Dontrell Stroman
Premium Member
I have to ask for the sake of asking since the brother mentioned them. Do you brothers believe that the Illuminati exist ? Serious question.
From what I understand there was a group called the Bavarian Illuminati, and it didn't last long, but the mere word continues to bring wondrous ideas to people's imagination. Brother Chris Hodapp talks about the whole thing fact and fiction here. Http://illuminatifor dummies.blogspot.com/2009/05/real-illuminati.htmlI have to ask for the sake of asking since the brother mentioned them. Do you brothers believe that the Illuminati exist ? Serious question.
See that's what I was getting at. So do you believe these people are invited into these organizations based on their social, and economic status ?
I have to ask for the sake of asking since the brother mentioned them. Do you brothers believe that the Illuminati exist ? Serious question.
Is that a comment on Freemasonry more generally?
I have posted elsewhere that certain mainland European jurisdictions recruit by invitation not by petition. When the brethren stop resisting a system by invitation it becomes a system of deciding who are the most eminent men in a neighborhood and inviting them. It becomes a system that invites quality. I've met Brothers who have immigrated from some of these jurisdictions and they find the resistance to invitations bizarre based on their experiences back home.
On a general basis, I quite agree. However, come sit in Wasatch Lodge #1 and you can have a retired senior military judge and seven doctorates.I believe Freemasonry in many European countries is still elite because it is still mainly composed of community leaders, industrialists, etc.
My lodge counts among its membership a U.S. President, a Cabinet member, an ambassador to Russia, two U.S. Senators, four U.S. Congressmen, two state supreme court judges, and a Major League baseball player. All of them were prior to WWII. Today, we have a couple of minor, local elected officials, but the only time you see them at a lodge meeting is just before an election. In 22 years as a Master Mason, I don't know that I've ever sat in lodge with a judge or a doctor. Local business leaders join the country club, not the lodge. (For full disclosure, I am a teacher and have a master's degree, so I like to think I am influential and make an impact in my local community.)
Which ones?Maybe a little bit. But I was more aiming at the fact that especially in the US we see invitational groups that have gone from being places of higher learning and light into twice a year dinner clubs. I think that's a shame.
I haven't seen that in England or US Freemasonry. Now, in any organization, people in leadership roles will typically have more information. There will be times that there is information which is confidential. For instance, in disciplinary matters until a final decision is made; or a lodge or Scottish Rite almoner may have personal information.So you don't believe only a few know what's going on within a large group ?
I haven't seen that in England or US Freemasonry. Now, in any organization, people in leadership roles will typically have more information. There will be times that there is information which is confidential. For instance, in disciplinary matters until a final decision is made; or a lodge or Scottish Rite almoner may have personal information.So you don't believe only a few know what's going on within a large group ?
Which ones?
On a general basis, I quite agree. However, come sit in Wasatch Lodge #1 and you can have a retired senior military judge and seven doctorates.