hanzosbm
Premium Member
Obviously, this forum has a whole section on various appendant bodies. However, this question has to do with them as a whole, so I thought I'd ask it here.
For a little context for those who may not have read any of my other posts, I tend to look quite deeply into Freemasonry. I believe it is a science not only to be learned in degrees, but one in which the layers, like an onion, are peeled back again and again revealing deeper and deeper truths. I also have a bit of a leaning towards the esoteric aspect of Freemasonry.
Now, with that being said, I am seeking guidance on when to join any appendant bodies. I'm not really looking to debate between them, though if you feel in the course of your discussion that XYZ Rite will help but ABC Rite is just for socializing, then please say so.
After almost 6 years as a MM I finally started to see the first rays of Light and since then have been delving deeper and deeper into it. I feel like a lifetime could be spent just trying to unravel all that the first 3 degrees have to offer. Yet, I also have to ask myself if it is best to become extremely well versed in one aspect, or familiar with many. As an example, if one is going to research their family tree, you could either go one generation at a time listing every sister, brother, cousin, aunt, stepmother, etc which would extend out horizontally very far, or you could focus purely on the tracing back of your surname looking at your father's father's father's father etc. This would extend out vertically very far.
Right now, I feel like I am gaining a large amount of knowledge based on the first 3 degrees, and certainly the study of the knowledge found in appendant bodies will take significant time and could complicate/help to complete my overall view of things.
In short, I'm wondering when I should start looking into appendant bodies.
Again, please keep in mind that I would not be joining for social reasons, nor for the intention of doing charity work (although those are both great to have) but rather for expanding my understanding. I've heard some people say 'oh, those degrees were made up 50 years ago with no real meaning behind them. It's a fun club, but that's it' about certain groups. I've heard other groups' degrees described as being good, but any knowledge of lessons from them are superficial in terms of there not being any deeper meaning, which is fine. In fact, that would make things easier because it wouldn't require any contemplation.
So what are your thoughts about these groups?
For a little context for those who may not have read any of my other posts, I tend to look quite deeply into Freemasonry. I believe it is a science not only to be learned in degrees, but one in which the layers, like an onion, are peeled back again and again revealing deeper and deeper truths. I also have a bit of a leaning towards the esoteric aspect of Freemasonry.
Now, with that being said, I am seeking guidance on when to join any appendant bodies. I'm not really looking to debate between them, though if you feel in the course of your discussion that XYZ Rite will help but ABC Rite is just for socializing, then please say so.
After almost 6 years as a MM I finally started to see the first rays of Light and since then have been delving deeper and deeper into it. I feel like a lifetime could be spent just trying to unravel all that the first 3 degrees have to offer. Yet, I also have to ask myself if it is best to become extremely well versed in one aspect, or familiar with many. As an example, if one is going to research their family tree, you could either go one generation at a time listing every sister, brother, cousin, aunt, stepmother, etc which would extend out horizontally very far, or you could focus purely on the tracing back of your surname looking at your father's father's father's father etc. This would extend out vertically very far.
Right now, I feel like I am gaining a large amount of knowledge based on the first 3 degrees, and certainly the study of the knowledge found in appendant bodies will take significant time and could complicate/help to complete my overall view of things.
In short, I'm wondering when I should start looking into appendant bodies.
Again, please keep in mind that I would not be joining for social reasons, nor for the intention of doing charity work (although those are both great to have) but rather for expanding my understanding. I've heard some people say 'oh, those degrees were made up 50 years ago with no real meaning behind them. It's a fun club, but that's it' about certain groups. I've heard other groups' degrees described as being good, but any knowledge of lessons from them are superficial in terms of there not being any deeper meaning, which is fine. In fact, that would make things easier because it wouldn't require any contemplation.
So what are your thoughts about these groups?