothers feel about wearing Masonic emblems to church, work, political rallies etc. Do you take them off if you feel that you might offend someone or it might hurt your image ? Do you hide your membership after you find out some opposes freemasonry ?
 
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coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
I wear it opening, but have removed it during specific situations. One situation was when I was teaching ministerial candidates at a educational facility that was clearly filled with conspiracy loons. The other teacher was wearing his till I told him about the loons. He thanked me and removed his ring too until he was off campus. Sometimes you have to do what protects you best from the loons.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
wearing an emblem of Masonry is more than just a style choice.

You can be the best dressed and most educated in the room. A ring won't really bother someone. However, put the emblem on that ring and you may disqualify yourself from any advantage you may have had from the former.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
In other words that was to protect you from "Y'all are apart of the Illuminati and trying to take over the world. " right.
Yup. I was employed to teach. I didn't want that insignia to provide impetus to the loons to distract me from my efforts.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
wearing an emblem of Masonry is more than just a style choice.

You can be the best dressed and most educated in the room. A ring won't really bother someone. However, put the emblem on that ring and you may disqualify yourself from any advantage you may have had from the former.
Why do you say that ?
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Why do you say that ?
Because your image is not how you perceive yourself but how you are perceived by others. You are proud to be a Mason, but the man or woman you're dealing with may judge you first and foremost on your display of masonic emblems and, due to being uneducated, may think you are someone you really are not.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
In other words, not matter what you think of yourself, it's still unwise to wave raw meat in front of a hungry jackal with your belly exposed and no exit.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Being out about membership is a personal choice that we make for ourselves and must never make for others. The decision to wear a ring or have MM license plates is a personal one.

I happen to chose that if someone has a problem with my Masonic membership I'm happy to not associate with them. No less person to deal with. Fortunately I rarely encounter any comment at all other than positive ones. Negative people may be loud, but there are very few of them.

We each get to decide for ourselves how much authority our churches have in our lives. Last night at an American Legion meeting I encountered a brother who'd demitted when requested to do so by his clergy member. If some church frowned on my membership, my boots and wallet would walk a few blocks down the street to the next church on the spot. Our own choice for each of us.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
Are the references, symbols, etc. Islamic or Egyptian/Arabic?
I'm not quiet sure what you are asking, but I've spoken to some shriners that didn't wont people to think they were affiliated with Islam so they chose to not wear the symbol around certain people. I'm not a shriner, so I really don't know what all it stands for. Just speaking off of some of the conversations I've had with other guys.
 

drw72

Premium Member
I am not a Shriner either but I always understood their symbolism to be Egyptian and Arabic based. That does not necessarily mean Islamic...more like Egyptian mythology. I am sure most people would confuse the two these days anyway.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I am not a Shriner either but I always understood their symbolism to be Egyptian and Arabic based. That does not necessarily mean Islamic....

I would say you've got a good handle on the Shrine there.. It is generally described as "Arabic" or "Middle Eastern" .. while the Spinx is Egyptian the two claws hanging down under the scimitar are those of the Bengal Tiger - found in India not Persia...

For the long version http://www.masonic.benemerito.net/m...es-symbolism.of.the.mystic.shrines.emblem.pdf
 
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