youngblood2002
Registered User
So mote it be...
They are different. It probably also has a lot to do with the person as well as to where they end up travalling through on their Journey. This topic was brought up in a fairly confrontational way
Then you actually mean he tried to go to a Chapter meeting not a Lodge one. As I said earlier and repeat any Master Mason who is from a recognised Lodge may sit in an English Craft Lodge (we do not call them blue). However Chapters are only open to RA Companions and he would have had to be Exalted in order to attend one if he wasn't already a Companion.Yes I mentioned that only because our DDGM in my district approx ten years ago was invited to sit in a lodge of a friend of his who is from England. He wet through the Scottish rite instead of the York rite. But he was informed that he couldn't sit in his English friends lodge because he didn't currently have the RAM degree, and so he had to get the degrees conferred on him in two days.
Yes I mentioned that only because our DDGM in my district approx ten years ago was invited to sit in a lodge of a friend of his who is from England. He wet through the Scottish rite instead of the York rite. But he was informed that he couldn't sit in his English friends lodge because he didn't currently have the RAM degree, and so he had to get the degrees conferred on him in two days. Bryan, you say as a scientist your inclined to cut out any loose fat to get to the heart of the of the matter, and to question authority, but on another thread you say you had to get permission from your priest to join masonry. That seems a bit on the contradictory side if you ask me.
Not in the least bit contradictory, unless one is of the belief that religion and science cannot co-exist. There are many extremely narrow-minded people on both sides of the false "division" between religion and science.
Religion and science can co exist, however that's not what I was referring to. You live in country that advocates freedom of choice, and was built on rational principles, and I can't help but feel that something similar to a scientific method was applied to the creation of the principles that embody the western culture. I understand that your respect for your faith is at the top of your list. But if you live in a free country, and make it clear that your firm in your faith, why would you need to to ask permission to join something? After all isn't it ultimately your choice?
Especially after you saying to question authority. I'm sure you've gain a lot by being a part of the Masonic fraternity, but what if you were not permitted to join and those gains were never gained at all?
Do we speak with two mouths regarding what is and is not "within Freemasonry"? We tell ourselves and the world, over and over, that Freemasonry consists entirely and exclusively of the three Blue Lodge degrees. Nothing else is Freemasonry...
...I don't expect a straight answer, but I thought I'd ask.