The reason you're not getting alot of responses is because the questions have been answered...and you'll get the same response from everyone...so
why waste the bandwidth and db storage? But contrary to my own statement....here you go....
Originally posted by billybob
how does it work with temples? are they autonomous? or is there some kind of central masonic steering committee that defines goals and objectives
for the entire body of freemasonry?
There is not a "central masonic steering committee" per se.
In the states there are Grand Lodges for each state. Which AngelWitch explained in a previous post
oh, yeah, and what about the hiram key, and holy blood, holy grail?
Have not read either....own the hiram key but not read it yet. But again as AngelWitch stated both are books of speculation, hardly hard and fast
factual reference material.
do they teach you that hiram was real?
HA is part of Masonic legend. Did he truly exist? Well some believe he is a fictional character. Some try to tie him to King Hiram of Tyre, since it
is said that he provided materials and labor for the construction of Solomon's temple. Yet even some believe that he was a "construction observer"
for King Hiram of Tyre.
So to answer your question, at this point nobody knows for sure. You can google him for yourself and draw your own conclusion.
is there some kind of vengeance scheme to 'get' the progeny of the three assassins?
Nope....
i find the whole rosslyn chapel thing really fascinating. the freemasons seem to have always had this inside track on knowledge. you know, the maise
and symbolism there?
it seems to me, when i look at freemason's symbols and what lore is out there, that the philosophy is more similiar to taoism, ie, nature in balance,
than it is to christianity, ie. good vs. evil.
You must remember that (according to Masonic legend) if Masonry existed in the time of King Solomon and before that Nature played a *huge* role in
everyday life. And maise and such were not only a commodity but currency which too was important in every day life....so it does not suprise me that
symbols of nature would find it's way into Rossyln Chapel or any chapel for that matter Masonic or not. Remember how important some parts of nature
were in the Bible? Fish? Oil? Olive Branch? Dove? starting to make sense?
As far as relating Masonry to taoism moreso than to Christianity. I think it's more of which side of the window you're looking through. As with most
(and I stress the word most) monotheistic religions, many parallels can be drawn. Not saying they are the same.....not by any stretch....just saying
many of the lessons, morals and ideologies can be seen in many of those belief systems.
Note: snipped one paragraph due to relevence
how do you reconcile the historical fact that masons have had secret knowledge in the past, (which was knowledge that was seemingly impossible for
them to have), with the claim that, now, there are no secrets except for handshakes?
People make up organizations. If you were a < insert some organization here> and knew who shot Kennedy does that make the organization as a whole the
keeper of the secret? No. But hypothetically if your organization knew who killed Kennedy and then it was proven outside your organization with out a
doubt....would you, as an organization, still be keeper of the secret? No. It is now public knowledge. In other words sometimes secrets are lost due
to relevence or lack of necessity.
My point being. Throughout history could Masonry have had secrets? Yes it's possible. Can I say that for sure? Nope. I wasn't there...and historical
documents from those times are sketchy at best if they are available at all. At times was Masonry itself secret? Yes. To avoid persecution and death,
of course it has been.
I can safely say that now there are not any "Masonic Secrets" (except for modes of recognition, some ritual, etc as with any fraternity). Are there
Mason's with secrets....of course we're all human.
I hope this helps.
Edit: Spelling (I are an engineer after all
)
[edit on 3-7-2005 by Golfie]
I was truly looking forward to an actual "Q&A" for a change....
Think Real Hard Now ! 
